The Tap Bar & Restaurant

When I walked in about 4pm I wanted to walk back out. It was really dark for a place that serves food, not exclusively bar fare. It felt like a bar who eventually decided to serve food. The very back area had better lighting so chose to sit over there. Wall decor was interesting. The bar/restaurant was about 1/2 full. People seemed happy eating, drinking, and talking so decided to continue on. A tad bit cramped with too many chairs for the tables in the back. The chairs were comfortable though. It has a bar, a pool table and big screen tv's and music playing. The waitress was polite enough but was not attentive to our drinks. We had to ask for refills. She walked by several times and looked at us but never asked if we wanted refills (maybe due to dark lighting and dark cups she couldn't see they were low and eventually empty). I had the shrimp tacos which were good.

I recently visited The Tap Bar & Restaurant in El Paso and had a great time overall. Our waitress, Rosa, was absolutely amazing, friendly, attentive, and really made the experience enjoyable. The service was excellent from start to finish. The drinks were a highlight. Both the beer and margaritas were solid choices, and the live music added a fun, vibrant atmosphere that made the night memorable. On the downside, I wasn’t a fan of the bacon cheeseburger, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. But with the great service, drinks, and entertainment, the positives definitely outweighed that one miss. Overall, a strong 4-star experience. I’d come back for the drinks, atmosphere, and especially the outstanding service.

Decided to stop in for a quick bit while out walking. Kind of an odd musty smell inside, but I stayed to eat. Had the chicken nachos. Large portion, but the chicken had zero flavor or seasoning. Just boiled shredded chicken. Salsa was ok. Service was prompt and friendly.

Very nice little dive bar and grill. Full menu, open early, great service and felt like I was right at home. They had a variety of Mexican food and drinks. Glad I stopped in. Definitely be back when in the area

My first time downtown El Paso and I really enjoyed The Tap! The music, atmosphere, service, the older crowd, the drinks, and food. I love the mirrors and disco ball too. I would have loved to see what it was like back in the day. Definitely will be back! Pictures are a little blurry but everything was delicious.

Garbage service. The bar tender really sucked at her job. We chose to sit at the bar and She ignored us for the majority of our time there. The food we ordered was mediocre, my fries were under cooked and my boyfriends burger was awful and not made the way he ordered, they gave us one napkin to share, which i thought was funny but my boyfriend did not. When we were ready for the check to leave, the bartender never came back. We seriously debated just walking out on the tab since she chose to ignore us the entire time. The other women with her behind the bar refused to help us when we asked for the check, one completely ignored me and the other told us to wait for our server and gave us smirks and whispered to the other bar tender there with her. Our bartender stayed at the far end of the bar on her phone with another person just scrolling on her phone, finally my boyfriend had to get up and go get her so we could pay for the check. Not sure if it was a race thing since he was white and everyone else there was mexican. But terrible service altogether. Its a shame since everyone around us seemed to be getting attentive service. Never going back.

Good service, food and beer. Try the brisket nachos.

Famous nachos were really good. Service was top notch, and food was good. Fun, loud atmosphere, all beers were bottle only. Pool table, jukebox, full bar.

Came highly recommended by every local we asked! Worth your stop. Look for it. It's discreet. Dive bar sure. But they are so friendly, you'll quickly feel like your home. Authentically prepared local favorites. Great music. Warning to everyone that thinks garlic is spicy. They probably won't have mild enough salsa for you. LOL Prices are better than Reasonable. So to tip well.

Very very disappointed. I ordered the famous Nachos and added cheese the total for that order was around $17 I even added "instructions" after reading some comments about people getting orders literally plain with nothing on it. I literally put "extra jalapeños with everything on it please" on the extra instructions and I even called and asked for extra salsa (to be able to mention I added those extra instructions so my nachos would for sure have everything on it) The order was dropped off and my nachos were plain dried up shredded chicken with just cheese nothing else. I also ordered the Chilli Relleno burrito and chili Colorado Burrito. The only good burrito was the Chili Relleno.. the other one had a sweet flavor to it and seemed too salty as well I heard really good things about this place and I've ordered from here before last time I was in ELP and I remember the order being pretty good.. I honestly just wanted to try a different item this time and it was a big mistake. That was def a waste of money I just spent tonight. Very disappointed. Won't be coming here ever again.

