Great experience at the El Paso classic. I had the best Menudo since I can remember. Popular local spot means a very crowded dining and table area. Our awesome waitress even helped us pick out a hiking trail to concur tomorrow! Check out this big bowel of Menudo with bones!

This afternoon as well always do when we're in that part of town, we make it a point to dining at L & J CAFE. IT'S, one of our favorite places in town. Yes, great food and fantastic service. We live in the EAST-EAST- EAST-EAST side of town and we will the trip for a good meal and GREAT SERVICE. THANKS L & J for so many years of good food. Love it.

The food was so good especially the rice and beans. My friend and I had a great experience here and Reymundo may have not been our server but absolutely incredible at whatever his job is. Very helpful and kind and honestly Greatest Of All Time Status.

Myself and 3 friend from Austin, San Marcos and Portland, Oregon ate at the cafe fro the first time. Memorable experience. Impressed with any business that’s been open for 93 years. Rich history and legacy. I’m 76 years old and have eaten and plenty of elite top of the line restaurants. What impressed me was the authenticity, hospitality, and friendly atmosphere the minute you walked in the door. Fantastic food, great attentive service from our waiter. Terrific, terrific dining experience

Just went for our very first time... queso was the best we've ever had, anywhere. We were able to order lunch at 930am, which was awesome. Had chicken strips and fries for our picky eater. Hubs had the Mexican platter and everything was delicious! Green Chile Enchiladas were recommended by our waitress, I'm not a chile fan, and these were AMAZING. Staff came by frequently and ensured our drinks were full and removed dishes promptly. Will definitely be returning.

It's really a very delicious place, it's not Tex Mex food, at least the flavor, the delicious Mexican seasoning. The staff of very friendly waiters, attentive to each request. Delicious dishes recommending green enchiladas, stuffed chili, shredded beef tacos. The American coffee is very delicious made to order. The soft drinks are good, they have a variety of alcoholic drinks in the bar area, the girls are very friendly. A little difficult to find parking or at least us because of the time it could be too.

+3

Delicious food, great customer service, and the place has a nice welcoming & homey vibe. Parking is kinda not your usual parking, because its like eating at what once was someone's home. There may be a wait, but it's worth the wait!! Glad we did.... Definitely, eating here again and I usually don't like eating anywhere twice....because I like to try different places everytime we visit El Paso.

+3

Food was worth the hype. We were told it was a 20 minute wait. We were seated within 10 or so minutes. The staff were quick, friendly, and efficient in taking orders and getting everything to our table. All the food was delicious. Looking forward to going back.

+1

We had such a wonderful experience at this Mexican restaurant! The food was delicious, fresh, and full of authentic flavor—but what truly made our visit special was our server, EDGAR. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome from the moment we sat down. Edgar went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect, and his positive attitude really stood out. We had a party of 8 and he was awesome. Even had the waiters sing Happy Birthday to my sis in law. We’ll definitely be back—and we’ll be asking for Edgar again. 🌮👏. THANK YOU EDGAR

We were a party of 9 and had to wait longer than most but well worth the wait. Great food and atmosphere. Staff are accommodating and friendly. Very busy starting at 6pm. If I lived in TX, I be coming back regularly.

We were driving through town and looked at reviews for this restaurant, sometimes it’s a hit or miss but I have to say this is definitely a HIT! You must stop and eat here! Food is delicious, taste like mama made it and very affordable! Everyone is such in a great mood, excellent service by our server Carlos! Thank you so much! We will definitely add this stop the next time we drive by!

One of the best restaurants you'll ever dine at. Food was off the charts, service was superb despite the place being slammed and oh yeah, prices here are literally half what this would cost anywhere else. El Pasoans are lucky to have this gem in their backyard.

