An absolute gem off the beaten path of I-10! Stopped here for some menudo and enchiladas and had an…read moreexcellent meal. The service was friendly and the portions were perfect. Couldn't argue with the prices either. If you're traveling through Fort Stockton and you're hungry, forget the chain restaurants and head straight over to this place. It might not look like much on the outside, but you won't be sorry.

THE GOOD: clean, large bathroom stalls, and large cups for beverages. The food was not drenched in…read moreoil which is always a plus. THE BAD: Unfortunately this is the most TASTELESS Mexican food I've ever had. Everything from the meat to the beans and rice to the chips and salsa were all VERY bland. Our server was also not very nice. If you are hungry and just passing through it will fill the hole but you'll likely feel robbed when you leave.

Carniceria San Juan de Los Lagos in Carlsbad, NM has to be some of the best Mexican food I've ever…read morehad! I usually have a rule when traveling that I don't visit the same restaurant more than once, but this place was the exception. I came back three times in two days. Yes, it was that good. Sadly, the third time I came back, they were closed. The food tasted very authentic and absolutely worth the visit. I noticed some reviews mentioned communication issues or that the staff may not speak much English. I had a little bit of that struggle too, but honestly, that's how you know you might be in the right place for truly authentic Mexican food. I also felt like it was partly my fault for not doing enough research before ordering. But we figured it out, and the food was more than worth it. One small suggestion: it would be helpful if the menu had a little more English explanation, pictures, or item numbers to make ordering easier for both customers and staff. Overall, this is the kind of true hidden gem you hope to find in a small town. I would definitely take a detour to come back here whenever I'm in the area again.

Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos - Worth the Detour, Even Years Later…read more Some places stay with you. So much so that five years later, on a completely different road trip, you find yourself checking the map and thinking... "we're kind of close." Back in 2021, while exploring nearby national parks, we stumbled across Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos and loved it. This time, on our way to White Sands National Park, we made a small detour to see if it still held up. First surprise... I barely recognized the area. What used to feel like the middle of nowhere has filled in. Suburban life has arrived. Growth happened. But the place? Still there. Still good. Inside, it keeps that same warm, easy charm. Cute wood, farm-style Mexican decor, nothing fancy, just welcoming. The space has grown too, now clearly divided into restaurant, carnicería, and panadería, which means more reasons to linger. And the smell when you walk in? That alone could convince you to stay. Service was just as we remembered, sweet, friendly, and genuine. The kind that makes you feel like a regular even if you've been gone for five years. We went with pozole and shrimp tacos, and both delivered. Flavorful, comforting, exactly what we were hoping for. It's always a bit of a gamble revisiting a place you loved years ago. This one paid off. Still a favorite. Still worth the stop.

Excellent service and food. I had the tacos and they were delicious. The hot sauce was very good…read morealso. My waitress was very friendly and very good at her job.

I'm a Texan with a penchant for Tex-Mex (and Mex, New Mex and even Lou-Mex), and I enjoyed this…read morelittle joint. Was it the best ever? Hardly. But, in all fairness, I've eaten at no fewer than 200 different Tex-Mex restaurants in my lifetime. First, as one reviewer stated, this is very much a New Mexican-style restaurant, although they try to get there with the Tex-Mex. What does this mean? Quite simply, this place uses red sauce (vs. chili gravy) for enchiladas. It also offers stacked enchiladas with an egg placed on top, which is true New Mexican. Beyond that, the menu is quite varied. I'll start with my cheese enchiladas with red sauce. The sauce was spicy as hell, which was wonderful. The enchiladas themselves were a disappointment because they used two corn tortillas to roll them with the smallest pinch of cheese I've experienced in a while. -- I'm not sure about my dad's chile relleno and beef enchilada with green sauce, but he really enjoyed both. The rice and beans were pretty much par for the course. Not bad but nothing special. The salsa here is phenomenal. There's just enough onion and cilantro to make it memorable. It's served cold, which is a must for me, and it has some serious bite. Service here is really friendly and efficient. The atmosphere is old school: cheap paneling and trite "Mexican" decor. The men's bathroom is almost as dark as a movie theater. I don't get to this area often, but I would certainly eat here again any time I do.

Cozy, family run Mexican restaurant serving solid, flavorful dishes. This is my go-to when driving…read morethru Fort Stockton and looking for a break from interstate fast food. This place hit the spot with friendly service and friendly regulars. Be sure to get your dish 'Christmas' style. Just be watchful of business hours, not open 7 days a week.

You could eat somewhere else, but why would you? Best…read moreenchiladas in town!!! And they'll put an egg on it.

A super cute little restaurant that I'm pretty sure was originally a home on a street off the…read morehighway in Balmorhea. The name means "The Bear Den" and the inside is decorated with all kinds of bears and other beautiful decor from Mexico. Since it's a small place, you're definitely not getting "fast food," so expect to spend about an hour to have lunch, but it's worth the wait! We tried the green chile queso (awesome), fried pickles (good, the ranch they came with were awesome though), the chile relleno (solid), the chicken flautas (pretty good), and my daughter had their fried fish basket, which we definitely didn't expect to see on the menu but she liked! We were on a road trip and didn't have as much time to spend here as I'd hoped, but they helped us get in and out as fast as possible with our bellies full, which we really appreciated!

I was very disappointed with my meal. I ordered a taco salad when tasted like mush. When I…read morecompleted to the staff I was not given other options to replace my salad but instead was told I ordered it so I had to play for it . I would not recommend this restaurant.

Great service! Even allowed our dog inside because it was so hot. NO outdoor seating, despite that…read morelisting on Yelp. Reasonable prices and good food.

My family and I were vacationing for a few days. We were recommended this restaurant by the hotel…read morestaff. It was good. We enjoyed the food. The portions were huge, which was a challenge not to eat it all because it was so good! The waitress was nice and attentive. The atmosphere was like an old kitchen in a grandmothers house. Very homey. Would definitely go back!!

The service was one of the highlights of our visit. Our waitress was warm, welcoming, and happy to…read moreanswer my questions, especially since I was just passing through and unfamiliar with Fort Stockton and Texas dining. I ordered the Chile Verde. The portion was smaller than I expected, but the flavor didn't disappoint. The pork was tender, and the green chile sauce had a deep, rich taste that reflected hours of slow cooking. It carried more heat than my palate prefers, but spice lovers would likely appreciate it. The accompanying rice and beans were less impressive. The Spanish rice had a fairly standard flavor but was noticeably dry. The refried beans were also dry and seemed as though they had been sitting for quite some time before being served, which took away from an otherwise flavorful entrée. The restaurant itself was clean, colorful, and had a lively atmosphere that made it an inviting place to dine. Prices were about what I would expect for the meal we ordered--fair, though not a standout value. Overall, it was a pleasant stop with friendly service and a well-prepared Chile Verde, even if a few of the side dishes fell short.

Food, service, ambiance and all. One most fabulous place to eat. Chile rellenos and enchiladas…read morewere the best ever. We are deaf and use sign language. They could communicate with us. Everyone in the room looked happy. Fort Stockton is intriguing. The fort and the wonderful Bella Terrazza store. And the huge road runner sculpture. The people, the history the culture. We will want to return and stay longer.

Birria tacos were perfect. Horchata was good as well. The servers were polite and very quick to…read morebring out our food. Absolutely recommend

If you're looking for delicious and authentic tacos, this is the spot! Such amazing food and fast…read moregood service. I highly recommend giving it a try for a quick lunch break. Don't forget to get a Mexican Coke with your meal, the best drink with the tacos.