L&J Cafe
Tex-Mex Since 1927 — "The Old Place by the Graveyard"
El Paso's most historic restaurant — open since 1927 as "Tony's Place" and now run by the fourth generation. Once a home brew and slot machine stop during Prohibition, now a city institution. Enchiladas, crispy tacos, rolled flautas, chile verde con carne, and the legendary combination plate loaded with a chile relleno, meat taco, flauta, rice, beans, and guacamole. Endless complimentary chips and salsa. Massive portions at prices that make you double-take the bill. A must on any El Paso visit.
Little Shack
Seafood Tacos — Fish, Shrimp, Adobada & More, 5 Locations
Sitting unassumingly in parking lots around El Paso — a plain building with a patio and a small sign. Yelp's top 10 cheap eats. The tacos are "something truly so wild that you want to keep shoving your fat face full" — Little Shack, Baja, Alambre, and Adobada give you fish, shrimp, steak, pork, and chorizo all in one session. BYOB policy at the parking lot location. Five El Paso locations. Chips and salsa start strong. Two people ordering four tacos each = well under $20. The fish soup aroma will reel you in.
El Taquito
Yelp's #1 Cheap Eat in El Paso — Famous Flautas
El Paso's highest-rated cheap eat on Yelp. Famous for homemade flautas that locals call the best in the city. "Amazingly good flautas for an incredibly reasonable price. The food is always excellent, prepared fresh and 100% accurate. I eat there at least once a week." Chipotle sauce is the reviewer favorite. Tacos, flautas, rice, and beans at the kind of prices that make El Paso dining special. Two people eating a full flauta plate with rice and beans each = well under $20.
Gom Ramen
Korean Ramen & Noodles — 4.6 Stars, Yelp Top 5 Cheap Eats
El Paso's top-rated Korean ramen spot with a 4.6-star Yelp rating and 169+ reviews — one of the highest-rated cheap eats in the city overall. Rich broths, generous bowls, and authentic Korean noodles that El Pasoans keep coming back for. On Yelp's cheap eats top 5 list. Two people eating full ramen bowls land well under $20. In a city that is overwhelmingly Mexican, Gom Ramen's Korean offering is especially appreciated. East El Paso, Hunter Drive.
Tasty Kabob
Middle Eastern Kabobs — Yelp's #2 Cheap Eat in El Paso
Yelp's #2 cheap eat in El Paso — a beloved Middle Eastern kabob spot that has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in the city. "Delicious, nice owner, great value. Best chicken kebabs. Asked her to not overcook, which appears to be common problem at most places, and they actually listened." Generous portions of charcoal-grilled kabobs, rice plates, and Middle Eastern staples. Two people eating a full kabob plate each land comfortably under $20. A genuinely great find in a border city that skews heavily Mexican.
Noodles & Dumplings
Asian Noodles & Dumplings — Yelp's #3 Cheap Eat
Yelp's #3 cheap eat in El Paso. "It was great. Fresh flavorful food. Super friendly staff. Great value. This will be one of our go-to spots." Asian noodle and dumpling dishes at prices that make the bill feel like a pleasant surprise. Two people eating noodle bowls and a shared plate of dumplings land well under $20. In a city where "diverse cuisine" sometimes means two different types of tacos, a spot like this earns fierce loyalty from people craving something different.
Café Mayapán
Indigenous Mexican & Mission-Driven — Downtown Since 2001
Unique downtown El Paso café since 2001 serving seasonal Indigenous Mexican flavors while also functioning as a training center empowering local women. The menu highlights dishes that predate the border — Asadero cheese quesadillas with epazote, grilled cactus stuffed with mushrooms and chipotle, albondigas al chipotle (turkey meatballs with rice and vegetable soup), huevo con chorizo. Budget-friendly with a conscience. Two people eating a full breakfast or lunch here land well under $20. One of El Paso's most distinctive spots.
Zino's Greek & Mediterranean
Authentic Greek Cuisine — "I Want to Keep This Spot for Myself"
El Paso's beloved Greek and Mediterranean restaurant, prepared from scratch by a skilled Greek chef. Charbroiled kabobs, gyros, moussaka, and fresh house salads. "I want to keep this spot for myself but I can't. It wouldn't be right. OMG, I'm working my way through the menu to try everything on it and so far 😋 So Good." Two people eating a gyro plate and a shared salad land well under $20. One of the most memorable meals available in the entire city for any budget.
Mac's Downtown
Downtown El Paso Diner — Yelp Top 4 Cheap Eats
Yelp's top 4 cheap eat in El Paso, centrally located downtown. A reliable, affordable diner with burgers, American comfort food, and El Paso's signature green chile showing up where you least expect it. The kind of downtown spot that fills up with locals from all walks of life at lunch. Two people eating burgers with fries and drinks land right at $20. One of the few solid non-Mexican cheap options in the heart of downtown El Paso.
Taconeta
Consistent Tacos & Great Value — Yelp Top 6
Yelp's top 6 cheap eat in El Paso — a taqueria that has earned consistent praise for showing up every time. "The service here is always friendly and efficient. Taconeta always delivers great value and it is one of our favorites for the ideal cheap eats around El Paso." Tacos at prices that let two people eat a full round with a drink and still stay well under $20. The kind of taqueria that earns weekly repeat visits from locals who know exactly what they want before they walk in.
Charcoaler Drive-In
Classic El Paso Drive-In — Green Chile Burgers Since 1953
One of El Paso's surviving classic drive-ins, described by The Hangry Backpacker as "a remnant of America's past, good local fast food." Green chile burgers with that distinctive Southwest flavor, old-school milkshakes, and the kind of no-frills atmosphere that only gets better with age. Tripadvisor reviewers say: "Very tasty with the green chile but way more burger than I could finish." Two people with burgers, fries, and shakes land right at $20. A time capsule on wheels.
💡 El Paso Pro Tip: El Paso is a border city where "authentic Mexican food" isn't just a marketing term — it's the baseline. L&J Cafe is in Central El Paso near the old cemetery (hence the nickname) and serves until late. Little Shack's BYOB parking lot location is a true El Paso experience — check their Instagram for which lot is open. Gom Ramen is on Hunter Drive in East El Paso, worth a drive for anything different from tacos. Café Mayapán downtown is worth choosing over a chain specifically for the mission behind it. Green chile shows up everywhere here — embrace it.
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Applebee's
2 Entrees + Appetizer
One shareable appetizer + two full-size entrées. Fiesta Lime Chicken, Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Boneless Wings & more. Available dine-in, takeout & delivery.
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