El Jefe

El Jefe is walking distance from our condo, which was its biggest draw. The friendly staff took our order, and the food was delivered promptly to our table. To me, the food was pretty much as expected, not disappointing but also not outstanding in any way. Older menus I saw online had more children's menu options than I saw today, so I contributed the 8/01/2025 menu with this review.

We came here for a mid day ride food and drink fix. We wanted to vary it up from the on mountain dining experiences we had the past couple of days. My experience here was great. It was a sunny beautiful cool day so we were able to enjoy our food outside. Heads up - it is a counter order service vs a personal waiter. Although it was very busy I feel the line went at a decent speed. Maybe grab a drink from the shorter drink line first and enjoy as you wait in the food line. Carne Asada Burrito - the trick on this is to ask them to coat it with queso. The carne asada was nice and tender. The ratio of meat to other fillings was perfect heavy on the meat side. The queso was flavorful and I think a must for this dish. Spicy del Mar Cajun Shrimp Taco - mmm mmm good. The shrimp tasted fresh and the spicy aioli was a nice flavor with a kick here and there. Taco Al Pastor - meat was tender and the pineapple looked like fresh pineapple pieces. Caribbean Bowl Salad - not much chicken but the pieces were crunchy. This was a bit more heavy on the lettuce than toppings. Churro - genius to have this as a donut. This was straight up a churro that was shaped like a donut - not a donut that was flavored like a churro. It was nice and crisp and crunchy and flakey and buttery all at the same time. The whipped cream seemed freshly made. It was not sweet, so it was perfect to counter the sweetness of the churro. The only thing would be portion size to cost ratio felt a bit off. For sure would have expected a larger portion for the price. But honestly El Jefe had good food compared to the same price as say the overpriced average hamburger from the actual Angel Fire Resort cafes.

About 2 years ago, we ordered queso and tacos here and they were really good! Prices are high, but it's to be expected in the mountains and at least they were good so it was worth it. Today, we ordered just chips and queso and were incredibly disappointed. I fully support setting your prices at whatever you think you're food should be valued at and we were happy to pay it, but we're shocked when we saw that the queso portion was extremely small. A few years ago, the portion was much larger and probably for a similar price, if not less. I wouldn't have minded paying for it had they at least included the size you were paying for on the menu. On top of that, it was barely lukewarm so we had to reheat it when we got home.

Excellent restaurant. Food very good. We had shrimp tacos and fajitas and margaritas. Service was prompt and attentive. Highly recommend.

Food was great! Service was good. A little pricey, but I think that’s common for resort towns. We had the California Burrito, the veggie burrito, and an assortment of tacos. Everything was good and we would def come back, just without our kids…😬

No flying piggy, sad. One taco $9! Ouch. Sorry don't know what the food tastes like. Closing time gotta go. Ok, gave this place a second chance to redeem themselves. I ordered the Caribbean bowl, and it was pretty darn good. I loved the way the flavors just complimented each other. The staff is very friendly. Good drinks.

Loved their cheese burgers but no longer on the menu. Sad there’s nothing else on the menu that’s not Mexican. Please add some other options! Great patio!

Varied menu, good drink options, and plenty of seating. Pricing is consistent for an on-mountain restaurant. Also, after the COVID restrictions, they only have 2 tables available inside. Kind of a tough situation...

We came here for a mid day ride food and drink fix. We wanted to vary it up from the on mountain dining experiences we had the past couple of days. My experience here was great. It was a sunny beautiful cool day so we were able to enjoy our food outside. Heads up - it is a counter order service vs a personal waiter. Although it was very busy I feel the line went at a decent speed. Maybe grab a drink from the shorter drink line first and enjoy as you wait in the food line. Carne Asada Burrito - the trick on this is to ask them to coat it with queso. The carne asada was nice and tender. The ratio of meat to other fillings was perfect heavy on the meat side. The queso was flavorful and I think a must for this dish. Spicy del Mar Cajun Shrimp Taco - mmm mmm good. The shrimp tasted fresh and the spicy aioli was a nice flavor with a kick here and there. Taco Al Pastor - meat was tender and the pineapple looked like fresh pineapple pieces. Caribbean Bowl Salad - not much chicken but the pieces were crunchy. This was a bit more heavy on the lettuce than toppings. Churro - genius to have this as a donut. This was straight up a churro that was shaped like a donut - not a donut that was flavored like a churro. It was nice and crisp and crunchy and flakey and buttery all at the same time. The whipped cream seemed freshly made. It was not sweet, so it was perfect to counter the sweetness of the churro. The only thing would be portion size to cost ratio felt a bit off. For sure would have expected a larger portion for the price. But honestly El Jefe had good food compared to the same price as say the overpriced average hamburger from the actual Angel Fire Resort cafes.

