I had steak fajitas I couldn't eat the meat so much, grisl we had other people in our birthday party that had the same problem
Jodi Griffith
We ordered Carlos O' Kelly's last night. We couldn't place our order on line because we didn't want certain items in our naked nachos grande and if you order online you can't exclude items which is bad for the customer because if they have allergies they have to order via phone. Next thing that was not great was the amount of toppings we received with our naked nachos grande. Grande it was NOT! for $11.99 we got ripped off! Don't waste your money! We also ordered a fajita steak burrito and the steak wasn't even chewable, it was like rubber! The sides(rice and beans) tasted like they had been sitting for a while. NOT FRESH! Overall we won't be going back to this Carlos! Waste of time and the $43.00 we spent on this bad meal. I don't recommend! There are better restaurants out there if you want good Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Stephanie Gartner
Best waitress we have had in awhile. Food was hot but all kinda tastes the same...it was ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa
Jeff Hunter
We are always able to get a table where we want and the servers are very friendly.Parking: Parking in front, sides, and back of building.Wheelchair accessibility: There are handicapped parking spaces on the side of the building.
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Pasta Diablo, Prairie Fire Fajitas
Lee Gert
Chicken Picado was awesome. Service was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carlos Salsa Pint, Chipotle Chicken Burrito, Chicken Fajitas
David McElhinney
We love Carlos O Kelly's. Great food. The best queso anywhere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeannie McQuilliam
Be careful about what you pay. When I added it all up, it was less than what was charged and they wouldn't fix it. The manager tried it herself and the look on her face and her shrugging her shoulders told me I was right. She wouldn't admit it. The waitress was awesome though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Donnell Nunn
I loved the entire experience, the food was great and the waitresses were friendly, respectful and very helpful.. Going back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rod Telfer
This was just a takeout of chips, salsa, guac and of course their wonderful Queso. It was ready as soon as I arrived and was still warm when we got home. They got me In and Out as efficiently as
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Cheese Dip
Jenni H.
Carlos O'Kelly's has been a go-to for my family for as long as I can remember. My order for the past TWO decades: two pulled chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce. Why? A) It's amazing-- if I could replicate that cheese sauce at home I'd die a happy woman. But B) I am so darn full from their chips/salsa... I have room for nothing else. Forget rice or beans. I often wonder when I frequent a Carlos O'Kelly's; 'Will they run out of chips/salsa or will I explode?' Their salsa is my kryptonite. It always hits the spot and I never ever have enough. While we typically frequent the Iowa City location but a random Thursday in December we had reservations for this CR location to meet up with family. I will premise this with-- we were a party of 16. But it was a ghost town; we were one of the few folks dining in that day. So, with that in mind.... Even with it being empty we weren't all able to sit at the same table. So I will say this is not a spot for big groups. We had to split into two tables. Everything from chips and salsa, to margaritas, to our entrees were brought out slow and unfortunately many orders were wrong or just not prepared well. Overall this location is a bit dated. Service the day we came was not on par. And the quality of the food brought out just wasn't typical-- my beloved chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce weren't as stellar as normal. That all being said, come to Carlos O'Kelly's for margaritas, chips and all the salsa you can eat. You won't regret it. (Especially if it is a Tuesday or Thursday. $2 Mug-a-ritas on Tuesday. $3 Jumbo Margs on Thursday.)
This place is pretty different than what I remember from when I was younger. I do not eat cilantro or anything with cilantro in it, and I remember a specific dish that was safe from having cilantro in it. I was told that the dish does have cilantro, and the waitress also warned me that the salsa brought to the table had it as well. She helped me out by substituting the type of chicken (fajita chicken does not have cilantro, but shredded chicken does).The waitress was super cool and patient and answered all of my questions. The food was also really good as well. My partner ordered a pasta (Pasta Diablo) and said it was great!Overall, this was a great experience even with my pickiness. Can't wait to come back!Dietary restrictions: A LOT of dishes contain cilantro, so make sure to double-check.Kid-friendliness: This place does have a kids menu and highchairs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Less Hultman
Food I like chips and cheese and leftovers I'll take home to eat later even cold.Parking: There is plenty of space. I've never had any problems with finding a place to park.Wheelchair accessibility: There are 3 or more spots for handicap parking and ramp everything on one level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Seafood Enchiladas, Cheese Dip, Pasta Diablo, Chicken Fajitas
Local Guide
This place is due for an update but I don't think it brings in enough traffic to afford one. There are multiple seats with tears in them. Wish there were more gluten free options.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Patty Merritt
Food and service was awesome, as usual!!!! Good price for the portions!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Tjelmeland
Kudos to Cassie, nicest server I've had in a long time!! Thank you!!
