EL JEFE

We had lunch for the first time and were not disappointed. The food was very fresh with just the right blend of seasoning and herbs. The red sauce has real substance to it, not thin or watered down. The rice was moist and flavorful and not dried out like most places serve. The refried beans were better than I’ve had in awhile. We each had Three tacos and got the pastor, shrimp, and carne asada! They were amazing tasting. We loved the chips and salsa as they were fresh and hot! This is our new taco go to! Update: they are no longer open for lunch on the weekdays.

Came in on a Sunday night... got Cheese Dip, Guacamole, 3 Taco Create your own and drinks. Lets start with drinks... Roughneck Margarita was fresh and on point, hubby had some spiced rum with ginger beer (the waitress recommended it) it was good as well. Guacamole was freshly made and very flavorful. We Had the Carnita, Slow Brisket and Pork Taco as our 3 taco choices... our favorite was the Carnita and Pork ones. The service was great our server was Ellie, she made great suggestions and was attentive. Restaurant was clean and welcoming.

Excellent experience and I have been a few times. The super combo fajita special is fantastic. The brisket is especially tender, smokey and delicious. I loved the peppers and onions sauteed and served with this dish. The guacamole is a must for me with a bit of a kick from the hot peppers. You can ask for corn tortillas instead of flour. This is my favorite entree so far, but the tamales and tacos are also tasty. Great vibe and plenty of room for large groups. Fresh food and attentive, friendly service.

Very cool Tex Mex restaurant with attentive service, and a fun stylish atmosphere. Food was very clean and light tasting. Nothing heavy or overpowering. The Chicken Verde enchiladas were filling, but again, light. Beans were amazing. Rice was cooked perfect with a great taste as well. The Tacos al Pastor were delicious. I’m super picky about tortillas, these were the best I’ve tasted in JAX. Best part of the meal- the Pasole Verde. Absolutely incredible. From the presentation to the aroma to the flavor, pure perfection.

Well they first start you off with some complimentary avocado dip and salsa, which is a huge plus for me. The margaritas are great! They use actual hand squeezed lime juice and not the store-bought stuff. The food is equally as delicious as the drinks. Plenty of room to accommodate a large party as well

We were vendors at the market in front of this restaurant yesterday and we stopped in before we started setting up. We are so glad we did! Great food and portion sizes. We had our fill at the table and had enough for a midnight snack after the market was over. Special Note: we forgot our chairs and they we super nice and allowed us to borrow a couple for the market. Thank you guys so much!

First time here. Was super estancia to have a Tex-Mex restaurant so close to home. Staff was super friendly and immediately greeted us with chips and salsa. Food was great. I ordered the brisket tacos and they were delicious. The only complaint would be parking, but that is to be expected in Murray Hill. I will definitely be back.

I loved the atmosphere and decor. I felt the prices were steep at first but when the food arrived the portions seemed well worth it. It would be nice to order some a la carte items though. We sat at the bar and the service was just okay. Our guy wasn’t very attentive. We had to ask the person who brought our food out for silverware and chips n’ salsa.

The first thing to notice was the music, live DJ playing and jamming, you could tell he was having a great time; although to me the music was a bit loud so asked to be seated in the back part. Service was amazing, super friendly and very quick to take our order and bring our food, which I appreciated cause j was literally starving. As for the food it was tasty, the Fajita combo was a big portion for two, but nothing extraordinary. More than authentic Mexican food it felt more Tex mex. Maybe next time I'll go for the tacos to try something different.

I've been here a few times they have $2 abita purple haze and 2 Sol beer specials. But the margaritas were a bit overpriced. The Chips and Salsa are Complimentary which was nice. I had the Street Corn Bowl add pollo asado. The chicken was tough. Weary of the meat they serves here I decided to order a Veggie only Tex Mex Bowl. Service was good I came in at 4:30 on a Wed before they got busy. Forget coming in on Tuesday its to crowded and they will run out of food Hence Taco Tuesday. The place has potential but perhaps another chef or kitchen manger will do better. Food came out quickly but My first round of food was delivered before my silverware .I was never offered water. I made up for that with Margaritas. Great HH specials

El Jefe is definitely the place to be whether it's a random Sunday, Taco Tuesday, or a Thirsty Thursday. This place serves up amazing Tex Mex food, some of the best I've had in Jax and the drinks are amazing as well! The service I get here is always top notch, friendly and efficient which keeps me going back. I usually get the cheese enchiladas with charro beans and rice, but I have ventured out and got the street corn salad as well as shrimp and refried bean tacos on soft corn tortillas. No matter what I've ordered I have never been disappointed! The decor is so Jax with a mix of Latin flavor lol and I love it! I will continue to support this business and I'm so glad they are only 10 minutes away!