In El Paso for a reunion. We stopped in here for dinner. I don't even know what to say; really incredible atmosphere. All the staff are friendly, the guys drinking at the bar were smiling and happy. No weird vibes and definitely authentic. The food was absolutely stellar. I had the steak burrito and I wanted to order a second one after I finished it. You won't be disappointed. it's a really good restaurant

If you go to ONE restaurant in El Paso, be sure it's L & J Cafe. This is an old-time staple of El Paso, 'the restaurant by the graveyard' as it's affectionately known, but it's really worth its superb reputation and you can see why it's lasted long if you are lucky enough to eat there! I went with someone who is a native to El Paso and I'm so glad I didn't go to some fancy place because the food at L & J is out of this world excellent! It's got a really excellent vibe, everyone in there just looked so happy, I saw people of all walks of life just chowing down and loving the atmosphere and incredible food. If you are a fan of REAL authentic Mexican food NOT Tex-Mex, then L & J is the place. The enchilladas come with eggs if you ask - old-school-style, the sauce is AMAZING. I haven't eaten real food like this except in El Paso - Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, NOPE. They say they're authentic but they have no idea. The food here is the real deal, the way they make the sauce is just mouthwatering. I absolutely loved every thing about my visit and I will be 100 percent definitely returning on my next trip to El Paso. This is a gem & part of me didn't want to review it as I don't want it to change! But I figured, it's been here a long time, it is true to itself and cares about staying the El Paso best-kept-secret. Delicious. I am getting hungry just writing this review. GO THERE. Oh, and the wait-staff are great.

This place has the absolute best Mexican comfort food. The atmosphere is so cozy and the staff are very polite. Food is so tasty and authentic!!

Had a great New Year's dinner. The food and service was amazing. Wait ended up taking longer but the extra wait was worth it. The bar staff took care of us while we waited. We'll be back when we come to El Paso.

We love it here 😋. We are never disappointed with the food we eat. Last night we both had the Mexican combination. It had a little variety from the Menu, my favorite was the Chile Verde y taco, my huns was all of it. 😁. Jasmine es our waitress, she was very attentive. I give her a thumbs up, she was nice and friendly. 😊

I left thinking about how clean crisp the water tasted. The chips & salsa were fried to order and was excellent as well. The rice was very well made. Every customer will most likely experience these and they make sure they deliver in high quality in these areas. Our food overall was nice. Wait staff were prompt and friendly enough.

+6

I ate here for brunch on a Sunday. Immediately walking in everyone greeted us and were very friendly. This place looks small but has plenty of sitting and a nice size bar. The food came out really fast. Our waiter (didn't get her name) was on it. She was very helpful and gave us good description of the food. Great place to have brunch. I highly recommend this for the family or just a outing with friends.

+3

We were in El Paso, traveling from Fort Worth for one night on our way to LA and saw the great reviews for this place. Spot on! The food was awesome, they give you way too much to eat, tasted great. Our server was awesome as well. I know he said his name, our check said Juan but I don’t think that was his name tags but at any rate, he was friendly, attentive and we had a great dinner. We will definitely be back next time. We are in El Paso.

Nothing short of amazing! We’ve now eaten dinner and breakfast here on our short two days stay in El Paso. The breakfast we ordered was the cheese enchiladas and Eggs your way, The breakfast burrito, and a short stack with bacon. The cheese enchiladas were phenomenal in taste, fulfilling in portion size, and thoughtfully made/presented. The short stack was enjoyed by my very picky toddler who refuses to eat anything new..for reference this was her first time eating pancakes and she ate just about all of it. Fluffy stack, crispy brown, and amazing choice of honey or syrup. The breakfast burrito was a bit dry unfortunately. Our server Trae noticed immediately it was not being as enjoyed as the rest of our food and we asked to please send it back. The manager came over with a great attitude took the item off of our check and offered us desert to go. The service is exceptional and very client forward. Coming from Houston,TX the food is authentic NOT tex-mex which we largely enjoyed! For Dinner, our table ordered chicken taquitos and the Mexican combination. We asked for a microwave delivered to our room the food was so good we were not going to let even the left overs go to waste. This place is a MUST TRY. Not a money dump at all, it is worth every penny. From the service, to the food, to the atmosphere. I wish I could give it far more stars then what google reviews offer.

Such a cute spot in El Paso. My Mom and I were suggested this place from a friend who was stationed here. We just PCSed to Fort Bliss. So, we decided to stop by for lunch. I loved reading the history of the restaurant which began during the Great Depression. The food was delicious and so authentic. My server was nice, quick, and attentive. He was overall awesome. If I had to make a suggestion, it would be to ensure the hostesses are friendly and welcoming. I feel they are the ones who set the tone for the customers. Our hostess was not the friendliest. We will be back soon.

The wife and our two children met a group of friends here who recommended it to us. We were very pleased with the quality of food,the service, and the atmosphere of the establishment. I would definitely recommend that you stop by here at least once as it is truly a wonderful place to eat. We will go here again. Love the portions of food.

