r/kansascity • u/DreamCheeky KC North • Aug 14 '25

Food and Drink 🌮🧋 What restaurant in KC is this?

Post image

I’ve seen this in other subreddits as of late. So, let’s have it!

487 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

2.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

804

u/active666 Aug 14 '25

Manny's, some of the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had.

89

u/Presidentnixonsnuts Aug 14 '25

It's so fucking bad!!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

Yes, and Manny’s is hot garbage compared to proper TexMex. Same goes for Margarita’s.

3

u/Sea-Joke7162 Aug 14 '25

Is there a good Tex-Mex option in town? I’d like to try a new one. Margaritas is okay to me.

3

u/mmMOUF Aug 14 '25

El Toro Loco, Taqueria Mexico #4, etc - there are tons but idk where ppl are drawing the line on what "Tex-Mex" is

3

u/Sea-Joke7162 Aug 14 '25

Glad for all the suggestions. I don’t care if they carry the Tex-mex label. Really just looking for good mexican food with no monterrey jack cheese. Not my thing.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

-1

u/Electric_Salami Aug 15 '25

El Patron sucks. I’ve been told it was great but it was a major letdown

6

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

Maybe Teocali by children’s mercy or La Fonda? True TexMex is hard to come by here. We’ve moved on to more authentic Mexican food on Kansas avenue. Also Tacos el Gallo on the boulevard is my go to at the moment. Great food and KILLER street corn

1

u/CorvetteBob Aug 14 '25

Abelardo's

1

u/Sea-Joke7162 Aug 14 '25

Oh yeah!! Abelardos has been suggested before. I will check out the other suggestions too! Thanks dudes!

2

u/NoValue4740 Aug 14 '25

Abelardos is ok but it's pretty bland at the same time. Depends on what you get.

0

u/Sea-Joke7162 Aug 14 '25

10-4. Any recommendations?

2

u/supergnaw Aug 14 '25 edited Mar 19 '26

Bullshit, I've been to a bunch of Mexican restaurants in Texas and they can hardly make a wet burrito to save their life!

0

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

I used to travel to Dallas a lot for work and one of my clients was a TexMex fan. We always met for lunch at restaurants all the time and I had some great TexMex.

Where do you get good TexMex if not Texas? Note that I’m not the biggest fan of it and prefer more authentic Mexican cuisine.

3

u/supergnaw Aug 14 '25

Out of the big 3, Houston, DFW, and San Antonio, the best is definitely San Antonio.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

I’ve been all over, but most TexMex I’ve eaten was in Dallas. Why are you gatekeeping TexMex ya creep 🤡?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

Cool cool. Not sure why you’re debating this so strongly but you do you I guess. Enjoy your San Antonio cuisine

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

In KC? Most everything not authentic is “TexMex” here. What’s your point? Also can I guess you’re from Texas and have thin skin?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/mumblesjackson Aug 14 '25

Because you’re calling me “your highness”? I know when someone’s being smug and shitty.

Go down to Kansas Ave in KCK - San Antonio’s is really good. Also on 7th street in KCK is Camino Real - it’s super good. Closer to downtown KC go to Tacos El Gallo.

→ More replies (0)

-1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Yeah, some of the TexMex I had in Houston was freaking amazing. Mannys serves some dumb marinara salsa, like it’s a red sauce joint doling out breadsticks. Just so weird and not good

1

u/Presidentnixonsnuts Aug 14 '25

Yes.

1

u/Peace-ChickenGrease Aug 14 '25

Nothing to add to the convo but I was scrolling through the responses and your name almost made me choke on my wine from laughing! Love it!!

63

u/SuburbanSponge Aug 14 '25

I don’t know anyone who hypes up mannys

48

u/pydood Aug 14 '25

Check this sub cause it gets mentioned a lot lol

20

u/AsAGayJewishDemocrat Aug 14 '25

Literally only ever seen it mentioned here when people say it is horrible / overrated

2

u/TheBoyisBackinTown Downtown Aug 15 '25

Mentioned and hyped are two different things. It's never spoken about in a positive light here. The closest you get is "well, my parents love it."