I had steak fajitas I couldn't eat the meat so much, grisl we had other people in our birthday party that had the same problem
We ordered Carlos O' Kelly's last night. We couldn't place our order on line because we didn't want certain items in our naked nachos grande and if you order online you can't exclude items which is bad for the customer because if they have allergies they have to order via phone. Next thing that was not great was the amount of toppings we received with our naked nachos grande. Grande it was NOT! for $11.99 we got ripped off! Don't waste your money! We also ordered a fajita steak burrito and the steak wasn't even chewable, it was like rubber! The sides(rice and beans) tasted like they had been sitting for a while. NOT FRESH! Overall we won't be going back to this Carlos! Waste of time and the $43.00 we spent on this bad meal. I don't recommend! There are better restaurants out there if you want good Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Best waitress we have had in awhile. Food was hot but all kinda tastes the same...it was ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa
We are always able to get a table where we want and the servers are very friendly.Parking: Parking in front, sides, and back of building.Wheelchair accessibility: There are handicapped parking spaces on the side of the building.
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Pasta Diablo, Prairie Fire Fajitas
Chicken Picado was awesome. Service was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carlos Salsa Pint, Chipotle Chicken Burrito, Chicken Fajitas
We love Carlos O Kelly's. Great food. The best queso anywhere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Be careful about what you pay. When I added it all up, it was less than what was charged and they wouldn't fix it. The manager tried it herself and the look on her face and her shrugging her shoulders told me I was right. She wouldn't admit it. The waitress was awesome though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
I loved the entire experience, the food was great and the waitresses were friendly, respectful and very helpful.. Going back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was just a takeout of chips, salsa, guac and of course their wonderful Queso. It was ready as soon as I arrived and was still warm when we got home. They got me In and Out as efficiently as
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Cheese Dip
Carlos O'Kelly's has been a go-to for my family for as long as I can remember. My order for the past TWO decades: two pulled chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce. Why? A) It's amazing-- if I could replicate that cheese sauce at home I'd die a happy woman. But B) I am so darn full from their chips/salsa... I have room for nothing else. Forget rice or beans. I often wonder when I frequent a Carlos O'Kelly's; 'Will they run out of chips/salsa or will I explode?' Their salsa is my kryptonite. It always hits the spot and I never ever have enough. While we typically frequent the Iowa City location but a random Thursday in December we had reservations for this CR location to meet up with family. I will premise this with-- we were a party of 16. But it was a ghost town; we were one of the few folks dining in that day. So, with that in mind.... Even with it being empty we weren't all able to sit at the same table. So I will say this is not a spot for big groups. We had to split into two tables. Everything from chips and salsa, to margaritas, to our entrees were brought out slow and unfortunately many orders were wrong or just not prepared well. Overall this location is a bit dated. Service the day we came was not on par. And the quality of the food brought out just wasn't typical-- my beloved chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce weren't as stellar as normal. That all being said, come to Carlos O'Kelly's for margaritas, chips and all the salsa you can eat. You won't regret it. (Especially if it is a Tuesday or Thursday. $2 Mug-a-ritas on Tuesday. $3 Jumbo Margs on Thursday.)
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is pretty different than what I remember from when I was younger. I do not eat cilantro or anything with cilantro in it, and I remember a specific dish that was safe from having cilantro in it. I was told that the dish does have cilantro, and the waitress also warned me that the salsa brought to the table had it as well. She helped me out by substituting the type of chicken (fajita chicken does not have cilantro, but shredded chicken does).The waitress was super cool and patient and answered all of my questions. The food was also really good as well. My partner ordered a pasta (Pasta Diablo) and said it was great!Overall, this was a great experience even with my pickiness. Can't wait to come back!Dietary restrictions: A LOT of dishes contain cilantro, so make sure to double-check.Kid-friendliness: This place does have a kids menu and highchairs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Food I like chips and cheese and leftovers I'll take home to eat later even cold.Parking: There is plenty of space. I've never had any problems with finding a place to park.Wheelchair accessibility: There are 3 or more spots for handicap parking and ramp everything on one level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Seafood Enchiladas, Cheese Dip, Pasta Diablo, Chicken Fajitas
This place is due for an update but I don't think it brings in enough traffic to afford one. There are multiple seats with tears in them. Wish there were more gluten free options.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Food and service was awesome, as usual!!!! Good price for the portions!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kudos to Cassie, nicest server I've had in a long time!! Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5