We just arrived in El Paso for vacation and made the mistake of making this the first stop on trip. Now we are spoiled! I don’t think any place is going to compare. The food was to die for. You just can’t this type of food in Florida. I highly recommend the green chile chicken enchiladas. The portions are huge too, so we took a lot of it to go. Great food and wonderful, friendly service.

Delicious food and awesome service. Definitely a must go for Mexican food/breakfast.

Our family really enjoyed L & J Cafe. The food was authentic. The service was good. There was a little of a wait but well worth it. The food was so good we threw our diet out the windows! Our waitress was Rocio and she had great service.

Can't give enough praise about the restaurant. Food was fantastic and a treat for a Michigander like myself whose Mexican restaurants I am used to are probably not as authentic. Good menu that introduced me to dishes I have not had before living in Michigan. They have beer and wine but no cocktails because they lack a liquor license. But the wine infused margaritas are very good. Not in an attractive part of town but I would not let that from stopping you from going. My feeling is it gives you a good feel for the authentic El Paso culture. The restaurant has been there since 1927. I suggest you read the history of the 4th generation family business.

+4

Great food, great service and attentive staff. We love having dinner here at least once or twice a month. Their carne molida with green chile enchiladas are the best!!! This is always our go to meal. We end our meal with an order of sopaipillas. Best Mexican food restaurant!!!

We had a wonderful dinner here. The food was delicious and the service was great

L & J Cafe is an absolute gem! The food was incredibly delicious, bursting with authentic flavors that left me wanting more with every bite. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making me feel right at home. What truly stood out was the extraordinary service. My server was attentive without being intrusive, and I never once had to ask for a refill – they were always one step ahead. It was a truly delightful dining experience, and I can't wait to go back!

Im from Southern California. DO NOT SKIP EXPERIENCING THE AMAZING FOOD HERE. We are absolutely blown away. We have food from so many different restaurants, so many different states. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS GOOD OF FOOD IN CALIFORNIA. We are already planning a trip back to El Paso just to come back here. Clean restaurant. No dust, bugs, cracks, broken things, no bad smells. Staff is nothing but smiles, professional and makes you feel like you came to see family. Very open, informative, and no attitudes. Im a manager at a restaurant so the type of personalities and customer service they have here is something many states and restaurants, including my own, strive for. Price, ridiculous. I would pay so much more for this food. But the fact they keep it humble is another indicator of how this FAMILY OWNED restaurant deserves all the success. Please dont skip this place. We are definitely planning a trip just to be able to come back here. Thank you all!

Why? And who allowed this to be so delicious! 10/10. Even the Pepsi I ordered was perfect. I will definitely be flying back here just for this restaurant 🙌.

Ray was our server and he was amazing. He took care of us and made great food recommendations. The green chili enchiladas were amazing. Get the egg on top sunny side up! The atmosphere is casual. The margaritas are wine based here they do not use tequila.

A must-visit if you enjoy real Mexican food. If there is a little wait, just hang out for a bit because it's worth it! The green chili enchiladas were amazing. Get them at a minimum.

Never would have thought a little place on the corner next to a cemetery would have such AMAZING food!! Stopped there to eat before we headed back home (3hour drive) and fell in LOVE with this cozy place!! I can not wait to go back!! The waiters are great and food is sooooo good!!! Was a little wait but so worth it!! We will definitely be going back very soon!!

+2

Oh by the way, we had to come back to try this restaurant today. Two days ago, the 1.5 hr wait was too long because of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. For our first time at L & J Cafe, we enjoyed chili con queso, green chile enchiladas, Mexican combination and Caldo de Res. It was worth coming back.

L & J Café – A Must-Visit in El Paso If you're ever in El Paso and craving true, authentic Mexican food, L & J Café is an absolute must. You know you're in for something special when the place is packed with locals – and that’s exactly what I walked into. The menu has a wide variety of choices, including solid vegetarian options, which is a nice bonus. I went with the beef enchiladas, and let me tell you, the red sauce was phenomenal. Rich, flavorful, and full of that homemade taste you can’t fake. My son had the steak burrito smothered in queso – this thing was massive, and he devoured every bite like it was his last meal. That burrito alone is worth the trip. The service? Top notch. Friendly, fast, and genuinely welcoming. Now, a heads-up: they don’t have a full liquor license, so no hard alcohol, but they do serve beer and wine. And the strawberry wine margaritas? Surprisingly delicious – refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. Bottom line: If you're in El Paso and you don’t hit up L & J Café, you're missing out. This spot is the real deal.

