Camila SmithWhen we eat out at restaurants, we want the food to be actually worth what we’re spending. We’ve either spent way too much for fine dining in El Paso, only to end up with crumbs, or eaten at places with menus that are a letdown.
After a few too many disappointing meals, we learned that finding the right restaurant, whether it’s family-friendly or vegan, means doing the homework. So, we’ve read reviews, checked menus, and taken our chance on several restaurants.
Here are the restaurants in El Paso that we tasted our way through and think have flavors that are worth the time and money.
How much does it cost to eat out at a restaurant in El Paso?
It costs at least $30 to eat at a restaurant in El Paso. This is just an estimate. The final price will depend on the restaurant you go to, what you choose to eat, and more.
1. Mac’s Downtown
Address: 315 E Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
Contact Details: +1 915-533-8100
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 8 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 11 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 3 PM
Mac’s brings authentic New Orleans flavor and vibe to El Paso. Depending on the night, diners get live jazz or blues, and the energy is contagious.
Food-wise, the Jambalaya sticks to tradition. The rice is cooked with andouille sausage, chicken, and shrimp. It’s seasoned with the kind of heat that builds gradually, and it had us reaching for our drinks a few times.
The Shrimp Boil was the table favorite. A big bowl filled with shrimp, potatoes, sausage, corn, and a side of mac and cheese.
The whole thing is hands-on and communal, which makes it perfect for groups who don’t mind getting messy. Just know that it takes 30 minutes or more to come out.
We’re also fans of the Lobster Mac and Cheese. There are sweet lobster chunks throughout, and a properly creamy, gooey cheese sauce.
Other diners love that the New Orleans-style Gumbo has that deep, smoky flavor that only comes from proper roux technique and patient simmering.
Staff are very accommodating
“Me and my husband and I have been coming to this restaurant regularly. Mac’s @ downtown El Paso serves fresh seafood, Cajun/Creole, and classic American comfort food. Mac’s offers clam chowder, shrimp po’ boys, jambalaya, and lobster mac and cheese. Staff are very accommodating.
I love their clam chowder and gumbo. The fried oysters are superb. I opted not to get the french fries that come with it. I wished they would make them crispier.”
- Bettina Cordova, Google Reviews
The food here was amazing
“The food here was amazing. The gumbo and lobster mac n cheese is a must try. We had the cheesecake of the day (oreo cheesecake) and it was really good. Great customer service, definitely coming back.”
- Fernie J Hernandez, Google Reviews
2. Chelitos – Downtown
Address: 115 N Mesa St #1D, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
Contact Details: +1 915-300-1188
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 9 AM to 10 PM
- Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 10 AM to 10 PM
- Wednesday – 10 AM to 8 PM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
Chelitos is a spot that delivers massive portions of hearty, satisfying food at prices that won’t make people wince.
We get why most diners order Chelito’s Fries as their entire meal. They arrive buried under nacho cheese, shredded cheese, and cilantro. There’s also tomato, sour cream, and avocado that make the dish even better.
Of course, there’s also the option to add steak or chicken. We added steak to ours and enjoyed every bite of these fries.
The burgers are also quite popular. We tried the Pastor Burger, which stacks two four-ounce patties with American cheese, ham, and juicy pastor pork. The mayo-slathered bun also comes with lettuce and mustard.
The food here is heavy. The burger was bursting with flavor, and the portion size kept us full for hours.
There aren’t really any light options, so those watching calories or trying to eat clean might need to skip this spot.
Food aside, the service is great. Both times we’ve come here, we’ve gotten our food in under 30 minutes, and nothing has ever come out soggy or cold.
Might be the best burger I’ve ever had
“Visiting from out of town and found this place. The Pastor Burger might be the best burger I’ve ever had. The service was also fantastic. Rodrigo gave awesome recommendations and was super friendly. The loaded fries were also great. Awesome spot. I highly recommend!”
- Frank K, Google Reviews
Food was absolutely delicious
“I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The service was excellent—Rodrigo was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. On top of that, the music created a great atmosphere, adding to the overall enjoyment of the evening.”
- Liliana Ramirez, Google Reviews
3. Weso Steakhouse
Address: 601 N Mesa St ste 150
Contact Details:+1 915-444-9085
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 11 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM to 8 PM
Weso is a steakhouse that incorporates Mexican ingredients and techniques. Start with the Huitlacoche Empanadas, which were our favorite appetizer.
The Huitlacoche (corn smut, if we’re being technical) Empanadas had rich mushrooms, spicy chile poblanos, and oozing cheese.
The Wagyu Tenderloin is where Weso justifies its high prices. Eight ounces of hormone and antibiotic-free beef, properly aged and cooked exactly how diners ask for it.
We splurged on this and loved the buttery texture and clean flavor of the wagyu. The kitchen wisely lets the meat speak for itself rather than drowning it in sauce.
Other diners we talked to loved the Weso Pistachio Mole Airline Breast. The bone-in chicken breast stays juicy, served over creamy mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, all drizzled with a green mole made with pistachios.
The portions are huge, so people never leave unsatisfied. We’ve seen tables flag down servers for to-go boxes before they’re even halfway through their mains.
Parking, though, is a bit tight. The lot fills up fast, so a few people complained they had to walk a bit. And yes, it’s pricey, which makes this more of a special occasion spot than a weekly dinner spot.
