The food and service was great! Everyone was very welcoming and nice. The servers were quick even though it was busy and made sure everything was good. read more

Fantastic across the board. A mandatory stop when in El Paso. Flour tortilla chips with 3 different salsas to start. Chicken enchiladas to die for - have them Christmas style to enjoy both their red and green enchilada sauce. The rice and beans are delicious. Best of all is the friendly, attentive service. read more

L & J Cafe - Chicken enchiladas Christmas style. - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Casual ambience. The restaurant was very large and had a wait of about 20 minutes, which was not too bad for our group of six. The complimentary nachos were good and the salsa was enjoyable as well. The pico de gallo was very fresh and refreshing. The server was very friendly. I ordered steak ranchero and lemonade. The lemonade was refreshing and not too sweet, with a nice balance between lemon and sugar. The steak was a bit dry for my taste, but the beans were good. Overall, it was a decent experience, and the server created a friendly atmosphere. The service was slow but still good. read more

L & J Cafe - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Glad I checked Yelp for good food in El Paso! L&J Cafe was a nice spot for some no frills Mexican food in a lively atmosphere. It definitely felt like the center of town with the buzz of energy and the clientele. I sat at the bar and was greeted with some chips and salsas (yes, plural), it was a nice touch to get a free bowl to snack on. For my dinner I ordered the mole chicken enchiladas, and it was great. The mole wasn't as aromatic as I expected, it was mostly sweet with a little herbaceous taste in there. But not very smoky or complex. Still, the dish overall was great, the beans were delicious and the enchiladas themselves came out really nice. I can see why this place comes highly rated! read more

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Good food, fast service and a relaxing bar area. Looks like a small dive on the outside, however it is pretty big inside. read more

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Delicious food, lively atmosphere, great prices, cool history, and amazing service. What more can one ask for?!? Our late lunchtime wait was only 12 minutes. I was surprised that they had a whole section on their menu dedicated to vegetarian dishes! We also bought some salsa jars to take home with us. read more

L & J Cafe - Steak dish - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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This was our first stop in El Paso. If you're not looking for this place you might not find it! Very unassuming, and in a largely residential area across from a cemetery. Lots of street parking around. We were seated immediately and enjoyed looking at the history of the restaurant while we perused the menu. Lots of entrees, all fairly priced. Service was efficient and the food was absolutely delicious. So many delicious flavors, especially on the combination plate. Recommend! read more

L & J Cafe - Ground beef tacos - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Wow! Wow! We had an incredible time. We are so happy we came here! We were driving through El Paso on a road trip and stayed an Airbnb down the street. So we were able to walk up this restaurant - which was great bc the parking lot and adjacent street parking was packed! This restaurant came highly recommended by both the airbnb host and my friend who is from EP. We came on a Thursday evening around 630pm - there was a wait out the door and we ended up waiting for about 15-20 min. Based on reviews we ordered the following: 1. Queso dip as an appetizer 2. Mexican combo plate - but we substituted the red chili enchilada with their famous, legendary green chili chicken enchilada (which the waiter confirmed was what they are famous for) 3. Chicken tortilla soup 4. Tres leches dessert Everything was amazing!! INCLUDING THEIR included and unlimited chips and 3 salsas! Their red salsa was very good. Their green salsa was even better!! And my favorite was their mocaheta salsa - which I ended up getting three refills of!! The chips were fresh and made in house! So good!! The ambiance was exciting and joyful! The waiter Alex was wonderful. He created an amazing experience! He was friendly, helpful, attentive. He did his best to pay attention to us and serve us in an efficient way even though we could tell the restaurant was super busy - he worked very hard to never rush us! We are so happy with our food choices! On the Mexican combo plate - I loved everything: beef stew, steak flauta, green chili chicken enchilada and chili relleno! The chicken tortilla soup came out with the toppings on the side so we could put as little or as much avocado, cheese, or lime as we wanted - i loved that feature. We first tried the chicken and broth by itself and it was amazing - so when we added the toppings it was next l level! The tres leches dessert had peach in it, the whipped cream frosting and the soft spongy cake was SO GOOD! We kept raving about our experience for the remainder of the night. We will definitely come back to El Paso - even if it's just for this restaurant! PS. The waiter packed me extra chips and salsa to take home bc I loved it so much. I ate them for breakfast the next day! read more