Killer brisket burrito. Lots of meat, well seasoned, grilled vegetables. Chips and salsa were above average, salsa was a little watery, but had good flavor. Beer selection was decent, had the happy camper IPA, which was solid. Overall, definitely a place to stop and have a bite and a drink between runs.

Awesome, quaint spot right off the mountain! Stop in for a drink or some really good tacos! Food and service were fast and friendly! What a fun time for our family!

We love El Jefe to wind down as we finish up at the ski slopes. Grab a drink, eat some chips and salsa and enjoy the gorgeous views! We also grabbed tacos and dinner for the kiddos after lessons and it was a hit with all ages! Def recommend!

I would love to say that we had a great experience here because it has so much potential to be the perfect spot for lunch during a day of skiing. This was not that. Waiting an hour and a half for sub par, cold food was ridiculous...not to mention half of our party had not received their order at the two hour mark so they went without food as the slopes were about to close. Totally understand it was a busy day, but being told our food would be ready in 30 minutes and that being a huge underestimate was frustrating as we spent a lot of money for a day full of skiing and would have picked a different option. Would recommend if you are wanting a drink and have several, SEVERAL hours to kill.

Brisket tacos were a hit. Several people ordered seconds if that says anything about them. El Jefe margarita didn't disappoint and chips, salsa and guacamole were also very good. Service was great! We sat outside and enjoyed the sun. Will definitely go back.

I mean, they have you captive as one of the only places at the bottom of the ski area. They know you're hungry, and they know you'll pay, so they don't really worry about the quality. The El Jefe Cali burrito was meh at best. Brisket?? Not really, more like big fatty cuts of roast. Should've known a NM place couldn't do proper brisket. Beans for the bean dip were as bland as I've ever had. Tried to mask it with green chiles. Didn't work. The green chile fries were good. The only saving grace here.

Great for a quick bite to eat and some drinks! Order at the counter, there is some seating inside but the patio is where it's at with spectacular views of the mountain (located at the base of mountain near the ski lift). Food and drinks were both tasty, service was quick, will definitely be back!

I think my husband would give 4 stars, but he's not the one repping our household on Yelp, so...3 stars it is! The food was okay. We had their chips and salsa with a side of queso. All okay okay. The salsa has a good amount of heat. Tried the El Jefe taco and it was a good size with a lot of filling. I thought the meat was okay. My husband thought the meat was really good. I also had the burger and fries. It was also just okay. Better than I expected for what I assume was a frozen patty. The fries we're actually really good. The atmosphere on the deck and convenient location to the lift was good.

I ordered the Taco salad, i expected lettuce, tomato, and onion. I did not get that, I got beans and greasy ground meat. It was horrible. My husband had a carne asada taco and a shrimp taco. The shrimp was acceptable but the carne asada was ground beef that tasted horrible. Overall one of the worst meals we have had in New Mexico for the 25 years we lived here. The service was good, the people nice, but the food was not cheap and not worth it.

We ordered the green chile nachos and added smoked pork. We also ordered watermelon margs. Everything was excellent! The staff was friendly and helpful. The view is awesome, and it's very relaxed. Alot of mountain bikers were stopping to get food and drinks, so it's very casual. There's indoor and outdoor seating, and we enjoyed our experience!

This used to be the best taco spot, like literally anywhere. We're back for the ski season, and the menu is all jacked up. The best tacos are no longer available. The Breakfast Taco and the Flying Piggy are gone, even the breakfast burrito. The majority of the menu is brisket tacos, burritos, and fajitas. Silly. Now, the staff is amazing and always has been. We own a condo, walking distance to El Jefe, and to say we are disappointed is an understatement. We are here every other weekend in the winter, and plenty in the summer and fall. I suppose we'll have to bring our own Taco supplies and just cook at the condo. That means margs, too. Although a classic marg from El Jefe is hard to pass up. Sad day, celebrating hubby's birthday to find all the unfortunate changes.

