Looking for food along I-26 near Hendersonville can be challenging with so many offerings, particularly closer to the highway. But if you take a few minutes to drive into town you can find a jewel like El Paso, a standout for its expansive menu and quirky full-size horse statues. Most importantly, the service is quick and the food hot and tasty. We tried the chicken and shrimp fajitas and we were not disappointed, as it was loaded with both as well as plenty of green pepper, onion, and tomatoes. A nice touch with the complimentary chips was a bowl of warm bean dip as well as the traditional salsa. We ended the meal with a flan unexpectedly topped with whipped cream, chocolate and a cherry in addition to the brown sugar syrup. Add a cold beer and glass of house made sangria and it made a real winner for some hungry travelers. read more

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Was back in town for Easter, and returned to El Paso. Had a great torta and chicken soup. Service was excellent, and the staff super friendly. No margarita, this time. read more

Food was just meh...not spicy at all. Service was slow...eating outside was nice Mojito was tasty! read more

We love this place ! We eat here once weekly at least and we have our favorite dishes but are always trying something new. The wait staff is GREAT!! read more

I ate ther on Sunday, March 1. I was very disappointed in the service. The server asked what we wanted to drink and asked if we wanted an appetizer. She didn't introduce herself to us like she was everyone else around us. She asked if one or two checks, I said one . I noticed her smiling at everyone's table but didn't crack one smile at us. The guy who brought us the chips and dips was nice, smiled. She brought out drinks and asked what she could get us. I was still looking at the menu and I looked at her little aggravated because she could clearly see that we both were looking at the menu. She left and came back. Asked again what she could get us. We ordered. We got our food. We ate and not one time did she come back to ask us if we needed anything or even ask if the food was good. An older couple came in and when she went to their table, she welcomed them, said her name and was completely different. I even asked my husband if that was the same girl. He verified it was. Then I started watching her interactions with other tables, totally different. I wasn't planning on leaving a tip, but I do have a conscious. I will never step foot in this establishment and will tell of my experience. Usually I will give places another try, but her discrimination was noticeable and blatant. We left feeling very disappointed and would have better service at Taco Bell, at least we wouldn't expect good service. I guess you would need to be of different lifestyle or older and look like you have money to get better service. Learned my lesson. read more

This place is absolutely delicious every time we come. We drive up from Greenville SC for this place. The staff are so welcoming and funny. The food comes out hot, the salsas banging. read more

We have not been here in many months. The new decor is so much brighter and inviting! The service was friendly, quick and answered questions easily! The food was hot and amazing! We may have a favorite new mexican restaurant in town! read more

Nope! The taco salad was a disaster. It was so watery, it should've been called soup or stew--not a salad. Absolutely unappetizing. My lady ordered the chicken taco salad, which was somehow even worse. The first bite of chicken was just gristle. The second bite? Completely inedible. She couldn't eat it at all. To top it off, the drink prices were outrageous--$23 for a double! Ridiculous. Save your money and go anywhere else. read more

Review based on the El Paso located in Best Western Hotel, Hendersonville. Service was exceptional! The chips were hot and fresh. Served with salsa (mild but flavorful) and bean dip that is fabulous! We celebrated our first date here, and it did not disappoint. The Blue Caraco Margarita hit the spot!!! The Enchilada trio was delicious. A cheese, a beef, and a spinach and cheese. I will ask for 3 spinach and cheese next time it was that good! Had the 2 tamales with the side of rice and beans and in the bowl carnita meat with a fabulous red sauce I wanted to drink! We will go back soon for sure!!! read more

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We have eaten here many times and it's always been great. However, tonight we got delivery for the first time. My husband and I both LOVE spicy food, so I ordered the Steak with Camerones (shrimp) - it said it came with sliced jalapeños, onions, peppers. What they didn't say is that the jalapeños were sliced in half without being deseeded. The dish was so spicy that we couldn't eat it. I'm saving the steak, etc, for a potential stirfry tomorrow. The flavors were good, but this should be labeled as EXTREMELY spicy (and I am not faint hearted). The guacamole was under salted without enough spice, but I was able to doctor that with great results. I'll definitely try delivery again, but much more cautiously. read more