We had a friendly greeting from the host. He seated us at a nice table. Lighting was perfect. Ambiance was good. We were told to order the Bob Armstrong dip (off menu). It was amazing. We also got the steak & chicken fajitas. Those were amazing. The meat was cooked perfectly, and we enjoyed them immensely. We will definitely be back!

I'm so sad that El Jefe has closed! I am from Texas and this is one of the few restaurants that had food close to TexMex.....

The tacos are super tiny and service was terrible. Granted it's been a while since we've eaten here but I could live with terrible service if I get my money's worth on food. Someone I knew recommended this place and let's just say I never take any recommendations from them anymore. Do yourself a favor and try Solazo Taqueria across the street. Can't say you will like it better but their tacos are definitely more fulfilling than this place.

Let me start out by saying that the wait staff was fantastic. Our waiter was attentive and wanted to make sure that everything was to our liking (including replacing something which was over cooked). I got a build your own taco trio with a puffy taco (chicken), a tacos Al pastor, and a pollo asado. The salsa they started us out with was the highlight of the meal. It had a Smokey flavor that sat on the tongue and made me want to go back for more. The tacos were decent, but did not leave me wanting more. The tacos were bit overly salty overall and there were not a lot of depth to the flavors. The puffy taco was the best of the bunch and was respectable. I'm not sure if the chef was tired or bored but there didn't seem to be a lot of passion behind the cooking here.

El Jefe is a Tex-Mex Restaurant. When you walk in, someone greets you with a smile and says welcome to El Jefe. Escorted us to our seats and then brought out warm corn chips and a lovely mild salsa. We asked for the El Jefe ( house ) margaritas and they were delicious! We ordered the Chorizo tacos and burrito. Yumo! Perfect! We lived in Alamogordo New Mexico for three years. We loved the food there and we love the food here! We will be back with friends!

Take a flight on a Thursday night to Murray Hill with margarita and tequila flights! But before you taco board the flight, just know that it may be an expensive one. I suggest you bring cash. Apparently, sometimes the credit card machine charges you more than your initial bill. I personally didn't have the issue but a friend in my party was charged 4 times and still waiting on a refund nearly 3 weeks later.

Came here with a friend on a "guys night out" mid-week, since both our wives are out of town and he wanted me to try the place. Arrived around 6 in the evening and were seated immediately. Warm tortilla chips and a delicious bowl of salsa arrived and our server took drink orders. This is where I found the only negative spot of my visit: they have Modelo especial and Dos Equis lagers on tap, but not the amber/dark versions of either beer except in bottles. Of course there has to be an upside, and in keeping with their Tex-Mex theme, they do have Shiner Bock on tap, so I was saved. Our meals came out soon, and were hit and freshly prepared. I ordered the build-your-own taco plate with one each chorizo, carne asada and al pastor, with rice and refried beans. My friend went to his old standby, the chorizo quesadilla with rice and charro beans. Both meals were excellent, with the chorizo taco being the standout of the 3 different ones I ordered. Decor is pretty understated, which is a nice change of pace from the typical Mexican places. Our server, Jessenia, was prompt and and efficient, and they have a 10% military discount, which is always nice to see. Have to bring the wife here when she gets back.

The vibe / atmosphere was great and the service definitely matched that! They constantly checked on our table and took care of our large party size exceptionally well. Glasses remained full and we were regularly checked on. The bar was nice too! Portion sizes were sizable! It was surely enough for more than just one sitting and the presentation was nice too. Rice was cooked with love! Was the most seasoned item for sure. I wish the shrimp had more spices to it but it was pleasant. Service made up for the ok food for sure. Lol good customer service is so refreshing these days

This was SO good. The street corn salad is definitely a big enough portion to share and it was absolutely amazing. The shrimp fajitas were awesome, good chips and salsa, and great margaritas too! Our server was super friendly and helpful with the menu options. It will definitely be on the list when I visit jax again! The one "con" is the restaurant is pretty dark so keep that in mind!