+2

I had a great experience here the food was delicious I got the green beef enchiladas they were great.

This is truly one of THE BEST Mexican restaurants!! The wait was less than 20 minutes on a Sunday! Our server Tony was GREAT!! He answered all of our questions and gave us time to decide without rushing us. You could tell the team enjoyed working together and one of the managers checked on us also!!!! Super friendly and down to earth!! My apologies for not remembering her name! The food was flavorful, hot and didn’t take long to get our order to the table!!! That shows a well organized chef and staff!!! Thank you and I’ll be back!!

+1

The food was delicious, the service was excellent, super friendly, and the rich history is exciting. The portions were large and it wasn’t over priced. Will definitely return!

AMAZING FOOD! We got the sampler, poblanos and steak fajitas and I will say the steak fajitas won the show! Service was great and even though it was packed the wait wasn’t long at all!

Delicious tacos (I got the barbacoa), free chips/salsas with refills, beans and rice that come with the tacos, and overall a nice vibe. Music was a little loud imo but there are other quieter parts in there that are nicer

This place is amazing! Food was top notch and the atmosphere was inviting. The service was exceptional and our server Melina was so incredibly helpful and did a splendid job. The combination platter was delicious, the tortilla soup was quite honestly some of the best I’ve ever tasted, and the salsas were spectacular. I will visit again whenever I’m in town! Thank you for a wonderful experience!

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 this place is huge.

We went based on a review from “Through my Lens” travel blogger — and he was spot-on! Delicious large servings - chicken mole enchilada and beef red enchiladas. Superb taste, most tender chicken. We sat at the bar to avoid the 30-minute wait, and had great service. FYI, beer & wine only, so margs are agave-wine based rather than tequila.

Y'all 😭 this place was so good, I could cry. Not a thing could've been better. The salsas were spicy and each unique. My husband's eyes were rolling in pleasure with every bite. He did a ranchera steak burrito with their queso over it. I got their Mexican sampler and didn't regret it! Taco salad also looked lovely.

+1

Fantastic family restaurant. It serves aithentic flavor border regional Mexican food. Their family / restaurant history posted on menu. The servers are all bilingual. Supervisor checks on customers. Tables clean inmidiately. I'm not a local, but would gladly eat here all the time. Brianna the server, a fantastic professional.

Deanne Elliott

Great food, attentive service, entertaining atmosphere for a perfect dinner in El Paso. Pollo Mole was delicious as was the combo dinner. Parking can be a challenge but patience provided us a safe spot.

Got the Mexican combination and the only thing that wasn't that great was the enchilada. The green chile con carne was amazing. Delicious chips with unique salsa. My son got the sirloin tampiquena which was really good too. Daughter got the chicken tacos and they were really not good. Still thinking about that green chile con carne.

Food is great, service is great, atmosphere is great. This is probably the best restaurants in El Paso. I can see why this place is so popular. Alex was my server and he did fantastic. My drink was never empty and he always made sure we had everything we needed. Gave absolute great customer service, will be coming back again and again and again! :D

We went here the first time I came to El Paso in 2014 for the Sun Bowl and came back to eat here again for our 2nd Sun Bowl trip. Legendary Mexican restaurant in El Paso. Worth the visit!

+3

Aanchal S

absolutely loved every single dish I tried. I ordered the potato and green chili flautas and the enchiladas, and everything was delicious, specially the flan and tres leches. It’s also really nice to see how they honor their history by sharing their story of multi-generational restaurant in their menu.

Amy Stanley

I love L & J’s! I am on vacation in El Paso and wanted to take my husband as he had never gotten to go! The last time I was there was 10 years ago. It definitely was as I remembered. Outstanding food and service. Our server was Anna Rita and she was over the top. She was so patient and informative for us with a thousand questions on how different things were prepared, her favorites and just general conversation. We will definitely ask for her when we go back! I ordered a michelada with my favorite canned Tecate. I love the way El Paso does their micheladas with the lime juice! We then started with the guacamole! You cannot go here without getting the guacamole. It is the best. We then had an order of bean and cheese nachos. My husband said these were the best beans he’s ever had. After these nachos that were enough for 5 people, we were too full to order dinner so we just finished the experience off with a wonderful, perfectly fried sopapilla! We will definitely be going back before we leave town! Thanks for a wonderful experience!