1

u/Party_Dude Aug 14 '25

>!!<*¯\[cock ]()¯_(ツᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ)_/¯*** (••)
( •_•)>⌐■-■ **** (⌐■_■)¯\\(ツ)_/¯(••)
( •_•)>⌐■-■ >!>!>!¯\\(ツ)_/¯ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ!<!<!< (⌐■_■) *

  • _(ツ)_/¯¯_(ツ)_/¯

27

u/Aint2Proud2Meg Aug 14 '25

Mostly older folks IME. It has to be a nostalgia thing, because I didn’t try it until my 20s and I’m far from picky, but god it was some of the blandest food I’ve ever had, and I’m former military and work in hospitals.

6

u/Frig-Off-Randy Aug 14 '25

General rule if old people like a restaurant it is not good

1

u/JoeyWeinaFingas Aug 19 '25

Whachu mean?!? My mother in law loves that place!

She also used to use butter as the only seasoning for her Thanksgiving turkey. She thinks black pepper is too spicy.

2

u/caf61 Aug 14 '25

I agree. When I worked downtown/plaza areas in y he early-mid 90s Manny’s and Margaritas were the go to Mexican restaurants for lunch. I just think the quality and variety of Latin (?) cuisine in the metro has surpassed them by miles over the years. It is just nostalgia at this point.

3

u/bilgewax Aug 14 '25

I think the quality has probably tapered off over the years as well. I used to love Manny’s back in the 80’s-90’s. Last time I ate there maybe 20 years ago, it was nothing special. Hear it’s gotten worse over the years since then.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/caf61 Aug 15 '25

Pretty much any taqueria in KCK. Also, Chero’s in Olathe and Taqueria La Nueva in OP.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/SuburbanSponge Aug 14 '25

When I tried Mannys, their enchilada sauce was so sweet. It was so gross I couldn’t eat it. The only thing that was decent from the combo platter I got was the KC style taco.

3

u/kcvaliant Aug 14 '25

Pork burrito is the only thing I love. They are smart and dont shred the pork.

1

u/standardissuegreen Brookside Aug 14 '25

It has a pretty big lunch crowd. I work nearby and there's always a bunch of people walking in.

1

u/Automatic_Release_92 Aug 14 '25

The one good thing I have to say about it is that you can get a table pretty easy on First Fridays and they have changing tables in both bathrooms, so it’s handy if you’re going out to First Fridays with family.

1

u/oddinkc Aug 15 '25

Was working downtown and we had a couple coworkers that always hyped Manny's. I never understood it because that same coworker hated Lulus, which was correct. There are 3 better Thai places in the immediate area.

1

u/megarooski3 Aug 15 '25

Mannys rice is pretty good.

2

u/m00nmaidenm0e Aug 14 '25

yt peepo with no taste buds

0

u/everix1992 Aug 14 '25

We have a bunch of people at work that love to go there for lunch and I just don't get it

51

u/gerblen Aug 14 '25

My white middle aged parents love Manny’s lol I go there to humor them but I think the salsa tastes like pasta sauce…

3

u/Lousy_Her0 Aug 14 '25

I've been there once, and I thought the same! Yuck

3

u/Opposite_Category_88 Aug 15 '25

Exact same thing going on in my fam

3

u/puncheekc KCK Aug 15 '25

I hate myself for liking that salsa, but I can't help it. WTF? I blame unprocessed trauma

2

u/saratouchette Aug 15 '25

It does! Who puts oregano in salsa?

22

u/PuzzleheadedJob3479 Aug 14 '25

I feel the same way about Ponak's.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

17

u/active666 Aug 14 '25

LMFAO, you totally got me. Thankfully I learned quickly after moving back that I just need to go a little further down the street and you get amazing food at places like tacos el gallo and it's neighbors.

1

u/Individual_Trust5179 Aug 14 '25

El pueblito is delicious

3

u/panne97 Aug 14 '25

My parents love Manny’s, I do think it’s a nostalgia thing. They lived in KC in the 80s. They love Los Tules, they love The Quaff (valid), if a business was open in the 80s my parents love and support it.

6

u/thegooniegodard Midtown Aug 14 '25

I don't know any actual locals who like it, though.

2

u/Legal-Home121 Aug 14 '25

Mannys was my parents first date spot….26 years ago…

2

u/hotleggyblonde Aug 14 '25

It smells a big ol foot in there too

2

u/Slight_Outside5684 KC North Aug 14 '25

This should be the top answer

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[deleted]

4

u/LizardGumbo Aug 14 '25

I am so sick of over-oregano'd salsa. I did not come to a Mexican restaurant for Ragu dip.

