It's just okay. Better than some other Mexican food choices around, don't expect great food or service. FYI, you have to pay for chips and salsa, not like back home in DFW. Both times we went 4 months apart, they had just 1 server and she was scrambling the whole time. I give her props for keeping track of everything and everyone. Chicken fajita quesadillas were okay, better than the chicken enchiladas I got the second visit. If we go back, I'll stick to fajitas or quesadillas. Wife had the beef enchiladasthe first time, she thought they were okay, second d time she had the burger and enjoyed it. Overall, not bad, not good, but remember where you are...the freaking desert :) read more

Stopped for dinner on our way to Big Bend. We arrived after 8:00pm and there were a few groups eating. The server greeted us immediately and took our drink order. The beer selection was limited. We ordered enchiladas with Christmas tree sauce. The red and green sauce were both very good. The veggie enchiladas were loaded with veggies. The meat enchiladas were good however they weren't that hot temperature wise. The rice and beans were okay. Server was friendly and we enjoyed our meal! read more

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**This is a 3.5 star review.** This joint is divey in all the best ways. First, the kitschy decor and screened in porch are real, and not meant to bring in tourists. Second, they charge for chips and salsa, which I saw them deliver to one table during our lunch. That tells me, that someone either really loves the stuff, or that someone from way north thinks this is a normal thing. Hell, they don't even bring a check to the table here. (You or your server tell them what you order, and bam! They give you your total. Finally, most of the patrons during our visit were well known to Crow (the dude who took care of us), which assures me that this is a place where the locals eat. The food here is good when compared with the other trillion Tex-Mex joints that I've patronized over the years. Because two of us were heading to Big Bend National Park and didn't want to get overly full, we split the Mexican Plate. -- The tamale was fine, served in the husk (with no chili or sauce). Decent bite to it. -- Cheese enchilada was delicious; beef enchilada was OK, as the beef was barely seasoned. -- The hard taco was decent. Again, barely seasoned meat. -- Refried beans were run of the mill; the rice was 'wet,' sort of like the stuff you make at home from a package. I'm used to Mexican rice that is dry. This might be a Terlingua thing. Either way, it was OK. -- Salsa gets points for being served cold and having some spice to it. I must give these folks credit as well for not watering it down like so many joints do. -- Good bottled beer selection. They even had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is quirky in a wonderful kind of way! The folks who live in these parts probably aren't reading Yelp for restaurant reviews, as there are only a handful to begin with. For the many people passing through, be it for the World Chili Cook-off Championships, or for Big Bend National Park, this is a nice, friendly little dive to stop at and have a good Tex-Mex meal. read more

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Good Local Spot With a Hometown Feel This place is good--not great, but good--and definitely better than some of the other Mexican restaurants in the area. It feels more like a local spot than a tourist trap, which I really appreciate. Overall, the food tasted good for the most part, with the exception of the salsa. It was overly spicy but lacked flavor--and before anyone says, "salsa is supposed to be spicy," I agree! But it's hard to enjoy something that's all heat and no taste. My son and I shared the fajitas for two, and while everything had good flavor, the beef fajitas were pretty tough and hard to chew. On the plus side, the tortillas were delicious and clearly fresh. All in all, it was a good experience and one of the better spots for Mexican food in the area. You get that real hometown vibe with a hint of authenticity. Favorite thing: On my way out, I grabbed a tea to go--and they didn't charge me extra for it. Small gesture, but it stood out. Least favorite thing: Being charged for chips and salsa. It seems common around here, but where I'm from, most Mexican restaurants offer those for free. read more

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Most interesting Marg ever not what it should be but overall hit the spot, nothing exciting read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - no clue marg - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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Service was incredible. The server was also the cashier. You could tell it was more than normal busy but she handled it like such a pro. Great location right outside the park. Close to the ghost town so can make it an hour or 2 adventure if you're taking a break from the park. Def rec. the food was bland but good. Food came out fast. read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

