Pollo Campero

[Uptowner]

Not to be "that guy," but can someone explain the love for Abel's in OKC? I've tried to keep an open mind and I've been there five different times, and while OK, I don't think it offers anything spectacular. Am I ordering the wrong items? Please tell me what I should be ordering at Abel's?

I never order anything Tex mex. I think they’re Tex mex is not spectacular. Nor do I think much of any Tex mex, Ted’s fails 4/5 times, all the chelinos are in decline, except when the sw 29th location hits it knocks it out of the park. Tarahumara doesn’t impress me a lot either although, perhaps to their credit, I’ve only gone on sooner football days.

Abel’s exceeds in everything non-Tex mex. All the seafood is great and the “7 mares” seafood soup is a must have if you like the sound of 7 species swimming in a spicy sour veggie broth. There’s a pork rib dish that’s essentially deep fried ribs smother in peppers & onions, all the stews and guisadas are killer, and say yes to anything topped with a fried egg. There’s also a take away business being operated inside the lobby that operates as a taqueria: tacos, tortas, burritos, gorditas, etc. If you just ask for the taqueria menu when you sit, you can dine in(you can also call ahead for take away.) But keep in mind it doesn’t come with rice & beans although you can order them ala carte. I don’t recall if the chip&dip setup is included with dine in taqueria orders. And it’s what most big tables of Mexican families do on weekend lunch, that and the seafood soup. Or if you can best 5x 4” street tacos you can order the “calvillo” and they come on a platter with botana, fried onions, and grilled Serrano. Don’t forget to order fruit from the case as desert or appetizers they always have sliced mango, papaya, watermelon, etc. ready to go and also sell aguas frescas that I don’t believed are printed on the menu. I usually have a beer or two in the frozen mug. Honestly the rule of thumb is just to avoid the Tex mex and embrace the platillos mexicana, mariscos, huevos, and taqueria menu. As and order the $7 special salsa of the menu, just trust, it quite spicy however as are a lot of the authentic dishes.