I'm going back and forth between two and three stars for this review. I'm with Charles S on this one. His review is pretty spot on with my thoughts.
The complimentary chips and salsa were decent. I like the light crunchy chips especially because they're served warm but the salsa is just okay. No heat at all and no other options to get anything spicier.
The prices are a bit crazy. I get that they're not La Frontera or any of the other less expensive places. I know that it's a nicer place with better ambiance. But when most of your plates start at $13-14, I'm expecting really great food. Instead, what you get is kind of...meh. It's not awful by any means. It's just not great. But at least you get big portions? I'd trade that in for more flavor. I wanted to try the Tres Enchiladas plate but $17 for three enchiladas is absolutely ridiculous even if it comes with rice and beans.
They have a nice selection of alcohol and cocktails. I've tried a couple of different drinks and they have nice flavor but lack the booziness I want. I know that's not really their fault but the drinks aren't really worth it if there's no buzz accompanying it.
I settled on three stars because of the service. I've had good service there and that's always something to look forward to.
If I could, I would eat at Tres Hombres a couple of times a week...at LEAST a couple of times a week. Â Friendly staff and great service compliment the GREAT food. Â I try to have something different each visit and have yet to be disappointed in my meal. Â The servings are bountiful and the chips and salsa will keep coming for as long as you request them. Â And don't forget to have a Margarita...they have several, SEVERAL different kinds.
Review Source:Okay, people listen up. There are a multitude of bad reviews, okay reviews and some great reviews. All in all, reviews lend all of us a small road map as to where we are going, what we should try, what to expect, etc. However, I challenge you to actually show up, try the food, the drinks and test the service for yourself. How can you rely on people that you don't know have similar tastes or opinions? With that, I am going to provide you some of the best suggestions to making your experience at Tres Hombres one of the best. (I have been coming here for 25 years, so I know a thing or two about their food).
First off, the chips and salsa are AMAZING. They make the chips every day fresh, in fact every few hours, along with their salsas. Now, they give you their house salsa to start but remember there are tons more options!! They have some seriously spicy salsas and some with just enough kick to get those sweat beads rolling. I'm amazed all sauces and salsas are made in house from scratch, not to mention they have completely REVAMPED their spices, sauces and menu!! So, if dissatisfied before, this is the best time to go back and let them prove to you how well they do Mexican.
For starters, there are some highlights such as the coctel de camarones (shrimp cocktail) that is truly delicious. If you love jumbo shrimp, fresh avocado, cucumber, cilantro and tomato, there is no way you wont' love this. It is very rare to find nice sized shrimp, especially that taste good in the valley. It's light and refreshing and perfect for two to start.
To follow, or maybe I began in the wrong order, margaritas!!!! To truly appreciate a good tequila paired with a robust homemade margarita mix, you must try one of the speciality margs. My personal favorites are the Pama rita (super refreshing pomegranate taste, slightly sweet but finishes with a perfect tartness to balance it out). The Don is another favorite, using 1800 anejo and house blend mix. Seriously, do not skip out on the margaritas, they are an anomaly in Utah.
ENTREES, my favorite part of the experience. Of course it is only natural to crave simple dishes such as chimichangas, ground beef tacos, or a quesadilla. But I ask you to step outside of the box and truly relish in some unique platters. First, the seafood enchiladas offered here are nothing short of amazing. They use very high quality seafood, which explains the higher price, but worth it when you bite into one. There are enchiladas zacatecas (crab and shrimp in flour tortillas smothered with homemade red sauce) or for a spicy kick, the enchiladas veracruz, only crab, but blue corn tortillas with spicy tomatillo sauce, all made in house. They grill up a mean carne asada, huge portion, perfect flavor and tenderness, can't go wrong. I also love the mahi mahi tacos, grilled chicken salad and arroz con pollo (very traditional dish with perfect seasoning, spice and flavors).
Now, its dessert time!! My personal favorite time of the meal. Although they only have three options for dessert, all three seem to hit the spot at different times. All three are made in house, flan, tres leches cake and fried ice cream. I love the tres leches, it truly hits the spot.
All in all, I'm a seriously dedicated patron to Tres Hombres, always have been and always will be. I know that sometimes one experience can leave a bad taste in your mouth forever, but sometimes its worth revisiting and exploring new options that will leave you more satisfied and happy in the end.
SALUD and happy eating!!!!
