It's been 2 years since I first came to El Paso and I never got to try any of the Mexican cuisine. I beat myself up over it because Mexico is a stone's throw across the border and if anyone has authentic Mexican food, it would be El Paso. You see, my only experience with Mexican cuisine is the Mexican restaurants in Kentucky and Tennessee. I'm told it's authentic but how do I know? I have nothing to reference it to. This time around, I researched which restaurants were recommended in El Paso. There's a laundry list of them, so I had to filter it based on where I was staying. Carlos and Mickey's popped up and off I went. Full disclaimer, I felt stupid ordering. I explained to my waitress about the stuff I eat at Mexican restaurants back in Tennessee. She flat out said we don't have that. Here I was, some out-of-state guy, spouting off dishes I thought were authentic! She did however give me some recommendations. I ended up with a beef, chicken, and crab enchilada trio with half house chile con queso sauce and spicy red sauce. I also ordered a cheese chile relleno, since that's one of my favorite dishes. For my drink, I ended up trying both of the aguas frescas (Jamaica and Horchata) with free refills! First the chips and salsa. I love how they give me whole tostadas as my chips. Those circular shapes are perfect for scooping up all the salsa in the bowl. The salsa was flavorful with a medium heat. The chile relleno was fantastic. The right amount of melty cheese and sauce but what I especially loved was that the pepper was cooked to that perfect balance of tenderness. You see I love chile rellenos but they are always overcooked on my side of the country. So the pepper itself is super soft and almost mushy. For my enchiladas, they were served with Spanish rice (not Mexican) and refried beans. I really loved the Spanish rice. It was light and earthly with firmness (not super fluffy). The refried beans were also light yet smooth. I like how the food isn't heavy. Like, the Mexican food I've had all my life were rich and heavy, sometimes almost too greasy. Not here and I loved it. My enchiladas were great. The chile con queso was a welcome change, giving it a twist on standard queso with that lightness I was talking about (not heavy). The spicy red sauce was smoky and had a good amount of heat. My crab enchilada was alright. I don't think it was real crab, but rather imitation. I mean I do like imitation crab too, so it wasn't a disappointment. The chicken enchilada was great. The chicken tasted like pulled rotisserie chicken. Whether that was how it was really cooked, I don't know but it was really good. The star however was the beef enchilada. My gosh I could just eat that flavorful, juicy, shredded beef filling in a bowl by itself. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Last but not least are the aguas frescas. The Jamaica, I don't even know what's in it because I've never really tried them before but it was sweet, tart, and floral. Almost like cranberries and flowers. I downed that within minutes. Since the refills were free, I asked to try the Horchata. Lightly creamy, cinnamon-y, with vanilla, and a balanced sweetness. I fully recommend this place. There was so much food AND it was very affordable. All that was just shy of $21. I left stuffed. I felt good that the majority of the patrons here were Hispanic because if the locals are eating here, you know it has to be good. Oh and I don't know if they always do this, but there was live music until close. What a great experience. read more

See all

Good vibes and live music. Food was good. Had the chimichanga and it was great. Their chips and salsa was very delicious. Was a very busy day and the service was very quick and helpful despite our large party. read more

Needed a little outing after a long week and what better place than Carlos and Mickey's. The interior is always decorated with the season and has a lot of history. Service at the bar is always on point and on Friday nights, they sometimes have a live band. Always been a fan of the large chips and salsa. One of El Paso's popular go to places with good vibes and energy. read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Mexico City - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Was in El Paso visiting family out of town and they wanted to give us a nice send off. They knew what they were doing when they brought us here! The drinks were strong, food was delicious, and the music and vibes were definitely hitting. Definitely check this place out and try sitting near the bar if you're a fun crowd. read more