During a quick trip to Jacksonville, this spot seemed great to grab a bite before a show. Service was fast for a moderately busy Sunday evening but the food was fresh. I ordered the Flautas with chicken. I wanted something small so I went with an appetizer but it really could serve as a meal. It comes with 3 taco rolls and a full salad on (top as you can see pictured). It was sooo good! Flavorful and juicy! I will warn you though, it is SPICY. I bit into a few jalapeños that gave this Caribbean girl a run for her money! Our server, Ellie was such a doll! She was thoughtful enough that when I asked for tea (for my hoarse voice) she created one for me with lime, oranges and hot water since they didn't serve tea. She was also very attentive and sweet! Make sure you ask for her! I also really liked the ambiance of the place and the rustic Tex Mex vibe, very cool.. Perfect for game night at the bar or dinner with the family. Will be back during my next visit to Jacksonville!

Stopped in at another "must try" eatery in Jacksonville. Funny how when you tell people you're from Texas they start telling you all of their favorite Tex-Mex places in Jax. Well dear new friend, you did us right! El Jefe is on the northwest side of town. And, would typically be a long drive just for tacos but we were out on errands and our stomachs were growling. I pulled up my maps guide for places to eat, and El Jefe wasn't too far away. Neat area of town, cute/hipster revitalization happening. We parked on the street, but when we got to the door a sign said additional parking in the rear. Good to know for next time. We were impressed with the size of the menu, two sided with lots of options. However, once you start reading the descriptions pretty much starts sounding more like a familiar chain. Pick your protein (chicken, steak, shrimp, tuna, picadillo or veggie) Pick your style (corn/flour taco, salad/bowl, quesadilla, enchilada, burrito, chimichanga) Pick your beans (refried or charro) Pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, cheese, and Mexican rice appear to be served with all the above. (Which is pretty traditional for Tex-Mex foods.) Also traditional with Tex-Mex restaurants is chips & salsa. Have to say these are the best chips & salsa we have had in Jax. I ordered the appetizer of chicken flautas as my meal. The lettuce was a bit heavy handed, but easy enough to push to the side. The flautas were crisp & crunchy with flavorful shredded chicken. Hubby ordered the Pick Three Plate, with the rice & charro beans. Picadillo taco he found to be unflavored and bland. Carnitas taco had nice flavors and textures. Skirt Steak taco was his favorite. He said the steak was tender and full of flavor. He doesn't eat rice and beans...but I do :) And I have to admit I was a bit too excited when she offered the choice of charro beans. I hadn't found them in Jax until now. I ate the serving of charro beans first, before my flautas. I said it then and I will say it here again, If I had known there were charro beans I would have ordered a bowl for my entree. El Jefe's beans were tender and full of flavor. If someone from the restaurant reads this, a bowl with a side of jalapeño cornbread would be a nice addition to the menu ;) Even though the style of the menu is similar to other chain restaurants, El Jefe's food is several levels higher is terms of quality, taste, and affordability.

We decided to go for Taco Tuesday! Happy Hour 4:30-6:30 with beer specials and margarita specials. A few taco specials too. We tried the Texas sized fish tacos and the brisket tacos. I absolutely loved the fish tacos! The fish was flaky and perfectly paired with the fresh jalapeño slices and just a touch of coleslaw. The brisket tacos were full of meat! They were a little salty but still tasted delicious! I need to give a huge shout out to our bartender/waitress- Kendra! I know restaurants and other businesses are struggling to find employees, let alone employees who provide good customer service. The service industry needs a lot more Kendras! She was fast, friendly and attentive to all of her customers.

This place is a solid 4 stars only because I love the food while I'm there but there's nothing special that makes say I want/have to come back buuttt they have veggies like mushroom and corn to add to your meal if you like that (I do!).

El Jefe has a great atmosphere and waitstaff. My favorite thing to order are the tacos, especially on taco Tuesday! They typically come in orders of three but on taco Tuesday you can order as many or few as you'd like.

El Jefe is a like home, being from Texas. True This place is true Tex-Mex. The tacos are bomb. I've had them twice and they didn't disappoint either time. The Carne Asada, El pastor, carnitas are my favorite, in that order. The house sauce is so tasty, I always ask for extra. I love a good flour tortillas, and those are hard to find in Jax. I'm use to home-made fresh flour tortillas. Also the tacos are filling. Three tacos and I'm stuffed. Each time I've been, seating has not been an issue. Even when it's a last minute large group, they were happy to seat and serve us. The decor is cute and fun in the restaurant. And the bathrooms have been clean each time I've been. Awesome dinner spot!

