El Rincon

I’m giving 2 stars because my food wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either and I don’t plan on returning. Went in early afternoon and they weren’t busy at all. The staff was sitting at a table together playing on phones and not being very attentive. Our waitress seemed put out with having to serve us. Food was only decent, but cheese on enchiladas was pretty good. I’ll take my service a few blocks down to Los Papagallos though. Much better.

It shouldn’t matter if you’re on the other side of town or not. This place is worth the trip! The food is amazing. The staff are friendly. The guys in the kitchen are dancing and singing their hearts out while they cook. You can definitely tell they enjoy what they are doing, and it really shows in their food! The hot sauce has quite a bite to it, but not unbearable. And it’s a pretty neat place as well. Very nostalgic. My wife just said, «If this is the way Mexican food is supposed to be, I’ve been cheated… until now!»
Nuff said!

Substandard TexMex. It’s good if you’re just really hungry and need something to the effect of Tex Mex but aren’t keen on the quality — it’s a rough job. The portion sizes are pretty petite for the amount they charge. The one great thing is the unlimited chips for the table and individual salsa bowls, and the salsa is on point! I got the chicken nachos, and my friends got the beef enchilada dinner specials and beef taquitos. It took forever for our orders to arrive — well over 30 minutes actually. How do I know? Because we sat through an entire episode of the telenovela the servers and cashier were watching. The entrance of the establishment itself is quite unbecoming, but that’s not a factor in my rating at all — it’s just a warning to the reader.

Good greasy Mexican food and good cold beer. I’ve heard it’s on the «bad side of town» but I wasn’t scared when I ate there and I don’t see what the location has to do with the food.

If you want great Tex-​Mex with ground meat perfectly seasoned, slightly buttery, warm, crispy tortilla chips, salsa made with a perfect blend of tomatoes, garlic, and jalapeños, then you must eat at El Rincon in Longview. Housed in an old Dairy Queen, the place needs a major overhaul, but don’t let that scare you away. El Rincon has the best Tex-​Mex you’ll find almost anywhere in Texas, especially in East Texas.

Salsa is like beauty. it’s in the eye of the beholder. I’m sort of an old-​school salsa snob and the stuff here doesn’t totally fit the bill for me. It is spicy, which is good, and is heavy on the onion and jalapeño flavor. Consistency is nice because it sticks to the chip and isn’t overly chunky. What’s missing is cilantro flavor and the slight sweetness that comes from using ripened tomatoes (or at least decent quality canned). — Best old-​school Tex-​Mex salsa in Longview is at Mexico City, followed by Little Mexico. Carlito’s is also outstanding. The salsa at El Rincon? It’s better than some, but hardly addictive.
Service here is usually pretty good, considering the place is packed at lunch hour. (It’s not a huge place, as they’ve crammed a lot of tables into an old DQ.) — It seems mostly clean, although it feels like it could use a coat of paint. (Not a deal breaker.)
Food is Tex-​Mex. Good, but priced similarly to Carlito’s, which happens to sport a much cleaner and more comfortable environment, along with linen tablecloths and napkins.
That said, I’ve never left El Rincon disappointed. It’s a decent place on the south side of town to get your Tex-​Mex fix.

In my opinion El Rincon is the best Mexican place in Longview. Service is really good, food outstanding, have never had a bad experence.

Great service, clean, good food, salsa has good heat, friendly atmosphere, first time trying here .be back for sure.

I went with my daughter to this place as we are visiting Texas. She order a burrito with rice and bean. She said that v it was good. The staff was nice.

This is a successful family-​run restaurant. The menu has all Tex-​Mex favorites you would ever want to order. The recipes are the best we’ve found in this part of Texas. The chips and wonderful salsa are addictive.
Do yourself a favor and overlook the appearance from the street. The building is a former Dairy Queen, but inside it is clean. Would love to have them move to a better building and location.
With the loyal following they have in Longview and beyond I’m sure their success will continue, so maybe one day! Until then we’ll keep coming back to 1709 South Mobberly Avenue.