See all

I've been to the Carlos and Mickeys location by Ft Bliss a couple times so I kind of knew what to expect going in. I'm surprised the decor doesn't really match the other location, which I thought was nice. It kind of gave an authentic Mexican restaurant experience. However, this location definitely feels more corporate. It's still nice though, I just missed all the fun decor. My husband and I sat in the bar area which was somewhat busy at the time. I will say we both felt bad for the poor bartender that was running around making drinks, taking orders from customers at the bar while also handling customers seated at the high top tables. I definitely think he was overworked and needed help because the service was quite slow due to him handling so many areas. We ordered the bandido fries as appetizer. Be forewarned, it is actually huge potato wedges rather than actual fries. We were surprised by what we were served but it didn't taste bad. The description just made it sound like loaded fries. For drinks I got the mango margarita and my husband ordered a beer on tap. The regular size margarita is good size for one person but I did see a HUGE size they offer that looks like it's meant for a group. The flavor was very light but still there. I'd definitely try other flavors next time, they have alot of fruity options! For our main course, my husband ordered the shrimp fajitas and I got the Mexico City combination. My combination consisted of a taco, enchilada, tamale and chile relleno - with beans and rice on the side. Everything tasted good, I will say the tamale was a tad bit dry. The Chile relleno was huge and filled with soooo much cheese. A big plus for anyone that favors this dish. Overall the quality of food matches the other Carlos and Mickeys location. I get that this isn't super authentic Mexican food but it does the job. Other than the service lacking, I'd say it was a good experience. Hopefully they can learn to have an actual server help with the bar area so guests aren't waiting a long time for service. read more

See all

I don't get the hype! The food is pretty average. My wife and her friends always go for the drinks - they say they have really great margaritas. I don't mind if I miss out. read more

I am visiting for a work trip and had high hopes in eating good Mexican food but was not satisfied. This restaurant was recommended to me by the hotel staff and thought we should check it out. The environment is similar to any other Mexican restaurant. The service was very good and the staff was very friendly. My co worker and I got the same thing, we got the bean and cheese burrito with 1/2 red sauce and 1/2 queso. I wouldn't recommend getting this if you're thinking about it and would try something else on the menu. The beans were pretty plain, the tortilla was okay, and we were not a fan of the red sauce. It wasn't very flavorful unfortunately. The churros however are good! They are not on the menu but I saw a sign about churros as I was walking in. The churros are filled with custard and came with a chocolate dipping sauce! read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Churros - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

See all

I've heard plenty about Carlos and Mickey's, but my recent visit was a massive letdown. For a place with such a reputation, the food and the service were both completely unacceptable. First, the food was a total miss. Several items at our table arrived heavily burnt, completely ruining the flavor. When you're paying El Paso prices for a sit-down Mexican dinner, you expect the kitchen to have basic quality control. Serving charred, ruined food is just lazy. To make matters worse, the customer service was horrible. Our server was completely inattentive, and when we politely pointed out the burnt food, we were met with attitude rather than an apology or an effort to fix it. It felt like we were bothering the staff just by being there. Between the ruined food and the hostile service, I won't be coming back, and I definitely wouldn't recommend it. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values its customers. read more

So the service will really good the restaurant was extremely busy and the selection of food is alright but this might be the worst Mexican food you can find in El Paso it was surprising since it was so busy read more

The nachos grande was delicious! My wife and I shared it and it was loaded with toppings. We also shared a margarita which was huge and delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant, read more

The food. And service. But the live performer doesn't know how to sing . Who told him he could sing no one

Extremely disappointed food! First waited in the car for over an hour for their buzzer to ring, come to find out that the buzzer doesn't even work!!! Then waited so long for crappy food! All of our plates were over cooked, steak burned, hamburger steak burnt, beans dry microwave burnt, dry chicken, dry rice. Server didn't bother to refill the drinks, then told her the food was horrible she honestly had nothing to say besides can I get you the check. don't bother wasting your time eating there. read more

