ELEMIÂ Restaurant
Mexican restaurant · El Paso County ·
Masa-first tacos, refined borderland cooking, craft cocktails
Masa-first tacos, refined borderland cooking, craft cocktails
"This El Paso taqueria was a semi-finalist on the 2025 James Beard Awards’ long list of Outstanding Restaurants, its third time earning a nod from the prestigious food foundation. Run by husband and wife team Kristal and Emiliano Marentes, it focuses on freshly made tortillas, which are the star of its tacos. From there, the chef explores traditional Mexican recipes and flavors with various techniques, like using a Japanese grill rather than trompo to cook meat. Using high-quality meats, finding the right amount of time for them to marinate, and making every bite special is the goal here. Diners can also enjoy plates of agua chile with the catch of the day, desserts like pineapple sponge cake with tres leches, and limited special dishes like gorditas covered with colorful produce with fatty beef belly inside." - Courtney E. Smith
"An El Paso restaurant nominated for Outstanding Restaurant." - Courtney E. Smith
"An El Paso restaurant driven by chef Emiliano Marentes that received recognition among the James Beard Awards' Texas-group nominees, highlighting its rising profile." - Nadia Chaudhury
"An El Paso restaurant led by chef Emiliano Marentes that earned a semifinalist nod on the 2022 James Beard Awards longlist, signaling regional culinary recognition for the chef and the establishment." - Polly Anna Rocha
"Elemi in El Paso serves a taco campesino made with dark corn. Chef Emiliano Marentes flips the taco over and singes all the cheese, not just the edges, making it exceptionally delicious."
