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You may not know about these best restaurants in El Paso, TX, but this post will help you resolve this problem instantly. As a city sharing the border with Mexico, it’s common for you to notice the breath of Mexican cuisine runs deep in the local cooking styles.
However, the city also boasts many destinations with a fine dining setting for travelers to explore. While you are exploring the city’s fascinating culture and history, don’t forget to check out local restaurants for another source of excitement.
Discover Your Next Favorite Dining Location In El Paso
Don’t miss your chance to visit these eateries in El Paso because some spots have a long history behind them for you to uncover. In addition, you may speak with the city’s residents to hear more exciting stories while enjoying quality food.
1. Track One
Track One is a friendly local establishment with friendly service and tasty American dishes waiting for you to uncover. The destination had a long history in El Paso when Robert Neilson and H.F Smith founded it in 1972.
Interestingly, Track One was originally a combination of three railroad cars to form a meeting place for people in El Paso. Nowadays, it is a lovely building with a modern interior to serve people the best chicken wings in town.
The location offers beer and various alcoholic drinks from its bar station. Remember, Track One is also an ideal place for holding a small party with a couple of your close ones.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: American, Bar
Location: 1330 Robert E Lee Road, El Paso, TX 79925
Website: https://trackoneelpaso.com/
Phone: (915) 779-2170
Order Online: (915) 771-9502 (for to-go orders)
Table Reservation: Not available
Explore the exciting atmosphere at Track One, one of the beloved locations of El Paso’s locals.
2. Anson Eleven
Move on to Anson Eleven, a modern dining location in the downtown area of El Paso with an upgrade in service and food. At Anson Eleven, they have two styles of restaurants for you to pick from, each having a unique atmosphere.
On the first floor of the Anson Mills, where the restaurant resides, you will get to experience a casual, friendly, and inviting ambiance from the bistro-style service of Anson Eleven. The second floor is for a fine dining experience with an upscale ambiance.
Typically, Anson Eleven requires you to make a prior reservation if you want to experience the fine dining experience or for a private dining room. Another excuse to visit Anson Eleven is to taste an array of beverages at its bar.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: American
Location: 303 N Oregon St, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: http://anson11.com/
Phone: (915) 504-6400
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
3. Park Tavern
Situated in the same downtown area as Anson Eleven, Park Tavern is another quality spot to visit for tasting the trendy American cuisine. Many delicacies in Park Tavern have a touch of Southwestern influence to pair with a relaxing vibe of the place.
In addition, the destination has a special summer menu to make the season more festive and fun for customers. Despite the casual atmosphere at Park Tavern, the spot strives to sneak in a bit of elegance to make you feel comfortable.
Regarding the food, my go-to choice is the elk tenderloin with a smoky fragrance mixed with the refreshing profile of chimichurri sauce and green beans. After ordering your meal, check out the beverage menu to pick your favorite spirit to pair with the food.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: American (New)
Location: 204 East Mills Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: https://parktavernelpaso.com/
Phone: (915) 228-9050
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
4. Zino’s Greek & Mediterranean
If American dishes are not your cup of tea, you should come to Zino to taste the authentic flavors of Greek and Mediterranean specialties. Lucky for you, El Paso has up to two locations of Zino’s restaurants, one on the western side of the city and the other on the eastern one.
At Zino, you can order Gyro, a classic Greek item that stuffs grilled meat in Pita bread. Typically, the restaurant has chicken, beef, and lamb kabob in their menu items, making these options a popular pick for customers.
Overall, Zino is worth your visit to experience the unique flavors of Greek cuisine. If that’s not convincing enough, the restaurant also serves unique recipes from Italy, North Africa, and France to give customers a more diverse option.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Location (Westside): 7040 North Mesa Street Ste H, El Paso, TX 79912
Phone (Westside): (915) 584-8166
Location (Eastside): 6590 Montana Avenue, Suite H, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone (Eastside): (915) 307-7095
Website: https://www.zinosgreek.com/
Order Online:
Westside.
Eastside.
Table Reservation Or contact the restaurant by phone
5. Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant
Come to Kiki to experience a cozy, friendly, and casual eating atmosphere. The destination follows an old-school style to provide the most comfortable atmosphere to the guests. The interior’s vibrant decoration is an appealing addition to the overall experience.
At Kiki’s Mexican restaurant, they excel in serving delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex delicacies. In addition, the location begins offering dinners and house specialties at 5 P.M. I’m confident that the generous food portion of Kiki will satisfy anyone spending their time here.
If you have a chance to stop by Kiki’s, I suggest the delicious green chicken enchilada or go for a beloved machaca (flavorful jerky-like dried meat).
