Welcome to El Jefe Desert Cantina
El Jefe Desert Cantina is a vibrant Mexican cocktail bar located in Palm Springs. With a focus on delivering exceptional service and flavorful dishes, this restaurant stands out for its extensive menu offering vegan and vegetarian options, along with a variety of cocktails and happy hour specials. Customers rave about the tasty tacos, guacamole, and house margaritas. The cozy ambiance, attentive staff, and unique decor make for a memorable dining experience. Despite being a bit pricey, the quality of food and drinks, along with the overall atmosphere, earn this spot a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
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1800 East Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 Hotline: (760) 323-1711
Welcome to El Jefe Desert Cantina, a vibrant cocktail bar in Palm Springs that promises an unforgettable dining experience. Situated at 1800 East Palm Canyon Drive, this Mexican-inspired gem offers a wide range of amenities that cater to every type of diner. From delivery and takeout options to wheelchair accessibility and outdoor seating, El Jefe has you covered. The restaurant prides itself on serving up delectable vegan and vegetarian options in a casual setting with a moderate noise level, making it a perfect spot for a laid-back evening.
Customer reviews rave about the impeccable service provided by the staff, with mentions of servers like Valeria and Miguel going above and beyond to ensure a memorable visit. The menu boasts an array of tempting dishes, from house margaritas to flavorful tacos like Baja fish, shrimp, short rib, and cochinita pork. Vegans will also delight in options like mushroom and potato flautas. Must-try appetizers include shishito peppers, Mexican street corn, and mini chorizo quesadillas.
El Jefe's ambiance is described as retro with cool vibes, making it an ideal spot for happy hour specials and a night out with friends. The restaurant's attention to detail extends to its drink selection, with highlights like hibiscus mezcal cocktails and pineapple margaritas that are sure to please any palate. Guests also praise the guacamole, crispy chips, and fried cauliflower bites, showcasing the establishment's commitment to quality ingredients and flavors.
Overall, El Jefe Desert Cantina stands out as a top dining destination in Palm Springs, offering a unique blend of culinary delights and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're craving a leisurely breakfast by the pool or a lively dinner with loved ones, this restaurant has something for everyone. Indulge in the rich flavors and warm hospitality that El Jefe has to offer, and let your taste buds embark on a culinary journey like no other.
Valeria had the best service. She explained the menu in detail and made sure we understood everything before ordering. Such a sweetheart.
The food and drinks were amazing! Baleria was a great server! She was very knowledgeable and understanding of my gluten allergy! She was also very kind! The vibe of the restaurant is also fantastic! 10.out of 10 would recommend!!
Service 5/5 at Bar great bartender,Miguel Ambiance 4.5/5 nice retro vibes Food 4.5/5 ( happy hour & taco Tuesday special) Started off with $8 house margarita. Made perfect over rocks and salted rim wide glass. Feel the kick and a bargain! Apps: shishito peppers, Mexican street corn and mini chorizo quesadillas. Are starters are great, well done, good value. For our entree we had 4 tacos: Baja fish, shrimp, short rib and cochinita pork. Each taco was delightfully prepared with interesting accompaniment. As an example the pork featured pineapple and chipotle mayo and fresh pickled veggies, the shrimp had chorizo and the short rib melted in your mouth. All are very good. There are also mushroom and potato flautas for vegans. I would definitely recommend getting a bit off the main drag and coming to this hotel spot.
The indoor dining area isn't very big and there were only two of us so we sat at the bar. Service from the bartender was great. We got a hibiscus mezcal cocktail and a pineapple margarita. Both were delicious. The guacamole was excellent and a nice generous (for two people) portion. The chips were light and super crispy. Of the two tacos (3 to an order) the shrimp with chirizo was the clear winner. The mushroom was ok but needed a bit more umami flavor to it. Overall, this place lives up to the hype!
I enjoyed el jefe quite a bit. It was conveniently located in the hotel I was staying in. It seems they are understaffed but they somehow make it work. There can often be a wait but the service is excellent. The food is expensive. The corn is a real treat please do not deny yourself this, especially during happy hour. Also don't skip the tajin rim margarita! I also had the chilaquiles which was kind of mediocre. The wagyu burger is delicious! I would absolutely order that again.
One of our favorite spots to grab a drink and some good food before checking in for the weekend. Great happy hour options for sharing. Great service too! We we're staying downtown so this was a perfect place to relax and unwind before check in. Order the crispy cauliflower bites...you won't regret it!
Wow. Who knew a hotel restaurant could be this good! we stayed at the hotel for the weekend and had breakfast here twice, ordered food from them by the pool as well. The coffee was hands-down excellent! The salmon bagel was delicious, their scrambled eggs were amazing . And this is coming from someone that hates eating out for breakfast. It was good! The tacos we ordered by the pool were really good too!!!
What a place to experience and see! I was recommended by a local to stop in and try this place out! I'm a huge person for art and neon lights and plants so it was the perfect mix for me! I will note that the service was quick, but the servers were not personable and had an arrogance to them; however, it did not tarnish my experience. I loved the food and how well it was flavored! I'd recommend any of the tacos, the street corn, or guac! The food was fresh and delicious! I was a huge fan our their happy hour margaritas as well! If I'm back in the area I'd love to try it again and explore more! I highly recommend checking out all of the art installations when walking through the hotel!
They have a restaurant and also a bar! They have different tapas and cocktails but basically the same thing. Food: delicious. We had the short rib tacos and they were SO good. The meat was so soft and tender and well marinated/seasoned. The tacos were topped with a habanero salsa but it wasn't spicy. Keep in mind, there were pecans mixed into the meat. We also got the shishito peppers. They weren't great. They look well seasoned and dressed with spices, but they were super bland. I wouldn't order them again. We ended up at the bar side and had the fried cauliflower.. 10/10! Services: incredible! They were so kind and attentive. Ambiance: super cool vibes and decor. The restaurant and bar side have dim lighting and almost kind of intimate. Perfect for date night. Overall, I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 starts. It's really pricey and the portions are tiny. The cocktails are all $12-18 each.