El Paso

(From November 2010) Owner and Beijing native Haixiao Li opened her first El Paso restaurant, Moon Day, in 2001. This cafe is a new addition to her portfolio, offering a menu of Chinese-style dishes that are extra fresh, easy on the budget, and perfect for those on the go. The shrimp roll is a great way to start, its rice paper wrap stuffed with shrimp, vegetables, and noodles; it comes with tempura vegetables and dipping sauce. For an entrée, try the spicy citrus beef; the meat is lightly breaded, sautéed, and topped with a not-too-sweet orange sauce. Vegetarians will love the egg fried rice.

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(From February 2011) Tucked away in the Segundo Barrio district, this quaint cafe is set up in what was once a home, and the personal touches reflect the building’s previous life. Fresh and organic is the theme, with the menu focusing on healthy Mexican and American food. Crispy chicken tacos fried in olive oil offer a blend of toasty chicken and crunchy lettuce. Cheese enchiladas are nongreasy and richly flavored by the smooth, tomatoey red sauce. Plating is an art form here—the food is almost too pretty to eat. BYOB.

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(From June 2011) Across the street from UTEP, this quaint spot offers indoor and outdoor dining. In-side, paneling decorated with carved wooden headboards set end to end makes for an arty atmosphere. Start with the crab nachos, a beautiful plating of lump blue crab, mango, avocado, red onion, and jalapeño on homemade wontons. For a hearty entrée, the Chihuahua pasta, penne topped with a tomato-chorizo sauce and tossed with steak, jalapeño sausage, and queso fresco, hits all the right notes. Beer & wine.

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(From January 2011) The owner of the newest West Side cafe resembles former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson and fries anything from the ham that’s tucked into the club sandwich to flour tortilla–wrapped Her-shey bar “chimichangas.” If you lean toward the traditional, try the Philly cheesesteak: thinly sliced lean beef with a smoky, garlicky flavor blending with grilled onions, peppers, and loads of melted jack cheese. Flat-screen TVs, wood paneling, and comfy tables make this a good gathering spot for televised sporting events. BYOB.

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(From June 2011) Bright and open, the dining room, complete with a large portrait of chef-owner Sai Pituk painted right on the wall, could be a back-drop for a Food Network program. A shift in direction for the ambitious owner of Tara Thai, the American comfort food is as rich (in a good way) as the room is airy. Appetizers feature such treats as fried green tomatoes, chicken-fried bacon, and sausage gravy, while entrées run the gamut from the “Kitchen Sink” burger to fried chicken and waffles. Beer & wine.

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(From January 2012)

An offshoot of the Magic Pan on Doniphan, the Pan serves a big, fancy Sunday brunch. No buffet line here, just delicacies like spicy chipotle eggs Benedict with thick-sliced bacon and potato hash, steak and eggs cooked any way you like, and made-to-order omelets. There are also yogurt-and-granola combos, for smaller appetites. Eating in the warm copper-colored bar is especially nice on a cool Sunday afternoon.

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Photograph by Les

(From October 2011)

El Paso’s newest barbecue joint is tiny but bright, with kelly green walls and red-topped bar stools. A pleasant smoky scent permeates the room, where friendly staffers serve up piles of meat; the chunky, well-balanced sausage is unlike any other in the city. Don’t miss the brisket-stuffed, bacon-wrapped smoked jalapeños. Beer & Wine.

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(From March 2011) Located on Fort Bliss and open to the public, this authentic biergarten is owned and operated by the German Air Force, which imports all manner of foodstuffs straight from the fatherland. Warm, filling sustenance can be found in a plate of tender beef rouladen or wiener schnitzel, pounded thin and lightly fried, with lemon wedges on the side. But the German sausage plate wins top prize in our book. And the beer selection is unmatched anywhere in the country, as many, if not most, of the beers are available only here (and in Germany, of course). Although the casual dining room is rather utilitarian, the patio is outfitted with lawn furniture, a few awnings, and desert plants. The variety of customers provides most of the atmosphere. Bar. Enter Fort Bliss at Biggs Gate (Airway & Geronimo); show the guard your vehicle registration and insurance, as well as government-issued IDs (this is a military base, folks, but the food is worth the hassle)

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(From November 2011)

Bright and airy, this new Italian cafe features Sicilian-style cooking (and they make their sausage in-house!). For a light appetizer try the margherita pizza, with its papery-thin crust, fresh tomato sauce, and dollops of mozzarella. Pasta is made fresh daily, but the star is the veal limone, the meat delicately sautéed and topped with a not-too-tart lemon sauce. Be sure to leave room for the homemade gelato. BYOB.

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(From March 2011) As if the fresh house-made pasta dishes weren’t enough (cannelloni al forno, agnolotti dal plin), new menu items and the return of chef Cosimo Battaglia’s famous six-hour osso buco make this trendy Italian restaurant the place to be on chilly evenings. And the warm wood floors, white tablecloths, and fresh flowers only enhance the beautifully plated food. We loved the gnocchi topped with mari-nara and finished off in the oven, a nice twist on the classic. Bar.

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