This place is so friendly and it is not just because they asked to see my id when I ordered a drink and I am 43 years old.....no not that at all! Â
I love their shredded beef quesadilla and the portion is so large that two people can share it. Â I also really enjoyed the Tequilla ice tea but you can only have one or else! Â I will keep coming back here because it is excellent and right next door to my work, Madison McCord Interiors. Â Come and check us both out and make an afternoon out of it!
I know that the manager here prides himself on good tequila so if you notice the menu, most margaritas are made with top shelf tequila, so saying that, most drinks are around $8 to $9. Â The drinks are tasty and smooth. Â I remember coming here for there chicken salad because the ranch was homemade but now, it's out of a cheap bottle and it sucks. Â If you want spicier salsa, they charge you $1.49. Â The mahi tacos are really good, not fishy. The nachos are huge and good, how can you screw up nachos really? Service has always been good. Â The inside looks really nice with huge plants in pretty pots from Cactus and Tropicals.
Review Source:We've always enjoyed the Hombres just fine but after further discussion it's really not worth the money you spend. The drinks are okay and the food just alright. The service (Derek) was horrible. Overall not worth the cost at $15.99 for a burrito that I could have spent $8 for at the cafe rio and had a better meal and experience. I'd say save your money and go to the red iguana or somewhere better!!!
Review Source:Having had many lunches here, I find Tres Hombres to be an above average Mexican restaurant. Â Come with an empty stomach because the portions are very large. Â I appreciate that they throw in the complimentary warm chips and very good salsa, which is becoming less and less common at Mexican restaurants these days. Â The service is very nice and the food is served promptly. Â Great for a short lunch.
Review Source:This is the first one star review I've had the write since joining the ranks of the Yelp community! It pains me to do it for such a memorable place to me.
I have fond memories of Tres Hombres from close to 20 years ago when I used to visit Salt Lake. Once I moved here I used to frequent from time to time, and always loved it.
Now, it has been a few years since I've been so I was excited to go when I was with a couple of friends who decided it was the place for lunch today. Â
Now my fellow Yelpers, and to any and all who read this review, please heed my words! It is wise to do your homework prior to going to a new (or new to you) restaurant. ...and since it had been years I should've read up on Tres Hombres to see what I was in for!
The decor in Tres Hombres is amazing, I mean it's top notch! However that's where it stops. The chips are ok, the salsa is watery tomato paste at best, the food is over priced (especially for the size and bland flavor) and the service (all the way to the manager sending messages through the server) is shotty at best.
So like I mentioned I went with a couple friends. They ordered salads, and I ordered Tacos de Calle ( I LOVE street tacos) on the servers recommendation. We snacked on the chips, and the watery tomato paste and awaited our food. The busser frequently stopped by to fill our waters which was a plus. After about 15 minutes the server brings out the two salads and said, "I had to get these out of the window, they were dieing! Oh and sir your tacos will be out soon, steak takes  longer to make then salads." ...REALLY, are you sure??? Ok so the cheese was melted, the lettuce was wilted, and the plates were hot to the touch. One of my party asked for green tomatillo sauce rather than the salad dressing, and the server, seemingly put out, said, "Ok hold on. Five minutes later, and another visit from the water boy our server returned with the requested sauce. Still no Taco's de Calle. She said, "Oh your food will be right out. We're a little busy." Ok now I've been in the restaurant industry for years, and know better than to believe that load of crap! She obviously forgot to put in the order. So finally my tacos show up. They were bland, tasteless, and not a whole lot to it, and I was about to pay $9.99 for this? So I made up my taco and realized there was no salsa on the table, and since our server was scarce at best I figured I'd use a little of the tomatillo sauce form my friend. It was what those taco's needed. So when I finally caught a glimpse of our server I asked for a small side of the sauce for myself. The server came out with a small bowl and said, "My manager told me to tell you, we have to charge for tomatillo sauce in that size. But I'm not going to charge you today." I told her I just asked for a small size but if she had to charge go ahead, it was fine. She said, "No I won't charge you today." So we went on to eat our bland, wilted, and over priced food. With no check back from the server. Finally she came over and cleared a few items from the table and dropped the check. When glancing at the check we realized all the up charges on the bill. $1.49 for all the sides of tomatillo, and $2.49 for some extra black beans my friend asked for because there were too few on the salad. When we asked the server about the charges, she snarled, and said, "You can talk to the manager." Now like mentioned I have been in the restaurant industry for a majority of my professional career. I managed a very popular, and high revenue generating restaurant in the South Towne area. So I am aware of the need for up charging, and food cost, blah blah blah... However when this manager came out he was ready for war. I mean he didn't even take a second to hear a word we had to say. He immediately defended his up charge, and stance. I calmly told him what the server said and he started to calm down. Then went right back to it when one of the people in my party said we probably won't be back. He went on to tell us he had no reason to hear us out, or help us because we weren't coming back anyway. I was appalled! I had never treated a guest that way ever!
