L & J Cafe

Walked in with a big group and had to wait a bit but it was worth it. The queso with green chili was fantastic. But even better were the tortillas. The corn were thin but strong and the flour ones were the best I ever had. They had a grilled almost steak like taste to them and just the right amount of salt. I had the combo dinner and it was very good. Maybe not the best Tex Mex I ever had but worth it. And you can’t beat the atmosphere and history of the place.

Opened in 1927 as a bootlegger favorite and Fort Bliss Calvary hangout, with false walls were gambling machines and home brew hid during prohibition. This place also sits across the street were famous gunslinger John Wesley Hardin who killed 47 men is buried. Hardin was shot in the head by a Constable as he gambled. Some places would have that story and piss off the quality in the food but not these folks. The lines are long, parking hard to find, walls filled with famous customers, military royalty, all because the food f ing rocks here. The service is off the hook, quick, very close and personable, management hands on. You get loaded with hot fresh chips, great salsas (my fav was green) if you order an appetizer you will get portions enough to feed 3 – 4 peeps. The food portions are gigantic, drinks flow fast and cold you will not go wrong making this your El Paso Mexican place. I’m from Texas and we take our Tex– Mex very serious, this is not a place with alcohol and a cool vibe but the food is meh. No! this place takes you to a great foodie place disarming you with icy beverages and delish dish after dish of great fresh ingredients.

Amazing restaurant! The green Chile enchiladas were so great and the service was awesome! My husband and son had burritos which were also great. I was able to order individual sides for our toddler, which was also nice. This is one of El Paso’s finest restaurants and one of our new favorites!

The wait was long, but well worth it. The food and service are top notch, I don’t think I’ve ever had food this good, even in Mexico. I’m not a salsa person, but the salsa here is something I could eat daily. I can see why this is such a local favorite.

Best Mexican food I’ve ever had thus far! I ordered the Machacha which is a dish with shredded beef, huevos, topped with their unique chile con queso. Of course that was good, along with very well seasoned refried beans and the rice. It was lunch time and I had to head back to work. If I had no responsibilities, I’d stuff my face all day there. It is that good!

So… Wife and I were looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant to eat breakfast. Her friend recommend this place. At a glance it looks like those hole in the wall places. (Win! Those are the best kind) We start off with their cinnamon coffee, OMG great coffee! I order the Huevos Rancheros and my wife orders their famous green enchiladas. I must say, the food was awesome from beginning to end!!! Most definitely a place to come eat frequently! Next time I will try their lunch and dinner menu. If it’s anything like breakfast I’ll be I’m heaven!

At the beginning it looks like a sketchy place but it all changes as you walk in. If you want Good texmex food this the place for you. I had the the steak tacos and were good. Good place for large groups as we were seated in less than 10 mins on a Sunday night. It also a great place to watch a game! Good friendly servers

This place is so amazing to me. I live in San Antonio and I love the food there but this was something different. Not better, not worse — just different and that is completely fascinating.
As soon as we sat down, our server delivered a small basket of chips and a bowl of salsa. The chips were fresh and awesome. The salsa was fantastic. Totally smooth in texture, medium hot. I can’t think of a salsa like this in SA.
I ordered the steak tacos and several things stood out about them. First, the steak was very well trimmed — no gristle. That fact alone makes them better than 70% of all steak tacos I’ve ever eaten. Next was the tortilla. Perfectly fried, it stayed crispy all the way till the end. I thought the flavor and texture was slightly superior to what I’m used to. Lastly, it came with a grilled green onion that was Fantastic on the tacos. And I don’t think I’ve ever had a plate of tacos with a pile of cheese on the side — this is brilliant.
The rice and beans were good — no complaints there. After some consideration, these were the best freakin steak tacos I ever had. EVER!

We found this restaurant using the Unilocal app and are glad we did. We were welcomed with friendly service and well-​priced delicious food. The atmosphere was festive. We both enjoyed our enchiladas — deshebradas with red and green sauce and an egg on top, and combo enchiladas with red, green, and mole. Even the chips and sauces and sopapillas were great. We will be back when we’re in the area.

I arrived at the L&J Café around 2:30, right after the lunch rush was over. There is a giant bar right when you walk in. I thought I had stepped into a sports bar or something instead of a café. Don’t be scared, keep going straight, regardless of people on the table to the right of the entrance giving you weird looks. The hostess’ podium is further in on the left past the bar area. They will take you to your seat and supply you with their menu. Perusing through, everything has meat in it. Fortunately, my waitress Alex was a superstar and provided me with the separate vegetarian menu.
L&J Café is definitely a place filled with regulars. Though I did see a handful of groups experience similar confusion with the hostess podium being so far inside the restaurant, meaning new people are still finding their way in, like I did. The diners were a hodgepodge of families, friends, business deals, and locals taking a lunch break. The walls are littered with photographs of famous patrons signed throughout the years since the doors of the restaurant opened.
I ordered enchiladas with mole sauce. There were three rolled enchiladas made with corn tortillas and stuffed with what tasted like queso fresco. The mole is great! Savory with a sweet after taste that stays with you. Enough chocolate so you know it is there, not so much that your entrée tastes like dessert. Each plate comes with a side salad dressed with just enough thousand island to coat the leaves without drowning them. The plate is completed with beans and rice. Very traditional. No wonder other reviewers were reminded of their abuelitas.
For dessert I ordered a flan, which came out nice and firm on a lattice of white chocolate and caramel sauces. This dish was not overly sweet and served as a great end to my Southwestern adventure.

