The next time you’re craving Mexican food, you’ll find plenty of options in El Paso, Texas. Whether you’re looking for simple tacos, cheesy enchiladas, or lesser-known dishes, you’ll find what you’re looking for at one of these three excellent choices restaurants!

1. Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant

For unusual twists on Mexican favorites and for the ultimate machaca, head over to Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant at 2719 N. Piedras. Kiki’s offers daily lunch and dinner specials with a different menu every day. From their regular menu, start your meal with an appetizer like a shrimp cocktail or nachos, and then choose from their combination, enchilada, taco, or burrito plates.

For a real treat, experiment with Kiki’s specialties that include machaca. This authentic Mexican dish offers brisket, chicken, or crab grilled with tomatoes, onions, and green chilies. Next comes a scramble or fried egg covered with a spicy green sauce and cheese. Branch out and enjoy crab enchiladas, mole, or Caldo de Res, a traditional Mexican beef soup.

2. L&J Cafe

Since 1927 the team at L&J Cafe has been serving authentic, traditional Mexican food to hungry patrons. People flock to the cafe daily to enjoy their tasty salsa, Menudo, caldillo, chili Rellenos, and more. Sip a cold beer while sampling one of L&J’s appetizers such as guacamole and chips before moving on to enjoy one of their tasty entrees.

The hearty beef stew known as caldillo will fill you up and warm your bones, while the pollo en mole gives your mouth a flavor burst of chocolate and spices. J&L Cafe features daily specials such as Monday Pint Night, Taco Tuesday, and Friday Wine Night! When you pay for your meal, be sure to grab a bottle of their zesty homemade salsa to bring home! You can find L&J Cafe at 3622 E Missouri Ave.

3. Villa del Mar

Love Mexican-style seafood dishes? Then you’ve got to try Villa del Mar! Enjoy a cocktail and an appetizer such as fish ceviche and move on to either a shrimp salad or a bowl of seafood soup filled with calamari, octopus, shrimp, fish, and vegetables in a spicy red sauce. Villa del Mar offers several styles of fish fillets with one of the favorites being the Caribe. The Caribe is a fish roll stuffed with jalapeno, wrapped in bacon, and covered with shrimp, cream, and cheese.

The chefs specialize in cooking whole fish served in a variety of ways such as fried in garlic and oil, marinated in Villa del Mar’s special sauce and then broiled, or steamed with white wine and lemon. You can have lobster or shrimp in a variety of styles – beef and chicken dishes are available as well.

Can’t decide which meal to get? Choose a combination plate or try something from the Captain’s Table menu like octopus with a Veracruz sauce or the Carnival de Mariscos with several types of seafood prepared in a multitude of ways.

Each of these three restaurants features their own specials and style of Mexican cooking and with this handy guide, you’ll be sure to find your favorite one!

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