Fun dive bar with great music all around and what you're looking for to get a decent bite with your drinks and play pool. Bartender is awesome and gets after it.

4 stars for the good food and service. This old school bar/restaurant is a great place to eat. However, the music is crazy loud. So forget about having a decent conversation. Everyone here were pretty much yelling at others at their tables because it's so hard to carry a conversation. Other than that, the carne desebrada tacos were great, the salsa is a bit spicy.

Came to Tap Bar Restaurant at the suggestion by the friendly low key bartender at the Toolbox, El Paso, TX. It's a vintage down home dIve bar & Mexican restaurant established 1956.  On Friday 6pm, Taproom is popping. Great musicians singing in Spanish, English, Música Latina & American Country Western. Consumate singers. Salsa is a dark red brown like the devil with chile seeds, bits of green cilantro, earthy taste of funky garlic. Picante for the uninitiated. You have been warned. Unfortunately, the Totopos seem out of a bag.  Mexican Plate #1: 1) Excellent Taco de Res Deshebrada/stringy beef. The tortilla de maíz is thin and grilled to a crisp, not fried creating lightness in flavour. Standard shreded iceberg lettuce, diced tomato, grated white cheese 2) Enchilada is tortilla de maíz wrapping melted white cheese & touch of ground meat in a mild red chile tinged sauce.  3) Chile Relleno:  Pasilla Chile, stuffed with chewy white cheese. Covered by a puffy, floury, thick egg batter & fried. Both of the above were rather pedestrian.  4) Frijoles de Pinto are very creamy, maybe touch of lard for extra rich flavour with melted jack cheese on top.  5) Mexican Rice, bit salty. Acidic tomato sauce and perhaps bit of oregano added interest.  6) Good sized, fresh mixed green salad with pickled carrot, cucumber, chopped tomato to refresh the palate between bites. 1-6a) Margarita is a pass. Flaccid, weak flavours. The enlivening acidity of the lime didn't come through. Cheap Tequila that had very little alluring, fermented Agave based scent. Had a flat, unexciting lemonade profile.  Another weak aspect was too much salt in various foods which I didn't initially notice, but I was drinking water for hours afterwards.  I must say the musical entertainment made much of this food more palatable. Overall food was 3 while the  music was 4. Round up to 4- stars for my love of dive joints.

I got the chili Verde burrito and their famous nachos off of DoorDash while I was in town for work. I was told that this place was awesome by the locals, and they were right. The nachos are fantastic and I could've ordered several of these burritos. I would definitely eat here again. I'm giving it four stars because I didn't actually go to the place so I didn't get the full experience, but I would absolutely eat this again.

This is for sure a dive bar. Conveniently located near my hotel and by a recommended from the front desk I decided to try it out. When you walk in it's dark. Very very dark. Like a dive bar should be. Sat down at the bar and was greeted promptly. Handed a menu and was a little confused. A lot of the entrees which were Mexican in nature, were served with baked potatoes. Now I'm a foodie, I didn't necessarily mind but I really was left thinking. Not the normal texmex food. Got the combo one. Stuffed pepper, taco, enchilada beans and rice. Was the perfect amount of food. They give you chips and salsa as a starter. Chips are super crisp but the salsa was too spicy for this guero. They don't have any beers on tap, all bottles. They don't have free water (all bottled) but the food was good. If you're hungry and now that I've set the expectation that it's dark go try some food!

