Gilbert’s El Charro Restaurants

5^th Street and Erwin locations permanently closed. See El Charros at the Ridge for great Mexican food.

I Love the food at the Erwin EL C’s! The Margaritas are unmatched in my opinion and I have always adored the salsa. The bring you packets of butter in gold foil and you put the butter on a chip, salt it, and finish up with salsa on top. OMG! Order The Summer Plate. That’s what I’ve always ordered. YOu get 3 crispy tortillas laying flat. One has their wonderful refried beans on top, one has delicious queso and the third has incredible guacamole. On top they put on half a head of shredded lettuce and SLICED, not diced, tomatoes. It’s just Heaven!
BUT TURN DOWN THAT BLASTED MUSIC!!! IT IS NOT a bar with food; it’s way too big to be a bar. The reason it’s comfy? Old fashioned padded booths. Um, don’t bother dressing up. Nobody does. lol

I’ve been going to the «Old» El Charro for years. It’s one of those hidden gems that you might not otherwise stop at. Try their Rita’s, I like the Rita rocks. They also added 24 oz draft deers to the menu. My go-​to menu item is the Tony’s beef tacos. Don’t fill up on the chips n salsa or you won’t be able to finish your meal. This place is dominated by locals, and I usually end up seeing somebody I know.
Soooo much better inside now that Tyler banned smoking.

Best mexican food in Tyler. Best margaritas, too, and coldest beer! If you were unfortunate enough not to be raised in Tyler, you probably will think El Charros is just «okay», but that’s fine with us, cuz we know different!

Sometimes I am a bit slow. But now I get El Charro.
It started with Tony’s tacos. Beef or chicken with cabbage and cilantro. Sounds a bit odd on the surface, but man are they good. If the cabbage and cilantro doesn’t do it for you, they will fix them with lettuce and tomatoes. But do try the cabbage and cilantro.
Also give the old fashioned tacos a try. The menu says they are an original Gilbert family recipe, and yes, they are quite good. For me, the best choices on the menu are the El Charro specialties. Go there and you can’t go wrong.
But here is what I missed before: El Charro is like eating at home, but without eating at home. It is comfortable. They’re glad to have you. On Friday and Saturday it seems half of Tyler is there. I like that. I look forward to it. And now I get it.

I have eaten at El Charro, both old and new, on several occasions, but never by choice. As many mention, the native Tylerites swear by this place. I don’t get it. The food is terribly bland. It’s not unpalpable by any means, but there are so many better alternatives.

This parking lot always seems to be packed for lunch and dinner so we decided to give it a try one Friday night. It seemed liked the place to be for loud, rowdy fun when we walked in the door. I’ve never been in a restaurant that was so loud. Definitely don’t go here if you’re looking for a quiet evening. I thought I might join in the fun and ordered a margarita. It was alright, not the best I’ve ever had. My husband and I both ordered enchilada plates. I got sour cream chicken and the hubs got cheese. I actually kind of liked mine BUT my husband found a rock in his beans. Not cool. The waiter was very nice about it and quickly took his meal off our ticket and that’s why this place got 2 stars instead of one. I highly doubt we’ll be back, I can get a margarita lots of other places in this town.

Possibly crappier than the «new» location. If you don’t get stabbed in the parking lot then you might get the chance to eat some greasy food, that might have just as easily come out of my microwave.

Good food. Nothing exceptional, but decent food and service.

Sorry to all the other reviewers who don’t like this place. YES, I am biased. I proudly admit it !! I grew up in the Rose Capital of the World, (Tyler Junior College and the infamous Apache Bells; yep, I was one of those over exposed high kicking ladies) and at El Charro’s as a teenager. There are some things that just can’t be surpassed.
Many of the servers have been working there over 40 years, and the pride and service shows. The «locals» refer to the two locations as the «old» and the «new» El Charro’s. The one at this location on East Erwin St., the «old El Charro’s», is the one to visit. The «new» location on 5^th Street is just not the same. The «old» location is outdated, dismal, dark, with red plastic booths, loud music, and your usual diverse crowd of East Texas locals (some outsiders call them «rednecks», but they are just down to earth, honest, happy folks!); old folks in «gimmie» hats, faded jeans & t-​shirts; young families, and couples trying to hide in the dark recesses of the restaurant. WOW, many a memory of double date nights here after the football games! (GO, John Tyler Lions !!!)
The food — no one, anywhere, any place, even in Big D, serves Soft Cheese Tacos like El Charro’s. I have dined at dozens or more places in Dallas, and have never found soft cheese tacos like at ELC. It’s served with a very light, creamy and soft, almost white, with a slight tinge of orange, cheese that just melts in your mouth, with a smidgen of onion. My brother, who in his much younger days worked for Kraft Foods, sold them the cheese for these creamy, tasty bites, which supposedly was to be a «secret». Today, he says, he can’t remember what it was, and MG, he’s not that old!!! I think he must have signed a Non Discloser Agreement and won’t even discuss it with his Big Sis, Don’t know that I believe him. Ha!
AND, the Guacamole, is the most outstanding I’ve ever had. It doesn’t seem to have anything in it but some tiny, tiny shredded lettuce, onion, and lots of lemon. OMG, to die for. AND, a huge serving.
Also, on every table is one of those plastic squirt bottles of what looks like Thousand Island Dressing. It is awesome on a plain saltine cracker with a dollop of their (really) hot salsa. I’ve often filled up on this with the wonderful Guac. I always bring home a jar of this when I repay visits to my hometown.
Of course, places we grew up have special spots in our hearts, making us really biased, and perhaps our memories are tainted. But, I don’t think so in the realm of recalling these great cheese tacos, guac, and «dressing on crackers». I make it a point to go «home» at least 2 – 3 times a year just to enjoy the «dive» atmosphere of the «old» ELC and their food from back in my teen years. (BTW, there used to be mini juke boxes at the booths back in the day, with all the songs of the 60’s and 70’s for a quarter a play for two songs, but those have long since disappeared. RIP!)
As Bob Hope would sing…“Thanks for the Memories…” and to all, if ever in the lovely town of Tyler, Tx, give «old» El Charro’s a try. Just know what to expect… old time dining with an old time experience, in a sorta sketchy part of town! Oh, forgot to mention, their Top Shelf Margaritas are terrific !!!