El Carlos Elegante

An Upscale Fiesta

What makes it fun

If you’re looking to (literally) spice up your date night, El Carlos Elegante in the Design District hits all the right notes. Think Mexico City-inspired elegance meets heart-of-masa sincerity with housemade tortillas, volcanic stone masa, and Argentinian-style woodfired meats and fish. The interior is warm and colorful, with elegant lighting, copper accents, and a horseshoe bar counter that lets you watch the grill flames. It’s intimate but alive. Make sure to try an agave flight and leave room for bunuelos!

Google Reviews

El Carlos Elegante

4.6

Based on 617 reviews

Patrick Flaherty

4 months ago

Fun and vibey elevated Mexican place for a date night. We sat at the bar and enjoyed cocktails while tasting the Elegante Experience. Each course was delicious and well-crafted and there was more than enough food.

Mallory Maloy

4 months ago

Had dinner here because we’ve been to sister and loved it. The food was incredible. Family style menu. Casual but elevated vibe. David our server was also so helpful w dining and drink recommendations. Will be back!

Renee Jackson-Smith

4 months ago

My husband and I celebrated our 34th Anniversary there and the experience was amazing from the curb. It started with a friendly valet and ended with our amazing server R2, who was attentive to every detail of the experience. The food, drinks and service are 5 star +. We will be back and R2 will be our server!!!

Adi Valdez

6 months ago

El Carlos Elegante is one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas! I take my out-of-town friends here when they visit :) My favorite dish is the chorizo molotes, with the salmon ceviche as a close runner-up! I’ve ordered different items each time I’ve visited and everything has been delicious. The food presentation is also consistently good. The dishes are served family-style, which I personally enjoy because it gives everyone the chance to try a variety of items. The meal comes out in courses, and if it’s your first time visiting, the staff walks you through the menu, offers recommendations, and explains how best to order — which is always appreciated! Overall, the restaurant delivers unique and flavorful Mexican dishes while staying true to authentic tastes!

Trillian Family

6 months ago

My wife and I are huge foodies. When we travel even for work we try and find at least one hidden gym or clear Michelin reaturant to feed our need. El Carlos Elegante was likely one of the best experiences within the Mexican food category that you could possibly ask for. Texas tends to not disappoint when it comes to Mexican food, but this was for us almost life changing. There was almost nothing that was not perfect. The waiter was great to help us pick food as well as to not let us over order. The food came out perfectly as needed. When I say that the food was amazing I give it zero justice. This is fanominal food, literally this willll ruin your life compares to other Mexican food you will have. This was one of the best food experiences we have had in years, we will absolutely come back! The only thing that I would ask ownership to look into would be where they keep overflow customers. When you pay this much for food (100% worth every dollar) abd you have people standing next to you ten deep waiting its off putting. El Carlos Elegante is worth the wait, make a reservation and wait for the greatness. It's rude in my opinion and I get that the resturants can't help this, but customers need to be educated.

Pam Mickelson

7 months ago

LOVED EVERYTHING. Really. Everything. R2 was our server and helped us through the menu and deciding what was right for us on our first visit. Hopefully the see how unique the dishes were. But what you can’t tell is the blend of flavors the chef has created. We started with a marg- pure goodness. As every dish that followed was. Pure goodness.

Olivia Martinez

10 months ago

Omg where do I begin, my boyfriend and I came for the elegante experience and it was FANTASTIC. The servers were very informative and explained to us what each of our dishes were. They told us that some of the dishes were on the menu and some were chef’s picks so the menu changes often. My boyfriend and I were blown away with each dish everything was so delicious and unbelievable. In between courses they even brought us a sorbet palette cleanser which I didn’t expect and was a nice touch. The vibes and the atmosphere were 10/10 the playlist that evening(which I learned was the bartender’s playlist) was SO GOOD. The bartender was such a vibe. We are definitely coming back for this experience!

Tamara Brown

10 months ago

Exceeded every expectation. The food was absolutely amazing—every single dish was thoughtfully prepared and packed with flavor. We did the Elegante Experience, where the chef curates a selection of dishes, many of which aren’t even on the menu, and it truly felt like a one-of-a-kind, elevated dining experience. The restaurant itself has an incredible vibe—beautiful decor, great music, and a very upscale yet welcoming atmosphere. It’s perfect for a date night, girls’ night out, or even a fancy dinner with family. The staff was outstanding and made the night even more special. A huge thank you to Joseph and Michelle for making the evening unforgettable. Highly recommend—this is a must-visit spot if you’re looking for something special.

