L & J Cafe: El Paso's historic Mexican staple with bold flavors and warm, welcoming service.
L & J Cafe in El Paso is a beloved Mexican restaurant known for its historic atmosphere and friendly service. Located at 3622 E Missouri Ave, it offers generous portions and authentic flavors, with a notable vegetarian section. Guests praise green chile enchiladas, the Combination Plate, and the welcoming, lively vibe near the Concordia Cemetery.
3622 E Missouri Ave, El Paso, TX 79903, USA
Claim L & J Cafe to manage your storefront, respond to reviews, and receive customer leads.
Enjoy classic dishes like green chile enchiladas, chile rellenos, and combination plates made with fresh ingredients.
Extensive vegetarian menu with items like veggie enchiladas and bean dishes, accommodating diverse dietary needs.
Sit-down meals with attentive service in a historic atmosphere, ideal for groups and families.
Well-stocked bar offering drinks and cocktails to complement your meal in a lively setting.
Convenient options for enjoying our food at home or in our cozy, decorated restaurant.
Overall rating
Paul Franklin
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.
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!
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!
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.
