Chope's Bar & Cafe

Chope’s Bar & Cafe is a must-stop if you’re anywhere near La Mesa. The food is classic New Mexican comfort food done right — hearty portions, bold flavors, and everything comes out hot and fresh. The chile is rich and flavorful without being overpowering, and the plates are generously loaded. The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming, with that old-school charm that makes the place feel authentic rather than touristy. Service was friendly and efficient, and you can tell this is a local favorite for a reason. Whether you’re grabbing a meal or stopping by for a drink, Chope’s delivers great food, solid cocktails, and a relaxed vibe. Definitely worth the drive — I’ll be back

I've lived here my whole life and somehow had never heard of this place. I wish I had discovered this place sooner and I will definitely be back. The history is amazing and they love to tell their story. You can tell that the place used to be someone's house. Its so unique and cute, but most of all tasty!!! Everything our table got was delicious! And our server was super friendly.

This place is soooooo good. We've been here many a times. And all their food is scrumdidilyumptious. Today we came for their $1.50 tacos on Taco Thursday. They were amazing. I had 2 red, 2 green, 2 chicken, and 1 beef. And let me tell you, finger lickin' good. Its definitely worth the drive to visit this wonderful and historic place.

Taco and Chile relleno were great. Enchiladas weren't spicy at all and I like them spicy. Over all great taste. Would order again and hope for spicy.

I grew up in the area, but had never been to Chope's. I have a few friends that tend to post when they stop in for a visit. I decided to try Chope's for the first time. I was not disappointed at all. The food was very fresh and perfectly seasoned. I now see why so many people like to post about it on fb. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

What a great place. It's easy to find in La Mesa and has great parking. The food is fantastic, especially the chili relleno. This has to be one of the best in all my travels. The price is fair, the service is great and the food... just wow. Enjoy your visit and make the time to drop in.

I ordered the chile Colorado, it tasted good. I paid for it later. I had food poisoning, not a Plesant experience. It lasted until 3:30 in the morning. Don’t know if it was the meat or the lard. That is the only thing I had to eat. It is a cool place to sit at the bar and have a drink.

It's a typical bar atmosphere, a little loud, the servers are nice and usually pretty quick. Some of the menu items are pretty good, the rellenos are yummy with good flavor and a good amount of breading, The enchiladas and tacos are tasty. The rest of the food is just decent.

Chope's in Las Cruces, New Mexico is such a special find -- a cute, family-owned spot with the sweetest story. The restaurant is actually their original home turned into a restaurant, which makes the whole experience feel extra personal and charming. You can feel the history the moment you walk in. Service was laid-back and cool. I had to try a little of everything, so I ordered the dinner plate with a green chicken enchilada, red beef enchilada, chile relleno, and a chicken taco. Every single bite was packed with flavor and absolutely spicy and delicious. They start you off with chips and salsa, and let me tell you -- that salsa is spicy and so good! The chips were perfect, and the heat had us washing it down with a cold beer. Not a single person at our table was disappointed -- everyone loved their meal. It's easy to see why Chope's has been in business for so many years. Authentic, flavorful food, a welcoming atmosphere, and a story that makes you appreciate every bite. A must-stop if you're in Las Cruces!

Good food, friendly service and cold drinks. Good place to hangout and relax. Bar area is separate from a dining experience.

This place has been a favorite of mine for many years and they still don't disappoint! Love the atmosphere of a New Mexican home and the staff and owners are so welcoming and service-oriented! Food as always was delicious! I had the combo #2 with crispy tacos and enchilada, relleno, rice and beans! Lots of food and tasty! My husband loves the red enchilada plate with ac over easy egg, yummy! Top it off with a great Mexican beer or a Margarita!

As folks already know, this is one of my "top 20" restaurants on the planet. See my previous review. Always enjoy the food and atmosphere. I choose to sit on the bar side but others might prefer the restaurant side. Enjoy the photos. Not much new to add. I think the restaurants have been renovated since last time I was there. Customers seem to be a higher percentage of tourists than when I started coming there in 1995. But the food is still top notch. Highly recommend, of course.

