Chevys Fresh Mex

As a California native, Chevys is a dining icon! I was sad to see Chevys close down in Tacoma. But hey, at least I don’t have to drive to California. The main thing we come for is the famous Fresh Mex Chips and salsa.

Hey, it’s Chevys!
What more can I say?
Salsa sabroso !
Hermano Guapo comes here for a good time and good food.
El pollo banjos!

They’re like used car salesmen, extra $ for everything, even sour cream and cheese. Sub par service and food.

This review hurts but after the experience we just had. First of all, it was so loud, we could not hear not could the waiter hear us. They messed up my order. It was hard to get drink refills and we totally felt rushed by everyone. I’m hoping this was a bad night. I was so looking forward to my meal and everything that happened tonight just ruined the experience.
Update as if 12/​26/​2015 I have been contacted by a representative from Chevys. They took by not so great review very seriously and contacted me personally for specifics on our experience.
I just received two free meals plus a $ 10 gift card as a thank you for working with them to resolve the matter.

I think we had the worst restaurant experience ever at this location. We used to frequent the Clackamas Chevys, but they’ve since closed. We hadn’t been to this location in about a year. My mom wanted to go here for her birthday lunch. Things started out well and then quickly went down hill. Our server (in the cantina) gave us our drinks, chips/​salsa and took our order. We got our food but still hadn’t gotten any more chips and salsa (which is the main reason we love Chevys). We asked for some tortillas and the guy that delivered our food said it would be awhile. My aunt didn’t get her meal with the rest of ours and waited about 5 minutes before it showed up, so we all just sat there waiting for her to get her meal to begin eating. Our server never came back to check on us until we were about half way through our meal. We again asked for tortillas and she told us «you are going to have to get them from someone else because I am too busy». Ummm seriously?! The people sitting next to us were complaining because they hadn’t gotten their check and the table behind us had to get up to get their own drink refills! Finally, we got our check (still never got any tortillas or drink refills) and ended up paying at the to go station because we didn’t want to wait. We complained about our service and they just said, «oh sorry about that». Oh, and most importantly our food was so, so bad. I guess this will be our last Chevys experience :(.

Multiple times I have brought my family here when most of them visit us from California and it has been delightful and very great quality of food.
I really recommend this place for like a gathering of some sort and their food is amazing, you can totally see how hard they work to make your food.
I am personally from California and this is just the «Oregon Style» of a Chevys!

Just OK. They’re expensive and the food is not stellar. It’s always loud here, and the balance of table chatter and bad music is not a good one. I struggled to find anything on the menu that sounded even the least bit appetizing. Our waitress was nothing special either. My son did love that they gave him a little ball of salt dough to play with, and he couldn’t put it down. I will be sure to speak up in protest, the next time my husband suggests dining here.

Chevys is one of those places that have particular good menu items, while the rest falls a bit flat. Things that are GOOD: their sweet corn tomalito (spelling?) is fantastic and easily the best part of the meal. Their chips and salsa are remarkable as well. Salsa is freshly made, and the chips were perfectly warm, crisp, light, and faintly salty. If you order guac, they make it fresh table-​side.
Steer clear of: any of their shredded chicken items. Flat out, it was unappetizing… dry and bland. That goes for the chicken quesadillas, nachos, flautos, etc.
Our service was great, so that’s a plus.

Friendly service and good quantity/​quality of food make a good visit. This was my second time visiting this Chevy’s. I found Chevys mexican food quite good compared to those in Bellingham and Vancouver. The flavour is just better. Servers are also very friendly. Would go there again next time I’m back in Oregon.

Absolutely discusting! The best thing we ate was the children’s mac n cheese and our margaritas. Name should be changed to shittys.

Always a good experience at Chevy’s. There food is always consistent, a good variety & great Margaritas. Seasonal margaritas are the best. Better Margaritas than most Mexican restaurants. I posted a picture of fresh Watermelon margarita. Staff is always friendly. Never seems to be real busy, Expect Tex Mex style Mexican Food, Tamalito side is delicious. Great kids menu &U have to try there deep fried ice cream. Overall always good experience.

I’ve taken my kids twice to this location for lunch and both times the food was average for a chain restaurant. My kids love going here, especially my youngest who likes to play with the home made playdough they give to the young kids. I ordered the chicken burrito for lunch and both times it was good. The extra charge for guacamole and sour cream should go away but it seems like most restaurants charge more for these condiments. The food gets three stars.
The four stars is for our server, she was the best!