I am on the last few days of a three week road trip to the western states, and I have eaten some great Mexican food (and some lousy) in six states. Who would have thought I would find the best in Longview, Texas? The chips were the freshest I’ve had at a restaurant in a long tine and the salsa was perfect with just the right amount of sinus opening power. I ordered the Del Monte combination which was a chicken chile Relleno and a chicken enchilada covered in sour cream sauce and cheese. Deliciousness to the nth power. The unsweetened tea (which is the way all tea should be IMHO) was perfectly brewed. And the Sopapillas were soft and puffy. I went late in the evening and saw no reason to be afraid of the neighborhood. It is on a Main Street north of I-​20 and is well lit with a chicken place next door and a gas station across the street. I ordered a margarita, and even though it came in a bottle, it was great. Do not hesitate to eat here. If I am ever back in this area, I certainly will again!

We went to a graduation at the belcher events center and were starving. This place is literally across the street from the events center. We live in bishop arts in Dallas, the Mecca of amazing restaurants. So, we know food. Rincon hit the spot! Delicious chips and salsa and corn tortillas! We both had enchiladas and they were wonderful. Staff is fast and friendly! Sweet tea is good too!

Funky little family run Mexican joint situated in a former Dairy Queen just a couple of miles in from IH-​20. Clean enough with indifferent décor.
To start with their salsa was decent and the chips were fresh. Decided against ordering any tacos since they were listed on the menu @ $ 3 /​piece. Store bought tortillas, average diameter… so this was a no go.
Ordered the ½ sized nachos with chicken. Dish came with very, very finely cut pieces of chicken which you REALLY had to search for. Sadder still was the cheese used. It was some sort of an artificial queso Velvetta which gave these nachos a gut-​churning flavor after just consuming a few chips. Not cheap either… as I was charged over $ 8.50 for this rather sad small nacho offering.
ALERT: Turns out I was overcharged. They billed me for a regular order instead of the half. Beware… as they do not provide a receipt!
Another thing I found irksome was a large sign posted stating that if you didn’t order a meal… your chips and salsa would be an additional $ 2.50. This is simply a pathetic way to conduct business. Chips and salsa cost pennies.
Really can’t recommend this joint.

This is good Tex-​Mex food. It is simple, portions are generous, and prices are unbeatable. There are plenty of reasons why this place is packed every day for lunch (PACKED — meaning you will WAIT for a table). Your waitress will not offer much more than a smile, but she’ll get your order right and it will come out in a flash. They don’t mind making stuff how you want it, and if it comes out wrong, they’ll be sure to get it right.
Hot chips served right away, along with a DELICIOUS fresh homemade salsa. I generally prefer their enchiladas with a carne asada taco on the side, as the carne is some of the best I’ve ever had. Cap it all off with some sweet tea and you’ll have one of the fastest and tastiest Tex-​Mex meals you can get in the state.
This place is family-​owned by a great couple who I consider friends, and they pride themselves on their quality and cleanliness (never got less than an ‘A’ on their Health Inspections).
Pay them a visit and I’d bet it won’t be your last.

I’m a huge fan of Tex-​Mex food, so finding this diamond in the rough is a pleasant surprise. I believe El Rincon has the best mexican food in East Texas, even better than most places in Dallas-​Fort Worth. The food is perfectly seasoned. The chips are always hot and the red sauce has a nice kick.
The great food more than offsets the drab appearance of this former Dairy Queen location in down-​and-​out part of Longview. Despite its outward appearance, the restaurant is always clean. Expect a crowd at lunch, with everyone from lawyers to oil field workers. From I-​20, it ‘s just a four minute drive north off of Estes Parkway. There’s also a second location on Hwy 80 in White Oak, TX.

They have the best taco meat in the world. It is wonderfully seasoned and makes for great tacos, enchiladas and taco salads.
The service is always fast and pleasant. The owners are almost always on hand so you know everything is being watched. They are some really wonderful people.
The chips and hot sauce are great. I have strayed off the beaten path of the seasoned taco meat but I always come back.
Recommend for lunch, not dinner. It is in a not-​so-​good part of town. It is a converted Dairy Queen so don’t expect world class décor.
It is one of my top tex-​mex joints anywhere. smiley face and star.

In South Longview — this is one of the best Mexican Food restaurants around. Great tasting food. Be sure to try the special sauce for your chips and your meal. Very family-​oriented staff and great service.