Staff and waiter were great! Got seated right away. Food was delicious, loved the salsa so much I bought a bottle to take home. Highly recommend!

Very responsive staff! They obviously have some great staff teamwork going on there. BIG burrito for a VERY low price and cheap drinks. No wonder it's so highly regarded. Chile con queso is highly recommended. The front door is incognito, but pictured here.

Gina Lewis

Loved this place! Amazing, authentic food. Every mouthful made me smile and I was excited for each bite. We were referred here and they were absolutely right. Incredible food, friendly service, and great prices. Highly recommend!

Andy

If you’re in the El Paso area or just passing thru it’s right off the I-10, this is a must stop at place. Delicious food, relaxing atmosphere. There a bar if you like to drink and watch the games and plenty of tables if you like a more casual experience. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but you’ll be missing out if you pass up the opportunity to eat here.

+5

Headline: A Must-Stop for Salsa Lovers! 🌶️ The salsas at this place are off the charts. They have that perfect kick that pairs beautifully house-made tortilla chips. We started with the mini shrimp tostadas—fresh, crunchy, and the perfect teaser for the meal. ​Being from the coast, I’m used to a Baja-style flavor profile, but this is authentic Tex-Mex done right. For the main event, the Chile Relleno absolutely hit the spot. The batter had that rich, eggy flavor I crave, and the texture was spot on. If you’re in El Paso, don't skip this gem! Service was also exceptional. Friendly people.

I so rarely leave reviews, but this place lived up to the hype! Really great food, atmosphere, staff, customers - the whole experience. This place is historical and 3rd family generation owned. Don't quote me on that, but quote me on everything else! Thanks L&J from Lorie & Jon (full time US travelers)

Paul McCrackin

Loved this place! The Combination Plate is a wonderful assortment of deliciousness! Chile Relleno was the center of this circle of flavor and among the best i have ever had! Bar was packed and looked like all were happy to be there on a Friday evening! Service was outstanding and atmosphere as well! I lucked out and pulled right up to a parking spot opening up, but it did look challenging for some! Highly recommend this place and i will make it a point to stop every time in El Paso!

Lobo M.

This was probably one of the if not THE best Mexican food I have ever eaten in my life! Authentic Mexican cuisine, full of flavors, super tasty & fresh! You could tell that the food was made in-house probably with old recipes from past generations! It was just amazingly tasty!! Our server Edgar was outstanding! Super friendly, he explained everything, made good recommendations & took really good care of us. This is the way great service looks like! We will definitely recommend this place - it’s fantastic!

Chris M.

I was in town on business and heard many people praising L & J Cafe. The Food and Service was fantastic. FOOD: I got their large sample plate and everything was delicious. The Chips and Salsa are addicting. The flour tortillas are THICK. The sleeper that I did not expect was their Caldillo Soup. It is probably the most delicious soup that I have ever eaten in my life. SERVICE: The Service that I received was fantastic. I went 2 times and both times I received great service. My servers were friendly, engaging and helpful. ATMOSPHERE: The Atmosphere is nice inside. It is not mind blowing or anything amazing. There were a lot of different places to sit and some were kind of cramped. Also, being from out of town, the entrance and the location was so confusing. Overall, if I ever find myself back in El Paso, L & J Cafe will absolutely be on my list of places to eat at.

Jezzika Chung

Reddit let us know about this place as I was passing through El Paso on a cross country road trip and it did not disappoint! Best Mexican rice I’ve ever had in my life. Incredible flavors and such a historic spot with great vibes and friendly service. I got shrimp fajitas and I’m lactose intolerant/dairy free and they were easily able to accommodate, lots of vegan and vegetarian options too. My partner got steak enchiladas and loved it. Giant portions! So satisfying, 10/10 no notes.

KhaleesiD512

Great service, food and atmosphere. I stopped here during a work trip at the recommendation of a coworker and two others I asked for advice on where to go because I had never been to El Paso. I came on the tail end of the lunch rush and was told I would have a 15 minute wait before being seated but less than a minute later I was being escorted to my table. My waitress Tonia was quick to take my drink order and was super helpful in giving me menu suggestions. I ordered the queso and green chicken enchiladas. Everything was fantastic! I will definitely come back here the next next time I am on El Paso.