Let me end with this. If you at all value your time, money, or experiences, do not go to Tres Hombres! there are SO many GREAT Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake. Please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and go down the street! Literally go north, south, east, or west and there is a better Mexican restaurant than Tres Hombres less than minutes away!
I apologize to those that love Tres Hombres, although I have not read too many stellar reviews. However if you love Tres Hombres, please do yourself a favor and branch out, there's a lot better out there!
P.S. I'll be the guy down the street enjoying a different Mexican restaurant, sipping a Dos XX wearing my Yelp shades! I don't always drink beer but when I do I drink Dos XX. ...and I don't always eat mexican food but when I do it won't be at Tres Hombres!
This is just sad. Â Remember going with friends to Tres Hombres in the 1980s and drinking huge margaritas and eating great chili verde? Â And knowing your waitress and tipping her well because the service was so good? Â NOT ANYMORE. Â The hostess is non existent. Â The waiter is slow and unfriendly. Â But the worst part is the food. Â It tastes Terrible. Â And everything you order looks and tastes like everything else. Â Time to say goodbye to an old friend. Â We went three times just to make sure. Â Time to stop this sad excuse for a restaurant.
Review Source:I like Tres Hombres. Â
They serve gargantuan portions of Americanized Mexican cuisine. Â I've been a handful of times over the many years they have been in business, and I have always left stuffed and happy. Â Their chili verde has a great flavor with just the right amount of heat. Â The meat in their tacos could use a bit more seasoning, but they are still pretty good. The chimichanga is a meaty, deep fried success. Â But the chili rellenos are no different than you would find at any typical strip mall Mexican restaurant, meaning they are a soggy, cheesy disappointment. Â Slightly above average chips and salsa.
They have an extensive and great tasting specialty drink list, and a wide variety of quality Tequilas for shots or for sipping. I had a great time one Sunday, getting really drunk on well-made, three dollar Bloody Mary's and snarfing down a perfectly acceptable Huevos Rancheros.
I find the interior to be very festive and welcoming.  In fact, I think Tres Hombres has the best atmosphere of any Mexican restaurant in the valley  (except Frida Bistro, which is in a class by itself). Those giant, beautiful plants throughout the place are all real, and I love the kitschy artwork.
Look, this is not the real deal. Â There are no house-made moles or whole fried Tilapia. Â You have to go much further west of this establishment to find authentic Mexican food. Â But I'll put on the feedbag at Tres Hombres now and then, and I won't feel bad about it.
Never been super impressed with this place. The decor inside is kinda nice I guess since they have expanded over the years.The food is kinda bland and over priced. I do like that they have a guy go around with a guitar usually on weekends, but he does get pushy for you to buy his album. It's like, really, do I want to buy an album of some struggling Spanish guitarist?
Review Source:In another attempt to get away from my bias for Asian foods, my boyfriend and I came here as he had a craving for Mexican. Â I had just finished watching a recipe for a mahi mahi ceviche and found myself craving seafood and citrus. Â My boyfriend got the carne asada burrito and I got the seafood taco salad with mahi mahi, along with a couple of margaritas. Â
The drinks here are a little pricey, but I will admit that they are huge compared to getting margaritas at other places, so I suppose it's justified. Â I could also say the same thing about the prices on their menu, which are also a little inflated, but I was very glad to see that my salad and his burrito had tons of guacamole (3 avocados worth, I swear!), just how I like it. Â The flavor itself of my food was nothing special, but it wasn't anything bad, just a little under seasoned. Â The quality of the ingredients were fine, although I did have a hard time finding any lettuce in my salad haha. Â My boyfriend's burrito had TONS of steak in it, which was a plus, and after trying some, I think I would have preferred his dish. Â
The chips and salsa were good, except I think I would have preferred a spicier salsa, but it did have a good tomato flavor. Â Overall, it was a ton of money for a ton of food, but I don't know if I'd be back again because there are so many more affordable and better tasting options. Â I will say that their service is worthy of 4 stars, as is the location and the ambiance.
My girlfriend and I just tried Tres Hombres for the first time, we've been meaning to go for a long time and finally did. We thought the service was excellent and we received our food very fast for how busy the restaurant was. We'd rate it 4-5 stars for that part of our experience. Then came the food, we found it to be somewhat bland and fairly average. Large portions (we both had to get a to go container), but after a few bites we both looked at each other and was a little disappointed. We would go there again and probably will but, it just wasn't that place that hooks you forever!
