Top 5 Best Local Restaurants in El Paso

Good day! I assume you are here because you're looking for local restaurants in El Paso Texas huh? You probably went to the search bar and typed in something like “El Paso local restaurants” or “local restaurants El Paso” or maybe even “locally owned restaurants in El Paso.” Well don’t worry you came to the right place. You didn’t really think Google would lead you askew or astray did you? (Or, I mean, I guess if you got here from Bing that’s good too! Welcome to my article). 

This is the place you are looking for! If you live in El Paso, are just there for an afternoon, or have a friend or loved one who is there, this list will feature some of the best local restaurants in El Paso for a lunch or dinner you can find. The list I’m making today is going to focus not just on local restaurants in El Paso, but specifically locally owned restaurants. That way you can feel good knowing each dollar you spend at one of these restaurants goes back into the local economy. And you can even use our convenient GiftYa digital gift cards to help support the local economy next time you are out to eat. 

As a reminder a GiftYa digital gift card is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A gift card that functions just like every other gift card. It lets you make purchases at a participating bar, restaurant, or store up to the face value of the gift card. However, unlike traditional gift cards. GiftYa digital gift cards come with a few additional benefits. 

For instance, unlike a traditional gift card, a GiftYa can be sent straight to your phone in seconds. That way you don’t need to deliver a GiftYa in person if you want to give it as a gift. You don’t even have to go to a store in person if you want one for yourself. You can just visit the GiftYa website and pick one up today.

Since GiftYa cards are sent directly to your phone you never have to worry about misplacing them or forgetting to take them with you. In most instances you are going to have your phone with you so in most instances you will have your GiftYa cards right in your pocket. In addition to that, your GiftYa also keeps track of the balance for you. Not to mention their digital format makes GiftYa perfect anytime you want to send a gift card with a large sum to a loved one in El Paso *wink wink.* 

With a GiftYa there’s no writing multiple balances all over a card and hoping you can keep it organized. You also don’t have to worry about the card being lost or stolen with a GiftYa. You can keep track of them all digitally. So you don’t even have to deliver them in person to know they got there in time!

El Taquito

Highest Rated Local Restaurant in El Paso

1422 Airway Blvd | El Paso | el-taquito-9831.food96.com

El Taquito comes in at number one on our list today for one very obvious and simple reason. The overwhelming number of 5 star reviews that have been left by locals and travellers alike. El Taquito is going to serve, you guessed it! Mexican food. However, in El Paso, you are really only a couple minutes from the Mexican border so you can be sure that when you find a restaurant serving Mexican food in El Paso that they are going to be serving some of the most authentic Mexican food anywhere in the state. And anywhere in the entire country for that matter.

So not only can you count on El Taquito serving some of the most authentic Mexican food in all of the United States, you can also feel good supporting a locally owned business. And trust me, you won’t regret spending your dollar and supporting local businesses and local families when you stop at El Taquito. They have a five star review on Yelp! With over 300 reviews. I’ve seen restaurants have a five star rating with 90ish reviews. And I’ve even seen restaurants with 3500 reviews maintain a four and a half star rating. However, I’ve never seen a restaurant boast reviews in the hundreds and still maintain a solid five star rating. So go ahead and give El Taquito a try next time you are looking for local restaurants in El Paso. You won’t leave disappointed. Apparently nobody else has. 

“Parking: Free Parking Lot. Ambiance: Very Casual. Price: Affordable and priced well

Customer Service: Very Friendly! The servers here are extremely nice, friendly, and patient. It was our first time in El Paso, and this was the first place we ate at. So having the comforting customer service made us feel welcomed in El Paso!

Food: Great! I'm not a huge fan of taquitos so I was iffy on ordering flautas for the first time. I'm so glad I ordered it. I'm definitely a fan. It was made perfectly...it wasn't too crunchy and not soggy either.” - Yelp Review 

El Taquito is one of the thousands of restaurants that accepts digital GiftYa gift cards but it is also among one of the highest rated local restaurants in El Paso!

Frontera Churros, Coffee, & Beer

Best Churros Ever! Locally Owned in El Paso

501 South Campbell St | El Paso | www.fronterachurros.com

Frontera Churros, Coffee, & Beer comes in at number two on our list but that’s really only because El Taquito had such a high number of reviews and still boasted a five star rating. Remember when I had seen restaurants with a five star review in the mid 90s region? Well that’s exactly what Frontera Churros is. They boast a five star rating but don’t have nearly the number of reviews that El Taquito has so there was no way they were getting first place on the list today.

