Didn't see an existing thread. Noticed today that they are going in to the old Hudsons Hideout location just East of Western off of NW 67th street. Normally this spot is hard to miss but they have painted THE ENTIRE exterior sea-foam green.

I took this a few weeks ago (before the paint job) and never posted it:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chelinos102517.jpg

Are each of these restaurants independently operated? Reason I ask is because I feel like there is a huge difference in food quality. In general I'm not a huge fan of their's, but I will say the one downtown seems to be better than the rest. Maybe 6 months ago I went to the one in Yukon, and had I not felt bad about how few people were in there, I would have asked for my money back. Some of it was inedible.

It's been years, but we would go to the original (I think?) on Robinson near Capitol Hill and it was always much much better than any other location I had been to.

unless chelinos plans to make all of their money off of the area lunch crowd, i don't see how this location is going to be successful... from western, you'd pretty much never know that this place existed.

Are each of these restaurants independently operated? Reason I ask is because I feel like there is a huge difference in food quality. In general I'm not a huge fan of their's, but I will say the one downtown seems to be better than the rest. Maybe 6 months ago I went to the one in Yukon, and had I not felt bad about how few people were in there, I would have asked for my money back. Some of it was inedible.

I agree, but the one by my house, near Hefner and May, has always been good for us. Occasionally it's not as good as normal, but it's still always pretty good. And the staff knows my family pretty well by now, so they take good care of us. Feels like a neighborhood joint instead of a chain.

The same group that bought this Hudsons then converted it to a Chelino's also recently bought the Hudson's on 2nd (east of Bryant) in Edmond.

why wouldn't they just wait for the hideaway building to open up once they leave? seems like a lot better place on western

why wouldn't they just wait for the hideaway building to open up once they leave? seems like a lot better place on western

I agree but I bet rent is 3x as much in that building. I'm really crossing my fingers for something good in the soon to be old Hideaway.

It's been years, but we would go to the original (I think?) on Robinson near Capitol Hill and it was always much much better than any other location I had been to.


Same here. Back in the 90's, we used to hit the original on Robinson, then the one on Walker & Grand. Both were always consistently good.
Then there was the on up at 58th & May Ave. After moving, we would hit the one on Boulevard in Edmond, but that's when the quality for us was going down hill. Haven't been back to any Chelino's location since.

The one in Moore is nearly invisible unless you know the spot, but the few times I've been by in the evenings they seem to do well. Texmex in general seems to be in constant demand in Moore for some reason.

Not a big deal, but I am quite certain the first one is the one at Walker and Grand, an old Dairy Queen building. I ate there in the early days, then they opened the on on Robinson and 42nd and it was larger so I started going there.
C. T.
p.s. I could be mistaken, but that's the way I remember it.

C.T. You could be right. I first went to the one on Walker around '91-'92, and then to the one on Robinson, but around that same time frame. I always thought Robinson came first. Either way, it definitely was Chelino's early days. The Walker store always had a line when we went.

Not a big deal, but I am quite certain the first one is the one at Walker and Grand, an old Dairy Queen building. I ate there in the early days, then they opened the on on Robinson and 42nd and it was larger so I started going there.
C. T.
p.s. I could be mistaken, but that's the way I remember it.

You are correct CT.... First location was in the old DQ at Walker and Grand. 2nd was on South Robinson which. Robinson location is now owned by one of his brothers.


Are each of these restaurants independently operated? Reason I ask is because I feel like there is a huge difference in food quality. In general I'm not a huge fan of their's, but I will say the one downtown seems to be better than the rest. Maybe 6 months ago I went to the one in Yukon, and had I not felt bad about how few people were in there, I would have asked for my money back. Some of it was inedible.

It's a family thing.... Chelino doesn't still own all the restaurants but the ones that he doesn't are owned by his brothers. You aren't the only one that notices the difference in food quality between them either.

You are correct CT.... First location was in the old DQ at Walker and Grand. 2nd was on South Robinson which. Robinson location is now owned by one of his brothers.



It's a family thing.... Chelino doesn't still own all the restaurants but the ones that he doesn't are owned by his brothers. You aren't the only one that notices the difference in food quality between them either.

Good info. You wouldn't happen to know which ones are owned by which family member would you? I'd be interested to see if the ownership is the same or different on the ones I like better.

Good info. You wouldn't happen to know which ones are owned by which family member would you? I'd be interested to see if the ownership is the same or different on the ones I like better.

Meridian - Jesus "Chuy" Garcia
El Reno - Raul Garcia
Robinson - Juan Garcia
Norman and 10904 North May - Armando Garcia
All Other Locations - Marcelino "Chelino" Garcia

The 5900 N May location is closing and relocating to the Henry Hudson building.... Scheduled open date is Nov 1 but that may not happen.

