(4.0) 
Chelinos Mexican Restaurant
June 2, 2007 by Jake
Filed under Lowest Rated, Mexican
Chelinos Mexican Restaurant
15 E California Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405) 235-3533
Last night a few friends and I were going to attend the Redhawk’s game in Bricktown. We were going to meet beforehand for dinner. Some of the people we were with chose Chelinos. I was pretty happy about this because Chelinos’ usually provides a fun environment, good service, and good food. When my wife and I arrived the rest of our party was already upstairs. As we made our way up the stairs I could feel small beads of sweat starting to form on my brow. I immediately know that this had potential to be a miserable dining experience. The closer we got to our table the more warm it got. When we got to the table I sat down in what had to be the worst chair I had ever sat in. Chelinos is either really serious about posture or needs some new chairs. I eventually went and got another chair. Finally I was able to sit down and order a Tecate. I ordered it in a schooner with lime and salt. The schooner was really cold and I thought it might be exactly what I need to cool off. To make a long story short it didn’t work. At this point I along with most of the other people at the table was sweating profusely. I even got in trouble from my wife for using her napkin to wipe my face off. I didn’t want sweat all over mine. That is gross.
Anyways, I consider myself somewhat of a cheese chimichanga aficionado, so of course that is what I ordered. I ordered it with Cheese and rice on the inside and I substituted the side of beans for more rice. When I received my entrée the Chimichanga was filled with only cheese. I wasn’t too upset about this because it was essentially a giant log of fried cheese, and can that really be bad. It tasted very good and was very filling. I should mention that 7 plates of hot food only intensify the extreme heat. By this point the heat was unbearable and I had to step outside for a minute. I came back and received the bill. The prices were more than reasonable. We had 2 entrée’s, 2 beers, and a vodka tonic for about $35. Usually Chelinos offers you a complimentary sopapia after your meal, but for some reason they didn’t this time. It didn’t really bother me that much because I usually decline them, but I thought my wife was going to tear up. She was really disappointed.
Usually I like to sit around and talk after a meal, but this time we all agreed that the best thing we could do was get the hell out of their before one of us had a heat stroke. So as good as the food was, the miserable atmosphere ruined what could have been a very pleasant dining experience.
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I agree, it was hot has balls in there! We arrived at Chelino’s 30 - 45 minutes before everyone else and they gladly sat us without our complete party being present. Also they kept the beers and chips coming while we waited, which was very nice.
The dinning area was horribly hot, and the food could have been better. My argument for that the food should have been better is coming from the “rave” review from the OK Gazzette that hailed the owner and gave us a history 101 about the owner’s career in the Mexican Restaurant business. This place is thought to be an OKC authentic mexican restaurant chain. I would have to disagree! Go to S.W. 29th and take your pick; any of these places will smoke Cheleno’s, Meleno’s Shmeleno’s!!!!!!!!!
I am not a fan of Chelino’s since the first time I ate there, I had, quite possibly, the WORST case of food poisoning in my life. I recommend sticking to cheese items when you go there. You’re not as likely to go wrong, but I would stay away from their sauces.
The best Chelino’s is the one on S. Robinson. I never eat at the Bricktown one.
I used to eat there quite a bit. Then one day my server was telling me how slow it was lately. I mentioned that her choice of Obama wasn’t going to help. Change was a word, not a promise. When I mentioned to the manager I may have offended her waitress talking about Obama and she told me how she loved him too. So, I’ll spread my wealth elsewhere.
The food is usually good.
@ George: I didn’t realize they were such loyal Obama supporters. That alone should bump their score from a 4 to an 8. Now I feel bad giving them a less than stellar review.
Also, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding Republican owned restaurants to replace Chelinos. I’m sure you can always eat at Chilis, On the Border, Outback, or any other corporate owned establishment.
@ George. Hey buddy! This is a restaurant review site that exists soley for the purpose of discussing food establishements. the injection of your political opinion is both unwelcome and unwanted. Hopefully, you will come to realize that your poorly hidden racisim and ignorance could be better put to use if you were to colloborate with the Daily Oklahoman. Keep your politics and ridiculous rationale to yourself…..especially if you’re a Republican!
Look at that!!! the Democrats are being negative and cruel again. These dining areas need Repbulican money to stay in business.:)
Chelino’s used to be good about 10 years ago, but I quit going. Mexican restaurants seem to have a time limit on quality, they all go downhill after about 2 years.