We ordered the empanadas, birria tacos, and tostones. $47 tab
Empanadas- asked for 2 beef and 1 chicken and either they are completely indistinguishable or they sent all beef. There was almost no pico or sauce on them and the dough was very thick. I've never had an empanada with thick dough like that and I've lived in New Mexico and CA, so had a lot of them. Filling was delicious and portion was good despite having no side dish at an entree price.
Birria tacos- delicious and as expected. Again it was the price of a full entree ($18 for 3 tacos) at most dine in establishments but came with no rice, beans, or sides and for this dish I'd call the portion small. My husband would not have been satisfied to eat just this as a meal without the tostones we ordered.
Tostones- These were exceptional. Some of my favorites ever. We cracked open the to-go container to keep them crisp on the drive home and they were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend if you go.
Decent fresh-Mex for when you're in the mood for that. (We have so much authentic Mexican food in this town, and this place is definitely more Americanized.) The staff person didn't seem at all phased to tell me "We don't have any hot sauce." Uhhhh, I can't even think of any type of restaurant that doesn't carry hot sauce; but maybe they were just having an off day.
TF
Tami Friedman
Jun 7, 2026
Ordered to go. Staff was friendly food was on point!!! Guacamole was AMAZING!!!
MJ
Monica Jackson
Jun 5, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ El Jalapeño has quickly become my go-to spot in Eastdale.
My absolute favorite dish is the Pechuga Empanizada. It is packed with flavor and is the definition of comfort food. I love chopping up the chicken and mixing it with the rice and mole sauce, then adding grilled peppers and onions on top. The combination is out of this world and every bite is better than the last.
My girls tried the chicken quesadillas last night. They’re generously sized, delicious, and disappeared within minutes. My girls expressed their delight and they will be requesting more soon…
My son ordered the shrimp tacos and absolutely demolished them in about five minutes. He’s not the easiest eater by any stretch, so that’s saying something. We didn’t make a single modification to the order, and he loved every bite. For a kid who can be pretty picky, that’s a huge win.
The drinks are just as impressive. The jalapeño margarita is fantastic, and their frozen Mai Tai is absolutely delicious.
What really sets El Jalapeño apart is the team. Everyone behind the counter is welcoming, attentive, and constantly moving to keep things running smoothly. You can tell they take pride in what they do, and it shows in both the food and the service.
A special shoutout to Alex. He just gets the restaurant business and understands what people are looking for. He’s a familiar face in the restaurant, present and involved rather than hidden in the background. You can see the respect his team has for him by the way they interact with him. He’s quick to jump in and help wherever needed, but he also takes the time to have genuine conversations with his customers. That kind of leadership creates the atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
I’m excited to see their continued growth as they move into a larger space in Eastdale. Alex has truly outdone himself again. If you haven’t tried El Jalapeño yet, you’re missing out. 🌶️🍹❤️
JG
John Victor Gonzalez
May 18, 2026
Great little spot in Eastdale Village. Decor was cute. Looks like a great lunch spot. It’s a bit small so it’s best suited for parties of 2 (most tables won’t fit more). The food was good but fell a bit short for this Texan with Mexican roots. I was a little shocked they did not have a spicy salsa upon request. I had the birria tacos and my wife had the chicken burrito. Both were good. I also had the Mexican street corn. It was ok but a little bland with very little topping and none on the side to add more flavor. To finish it off I had the flan but it had some grittiness to it and tasted artificial. Definitely not my favorite. The hibiscus drink was refreshing and not too sweet, just the way I like it. The service was excellent. The price was steep for lunch at $85 for two. I can see why many people (locals) would rate it highly, but for me, it was a once and done spot.