We was going to Jack in the box but for some reason they still don't have dine in. We saw all the cars in the parking lot and thought this must be good. We went in and it was packed but was quickly seat down at a table. The food was awesome. They had a huge selection and the waiter was awesome. The bean dip they give you when you sit down was fantastic I will stop here again read more

Every time we order is fresh and delicious Mexican dishes, excellent service and drinks. They offer lunch specials and my favorite is the authentic California Burrito with 3 or more choice proteins. Fajitas as great and everything else too. The drinks are perfectly made and with many choice options. I believe they are currently making some "upgrades in the front of the restaurant " but it did not affect any of the services or food we had today. Thank you. read more

Place has gone way down. Home of the $4 sweet tea should be the new name. Quality of the food was poor, the service was poor, and the 7% debit card use was too much to say I'd be back. read more

I stopped by El Paso Mexican Restaurant the other day when I first came into town. I didn't try much of the menu to speak on the whole restaurant. I got the asada burrito, which was decent and snacked on some chips while waiting. They did provide a salsa and a dip that tasted like a cheese dip, which was quite good! read more

I went to lunch with my parents at El Paso today. It has a typical Tex-Mex menu. It's a large restaurant with some fun decor. The salsas were excellent! Absolutely delicious. I had the chicken soup and a chalupa. Both were delicious. The chicken soup was truly excellent. My mom had avocado tacos, which she loved and my dad had a quesadilla, and he liked it very much. The portions were generous and we brought a lot of leftovers home. read more

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Just ate here tonight with my family and I highly recommend this restaurant! Delicious food, super friendly staff, the restaurant was immaculately clean and the food came out very quickly. We were greeted with smiling faces and had chips with salsa and beans as soon as we sat down. We will definitely be back! read more

El Paso Mexican Restaurant - Texas fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

This is a typical Mexican restaurant with a friendly staff and the usual menu items. It is a HUGE restaurant with ample parking in their on-sight lot. Prices are comparable to similar restaurants. To my way of thinking, there is nothing unique to make El Paso stand out among the Mexican restaurants in the area. The food is predictable and well prepared and the facility is clean. read more

This was our go to spot pre-pandemic. They used to have one of the best salsa bars in town. Now they have taken away at least 2 or three items and they now make their salsa so friggin spicy that the average person can't eat it. We eat tons of spicy food but I think they are purposely making their salsa so spicy so nobody eats it. On top of that they are now charging if you want more "mild" salsa. Also they won't let you touch the horse I mean are you really gonna put a beautifully smooth horse right there and not let kids touch it! Screw that I touch the horse every time I go in there it can only get slicker over time. read more

This is the second time I've visited this spot. Not only is the guacamole definitely from a package (no onions/tomatoes/fresh vegs), but the service is poor every time I come here. I've been in hospitality for 15 years and I am floored by how negligent and lazy the service is. I came in at 7:30pm on a Weds evening and they were "out of" all their margaritas. I ended up just getting two shots of patron and a corona light. Just a shame. I lived in Texas for many years and my husband is a executive chef at a Latino restaurant in Asheville, La Rumba, and this place has NOTHING authentic to Mexican or Latino cuisine. Papas & Beer has better food and service. Go there for Tex Mex food. This place is like the McDonald's of Mexican food. Cheap, prepared, and lacking flavor and authenticity. read more

El Paso Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

The service was spot on, efficient and courteous! The food was delicious and came out quickly. I would definitely recommend and will go back when I'm in Hendersonville. read more

We have been there twice. The first time was fantastic food and the second time was a holiday and the food was ok. Maybe the regular cook was not on duty. We will try again. The service was very good and the atmosphere was noisy as many young children were there the second night. read more

Eat here about once a week and always have great food and wonderful service! The best Mexican food in town.

