El Jacalito - Las Cruces

Incredible food and service. Dine in or carry out, this one of Las Cruces' best Mexican food restaurants.

We live close so it is a regular stop for our family. Besides the convenience factor, however, we would go for the food and service alone. I have not tried everything because I tend to stick with my faves, but everything I have tried is delicious. Surprisingly their burgers are a must have! They have an amazing burger menu and they are fabulous. The service is amazing and the guys are super courteous. One recommendation, call in your to go orders if you are picking up at the drive thru. It could save you time.

DON 'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!  <br/ <br/ EL JACALITO RANKS NUMBER NINE (9 OUT OF ALMOST SIXTY MEXICAN RESTAURANTS  ON THE 2017 MR. SENSITIVE LIST OF THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN THIS AREA FOR THE TOTAL DINING EXPERIENCE. BUT.........ITS FOOD IS AMONG THE BEST!<br/ ..<br/ ..<br/ NICE LITTLE MEXICAN RESTAURANT WITH EXCELLENT FOOD AT GREAT PRICES.......DON 'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.  THEIR FOOD RANKS IN THE TOP FIVE OR SIX AROUND TOWN FOR THE QUALITY OF THE MEXICAN FOOD. THEY DO OFFER OTHER DISHES AS WELL. <br/ <br/ AS OF 2017 I NOW RATE THIS LITTLE BISTRO 'FOUR-AND-A-HALF STARS ' FOR THE TOTAL DINING EXPERIENCE.....MEANING VERY, VERY GOOD!<br/ <br/ ...And, don 't pay attention to a couple nut-jobs on the bitching site called 'Yelp ' who state that this place gets good reviews because it is close to the university and college kids don 't know good food. I have dined at El Jacalito many times and usually don 't see college kids in there. It is a good mile-and-a-half  or two miles from campus. <br/ <br/ UPDATE: Stopped in at El Jacalito in June 2017. The RED CHILE MEAT GORDITAS were outstanding. If these are not the best in Las Cruces they have to be in the top two or three. They were packed with delicious pork chunks steeped in a great red chile sauce. Rate them an 'A. ' Also had a couple CARNE ASADA TACOS........also delicious. Rate them an 'A-. ' The rice and beans that came on the gordita plate were the norm for around here. The chips were fine and the salsa high on the heat level today.  Great lunch at a great price. YOU PROBABLY CAN 'T GET ANY BETTER MEXICAN FOOD AROUND HERE FOR THE MONEY.  <br/ <br/ BOTTOM LINE: WILL I RETURN TO DINE? OF COURSE.....AND OFTEN!<br/ <br/ FEBRUARY 2017......stopped in and tried their GREEN CHILE BURGER PATTY MELT which came with fries. The fries were deep fried until slightly dark. They were a little greasy and quite heavily seasoned. These were very flavorful fries. They seemed a tad salty (these guys seem to over-salt their food sometimes but I didn 't mind. Some folks might not like quite that much salt. Good fries....rate them a B to B+. <br/ <br/ The burger came on toasted sourdough bread with lots of grilled onions, some tomato, and green chile with a nice bit of melted cheese.  This was a good burger.....but not a great one. I enjoyed it but rate it a B+. The price for the meal was outstanding........the food at El Jacalito is clearly among the best buys in town! <br/ <br/ Prior to the meal they served up their salsa and chips. The chips were just ok....rate a B-. The salsa seemed like a version of salsa verde. It was quite spicy and had good flavor. Today 's salsa rates a B+. <br/ <br/ Earlier reviews appear below:<br/ <br/ Stopped in and ordered an al pastor burrito smothered in red chile sauce and a gordita with red chile con carne. THE GORDITA IS THE BEST IN LAS CRUCES. The red chile meat and sauce was superb. The gordita shell was flavorful and not greasy. Really good stufff! Rate it an 'A. ' <br/ <br/   The large burrito was filled with strips and small chunks of pork and lots of grilled onions. The onions made it real flavorful. The pork al pastor was good but not great. I did not care that much for the taste of the red suace it was bathed in. Overall, a real good burrito for the money but not an exceptional one. Rate it a 'B ' to a 'B+. '  <br/ <br/ The chips today were pale white and thin. They were just ok....nothing great. The salsa was a little watery, had a little heat and a little flavor. Not good salsa but not bad either. Rate the chips a C+ and the salsa today a B-. Not the stuff of legend. It seems that the salsa at El Jacalito is a work in progress. <br/ <br/ The restaurant was bright and clean today and the service real friendly and accommodating as usual.  <br/ <br/ AUGUST 2016.......had the carne asada burrito.....great flavor...and the SHRIMP FAJITA PLATE. The shrimp fajitas were very good.........rate them a B+. This is not your typical fajita seasoning, you know, the kind you get in grocery store packets loaded with cumin. Mucho flavor.  PRICES HERE CAN 'T BE BEAT.......TERRIFIC BUY FOR THE BUCK! <br/ <br/ March 2016 stopped in again for their gordita plate. The chips were good and the salsa very good. The refried  beans on the plate were ok....about a B. The rice was the usual for around town. The gorditas were excellent....nice flavor and not greasy. The green chile con carne was very good (B to B+ . The RED CHILE GORDITAS WERE OUTSTANDING....SOME OF THE VERY BEST AROUND TOWN. RATE THEM AN 'A. ' GOOD STUFF!!!<br/ <br/ ALSO ORDERED THEIR CARNE ASADA BURRITO; WITH GRILLED ONIONS AND A LITTLE CILANTRO AND TOMATO THIS WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD BURRITO. TASTY! RATE IT AN 'A-. ' <br/ <br/ For the cost.....the food at El Jacalito can 't be beat.  <br/ <br/ In April 2016 I tried their red chile bathed burrito. It was really good. Rate it a B+. It is not at the top of the list for Las Cruces but it is very good. Also sampled their enchilada plate with three chicken enchiladas. UNFORTUNATELY i DID NOT CARE FOR THE GREEN ENCHILADA SAUCE. THE ENCHILADAS TASTED SOMEWHAT STRANGE. I WOULD NOT ORDER THEM AGAIN. Rate them a 'C. ' This is the only dish I 've experienced at El Jacalito that I did not care for. <br/ <br/ ....On the positive side, the salsa this day had good heat and flavor. it was improved over salsas in the past. Today I rate it a solid 'B+. '  <br/ <br/ October 2015....stopped in and ordered the gordita plate. MANY MEXICAN RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN DO 'NOT ' SERVE GORDITAS. OF THOSE THAT DO VERY FEW SERVE GORDITAS WITH CHILE CON CARNE IN THEM; MOST JUST STUFF THEM WITH GROUND BEEF. El Jacalito serves their gorditas with chile con carne with bits of potato. I found the rice today to be mediocre....nothing special.  The beans were ok...rate them a B. The gorditas were prepared well and not at all greasy. The shells had a nice flavor. The gorditas were stuffed with meat. The green chile was good....about a B to B+. The red chile gorditas were exceptional. Delicious! Rate them an A-. THE RED CHILE MEAT GORDITAS ARE CLEARLY AMONG THE BEST IN TOWN. GOOD STUFF!  <br/ <br/ Don 't judge a book by its cover! UPDATE July 2015   Stopped in and ordered the daily special; two pork chops, rice, beans, and two enchiladas.....all for $8.25!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing deal....came with chips and salsa. THE SALSA SEEMED IMPROVED. IT WAS SPICY AND HAD GOOD FLAVOR WITH SOME BODY TO IT. THIS WAS REALLY GOOD SALSA. GOOD WORK GUYS. The pork chops were thin but deliciously seasoned and very tasty (although a tad too salty . The refried beans were pretty good and the rice just so-so. The rolled enchiladas had a fair amount of cheese inside and good flavor. The green sauce on one was pretty good but the red sauce on the other was just ok. All-in-all, this was a really good little meal and a fantastic deal for $8.25. These guys really know how to season food!Also ordered a BEEF ALA PARRILLA TACO to see if was as good as I remembered. It was. The beef was tender and delicious. This is easily one of the best tacos in town. Good stuff. 'A ' quality. These guys know what they 're doing.   <br/ <br/ Update October 2014<br/ <br/ Stopped in to try the famous MEX BURGER. Ya 'll need to experience this now. Its inspiration is the tradition among many families over in Juarez which load up the burger with all kinds of good stuff. For $7.50 the Mex Burger (which comes with fries is probably the GREATEST FOOD DEAL IN ALL OF LAS CRUCES. And, if you dine in you get salsa and chips free. Can 't beat it. <br/ <br/ My burger came with a knife which was needed. The immediate challenge was how to approach...or should I say attack...this monster. I opted to cut it in several pieces as it was simply too big to hold and consume in your hands in the usual manner. It came with a pickle on the side of the plate and a bunch of French fries. The fries were ok.....nothing remarkable. Rate them a B- to a B. <br/ <br/ The MEX BURGER had a nice bun heated on the grill. Inside there was a sizable beef patty nicely seasoned. It also included some hot dogs cut open and grilled and laid across the burger patty. These dogs had some good flavor. A grilled slice of HAM and some crispy, good quality BACON were also included. Slices of avocado, lots of shredded lettuce, some slices of onion, lots of cheese, and some slices of tomato were also present. The flavor combination was nothing short of amazing. <br/ <br/ While I found the burger patty itself a little dry and not quite as juicy as it might have been....it was nicely seasoned. At the end of the day....this burger is a meal in itself and a terrific deal for the money. Rate the MEX BURGER an A- for excellent. Clearly this is one of the better burgers in Cruces. The combination of flavors is unique. <br/ <br/ The young man working the front of the restaurant was as pleasant and convivial as usual. <br/ <br/ Also in October Mr. Sensitive stopped in to sample the GORDITAS stuffed with chile con carne pork and the TACOS ALA PARRILLA. Here 's how it all went down:<br/ <br/ Service once again very friendly.<br/ <br/ The chips were just ok. The salsa as before was watery and lacking flavor. Rate the salsa a C-. I am not a fan. But.....the remainder of the meal was excellent. (IN 2015-2016 THE SALSA HAS IMPROVED. IT IS NOW VERY GOOD! But, in 2017 it seems that it has reverted to the earlier watery version?????? Go figure. <br/ <br/ The tacos carne ala parrilla (meaning 'grilled ' were simply EXCEPTIONAL. Plenty of highly seasoned grilled beef arrived on a soft corn tortilla with grilled onions, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and a slice of lime to squeeze over your tacos. The flavor of the beef was nothing short of amazing. THESE WERE SOME OF THE BEST TACOS I 'VE EVER TASTED. Rate these tacos an 'A. ' Excellent. <br/ <br/ The gordita plate arrived with rice and beans and three gorditas (yes, three! . The rice and beans were better than average. The gorditas were done nicely, had a nice flavor, and were not at all greasy.The red chile con carne included potato chunks along with the flavorful and tender pork. Lettuce and tomatoes rounded them off. The red chile had a little more flavor and the green chile with potatoes (ordered in one of the three gorditas was higher on the heat level: actually pretty spicy. These were very good gorditas.....rate them between a B+ and A-. Good stuff. (I preferred the red. <br/ <br/ BASED ON THE HIGH LEVEL OF CUISINE I experienced this day I have raised the overall rating of El Jacalito from 23 to 16th in the area. In all honesty the food quality for Mexican food and burgers is in the top five to ten around town. Most of the meals I 've had here have been graded out between B+ and an A. <br/ <br/ As of October 2015 I 've increased the rating of the restaurant to FOUR-AND-A-HALF STARS. Some of the best Mexican food around these parts can be found right here in this little shack. <br/ <br/ And ohhhh yeah.....the prices here are amazing...some of the best food for the buck to be found. <br/ <br/ Original review follows: <br/ <br/ El Jacalito has been open around nine