Excellent food! Tried out the restaurant section of Chope's as I have been to the bar part previously. Food is always well prepared and gives you the comfort food you're searching for. Server was super sweet as she was very busy serving the majority of the tables in the restaurant. I had the taco salad with chicken and it hit the spot. Restaurant is in a separate building from the bar. Both serve food and both are worth a visit!

We are on a mission to find the best Chili Rellenos in the area. Was told Chopes is very good. Their Rellenos are very good. Their chips and salsa are very delicious as well. We went to the bar Instead of the restaurant. Next time probably the restaurant the bar was pretty loud. Service was friendly. Delicious food. Our wife's had the taco salad they enjoyed them.

The best most authentic Mexican food I've had. The ambiance is cute & inside an old home. I got the combo plate #3 which came with 2 enchiladas, a taco, & I subbed the relleno with a tamale. Everything was delicious & at a great price. Service is fast & friendly. Would recommend to anyone!

Amazing food in a local family owned restaurant over a 100 years old! This place is an institution. It has incredible homemade chops and salsa and tamales, tacos, enchiladas and chile rellenos. They have a bar and a restaurant side by side in an old house. It was hoppin with locals and tourists who come from near and far for amazing, fresh food served with love. Definitely a place to seek out!

Incredible Hatch green chile melt in your mouth with loads of flavor -- chile rellenos!

Holy cow. Taco Thursday is not to be missed. Beef or chicken tacos, crispy or soft, for $1.50/each? Yes please. Also love the bean, chile rellanos, and that amazing queso w tortillas. And the staff? Beyond delightful. Take a drive through the pecan fields and do it.

Chope's is a family bar and café with history in La Mesa. No frills facility with food full of flavor and tradition. We chose to eat in the bar area during lunch time. Service was a little slow and we weren't told until it was time to pay that the computer system was down so we had to go across the street to the gas station to get cash from that ATM to pay. Food was still incredible. The gordita was stuffed and plentiful and the chile relleno was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of spice. Just like the sign outside says, "Stuff it!' We were stuffed when we left.

This place has been a family go-to for more than 50 years. The restaurant is inside the Benavides home and they treat you like family. Rellenos are the standard but everything is great.

They have the best red chile. Good service. Quiet little hole in the wall place that's worth the drive.

I was so disappointed. Chope's was a favorite place of ours to eat, but after going today we will not be going back. I don't know what happened but something happened because the food was terrible. Anything with cheese was literally stuck to the plate. The salsa and the food in general needed seasoning. Oh and I don't know who is making the sopapillas, but they are nothing more than Indian Fry Bread, not Mexican Sopapillas. It has been a year since I've been there, so I don't know who is running it, but the best advice I could give, if you have to drive more than 10 minutes to get there, DON'T GO. It will be a disappointment.

Fantastic! Food was delicious and service was great! Loved the atmosphere. Met some wonderful people while there. Can't wait to return !

Five stars all around. Great service, great atmosphere and some of the best Mexican food we have ever had.

6 years later and still the best enchiladas and salsa in the area. The green enchiladas are the best I have ever had. Chips are so fresh. Salsa is the perfect combination of flavor and heat.

How sad they turn away customers who arrived at 5 when both door and internet advertising sats they close at 6 on a Sunday. We had just finished our meal and felt so badly for people who had driven a ways for a nice meal!

Great food in the past, but was disappointed in the rellanos. They seemed precooked & were not hot with either heat or spiciness. Yummy tacos if you like ground beef, though. The enchiladas were great and red sauce VERY good. They make excellent rice & beans. The sopapillas are heavenly. I eat here every chance I get when visiting LC. Recommend heating the hot platters a little more. They were pleasantly mark, but not hot.

We are locals and have such high standards for Mexican food in our community. We had not been to Chopes in a few years . We all were delighted.with the authenticity of the delishious food and excellent service. The food couldn't have been better, just like the locals prepare it at home . Such a warm and friendly atmosphere. We highly recommend it !!

