Poblano Grill in Moore setup in the old candy store and failed. Poblano Grill on I240 setup in the old Interurban (originally Don Pablos, a MUCH better Mexican restaurant) and failed. Seems like they have a pattern. I have tried them once and was not impressed.

Had Alfredo's tonight...Food and service are the best in Moore ...

Haven't been. Typically do Tarahumara or Tulio's, as I am based in Norman. Then again, Alfredo's isn't much of a drive from us. Wouldn't mind hearing more about it.

Haven't been. Typically do Tarahumara or Tulio's, as I am based in Norman. Then again, Alfredo's isn't much of a drive from us. Wouldn't mind hearing more about it.
It tastes like Ted's. If you like bland Mexican food like most do in the metro, you'll love it.

Haven't been. Typically do Tarahumara or Tulio's, as I am based in Norman. Then again, Alfredo's isn't much of a drive from us. Wouldn't mind hearing more about it.

Pulled pork tacos with Kristin's special sauce are excellent...Be sure to get a side of chino beans with them

Alfredo's is good, but in Moore you can't beat Las Fajitas

If it truly tastes like Ted's, then I haven't missed a thing. Not a fan of of Ted's, which I consider to be all hype, no burro.

If it truly tastes like Ted's, then I haven't missed a thing. Not a fan of of Ted's, which I consider to be all hype, no burro.

It tastes nearly identical to Ted's so I definitely wouldn't waste my time if I were you.

It tastes nearly identical to Ted's so I definitely wouldn't waste my time if I were you.
Ditto.

Pablanos started out with one or two locations (Midwest City was an original location) along with another one somewhere in the city and a third up in Edmond iirc. The original owners sold out a few years ago and apparently the investors opted to add several more locations. At first I thought they were onto something. I always enjoyed the food at the location in MWC (still do, it's still open btw) but quickly figured out after visiting the Moore location that I wasn't getting the same service. A couple more bad experiences later and we quit going. Fast forward 8 months and they are closed...no surprise. It looks like the investment group opted to keep the two stronger locations open.

As a Ted's fan I can't agree the food is identical, I still prefer Ted's and probably always will. Similar? Sure, I'll give you that, especially considering quality of the food, pricing, and service (it's always been great). Despite all that I still find myself waiting in line to get Ted's though...just like I do at Tarahumara's. There's a good reason why those places have waits too.

Despite all that I still find myself waiting in line to get Ted's though...just like I do at Tarahumara's. There's a good reason why those places have waits too.
I always see Chili's packed. That doesn't mean the food is any good. It is actually pretty comical how much business Ted's in Norman has lost due to Chuy's being next door. Now they have a sign outside Ted's that says something like "Voted #1 Mexican in Oklahoma", yet people still flock to Chuy's instead. Gee, I wonder why.

I always see Chili's packed. That doesn't mean the food is any good. It is actually pretty comical how much business Ted's in Norman has lost due to Chuy's being next door. Now they have a sign outside Ted's that says something like "Voted #1 Mexican in Oklahoma", yet people still flock to Chuy's instead. Gee, I wonder why.

Is Chuy a mexican restaurant? I go to Norman often and never seen Chuy's, I must be so blind but I was too busy focusing driving to notice restaurants....

Chuy's is a great Tex Mex restaurant, probably the best in the metro area!

I have been to Chuy's once, and it was awesome. It's not the same as Ted's and Poblano, more New Mexican style with a lot of there dishes including green or hatch chiles. They also don't serve the free queso like the traditional Tex-Mex restaurants do in OK. Overall though, when you compare the price and the quality of food I would choose Chuy's any day over these other two.

I always see Chili's packed. That doesn't mean the food is any good. It is actually pretty comical how much business Ted's in Norman has lost due to Chuy's being next door. Now they have a sign outside Ted's that says something like "Voted #1 Mexican in Oklahoma", yet people still flock to Chuy's instead. Gee, I wonder why.
fwiw most sit down joints with even decent food in Moore will be busy, part of that 'phenomenon' they talk about with Moore businesses. I prefer to call it 'creatures of habit', not to mention people these days are pretty impatient and don't like to spend time driving/waiting to eat if they don't have to...unless it's worth it anyway. again this is just personal opinion.

We've yet to try Chuys but have seen it packed out a lot lately. Has it killed Ted's business in Norman to the point there isn't a wait any longer? Doesn't matter really, the day I can argue whether Ted's and Tarahumara's are inferior to a new chain in town is a good day for me because I love Mexican food and both those places do an awesome job of preparing it just like I like it!

Not that it'll keep me from trying the place out, I don't like the paying for queso, why is this trend taking on?

Not that it'll keep me from trying the place out, I don't like the paying for queso, why is this trend taking on?

I want to comment on this... lol. I have been to mexican food restaurants all over the country. And, I have talked to people that visit here from all over the country. What I've learned is that Oklahoma is the only place that does the free queso thing... Everyone is amazed by it, but it is such a pervasive thing here that restaurants almost have to do it to compete. My suspicion is that Chuy's will probably even start doing the same thing at some point.

As far as Ted's vs. Chuy's... I like them both. And, honestly speaking they are different enough from each other that I can actually pick either one based on what I'm looking for that night. Chuy's has more options for more New Mexico style cuisine, but on the other hand Ted's is always very consistent and sometimes I am looking for all the pre-meal queso/tortillas/salsa etc. It doesn't have to be either/or...

... I don't like the paying for queso, why is this trend taking on?

To be charitable, what most places and customers consider free queso, isn't. It's simply a marketing gimmick. That stuff, though edible it may be, ain't queso.

I grant ya it'll do for a no extra charge dipping sauce. But, we all should be a wee bit ashamed we ever let ourselves believe, for even a moment, it should ever be considered queso.

