Eating in El Paso: Local & Cheap

Updated 2020 – Eating in El Paso is a surprising treat for visitors or roadtrippers passing through the West Texas. If, for some reason, you find yourself in El Paso for a day or so – assuming you’re past the point of trying to figure out exactly why you have arrived in this dusty border metropolis – you are here and hungry. Where should you eat?

The good news is there is plenty of cheap eating in El Paso. Thanks to influences from the state of Texas, the American Southwest and the large, local Mexican population (it is a border city, with millions of people on both sides of the US-Mexico border), there are some wonderful establishments to enjoy a delicious meal during a brief stay.

The desert city is home to all sorts of restaurants, from fancy, romantic dining to famous drive-in burger joints. But in any visit to El Paso, you should plan on eating at these CHEAP, local spots:

L&J Cafe – Classic Eating in El Paso

Dating back nearly 100 years, L&J Cafe is a staple of El Paso eating. And when in comes to local and cheap eating in El Paso, look no further. Once a rustic stop for locals and cowboys, the place has recently been remodeled and expanded to accommodate the crowds, but you can still see a few dusty individuals taking a break in the afternoons – cowboy hats and all.

Aside from a romanticized scene of Old El Paso, the most important thing you need to know about L&J is that it is delicious and cheap. A step up from the usual Mexican or Tex-Mex fare, L&J is a rich blend that El Paso should be proud of.

The Machaca plate, shredded beef mixed with eggs and a plethora of veggies, then topped with queso and served with rice and beans, is one the most heavenly dishes of Mexican cuisine on this planet. For those who prefer their Mexican fare strictly Tex-Mex, Baja style or some other picky peculiarity, you should open your mind and try enjoying life a bit more. This stuff is awesome. The queso on top is different from most, but the blend with veggies really stands out and you’ll be licking your plate in the end.

The enchiladas are some of the best around, and the sopapillas are the best you will ever eat. In all, the food at L&J Cafe may not seem that unique by name or design, but the preparation and final product here stands out from the crowd in a part of the world saturated with Mexican restaurants.

The service is fantastic and fast, the portions are massive and you will double-take at your bill when you see how affordable it is. L&J Cafe is a staple of the El Paso food scene and it is an experience you should not miss.

Brunch in El Paso – Crave Kitchen and Bar

If you are in town on a weekend, stop in at Crave for brunch. Adding that southwestern flair to the best meal of the week, Crave has some seriously awesome choices to kick off your Saturday or Sunday of chill. From perfectly done steak and eggs to a plate of huevos rancheros worthy of any Instagram feature, the brunch options will not disappoint.

If you’re indecisive in terms of a lunch-leaning or breakfast-heavy brunch, set your sights on the Whole Hog. It is sure to leave you satisfied, loaded up with bacon, ham, chorizo and guacamole. No need to feel guilty, as long as you wash it down with a pitcher of mimosas – the orange juice is healthy, right? Right??

For something with a southwestern kick, try the Chilaquiles Verdes. They come packed with a kick and you can bet these will be some of the best chilaquiles you ever eat. Coming with a side, once again, you will not be leaving hungry with this choice. The pancakes are good, but the best part is the accompanying cinnamon butter. You just may find yourself searching for whatever scraps you have left to mop up the remaining bit of sweet temptation.

While not as cheap as the other two recommendations here, Crave has an upscale brunch feeling for a reasonable price, especially when compared to that fat bill your weekend cheat meals leave you on the coasts of the United States.

Little Shack – El Paso’s Famous Tacos

Good tacos are not hard to find. Bad tacos, also not hard to find. Eating cheap, delicious tacos is always fun, and doing so in El Paso is an unforgettable experience.

Excellent tacos – something truly so wild that you want to keep shoving your fat face full until you are sick – now those are not something you encounter at every Mexican restaurant or taqueria. There is no doubt El Paso has plenty of places with next-level taco epicness, but the one you should not miss is Little Shack.

Sitting unassumingly in a parking lot is a plain building with a patio and a small sign – Little Shack. Offering other specialties as well, such as the fish soup which just might get you with its seductive aroma, there are plenty of options to choose from.

For the most bang for your buck, and a munching experience that will have you questioning your life’s prior dining decisions, order a mess of tacos – at least three or four. You will certainly be full, but probably still debating on another taco. This is the path you should take. After all, what’s another couple of bucks for pure bliss to ensure you properly slip into a post-gorging comatose state of nirvana.

There is not a bad choice for tacos, but if you can’t handle one of each (okay, yeah, that might be a lot), then go for the Little Shack, Baja, Alambre and Adobada. These tacos will give you a variety of fish, shrimp, steak, pork and chorizo – with all the fixins! Even if you decide to go with other choices, you won’t be disappointed. This little parking lot taco party will set you right.

With a BYOB policy at the parking lot location (there are multiple locations in El Paso), snag a few cold ones and head on in. The chips and salsa is awesome and will help curb your hunger until the main prize arrives. After finishing a Little Shack experience, go ahead and order a couple more and then start plotting the next conquest.

More Local, Cheap Eats

• H & H Car Wash & Coffee Shop – one of the coolest, friendliest little diners in the world; great pancakes!
• Charcoaler Drive-In – a remnant of America’s past, good local fast food
• Hillside Coffee & Donut – great coffee and tasty, slightly-fancy donuts
• Tin Man Montecillo – get the nachos
• Churros – for happiness, find some street churros downtown or in Chihuahuita
• Local Beer – El Paso Brewing Company; DeadBeach Brewery, Old Sheepdog Brewery

Eating in El Paso, Texas

You won’t go hungry in El Paso, and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to eat well. In fact, eating cheap in El Paso is easy.

There are plenty of places to enjoy a Texas craft beer during your stay as well. To be frank, the options for much else in the way of fun and adventure in this curious border city are pretty limited. Fortunately, food is a different bright spot of the city.

If you’re taking one of those awesome USA roadtrips, or if find yourself driving on Interstate-10 in West Texas, make sure to stop in El Paso. When you’re hungry and ready to do some eating, El Paso is a literal oasis in the desert. These restaurants will serve as a good starting point and you will surely find plenty of options for good, local and cheap food.