After hearing many good things about this place I was pretty disappointed by the food. Service was average, beer was beer. Right now you have to go outside to use a portable toilet trailer for the bathroom. I know this place has a ton of history and is still family owned, but it might be time for them to put a bit of thought into reinventing the food. Or at least improving it some.

I had the rare opportunity to visit Chopes while on a business trip to El Paso. It was a 40 minute drive to La Mesa NM and 50 to the airport. I arrived 2 hours before they started serving dinner. I had a choice to make... wait 2 hours or head back thinking about one of the only chances I may have in years to eat at Chopes. I waited. HECK YEAH IT WAS WORTH IT!!!! In fact I had the number 4 with a Rellano. One taco, one red and One green enchilada and one hatch green chili rellano. It's hard to say which one of these delicacies was the best. Honestly this may be the BEST Mexican food on the planet. And I've had it from california, to Arizona, NM and Texas. I used to come to Chopes while I was in college in the early to mid 80's at NMSU. It will forever hold a place in my heart for simply being the best. Period. End of story.

Restaurant is closed Sundays. Ever since the grandkids took over and post pandemic their hours have been flaky at best. Showed up Sunday at noon, restaurant is closed. Bar open but don't want to eat in there. At least 2 other families showed up looking for restaurant. The sign out front says restaurant open Thursday to Sunday at noon. I'm a third generation customer, my parents knew chope and lupe. Was best food while open but since they're never open reliably it's useless to keep coming down. At least post the right hours. If restaurant is Thursday to Saturday, fine, then advertise that and stick to it. On one hand would hate to see it closed permanently but hopefully someday they start running it again the way chope and lupe did. Nice ambiance when it's open.

We have been coming here since our college days 34 years ago! The food, service and cozy atmosphere are wonderful. Some of the most authentic Mexican food you will get here in NM. This is a must try and worth the short drive to La Mesa.

I happen to pawn this age old family style restaurant while traveling through New Mexico. It's just so happened. We visited during taco Thursday. Being in native Arizona and I've never seen red chili or green chili tacos. Of course I had to try them and they were wonderful love the red chili.Chile rellano and tamales are small, but very tasty and two thumbs up.

Always great food! Wonderful staff! Chope's is a must stop every time we are in town.

The tacos are best in LC!! The crowd is as integrated and diverse as you could imagine. You get there driving by and see a full parking lot you know it's a good spot. Service is friendly and actively making sure your taken care of.

They have really good Chile rellenos here! I like their customer service, it's like a family atmosphere. Everyone is friendly and they make you feel welcome as soon as you walk in.

Restaurant review here: I'm not gonna dis on Chopes because they have hit and miss service. They do, but they hit it more than they miss it. So don't be upset if one time you wait 50 minutes for your meal and the next you get it super fast. I happens. Just be aware. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday. $1 for some really great tacos. Unlike some places with their taco specials, Chopes doesn't fill the shell with beans or filler like lettuce. They fill the crispy shell with lovely, tender well seasoned ground meat. Be aware $1 taco Tuesday is a day they get very very busy and you might experience that "miss" in service. If you are a taco salad person...their chicken taco salads are HUGE. Take half home for later. I like their red sauce better than their green. I know I know...it's one of the few places in New Mexico where I like the red more than the green. But either here are great. Get a Christmas and you decide. The chips are normally fresh and house made. The salsa served with them is sneak up on you hot. So wait til you have your water or beer or margarita before you start noshing those. My only complaint about here is the chile con queso. It was a bowl of green chile sauce with a little cheese. A very little amount of stringy cheese. It is NOT what you are likely expecting. And it was impossible to dip or spoon out for the tacos. So just skip it. Unless you bring it home like I did and mix it with some eggs the next morning! This is a third generation family run lovely little oasis in the middle of a tiny town. A gem of the Southwest! Be sure to check the hours. They are open at lunch and dinner only.

