Earl Abel's

Reviews

• ★★★½☆ Chicken Fried Steak Visited Feb 13, 2017

  First Time Dining Here. Flavorless Chicken Fried Steak.

  I had heard about Earl Abel’s for years, and I remember the stories my parents would tell me whenever we would drive past the old location on Broadway. It was one of those San Antonio restaurants I had heard about so many times that I eventually wanted to see what all the history and nostalgia was about for myself.
  
  One day, I finally decided to stop in with a friend and his parents at the newer location on Austin Highway. I ordered the chicken fried steak, figuring it was a good choice for a restaurant known for classic comfort food.
  
  Unfortunately, the meal left me pretty disappointed. The menu itself wasn't the problem. Earl Abel’s has the kind of traditional comfort food you would expect, but the food I received was extremely bland. The chicken fried steak in particular was surprisingly lacking in flavor. I couldn't figure out whether it was intentionally left under-seasoned for low sodium concerns or what, but it needed something.
  
  My friend had a different meal and felt pretty much the same way about his food. We both found ourselves wondering what we were missing, especially given Earl Abel’s long-standing popularity.
  
  Maybe I happened to catch them on an off day, and I realize one meal isn't necessarily representative of a restaurant that has been around for so long. Still, I went in expecting at least a solid plate of classic comfort food and left feeling underwhelmed.
  
  The experience didn't really live up to the reputation I had heard about for years. I haven't been back since that visit, although I’d be willing to give it another try at some point to see if my experience was simply a one-time miss.

  — Paul