Gone to this location a few times over the years and it's your typical Tex-Mex. This time, they tried to kill me. I specifically asked for no guacamole (allergic reaction) and he brought my taco bowl salad with it. Server noticed it right away and took it back. Rather than remaking it they scraped the visible guac out and brought it back to me. I dug in and unbeknownst to me put a piece of meat covered in avocado juice in my mouth. Within minutes my throat started swelling. I cracked open the shell and sure enough, avocado on the bottom so I pushed the bowl away and didn't take another bite. Stomach and throat swollen all night, but hey, they saved on food costs right? read more

Prices have gone insane for a mediocre Mexican restaurant and beer please ...... $8.50 for a draft bud light. They are completely gauging on prices and it's just an ok place now. Way downhill over the last year or so unless of course you are a huge salt fan. read more

Very disappointed. Have been eating there for a long time. Recently we have noticed a big downturn in quality and a rise in price. $3.89 for tea. If you have two people or four people they only provide two baskets of chips. Any more and they start charging. They also charge for paying with a card. There are many other Mexican restaurants in the area that are much better.They use to be full at lunchtime, today they were only about 25% full. We will not be back. read more

Food quality really went down hill after eating their for 5 years and started to disappoint soon after

The burrito I had was really good! Beer was a little overpriced. But they had a lot of good food options. Good service. Not a very nice restaurant but good place for some Mexican food. read more

This exceeded our expectations. The food was some of the best we've ever had! Since several other restaurants were closed due to NYE, we stumbled into this place. Hubs ordered the shrimp tacos and a side of Chile poblano and I ordered the combination with Chile Poblano & tamale. Everything was soooo fresh and delicious. Loved the salsa bar also. Definitely recommend. Great service too. read more

I ordered takeout from the Hendersonville location on 2/28. I was extremely disappointed with the food. When I arrived ithe food was just sitting out on the front counter. needless to say it was cold. the food itself was soggy and tasteless. I sent an Email to El Paso regarding this and never received a reply. I will definitely be passing on El Paso in the future. read more

We have eaten at El Paso for many years and loved it. The last 4 times though, the food has been awful. Overcooked, salty, burnt, I even had a taco salad with almost no lettuce. It was just a shell with some refried beans and a handful of shredded lettuce. We went back several more times because we thought it was just a temporary thing. It was not. We almost always get our food to go or I'd have sent it back however, I'm not driving back to replace it. There are a few other places we're going to try near our house. Sadly, we aren't going back to El Paso. read more

We've been going to this location since it opened many years ago and have always liked it enough to keep going back. The food is similar to what folks in this area consider authentic. And, for WNC airs better than most. The menu offers a great assortment of most common Mexican dishes including chicken, pork and beef along with soups and sides. The overall restaurant is on the small side making it a bit tight to maneuver. Parking is shared with the attached hotel lot, so there's usually enough spaces. Pricing has gone up over the recent years (along with everything else), so it can get a bit pricey for a large family, whereas it used to be a bargain. read more

El Paso Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

How this place has only three stars is beyond me! Food is awesome! Service is awesome! Menu is GODLY!! If you like AUTHENTIC Mexican food don't even hesitate to swing by and go nuts! I was licking the damn cheese off of my plate! Viva La Mexico!!! read more

Don't get it to go. The guy taking the order was so rude, acted like he was doing me a favor (that he did not want to do), informed me what I could or could not order, and charged me way to much for extra large salsa. It was probably my fault for asking for a larger size than the small cup they usually give. Two lunch meals came to $43.00. read more

Dang good food and super fast service! Super friendly! Highly satisfied A+++++++++++++

The shrimp fajita quesadilla was delicious! Beers were nice and cold. Staff was friendly.