This is one-of-a-kind excellence! Go in and make some friends, eat some out-of-this-world New Mexican food, and drink some inexpensive beers. Everyone who's lived in Cruces misses Chope's when they move away. It's open again and better than ever. Wear your big kid pants and bring your taste for real New Mexican food.

Chope's is the Mecca of New Mexican styled food. Everyone has to go at least once. It's a bucket list adventure. The restaurant hours have not been consistent in the past few years, but you can get food in the bar

Chope's opens for evenings at 5:30 and at 5:35 was packed. Packed I'm telling you. The drinks were flowing and on Taco Tuesday the 5 or so different kinds of $1 tacos were already at almost every seat. We settled for the bar and ordered 3 tacos and combo #5. A taco, enchilada and relleno with rice and beans. It was perfect. Considering how many people flood the place, the 4 servers did a great job. We were served quickly and got exactly what we ordered. The loud conversations, laughter and the "no biker colors" sign on the front door give it the perfect "dive" bar atmosphere. It had been many many years since my last visit but still felt like home. The drive through the pecan orchards on our way was beautiful. This is a must visit place for any visit to the area.

See my review below for more detail. The food here is above average at best....nothing exceptional as so many uninformed people would have you believe. If you go far out of your way to dine here you are probably going to be let down. Sorry folks but this is not Mexican food nirvana. The food is a bit above average at best. The environment and service leave something to be desired. Don't fall for the hype!

I can't rate the food as we had the same experience as Dorothy A. Visiting the area and this place was recommended as a must visit. Drove 30 minutes on a Wednesday, as Yelp said it was open but it was closed. Maybe next time.

Amazing food. Hospitality is amazing. Food is a lot. I would be there everyday if I could.

We have eaten at Chope's since we attended school at NMSU in the 1970's. Returning today and having the absolute best Chile rellenos ever and tamales better than any others was awesome. A special treat was having the original Chope's family in the restaurant and sharing stories with them.

The best Mexican food on the planet so shut up. They're known for their red enchilada sauce. But the Relleno's will remind you of how good they tasted when you're abuella first introduced you to them. This is the third generation of family to have served in this restaurant. It is an institution. Say hello for me when you get there.

This place has got to get it together. New owners obviously can't use social media. Said it was open Tuesday through Saturday on their Facebook page but drive 30 minutes out on a Wednesday to find out nope not open. New hours are Thursday through Sunday noon to close. We called before we left but no machine saying hours. Total bummer.

I have reviewed Chope's before and i will do it again to correct the very few negative reviews below. I started eating at Chope's in 1968 and the food is as good today as it was back then. BEST CHILE RELLENOS ON PLANET EARTH! And if you don't like chile rellenos, you can't go wrong with the rest of the menu. Chope's has a HUGE following in the Borderlands, so if you want to eat a peak times, be prepared to wait. Otherwise get there early. Have a couple of beers in the bar next door, and you can eat in the bar if you like. This is a family owned business, the food is made to order and fresh, so relax and enjoy the experience.

We are super disappointed. We moved to Dallas, are visiting El Paso, and decided to make the drive to Chope's since it used to be our favorite place when we were in college. Their hours of operation state that they are open until 6 p.m. on Sunday, there's a sign outside stating they are open until 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. We arrived at 5:30 and the doors of the restaurant are locked. We were told by an employee of the bar next door that we should have arrived earlier.

