Dominguez Mexican Food

Dominguez Mexican Food is located on Airway Boulevard less than a mile from the El Paso International Airport, yet I rarely see it mentioned on travel web sites or forums as a place for out of town visitors to enjoy El Paso style Mexican food. Its popularity with locals, though, establishes it as one of the city’s premier Mexican restaurants. I think visitors would enjoy it as much as the locals do.

Dominguez is one of the best examples of classic El Paso Mexican food the way I remember it from the 1970’s and 1980’s–the kind that not only offers a wealth of flavors, but also provides the deep, rich colors that are lacking from most Americanized Mexican food. When I came in 2023 for the first time in over a decade the restaurant seemed dated but still going strong..

Chips and Salsa

Chips and salsa

The experience starts with the chips which are thick, flavorful, and non-greasy. Traditional salsa is served along with pico de gallo. Different salsas have been served different times I have gone (sometimes red and sometimes green). At times I thought the salsa had a good bite but lately it has not. It does have a good flavor, though.

I found the pico de gallo served with chunks of green chile, tomatoes, onions, and other seasoning, to be almost addictive.

If things are not spicy enough, though, they will bring some Chile de Arbol at no extra cost.

Combination Plates

Combination No. 1

The Mexican plate provides a good taste of traditional El Paso style food. I used to think that the Red Enchiladas were flavorful but not too spicy. I now think they are flavorful and taste the way you would expect from the deep red flavored sauce. The spice level, though, is not up to my memory or expectation. These were good, but in the past I had classified them as some of the best in the city.

The Chile Relleno is worthwhile although not terribly spicy.. I look for cheese that melts well and the one here meets my expectation for this as well as other factors.

A Taco or tamal would be the other item that comes with the Mexican plate (substitutions are allowed or at least they were on previous visits). The taco shell is fried and filled with ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. I do not think the taco here is one of the most memorable in the city, but it is good.

Rice and beans are actually good, in contrast to most places where they are just there.

Other Items
Dominguez has some of the best Mole Enchiladas in El Paso–it’s a safe bet that it is among the top two or three..

Flautas

The Flautas are made with a larger diameter than most, allowing more meat inside. The shell seems less dry than most, and I would put these among the city’s best except that I think the guacamole is its weak point..

Closing Comments
Dominguez has live music on Friday evening, and is serving a good number of customers. I am not sure if it is still the happening place that I found on previous visits, but it was always family fun with a lot of kids in the building. It has been here for years, and the fact that it is still open with the large number of newer restaurants giving it competition says a lot about its food.

This is one of the restaurants that serves (or at least used to serve) special dinners on Fridays during Lent.

RATING: 23

Mexican Food Details

Chile Index:
Cooking Oil:	N/A

 

Special Ratings

	Red Enchiladas
	Mole Enchiladas
	Chile Relleno
	Flautas
	Beef Tacos
	Filete Veracruzano
	Chips
	Salsa