Came here on a Thursday night specifically for the advertised taco boards and tequila or margarita flights. (Only available Thursday) It wasn't that busy when we arrived but we were advised of technical difficulties so it took a while to get our drink orders and food. Though there was a wait, our server was great and communicated with us about the issues. Almost everyone ordered a taco board and some type of flight. The taco boards did not come out like the pictures we saw on IG. In fact, there weren't any actual traditional tacos on the board. Lol. There were taquitos, flautas, ceviche, and street corn. We decided maybe it changes every week and that's the reason the pictures weren't the same. Despite lack of tacos, the food was delicious. I actually ordered the street corn salad with shrimp and it was amazing. I'd go back for that alone. Tequila flight had a good variety of tequila shots. The Margarita flights tasted good but were either not strong or just very deceiving and tasted like juice. All in all it was a good experience and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Great experience. We came for lunch with a party of 8 and everyone enjoyed their normal selections of chicken, beef, and carnitas in tacos, burritos, etc. I opted for the fish tacos and they did NOT disappoint. This is one of the best fish tacos I've had in Jacksonville. #FriedFishTaco They weren't ready to really offer them for lunch so my meal took longer than everyone else's. It was not a big deal to me as that told me my food would be fresh. Well the kitchen felt it was a concern so they served me an extra taco! The two was way sufficient for the portion so I shared my complimentary 3rd taco with a table-mate. Friendly service and cool atmosphere, unfortunately it's far from home BUT it's close to work so it'll definitely be added to the rotation once we get back to the office.

Service was super fast and our food came out quick. The chimichurri steak had so much flavor. The margaritas were also on point!! The theme throughout the restaurant was fun and cute!!

Wish this place was closer to the beach and I would be there all the time. The ambience, the food, the service were all amazing. The quest- whoa! Thick, creamy, delicious and huge. They do not shy away with portion sizes. 3 taco plate- Sadly you can not get the puffy tacos on this plate unless you get all theee the same. I of course wanted to try a few different. Of course I can't remember the names of the ones I got but they were all amazing and hug. Couldn't even finish them. the shrimp was my least fav, the one with the pineapple was the best. Would def get all three again though. My friends said the tuna taco was there fav, "whoa" was their response after the first bite. A bit pricey for tacos but I think worth it. They supposively have a lot of specials, specifically cheap tacos on Tuesdays. They have a large bar, multiple TVs, and a large space that would be good for a party. A bit of a drive for me but I will def be back!

A pleasant surprise in the heart of Murray Hill. When you walk inside, it's like a tardis. If you're not a Doctor Who fan, I'm sorry, but let me explain: it's basically bigger on the inside. From the outside view it looked like it was going to be a quaint little Tex-Mex restaurant, but when you walk through the doors, it a beautiful, bar restaurant with a shabby chic look. I absolutely loved the layout with the bar being up front giving it a saloon type feel and the little touches of a rustic Texas feel. For the amount of food and the quality, it wasn't half bad. I had the pork taco with a side of rice. The rice wasn't bad but a bit crunchy - I'm not a fan of crunchy rice, but I know some people like the crispy edges from the pot of cooked rice. The pork wasn't amazing but it was delicious and flavorful. The texture was absolutely perfect and you could tell that it was made with care and patience. I also had a Skinny Margarita which is just the less sugary version of their star margarita, El Jefe. It wasn't bad but a good simple margarita. I also tried a bit of the Roughneck and Texas style - all were just ok. I will say they used a bit too much sour mix in the drink so you couldn't really taste anything else. And for me, the drink were a bit too pricey, but you are paying for good liquor. Some of the drinks use their top self tequilas. Overall, I think it's a beautiful and delicious addition to Murray Hill. I wouldn't mind going back for there again to try their house cocktails.

This place is great. We've been twice, and the service has always been terrible (first time sat for an hour before they took our order, second experience was similar in a very empty restaurant but who cares I'm not here for service I'm here for good food!) the food is good enough to counteract this. The shrimp is high quality, they also use great produce. The burritos are a great portion and an amazing price for the quality of food. Queso is great too. Their margaritas are perfect, not too strong or watered down. I love the food here and will always recommend it! Just make sure you visit when you have enough time. Love this place

Get Alexis. She is amazing. Seriously. We went during Cinco De Mayo. Let me paint you a picture--full house. Packed. Not a seat open. Not at the bar or anywhere. When I tell you that this woman treated us like we were her only table, I'm so serious. She was amazing. I have no words. We had no empty drinks; not a moment of wondering where she was. She had things before we even thought we needed it. Anyway- this place is amazing. The food is great, drinks are great, and service is amazing (especially alexis). Go here.