I walked to this bar located in the downtown area. It's in a convenient location for those staying downtown. This is a bar that clearly locals go to. It's dark lit like any bar and the food is authentic Mexican food. Everything tasted really fresh and I couldn't stop eating my food. The Chile con queso (not pictured) is amazing!!!! The bartender who was also the waitress was really nice and sweet. She gave us time to order and checked on us. The music was a vibe!!!

It's a dive bar. Nothing fancy. I think this place is great depending on who you go with. I was a little shocked when I got my tab... $35 for two drinks and a small appetizer. The appetizer also was not good and not worth the price. Service was pretty fast and everyone was super friendly. I'd go again if I was close proximity, but wouldn't go out of my way to try it again.

Good food and drinks. Claudia is a very attentive bartender! The bar has an old school ambiance.

Yes it is a dive bar... so manage your expectations. Food was good, drinks were good, and service was top notch. Jasmin was awesome.

The server was very prompt and pleasant on a Friday afternoon wasn't to busy . Then the 5 o'clock crowd started to get there so it was very lively . We just had a big margarita and their famous nacho's Mexican style . Wow the jalapeños were fire and the house salsa my caliente ! But you can't stop eating them! It's a cool dive bar must at least experience once . The sign is great and people are nice !

We love this place. It's a legit "old guy/dive bar" that walks the line of somehow remaining true to itself while being friendly to tourists and office workers. Best nachos I've had. Yeah, there always at least a few patrons who look shady, but the vibe is always good. Wonderfully helpful and kind staff. A great selection of bar noshes, drinks and real food. My first visit, I went in grumpy and angry and left in a happy mood. And now we return every time we're in the area, and we look forward to it - my wife and I can't even mention The Tap without smiling. The Tap doesn't need any more business: they're plenty full. But you owe it to yourself to get in there and have a meal, and maybe a trago. Clean restrooms and reasonably low prices, too. Go early to avoid waiting for a seat.

Place is cool came for tacos Tuesday had some Tecates and ordered the tacos Tuesday tacos , they are fast but they are TINY, not sure if worth $2 maybe $1 .

The food was very good, for the price of a burger, fries and 12 wings. At other places it would have cost just as much for 10 wings. I was able to get my fill, and was definitely satisfied. Would definitely eat their food again!

I love this bar. The food is good and the atmosphere is great. This place is the real deal.

Definitely a DIVE! A most enjoyable DIVE! Good food, great prices and you can't beat the cast of characters who work and patronize this place. It's a must stop if you're ever in El Paso.

I usually don't (willingly) go to dive bars, this is an exception. I come here strictly for the nachos, the nachos are the best bar nachos I've ever had. The ambiance is just like any other dive bar, service is very friendly, bathrooms are clean, and the food is amazing. Seriously, just come try the nachos. But don't try the Chihuahua beer, lost my buzz from how awful that was.

Service is extremely slow. Took forever to take my drink order. Once I received my food, never came back. Asked for additional salsa and was ignored. Customers behind me canceled nachos order cuz they never got it. Was looking forward to eating the famous "nachos". Won't be coming back

The food here is amazing, but I wouldn't feel comfortable going here without my husband. The chile relleno was the best I've had, but while the food was all enjoyable and the staff was nice, the local drunks (it was early lunch) I could have done without. The bartender was in control and wasn't afraid to keep customers in line. The clientele was very mixed that included a lot of professionals. Maybe next time takeout is the solution!

This old school bar+restaurant is awesome with some kickass Mexican food. Come here quick and have a brew and some enchiladas/tacos in a super comfy environment.

This is a great dive bar. Pool table in the back. Good food. Cheap drinks. I stayed at a nearby hotel and came here twice during my stay. The staff is very friendly, even when they are very busy.

The famous brisket nachos didn't look like the pics on Yelp. It was some of kind of Mexican meat, not your typical brisket. It came with salsa but no guac or sour cream. They were ok but I think there's probably better somewhere else.

