Ámbar Restaurante

Name: Ámbar Restaurante
Address: 106 W Mills Ave, El Paso, TX, United States, 79901
Telephone: (915) 440-0051
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.2

4.2

436 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mexican

Top Tags:

Immerse yourself in the time-honored techniques and evocative flavors of wood-fired Mexican cuisine at Ámbar Restaurante in downtown El Paso. The menu is led by Executive Chef Lawrence Acosta, who brings his mastery of regional Mexican cuisine to the city.

Patrons are greeted by a spectacular 40-foot-tall amber glass and polished stainless steel wall that showcases the bar area and one of the largest tequila collections in Texas.

Chef Acosta makes a conscious effort to support the boutique, family-run farms and makers in Mexico, and the menu features centuries-old Mexican recipes with a regionally driven twist. Popular dishes include ceviches, roasted cauliflower w/ mole poblano tacos, bacon tacos; al pastor; and tomahawk ribeye. For dessert, coconut tres leches and mesquite chocolate cake by Pastry Chef Jakki Rojo.

Join us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Reservations required.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 28, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(915) 440-0051

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Lunch Daily 10:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(915) 440-0051
Website
https://www.ambarelpaso.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Andres Padilla

Location
106 W Mills Ave El Paso, TX 79901
Neighborhood
El Paso
Cross street
N. Oregon St.
Parking details
Plaza Parking Garage Located At 100 E San Antonio Ave
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Ambár Ceviche$13.00
cold-smoked hawaiian albacore tuna, oven dried roma tomatoes, manzanilla olives, jalapeño, onion, capers, lime, baja olive oil, parsley
Hiramasa Verde$14.00
baja yellowtail hiramasa in herby green adobo (herbs, green chiles, lime juice), avocado, cucumber, jicama, red onion, micro cilantro
Tuna Coconut Express$15.00
hawaiian yellow fin tuna marinated "a la minute", lemongrass infused coconut milk, young coconut, habanero chile, fresh knob onion, citrus zest, microgreens
Classic Aguachile$15.00
sashimi style patagonia pink shrimp, spicy serrano-lime broth, cucumber jewels, avocado, shallot, radish, cilantro
Moonfish (Opah) Aguachile$15.00
sashimi style line-caught opah, güero chile-grapefruit broth, grapefruit supremes, asian pears, red onion, micro mustard
Vuelva la Vida$14.00
poached shrimp, grilled octopus, king crab, shucked oyster, coctel sauce, cilantro
Baja Coctel$14.00
grilled sepia, baby octopus, sashimi style patagonia pink shrimp, spicy cashew-arbol salsa macha, lime, avocado

Soup & Salad

Cesar Salad$9.00
little gem lettuce, classic tijuana cesar dressing, parmesean
Nopal Salad$12.00
grilled nopal cactus, chimichurri (herbs, green chiles, baja olive oil), shaved carrots, radish, cucumber, queso fresco, herbs
Tortilla Soup$10.00
a mexcian classic made with rich tomato-pasilla broth, shredded chicken, house made "crema", queso menonita, crispy tortilla strips
Crema de Chile Verde$12.00
silky cream of fresh hatch green chiles, toasted pumpkin seeds, crispy maitake mushrooms

Tacos (a la Carte)

Baja Fish Taco$6.00
ensenada classic crispy alaskan cod, chipotle crema, cabbage slaw
Lamb Arabes Tacos$7.00
lamb neck rubbed in arabic spices, jocoque, chipotle salsa, cucumber, homemade flour tortilla
Roasted Cauliflower w/ Mole Poblano$5.00
roasted cauliflower, famous puebla style mole, cotija cheese, toasted sesame
Carnitas Taco$5.00
slow cooked pork carnitas, avocado-tomatillo salsa, spicy pickled white onions, micro cilantro
Thick Cut Bacon Tacos "Al Pastor"$7.00
red chile glazed nueske's bacon, grilled pineapple, three chile-tomatillo salsa
Al Carbon
grilled over wood fire & served with guacamole grilled chiles, cebollitas, limes & tortillas
- Skirt Steak Marinated in Spices & Roasted Garlic$24.00
- Chicken Marinated in Roasted Garlic$22.00
- Cauliflower Marinated in Roasted Garlic & Local Honey$19.00
- Trio to Share$36.00