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I was driving by El Paso on a roadtrip and wanted a quality meal, so we stopped here because of the reviews. And it did not disappoint!! There was a little bit of a wait, but it was worth it. I don't usually love Tex-Mex but this was more Mex and truly tasted authentic and was so fresh. Our server was so kind and the service was great. I will say the guacamole was pretty bland and underwhelming, but their sauces and meals made up for that. Cool homey environment too. 100% will be stopping here when I pass by! read more

L & J Cafe - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Often visiting El Paso for shopping my wife and I come to this historic iconic restaurant for lunch. My wife was there a week ago with one of her girlfriends and I got 'jealous' so it was my choice for lunch this visit. We had to wait about 15 minutes for our table but it was worth it! We both had the cheese enchiladas in mole sauce with side of beans and rice. I know that Mole is like BBQ Sauce, there are many variations and taste, too smokey, too hot, two chocolaty, etc. I grew up in a Hispanic home where Mole was prepared regularly. For me, the L&J Mole is one of the best that I have ever tasted. As always the food in general was amazing, including the fresh fried tortilla chips and their selection of salsas. Cesar the server was outstanding. It's our place to take our visitors in El Paso. read more

L & J Cafe - My Cheese Mole Enchiladas with beans and rice, so delicious - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Great food! We were disappointed to find out they do not have liquor only agave. Many tables did get Agave Margaritas though. We started with guacamole and chile con queso. The Queso was amazing loaded with chiles and you could tell homemade with the real stuff. The guacamole was really just avocado with some diced tomatoes on top but very fresh. I got the Chicken Enchiladas with both red and green sauce as the server highly recommended the green sauce. She was not wrong, the green sauce was very creamy loaded with chiles and had lots of flavor. I typically get red sauce but would recommend the green sauce! The enchiladas themselves were very good the chicken was on top and not a ton of meat. The place was very busy yet big on the inside. Parking can be a bit challenging as street parking. Server was awesome with the recommendations and attentive to our table. read more

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Hands down the best Tex-mex I've had! If you are ever in town you have to check this place out. We visited this restaurant after we landed in El Paso and before our road trip in NM/TX. I'm so glad we picked this restaurant. The food was so good that we kept on looking for its replacements throughout our trip. Nowhere got even close. We missed it so much that we were excited to visit again after our road trip and before we flew out of El Paso. I'm not an expert in Mexican food, but everything we had there just tasted exceptional. Started from the free tortillas chips. They were so crispy and made fresh. There was just enough grease and salt to taste good, even after the chips got cold. The chile con queso dip was addicting. All of us ordered fajitas as we were really impressed by our first visit. The food not only had good flavoring, and cooking was done right that it has that "wok fragrance " if you know what I mean. Even the sour cream was extra creamy and a bit sweet. I'll 100% come back again when I'm in town. The service was quick and attentive. The place was popular, but we didn't have to wait long because there are lots of tables. read more

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Amazing!! As another reviewer suggested, I relied the Mexican combination plate but subbed the red cheese enchilada for the green chicken enchilada. It did not disappoint! The portion was huge! My favorite was by far the Chile Relleno. It was so good I would up snacking on my leftovers as soon as I got back to my hotel room. 10/10 read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for months. We come out here a couple times a month for work and have tried many Mexican places in the city. Nothing worth writing home yet. Stopped by here once but it had a line out the door. So this time we got here early. Loved the decor inside and it has some old school charm. Rumor has it this place has been around a long time. So we started with margaritas and queso. The chips were spot on and fresh. The margaritas were very good! I got the combo plate enchiladas with a chili relleno too. Wow! Amazing taste and very fresh. Loved every bite. My buddy got the fajita nachos and said it was superb! Definitely come back and try a different dish again. read more

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Love this place. The Steak Tampiqueña is a chefs kiss. One of the best I've had between west Texas and New Mexico. The red chile here they serve with the chips is got great flavor and heat. The service is great and friendly. They keep the drinks full and everyone is pleasant. The ambiance is old school and very much local family style. Love this place no problems. read more

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Amazing chips and salsa. Great chile verde burrito. The $3.99 avocado is a WHOLE jumbo avocado, so if you want it, get it. They get busy and parking is limited. read more