Boy they do live up to the hype. You gotta come try their The Tap Famous Nachos. They most certainly hit the spot. The nacho chips are YUGE and loaded to the max with delicious shredded brisket. Great spot to pregame before hitting the streets.

Deshebrada Nacho Plate. Let me repeat. Deshebrada Nacho Plate. In case you aren't a Spanish-speaker and you're not confident ordering it, here it is phonetically: DAY-SAY-BRA-DA nacho plate Do you see that I want to make it very easy for you to do the right thing here? lol One of life's perfect "drunchies" foods. A must try after a night of drinking, but they are also delicious sober. Dive bar environs...draws an interesting and variable crowd of El Paso locals and visitors (often staying Downtown.) I always enjoy seeing the vibe of the evening and have met some interesting people there. Barkeeps are generally excellent if you appreciate the no-frills, fast-beverage sort of service. They focus on serving over fawning and may be chattier when things slow down.

Cozy bar/restaurant right in the center of the city. Old timey feel, a bit dark, but very clean and the bartender is very nice. Could get a bit crowded at night but that's that's the kind of bar you want to go when you want to hang with friends. Good prices on drinks, food is average. Takeout orders take quite a long time for some reason and the prices are not the same as the menu.

Loved this place for a quick stop for beer and dinner while at a conference. If you like it hot, order the chips and salsa. Delicious! Liked the enchiladas but for me the chips and salsa were the star of the show. That's fine by me because I consider chips and salsa a whole food group.

I came here while doing a local bar crawl. There's not much I could, so I asked if they made molletes, which unfortunately they didn't. However, about 20 minutes later, the waiter said the cook would make them for me and brought them out quickly. This was probably due to it being an event, but I still appreciated it. I only ate half the order (which was still a LOT), because it had lard and as a vegetarian, that taste doesn't appeal to me, but I'm not one to waste food. The server and bartender were also very helpful and on the ball. This is one of those places that service goes along way. I'm glad I had a chance to support this local joint.

The TAP sadly doesn't have any beers on tap, but it does have good food and cheap drinks. If you want some home style Tex-Mex this has it with tacos, chile rellenos, and nachos, but kitchen closes at 9pm. The service at the bar is sub-par and not attentive, with mistakes being made and consistently waiting. The atmosphere is a dive bar with mood lighting, in case that's what you were looking for.

We stopped in on a Thursday around 9 pm and it was packed. Karaoke in full swing. Such a classic dive bar with great service. Sometimes it's hard to grab a table but when one comes available go and grab it with your group and your server will promptly come and take drink orders. The beers are cheap and the food is surprisingly good, rellanos plate and the Chile Colorado burritos is my go to. My wife had the green chili chicken enchiladas and they did not suck. We didn't try the cocktails but they have a full bar so I'm sure they can make just about anything.

Even in the middle of the day on a Wednesday there was a fun vibe in there. The waitress was super nice, quick, and the kitchen staff brought out the food hot. The flautas and torta both desebrada were delish! Walked down from our hotel a block away. I know it's a local favorite for those in the know and now I get it.

Ez food but no fancy drinks. Bartender was very nice but didn't know how to make mixed drinks .. nice for a dive bar experience

I will be full well into tomorrow from the number 1 which is a taco , relleno, enchiladas, with bean rice , lettuce and guacamole. Yup served really hot and fresh. The free taco chips and salsa were really hot. This place has friendly staff and I met a real cool soldier. I think before we give 40 billion a week to anywhere we need to invest in the Down towns of the USA. This downtown was full of such blight and despair. Many gang members. Reminds me of a movie set of a really bad city, TMNT, ....DeathWish 3. Back to the bar let me tell you we are lucky to have this resource. I walked around for an hour looking for places all the good places were full or closed by 8pm. Tap is hot food served cheap. Order the taco plates as they offer the most variety. Also the facade of the TAP makes it look small but it is actually huge inside! Tremendous and shhhhhhpllleeennndid!