Platos Fuertes

Duck in Mole Poblano, Cherries$32.00
roasted muscovy duck breast, creamy camote, spicy sweet and sour cherries, classic puebla mole, microgreens
Braised Short Rib$28.00
slow cooked local beef short ribs, cauliflower puree, mezcal braised carrots, pasilla-black garlic sauce
Tamal$28.00
"polenta" style tamal, (corn masa, herbs, olive oil), oaxacan yellow mole (guajillo chiles, hoja santa, corn masa) roasted wild & cultivated mushrooms, grilled asparagus, shaved fennel salad
Hamburguesa$18.00
8oz. local chianina beef patty, house made bun, poblano & caramelized onion rajas, chipotle aioli, pea shoots. Served with crispy french fries

From the Woodfire (Larger Dishes to Share)

Tomahawk Ribeye$185.00
chianina beef bone in tomahawk ribeye, grilled knob onions, beef infused chipotle hollandaise, red chile salsa
Striped Bass Pescado a la Talla$55.00
wood grilled whole pacifico striped bass, red chile adobo aioli, green chile adobo, lime, fennel-frisee salad
Roasted Whole Chicken$40.00
wood-fired garlic marinated chicken, green chile emulsion, grilled knob onions
Carnitas Platter$48.00
slow cooked pork carnitas, guacamole, chicharron, spicy pickled onions & salsa verde, served with fresh made corn tortillas for making tacos
Whole Head of Cauliflower$30.00
whole-roasted head of cauliflower, tableside pour of smoked nm red chile-pecan pipian roasted mushroom, grilled knob onions

Sides

Queso Añejo Smashed Potatoes$9.00
Grilled Asparagus, Beef Infused Chipotle Hollandaise$9.00
Frijoles Rancheros$9.00
ranch style beans
Frijoles Negros$9.00
Refried porky black beans. Vegetarian option available
Roasted Eggplant$10.00
w/ pecan-cascabel salsa macha, goat cheese

Dessert

Flan$10.00
traditional mexican vanilla egg custard
Coconut Tres Leches$10.00
classic mexican tres leches cake infused with coconut, fresh mango salsa, toasted coconut
Ice Cream and Sorbet$9.00
ask your server for flavors
Mesquite Chocolate Cake$10.00
mesquite bean flour chocolate cake, fluffy toasted meringue, chocolate crumble, strawberry ice cream, strawberry salsa, chocolate ganache

What 436 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.3Service
4.5Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

