Joe T Garcia's: A Fort Worth Institution with Mixed Reviews

30 reviews between Dec 09, 2022 and Sep 16, 2023.

Joe T Garcia's, a long-standing Fort Worth establishment, is known for its outdoor atmosphere and generous portions. With a limited menu but delicious food, it attracts both families and friends. However, some reviewers found the food to be bland and the service lacking. The restaurant only accepts cash and has long lines, but offers a great patio dining experience. Despite mixed reviews, Joe T Garcia's remains a popular spot in Fort Worth.

Joe T Garcia's Mexican Restaurant

30 reviews between Dec 09, 2022 and Sep 16, 2023.

Dec 09, 2022 - Sep 16, 2023

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Old School Tex-Mex
Food 4 / Service 4 / Ambiance 4

This was a first visit to Joe T. Garcia's, but I've known about them for years. We were in Ft. Worth, so took the opportunity to give them a try.

We got that right at 11:00 am,...so there was no wait and we were seated immediately.

I think there are two entrances, which we were unaware of, so we did go in the inside seating entrance, but were close to a window and the outside/patio seating was very lovely and if I return I might sit outside.

I did notice a sign when we walked in that said cash only and that there was an ATM, but when our waiter came over to greet us, he asked if we'd been there before and did explain they were cash or check only.

I ordered the small enchilada dinner which had a Cheese Nacho, which is really a tostada covered in cheese and a great salsa, so not a single "chip" nacho.

That dinner also had a Cheese Enchilada, which had an enchilada sauce, that I personally didn't care for as, to me, it had a very tomato sauce flavor...it wasn't bad, and I ate it. The actual enchilada was really good.

It also had a Beef Taco, which had no cheese, but a homemade taco shell and the beef was more shredded than ground and that taco, with a little salsa added was excellent.

My daughter got the Tamale dinner, which had three sizeable pork tamales, covered with chile con carne. I did have one and they were very good, a little thick on the masa, but overall really tasty.

The rice and beans, tortillas and salsa were all great!

Our server was nice and attentive, he was really busy, but he paid as much attention to us as we needed, so thumbs up to him.

I would recommend giving them a try, keeping mind the two entrances (so inside or patio seating options) and that you do need cash.More so there was no wait and we were seated immediately.

I think there are two entrances, which we were unaware of, so we did go in the inside seating entrance, but were close to a window and the outside/patio seating was very lovely and if I return I might sit outside.

I did notice a sign when we walked in that said cash only and that there was an ATM, but when our waiter came over to greet us, he asked if we'd been there before and did explain they were cash or check only.

I ordered the small enchilada dinner which had a Cheese Nacho, which is really a tostada covered in cheese and a great salsa, so not a single "chip" nacho.

That dinner also had a Cheese Enchilada, which had an enchilada sauce, that I personally didn't care for as, to me, it had a very tomato sauce flavor...it wasn't bad, and I ate it. The actual enchilada was really good.

It also had a Beef Taco, which had no cheese, but a homemade taco shell and the beef was more shredded than ground and that taco, with a little salsa added was excellent.

My daughter got the Tamale dinner, which had three sizeable pork tamales, covered with chile con carne. I did have one and they were very good, a little thick on the masa, but overall really tasty.

The rice and beans, tortillas and salsa were all great!

Our server was nice and attentive, he was really busy, but he paid as much attention to us as we needed, so thumbs up to him.

I would recommend giving them a try, keeping mind the two entrances (so inside or patio seating options) and that you do need cash.
Sentiment
- Positive
Content
- Atmosphere
Aug 07, 2023
Tiny Margaritas and a lot of wasted food!
Overall they did not meet expectations. We were searching for the cheese in our cheese enchiladas but never found it ……all we found was a yucky greasy red sauce. The tacos were uneventful as it seemed like they had been sitting out in the sun....The refried beans were reminiscent of canned beans. The only thing we liked were the cheese quesadillas. Oh than frozen margaritas were so small that they looked like sippee cups! Earlier that day we had been at lunch at Benito and it had better quesadillas and better frozen margaritas!!! And Benito was a lot cheaper! If you are simply going for food and margaritas then Benito is a better choice!More The refried beans were reminiscent of canned beans. The only thing we liked were the cheese quesadillas. Oh than frozen margaritas were so small that they looked like sippee cups! Earlier that day we had been at lunch at Benito and it had better quesadillas and better frozen margaritas!!! And Benito was a lot cheaper! If you are simply going for food and margaritas then Benito is a better choice!
Sentiment
- None
Content
- Food Quality
Jul 25, 2023
Save your money
The food is bland. I don't think they spend any money on spices. I got quesadiIIas. My daughters got Fajitas, My son in law also got Fajitas. The wait staff was earnest but the food and the timing of the plating meant it took more...than 30 minutes to serve 12 people. I was served the wrong entree 3 times. When we were leaving there were at least 80 people waiting to get in and we were like WHAT? Won't go there again. Name any mexican restraunt, it's better.More than 30 minutes to serve 12 people. I was served the wrong entree 3 times. When we were leaving there were at least 80 people waiting to get in and we were like WHAT? Won't go there again. Name any mexican restraunt, it's better.
Sentiment
- Negative
Content
- Food Quality
Jul 22, 2023
Joe T’s is awesome !
Joe T’s was awesome ! The Patio was cool and shaded, the Beef Fajitas were awesome, the service was awesome , what a great place to relax and have a great meal ! We will be back !
Sentiment
- Positive
Content
- Atmosphere
Jul 22, 2023
A FW oasis
On a hot summers day, Joe T Garcias was a great FW oasis for someone a long way from home. Friendly staff, great food and cold beers at a reasonable price. Love Fort Worth.
Sentiment
- Positive
Content
- Atmosphere
Jul 20, 2023
Writing from the toilet.
I appreciate the history and the family run business aspect of this place. The patio is great (assuming it isn't 100 degrees).