Have patronized this place every time visiting El Paso. But recently the menu and food quality has changed for the worst. Enchiladas were served with nacho cheese sauce and fish tacos were served as a fish stick in a tortilla.. complete waste of money and time. read more

Had takeout. Told me 15 minutes. Told me it was $15 total for their chimichanga. Ended up being charged about $17 instead. Got there and the food was lukewarm. I noticed there was a $1 surcharge for takeout that was not disclosed. WTF. Not only that they charge an additional 5% fee for using your credit card. Of course, they left out the utensils and napkins too because why should they pay extra when they're trying to squeeze you with hidden fees? The chimichanga was also shaped like a Taco Bell crunch wrap and the same size, but it only had beef inside. The rice, refried beans, lettuce were all on the side. The tortilla was stale. The chips were leftover old tostadas. First time I have ever been served thin tostadas as chips. How cheap do you have to be? Listen to the 1 star reviews. The 5 stars on here are probably from gringos that don't know any better. Hard pass. read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Taco Bell crunch wrap or chimichanga? - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

So i have to say that this place is very nice - lots of things to look at especially on the walls. i am not a alcohol drinker but tried a margarita and it was good not great. i am not a fan of poor service not awful not great. I had to ask for a chip refill from a bus person cause my servicer was not available. I think that you have think about this place cause its a bit of a price. I found the food a bit cool and not very tasty sorry carlos maybe mickey was out of town. GO TO KIKI"S it tasty and better on the wallet read more

This place quickly became one of my favorite spots in El Paso. The service is great, the food is good and the atmosphere is nice. We make sure we stop here every time we're in town. read more

See all

I had the carnitas, which the menu had an announcement in red letters that they were the best in El Paso.... Far from the truth. It stated it came with guacamole, not even close (see picture and judge for yourself) The carnitas were burned and dry, the guacamole came in a little container that wasn't even full and it was only a green salsa with no much flavor, only the green color resemble the avocado. The beans and the rice were good. I had one taco and I left the rest. To make it worse I told the waiter to take it away that I didn't like it, he didn't offered substitutions or an apology, just took the plate away. To my surprised he did charged me for it. It was a complete disappointment not just for the food but for the lack of care from the waiter. I would not recommend the place read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Burned and dry carnitas with "guacamole" in a tiny container - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Food was very delicious! It was actually piping hot when the food was delivered to our table which is A+. Service was on top of everything, always came by to refill our waters and asked if everything is ok. Place is clean and tidy. Would come back here again! read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Steak Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

We came here for dinner This restaurant is nice and has a good feeling The waiter was helpful and he knew the menu well I ordered the chili relleno with cheese I'd rate the chili relleno a 5 it didn't have much flavor When the plate came out it was hot and looked great One of the things I didn't like about the restaurant was the flatware was that it was very cheap. I think the flatware show's a lot about the restaurant read more

Carlos and Mickey's - The bar - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

This is my first time at Carlos and Mickey's and really didn't know what to expect. It was a fun restaurant to be in and they had live music that night. The drinks are really good and the food was OK. I got the ribeye but it wasn't what I expected. I figure that it would be a ribeye with tortillas rice and beans however it was more serve like a ribeye that you get at a normal restaurant that also included shrimp. Which made me judge the meal based on it being just a ribeye and for those you read my reviews you know I take ribeye steak very seriously. Thus making my meal pretty lack luster. It was ok but nothing to be to excited about. The prices are fair and if your going with a group of Friends CM is a great time. I do have to mention that the staff was not as attentive as I would like them to be and I had to ask for items multiple times. If your going with a party just be aware because I was told Cm can get busy. Over all decent time 3 out of 5! read more

See all

The food was alright, it's always been alright in any of their restaurants. Unless you got a kids meal like my brother did and they only give one taquito broken in half. No kid is eating just one taquito. The service was not great, they told us 30 minutes, it then took an hour to get seated and order. The biggest issue is the environment, you can't hear anything your family member or friend is saying next to you because they have a singer playing with the loudest speaker ever. It's just an unpleasant experience if you're wanting to go to hangout with friends and family. Would recommend if you don't plan to talk that much. read more