The server was extremely rude, the food was mid and cold. The smell from the bar was horrendous! I would never recommend it to anyone!

I came here because a friend said the nachos were a game changer. Last time I was in town they were closed due to COVID. Thankfully they were open this time around and boy these nachos did not disappoint! Don't let the look of the place fool you. Yes, it is a bar, it's dark, your local daily drinkers heckling the bartender, and has a juke box playing. All of these things added to the experience. I sat at the bar and was immediately taken care of by "GUAPA", you can tell she liked her job, her locals, and had a good time serving. I told her that I came for the nachos and she recommended I get the brisket nachos with jalapeños and guac. I did just that and they were amazing! They take tortillas cut them in half and fry them, those are the chips. Great experience and great food. Can't wait to come back.

We went once and that was it. The drinks were strong and good, but the smell of sewage deterred me from ordering anything to eat.. It was very strong yo be honest.

U maynot find it easily if u are not from the area....but..... yes .. it is a little dive bar... tvs .. juke box... booths and bar stools..... but more importantly..... (at least when I was here).... A bartender who was always there..anything I asked.. even if she was running circles.. always came back ....I ordered the tap house nachos.... Humongous portion! Very good! .... Ordered some burritos to go... and one of their dinner plates (have yet to try)...... I couldn't find a lot of pubs in my area...(doesn't mean they arenot there) .... But this was a place I would come back too...........from other orders I saw go out ... they were large! Authentic.....local....I'm a sucker for the juke box....... So once I hear music.... I'm in

Dirty, bad service, the food was not the best it was old and cold. I understand its a bar but the cigarette smell is tooo much for those of us who don't smoke. We went during the day on a wknd but the place was just dirty. Took forever to get their attention and they weren't that busy.

A TRIP DOWN EL PASO'S MEMORY LANE El Paso's iconic dive bar started in 1956 and its legacy continues today. Although it is hidden in the depths of downtown, it has stood the test of time and continues to be a flashback of the good ol' days. From the outside, you can see the neon signs and deep, glowing reds that allow it to capture the eyes of passersby. Upon entering, you experience the dark crimson lighting of the bar on the left and roller chair seating straight ahead along the long, narrow path. Finally, the music and dancing puts it all together to make this the iconic bar that we celebrate to this day. Now lets talk about the food... The FOOD: BAR PROPER FOR EL PASO PROPER The Tap Famous Nachos: NACHOS THAT CAN MAKE YOU TAP OUT These nachos need no introduction. Arriving on a warm plate is a mix of melted, gooey cheese covering the brisket and salsa. First thing you notice is the strong smell, radiating warmth, and aesthetic, spiral presentation on a warm plate. All of this on housemade tortilla chips, each the size of half-a-street-taco tortilla! Each bite is crisp and crunchy, but balanced out by the soft and palatable toppings. The beans provide heartiness and a creamy texture, while the avocado provides creaminess but also refreshes the tastebuds and cuts the beefy brisket. The salsa refreshes and replenishes the thirst and stimulates the appetite. The VERDICT: TIME TRAVELING BACK TO EL PASO WITH LIBATIONS CIRCA 1956 Take a trip back in time into El Paso's rich history by checking out The Tap. With an intimate and festive setting, the Tap offers a unique dive bar experience from its stand out The Tap Famous Nachos, lively music, dancing, and rolling armchairs. Definitely check out and share a plate of The Tap Famous Nachos and top them with either brisket, chicken, or a la Mexicana. You can appreciate the half-a-street-taco-tortilla tortilla chips used to shovel in the cheese, salsa, beans, avocado, and meat. I will definitely be back to indulge in the rich history of this city, as well as The Tap Famous Nachos any time someone from out of town wants the all-in-one El Paso experience.

First night downtown El Paso and we find this place. Dive bar but apparently everyone's dive bar. Eclectic mix of folks. Got treated like visiting dignitaries when the owner/manager found out we were visiting town. #PrideOfPlace Food was very good and the draft beers were cold.