Food was pretty bland and the woman who took our order wasn't very kind. Probably wouldn't go back again. Nice patio though!

El Jefe was probably our favorite, most consistent eats on the Mountain. It's expensive but everything in the area is. At least theirs was delicious. Both times, we split chips, salsa, guac & a carne asada burrito. The chips, salsa & guac were fresh & delicious. On the day we had El Jefe for lunch, they were pretty busy. Seems that maybe they rushed the order out as the cheese in the burrito wasn't melted. Still a delicious. We returned a day or two later & had the same exact meal, just added a couple of margaritas. I DO recommend having a marg, they were delicious as well. All in all, I vouch for the chips/salsa/guac, Hawaiian Margarita, Piña Colada Margarita & the Churro Donuts. All great & tasty.

Food was bad and pricy. I had the chicken tortilla soup and there's now way it wasn't from a can. I ordered ain't your daddy taco in a corn tortilla and it came in flour. Had the tiniest sliver of fried chicken and no guacamole per the menu. Cheap low quality food. I will never eat here again.

Two star because location. Soup tasted like can soup and the place is way over priced even with our members 20% discount. If it was anywhere else it would go out of business.

Came here while staying at the Angel Fire resort. This resturant is on their property right behind the main building. Parking is very limited and inside seating was tight as well. They do have an outside seating area but it was far too cold for that. I ordered a draft Dos Equis which was good as expected. They had several domestic draft beers and a local NM one as well. I was very happy with the beer pour and the choices they had. For food I ordered their quesadilla with chicken inside. It comes with a green chili sauce which I asked it I could get on the side. The sauce was really delicious and wasn't as spicy as other green chili sauces I have had in NM. The quesadilla was tasty and filling and we both enjoyed it. Prices were on the higher side, but that is to be expected in this area. Compared to other dining options in Angel Fire, this is going to be a safe choice.

I would really like to give this place 3.5 stars. The location is great if you are staying near the resort. It's not a huge restaurant with limited seating inside, but the deck space is pretty big. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The staff was friendly and the environment is quaint. Everything was good, just nothing to get excited about. The queso was pretty good and had a little kick, but none of us liked the salsa. The burritos were huge, but once again, nothing super special. My husbands tacos were probably the best thing we had. Kids meals were decently sized, but did not include a drink. The churros were pretty tasty, but a little on the greasy side. Overall everything was ok. Would we come back? Maybe just for the location and the fact you can carb load after a day on the slopes.

Amazing margaritas, amazing tacos. Can't believe this place didn't get more stars. We were highly impressed. .

We ended up at El Jefe after one other restaurant couldn't accommodate us (no staff to work), and one was closed. I had read the reviews of the high prices, but in today's world, eating out is expensive almost everywhere! The staff was very friendly and beer was cold. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy the cool weather. Patio was about 1/2 full on a Wednesday night. I'm happy that at least someplace in Angel Fire is open during the week! I had the burrito, which was enough for two meals, so one could easily split with another person. Before tip, it was $100 for four people, so as long as you keep your price expectations aligned, I think you will enjoy it.

The good: There was actually some inside seating (covid). 2 tables. The chicken taco was excellent! Loved the sweet pineapple salsa and the extra red salsa. Portions are pretty big, I ordered way too much. They really pile the meat up. The green chili pork stew! Delicious, not greasy, good veggies in it. Amazing. And it comes with 2 house made tortillas. The bad: Greasy spoon brisket and ground beef. Total yucko amount of grease. Filled the plate. I used one of my extra tortillas from the soup to rewrap the beef for the kids. Theirs was totally soaked in orange grease. The bottom half of the burrito was mush from the grease dropping out the bottom. Had to use a different plate just to put the thing down. I should have taken a photo. Also there was nothing but meat on their kids taco. I know they are kids but... something. Cheese, tomatoes? Prices. So steep. The burritos are $16!! I guess because of the location, but my goodness. We also got a side of beans and it totaled $50. Pricey lunch.

This one gets an extra star due to the lack of dining options in the area. The staff were fine. The food was on the south end of ok. Underwhelming. Try it if you're on the mountain and need something quick.

The food here was delicious! Service was good! And the ambiance...excellent!! Who doesn't love the mountain surroundings!!