We lived in Reed Park and drove down to south Walker location several times just for take out. It was prety good. Again, that was in the early 90's, so not sure how it is today.

We used to frequent the one at Hefner and May but finally had to stop because it wasn't always clean (one's shoes should never stick to the floor) and the food quality was wildly uneven. The one on NW Expy in the old Nino's is better but they should spend a few $$ to fix the parking lot. Haven't eaten at the one in Bricktown recently but it used to be really good.

This is the old Henry Hudson's just east of Western and north of 63rd.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chelinos111217.jpg

^^^^^^^
That was always such a really, really strange location.

Meridian - Jesus "Chuy" Garcia
El Reno - Raul Garcia
Robinson - Juan Garcia
Norman and 10904 North May - Armando Garcia
All Other Locations - Marcelino "Chelino" Garcia

The 5900 N May location is closing and relocating to the Henry Hudson building.... Scheduled open date is Nov 1 but that may not happen.

New sign up at the 5900 N May location says "Coming Soon - Armando's", keeping it in the family, I guess.

Oh wow that color.

The are open at 6728 N. Olie... Just east of West off Western and north of NW 63rd -- the bright aqua building a few posts up.

I had posted a new thread about my recent trip to the new Armando's, but it seems to have disappeared.

Save yourself the trouble. The only thing new, is a few tables and they had painted over the founders portraits on the north wall. Their food is not as good in my humble opinion. The complimentary chips and salsa are unchanged, save the sauce is more bland. .

The food was nothing to write home about. . And apparently not worthy of a new thread here. . .

I had posted a new thread about my recent trip to the new Armando's, but it seems to have disappeared.

It's here: http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=43947

Thanks for the heads up Pete!

I passed by there today. I looks like the signage is down. Have they closed already?

It wouldn't surprise me. That location has poor visibility and Chelino's is not the best Mexican food in town. I mean, it's better than El Chico, but I would put it on the lower tier when it comes to Tex-Mex, below even Ted's.

It wouldn't surprise me. That location has poor visibility and Chelino's is not the best Mexican food in town. I mean, it's better than El Chico, but I would put it on the lower tier when it comes to Tex-Mex, below even Ted's.

I guess it's one of those different strokes for different folks. There's a line waiting to get a table at Ted's everytime we go. I think food is one of those things that I take opinions about with a grain of salt. I might love something you hate and the other way around.

...below even ted's.
......lol!

If you're from anywhere with good Mexican food, you don't like Chelino's or Ted's.

If you're from anywhere with good Mexican food, you don't like Chelino's or Ted's.

Yep. Went to El Tiempo in Houston last weekend and was reminded how far we have to go. Barrio's beef fajitas are the only one's that I've had here that are close.

I guess it's one of those different strokes for different folks. There's a line waiting to get a table at Ted's everytime we go. I think food is one of those things that I take opinions about with a grain of salt. I might love something you hate and the other way around.

Ted's is popular but popular doesn't mean its great. It's not the worst I've had either. I would say it's about average for Oklahoma. I go to Ted's with my family because that's where they insist on going but I never suggest it otherwise.

Ted's is popular but popular doesn't mean its great. It's not the worst I've had either. I would say it's about average for Oklahoma. I go to Ted's with my family because that's where they insist on going but I never suggest it otherwise.
I could not agree more. Ted's is very popular for some reason. it is good, but not great...but on the other hand....I like them all, so what do I know. just because somebody does not like the place, does not mean it is a bad place of course....It is to that person I guess...to somebody else it is the best! To me (not that anybody cares) Chelinos is just OK, I like Teds better, and it's OK, Abuelos is OK, the two I like the best is a place call Ables, on NW 50th... boy is it good, and Green Chile Kitchen in Yukon. The only Mexican joint I don't like is a place in Piedmont, can't remember the name, their ground beef in nothing but mush! and the food in my opinion is just not good.

thank you

I passed by there today. I looks like the signage is down. Have they closed already?

Spoke with corporate and they are still open.

just because somebody does not like the place, does not mean it is a bad place of course....It is to that person I guess...to somebody else it is the best!

Wish more people would adopt this attitude.

no joke...
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/017/314/stop_liking_file.jpg

Ted's is popular but popular doesn't mean its great. ...

Ha, my dad used to try to make me think Billy Sims BBQ was really good because of all the Cox and AT&T trucks in the parking lot...

Ted's is very popular for some reason. it is good, but not great...

I think the popularity of Ted's is because it is quite a bit better than the kind of Mexican food you used to find around here. It really is pretty good compared to places like El Chico, Don Pablo, that one that was in the lower level of Crossroads Mall that I forget the name of, On The Border, etc.

that one that was in the lower level of Crossroads Mall that I forget the name of
through most of its run it was el fenix but finished up as a monterey jack's

through most of its run it was el fenix but finished up as a monterey jack's

How does any remember the quality of that place to compare it to today's standards? That was years ago.