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My friends and I ate dinner at L&J Cafe during a quick one night stopover in El Paso. We weren't familiar with El Paso, so I found this place on Yelp. No regrets at all - this was an absolutely fantastic meal. We went on a Friday night around 6pm. The restaurant was busy inside but there's lots of tables so we only had a short 5 minute wait. The parking is mainly street parking, but there's dedicated parking spaces outside in front of the restaurant. We found a spot fairly quickly. Our server Jazmine was excellent. Super friendly and gave us some great recommendations on the menu. The chips and salsa are complimentary and super craveable. You can tell the chips are made fresh. The trio of salsas were uniquely different and carried the perfect amount of heat. To start we ordered the Queso Fries. Their Chile con Queso is fantastic and unlike other queso's I've had before - definitely recommend! For entrees we all got the Mexican Combination Plate. This is a great opportunity to try multiple menu items all at once. I highly recommend subbing the red cheese enchilada for the green chicken enchilada. For dessert we shared the Sopapillas. Another delicious bite, especially when drizzled with honey. Next time we're passing through El Paso, we know where we're stopping for dinner! read more

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Been here twice and was really good both times. I recommend the steak plate in particular. Salsas must be authentic because they are not what I usually expect! Less tomato based and a lot thinner and spicier. The chips here are spectacular though I could eat them with nothing on top. Do be careful as it can get pretty busy and parking is tight. Usually there's some seats at the bar even when the place is packed. Food comes out quick. read more

L & J Cafe - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Food is very good and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and did a great job. I try to eat there every time I'm in town.

Tengo poco aquí en El Paso, y este es mi lugar favorito para comida mexicana. Cada visita es un platillo nuevo a probar. Esta visita fue los tacos de barbacoa y mi esposo las albóndigas, muy recomendadas la verdad, el sazón y poca grasa en la carne para chuparse los dedos. La atención que tuvimos como siempre muy complacidos. Muchas gracias por seguir con la tradición. read more

L & J Cafe - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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The first time we tried going here, the place was packed so we waited to try again another day. And that day came!! We went during lunch. There are nice attendants to help you park along the street so that was a plus. We only waited for a table for maybe five minutes and were seated. We started with the Chiles con queso which was yummy. Get ready for a nice cheese pull!! The different salsas were yummy. The carne de res is really comforting and delicious. My husband ordered the Mexican combo which was nice to try a mix of things. Nice friendly staff who were very attentive. Would go back with friends to try more things on the menu. Overall fun experience! read more

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This was a great little find. Recommended by a colleague. Came in for lunch and was not disappointed. Except for the wait. But it was the lunch hour and there was I think 6or 8 of us. The wait was an hour but we ended up breaking our party up and sitting at the bar to eat. It was a lively place between the customers, staff, music, and TVs, it was not at all quiet but oddly wasn't overwhelming. At least not sitting at the bar. I ordered the steak which came as steak strips. It was really good. Not too spicy but could have used a little more salt for me. Overall enjoyable. Would come back and would recommend. Parking is TIGHT so be prepared for that. read more

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Honestly I got recommended this place, and I decided to stop by it is pretty busy and packed. Waited about 10 minutes to get sat down at the bar Honestly, the food is regular with lots of locals and the service was fast which I liked read more

L & J Cafe - Flautas bandera style - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Great local spot with authentic food and generous portions. Service was friendly, although it was a little slow during the lunch rush. I'd definitely come back. read more

Had a great experience here! Our waitress was the best, she came out with all the salsas, endless chips, and even brought out the enchilada sauces for us to try! The mole sauce was probably the best I've had yet! Great food for a great price! Restaurant was busy, but great service! Will be back this was a great place and it is street parking, and they have stairs for the entrance only. read more

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Food was amazing and the staff was amazing and the plates was full of food the waitress made sure that our drinks and everything was good for us. It did not take long to be seated or serve served the ambience. Everything was completely perfect. They stayed busy, but it did not cause any holdup for our food. read more

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I had a craving for Menudo since I've haven't had it in numerous years once my mom passed. This place was off the charts! Menudo was not greasy full of meat and delicious. Just like mom used to make! The place is fantastic. People are amazing. Definitely coming back to this place. Just like being in mom's kitchen again. Fresh, delicious and very inviting. read more

So good! Was reading the articles on the wall and tried things they are known for. Green chicken enchiladas, lime margarita, and the lemonade. The green chicken enchiladas are like nothing I have ever had, Chile piled on top of cheese and chicken and corn tortillas. Margarita was the best one I've had in a while. Lemonade was perfectly refreshing. Husband got the combination plate and he had no complaints. Service was excellent. read more

L & J Cafe - Green chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Always top notch service, the staff is always amazing in verification of ingredients in the menu due to food allergies. They have even suggested a few different menu options to accommodate my food allergies. read more

L & J Cafe - Steak Burrito and chili con queso, absolutely delicious - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Very lively spot offering excellent Mexicsn dishes. We had tortilla souo, chicken nachos and pollo mole (among the best I've ever enjoyed). It is a cozy setting and the servers do a great job of keeping things moving. The portion sizes are great; we took home enough forcanotger meal after eating our fill. VERY popular at lunchtime and parkung was a bit tifhrmt although the have someone outside directing. Definitely on our list for future visits to or through El Paso. read more