I really enjoyed the chips and salsa, guacamole and the mango margarita. One of the best margaritas I've had here. Super delicious. The bartender was very attentive and provided great service. read more

Amazing food, amazing service and amazing drinks! Love the local bands you let play! Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area! read more

See all

In town for the weekend and this place was recommended. The food was amazing and especially my plate. They claim they have the "best in town" carnitas..., PEOPLE..., this was truly the BEST carnitas I've ever had. The service was friendly and fast. True professionals. The ambiance here is amazingly tranquil. Makes me think of small villages in Mexico and it all falls into place. Highly recommend you to try this place. Thank you. read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Carnitas "Pork Tips" - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Very bad service.. we have been here for an hour and now they are saying they can't spot people cuz the kitchen is full.. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! Not even a drink or anything read more

Food was authentic and amazing. Spicy and delish. The perfect about of burn. The margarita was the best I have ever had. Service was fantastic. Sopapilla put the fire out. I can not say enough. But in all my travels this is the best Mexican food I have ever had. read more

Arturo was our waiter, such a nice man. Polite and knowledgeable. Even got the bar to change the tv to the olympics for us. The food was outstanding. My fiancé had the chimi and loved it, so full of meat and very flavorful. I had a combo plate with a little bit of everything on it. So wonderful. The carnitas was cooked just right, the taco was crispy, the enchilada and tamale had such great flavors. I am not usually on for the Chile relano but it was cooked just perfectly. Also the salsa and homemade chips hit the spot with the fresh guacamole. And if you get a margarita make sure it's a Texas margarita, shareable for two. Thanks guys we will come again if we come back through!! read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Texas Margarita - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Cudos to Carlos and Mickey's East!!! We had a very last minute celebration of life. I called many many Restaurants at this last minute and they all said no. When l called Carlos and Mickey's East it was such positiveness, they did everything to accommodate us. Everything was all set up and ready when we arrived. The service starting with the front was excellent and the food too!! I cannot say enough about them. Thanks for good job done to all of the staff and Managers, GREAT Service!!! Donna Walker read more

Their official name is Los Bandidos de Carlos and Mickey's. At least this location. This place is amazingly decorated. Very Mexican decor and feel. They call this a Tex-Mex restaurant, but honestly I found no traces of "Texican" cuisine. Everything I was was a very traditional Mexican dish. I found the guacamole to be excellent, and the Queso with chorizo was amazing. I, personally, had the beef caldo and it was spot on. Perhaps a bit too much carrots but delicious nonetheless. Others at the table were equally satisfied with their dishes. And yes, they have gigantic Margaritas. One of those equals three (3) normal margaritas. I chose to swap out the house tequila for a Don Julio Reposado, and it was amazing. If you don't like the color change (darker due to the barrel aging), then you would do just as well with the Don Julio 70. Same tequila, but filtered, such that it removes the color (darkness) of the tequila. Of course, you can do the same thing with the smaller (regular) margaritas, but you're in Texas. Go big or go home!! read more

Enchanting place inside, Love the decor and the food is absolutely amazing! They make the best horchata. Me and my family will be coming back and will be recommending this place to everyone. The service provided was excellent, thankyou! read more

I want to start of and say this is an El Paso staple so the hype was unreal. I came in level headed and left with my head low.... I was expecting greatness.. I know places have bad days but this was highly disappointing. Idk if I can come back and give it another try with all the other mom and pops in the area that rock out consistently. Carlos and mickeys get back to the basics. read more

Service was good, but if you're from California you will be disappointed, food was not good. read more

