Location: McAllen
Top Restaurants in McAllen
Top Things to do in McAllen
McAllen Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in McAllen
McAllen (/mɪˈkælɪn/ mih-KAL-in) is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States, and the twenty-second most populous city in Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa, and McAllen is approximately 70 miles (110 km) west of the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2010 census the city's population was 129,877, and the population of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area was 774,769. As of 2016, the city population was estimated to be 142,212. It is the fifth most populous metropolitan area in the state of Texas, and the bi-national Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area counts a population of nearly 1.5 million.
Things to do in McAllen
1. The Patio on Guerra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 155 reviews
The Patio on Guerra is a family owned restaurant serving prime steaks and seafood in the ambiance of a 100 year old building. Dining is hosted in both the indoor dining room as well as the beautiful outdoor patio for lunch and dinner. The outdoor patio also hosts live music on the weekends with contemporary jazz featured on Fridays and tropical salsa on Saturdays. There is a fully equipped private room that seats up to 65 guests and is readily available to accommodate business meetings and social events. Our staff looks forward to serving you and helping make your dining experience memorable.
Reviewed By SGMTommy - Richland, Mississippi
What a GREAT restaurant! Located in an historic building and beautifully restored. The food could not be better. Dinner for our anniversary........table had a card indicating it was our anniversary with glitter sprinkled around. From the hostess to the waiter to the other staff the service was very attentive but not overbearing. We ordered the mushroom stuffed with lobster as an appetizer. The word to describe it is divine. Served with crackers but it is also delicious with the warm bread they serve. We both opted for the 10 ounce lobster tail and they were cooked to perfection. A salad and rice for my wife and soup and potatoes for me made for a complete meal. The chef prepared a dessert plate with their million dollar pie on it. The plate wished us a Happy Anniversary and included our names. Some would say the restaurant is too expensive but I would say that it is the perfect place for a special occasion. When we are back this way we will certainly return for another meal!
2. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By Bernadetteere - Texas
This is a beautiful restaurant. The staff are all very nice and accomodating. The food on the otherhand? My fried shrimp was just supposed to be regular fried shrimp but this was very spicy. It would have been nice if someone had told me about that earlier. At $25. for 12 small and medium sized shrimp it wasn’t cheap either. Hubby got the soft-crab @ 2 for $25. They were very small too; and they’d been flattened beyond recognition. Our server was young and new, we were his first customers, so I didn’t want to upset him, but he got the order wrong and took ages to serve/return.
3. Delia's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 365 reviews
Reviewed By ScoMort - New Hampshire
If you don't want a tamale, then you should dine elsewhere. But if you do want a tamale, then stop on by!
This northerner family stopped in and enjoyed the pork and chicken tamales. Even our very picky pre-teen liked them.
Can't get anything like this back home.
4. House Wine and Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
house. wine. & bistro. offers 130 wines by the glass, bottle or case. Our extensive list of wine features a heterogeneous collection of vintage and contemporary wines from diverse regions. House Wine & Bistro offers a lunch and dinner with a variety of flavors ranging from light and tasty hors d’oeuvres to hearty lunch and dinner fare. house. wine. & bistro. also offers a bridal registry, custom gift baskets, private parties and catering services. House Wine & Bistro can accommodate and host lunch and dinner meetings and of course gift cards are always available. Larry and Jessica enjoy helping to plan the perfect rehearsal dinner, baby shower, office function or intimate evening with friends and family.
Reviewed By elizabeth p
When I lived in the valley, there werent many great places to go. But the few great places, they were excellent and memorable. House Wine and Bistro is one of the nice places I liked to go to. Food, service, ambiance- very nice!
5. Santa FE Steakhouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
Reviewed By Jose H
The best steaks in the whole valley, has a very good Ambience and live music. If you are trying to impress somebody and also enjoy a good meal this is the place to go
6. Salt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By Redhog98 - Merida, Mexico
From the moment we entered the restaurant, we felt at home. The gracious and friendly hostess apologized that they were running slightly behind schedule and offered us seats at the Captain's Table, which is a counter next to the kitchen. Similar to eating at the bar but you watch the cooks prepare the food instead of the bartender prepare the drinks. Interesting idea but we declined and ordered drinks at the real bar. Less than 10 minutes later, we were at our table ready to order.
We had three appetizers - Sriracha Shrimp, Poke and Sweet Breads - all of which were excellent. For entrees, my daughter ordered the duck, my wife ordered the scallops and I had the squid ink pasta. All the dishes were excellent, a highly creative and well thought out fusion of Asian, Mexican and Euro-American flavors. Surprisingly, all of us rated the homemade bucatini as our favorite. (They spell it "buccatini" for some reason.) We finished our meal with Baked Alaska (!) and Creme Brulee. Wow!
Combined with perfect lighting and acoustics, the crisp, clean ambience, great service, original, fresh and perfectly prepared food and the large and reasonably priced wine list more than justifies the bill. SALT is well worth your time and money,
7. Palenque Grill Expressway 83
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
It is 1974 when Juan Francisco "Pancho" Ochoa begins his journey into the restaurant business. It initiates a wonderful family tradition, with the UNIQUE TASTE of great Mexican food. On January 6th, 1975 Pancho creates "El Pollo Loco" concept in his small hometown of Guasave, located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. In 1980, this concept becomes the first Mexican restaurant chain to go go across the border, opening its first store in Los Angeles, California on Alvarado Ave. and 6th St. Pancho's passion continues in 1986, when he creates a new and innovating concept in Mexican food. On July 1st, 1987 he opens the first "Taco Palenque" with a distinctive quality, UNIQUE TASTE and good service that quickly developed and gained a good reputation throughout South Texas. On July 31st, 2005 Pancho and his son Charles, with the support of their family, open Palenque Grill in Laredo, Texas. The Ochoa family introduce Flerida Ochoa's (Pancho's wife) family recipes, creating a menu with excellent dishes of Mexican culinary traditions. On behalf of the Ochoa family, we thank you for visiting our small piece of Mexico. We are delighted to be able to serve you now in Laredo, McAllen and San Antonio, Texas.
Reviewed By keigrant - Boyertown, Pennsylvania
We stopped by on Valentine's Day for dinner, without a reservation since we were travelling -- we were surprised to get a table. Service was prompt, continued service was prompt -- in fact, at times we felt rushed which we attributed to moving guests in/out...MoreThank you for sharing your review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and Valentine's Day. :D We hope to have you back for another great visit. Until next time!
8. Republic of the Rio Grande
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 218 reviews
Reviewed By Cynthia P - San Jose, California
We went for lunch on the recommendation from a local and weren't disappointed. The food was excellent with large portions. The service was a little slow and disjointed due to the workload of the server. However, he was friendly and knowledgeable.
9. Costa Messa Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By Birdbet - South Padre Island, Texas
I enjoyed the caldo de mariscos, seafood soup, while my husband enjoyed a very tasty Chile relleno. Good salsas and chips accompany each order.
10. Pappadeaux
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By Madzech - McAllen, Texas
This place is a fantastic place to get a consistently great meal with great service and a busy vibe. Everyone comes here for lunch. It's fun to watch all the people while eating a great meal!!