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Tried this place while waiting for a flight and we enjoyed it. We were looking for some Tex Mex since we were in Texas and this place was one of the top recommended places on Yelp and other sites. Overall we had a pretty good experience. The entrance was unsuspecting and you would not be able to tell how lively and bustling the inside was from the door/entry. The staff were nice and greeted us quickly. Our waiter was really nice and the service was very fast. The food came out really quickly after we ordered it. They serve complimentary chips and salsa which were home made. The chips were so good, fresh and crispy. I also liked the variety of salsas. We ordered the queso, chicharrones burrito, and the combo plate. The combo plate was huge and enough for two meals. I loved the chicharrones burrito and the queso was cheesy and delicious. I wish I got a chicharrones burrito to go! The price was reasonable, especially since I'm used to California prices. I'm glad I tried this place while I was in the area. read more

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L&J Café is a must-stop whenever you're in El Paso. Just blocks from the border, it serves truly authentic Mexican food in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. The servers are friendly, and you can choose to grab a drink at the bar or head into the main dining room depending on the vibe you're looking for. The caldo de res is incredibly flavorful, the combination plate is perfect when you want a little bit of everything, and if you're sitting at the bar, a cold Tecate is the way to go. A local classic that absolutely lives up to the hype. read more

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For Arizonans: I would best describe the food similar to Macayo's. The restaurant is deceptively big. It is like a maze inside. While there, there were a couple families celebrating their birthday mornings, so I got the vibe that this place is a fan favourite among families and locals. It was around lunch time, and the restaurant was PACKED. I think we waited for a table for ~10-15min. Ordering and getting the food after being seated were relatively quick. I got the Mexican Combination plate, and it came loaded basically with a ton of favourites on the menu. However, I didn't feel like any of the food was something to write home about except that the rice and the chili verde con carne (soup) were both good. If I ever come back, I would just get the chili verde con carne, honestly. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the food here, and was a bit disappointed when it was recommended to me by locals. read more

Food and service was top tier. Everyone was very kind and the restaurant was very clean. I was traveling out of town from Florida and had this location recommended by several people. Now I will be the one recommending for anyone visiting or living in El Paso. read more

L & J Cafe - Steak Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

It was our first time here. We had heard about the place from friends before, but did not go until now. It is always busy, so be prepared to wait. The food was good, the cinnamon coffee was definitely different. We did not try the dessert, as the food was a lot. Great atmosphere. the staff is friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be going back. Parking situation is...difficult, as there are not many spaces available if they are busy. You can walk a bit if you park further. read more

If you ever needed a single reason to visit L&J Café, this one should do it: back in the day, they had bootlegging and slot machines hidden behind false walls. Honestly, if that doesn't make you curious, you might need to check your pulse. Sure, the slots are long gone--but the flavor jackpot's still paying out. We kicked things off with chips, salsa, and guacamole that could probably broker peace treaties. Then came green chile chicken enchiladas, Caldillo Soup with hot flour tortillas, and Deshebrada Tacos that practically whispered "don't share me." I've been eating here since the 80s, and not once has L&J let me down. Even if you're just there for margaritas, beer, and a good laugh, you'll leave wondering if maybe those old slot machines aren't still hiding somewhere--just to see who's lucky enough to find them. read more

This is a little hole in the wall that's very surprising when you walk in. Parking is not good so be prepared to walk. Chips and salsa were good, but the guacamole was great! They don't offer liquor so the margs are wine based. Not bad, but not margs. The food was good, but not anything I would go out of my way for. read more

Came here for lunch, waited about 15 minutes for a table when we got here around 1130. The restaurant was busy, but the service was great. The variety of salsas they give the table at the beginning were amazing! I chose the Mexican combination for lunch and it didn't disappoint. The chile rellenos were incredible! read more

L & J Cafe - Mexican combination - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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We love L&J Cafe. Not sure why it's called a cafe though. Just seems to me like a very nice old very authentic Mexican restaurant. read more

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Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. The staff was amazing and super kind. The restaurant was very busy, but they took the time to make sure we had everything we needed and that our cups never went empty. They also have really affordable beer and the best queso I've ever had. People say that there's more authentic Mexican food, but I haven't found it. Also, this place has been around for over 90 years, so you can't argue how good it is and how they've been able to stick around for that long. read more

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