Easy 5 stars. Must go when visiting El Paso. We all loved our meal and it was worth the wait (was there at 5pm on a Saturday and had to wait over 20 mins). Get the guac to start and for sure a margarita. I wasn’t sure what to get so I took the waitress’ recommendation and she was right - the green chile chicken was great.

New to El Paso and have been hearing nothing but good things about L&J. The rumors are true! Fantastic experience! Food was awesome and our waiter, Cesar, was great. Gave us the history of the restaurant and recommendations for lunch. We will definitely be going back!

Excellent El Paso staple. We always bring out of town visitors here for the excellent food, good service and historic atmosphere. You cannot go wrong with any other combination plates. Go early as this place gets extremely packed with long waits.

+2

Brian Goettl

On our 2nd week long trip to El Paso, we went to L&J Cafe for an early lunch. I would have to rate it as my favorite restaurant experience of the two trips. As a Kentuckian, L&J Cafe seems to be an authentic El Paso mexican food experience. You get fresh made corn tortilla chips with three different salsas when you sit down. The 3 heat levels for the salsas satisfy different palates. We also ordered chilli con queso as an appetizer which was nothing but cheesy goodness. The lunch special the day we visited consisted of a chicken, a shredded beef and a ground beef taco. The shells were perfectly crisped and the fillings were delicious. The tacos came with rice and beans and a chicken/rice/veggie cup of soup was part of the special.. Campbell's can only wish their soups were this good. We finished with the moist, light Tres Leches cake that did not disappoint, along with some sopaipilla. Oh, and as an ice tea aficionado, I can rate theirs an A. Finally, our waiter Fabian did a fabulous job. If you are in the area, give L&J Cafe a try. I think you will enjoy the food and the experience.

T Clark

Visited with my brother a few days before Christmas. This place was suggested by the Through My Lens guys on YouTube and the green chile enchiladas were highly recommended so we both decided to try those. Location is near the highway and it's the only Mexican restaurant across from a cemetery so you can't mistake it. They don't close for lunch so that's great. There was a really helpful guy in the street helping to direct parking. They were busy but we were immediately seated. Clean bathrooms, yummy smells, and the place and staff were all decked out in Christmas-y accessories. Lots of big family dinners-- felt kind of like going to someone's home? Not ours but still very friendly and welcoming to outsiders. Our server was on top of everything and made sure that I understood which of the items had chicken broth, etc. (FYI- the green chili enchiladas are made with chicken broth and so are some of the salsas and of course the refried beans). They have a very extensive vegetarian section on the menu which was awesome. Our food came pretty quickly and the portions were huge. Everything was delicious-- I wished I hadn't eaten so much junk food in the road trip because there was no way to finish eating the whole thing. I swapped the refried beans for plain, had iced tea, my brother had a soda and ordered the appetizer with queso, tomatillo & red salsas, and our two entrees which included a side of rice and our total was less than $50. In 2025, I consider that to be a great value. Excellent service, warm & welcoming atmosphere, and great food. I would love to revisit on a return trip to El Paso :) *if you make this a date night, it's only a short drive over from the Scenic Overlook of the city, which was also pretty.

Lilly Bueche

A true El Paso gem! We had dinner at L&J’s Restaurant, and it was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The chile rellenos were perfectly cooked — soft and flavorful inside, with just the right amount of heat. The chicken mole was incredible — the chicken was so tender it practically fell apart, and the mole sauce was rich, deep, and perfectly balanced with a touch of sweetness. The atmosphere is just as special as the food. The historic vibe of the place, paired with its unique location right next to the old Concordia Cemetery, gives it a charm you can’t find anywhere else. You really feel like you’re experiencing a piece of El Paso history while enjoying some of the best Mexican food in town. If you’re visiting El Paso or even if you’ve lived here all your life, L&J’s is a must! Great service, amazing food, and a one-of-a-kind setting — it doesn’t get better than this.

+6

M D

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!

+1

Best Mexican food I’ve ever had! The queso is an absolute must! I told the waiter to bring me anything and he brought me chicken enchiladas with queso and a fried egg. The chips are good and the green salsa was my favorite. The service here is fantastic. The food is to die for. Don’t hesitate. This place is a must! Highly recommended!