Really enjoyed the hell out of their pork tamales! Right off the bat, you are given a fresh batch of unlimited fried corn tortillas with a side of both their house salsa and avocado salsa verde. Oh that just gets the appetite going... Don't fill up too much on that because the portions are pretty gut busting. If you go in a group, ordering a few different entrees and sharing would be the best way to go. If you go solo, ordering one or two appetizers is a good game plan to start. Any more than that, you will eat way too much and actually diminish the entire experience of their food. Trust me. There's more than enough seating in this 4000 square foot space. It is brightly lit and the bar is definitely a terrific spot to eat and people watch [preferably on the corner next to the front entrance]. My server/bartender was so nice! I had asked about the Posole Verde because I've only had the red based Mexican posole (or pozole) in the past. He assured me theirs was very good and even brought out a generous sample for me to try. How cool was that? Yah. Very. It was definitely tasty! So flavorful and full of tender chunks of slow roasted pork and hominy. I can see myself enjoying a bowl of that at home when the weather gets a little cooler. Definitely a comfort food. My main was the Hot Tamales (3 for $11) made from chili braised pork with mole served on a very hot plate and probably made by grandmas. I'm not sure. However, they were a solid contender with other tamales I've enjoyed in and around the area. I would definitely get them again. Hands down. Solid Tex-Mex offerings with excellent customer service and a beautiful location. And I know I'll be going back especially since I literally live right around the corner. Oh....lucky me!

This is a review I'm glad I held out on writing after my first few experiences. The reason why you come to El Jefe is for the complimentary chips and salsa (red & green), the $6 Roughneck Margaritas, and their Queso varieties with fresh flour tortillas. Now Murray Hill desperately needed a cool place like El Jefe. The owners have done a phenomenal job dressing up the neighborhood with this space. It's extremely contemporary and rustic all at the same time. Experience-wise, I've had every one in the books here. I do think service needs to be improved. It totally depends on who's taking care of you and which section you're sitting in. One feature that they've taken advantage of is NoWait, which allows you to get on the wait list remotely. Do it if you're going during a peak time! As I mentioned above, their chips, salsa and queso game is totes on point. These are pitch perfect every single time. I truly appreciate the consistency here! And I've been known to be a little picky when it comes to my margaritas, but damn El Jefe knows their way behind one! For only $6 you really can't beat that deal. I've tried many other things on the menu during my many dining experiences. Puffy Tacos, Brisket Tacos, Flautas, Tamales, Posole, etc. In my humble opinion, I've never been necessarily blown away. Not that I need to be blown away on every dish my mouth touches. However, some of them have a higher price point than most restaurants. The San Antonio Puffy Tacos are incredibly unique to Jacksonville! I will continue to come back to El Jefe because the modern space is very inviting and their happy hour deals are fantastic. They've done a great job listening to the community and continuing to improve, refine and tweak their menu options. That's rare nowadays, and El Jefe deserves a pat on the back for it!

Was going to our normal Mexican restaurants on July 4. Both were closed so we ventured down Edgewood Avenue and found El Jefe. I had heard about it, and that it was expensive, however, very good. The menu entrées were about 3 to 4 dollars more than most Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville. The quality of the ingredients was excellent, the portions were a good size, couple of unusual items on the menu, and the food was excellent. Our server Hayden did a fantastic job and made a lot of exceptions to accommodate our order. I highly recommend it.

Was in a party of 20 bidding farewell to our beloved Alejandro. Though it was a bit chaotic with the Murray Hill Halloween Party, our waitress kept her cool and was patient with us. Good thing we had reservations which shows up in my Yelp App as a Waitlist. They even remind me an hr before via txt. The evening started with a Mariachi band serenading our table. Later in the evening we watched the parade. It was cool. Now about my meal, I had an El Jefe Burrito with Chicken. It came with mole sauce, rice & beans. I was skeptical about the Mole sauce, having read a previous review. Pleasant surprise Mole was pretty good. I could taste the hint of chocolate. It was not too spicy which helped bring out the unique flavor. Roughneck Margarita complimented food really well. General consensus around me was the Mole sauce was very nice. The beans were delicious with a taste of pork and so was the El Jefe Burrito. Great place for a casual party.

The hubby and I went last night, as we were in the area, and he had not been. We started with the white queso and salsa and chips. He agreed those are both really good. Madison was our server and she was very nice, prompt and full of suggestions. I tried the Houston Book Club Punch and it very similar to a sangria and very tasty. I had to try a second one to make sure. Hubby stuck with his Miller Lite. I chose the vegetable quesadillas minus the onion and they were really good. Hubby had the chicken chimichanga and liked it, but thought it needed more spice. We will be back. They had the basketball game on and another viewing option, but we sat in a booth in the other room. However, I can see this being a fun place to watch sports and have a good Mexican meal.