The food was amazing
“My girlfriend and i went in to celebrate her birthday and we had one of the best dinning experiences of our lives. The food was amazing cooked perfectly and my favorite part was definitely the dessert. Ruben has the most amazing service and great recommendations. We were hoping to find a place to celebrate our anniversary next month and i just KNOW this is the perfect place for us. Delicious food, drinks, and over all atmosphere. The staff made us feel special and you could just tell they give this service type of service to all their guests! We cannot wait to come back next month !”
- Heyddi Morales, Google Reviews
Beautifully plated dishes
“Weso Steakhouse had a wonderful and relaxing vibe with delicious drinks and beautifully plated dishes that were truly exceptional. Our waiter was incredibly kind and attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Everything from the atmosphere to the food was so memorable that I would definitely come back again.”
- Carolina Heisenburg, Google Reviews
4. The Junction Brunch House
Address: 3001 Pershing Dr
Contact Details: +1 915-307-5639
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 8 AM to 1 PM
- Thursday to Sunday – 7 AM to 3 PM
The Junction takes comfort food people already love and executes it well.
The Pulled Pork Benedict is what we order every single time. The apple butter’s sweetness plays off the tender pork, and the shallots cut through the richness.
Plus,the bolillo is sturdy enough that the whole thing doesn’t collapse into a soggy mess halfway through bites.
Others rave about The Junction Burger for its juicy patty, American cheese, crispy bacon, and tangy burger sauce.
The weekend specials are worth trying too. Their Pozole Rojo is reminiscent of the classic Mexican stew. We came one weekend and loved the rich red broth, tender pork, and hominy that’s cooked just right.
Plus, they’ve got all the fixings (cabbage, radish, bolillo for soaking up every drop).
Tina’s Peach Cobbler French Toast, though, might be one of the best things on the menu. The thick-cut bread is properly soaked and grilled until golden, topped with warm peach compote that actually tastes like peaches.
The downside? Those incredible weekend specials are only available on weekends, which is frustrating for those only available during the week.
They serve the best pancakes in town
“Casual dining, freewheeling style restaurant with delicious food. They serve the best pancakes in town if this is what u r looking for, freshly made, slightly burnt edges, soft and fluffy inside. Sides r at reasonable price compared to most restaurants in town. Recommended for brunch!”
- Phoenix, Google Reviews
The place was clean and cozy
“Definitely our new fave brunch spot!
Service is the absolute best! Food was great, and the place was clean and cozy! I don’t have any complaints at all. Highly recommend! My husband got a delicious sandwich! It was spicy just like he likes it. I got pancakes, which they served with cinnamon butter! Everything was perfect! Our server was the sweetest. All of the staff is very friendly.”
- Damaris Vazquez, Google Reviews
5. Conico Contemporary Mexican Cuisine
Address: 610 N Mesa St
Contact Details:+1 915-694-9662
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 5 PM to 9 PM
- Tuesday & Wednesday – 4 PM to 9 PM
- Thursday – 4 PM to 10 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 5 PM to 11 PM
Conico’s approach to Mexican cuisine takes traditional ingredients and techniques seriously while allowing room for modern interpretation.
The Mushroom Tacos demonstrate this balance beautifully. The seared mushrooms nestle in warm corn tortillas with melted chihuahua cheese.
The caramelized seeds provide textural contrast, and micro-cilantro adds brightness. The truffle oil enhances the tacos rather than overwhelming the earthy mushroom flavours.
Their Tostadas De Atun are a bit more out there. While the sushi-grade tuna and the spicy orange lemongrass ponzu are delicious, it took us a minute to adjust to the grasshoppers resting on top. So, this might not be the best for non-adventurous eaters.
For seafood lovers, the Pescado Zarandeado features red snapper marinated in guajillo adobo. We loved how moist and smoky the fish was.
Of course, their cocktails deserve a mention. The Tulum reimagines the piña colada with tequila and rum. It’s creamy without being heavy. The Huitzil mezcal cocktail was our top pick due to the unique corn tortilla garnish.
Service-wise, they are attentive without hovering, though weekend reservations don’t guarantee immunity from waits. People complained about 45-minute delays even for confirmed bookings.
Far exceeded my expectations
“A REAL HIDDEN GEM in downtown El Paso. This restaurant is run by a duo of Brothers: one at the front creating the most exotic creative & delicious cocktails; the other is the chef who creates really delicious & modern yet brilliantly Mexican dishes.
I knew Conico would be good based off the reviews, but it far exceeded my expectations. My absolute favorite was the sopes de Cochinita Pibil, they were utter perfection. I also really enjoyed the other dishes so it’s kind of unfair to say I had a favorite. The quality of the food is astounding- the seafood is so fresh (flown in every day) and they use incredibly high-quality maize, ask the waiter to explain ( Conico is the type of corn they use hence the name of the restaurant ). You can tell the chef honed his craft in Europe. Can’t wait to go back and try more items from the menu. By the way, you should absolutely try the cocktails: they’re super sophisticated and delicious.”
- A Fernandez, Google Reviews
All items were excellent.
“We had 3 items from the Happy Hour menu, tacos, ceviche and a tostada, and tamale de chocolate for dessert. All items were excellent. Beautifully prepared and served on unique dinnerware. Waiter was attentive and wiped the table between servings. The decor is upscale and comfortable. All around, an
- Excellent restaurant.”Denise Weaver, Google Reviews