Shawn Rougeron

1 year ago

I attended a work conference here and loved it. Elevated Mexican food with a gorgeous ambiance setting. The wine selection was impressive & service was excellent.

Sauleha Husain

1 year ago

We did the elegante experience and it truly was an experience. many courses, all tasted amazing and lots of meat. It was very filling! Ou waitress was excellent and the ambiance was nice. Maybe just turn down the AC a bit, it was chilly. Will definitely be back!

Sabrina J Parr

1 year ago

Probably the best meal I have had in Dallas. Mexican is not typically my favorite, but this isn't Tex Mex. Our server Pete was fantastic and did not steer us wrong in dish selections and how much food we should order. The margs were very tasty (though expensive!). The decor is really nice & the ambiance is great. Can be abit noisy so hard to hear other guests at the table at times but overall 5 star.

JD Carroll

1 year ago

I had a wonderful early birthday dinner with my daughter. Everything about it was superb.

Jonny Lopez

1 year ago

the food was delicious and the service was great. we had to wait for our table a little too long but they made up for it with the service

Yasin Hosein

1 year ago

This experience was all around incredible...! Made a last minute decision to try and dine at El Carlos Elegante. The hostess was very nice and explained they were pretty booked for the evening but I could squeeze in at the bar area and if someone opened up they would let me know. Let's also mention that this spot is a total vibe! So I took the possiblity of the opportunity to dine at this Michelin Star Dallas Restaurant. I sat at the bar, chatted with the bartender and decided on a Jamaica Mezcal Margarita. Before shortly after being informed they had a table become available! Once I was seated the menu was explained and I made my menu selections. I choose the One Hitter Brisket, which included avocado puree, queso fresco, the broccolini with carrot sauce, figs, corn nuts and the Guajillo Chicken paired with mole madre, potato hash, and handmade masa. Everything was *chef's kiss* delicious!!! Rich flavors, premium ingredients, and you could definitely understand why they have been recognized by the Michelin Guide. I absolutely recommend trying the restaurant, and I will definitely be back to try out more of the menu or the "Elegante Experience".

Anthony Blok

1 year ago

The amazing experience after the UPS Store.....Liza and I needed to go to the UPS store in Dallas (Design district), so we took an Uber, we got out, and immediately we got a delicious fragrance of GOOD FOOD...we walked around the block and found a stylishly fresh designed gem of a restaurant "El Carlos Elegante". Everything that followed was a superlative of the previous.... The welcoming hostess, the charming restaurant manager/owner, our waiter Luis Hernandez, the croquetas, the suculent chicken & Mole all the way to the chocolate and cookie dessert. Each dish was unique and filled with flavors. All in all an amazing experience. Strongly recommended to anybody looking for a delicious & enjoyable dinning experience - Anthony.

Tim McKenna

1 year ago

This is an absolutely incredible spot for some absolutely incredible food. Their imported blue corn is not just for show—they incorporate it into the menu in several places where appropriate and it works every time. Their tequila and mezcal menu is absolutely gigantic, too, so tequila nerds will have something to do. The dining room is intimate and moody, if a touch loud on account of the music, and the staff all know the menu inside and out. It's a pretty penny for a date or family dinner, but worth every cent!

Kristina D

1 year ago

Incredible place for a unique anniversary dinner! The staff all signed a card for us which is such a nice touch! We opted for the chef’s tasting and wine pairing and both the food choices and wines selected were incredible! The sommelier was personable and present- not the type of pretentious presence they often have at high end restaurants and we loved this! The staff were all incredible, we were offered a free mezcal tasting, and I could go on and on. Truly an incredible place. An eclectic atmosphere (our table and seats were different than most) but an unforgettable experience all around!

Aydin Asli

1 year ago

My visit to El Carlos Elegante in Dallas was an absolute dream from start to finish! From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable – even before we officially checked in, we saw the bartender spontaneously jump to the hostess stand when she briefly stepped away, just to make sure we were immediately greeted. This level of attentiveness was a theme throughout the night, and it really showed how much the staff looked after one another and had great chemistry. Every team member was genuinely friendly and incredibly attentive, making us feel truly valued. And the food? Oh my goodness, the food! The delivery of our order was seamless and perfectly timed, and each dish was a magnificent work of art. We opted for the "Elegante Experience" and it was beyond fantastic. I honestly couldn't believe the sheer quantity of high-quality food and generous servings we received. Every bite was bursting with incredible flavors, showcasing true culinary mastery. El Carlos Elegante has truly set a new standard for dining. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for an extraordinary meal coupled with an unforgettable experience. We left feeling completely delighted and already planning our next return!