Review Source:Tres Hombres is to Salt Lake Mexican food what Pagoda is to local "Japanese": an outdated, highly-Americanized version of some trace of an ethnic cuisine. Â The one and only time I ate at Pagoda (hoping for an explanation as to why this type of place has stayed in business for 40 years), I was almost offended at how their hackneyed, circa 1965 take on vaguely Asian flavors had survived the advance of modern civilization. Â Ditto, Tres Hombres.
I didn't expect much, to be frank. Â I'd been told to avoid this restaurant dozens of times, and have managed to do so easily all 34 years of my on-again/off-again Salt Lake City existence. Â But a partner who works down the street picked our lunch location, and I once again figured there must be a reason for Tres Hombres' longevity.
I'll give you that reason, as best as I can fathom: if Utah suburbanites aren't eating at Chili's, they'd darn well better be able to get a plate of something equally bland and ultra-familiar down the street... Â ...like a sour cream-smothered chimichanga. Â I'm sure for some, Tres Hombres' rendition brings warm memories of Lynn Wilson's flooding back in salty tears, it's so lacking in spice or any semblance of authenticity.
I made the even sillier mistake of ordering an enchilada brimming with seafood. Â The shrimp seemed obviously boiled and the crab straight from a can. Â All of it was smothered in a flavorless cheese and Sysco-ish red sauce, aside standard riceandbeans and that ridiculous pile of shredded iceberg lettuce.
I wish I'd at least tried a margarita first.
Tres Hombres gets one extra star because its interior is kitchy old-school Mexican in a good way.  There are  well-worn Equipale chairs in the lobby, and the dining room is lush with  tropical plants in clay pots that form a canopy over all-booth seating.  A bar off to one side glows neon and Corona features prominently on colorful signs throughout.
I suppose, if that's what you picture when you imagine a meal in Mexico, the food at this place fits. Â But I highly recommend you get back in your time machine and join the rest of us in this century. Â There are dozens of better places in town. Â Try mole or a little serrano with your grilled chicken. Â Or better yet, visit Mexico. Â It looks and tastes nothing like Tres Hombres.
My wife has an affinity for this place for some reason and sometimes I'm just too tired to put up a fight so I walk in with my head hanging low!
I think all the other 1 and 2 star reviewers have said it as well as I can, so any future reviewers who are giving it 4 or 5 stars please list what you had so maybe I can give it a try. I'm sure against all my protests I'll be dragged back here again, and would be happy to update my review if I stumble upon something good.
I'll admit the service is usually 4 star and the place is clean and fairly cool.
I going to make an assumption here that the owners knew exactly what they were doing in picking the location, creating the atmosphere, nice lighting and ample parking, some smart decisions were made in creating this place.
Where it all falls apart is the moment you're seated which speaks directly to management. Lousy service, going through the motions effort by staff and the portion size is generous, but the taste is just lacking.
A few hints to the management, first resign, you're not cut out for managing a restaurant effectively. Next, if you decide to stay, train your greeter on doing more than just waking me to my table and laying down menus. Make sure the table is clean and has place settings, and try and communicate. Is a wait person going to see me soon, a busboy, a mariachi band? Tell me something.
Train your wait staff to speak in more than a hushed tone. Offer some suggestions from the menu. And, when the complimentary nachos/salsa bowls and my beverage glass are empty, don't wait for me to ask for more. Pushing those items to the edge of the table weren't hints enough?
The food wasn't all that bad, but there was nothing that stood out and made me want to come back. There may be some items on the menu that Tres Hombres specializes in, possibly the boxed in items which I ordered, no dice on quality, but the wait staff should maybe try and help the customers in ordering.
Oh, and that lousy tip we left, your waiter earned it. And, I really wanted to take the tip back as he stared us down as we left the restaurant. Mi amigo, really, were you planning on us drawing pistols if I had stiffed you?
Smart ownership being undone by its management staff, it's a shame because this place could be so much more than it is currently.
If you like low heat, mellow Ca-Mexican food, then this is the place. The portions are enormous and they nicely accepted our BOGO entree coupon which made the prices okay. The margarita was the best part of the meal and the Tres Leches is pretty good. Â But if you like any heat in your chiles, sauces or salsa, this is not your place.