However, that being said, having a five star rating with around one hundred reviews is still a pretty high ranking. And honestly it’s understandable they don’t have hundreds of ratings yet. They’ve only been around for a few years so they haven’t had the opportunity to rank up hundreds of reviews yet. But everybody who has been leaving reviews has been beyond pleased.

So not only can you count on the best churros you can find, you also get to support the local El Paso economy when you stop at Frontera Churros. Not to mention Frontera Churros is a women and minority-owned coffee shop. You get delicious food and coffee, you get to support the local economy, and you get to live your values and speak with your dollar by supporting a business owned by historically marginalized groups. 

“Best churros ever! And the price is so reasonable.

I love that you can mix and match churro flavors to your hearts desire. Each mini churro is the perfect size so you don't have to be stuck with a flavor if you don't like it. They're so crispy and crunchy and absolutely delicious. Do yourself a favor and get you some!” - Yelp Review

Frontera Churros, Coffee, & Beer doesn’t offer GiftYa digital gift cards just yet, but check back soon because we are always adding local restaurants and attractions in El Paso!

Mac’s Downtown

Locally Owned With the Freshest Seafood in El Paso

315 E Mills Ave | Downtown | facebook.com/macsdowntown

Mac’s Downtown is the first restaurant on our list not to feature a version of Mexican cuisine or dessert. In fact, Mac's Downtown specializes in Seafood. Particularly seafood of the Cajun variety. And as such I felt they deserved a spot on the list. I know that many people are on the lookout for excellent seafood options because of religious or dietary restrictions. And as such I always like to include at least one seafood place when I put together these lists of the best restaurants. However, Mac’s Downtown would make it on the list from the user reviews that have been left behind alone.

“Wow! Really great seafood and a top notch staff. This hidden gem, probably best known by the downtown lunch crowd, has it all together. As of today this became our seafood restaurant of choice. All the others can fight it out for second place. ” - Yelp Review 

You can’t get a digital GiftYa gift card to Mac’s Downtown at the moment but be sure to check back soon as new local restaurants and locations in El Paso are added all the time!

Border Burger Bar

Best Locally Owned Burgers In El Paso 

3329 Fort Blvd | El Paso | borderburgerbar.com

Border Burger Bar comes in at fourth on our listy for a few reasons. First of all, this is the United States of America. I have no doubt in your ability to find cheeseburgers for sale in El Paso. I mean there are countless fast food burger joints. So I don’t feel like having a burger joint is too big of a dealbreaker for most people. That being said though, people absolutely love the Border Burger Bar.

And what’s not to like? You can support the local economy and enjoy a burger and a brew while you do so. Making the Border Burger Bar a great choice when you are looking just to relax and enjoy your evening.

“Probably one of the best tasting burger that I have ever tried. I highly recommend to anyone in the El Paso area.” - Yelp Review 

Border Burger Bar is one of the best local restaurants in El Paso and they accept GiftYa digital gift cards and you can grab one for you or someone on your list by following the link!

Blazing Tree Brewery

Medal Winning Locally Owned Beer 

11426 Rojas Dr | El Paso | blazingtreebreweryelpaso.com

Blazing Tree Brewery is just what it sounds like. A brewery that makes their own delicious beers. And apparently they are quite good at it seeing as how they have literally won medals for how good it is. I like to make sure I recommend a good place to get food, and a great place to get drinks on these list of best places in different cities. 

And as such I felt compelled to include the Blazing Tree Brewery because they also boast a five star rating. Seriously if you are looking to have some drinks you can’t go wrong here. For once you will even be able to feel like you are drinking with a purpose. After all, every beer supports the local economy. 

“Great brewery! Staff was welcoming and friendly. Pistachio NEIPA was incredible! They are known for their peanut butter brown ale, which mixed with the strawberry kolsch is the best peanut butter and jelly I've ever had! Highly recommend this brewery if in El Paso !” - Yelp Review 

Unfortunately Blazing Tree Brewery isn’t one of the local restaurants in El Paso participating with GiftYa just yet, but check back soon cause they might be any day now.

There you go you have it. A list of the top five best local restaurants you can find in El Paso. You will be sure to find something that fits your appetite and your wallet somewhere on that list I’m sure of it. And don’t worry the list is composed of some of the best reviewed local restaurants in El Paso on the internet so you can be sure everything on the list has been well vetted. 

And seriously, I compose these articles for a living every week and never before have I featured so many five star rated restaurants on one list. So you can trust everything on here is going to be great. But even if you didn’t find what you’re looking for here, GiftYa has something to offer for everybody when they are in El Paso looking for local restaurants. And remember you can grab a GiftYa digital gift card to the participating restaurants for you or a loved one and send them instantly and keep track of everything digitally.