I had the brisket taco and will never order that again because the meat was chewy and hard to swallow! The corn tortilla was so greasy once I picked it up, I wasn't about to set it down in the grease and for the price I sure expected more. The Marguerita was primarily ice . My husband had a quesadilla and it was equally as greasy but had more taste and the chicken was easier to chew. Don't bother going here if you want Mexican food.

This place is packed w skiers during the day time! You order up at the counter then they bring you your food. In my opinion it was lack luster on every account. None of our food was that good. We got the soup of the day and a fish taco, and the kids got hotdogs. The beers were good though, and the hot chocolate. Wouldn't spend the money here again though.

The tacos were great and the drinks were very good! Everyone was very nice and responsive. You really can't beat the views! We sat outside and it was just beautiful!

Good food Good service. Good location. OK ambience. Could use more parking. Like the outdoor seating

Decent tacos. The Al pastor was beef not pork. Kind of bland. The brisket is good but the taco is only okay. Two tacos and two beers was 40 bucks. Not opposed to spending that much for good food, but when it's middle of the road at best, that's expensive.

Great Views with fresh made tacos and excellent margaritas. Superb quesadillas with lightly crispy outsides and excellent fillings for both chicken and beef. The Cadillac margarita is well balanced delight to accompany your meal. JD the bartender on our first visit was a hoot to talk to and rightly proud of his concoctions. Don't worry asking about what wines they serve - that's not really their focus Most ski slopes don't have a true restaurant like this unless you are in Deer valley or Aspen (which also means higher pricing) Seems to be a big hangout for the pst mountain biking crowd as well.

I have been coming to Angel Fire before I was even born ( in my moms tummy) and I am 30. And I can say this is by far my favorite place to eat: reasonable prices, great taste, efficient service. Be warned that on busy ski days this place does get busy but the wait is worth the taste! the fish tacos are a favorite - but honestly you can't go wrong. I also like the shrimp, brisket tacos-- their burritos are great too. my boyfriend enjoys the margs! you will not be disappointed if you eat here. great for all ages and there is something for everyone. ( i would love if there were some more veggie forward dishes for us vegetarians & vegans) that is my only suggestion. grilled portabella tacos? fried avocado? pulled bbq jackfruit tacos? I know this is a weird suggestion being such a "texas" meat eating resort but I know I wouldn't be the only person to appreciate this!

Great bar! Nachos, tacos, taco salad, quesadillas are ALL good. Staff is friendly and the view is unbeatable

Really good Mexican with strong drinks. We came in the summer for a wedding but had a great experience here. Quick food and great flavors. We weren't sold on the botella as it was a little pricey but that's too be expected with mountain food. We will definitely be back when we come to Angel Fire again

This is a cute little spot by the Angel Fire ski resort. We specifically made the trek here after the rave reviews our friends made of the tacos and margarita botellas! There's parking right in front that is marked but it does fill up fast when it gets busy. There is plenty of socially distanced outdoor seating (multi-leveled!) and masks are required to enter the building. You go inside to place your order and they then deliver it to your table! You can get a classic margarita botella (pitcher) for $27, which gave us more than enough drinks to share! They offer many different margarita flavors but I will say you cannot go wrong with the classic. Now the tacos. They may seem over priced starting at $7+ each, but man, they are HUGE and packed with flavor and ingredients. We tried the fried pork and the Del Mar shrimp taco. The fried pork taco is carnitas, lettuce, tomato and cheese in a fried taco shell. The salsa adds a nice touch. It is a little difficult to eat, but they anticipate this and serve it with a fork haha. The del mar shrimp taco was GINORMOUS and came with grilled Cajun shrimp and a wonderfully crunchy slaw. It was again difficult to eat, but the fork helped. And when I say they were difficult to eat, it's because they were stuffed too full!! We also had the chips, salsa and queso. Typical appetizer, nice and fresh. If you sit on the upper level, you get a nice little view of the ski lift and can even chance to see some wildlife on the hills. Don't pass up the chance to try El Jefe if you're ever in the area (and stop to see Bosco in Eagles Nest to complete the adventure!!).

Their green chili fries are freaking awesome and the quesadilla is really good also. The people working here seem happy, and in a good mood, which elevates my spirits!

Best burrito I've ever had. Everything else was on point (queso, chips, salsa). Ordered to go - no issues... will be coming back!