We heard about this place through one of my s/o's coworkers. He told us the authentic food is the best in Hendo. I'd have to agree. Although it seems like a typical Mexican restaurant with the free chips and salsa, there are menu items that you normally don't find in Mexican restaurants because it's a little different for typical Americans. They have several dishes I had never heard of and sever many of them with nopales. We've been twice now and both times I had the same dish Pollo Al Carbon and both times it was exactly the same, which is lovely. It's grilled chicken with grilled nopales, beans, rice, avocado, pico with your choice of corn or flour tortillas. Very good, fresh and relatively healthy. You don't leave feeling terrible from eating a bunch of cheese and sour cream. He had the carnitas last time, it was good, different than what we expect to be carnitas. They are chunks of pork deep fried and not saucy and pulled apart. He also had the Pollo Diablo the first time which had great flavor but was too hot for me. It builds. Both of those came with a nopales salad which is super refreshing. Be careful of the nopales though, I did get a cactus spike in one of mine and it got stuck in my teeth. It wasn't the end of the world and didn't cause damage but just know it can happen. Our service was great both times. My only complaints that aren't super serious are 1.) none of the salsas at the salsa bar are labeled so you can't really compliment them on any in particular because you have no idea what they are. Albeit they're very good and it is so much fun having a salsa bar with THAT many salsas. 2.) they don't tell you to pay up front so if you go in on a slow day and don't know, you're just kind of waiting around until you figure it out since they don't come back. But if anyone reads this, they'll know! read more

Great food! Huge menu, and enough vegetarian options to satisfy our non-meat eaters. Served a bean dip as well as salsa with complimentary chips. Great and varied flavors start to finish. Our new go-to Mexican place here in western NC. read more

Went to this restaurant with a group of my sons friends and their parents by request of my son for his birthday yesterday on 08/09/2022. We had to wait a little bit for everyone to arrive. The two young ladies who were seating guests were rude. The manager came over and sorted things out. We told them to seat us away from other guests because we had middle school age teens. They did not. When the server arrived we tried to explain to him who would be on what ticket and he said we would divide it up when we were finished, we said ok. That did not happen. The food was ok. The tea was not fresh. When it was time to pay out the server never asked who was on what ticket and the majority of us were over charged. The server never asked any of the adults who would be paying fo what, he asked the kids. I went to the manager to sort things out without attitude and was speaking in Spanish. I am not of Mexican decent so my Spanish is a bit different, however, in an extremely condescending manner I was told not to speak to him in Spanish and that he understood English perfectly fine. My goal was to have a private conversation with the man as not to embarrass him or our server. Now I am a bit ticked off at this point. So I say ok and just pay my over $70 ticket and walk away. I am guessing he didn't realize that I understand Spanish very well (even Mexican dialect) and made a comment to the two rude young ladies at the door that I was loud and boorish. I was seething at that point. I said nothing at this point. I am loud simply because I am hearing impaired. I got my friends and our kids and we left. As we were walking out the door in another very condescending tone he said bye and to have a nice day. The two at the door said nothing. We payed that restaurant good money yesterday and were treated like utter trash. Most of us didn't tip our server due to the horrible service. You don't ever ask kids about the bills when adults are sitting at the other end of the table and you definitely don't be rude and condescending to the people that are paying you and make comments behind their backs. This was borderline racist behavior and we will not be coming back to this place ever, not to mention that some of these kids that were there are of Hispanic heritage (biracial or whatever you want to call it.) What a horrible way to treat them and horrible example to set for all the kids sitting there. All of the adults at our table are shocked and embarrassed for you. read more

We have eaten at El Paso several times and were satisfied with what it was. However, most recently we both agreed that my cheese enchilada and her chicken quesadilla were nearly too salty to eat. Thinking I was being helpful, I mentioned our opinion while paying the bill. The gentleman at the register took offense and declared that they never ever add salt. Wrong answer. We might have given them another chance with a simple gracious "thank you for letting us know." read more

This place is overpriced and gross. By far the worst Mexican food I've ever eaten. The guacamole tasted of chemicals and definitely not fresh. The fish tacos were frozen, tough, and one was completely scorched on one side. I explained to our server and she suggested I mention it to the man at the counter. He asked how everything was and I explained it wasn't good but he said nothing in response. No sorry or anything, and even called her over to talk about it, but in Spanish. She told him the exact same thing that I had told both of them. Rude. Gross. Won't ever go back. read more