I don’t just give out 5 stars, but this is plain out THE BEST Mexican restaurant and quite possibly the best restaurant in El Paso. Seriously, I’m stingy as hell with my 5 stars.
We got the Chile con queso… AMAZING and we both got the Mexican Combination… FABULOUS. We walked quite a ways from our parking spot and I was a bit annoyed. I thought to myself, no way it is worth this. I WAS WRONG, I would walk further next time!!!
Must try! Over and over and over and over!

I’ve been coming here with every out of town guest and no matter the wait, it’s 100% worth it. We played with the jukebox during our 30 – 45 minute wait, took silly pics, chatted with other kind folks waiting. Our food was served so fast considering how utterly packed the place was. Our server felt lively, fresh and happy to serve us. Mark took our orderly perfectly, and all communication was clear and concise.
THE FOOD WAS BEYOND BOMB.
I ordered the Tampiqueña steak, medium. The juiciest meat with scrumptious salsas and onion and tomato. They kept refilling the tostadas without us having to ask.
I’m impressed with their ability to consistently deliver great tasting food, positive attitudes and fair prices. I’ve been here at least 10 times and I’ll continue to bring my out of town guests here.
Critiques: more like logistics.
–Sometimes parking is difficult
–It gets crowded/​standing room only while you wait
–Back dining area has no windows, little air circulation
–it’s across from a cemetery (heads up for the fraidy cats)

Tostadas & red sauce, definitely has a good flavor and kick!
The place was packed and we still had really great, attentive service.
The crispy tacos and enchiladas did not disappoint.
Cool location across from cemetery too!

5pm on a Tuesday and the bar is packed and the restaurant filled up shortly. Stopped in on my way through and wow!!! Never disappointed for Mexican food in El Paso but this place just rocks! Orders the steak tampiqueña T-​bone and let me tell you brothers and sisters… perfection. Only place I’ll let the chef overcook my steak. Really enjoyable. Happy hour and margaritas. Now if I can only get another drink…

Super awesome mom and pop joint. Neighborhood seems shaddy, but it’s perfectly fine. Restaurant is clean and nice décor. Service was excellent. No complaints at all.
The food is on point. We had the chili con queso, as an app. The best I have had in a really long time. For dinner I had the enchilada combo with an egg on top. It was excellent. I could eat it and the queso all day and every day. Will be going back before leaving town.

Must Go If…
You are in the mood for the best Mexican food in town… and you don’t really care about the looks of the place… Or the graveyard in front
The Good…
The food is L&Js is the most delicious and authentic Mexican food by far in El Paso. If you want to get very good Mexican food, this is place to go.
I ordered the chicken green enchiladas. They are served with chicken, and rather than the traditional green salsa, they are topped with rajas con queso (green chile with cheese strips) and salsa. They are not spicy, they are just right.
We also ordered the Tortilla Soup. It tasted just like my mom would make it… So good and warm. Spicy enough with plenty of chicken, avocado and cheese.
The Sweet Note…
Their Flan is to die for. Their flan is plainly delicious and it just put the cherry on top of the cake for this place.
The Service…
The place was packed and still out server was nice and on top of things. We had all our food served on a timely manner.
The Not So Good…
As I mentioned before, location might not be be best, and it is next to a graveyard (which might freak out a couple of people)…at the same time, this is exactly what makes this place very unique and an experience to visit.

Not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Excellent food and its one of those places El Pasoans love. I’ve had the enchiladas and queso (mmm melted cheese) and now I’ve had their simple plate of tacos (beef, chicken, and guacamole). I know people swear L&J is authentic mexican but the plate of tacos seems like the kind of tex-​mex I love (mounds of lettuce and cheese on top). Guess it really depends on what part of Mexico a person comes from. But I’ll try and avoid that debate. I will say the guacamole taco is ridiculously loaded with guacamole so they are not kidding around there. I love love love their green chili salsa. If you ask for red sauce they will bring that out but while tasty, its a very liquidy type of hot sauce (decent heat, but I like it spicier).
Service can be hit or miss at times due to how busy it is ALL THE TIME. Like seriously I came in this last time well after the lunch hour and it was still nuts. But its hard to fault a restaurant for being popular. I’d come here more frequently if it wasn’t always such a pain to park and get a decent table. You might be able to get lucky and find a spot at the bar.

2 stars…
Recommended by a non Unilocal local, we came in expecting authentic Mexican food.
I ordered the Chile con queso with sirloin based upon a Unilocal pic, and was greatly disappointed. The meat was tough, over cooked, and riddled with gristle. My buddy ordered the same meal with chicken, which was much better than mine, and frankly the only reason this review received more than1 star.
Ambiance was sterile modelorama, and prices were in line with expectations. Many beers to choose from, though they seemed to be out of every local one we wanted to try. Overall I was pretty disappointed…
Manager «Rhino» stopped over and inquired so I gave him my opinion. He was very personable and intends to improve the food quality, but I doubt I will give it a second try…
Definitely does not make the list… Carlos & Mickeys here we come!

The chillie con queso is sooooooo amazing! The burritos are inexpensive and filling. We had 2 burritos, the queso, and two beverages (one beer, one soda) and our tab was less than $ 30.
My Dad and I very much enjoyed the food. We recommend to anyone in the area.

Catering review:
This is the best way to impress a crowd that loves authentic Mexican food. Everything was good. The chile relleno and chicken enchiladas were a big hit. This is the second time I used them and I they do a great job.