Fabio Bollinger

What an adventure! We went in expecting good Mexican food based on a recommendation from a local. Not only was the food excellent, the entire experience from end to end was a BLAST. You walk in and immediately feel the atmosphere from the bar area, playing loud music, full of laughter, with servers hustling around. Then, you're greeted with smiling confident hosts that make you feel welcome. When we were seated, our server was a CHAMP - a young man who seemed to love his job, knew how to riff and joke around, but more than anything he was passionate about the menu. We were asking tons of questions and he only got more and more excited to tell us the answers. We ended up ordering 2 entrees each because he made everything seem so good. The food came out shockingly fast, and was of the highest quality. Massive portions, fresh tasting ingredients, not at all greasy or heavy, and the red salsa was HOT. Our server joked that our table would have been perfect in a magazine photo shoot because of the variety of dishes. For the price - despite ordering 2 entrees each, the bill was still less than I would expect for a single meal at any other restaurant of this quality (but, I'm from out of town, so not sure what usual prices are in El Paso) As the restaurant approached closing, I noticed how much fun the staff were having with each other. If they bumped into each other, they'd pretend to be mad, then start howling laughter. Any time staff were in the background of my photos, they'd strike a pose. They encouraged us to explore the many different rooms, and were certainly proud of their history. What a gem of a place. I'd come back to El Paso just to eat at L & J again

Christine Kemp

Born and raised in El Paso and L & J Cafe has always been my favorite Mexican food restaurant. My favorite is dish is the Chile Colorado con Carne and Chile con Queso Steak. If you are going for lunch make sure you get there early because it gets packed but it is worth the wait!

Phillip Pinon

Haven't had L and Js in years! Finally decided to come back in search of that same taste I had as a kid and was not disappointed! Definitely start out with that chorizo fondigo! Had the chicken enchiladas 10/10. As well as barbacoa tacos, 9/10!! Overall it was a 9.8 experience! Service is nice, had multiple beers from tap, my server made sure our cups were full, and our chips were full!

It gets busy here, but they are efficient. They turn tables over very quick. The guacamole appetizer is huge and delicious. They give you plenty of chips. I had the shredded chicken tacos, and they were very bland. I had to add salt and salsa on it. My friend’a flautas were also bland. The service is excellent. The portions are large.

My visit to L & J Cafe in El Paso, TX, was an absolute delight. We were seated promptly, and our waitress provided amazing service throughout our meal. The food portions were generous and tasted fantastic, truly living up to their reputation. The cafe itself is a clean and well-kept establishment set in a charming, historic old building that adds to the overall experience. While street parking in the area can be busy, we managed to find a spot without much trouble. The prices were very reasonable, making it a great value for the quality and quantity of food we enjoyed. Additionally, the lively atmosphere and friendly staff made our dining experience memorable, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting El Paso.

+4

Great service fast and friendly. Chips and salsas were fresh and tasty. Green chile enchiladas were also good. The only real miss was the picadillo burrito - way too salty. I saw an earlier review that had warned of similar but thought nah I’ll give it a go. They were right though, in my opinion. If you could get beyond the salt it was fine otherwise but definitely took the enjoyment down a bit.

Great food with amazing service. My friends greatly enjoyed the beers, enchilada, and steak dishes. They have a whole page for vegetarian options, which was great to see. I thought their impossible tacos were a bit dry but decent. Their salsas were all awesome, red was especially spicy. Amazingly priced also.

I'd give this place 4.5 stars. Chips were fantastic. The chicken mole enchiladas may be the best I've ever had. They are on the sweet side which was unusual for my palate, but I couldn't seem to put the fork down for any length of time until they were gone. The steak burrito wasn't that great. I think it was the tomatoes or pico de gallo that made it taste weird. If that is what an authentic Mexican burrito is supposed to taste like then we will stick with the Tex-Mex variety served up on the East Coast. Rice was good. Beans weren't the best ever, but good with a forkful of rice. Lime Margarita was phenomenal! They don't over do it with alcohol. It was sweet, flavorful, and refreshing. The family liked the Mango margarita even more than the lime.

The service was exceptional, the food came out fast. I had tacos, they were really good! The sauces were superb, guacamole was good but to me it tasted like it was missing a secret ingredient, the same goes for beans and rice, it was almost underwhelming, I guess it’s a classic recipe? Otherwise a very nice spot I would come back to with friends. They also offer a discount to military!

