What to order at Cafe Mayapan

Must order
Nopales taco or tamales with atole on Saturday mornings
Editor tip
Look for the La Mujer Obrera entrance on Texas Avenue; the cafe is inside the building. Saturday 08:00 for tamales and atole.
CuisineMexican
Price$
NeighborhoodDowntown
HoursMon-Fri 11:00-15:00; Sat 08:00-15:00
Last verified

Must order: Nopales taco or tamales with atole on Saturday mornings

Why locals love it: Operated by a labour organisation, not promoted through restaurant channels; no signage visible from the street

Tip: Look for the La Mujer Obrera entrance on Texas Avenue; the cafe is inside the building. Saturday 08:00 for tamales and atole.

Location

Address: 2000 Texas Ave, El Paso, TX 79901

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Also in Downtown

EP Tasting Room ★ 4.3

Cocktail bar$$$DowntownMon-Thu 14:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-18:00

EP Tasting Room hides inside the Lucchese Bootmaker store on West Mills Avenue: walk through the boot shop and ask for the back room for a speakeasy tasting.

Order: Guided tequila or mezcal flight with food pairing

Why locals love it: Accessed only through the Lucchese Bootmaker store with no external signage; invisible from the street to first-time visitors

Tip: Walk through the boot store and ask at the back for the tasting room entrance. First-time visitors always miss it on the first pass.

127 W Mills Ave Ste A, El Paso, TX 79901

Full Downtown food guide →

More hidden gems in El Paso

ELEMI ★ 4.7

Taqueria$$East El PasoTue-Sat 11:00-21:00

ELEMI on Eastlake Boulevard is El Paso's most significant restaurant in terms of national recognition, yet most visitors skip it because it sits 20.

Order: Chef's daily selection of heirloom corn masa dishes

Why locals love it: Located 20 minutes east of downtown in a commercial strip; most visitors never make the drive from the city centre

Tip: Worth every minute of the drive. Take a rideshare from downtown; parking is easy but the return trip is easier via app.

13500 Eastlake Blvd, Horizon City, TX 79928

EP Tasting Room ★ 4.3

Cocktail bar$$$DowntownMon-Thu 14:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-18:00

EP Tasting Room hides inside the Lucchese Bootmaker store on West Mills Avenue: walk through the boot shop and ask for the back room for a speakeasy tasting.

Order: Guided tequila or mezcal flight with food pairing

Why locals love it: Accessed only through the Lucchese Bootmaker store with no external signage; invisible from the street to first-time visitors

Tip: Walk through the boot store and ask at the back for the tasting room entrance. First-time visitors always miss it on the first pass.

127 W Mills Ave Ste A, El Paso, TX 79901

Old Sheepdog Brewery ★ 4.1

American$$Kern PlaceMon-Thu 14:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00

Old Sheepdog Brewery on North Oregon Street pours sour ales, wheat beers, German-influenced styles that are technically the best at their style in El Paso.

Order: Gose or the tart wheat beer seasonal

Why locals love it: Overshadowed by DeadBeach in press coverage; the sour and wheat beer programme is superior

Tip: Dog-friendly taproom; the least crowded on weekday afternoons when the quality-to-crowd ratio is at its best.

1600 N Oregon St, El Paso, TX 79902

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