Not the Chevys I remember loving back in my SoCal days :/
I came here for lunch during the week and the food was good, but heavy… the kind where you just want to nap afterwards. I had the burrito lunch special with salsa chicken, rice, and beans ($ 10). Generous portions and I like how they give you options to customize the burrito. The chicken was tender and flavorful. Chips and salsa were also tasty, although the chips too thin for my liking. Charro beans were disappointing, reminded me of chili.
Service was great, with orders, food, and bill all taken care of quickly. The server was surprisingly knowledgable about the menu, knowing how many chips are in the (individually layered) fajita nacho appetizer and the difference in ounces in meat between and lunch and dinner fajitas.
There are a few areas that seem to make his restaurant a little rough around the edges. When I first walked in, I immediately noticed how dark it seemed inside, with a lack of natural light. The host seated us at the bar area, which wasn’t an issue but I think weird to seat someone in (without asking) when there’s plenty of room in the main dining area. Up charge for a small bowl of cheese to go with fajitas. Tortillas served in a paper bag like a to go cookie. They scoop the chips and salsa out in the open in what what reminds me of scooping popcorn out of a trash can (no other way to describe it). Maybe not the best place for a romantic night out or trying to impress someone. Good for a quick lunch though!

We came for the chips! I should stop there! The food and service was very much below average. The chips and salsa were great! If you need more prepare to wait. Since we were only 1 out of 5 tables being served we should have never had to wait. Instead we were waiting forever for water refills, food and the one thing they do better than most CHIPS!
Note: Our visit took place on 5÷16÷15.
After I wrote this review, Chevys reached out to me with concern to learn how they can correct the problem at this location. I gave them constructive feedback and they sent me 2 cards entitling us to 2 free entrees. This not only showed they are corporately responsible but also Unilocal is far reaching. Good job Chevys! I have much more respect for you as a company and your chips are still very good.

Ordered the steak quesadilla, not a huge portion size for the price. The restaurant was empty, but we still sat at the table with empty glasses and empty chip baskets. I don’t think I’d come back since there are other Mexican restaurants that are more worthwhile.

I’v been to a few Chevy’s in my time. This was not one of my better experiences. It took a while to get seated because there was only one hostess (lots of empty tables). No other employee who walked past us was willing/​able to seat one of the 3 parties waiting.
I got a combo platter, my wife got a burrito, we both had margaritas. My wife’s food came out cold and my «jumbo» margarita was served at least an inch below the top of the glass. (Oh and they were $ 11 a piece…)
I have never heard my wife say anything negative when a server has checked on us. This night she mentioned that everything tasted great but it came out cold.
We were hungry and had a cranky baby with us so we chose to eat it rather then send it back. In a surprise effort, the manager comped all of our food. A great gesture which is what the second and third star are for.

Shani S. is a very good waitress. I’m super critical. The food is it’s own style and very good as well. With a family of 5, I was very happy to spend 95 $ with a 20% gratuity. I definitely will be back.

Really very consistent with great food. We order take out constantly and it is always right with plenty of condiments and plastic ware. Our out of towners always request Chevys food at least once while they are here. So good!
Last night we went with our family. After a few tables around us were seated after us but had service we went up to ask about our server. We have little kids and just wanted to make sure no one forgot us. There was a miscommunication obvi bc their service is typically very fast. The manager immediately apologized and took our order. Later he comped out app (which we didn’t ask for and was over and above). It just feels good to see a place that always puts the customer experience first !!! Also my daughter loved watching the woman making tortillas. She also gave her a fresh one to eat.
Chevys never lets you down!

There are so many more examples of better «Mex» out there. This is not of course where you go for authenticity, but where you go to relive the memories of Chevy’s gone by. Sadly, I believe that the franchise has outlived it’s stay, and by our experience it is probably founded. Greasy, oily chips, service bland, food unimpressive. It may be best that you just remember your last enjoyable meal here, instead of ruining your overall perspective of Chevy’s. This patron will seek «Fresh-​Mex» elsewhere.

There are still Chevys in the SF Bay Area, but their numbers have dwindled. This one on the Lake Oswego/​Tigard border still proudly flies the «Fresh Mex» flag and with a crowded dining room to prove it. My Son and I were staying at the Phoenix Inn next door (and across the parking lot) and this is where the Kid wanted to have dinner on Friday night. I was hoping to drive over to the Thirsty Lion to also watch the Trail Blazers/​Rockets game, but I was out pleaded by a «starving» teenager who couldn’t wait.
I thought that the food was somewhat better than «A OK», and that the service was quick, friendly, and honest, even on a busy night. That’s worth a upwards rating bump any day. I was «stuffed» on just the chips and an appetizer, while my Son used his love for «fresh guac» to devour 3 bowls of chips and whatever he ordered as a main course. Hence, Chevy’s is also the perfect place for my young man with a hollow leg.
Finally, I forgot my glasses here and they were waiting for me with a smile when I returned the next evening. The day-​lighted creek running through the property is also pretty cool.