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Latin
Location: 2719 North Piedras Street, El Paso, TX 79930
Website: http://www.kikisrestaurant.com/
Phone: (915) 565-6713
Order Online:
Table Reservation: Not available
Explore Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant with its chef and owner.
6. L&J Cafe
L&J Cafe has been essential to El Paso history since it was established in 1927. The restaurant is a family-owned business that has passed through four generations. L&J is a familiar place for locals and travelers to stop by for a reasonably priced casual meal.
The destination mainly revolves around Mexican cuisine. It was rated the number one position for the best Mexican restaurant in El Paso by the local press in 2019. Furthermore, L&J Cafe also holds fundraising activities to support the community in El Paso.
The cafe has a lovely Salsa shop for travelers and locals to enjoy the most authentic Mexican flavors. In general, people don’t just come to L&J for good food, but it also lies in the historical values of the place.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Cafe
Location: 3622 East Missouri Avenue, El Paso, TX 79903
Website: https://ljcafe.com/
Phone: (915) 566-8418
Order Online: Through their website or phone
Table Reservation: Contact the restaurant by phone for parties with more than eight people
7. Ripe Eatery
Ripe Eatery is an American-style restaurant you must pay a visit to when coming to El Paso. The establishment is a family business that began to operate in the city in 2010. Better yet, Ripe Eatery resides in a shopping center, giving you a chance to explore the surrounding landscape.
The place offers a fantastic outdoor eating experience for customers to take in the bustle and hustle of El Paso. However, the outdoor service is only open for the weekend brunch menu. The indoor interior has beautiful hand-drawn murals to elevate the place’s appeal.
The salad of Ripe is a must-try as the chef builds it from scratch with the freshest ingredients. In addition, Ripe has a lovely bar to give you refreshing beer or wine after a hearty meal. If that’s not enough, Ripe has numerous special hours that happen throughout the week.
Price Range:
Food Style: American
Location: 910 East Redd Road, El Paso, TX 79912
Website: https://ripeeatery.com/
Phone: (915) 584-7473
Order Online:
Table Reservation Or through their website
8. Crave Kitchen and Bar
In El Paso, it’s hard to overlook Crave Kitchen and Bar, a comfy restaurant chain with numerous branches in the city. You will never go hungry at any time of the day since all the establishments serve incredible meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Fans of beer will love Crave as all the locations offer an array of around 70 types of beer from around the world for you to sample by yourself. As for the food, you should challenge yourself by ordering their massive pancake stack, which many fail to finish.
Although the location in some places may be small, it compensates for a trendy setting and a fun atmosphere. Crave Kitchen and Bar is a lovely destination with quality food and service.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: American
Location (Gateway Boulevard): 8889 Gateway Blvd W #2840, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone (Gateway Boulevard): (915) 599-9866
Location (Cincinnati Avenue): 300 Cincinnati Avenue, El Paso, TX 79902
Phone (Cincinnati Avenue): (915) 351-3677
Location (Rojas Drive): 11990 Rojas Dr, El Paso, TX 79936
Phone (Rojas Drive): (915) 594-7971
Location (Resler Drive): 631 Resler Drive, Suite B, El Paso, TX 79912
Phone (Resler Drive): (915) 581-2213
Location (Zaragoza Road): 2260 N Zaragoza Rd #27, El Paso, TX 79938
Phone (Zaragoza Road): (915) 234-2887
Website: https://cravekitchenandbar.com/
Order Online:
Table Reservation: For The Resler Location
9. The Hoppy Monk
Opened for business in 2010, The Hoppy Monk has gained significant popularity in El Paso as an establishment for enjoying beer and great food simultaneously. Conveniently, the destination also provides many vegetarian delicacies for people on a vegan diet.
However, the main selling point is the beer draught service with many individual taps for self-servicing. Although Hoppy Monk focuses its menu on many alcoholic beverages, the food section shines through with dishes like burgers, cauliflower wings (vegan), and tacos.
Take note if you’re going to the Hoppy Monk because the site doesn’t open for service on Monday and Tuesday. Furthermore, the establishment has a 21+ policy which doesn’t allow people below the age of 21 to stay after 7 P.M.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Gastropub, American, Bar
Location: 4141 North Mesa Street, El Paso, TX 79902
Website: http://thehoppymonk.com/elpaso/
Phone: (915) 307-3263
Order Online:
Table Reservation: Not available
10. Cafe Mayapan
Mayapan is a cafe shop with the mission to spread the diversity of Mexican heritage. The cafe spot started in 2001 with the task of bringing the best of Mexican cuisine to the locals and serving as a platform for training people in the food business.
Commonly, Mayapan operates from 11 A.M to 3 P.M on weekdays. On Saturday, the place starts serving people in El Paso at 8 A.M. My favorite pick at the site is the chili con queso, a classic cheese dip of Tex-Mex cuisine for a flavorful lunch.