See all

Wtf. I waited 2 hours and a half just to eat this. I order texas fajitas. Idk what this is. First they told us the wait is gonna be 30-40 min, an hour and 10 min later we finally got seated, and then i order texas fajitas thinking it's gonna be enough for me and my wife seeing how much the price was. But no. read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Texas fajitas - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Our new girls out spot! The Texas Margs are amazing especially for the price! The chimichangas were phenomenal, our waiter suggested we add cheese and we did totally recommend. Great atmosphere! read more

See all

Love this place. Flew in for a quick visit with my kids/grandkids. Great authentic food, excellent service. I will be back! read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Jalisco Combo. Omg so good, great food. Busy but worth the wait - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

This place was pretty good and decently priced. The decorations and extravagant wait staff gives a great (I like to party) traditional feel. The food wasn't too bad either. We got the guacamole (full) and recommend getting the half because it's too much and the food arrived 2 min after they brought it. My wife tore up the cheese enchiladas and I got the pork tips (good but kinda dry). Totally worth the 4 stars that I gave because of the atmosphere! The rice that comes with ever dish is unbeatable though. Looks bland but has outstanding flavor. You definitely won't be disappointed if you try this place unless you are maybe a Karen and Kyle, then you can use the McDonald's drive-thru so nobody deals with your shit! Have an awesome day! read more

First of all the server was very confused and it was impossible to get answers about menu choices. We found a hair in our salsa so I just requested a new one. Then I got my enchiladas and there was a hair in the enchiladas. When I informed manager that we found 2 hairs she stated 'I should have told her the first time'!! I was trying to be understanding because these things happen but not twice in one meal!!! Even though we were both disgusted and stopped eating after second hair was found she only removed one plate off bill. Not sure how that made up for 2 hairs but I don't think that was an adequate resolvement. The manager was a little rude and tried to explain away the hairs. As if she almost didn't believe me and I told her I left hairs on plate and she could see for herself. Just a bad way to do business. Will never go back or recommend!!! If the manager had handled the situation better it would have helped but she did not and was almost unapologetic. Just Bad!! read more

I have eaten at the original and was very pleased. The service at this location does not live up to the standards of the original. I came in for lunch on a Tuesday after the rush was over. My server did not offer chips and salsa which is a cardinal sin at a Mexican restaurant. My iced tea had very little ice and the server acted put out when I requested sweetener for the tea. I had to ask for a refill. The tacos Al pastor were passable but nothing spectacular. All in all a pretty mediocre meal and I won't return. read more

How great is the salsa?!?! So good that I actually embarrassed myself asking the server for the umpteenth time to bring more. People around me started looking at me with a mixture of awe and disgust. The waiter was starting to frown and I was afraid they'd call management and shut me down. It is so good. So very good. If they bottled it I would have purchased a case to bring back to Tucson. Alas, they don't. The food was great especially the chili relleno which is not normally my favorite Mexican dish. It was exceptional. I also loved the red cheese enchilada. The sauce was delicious and it was very cheesy. The service was great and it was a pleasant atmosphere. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to justify the 650 mile round trip from Tucson just to eat great salsa... read more

We were visiting El Paso on a business trip and were taken here as per recommendation. I live in the South Bay but this is definitely one of the best Mexican food that I have had. To start off we ordered the house size and El Paso style drink which were huge! I tried the strawberry mezcal margarita which was delicious but a little on the sweeter side. I did have a taste of the house made margarita which was delicious too and had that perfect kick to it. Their complimentary chips and house made salsa was spicy with a refreshing kick. Since Juarez is apparently the birth place of burritos I decided to give it a try with a side of rice and beans on the side. This is the best burrito I have ever had. I don't why we ruin burritos by putting rice and beans inside the wrap. The tortilla was home made and perfectly think. The chicken and fajitas were well seasoned, the rice and beans were phenomenal - simple yet flavorful. If I could, I would visit El Paso again just for this food and the giant sized drinks read more

Carlos and Mickey's - Chicken Fajita Burritos - Mexican Near Me - El Paso, Texas

See all