This is a taste little spot in Study Butte and convenient because there aren't a huge number of restaurants by any means. Will start by saying I had the best piña colada I think I've ever had here - and according to the hostess they just got the machine for it and had been playing around with the recipe that day! They nailed it! The food itself was pretty decent too; we were very hungry so everything tasted good but for the prices it was overall a good idea I think. I would come back if staying in the area and visiting big bend again :) read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Enchiladas with rice and beans; my dad got the fish tacos plate (comes with four small tacos) - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

Came here b/c of the many recommendations online and was happy we did. The service was on point. There was only one server working and she handled 1 table of 1, 2 tables of 2 (including us) and a 20-top of motorcyclists with the quickness. They do not have complimentary chips and salsa, but glad we ordered them. Hub ordered quesadillas and the serving size was ginormous. They will substitute red or green sauce on the menu to Christmas style (both sauces). read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Warm chips, spicy salsa and green chili queso...all yum. 12/6/25 - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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Stopped in for lunch and it took awhile to be greeted even though it wasn't busy. Food is mid at best. We ordered the crispy chicken ranch wrap (McDonald's is better) and the Al carbon tacos which looked pitiful. Service wasn't good. read more

Like many others, we stopped here after a day at Big Bend. A large group of us came in and this place greeted us like family and fed us a great meal. Absolutely would recommend. Try the Michelada! read more

Following an adventure at Big Bend National Park, I checked into a hotel near Paisano Village RV Park & Inn, which boasted awesome rooms. After dropping off my bags, I headed to the restaurant. Upon entering, I was seated promptly, ordered sparkling water, and looked over the menu. I opted for the Mexican Plate to sample a bit of everything. The meal was filling, but it was just okay, as was the ambiance. Mexican Plate - B read more

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The food is ridiculously good!!! All homemade m... If I lived near here I would gain 20 lbs... just wow!!!

Great spot on the way into Big Bend. Was staying in an AirBNB just down the road so stopped in twice for dinner. It was super quiet with only 1 or 2 other tables. Food came out quick and was a good portion for the price. Definitely worth a shot if you just want something laid back and chill. read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Mexican Plate - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

Food was awesome! Half order of nachos was plenty for 2 people. I had Ron's special burrito and I had to push to finish it, wife had Empenadas, excellent also. They were slammed with carry out orders when we got there, but our food came out, in order and just as fast as any other place, with 1 waitress/hostess/cashier. read more

How does this place have more than an "OK" rating? 1. There's not many choices in Trelingua 2. There are YELPERS who give 4 star reviews along with advice to clean up dead flies! C'mon Man! Beef Piccadillo: small chunks of beef browned with peppers and onions, side of rice and refried. Two tortillas. Only Two (2). I'd have liked FOUR (4), but with the horribly high tortilla prices, didn't want to seem greedy!!!! May have cost another $0.25?! It's always annoying to be served a dish clearly meant to fill tortillas, and then get shortened on the tortillas:( Ambiance is Zero. No music, only a brightly lit room full of glum diners. Service was ok. I did not see dead flies. read more

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Roaches on the floor! Service was horrible girl was her phone the entire time food was mediocre I would not try

We had a great experience at Chili Pepper Cafe! Crow was our waiter-he is quite a character! We enjoyed chicken strips and beef fajitas. Both were very good. read more

I don't know if this business has changed ownership, or if they have different kitchen crews on some days but the food looked nothing like any of the photos. Stale bagged tortilla chips, jarred salsa. The "chalupas" are actually miniature taco salads, not at all chalupas or how they are described on the menu. All 3 of the tables surrounding ours were also unhappy with their food and left half or more of it to go to waste. Overall flavorless food, dirty restaurant and low quality service. I genuinely can not understand why anyone has rated this place higher than 2. read more

We stopped for breakfast on our way to BBNP and everything was delicious. Had the tamales with eggs and was so much I could ok one of the tamales to go, for later. We liked it so much we went back again the same week. The sweet tea tastes just like my great grandmother in Georgia made it. Brought a tear to my eye (and maybe a little cavity to my molar lol) read more

Great mom and pop restaurant. Locally popular. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sometimes has entertainment. Always friendly and laid back. read more