El Paso
Fit for Foodies
El Paso
Notable Wine List
El Paso
Romantic
El Paso
Special Occasion
El Paso
Vibrant Bar Scene
El Paso
Most Booked
El Paso
Fit for Foodies
El Paso
Notable Wine List
El Paso
Romantic
El Paso
Special Occasion
El Paso
Vibrant Bar Scene
El Paso
Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food3service5ambience5
Most food was excellent, lamb was subpar. Not seasoned and bland, along with sides. Drinks were great. Service as excellent
CL
CLAYITA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Very nice and clean restaurant located in the heart of El Paso, food was great, drinks were awesome and amazing service, will visit again :)
JF
JoseF
Orange County
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience3
There were items not offered to my party so we ordered from menu. The waiter of the table next us did to his table and spent a good amount of time talking to them. Our waiter took our drink order, then food and disappeared.
VK
ValerieK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved best experience ever we will come come back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall2food5service1ambience3
Food was delicious but the service was really lacking. Dinner took over three hours and we had to keep asking for our server and for things we needed. He was kind when at our table but getting him there was hard. The order was messed up as well and one person waited significantly longer for their food.
CG
CindiG
San Diego
50 reviews
vip
5.0
50 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Service was outstanding - Marie was excellent, professional, polite, knowledge. All the things we missed during the pandemic are back in this great dining experience. Ordered the guacamole, plantains, tacos and salad. They accommodated my daughter with a quesadilla and black beans. Prices are a bit shocking ($14 for an a-la-cart taco), but the food is delicious and worth a visit.
AR
AmberR
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
Ambience was nice, they took way to long to bring out drinks and food. Didn’t feel like the price matched the taste or quality, I felt the place wasn’t bad just wasn’t anything to special.
AC
AC124
El Paso
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
First time dining at Ambar Restaurante before the Earth Wind and Fire concert. The food was great. One person in our party had the enchiladas Suizas someone else had the carnitas tacos, and another had the suadero tacos. Everyone like their choices. I ordered the pescado Veracruzano. It was delicious. I shared it with everyone and everybody agreed it was the best dish. I noticed people were turned away at the entrance because they did not have a reservation. My advise is plan ahead and make a reservation. I give Ambar Restaurante 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
D
Diner00581
Jacksonville
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience1
Sadly disappointed. Kitchen was not attentive in serving obviously undercooked chicken. Menu was more limited than last visit which was also a bit disappointing for an anniversary dinner. Gave it another try.. and I will not be returning.
HR
HumbertoR
El Paso
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Server treated us with great care. Food came in perfect order and timing.
LF
LettyF
New York Area
22 reviews
vip
2.0
22 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall2food4service2ambience5
This was our second time visiting the Ambar restaurant. On our first visit, We enjoyed the atmosphere very much. The kitchen was visible from the table and we enjoyed the smells and sounds of the chefs preparing our meals. The second time that we visited, the kitchen was empty. Our meals were prepared in the back of the house. There was no atmosphere and we were very disappointed.
D
pharmD
El Paso
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
Food was underwhelming, Portions are small for the price point and some of the food needed salt. We had ceviche, guac, short rib, arrachera plate , carnita taco and suadero taco. Arrachera was pretty tough and fatty. If you want tacos go to Elemi or Taconeta. They do have a good mezcal selection though.
JM
JaviM
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 13, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
Food was not good no flavor to it, nothing special about it. For Mexican food should have gone to Carnitas Querétaro or Taco Tote.
m
mcube
Austin
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 11, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Overall good food took too long after order
AB
AdrianaB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, service and atmosphere! The ceviche is my favorite!
l
lola
Los Angeles
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall2food2service5ambience5
The food was okay. My partner and I do not mind paying higher prices for good food. Ambar charges $50 for mahi mahi- never heard of those kind of prices for fish like mahi mahi. It was rather ridiculous. The coconut tres leches was good and the tuetano. Overall, I would safely say that I nor my tastebuds will be returning.
CP
CruzP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was 10/10 from the moment you walk in to the food. Food was very delicious. Drinks on point. Waiter knew when to stop by and ask if we needed anything else.
PH
PaulH
Chicago
15 reviews
vip
2.0
15 reviews
Dined on April 4, 2022
overall2food2service3ambience4
We dined at Ambar on a Sunday night, when staffing was likely not what it is on a busier night. So I'm willing to cut some slack. But still...our meals were served tepid to warm...not hot. The salmon was incredibly dry. The appetizers were meh. I was slightly overcharged (but the bill quickly corrected). Having dined at Cafe Central the night before at a similar price point and been delighted, I have to say that despite Ambar's close proximity, the two restaurants are worlds apart.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Houston
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
I have to say I really do like the Ambar restaurant atmosphere. This is the second time in a month I have had dinner here. To say the two experiences were so different is an understatement. Our waitress Marie last night was attentive and polite. She had a lot of tables it seemed. The bar was extremely slow to get our drinks out. At one point my husband asked for a second glass of wine. When his food came out. It was served after he finished and I mean like 30 + minutes. One of the other people in our party of four and I ordered the salmon. The food took a long time to come to us even with the allowance that this is fine dining and not fast food. Guess what? When our food was delivered… there was no salmon. The chef had switched out to halibut. No one asked us if that was ok. Not the chef. Not the waitress.We both accepted the dish so that is on us.We also informed the waitress and asked what type of fish it was. The fish was over cooked. I might give the restaurant another try when in town again but there are some other great options downtown that are better I believe. I did give some stars for good due to the fact that the food here is good. And the drinks were accurate just very slow.
PE
PatE
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall2food5service5ambience5
We waited 1 1/2 hour for our food. We were late for our show at the Plaza. They also forgot the soup we ordered.
LH
LuisH
New York Area
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience4
What happened with the food? Seems like the wood grill was the key of their good food. With that gone, food is just not as good as it used to be.
GC
GeCo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 1, 2022
overall5food2service5ambience4
A la comida le faltaba sabor, la cremita de poblano no tenia nada de sal
RF
RobertF
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was great! Good variety of menu selections.
L
Luke
Charlotte
15 reviews
2.0
15 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2022
overall2food1service1ambience5
Our entree came out before appetizers, and the side we ordered never came out. We were told that we wont be charged for the appetizer and we were. The carnitas we ordered was so dry and firm that it could not be put on tortillas its cut like a tough steak. Overall it was a terrible experience and if we can back in town would not go back
CS
ClaudiaS
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on March 27, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience4
Very disappointed with the food. Just guacamole and salsas were edible
AL
AlexandraL
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2022
overall4food2service5ambience5
Nice service, ambiance. Drinks were good. However, the food was almost good. I had to put a lot of salt to taste anything.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Jeramey our server was WONDERFUL. He was knowledgeable and attentive. THE BEST! We ordered one appetizer for five people and the manager surprised us with an extra and comped it. Delightful evening!!!
HV
HumbertoV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place great food and overall very satisfied!
M
Michael
San Antonio
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on March 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was my second to visit to Ambar and the second time I left satisfied. The food has been delicious with each visit and each waiter has provided wonderful recommendations to entrees or sides to compliment our meal. I will continue to return.
B
Britt
El Paso
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on March 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food…wine…and service!
C
Christin
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely beautiful restaurant and ambiance we love it here can't wait to get back the food is Absolutely amazing my favorite is the ambar ceviche and the braised short ribs 😋
LL
LizLovesFood
Orange County
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great experience. Food was delicious. Will be going again for sure!
AR
AnayeliR
El Paso
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing and the service from our waiter Bryan was marvelous ! :)
J
Jules
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, liked the cocktail menu and really kind service. Took a little time to get our waiter initially but he apologized and was very attentive
OT
OpenTable Diner
El Paso
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2022
overall3food2service5ambience5
Had to send back my mole tacos twice because they had onions in them. Overall it was a nice experience but I had to wait quite a while for my food.
A
Amanda
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2022
overall1food1service3ambience1
Food was horrible. Can't believe people actually think this is upscale Mexican food. Very, very disappointed.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
Restaurant ambiance was very nice. The food was extremely over priced. Some item ordered weren't even available. Service was good.
SP
SjlPNP
Atlanta
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall3food5service1ambience5
Came for the food which did not disappoint! We would absolutely return for the food. We had pork carnitas and the duck mole as well as ceviche. The service unfortunately was very poor considering the reputation of this restaurant. It started with the hostess. Upon approaching her she asked if we were guests of the hotel. I replied that we were but had reservations. I guess she didn’t hear that part and told us we’d have to sit outside the main restaurant area, but we straightened that out; no apology, no smile. And while our waitress was very nice, every single timing of our dinner was off. Appetizer before cocktails. Asked for a wine menu but she did not return to get our wine order. The GM ended up filling our water glasses and offered a free desert which was lovely. However the desert and the desert wine we ordered were not served together. I understood it was a busy night, however a table seated well after us received their food way before we did. Would absolutely return for the food! One young lady, Kimberly, was very nice and went out of her way to interact with us so thank you Kimberly for being the bright spot in our evening!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2022
overall2food3service1ambience3
Service was horrible
OT
OpenTable Diner
Houston
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on February 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service. Food choices were great. My personal favorite were the cauliflower tacos!!!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Ámbar Restaurante offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (915) 440-0051.