The Tap has always been an interesting, hole in the wall type bar. There isn't a place quite like it. Some say it's weird and some say it's cool. For me, it's all of the above. You get all kinds of people visiting...people of all ages, some from out of town, etc. It's been said that you might catch some famous bands stopping by after a gig. I haven't seen anyone famous in the times I've visited. It's been awhile since I last visited. I'd stop by every once in awhile when I worked downtown, while bar hopping. I enjoyed coming, especially after a hard day at work. My mood would completely change. Well yeah...a cold beer always hit the spot! They usually play a mix of music. The drinks are affordable. They also serve different Mexican dishes. Go for the nachos! They're great and world famous! They had a food truck but I'm not sure if it's still around. I had some flautas/taquitos from the food truck sometime back. They weren't bad but I would go with the nachos instead. I think everyone has to go to The Tap at least once in their lives. It's just one of those places. Not too much more to say but just go and try their nachos...and have a cold beer with them or whatever your poison of choice is.

One of my favorite downtown places to eat. If you are looking for something upscale--this is not the establishment. However, if you seek a timeless slice of everyday El Paso life...you've arrived. You can experience solid border fare and old style cocktails at reasonable prices. You also witness the menagerie of regulars, local artists, musicians, and those who simply walk in from the street to take part in what has made The Tap a down-to-earth favorite for generations. Remember not to ruin the experience by bringing a pretentious "attitude".

A great atmosphere. The staff were really friendly. Food was delicious and filling with fair prices. And the bathroom was clean!!! The kitchen is open late too. Very happy. Would come back.

3.5 stars. I had the nachos, they're just ok. So what is cool about this place? It's definitely a bit divey. I've been in worse divey bars but this is divey. I came on a Sunday night and they had a live band playing Spanish music which I totally dug. I even recognized some of the songs they played. That's cool, especially in a divey bar.

Small little bar n restaurant but the food is to good to pass on! Good energy to just relax and hang out with friends too.

The Tap is a very interesting place and a must visit. The Tap has a lot of history in El Paso. When you go, you will see the old school El Paso crowd mixed in with college Hipster students. It's actually really interesting to see. It's a hipster dive bar...or a dive bar on the verge of becoming hipster. Very cool. Old school mixing in with the trendiness of today. Eclectic crowd with even more eclectic music. It ranges from Top 40 to Mexican Cumbias. Add it to the bar hopping list!

We stopped by the Tap for lunch and some drinks while exploring downtown El Paso this past Saturday. I loved the vibe - it is a DIVE. And it was full of regulars at the bar. I loved the loud music, cheap beers, and TVs playing March Madness basketball. What I didn't love? The food was just okay (we had a machaca burrito and the chicken nachos). I know they're known for their nachos, but the chicken was dry and really bland - and I'd have enjoyed the nachos better without them (the beans, cheese, and "a la mexicana" toppings would have been better by their own). Also, we had to pay twice - once the bartender for our drinks and a second time the waitress who brought our food, which was weird and slow and kind of confusing. I liked the vibe - I'd definitely come back for beers at the bar but the meal itself wasn't that memorable.

Great service! Definitely a neighborhood jewel! I came for their chilaquiles and I was not disappointed. I will return and recommend!

Don't believe the hype. The deshebrada nachos are not all that. They put plenty of meat, but it was almost flavorless. They put so much tomato and onion it was constantly falling off the chips as there was hardly any cheese to hold it in place. The jalapeños might as well have been green bell peppers as they had no kick. The cheese was also bland. The free chips and salsa were better. The salsa was authentic Mexican and spicy delicious. The Lone Star longnecks were cold and the service was friendly and attentive. There is also a nice variety of tunes on the jukebox of this legendary, hole-in-the-wall dive, but there is much better Mexican food to be had in El Chuco. Es mejor si hablas Español con las meseras.