We arrived for dinner on a Friday evening around 6:00 p.m. The place was nearly empty--just three occupied tables out of about twenty--but it still took about ten minutes before we flagged someone and asked if we could seat ourselves. After 10 minutes of being self-seated, we grabbed our own menus and utensils from the cashier's station (since no one offered them, or came by to introduce themselves). There were three staff members working the front and a visible kitchen crew, so it wasn't a staffing issue, just a lack of attention. We ordered combo fajitas for two and a cheese quesadilla. The fajitas arrived in about 20 minutes and were disappointing--clearly a pre-made "heat and serve" dish. The chicken and beef chunks were bland and indistinguishable, while the peppers and onions tasted like overcooked frozen vegetables. The quality just wasn't there. Meanwhile, our kid's quesadilla never showed up. Every time we checked, the response was simply "it's coming." In the meantime, no one offered refills, brought napkins (even after asking), or delivered the cups of ice we requested. We ended up drinking our sodas straight from the cans. By 7:20p the quesadilla still hadn't arrived. We were the only table inside at that point, but the staff seemed more focused on chatting at the cashier station than checking on us. We finally got up, went to pay--minus the uneaten quesadilla--and left. No explanation, no apology, not even basic courtesy. We didn't have a bill, so it took about 10 minutes for the cashier to track it down, and another 5 minutes to get the undelivered quesadilla removed. Terlingua has some great local spots, but unfortunately, Chili Pepper Cafe wasn't one of them for us. It has potential given the space and location, but the service and food need serious attention before we'd consider returning. Food - 1 (out of 5) Service - 0 (out of 5) read more

Ate here twice while visiting the area for a week of outdoor adventures at Big Bend. Nice, quiet restaurant with small town rustic desert charm and very tasty food. I ate the Mexican Plate both times to fuel up after full days of hiking mountains and deserts. Amazing value for $13.50! The place is seat yourself. Staff is funny and very laidback. Come for the food and beer and just enjoy the slow desert vibes. read more

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Good food and friendly service. One server for the whole place, but she did great. Good selection of bottled beer. Good size portions and decent food. Not the best I've had but definitely not the worst. read more

Right off the highway and open 7 days a week. Decent food and decent service when not overwhelmed. Don't be pompous just enjoy. Beer, margaritas and calorie! Great guacamole! Place for locals and non. Share a table if need be. read more

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A Terlingua dive but a new tradition for us. I had the Tacos All Pastor. The uncooked tortillas were dry but soft. but better be hesitant as they were hot from the grill! The seasoned meat was tender and tasty, the salsa was mild & tasty so I finished the bowl with my spoon. . Our Owner/server was prompt and friendly. She was a bit stressed as one of her staff didn't come in so she was doing 2 jobs. Wife had cheese enchiladas w onions - excellent! Remember you are in Terlingua. Kick back and enjoy. As we did. read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

Food was delicious, service was friendly and quick. I had the fajita salad with chicken. The chicken was tender and tasty, the salad was lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado sprinkled with cheese. My husband had the cheese enchiladas. Warning: the red chile sauce is a bit spicy. Restaurant is casual and homey. Food is affordable. Worth a repeat visit. read more

First time staying in Terlingua and we wanted to try some good southwest Mexican food. Of course I relied on my fellow Yelpers and saw some great reviews of this place. It was a warm day so we decided on the outdoor patio. They have a few bigger tables that will seat a small group. You seat yourself then wait for the waiter. We weren't sitting for more than a few minutes before they took our drink orders and dropped off the menus. If your a Coke drinker, you'll have to ask for the Mexican Coke. It comes in a tall bottle and is slightly sweeter than Coke products made in the U.S. Their chips are very likely homemade. Great crunchy texture and good taste. So I opted for the Mexican plate. It comes with a beef hard shell taco, cheese enchilada, beef enchilada and a tamale. Or course the rice and beans are included. There were only a couple other tables in there but took about 15 minutes for our lunch to come out. I was hopeful this was made to order and sure seemed like it. My plate was piping hot and looked delicious. That it was!!! Just enough melted cheese but not too much. The e Hicks dad were not soggy either. Absolutely loved the tamale. One of the best I've ever had. It was moist and extremely well spiced. All in all I'll put this on my favorites to visit again when we come back! read more

