Branded as “Mexican soul food,” the popular eatery known as El Camino Mezcal & Tequila Bar made its debut in West Palm Beach’s The Square last July. Since then, the largest location to date has been serving up hungry (and thirsty) patrons in its enormous 8,500-square-foot, second-floor location.
El Camino restaurants are known to be some of the busiest restaurants in the country. For example, the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale locations are currently servicing from 50,000 to 70,000 customers a month.
Last year, Modern Restaurant Group transformed the former Brother Jimmy’s barbecue restaurant into its third outpost of their sizzling hot popular El Camino collection following the original opening in Delray Beach in 2014 and Fort Lauderdale in 2018. Later this year, they will be opening a fourth location in Boca Raton that promises to be their biggest one yet.
What makes El Camino really shine is the unusual fact that they make literally everything in house. From the kicked-up hot sauces to the flavor-filled salsas, their eye was certainly in every detail when committing to offering a scratch kitchen.
The payoff for their painstaking labor?
Becoming one of the best Mexican restaurants in town, serving up to a packed crowd nearly every night of the week.
The West Palm Beach second floor location is more than quadruple the size of the beloved Delray location. The buzzing, top corner spot boasts indoor and outdoor dining options along with two bars – one located inside the massive restaurant and one outdoors on the rounded terrace overlooking the plaza.
A bright and colorful interior boasts murals painted by local artist Ruben Ubiera, lime green booths, soaring ceilings and lots of wood and brick accents that contribute to its chic vibe.
Our friendly server told us they have a cold pressed juice room where they squeeze fresh lemons, limes, watermelons and oranges each day.
We got started with a Guava Habanero margarita, a delicious combination of Reposado tequila combined with habanero, agave, fresh lime, and guava nectar. The 50/50 margarita was just as good, simply prepared with Ilegal Mezcal Joven Blanco tequila, fresh lime and agave.
A visit here would be remiss without starting off with their famed chips and salsa, or chips and guacamole. If undecided, we recommend indulging in both. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did.
A warm and perfectly salted basket of freshly made chips arrived accompanied by an addicting sampling of their homemade charred tomatillo salsa and morita salsa. The fresh guacamole is made to order filled with cilantro, lime and jalapenos. You can order it classic style or spicy for a little kick.
The Mexican street corn was the best we have ever sampled, topped with lime aioli, chipotle, cilantro, and cotija cheese. You can order one to share, but it’s so good you won’t want to.
There is a massive collection of tacos on the menu here, taking every form – think veggie, chorizo, shrimp, barbacoa, pork belly, carne asada, or crispy fish, to name a few.
El Camino is well known for their sizzling fajitas, so we opted for the Achiote Chicken. An enormous (and juicy) sampling arrived accompanied by all the familiar sides – pico de gallo, sour cream, charred tomato, caramelized onions, peppers, guacamole, and Monterey Jack cheese.
The cheesy, Achiote Chicken enchiladas were a standout as well accompanied by Mexican rice, salsa roja and black beans along with a generous sampling of sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo. The overstuffed chicken burrito (also available with smoked brisket, shrimp, carnitas or veggie) is a must-try, complemented by a choice of pinto, smoky black, or refried beans.
This summer, they will be celebrating their one-year anniversary in The Square.
(Keep an eye out for celebrity sightings - Janet Jackson was in Florida after reportedly selling her NYC condo and seeking real estate in South Florida. She was spotted at El Camino’s Fort Lauderdale and Delray locations in the same week, enjoying chicken enchiladas and strawberry lemonade).
El Camino Mezcal & Tequila Bar is located at 700 South Rosemary Avenue in West Palm Beach.