First visit...best lunch I've had in a while. Nice open place, clean & cool bar!! Chris, our waiter was on point! Friendly, attentive and fast. Gave great suggestions and info on the dishes/sides they make. There's a reason I only gave 4 stars & I'll write it down if it happens again on my next visit (next week).

I really enjoyed my El Jefe experience....and Corey the bartender make it awesome with a Jalapeno margarita and the tacos were pretty tasty as well. I will do be back to try other items on the menu or to just repeat my order.

I had heard all the good and bad and decided to head to El Jefe to check it out for myself..there was tacos involved, who am I to turn that down? Myself, Maya and John met up on a Friday night, and I will mention that I was exactly on time..no more running late for this girl! We had a reservation but the hostess knew nothing about it when I arrived..strange..We were seated in the back-ish in a booth and there were already some chips an dips going on. The salsa was really good and fresh tasting, and the green avocado based dip was kinda bland, we found that mixing the two together was really awesome! Maya and I were enjoying our margaritas so much and we were all chatting so much that we didnt look at the menus for quite a while. Our server Jess was so nice and so friendly, I almost wanted her to sit down with us! I ordered some guacamole for the table and while it was good..it was on the salty side. This is actually a compliment from me, as some of you know I have pickiness about guacamole. We were munching on that and finally looked at the menu and made some choices. I had the San Antonio style puffy tacos with ground beef as my meat, it came with rice and a choice of refried or charro beans. I will add that it would be fun if you could mix and match the trio of tacos to try three different ones. Maya went with the low and slow brisket fajitas, and John the cheese enchiladas. While we all liked our meals, there were things about each that sort of fell flat. The tacos were good in flavor but a bit greasy. The meal was filling and I could not finish all of it, but the grease on the taco shells made them fall apart pretty easily. Decor here is really on point, everything is bright and fun and open. Again, service was out of this world, I love it a server really makes an impression on my dining experience. The neighborhood is super fun, and there are lots of little places all around to pop into, so I don't see why I wouldn't come back to El Jefe in the future!

We've heard mixed reviews about this place and decided to go ahead and give it a try anyway. I made reservations the day before since we were to be a group of 8 and it was suggested on the website that this be done. On a Friday night I was able to get there early enough that I could park fairly close, being what Murray Hill park is. By this time we had shrunk to a group of 3 so when I told the hostess about the reservation, they couldn't find it. Uh, what? I called yesterday and all my info was taken down. Odd, but they had plenty of open tables so they seated us right away. The noise level can be brutal. Between other tables, the bar and the music we had to talk pretty loudly to each other. Our server Jessica was awesome and started us is chips and salsa, one green and one red. The red one was freshmade salsa while the green one was similar to tomatilloes and avocadoes. Not thick like guac but thinner, subtle and refreshing. One of my friends ended up mixing the two together and that made it even better. I was surprised by how fast our food came out after being ordered, like under 10 mins. I got the slow and low brisket fajitas which were just good but I did like that the corn tortillas where housemade and tasted more like they were made from cornmeal than corn flour. I dunno, I could be wrong. One friend got the cheese enchiladas and was very underwhelmed by it while the other friend got the ground beef puffy tacos and thought that while they were filling, they were just ok. Despite the meal, we still managed to have a good time. I'd try them again as I saw some items I want to taste but maybe not on a Friday.

Chips and salsa were good. Waiter was nice. Our dinners were just ok. Nothing special.

This is my first time trying this place out. It's Xmas Eve, many places are closing for the holiday..why not? Well I'm glad I did. I ordered the taco combination. I had steak, pastor, and fish. All 3 were full of meat and delicious. The slaw on the fish taco was sweet and paired well with the fish choice. The steak was cooked just right. The pastor had a half of pineapple on it so that says a lot right there. The best part has to be the margarita. It was $5 and to go! The house sauce was a bit spicy for my taste, seem full of heat not actual flavor but I'm sure that's a individual preference. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I was asked if I would like to tip for a call in /pick up order and I did..when I got home I had no plasticware or napkins.