Horrendous (that means terrible) service. We did not mind waiting to be seated. Waiting to be seated is expected at a busy restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night in option starved southern NM. However, waiting another 30 minutes after being seated and watching parties who arrived after you have their orders taken and drinks served is unacceptable. One of the wait staff had the audacity to ask if we were leaving once we decided enough was enough and when we got up to leave. Here is some advise for Chopes staff (pay special attention to #2) 3 Ways to Deliver Excellent Customer Service at Your Restaurant 1. Do It Right From the Start While food quality is incredibly important, it is the experience diners have from the minute they walk in the door to the minute they exit that counts. Restaurants should remember to keep the customer's needs at the forefront of every dining experience. Here are a few tips for accomplishing this: Speak Appropriately Greet your diners the minute they walk in the door. Use respectful titles - sir, ma'am and miss work well. Don't interrupt. Listen intently and pay attention to what they want. Be thoroughly versed on your menu. Ask questions and repeat their orders to make sure you get it right. Etiquette Matters Never make diners feel like you want them to leave. The server's tip is not more important than the diners' comfort. Don't make your diners ask for the check. Clear plates, bring the check and process it in a timely manner. 2. Don't Make Them Wait If your diners have to wait too long for their first round of drinks, appetizer or meal, it really won't matter to them that your bartender makes the best martini or the chef prepared the best steak. Your diner is already irritated and hungry. You can call this the negative turning point. Remember that it can be hard to win back your disappointed customer. Avoid disappointing them at all costs. Make sure you have enough staff on hand so they never have to wait too long. If your diner orders a meal that takes a bit longer to cook, let them know in advance. Be forthcoming and informative. You've probably heard the term speed of service. You might even have a speed of service goal built into your policies. Speed of service is vital to a good dining experience no matter your restaurant type. Your diners probably have expectations about how long they'll have to wait. Serving tacos? They'll expect those quickly. Serving steak? They may mentally grant you extra time to prepare it. Your goal is to accommodate your diners with exactly the same quality food and service every day and at every time of day. 3. Fix Problems Immediately Your third step in delivering excellent customer service is your finesse at dealing with customer problems and complaints. No matter how hard you try, something is going to go amiss some time or another. Whatever the problem, your goal is to please the customer. It is vitally important that you deal with problems immediately. Don't let your customer's anger linger while waiting to work his way up the management chain. Here are a few tips for dealing with customer problems: Listen intently to their problem without interrupting. Own the mistake. Acknowledge that, yes, there is a problem. Let them know you are very sorry. Stay calm, especially if you don't agree with your customer. Maintain eye contact and watch your body language. Make sure your body isn't telling a different story than your words. Ask your customer what they'd like. Try to negotiate a solution that is acceptable to both of you. Always empathize, don't blame. Apologize again! Solve the problem quickly and without drama.

Best Mexican food in Southern New Mexico hands down. Whether you go to the restaurant or the times are ahead. Place gets busy on weekends...plan ahead. Fun atmosphere and great place to watch people.

La Mesa, New Mexico --- "Chope's" is a 4th generation business & a "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite bar located right on Route 28 with plenty of parking ... the one-room bar (you won't miss anything) has a great atmosphere, with lots of promotional beer advertisements covering the walls ... the restaurant/kitchen closes between 1:30 & 5:00 (traditional siesta time?), but the most importantly, bar remains open ... the customers are New Mexico friendly & interactive ... day 057 "DUSA 2017" (Discover USA) day 111 "666 Bars of 2017" / bar 223 "Run-A-Way Bill" was here! #RunAwayBill #666BarsUSA #DUSA2017 04.21.17

I am surprised at some of the negative reviews. They obviously do not appreciate New Mexico cusine. We have been going there since we moved from CA and never disappointed. No mexican restaurant in CA comes close to Chopes cooking. I can taste that it is made from scratch and not canned. The food is exactly like my mom's cooking. She made the sauces hot which is a requirement. And she learned a lot from grandma. And she grew up in Albuquerque learning how.

Legendary! Best Mexican food and atmosphere for a cold beer and back roads drive. A favorite for sure.

Chopes has been closed for over a year not because of COVID, but because of possible family feud. So sad. Best Mexican food on earth. Travelled many miles many times to savor their incomparable food. Can't we all get along?

Amazing Mexican food. I have been going for over 40 years and the food is always amazing. The atmosphere is nice and the drive from Cruces or El Paso is stunning. Taco Tuesday is a must. I highly recommend to everyone and especially to take out of town guest due to the food and all the rich history.

Great food and fun , everybody is friendly the place is hopping and the food is delicious

Awesome Awesome Awesome food. !I'm really missing Taco Tuesdays at Chopes. Guess what? Adobe Deli is my new Chopes.