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This is one of my favorites in the area. Service is friendly, food is really good and prices are reasonable. The enchiladas are good and I also like the tamales and tacos. It's a great place to stop and rehydrate with some iced tea (and nachos and maybe an Agave Wine Margarita.) read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Menu - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

We came with a party of five. The waitress was friendly and helpful. We ordered a hamburger with fries, a loaded baked potato, chicken enchiladas with "green sauce", beef enchiladas with "red sauce", and fish tacos. The baked potato and hamburger were the best things we ate. The Spanish rice lacked flavor and everything was under seasoned. read more

Food is great service is awesome and very family friendly!! Grandkids and great grandkids give it thumbs up!!

Not authentic Mexican. Good for white people mexican. 3 stars because the service was not great and my waitress seemed like she hated her job. read more

Lots of food, waitresses were great. Food came out quick. Hot sauce and chips I could have done without, kinda bland. Queso is very different. Not yellow for one thing and it's warm. read more

Final meal in Terlingua with delicious Tex Mex. Very casual place with indoor and covered outdoor seating. The server was exceptionally friendly and she pointed us to the self-serve cookers to pick our drinks - beer too. I actually wish more places would do this so you don't have to wait around for a beverage. Food was quite tasty. I ordered the trio of Guacamole, Salsa, and Queso together with 3 ground beef crunchy tacos. The salsa and Guacamole were great. Not sure how I felt about he queso. It was runny but filled with delicious hatch chiles so can't argue with it too much. My husband ordered the half-size nachos which are more like full size - still yum though. Overall excellent, but I will say prices seemed a bit high for what you're getting. Maybe it's the remote location - just be aware you're in a remote corner of the country. read more

Chili Pepper Cafe - Tex-Mex Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

I went in a bit on the fence, but The Chili Pepper Cafe won me over. I had the cheese enchilada plate for dinner one night--solid, satisfying, and well done. The next morning I came back for the chorizo plate, and that sealed it. It was good, full of flavor, and worth returning for. read more

Crow was the best server I've ever had and will ever had 10/10 would come back recommend this place to anyone who is driving by

Sorry to say we were extremely disappointed in the food and service. Our fajitas looked like they were bused off another table when it arrived and I can't even say it was luke warm when recieved. It was a Tues. night around 6:30 pm. We had to ask for our chips and salsa which showed up the same time our meal did. I only saw two individuals working so I got up and went to the register where said individuals were entering a new long order, waited, they looked at me knowing they had just brought out our food and went back to entering the order. No one checked on us and it seemed like they didn't care our food was getting even colder. Even a table of that 9 sat down about 10 mins. after us had their items before us. By then we that was enough. Hopefully this is not the case for others. read more

Friendly family restaurant. Good food however no bar so no margaritas. They do have beer in the bottle if that's what you're in the mood for. read more

When we walked in we had a variety of seating options, inside, outside patio or quieter side room. Alyssa was so kind to take our drink order immediately. She was quick with delivery, repeated and remembered our order correctly. I ordered Chilequilles and hubby asked for 3 eggs sunny up, with potato bits and bacon extra crispy. The eggs came over easy but were still delicious. Not a fan of the red sauce on chilequilles, but not their fault -I'm used to my own green sauce when I make them at home. They did a great job attending to us. Enjoy! read more

Staff is super nice. I got the Mexican plate and added an empanada instead of one of the enchiladas and the taco to be soft. Still love their flour tortillas & tamales the most though! read more

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We ended up here because the other places we wanted to try were closed. It worked out well. The staff were super friendly and we cleaned our plates. They don't have liquor, but the agave wine margaritas hit the spot. The enchiladas were great. The tortillas were delicious. We enjoyed the chicken and the ground beef options and we cleaned our plates. read more