What happened! We walked in on a Sunday afternoon. 4 people were sitting at the bar area and one table was occupied. We waited to be seated as the sign instructed. 8 minutes later we made eye contact with one of the 2 bar tenders behind the bar and he would not help us in any way. In fact, he looked away. So, we decided to sit at the bar. It then took awhile for a bar tender to stop talking to his friends (perhaps clients..???) and tend to us. I asked for a frozen margarita. He said it's broken. We ordered food. We got a beef entrée instead of chicken. I got a nacho plate. It photographed well but was really dry. I felt bad for asking for another tea. I guess it was odd to see two extra customers wanting food and drink on this particular Sunday so I'll probably think of a different place to go next time. Very disappointing. Perhaps this was just an off day.

Needed food and told my host I wanted some local fare. Nothing too much like a chain. He picked this place and it did not disappoint. They checked temperatures and required masks. We sat at the bar and asked them to change the station which they promptly turned to a good hockey game. I got the Spicy beef Enchiladas and I recommend them highly. They were a mess. And they came with rice and beans which just sopped up the mess. I loved every bite. I had asked for a fried egg on top and they missed that. But were willing to go get me one quickly but I decided against because I get the egg for the mess and I already had one. Plenty of juicy sauce on the enchiladas. I recommend the place highly.

Yummy. Great service. Chris was awesome. Not too expensive. Husband says they have the best steak tacos ever. I wouldn't know, the great salsa, the puffy tacos and the street corn had me stuffed. Will come again. Came again. Brought a friend. He loved the el jefe burrito. I went with corn salad and tamales. Yum! Corn cob was seriously small.. not cool. Tiny kernels but so stinkin good. The mole is soo yummy. Husband went with steak tacos again and said they were consistently the best tacos he's had.

Tex Mex in Jax. I have come here a couple of times. First time was after gym on a Friday night. It was not over crowded and we sat almost immediately. Drinks are good. Try the watermelon whiskey sour. A new twist on an old favorite. Refreshing, tart and just delicious. Followed or accompanied by the queso fundido with chorizo like your grandmother would have made if she were Mexican or Tex Mex. served on a cast iron skillet, it's a perfect starter or finisher. Depending how hungry you are. We followed up with the fajitas on national fajitas day. It was abundant and with skirt steak was sufficient to share with my spouse. Plenty of peppers and onions and home made tortillas. Great choices including bottomless mimosas for $12.

This place is soooo delicious. First, the vibe is super cool. There was live music and the singer was outstanding! I was pretty sad when she stopped at 9pm because she was keeping the vibe lively. The place is decorated with the Tex mex theme. We had tecate and $2 tequila shots. The salsa has a sweet taste to it. The floutas are the most amazing thing ever - perfectly fried with the tasty shredded chicken. The shrimp taco, chorizo taco, and fish taco - all very delicious and I recommend! AJ and Zach at the bar were beyond friendly, great at conversation, and we even chatted about other local places nearby. They were great!

Great food and great service. Love the Tex mex ambience too. Tuesdays and fridays are crazy loud so we avoid it those nights. This is the best Mexican restaurant in Jax.

We tried 'El Jefe' for the first time in Murray Hill and was super excited to find a Local Tex-Mex restaurant so close to Avondale. We went on a Thursday where the specials included a Thursday Tequila flight and Chef's choice Taco platter. First the chips came out warm which was a plus for me. We went for the Chef's choice Taco Platter which had 3 chicken flautas, 1 shrimp and tuna ceviche tortilla, 3 carne asada tacos and 1 brisket sope for $25! The orange sauce was super spicy and had my tongue on fire and I usually can handle heat. Overall, really enjoyed this new to us restaurant! Amanda was a great server so go check it out.

So first off I'll say we will be willing to give it a 2nd chance but our first visit was....eh. We arrived at 7:40 and were told would be a 25 minute wait. It seemed busy and loud so we went outside to wait. We saw a lot of people leave but figured maybe other people were waiting inside at the bar or something. Nearly right on the dot 35 min later they called with a table available. We go inside and I literally could see 10 tables that were empty. Not sure why the 35 min wait when had so many vacant tables. Anyhow, we sit down and they bring out chips and salsa. Salsa was very good. We order abs food came rather quickly. Hubby got veggie enchiladas that came with a mole sauce. The sauce was drowning the 3 enchiladas and was honestly worst thing ever tasted. Was like bbq sauce with ketchup and some chocolate or something. He said the veggies and beans were good. The waitress was super nice and removed it from our bill since we both agreed the sauce tasted rancid. Funny part is we just looked at online menu again once got home and veggie enchilada isn't even supposed to have mole sauce so not sure why they made it that way. I got the pork Tex mex bowl and it was very good. We will give it another shot and hope they seat us faster and won't order the mole sauce lol