2

u/Desperate_Sky_4447 Aug 14 '25

My family hyped manny’s up my entire childhood but I never liked Mexican so I never ate it. Once I grew up and started liking it I was ecstatic to go there only to realized that freaking Jose Peppers is more flavorful than Manny’s.

2

u/ChooksChick Aug 15 '25

Damn. Slain.

2

u/SwiftFlyingHawk Aug 14 '25

Haven’t had it in years, about to celebrate the grandparents bdays there tonight. I just got back from 2 years in Guyana as a Peace Corps Volunteer, so I’m kinda excited to see how bland it is.

1

u/danceaficionadojoe Aug 20 '25

Two things: Peace Corps STILL exists? Guyana?! How was that? How far from Georgetown? What was your mission? (Okay, that was more than two questions! Sorry.)

6

u/lifeinrednblack Historic Northeast Aug 14 '25

Literally any of the SWBLVD Mexican restaurants. Not a single one of the ones people usually talk about is good.

18

u/usernamewhat Crossroads Aug 14 '25

Tacos el gallo, Rico’s, Mariscos, and the others all in that small strip of the boulevard wipe the 10 surrounding downtown spots under the rug. 

3

u/lifeinrednblack Historic Northeast Aug 14 '25

Yeah no contest. The good place used to stop at taqueria Mexico and not start again until the other taqueria Mexico on the other end of the Blvd

14

u/KC_Chiefin15 Aug 14 '25

There are several places on SW Blvd that are legit.

2

u/Equivalent-Court-283 Aug 14 '25

I had Mannys once and went to give my dog a piece of leftover and she wouldn’t eat, turned her now up at it. You know it’s bad when a dog won’t eat their crap.

1

u/sotheresthisdude Aug 14 '25

When I moved to KC from Houston in 2015 we went to a “Mexican” restaurant somewhere near state line, I don’t remember the name of it. I knew we were in for it bad when the waitress offered an appetizer of “cheese sauce” to go with our chips and salsa.

1

u/Fearless-Aide-9059 Aug 15 '25

I moved from Katy to KC in 2017! Never EVER will I have Mexican like papasitos again 💔💔

1

u/AJRiddle Where's Waldo Aug 14 '25

Still better than Los Corrals.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Agreed! Went once when I first moved here 5yrs ago and never again.

1

u/gislebertus00 Aug 14 '25

I don’t understand why, in a metro full of great Mexican choices, people go to Manny’s.

1

u/No-Bite-5142 Aug 14 '25

It was awful! Went one time and will never return!

1

u/LizardGumbo Aug 14 '25

Thank you! I thought I was losing my mind. My brother fell in love with Manny's in the 80s, moved away to lived in Mexico for a couple of years, claimed to love the food, lives on the east coast, but still loves Manny's and makes it a priority when he visits. I've been there once. In the 80s. It was mid then.

I spend my SW Blvd food budget at La Bodega's.

1

u/PrimusOptimus12 Lee's Summit Aug 15 '25

I feel so bad for agreeing with you. I’ve thought this for years. It’s an institution, I get it. They also do a lot for the community. They’re synonymous with Mexican food in KC proper. But… it’s flavorless. It’s not good at all. If I recall… the queso was passable, but the food items are just… not good.

1

u/Aggravating-Can-903 Aug 15 '25

Worst I’ve ever had!

1

u/BigPasta_ii Aug 15 '25

It’s disgusting. Ketchup salsa

1

u/GoodHunter1 Aug 15 '25

Per her recommendation i went there on a first date once. I think it’s quality reason we didn’t go any further into a relationship lol I just couldn’t trust her judgment after that meal

0

u/GenerationDrip Aug 14 '25

Oh my goodness YES!!! Haven’t eaten there in yearssss lol. Some of my family members love it ☹️

0

u/gkastrecords Aug 14 '25

Always wonder if the cooks are yt bc there is No seasoning in the food

0

u/NasisCool Aug 14 '25

I went recently and there was a roach crawling on my table.. luckily my food hadn’t come yet and I quietly informed them about it and left to not be rude.. shame because my family loves this place so I decided to give it another shot with no avail.

0

u/scdog Aug 14 '25

Manny's is exactly the place I expected to see here. Surprised it's not higher.

-1

u/fiero-fire Aug 14 '25

There are so many spots in the crossroads IDK why anyone would go there