One plus side of Mayapan is the low price because it’s a local business. This is the best place to go when you want to enjoy a good meal on a budget.
Price Range: $
Food Style: Mexican
Location: 2000 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: http://www.mujerobrera.org/
Phone: (915) 217-1126
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
11. Leo’s Mexican Food
Leo’s Mexican Food is another destination for fans of casual eating and Mexican food. On the historical side, Leo started its business in 1946 on the corner of Cotton and Yandell street in El Paso. The spot is currently under the control of the Terrazas family.
It has a friendly and cozy ambiance. At Leo’s, you get to taste delectable menu items passed down through generations. The location also has a bar stand with incredibly addictive margaritas, but the seats are limited.
If you’re traveling with your family, don’t miss the chance to order the Mr. T special, which includes dishes of your choosing for takeout orders. One popular option for individual customers is the Tortilla soup, which comes in either a bowl or cup.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Southwestern
Location : 7520 Remcon Cir, El Paso, TX 79912
Website: https://www.leoselpaso.com/
Phone: (915) 833-1189
Order Online: Contact the restaurant by phone for more information
Table Reservation: Not available
12. Taft Diaz
Located in the Stanton hotel, Taft Diaz is the site for an elegant and fine dining experience. The site boasts an impressive menu that is spread across the day. Of course, you can’t miss the bar with many quality spirits to fix your favorite mix.
Remember to come to Taft Diaz in the time frame from 4 P.M to 6 P.M (Monday – Thursday) to participate in the Happy Hour event of the restaurant. As for the food, your go-to choice should be the Stanton portion for breakfast and the beef Tartare (dry-aged beef) for dinner.
A little note for people coming to Taft Diaz: since the establishment is situated inside a building, you may need to ask people around the place to find the restaurant. I’m confident you will have a flawless time dining at Taft Diaz.
Price Range: $$$
Food Style: American, Mexican
Location: 209 North Stanton Street, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: https://stanton-house.com/
Phone: (915) 271-3600
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
13. Julio’s Mexican Food
Thanks to the shared border with Mexico, it’s no stranger to seeing Mexican cuisine thrive in El Paso. For that, I’d like to introduce you to Julio’s Mexican Food, a casual restaurant chain that has brought authentic Mexican dishes to people since it started in 1944 in Mexico.
The many branches of Julio in El Paso offer a great opportunity to visit the restaurant anytime for a heartwarming Mexican meal. Typically, Julio is an excellent choice for catering service or placing a private room for your dinner.
Even when you’re in a rush, the to-go service of Julio will please anyone as it allows people to enjoy Mexican food at any place in the city. For the menu item, you should try the steak tampiquena (sirloin with various Mexican spices and dips) as it’s the place’s specialty.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Southwestern
Location (Gateway Boulevard): 8050 Gateway Boulevard East, El Paso, TX 79907
Phone (Gateway): (915) 591-7676
Location (Joe Battle Boulevard): 3630 Joe Battle Boulevard, El Paso, TX. 79938
Phone (Joe Battle): (915) 855-1537
Location (Cimarron Market): 7470 Cimarron Market Bldg 11, El Paso, TX. 79911
Phone (Cimarron Market): (915) 581-2242
Website: https://www.juliosmexicanfood.com/
Order Online: Or call the location for placing orders
Table Reservation (Gateway and Cimarron Market): Not available
14. West Texas Chophouse
West Texas Chophouse near El Paso’s international airport is the ideal paradise for meat lovers to come and enjoy steak at a reasonable price. The steakhouse possesses a modernized look to reinstate its professionalism in service.
The interior at West Texas Chophouse has a relatively modern design with shiny chandeliers and colorful installations to give customers a premium experience. As a result, the place is ideal for hosting various events.
For the cuisine, West Texas Chophouse possesses an array of options ranging from refreshing salad to other specialties like the dry-aged and wet-aged premium steaks. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy the crafted cocktails, some of which are only available at this place.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Steakhouse, American
Location (Airway Boulevard): 1135 Airway Blvd Suite 7B, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone (Airway Boulevard): (915) 775-2467
Location (Las Palmas Center): 1317 George Dieter Drive, El Paso, TX 79936
Phone (Las Palmas Center): (915) 500-3238
Website: https://www.westtexaschophouse.com/
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
Enjoy the amazing service and food at West Texas Chophouse in El Paso.
15. Cafe Central
With a history dating back to 1918, Cafe Central is an important part of El Paso’s downtown area history. This over-100-year-old location combines delectable delicacies with a fine dining setting for the best experience in El Paso.