Review Source:if you're a fan of quantity over quality, i highly recommend tres hombres. however, for those of you seeking traditional mexican fare and portions you can finish in one meal and not feel bad about yourself for, i suggest you keep looking.
the prices are a bit high, but to be fair, the portion are ENORMOUS. as in, each plate could easily be shared by 3 people with food to spare. not particularly the freshest mex i've ever tasted, nor the most flavorful, but not awful. if you're with a large group and have a lot of mouths to feed, this might be the right place for you. service is fine, and the restaurant is clean and kitschy - nothing horribly wrong, but nothing all too great either.
Why aren't there more reviews for this place???? Â Seems like it's been around forEVER! Â
This is what a Mexican restaurant in the US should be like. Inside it looks like a jungle curiously encased in a cathedral. Don't bother looking too closely at the plants above your head because just as I was beginning to wonder how they are able to water them, I realized that they are all plastic. Oh well, still looks fun as all get-out if you are busy eating all the chips and salsa!
The margs are huge and they aren't stingy with the goods in that respect. I only needed one before I forgot all about studying the plastic plants! The food was fine. Prepared just the way we all ordered it. No problems at all, and they portions are HUGE. Â
Service was exceptional.
I went there for lunch, upon arriving there I was pretty impressed with the way place look; homely and felt like I was in Mexico. The waitress gave us complimentary chips that were warm and salsa which wasn't spicy. From the lunch menu, #15, I ordered Taco and Enchilada Combo: Choice of chicken, ground or shredded beef taco and one enchilada. 8.99. Lets just say, I had better Mexican food before. I wouldn't come back unless I was dragged there.
Review Source:Let me preface this with: I grew up in California. Â The Mexican food in CA is different than the Mexican food in Utah. Â That being said, Â Tres Hombres comes as close to any California Mexican resto I've eaten at in Utah.
The atmosphere is a lot of fun, with plants everywhere and a wooden parrot or two thrown in to give it some tropical feel. Â If you're tall like me (6'3"), you'll have to duck under the chilis they have hanging down in front of the tables on the side, otherwise, you WILL get smacked in the face by a bunch of chilis.
The service is great here. Â The staff has always been super nice with us and prompt. Â Even on a recent busy night, with our waitress literally running between the kitchen and her tables, she still stopped by to refill our drinks and ask how things were going.
My wife and I love the free chips and salsa. Â The salsa is our absolute favorite. Â Some days it has kick, some days it doesn't. Â Either way, it tastes fresh and delicious. Â I do wish the chips and salsa were bottomless, but that's a minor complaint.
The entrees themselves are ginormous! Â You may think looking at the price that it might be a pricey place to eat, but you really do get a LOT of food for your buck here.
My wife loves the chimichanga and I always get the carne asada burrito. Â Que delicia!
I can't speak for the bar, as our only interaction with them involved a virgin pina colada
This is a great place to take your family, or even just a date for a fun place to go. Â It's loud, but not ridiculously so. Â The wait staff is prompt and courteous and the food is great. Â You can't go wrong! Â Just don't let yourself oink down the free chips ;)
Ambiance, location, decor: 4 stars. But it goes down hill from there.
First of all, it's a little spendy for Mexi food. The "specials" are $9.99 and most meals are $14.99 and up.
The chips were very good, but they only give one complimentary bowl, which is fine,as it keeps the grazers away... totally understandale and the $0.99 charge for additional chips is reasonable.
Their salsa has a nice tomato flavor, but has absolutely NO HEAT!
Tres Hombres has a pretty good scam going.
Step 1: Serve bland, flavorless food with no spice or heat whatsoever.
Step 2: Give a tiny portion of "complimentary" salsa and Charge $0.99 for additional salsa to actually give the food some flavor.
Step 3: Charge another $0.99 for a tiny side order of jalapenos, which are required to give the food some heat.
As I said, I completely understand charging extra for chips. But charging for condiments?!?! UNcool and UNcalled for.
You can get roughly the same food, directly across the street, for roughly half the price (although I wouldn't recommend that place, either). PLUS the other place will give you condiments if you need them... at no charge!
Tres Hombres would get one star, but they moved up to two stars for the setting and the $2 bloody mary, which was atually very spicy, flavorful and yummy.
I will not be going back to Tres Hombres.
This place is pretty cool. Fancy decorations inside, tasty food, good service, and they have a liquor license!!!
I believe i ordered the cheese enchiladas and they were quite yummy!
i agree with this other person, don't eat too many chips and if you get a drink. i would get it on the rocks because the fancy slurpee isn't anything to write home about.
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