Ámbar Restaurante is rated 4.2 stars by 436 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 28, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(915) 440-0051

106 W Mills Ave El Paso, TX 79901

Additional information

Cross street
N. Oregon St.
Neighborhood
El Paso
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Lunch Daily 10:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Plaza Parking Garage Located At 100 E San Antonio Ave
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Andres Padilla
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.ambarelpaso.com/
Phone number
(915) 440-0051

Ámbar Restaurante

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Carnitas Taco

Carnitas Platter

Tortilla Soup

Snacks

Guacamole$10.00

Chicharron$6.00

Tuetano$18.00

Raw Bar and Marísqueria

Ambár Ceviche$13.00

Hiramasa Verde$14.00

Tuna Coconut Express$15.00

Classic Aguachile$15.00

Moonfish (Opah) Aguachile$15.00

Vuelva la Vida$14.00

Baja Coctel$14.00

Soup & Salad

Cesar Salad$9.00

Nopal Salad$12.00

Tortilla Soup$10.00

Crema de Chile Verde$12.00

Tacos (a la Carte)

Baja Fish Taco$6.00

Lamb Arabes Tacos$7.00

Roasted Cauliflower w/ Mole Poblano$5.00

Carnitas Taco$5.00

Thick Cut Bacon Tacos "Al Pastor"$7.00

Al Carbon

Platos Fuertes

Duck in Mole Poblano, Cherries$32.00

Braised Short Rib$28.00

Tamal$28.00

Hamburguesa$18.00

From the Woodfire (Larger Dishes to Share)

Tomahawk Ribeye$185.00

Striped Bass Pescado a la Talla$55.00

Roasted Whole Chicken$40.00

Carnitas Platter$48.00

Whole Head of Cauliflower$30.00

Sides

Queso Añejo Smashed Potatoes$9.00

Grilled Asparagus, Beef Infused Chipotle Hollandaise$9.00

Frijoles Rancheros$9.00

Frijoles Negros$9.00

Roasted Eggplant$10.00

Dessert

Flan$10.00

Coconut Tres Leches$10.00

Ice Cream and Sorbet$9.00

Mesquite Chocolate Cake$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Ámbar Restaurante offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Ámbar Restaurante restaurant rated?

Is Ámbar Restaurante currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information