Normally, the kitchen of Cafe Central starts pumping out quality dishes at around 11 A.M and wraps up the operation precisely 12 hours later. However, Friday and Saturday are their exceptions with an extra half an hour of service after 11 P.M.
Don’t forget to stop by the bar to relieve your thirst with some of the finest mixed drinks. If you have no idea what to order for food, I suggest the Scottish salmon for pairing with the crunchy fermented carrots and fragrant black garlic risotto.
Price Range: $$$
Food Style: American, International
Location: 109 North Oregon Street, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: https://cafecentral.com/
Phone: (915) 545-2233
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
16. Cattleman’s Steakhouse
The moment you set foot in the Cattleman establishment, the atmosphere instantly hits you with a strong fragrant scent of barbeque. Cattleman’s Steakhouse has a long history of serving customers delicious cuts of meat since the early 1970s.
Interestingly, the location is on a working ranch, presenting a chance for people to explore the lively surrounding area. In addition, the spot also provides spectacular views, especially during sunset. However, the desert area also poses a problem for people who can’t handle the heat.
The steakhouse follows unique Western-style cooking to infuse the meat with distinct flavors. Surprisingly, you can order seafood in the middle of the desert with dishes like grilled Alaskan salmon or lobsters with firm meat.
Price Range: $$$
Food Style: Steakhouse
Location: 3450 S Fabens Carlsbad Rd, Fabens, TX 79838
Website: https://cattlemanssteakhouse.com/
Phone: (915) 544-3200
Order Online: Not available
Table Reservation: Contact their phone number to make a reservation for groups of 15 or more
17. Los Bandidos De Carlos & Mickey’s
Indulge yourself in the world of delicious Mexican cuisine by visiting Los Bandidos de Carlos & Mickey’s, a lovely place always full of laughter. In most cases, people come to Los Bandidos for the aesthetic and authentic Mexican experience.
They have two locations in El Paso: one on Magruder street while the other resides on the city’s eastern side. There are live music performances from the mariachi band to bring you more joy at Los Bandidos.
You can come any time in the day to enjoy their delicious menu items. However, I highly recommend stopping by on Sunday between 11 A.M and 3:30 P.M to taste the special brunch order of the restaurant.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Southwestern
Location (Magruder): 1310 Magruder Street, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone (Magruder): (915) 778-3323
Location (East Side): 12111 Montwood Dr, El Paso, TX 79936
Phone (East Side): (915) 307-6886
Website: https://carlosandmickeys.com/
Order Online:
Table Reservation: Contact the restaurant by phone to book private parties
18. State Line Restaurant – El Paso
State Line Restaurant resides at the edge of El Paso city on Sunland Park Drive. The location started its business in 1977, contributing a part to the development of El Paso cuisine. At State Line, people specialize in creating mouth-watering barbeque delicacies.
Aside from the El Paso branch, the restaurant also appears in many cities in Texas, like Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. As for the El Paso location, it provides a lovely private room service that can accommodate any party request from you.
If you’re coming to State Line in a group, I suggest going for the family-style service as it’s a form of all-you-can-eat. In addition, they also include the children’s version of the all-you-can-eat service for a lower price.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: American, Barbeque
Location: 1222 Sunland Park Drive, El Paso, TX 79922
Website: http://www.countyline.com/
Phone: (915) 581-3371
Order Online:
Table Reservation:
Peek through the casual interior of State Line Restaurant to get a better understanding of the ambiance of the place.
19. ELEMI Restaurant
The final restaurant contender in El Paso is ELEMI, a fine destination for filling your belly in the downtown area of the city. They offer tasty homemade tortillas to pair with various delights from the menu.
The specialties of this place are prepared using both traditional and modern methods. ELEMI also maintains a high food quality by using the freshest cut of meat and vegetable to achieve the best outcome.
My favorite item is the Taco Campesino with various vegetable fillings and savory salsa sauce. So visit the downtown area of El Paso and stay for the food from ELEMI restaurant, especially their delicious tacos.
Price Range: $$
Food Style: Mexican, Latin
Location: 313 N Kansas St, El Paso, TX 79901
Website: https://my-site-101709-104019.square.site/
Phone: (915) 532-2090
Order Online:
Table Reservation (only applicable to parties of no more than 4 guests): Contact the restaurant by phone for more information.
Never Goes Hungry Again While In El Paso
I hope you’re satisfied with these restaurant recommendations in El Paso. As you can see, even at the edge of America’s border, you can still find incredible dishes to enjoy. Feel free to discover the exciting culture of this lively city.
Don’t forget to comment on your idea about this compilation; it’s a pleasure to come through your ideas. It would be great to share this article with relatives planning to venture to El Paso, a unique city on the American border.