months next door to Pizza Hut on Missouri Ave. This restaurant caters to a lot of Mexican or Hispanic workingmen. Don 't let the unprepossessing exterior fool you as you drive by. While the little bistro is very small inside it is also much nicer than you would expect from viewing the restaurant from the outside. Inside there are about six tables....all attractive wood, finished nicely and not crowded too close to each other. The place is clean, well organized, and full of light. You place your order at the counter and the gentleman handling the front of the house will bring your food to the table. (IN 2016-2017 THEY HAVE CHANGED THIS AND NOW TAKE YOUR ORDER AT THE TABLE AND BRING YOU CHIPS AND SALSA This little Mexican bistro is just fine for casual dining. Rate the ambiance about a B to a B-. But, I do believe a lot of their business is through the drive-thru.<br/ <br/ I found the staff to be very friendly and accommodating. The gentleman who takes your orders and handles the customer relations out front is a particularly gregarious and pleasant individual. Rate the service at El Jacalito a solid 'B '......quite good for this kind of restaurant. Very pleasant and friendly.<br/ <br/ The menu is surprisingly broad. They serve a variety of breakfast burritos, eggs and hash browns, huevos rancheros, smothered or plain burritos, quesadillas, and numerous lunch plates featuring enchiladas, al pastor and chicken tacos, gorditas, and chile rellenos. Burgers with fries are also available. The prices are very reasonable with most items or dishes going for $3.00-7.00. <br/ <br/ While I was waiting my meal the gentleman out front brought me some chips and salsa. The chips were o.k. but I found the salsa a little watery and weak. Not great salsa. Rate it a C-. <br/ <br/ I sampled their green chile meat burrito (the gold standard of New Mex cuisine . Unlike most other places in the area it was made with pork (which is fine with me as I am a pork lover . It contained chunks of potato and it was fairly high on the heat scale....but not too high. The flavor overall was fairly good, but this was not an exceptional burrito. A good one, but not great. It could have used more and larger chunks of green chile. Rate it a B. <br/ <br/ I also sampled their pork al pastor burrito since I love al pastor. The burrito contained diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, grilled onions, and cilantro. This was a very good burrito. The meat was fairly tender and had a nice flavor. But, at the end of the day, this was not the best al pastor around these parts. Very good, but not exceptional. Rate this meal a B+. <br/ <br/ So, I came away from my venture to El Jacalito somewhat impressed. The place was nicer inside than I envisioned, the people friendly, and the food very good; except for the sub par salsa the food was in the B to B+ range. There is certainly a good deal for the money to be found here. <br/ <br/ Rate the overall dining experience FOUR STARS...... meaning quite good. Nice, friendly little place for a quick meal. I believe that this little bistro belongs in the top twenty among the Mexican restaurants in the area. (Placing it in the top 1/3 But remember.......this is a place meant for casual dining only. This fairly high rating among the Mexican bistro 's in town results primarily from the quality of the food. <br/ <br/ (Oh, by the way, the best translation I can provide for 'el jacalito ' is 'little shack ' or 'little hut. ' <br/ <br/ BOTTOM LINE: WILL I RETURN? YES, OF COURSE......FRIENDLY LITTLE PLACE WITH GOOD FOOD.

This place is so good I went back twice in the same day my first time there . Steak fries with amazing surprising flavor in the stake it was really amazing and then the dinner the hamburger was absolutely the best in town! If you get this place for takeout it's the best takeout in town for sure!

We loved everything!!!! The burgers were amazing as was my son's evening breakfast platter! Great place with great service