Queso, honest, delicious, stick with ya queso, is worth paying to enjoy. For folks on a tight budget, go with it and sip water in lieu of a charged for drink.

To be charitable, what most places and customers consider free queso, isn't. It's simply a marketing gimmick. That stuff, though edible it may be, ain't queso.

I grant ya it'll do for a no extra charge dipping sauce. But, we all should be a wee bit ashamed we ever let ourselves believe, for even a moment, it should ever be considered queso.

Queso, honest, delicious, stick with ya queso, is worth paying to enjoy. For folks on a tight budget, go with it and sip water in lieu of a charged for drink.

I'm not calling you out. Your post makes me think that I might not know good queso. What do you call good queso? Your homemade? or have you had some good queso locally? Again, not throwing down the gauntlet and won't argue. Just want to know.

I And, I have talked to people that visit here from all over the country. What I've learned is that Oklahoma is the only place that does the free queso thing... Everyone is amazed by it, but it is such a pervasive thing here that restaurants almost have to do it to compete.

I'm not sure that the free cheese jelly setup even carries much beyond the OKC area. I have not eaten at any Okie-Mex places in Tulsa but I can tell you that in Ardmore none of them offer any free cheese jelly.

Back in the 80's the complimentary queso, this was before it became cheese jelly, at Nino's used real cheese but sometime after the oil bust Okie-Mex places in OKC did everything they could to cut their food costs and stay in business. So I don't think you'll even find any cheese in the complimentary cheese jelly served today. It's been several years since I was in an Okie-Mex kitchen but last time I was the main ingredient was chicken soup base.

Yeah, I don't know what that stuff is but I'm fairly sure it doesn't contain any actual cheese. :P I'd rather drink water and pay a couple extra bucks for some actual queso, but apparently I'm in the minority.

I usually don't consider driving all the way to Moore just for Tex-Mex, especially since Tarahumara's is like a mile from my house. So I've never been to Alfredo's, and had never heard anything good about Poblano so never bothered going there.

Depending on the time of day, if I'm in Moore I drive the extra ten miles or so to eat at Tarahumara. If it's late then we'll eat at Alfredo's. We tried both Ricky's and Poblano a couple of times, but why bother when Alfredo's is better.

Yeah, I don't know what that stuff is but I'm fairly sure it doesn't contain any actual cheese. :P I'd rather drink water and pay a couple extra bucks for some actual queso, but apparently I'm in the minority.

I usually don't consider driving all the way to Moore just for Tex-Mex, especially since Tarahumara's is like a mile from my house. So I've never been to Alfredo's, and had never heard anything good about Poblano so never bothered going there.
And you shouldn't either, Tarahumara's is awesome and I probably wouldn't bother going anywhere else if I lived that close to them. Alfredo's is good but not that good, unless you just happen to be in the area.


Depending on the time of day, if I'm in Moore I drive the extra ten miles or so to eat at Tarahumara. If it's late then we'll eat at Alfredo's. We tried both Ricky's and Poblano a couple of times, but why bother when Alfredo's is better.
Ricky's used to be a pretty good bargain. When he first opened up and only ran one location and Ricky himself was there (not his a-hole flunky 'manager') most of the time the place was a favorite location of ours, especially considering the lack of other locations in Moore at the time. Now the food quality, quantity, and the service suck and we have no intentions on ever returning. That's sad, Ricky is a cool cat and we use to enjoy him waiting on us back at one of the original Chelino's locations so many years ago.

All the comments here about the faux cheese has me intrigued, the next time I'm at Tarahumara's, Alfredo's and Ted's I'm going to request the 'real' queso, the kind in which I should be charged for and see what they say. I'll comment back with my results!

I want to comment on this... lol. I have been to mexican food restaurants all over the country. And, I have talked to people that visit here from all over the country. What I've learned is that Oklahoma is the only place that does the free queso thing... Everyone is amazed by it, but it is such a pervasive thing here that restaurants almost have to do it to compete. My suspicion is that Chuy's will probably even start doing the same thing at some point.

Wanna bet on that? Chuy's will never start serving cheese goo and I seriously doubt they'll offer their queso for "free", other than during happy hour like all Chuy's. The cheese goo phenomenon in Oklahoma truly blows my mind. The stuff is bland and tasteless. I guess Oklahomans just have to feel like they're getting something for nothing. I wouldn't go to Ted's, Alfredo's or Poblano Grill if the entire meal was free.

That's a shame considering Alfredo's is absolutely delicious.

That's a shame considering Alfredo's is absolutely delicious.

If you say so. Unfortunately the Lord blessed me with a good palate.

Might be mistaken as I was driving and looking back but I did not see the for sale banner this evening

If you say so. Unfortunately the Lord blessed me with a good palate.

Right. :/

Chuy's is a great Tex Mex restaurant, probably the best in the metro area! I love Chuy's. I eat at the one on Knox Street in Dallas. Great food, atmosphere! Chuy's should do well in Norman. I heard they are also scouting for a location in OKC? Quality is very good!

Might be mistaken as I was driving and looking back but I did not see the for sale banner this evening

ooh, perhaps God's gift to Mexican food will land in Moore now too!

So excited,

Any idea what's going on at this location? In the last week there has been a sign out front saying "Hiring Laborers Inside" with a semi trailer parked at the back of the building. They also re-coated the parking lot this week.

Wait a minute.... I remember I read that in another tread that Russell Stover's sold to Henry Hudson's and I thought Henry Hudson's was going to be built in place of Russell Stover? Did the plans fell through?

Russell Stover's sold to a real estae/investment company in 09, that company sold it to another investment company last month. Do you know somebody that works for Mark's Group Corp ?