Quesadilla and peach margarita were amazing, the tacos were good and a good size but I thought 9 dollars a taco was a bit much. We had 2 drinks each 2 tacos and the quesadilla and my ticket was 80+ after the tip, the servers and folks were super nice, it's a "fast casual" style, where you order and pay and they bring the food to your table

So good!!! They definitely need help! It's so busy and so delicious. The drinks are great and the staff is attentive and friendly. We really enjoyed it. We travelled with kids and had to leave some of our food behind because they got crabby- Overall. Delightful experience. Great view and yummy tacos.

Great lunch with the family on Saturday to kick off our summer vacation. Food was awesome, views were great and JD our bartender, did a wonderful job. The wife and boys learned they love Churros as well.

This is our go-to place for Mexican food in Angel Fire. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. I usually order the nachos with carne asada which is very good. Unless you love green chilis, have them on the side because they're a bit overwhelming. The restaurant is literally on the ski resort and prices reflect that location, but the staff is always friendly and you can't beat the outdoor patio overlooking the Ski area.

We're staying in Angel Fire and heard great things about this place so we decided to try it. While looking for it we thought we were getting lost but when we turned the corner at the bottom of a ski lift it was right there and we were excited to try it. You will not be disappointed. Great food and the margaritas live up to their hype. Not much else to say but you have to try it.

Staff was really friendly and helpful. Walking distance from the lodge but ortherwise parking is a problem for sure. Food was above average but nothing to write home about. Except for the churros which are hands down the best we'd all ever had.

HORRIBLE. 4 stars reviewers??? GTFU- have you not ever dined at a decent Mexican Restaurant? We paid $64 for 2 burrito's, 1 margarita & a sprite. This "restaurant" is a walk-to-the-cashier- type of establishment. I asked the buy at the counter what the best thing was and he was very "ugh...?". That should of been a sign. The Burrito's do not come w/rice and beans & are served on a plastic hot dog basket with wax paper that falls apart and lands in your mouth when you cut into your burrito. I read google reviews that praised the brisket so I ordered the brisket burrito, it was stuffed with fatty meat and old French fries. My husband got the carne asada burrito- he did not report any French fries but hated his burrito. The tortillas were supermarket thick, cold tortillas shells. My husband thought his margarita was 'Eh... it's ok".after spending $64 for such a horrible meal, you walk out feeling raped. It's our first if 7 nights in Angel Fire, I'm praying we find at least one or two decent meals.

We visit this place every time we're in Angel Fire! The food is consistently good. Especially the green Chile fries on special and the brisket burrito. Make sure to try the chipotle sauce with it! Super nice staff and awesome patio.

We love El Jefe. The patio is perfect in the winter and summer. The food and service is really good too. I recommend the nachos and the margaritas!

Most excellent. I was shocked at how good the food was. Hubby and I split the Mexican meatball soup and the chicken quesadillas and both were fabulous. Tons of green Chile in the quesadillas. Jose margaritas hit the spot. Was apprehensive to try it because it looked touristy and expensive but it was a true gem.

Good variety foods, excellent bar. Popular and often crowded. Excellent atmosphere friendly staff. Good outdoor seating and views. Parking might be limited but worth the visit!

This is a resort owned property and they force everyone else out of business. That would be ok if they offered value. A basic dry burrito in paper wrap delivered in a plastic basket for $17. ...... it wasn't that good. For that price they need to offer table service and provide a plate with rice and beans. Brisket was dry and tough. Margarita was good but again plastic cups. Oh how I wish they would do better

I love this place. It's my only hang when I come to NM in the summers. Rad patio right at the base of the lift. Killer music. Staff is fast, efficient & friendly as long as you loose the attitude & treat them with respect. Tacos & green chile cheese fries are top notch.

I don't usually leave low reviews unless it's a pretty horrid experience, which is exactly the case here. When you walk in to the establishment, expect to be greeted with nothing but attitude and disregard. The second you walk in you'll get the feeling that no one working wants you to be there. Second off, no one in the kitchen was wearing a mask which just demonstrates their lack of care. Third, there were large insects running across the floor and walls as if we were in the Amazon rainforest. Fourth, their food is overpriced for the quality. Stay away from this restaurant at ALL COST unless you want to traumatize your entire family.