I've tried El Jefe several times, always hoping for better, but I've left each time underwhelmed. I love Mexican food - pretty much any variety, I'm down for! To date, I've only met disappointment here in Jax. I've tried several entrees here: enchiladas, puffy Tacos, tamales, and flautas. None of them wowed me (tamales came close - I did enjoy their sauce). The enchilada sauce was weak and lacked a discernible flavor. The puffy tacos were very greasy. The flautas were mediocre. I thankfully ordered the tamales on my last two visits - they saved the day. Service on all 3 occasions has been good - so hats off to management there. I hope they stay open and continue to work on their flavors, because it's a great location and a much needed addition to the neighborhood!

I think this place has some potential to really be a hot spot, and I was really excited to try it out when all the hype was being built around its opening - being one of the first new spots opening up on this side of town. Be sure that you read the menu carefully: I accidentally ordered the Mexican street corn and completely overlooked the fact that it was a salad on the menu. Completely my own fault. The food was pretty good, though. The ceviche is excellent and I have been wanting to go again specifically for this item. The space is hip and clean, but the service can be off sometimes, so be willing to sit if it comes to it. I would definitely recommend this place, still and I am looking forward to coming back. The place has a great vibe and is aesthetically pleasing, and quite clean.

Nice location Food are good and temperature are perfect. Drinks are perfect make it The bar need more invited customers because is a nice potential bar I will really recommend that bring some real Latin music with better sound and happy kind real mariachi group. Remember is a Mexican restaurant where the people like to sing and have fun. I really recommend to everyone like Latin food

El Jefe definitely has potential. I ordered the Al pastor taco plate for pickup a couple of weeks ago. It's located in trendy Murray Hill and the inside of the restaurant looks really nice. The bag was stapled shut so I didn't check the order, a minor rookie mistake. The tacos were very good! The meat was delicious and the pineapple was a nice touch. Typically, al pastor tacos have chunks of pineapple but these have whole grilled slices. Now for the bad stuff. 1. My order didn't include any silverware. I had a side of rice and beans so I definitely needed something to eat it with. 2. The rice and beans was awfullllllll! The rice was incredibly bland. It tasted like tomatoes; nothing less and nothing more. No bueno. 3. According to the menu, all plates include a side of avocado salsa verde which I did not get. I think El Jefe can do better and I will probably try them again. Maybe they'll add a la carte tacos to the menu (hint hint.)

We seated immediately, and our waiter Bryan was amazing, and attentive. I got the tacos al pastor, which was delicious, the carne was better than most but not the best, HOWEVER the tacos de carne asada were spectacular. The meat was nice and thin, and grilled to perfection. Nice tender and yummy! I had two "Rough Neck" margaritas, and that was enough to give me a happy buzz. Will definitely be coming back.

So in giving El Jefe and third a final try.....I am sad to say, I will not be back. Went for dinner last night to celebrate a friends birthday. Really wanted this place to be better. Got there at 6:45 pm..and there were about 6 tables of people....so not busy. We were seated and there we sat.....and sat....and sat. Finally someone (after 15mins) came to get our drink order. (6 drinks) And we waited.....and waited. 3 more people showed up.....and sat down.....but no wait staff. So those 3 got up, went to the bar, got their drinks, came back to table and we STILL didn't even have water.....it's been over 30 minutes now. 2 people from table went to ask what was taking so long....as there wasn't a person at the bar and still only a handful of tables eating. FINALLY we got our drinks....but then we had to wait again to order. I at 7:45pm...I got up and asked the manager to send staff over to get our orders or we would be leaving. Boom....we have 3 people within 5 minutes. Then we wait.....and wait again. We have to order drinks repetitively just to get something. Finally the food come out....and we are missing 3 peoples meals. So as the table is eating.....because by that time we ALL were starving.....3 people had to wait and watch. About 10 minutes later their food arrived. Happily the food taste was better than my previous 2 times ( still subpar), but sadly the service hasn't gotten better....maybe worse. The employees really have bad attitudes, act like there is no rush is seeing the customers, and rarely check to see if everything is okay. I have been here 3 times now.....and will NOT be back there anytime soon outside of grabbing a drink from the bar....if that! I am saddened to say they have put a bad taste in my mouth.....pun intended....and I have MANY other choices in the area to give my business to. So El Jefe.....you have a lot of training to do for your staff! I will add that the manager did comp our drinks and 1 dessert. We appreciated that....but doesn't make up for such a bad experience!