The food should be an absolute embarrassment to the owners. It's like Taco Bell threw out its expired food and then a homeless...shelter got the ingredients out of the trash cash and served it to people. I challenge anyone to make worse food. The 1980s school lunch "taco day" was 100 times better than this place.

The beans were burnt. We couldn't tell the difference between "beef" and "chicken" fajitas.

The margs are a bag mix of crap ingredients that produce an almost instant hangover and might be one of the worst drinks I've ever had.

It would take just the slightest bit of effort to improve the food and or drinks but nope this place has been the same for decades.More shelter got the ingredients out of the trash cash and served it to people. I challenge anyone to make worse food. The 1980s school lunch "taco day" was 100 times better than this place.

The beans were burnt. We couldn't tell the difference between "beef" and "chicken" fajitas.

The margs are a bag mix of crap ingredients that produce an almost instant hangover and might be one of the worst drinks I've ever had.

It would take just the slightest bit of effort to improve the food and or drinks but nope this place has been the same for decades.
Sentiment
- Negative
Content
- Food Quality
May 27, 2023
Horrible, don’t go!
The waitress had a don’t give a crap attitude, the chips were stale and the hot sauce was bland, the tacos were inedible, the beef fajitas had a fish flavor, and the cheese enchiladas awful! We heard good things about this restaurant so we thought...we would try it. Regretfully, we wasted $80. Worst restaurant I have ever been to. Btw, they only accept cash and check. Not told up front!More we would try it. Regretfully, we wasted $80. Worst restaurant I have ever been to. Btw, they only accept cash and check. Not told up front!
Sentiment
- Negative
Content
- Service
May 09, 2023
Overrated
Stood in line for an hour. Finally sat 6 of us down in full sun table. Very hot. Didn’t offer an umbrella. Menu is very limited. We got enchiladas & fajita dinner. The fajita’s were very good. I would not recommend the enchiladas though. I’ve...had much better. These are probably some of the worst ones I’ve ever had. And I’m an enchilada connoisseur for 70 years. This place is very overrated and expensive.More had much better. These are probably some of the worst ones I’ve ever had. And I’m an enchilada connoisseur for 70 years. This place is very overrated and expensive.
Sentiment
- Negative
Content
- Menu Variety
Apr 08, 2023
Bad Experience
We have gone here several times over the years. Never had a bad experience until today. Ordered family style. Family style is usually served with a bowl of rice and a bowl of beans. A plate of enchiladas, tacos and nachos.
People brought nachos to...our table. Then after awhile they brought 2 tacos. There were 3 of us. The table behind was then brought out what we usually were served as family style.
Then an enchilada plate was brought out. When our waiter came over to see how we were doing I asked why we only got one plate. He said he would go check. I sent back the single plate. He came back and said it was straightened out.
After about 10 mins. an enchilada plate was brought out. Thinking maybe we were all getting separate plates my husband began eating. He finished his plate and the waiter took it away. Then another plate was brought out after my husband's plate was taken away. When the waiter came back I asked about another plate. Again the waiter said he would check it out. Finally I received a plate.
It was not an enjoyable meal at all. It appears the people who brought out the food in the beginning gave the family style to the wrong table since they had what appeared to be for 3 people.More our table. Then after awhile they brought 2 tacos. There were 3 of us. The table behind was then brought out what we usually were served as family style.
Then an enchilada plate was brought out. When our waiter came over to see how we were doing I asked why we only got one plate. He said he would go check. I sent back the single plate. He came back and said it was straightened out.
After about 10 mins. an enchilada plate was brought out. Thinking maybe we were all getting separate plates my husband began eating. He finished his plate and the waiter took it away. Then another plate was brought out after my husband's plate was taken away. When the waiter came back I asked about another plate. Again the waiter said he would check it out. Finally I received a plate.
It was not an enjoyable meal at all. It appears the people who brought out the food in the beginning gave the family style to the wrong table since they had what appeared to be for 3 people.
Sentiment
- Negative
Content
- Service
Apr 01, 2023
Lake Country Dental Christmas Party
Wonderful service. Food was delicious. Waiter filled my tea glass 5 times during meal. We had a group of 35 but food was hot and served quickly.
Sentiment
- Positive
Content
- Service
Dec 09, 2022
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Sentiment Analysis

Positive(13)

43%
Negative(14)

47%
None(3)

10%

-4 Net Promoter
Score

Languages

English(30)

100%

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Joe T Garcia's: A Fort Worth Institution with Mixed Reviews

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