If you ask me 75% of the "tex-mex" places taste the same. The places that people say are better are more traditional mexican restaurants and not everyone likes that style of food?

If you want truly awful Mexican food, you can’t beat La Sénorita in Petoskey, Michigan.

Ted's is popular but popular doesn't mean its great. It's not the worst I've had either. I would say it's about average for Oklahoma. I go to Ted's with my family because that's where they insist on going but I never suggest it otherwise.

It was a *lot* better many years ago. It has changed hands at least twice IIRC, and while it's still...OK...agree that it isn't some destination place. When my wife and I first married, it was, but not so much now. We've transitioned to Mama Roja's as our go-to special-trip Mexican place. Alfredo's in Moore is consistently tasty and a better value, IMHO, than Ted's.

There's a place on Main St. in Yukon called Poquito de Mexico that has to serve the worst "food" ever. It's downright awful. I'd take Chelino's over Poquito's any day.

When I lived in the southeast and midwest, I would have killed for a Ted's or Chelino's. While living in Ohio, I would drive an hour to eat at an Abuelo's that tasted pretty much like the ones here. There is a reason regions have specialties. I haven't had a decent salt crust pizza or pretzel bun since leaving Ohio.

If you want truly awful Mexican food, you can’t beat La Sénorita in Petoskey, Michigan.

Have you tried Jose Babushka's in Grand Rapids, Mi. ? I didn't get a chance, then they closed but have recently reopened. I just love the name. Mexican first name and Polish last name. I think it's just a "made up" name. Catchy though.
C. T.

Have you tried Jose Babushka's in Grand Rapids, Mi. ? I didn't get a chance, then they closed but have recently reopened. I just love the name. Mexican first name and Polish last name. I think it's just a "made up" name. Catchy though.
C. T.

My siblings and I chose to go to Carlos O'Kelly's just about every year for our birthdays. I don't remember there being anything Irish on the menu though.

My siblings and I chose to go to Carlos O'Kelly's just about every year for our birthdays. I don't remember there being anything Irish on the menu though.

Love it.
C. T.

Try looking for Mexican food in SW Connecticut. I lived there a few months in 2000. Taco Bell and On The Border were by far the best.

Have you tried Jose Babushka's in Grand Rapids, Mi. ? I didn't get a chance, then they closed but have recently reopened. I just love the name. Mexican first name and Polish last name. I think it's just a "made up" name. Catchy though.
C. T.

I'm laughing because you know about my hometown I'm from grand rapids. Its funny because I can't wait to get back there to get a wet burrito.

I'm laughing because you know about my hometown I'm from grand rapids. Its funny because I can't wait to get back there to get a wet burrito.

My late sister lived there for about nine years. In her last year (1989) I made six trips to there. She actually lived in Kentwood.
C. T.

Looks like the Chelino's that opened up not too long ago on N Olie has closed. Not the best location at all. I don't think people even knew it was there.

Should have moved out to the old Hideaway location, at least that is visible from the street.

Should have moved out to the old Hideaway location, at least that is visible from the street.

Timing prevented this. The Olie location was available before Hideaway moved out. Several spots in Nichols Hills Plaza have recently been filled by restaurants, but as much as Chelino’s might want to be there, they wouldn’t be consistent with the more-upscale tenant mix.

I can recommend Armando’s in the former Chelonia spot on north May. The owners have 35 or so years working in Chelonia before they branched out. So the recipes are familiar but with a little more flavor and love. I recommend the more authentic dishes over the okc-mex fare. But that’s my personal taste

I can recommend Armando’s in the former Chelonia spot on north May. The owners have 35 or so years working in Chelonia before they branched out. So the recipes are familiar but with a little more flavor and love. I recommend the more authentic dishes over the okc-mex fare. But that’s my personal taste

Where's Chelonia? :) My dumb auto-correct always does that, too

Word is Chelinos in Bricktown is closing.

Word is Chelinos in Bricktown is closing.

Wow! They had a long run. That's another big hole along the canal. A lot of closures on the canal in the last couple years.

Wow! They had a long run. That's another big hole along the canal. A lot of closures on the canal in the last couple years.

I always thought they did good business, but maybe it has something to do with a parking garage being built in front of their main entrance, I assume that's still in the works?

I always thought they did good business, but maybe it has something to do with a parking garage being built in front of their main entrance, I assume that's still in the works?

It's not like their main entrance was all that attractive to begin with, since it is at the end of a dead-end alley.

As to their closing, I think it is time for a little refresh along the canal. If we got something new to market or at least new to Bricktown in both Chelino's and Zio's I think it would attract people back to the canal.