I loved reading about the origin of this place, very meaningful. The chips + dips were great, ask for a refill and they’ll bring warm chips, SO good! Got the steak burrito, amazing. Queso was delicious. Shrimp tacos were just okay. Portion wise was fantastic, they came in 3s and that’s the best portion. However didn’t feel like it tasted any different from other tacos I’ve had. Overall, food was decent. I didn’t like the service where he charged me for soda water and refilled with regular water. He also charged for the queso to burrito without letting us know it’s an extra charge. It’d be nice to know upfront what will be extra charges. We’d still come back again when in the area! Btw there is a wait at 4:30pm… waited about 25 mins.

+1

Katie McLaughlin

Huge portions and cheap. Food was a little bland. I got the chicken tampiquena - chicken & chiles were good, not a fan of the enchilada. Use their online menu, which has actual descriptions of the dishes and pictures. Menu is the restaurant is very basic, which our waiter told us was intentional so you ask them questions and they can customize the dishes for you.

What a vibe. The atmosphere is so dope here - you can either hang out at the bar or have a nice family meal. It’s hard to cultivate a duel atmosphere like that. The food for the most part was fantastic. Wasn’t a huge fan of some of the meal, but I’m admittedly not privy to authentic Mexican. The Mexican plate is my recommendation. The staff and server Andre were friendly and fun.

Wait was not bad, maybe 10 min. Queso is very stringy but decent flavor. Mexican combo plate ordered, asked for beef enchiladas, upon arrival they were cheese and the chilie relleno was cheese filled also; to be honest there was so much cheese everywhere I thought I was in Wisconsin. Waitress offered to get beef but I don’t send anything back to any kitchen. The sopappillas were awesome, puffy, flakey, delicious. Flavors were good but not up to the hype. Service was nice but very busy. There was a very large group that was very noisy and this cozy establishment was not built with acoustics in mind.

If you like taquitos then order the flautas. Lol I'm from New Mexico and I know what a flauta is. When they brought me taquitos I questioned it, she said oh that's how it is in a Mexican restaurant. I might be white but I'm not stupid and I've lived on the border my whole life. If I would've ordered taquitos, I would have received this identical item. They were good tho, so there's that.

The food was amazing. But there was a big group of people who were yelling screaming laughing like crazy, banging on the table who made the experience horrible. We asked to change the table but were told that the place was packed. The restaurant staff should have asked that group to be little quieter. Would love to take the food take out but not dinning there againYou definitely don't want me to put the review. The food was amazing. But there was a big group of people who were yelling screaming laughing like crazy, banging on the table who made the experience horrible. We asked to change the table but were told that the place was packed. The restaurant staff should have asked that group to be little quieter. Would love to take the food take out but not dinning there againYou definitely don't want me to put the review. The food was amazing. But there was a big group of people who were yelling screaming laughing like crazy, banging on the table who made the experience horrible. We asked to change the table but were told that the place was packed. The restaurant staff should have asked that group to be little quieter. Would love to take the food take out but not dinning there again

Keerthimanu Gattu

The shrimp tostada appetizer was quite tasty and a highlight of the meal. However, the guacamole was a bit underwhelming compared to others I’ve had. While we appreciated the refill of tostadas, the quality wasn't as good as the first round. Service was also notably slow throughout the evening.

Jeff Huepenbecker

I have visited L&J twice before and after my flights from El Paso International Airport. During my first experience, I ordered the country omelette which was perfectly fine after a long day of travel. The food was hot and arrived quickly. During my second time, I ordered the ground beef taco salad and was disappointed. The taco salad came with lettuce, sour cream, and avocado. The meat was dry. A request for cheese will cost you $1.99. Thankfully we still had some of the complimentary salsas to give the salad some sort of flavor and dressing. Aside from the food being fine at best, the service was absolutely amazing both times. They were happy to have us patron and were friendly and prompt in taking our orders. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the taco salad to provide for this review.

The reason I'm giving L&J's a star was because the Menudo had an off taste, like it had too much cumin or a certain spice that made the menudo taste horrible. Paid like $30 for two, that were not even half eaten. Manager walking around told me he was going to go taste it, and never came back to apologize or explain why the Menudo was not good. Jarrones, Sofis, Good Coffee is the place to go. I wouldn't recommend anyone eat menudo here. Beans and bread were delicious but not worth the over$30 we paid. Hope management takes notice and takes action. :/