Jorge's Cafe — Restaurant in Ruidoso Downs

Jorge's Cafe is easy to see and the food was exquisite. It's a very comfortable atmosphere. The staff was absolutely wonderful. One sat down with me at the table, after I asked her to, in order to help with the Google Questions for the review...it's more in depth and somethings I won't know how to answer.

My plate had Red Beef enchilada, Taco, Rice and Beans. But it also had a chili relleno. Yay chili rellenos! The waitress asked if we wanted them grilled or fried. I forgot to answer that question, too busy visiting with her, however my daughter's was fried because I asked the waitress to explain the difference in taste so that she could learn. I made the fried type fresh when I lived in Texas, because everything was available in the grocery stores. My daughter was able to taste both types with us having different ones, so I was happy about that.

The guacamole is made fresh and seasoned just right. Some you will find is very bland because they don't add spices to it. Everything was wonderful. I wish they were over here in Louisiana so that I could eat there often.

This food reminded me of being a little girl, raised in El Paso, Texas, It's much like my 2nd Mom, Mrs. Luna (deceased) made. I hear her often in my head asking things like Catalina (means Cathy in Spanish) (do you want) querde gorditas? My reply was always, Si Mama. However when she asked about Tripas, (tripe ...Mexican dish) I'd always say, No me gusto, No I don't like it. She'd just laugh at me and always had something else for this gringa (white) baby that she raised very day for 5 years.

I had hot tea, due to change of climate and the waitress was very attentive to our various requests. My daughter enjoyed her margarita.

Oh the chips in my picture are almost all gone from the bowl because we ate them all! Then it dawned on me to take a picture so ya'll can see what their food looks like. The chips were fresh, warm and excellent. It's disappointing to go to a restaurant of Mexican cuisine and have store bought chips and salsa delivered to your table. That will definitely not happen at Jorge's Cafe.

The red sauce on the enchiladas was a bit hot, but they use Hatch Chili, from Hatch, NM, I asked...I recognized it actually. It is the best grown in the US, as far as I'm concerned. Tip: If chili peppers are grown in the hot summer months, the chili is hotter when consumed. Eat a tortilla chip to kill the hot, burning mouth syndrome. Tip: I put some sugar in my salsa and I think it cuts down the acid, if not it tastes good to me. I added nothing to any of the food delivered to our table. I have not made homemade salsa for years, I think it's time. I just wish I had a friend here that made homemade tortillas. I was spoiled by my friends when I lived in various places in Texas.

I've lived in 6 states and 2 countries so I have sampled a lot of foods so I know good food. We were leaving the next morning, otherwise we'd have taken our leftover's to the motel. I asked her to explain it to the chef so no feelings would be hurt at our leaving food behind. Plus we had part of a pizza in the motel frig which took up all of the room.

Overall it was a nice dinner which ended my almost 2 week trip with my daughter who is 33 and lives in Austin. I am still in Louisiana.

A restaurant opened here a couple of years ago and the owner is from Houston & Mexico. Omg I was so excited to find out that she made gorditas. Most restaurants have told me that they are too time consuming, so that's why they don't offer them on the menu.

Que Pasa in my area is a National chain and they offer them. I've asked before, the current cook is from South America, correct? They reply typical, Yes and ask how I knew. I explain that I can tell by the seasonings. South American food tastes much different from Mexican Food.

I've blabbed enough. Thank you for...

After reading many of the lower rated reviews about this place, I just have to start this review out by saying "All good things take time". My family and I have been coming to Jorge's for many years, closer to 20, if not over 20. Every time we come to Ruidoso, we absolutely HAVE to stop at Jorge's for breakfast. I can't say much for the other menu items, because we have always only ever gotten breakfast here. I have always loved the charm inside this little A-frame. The beautiful windows that light this place up, the wood walls, and the smell of freshly cooked food have not changed since I was a child. We love Jorge's.

This is a busy little place, it always has been. The wait staff are incredible and it is almost a wonder to watch them work. There's a lot of teamwork between them. I've seen some reviews that say that they almost look angry. That's just us Mexicanas, that's just our face! Especially zooming across the restaurant, clearing tables, carrying trays, balancing customers, these girls work hard. Give them the benefit of the doubt when they're trying to concentrate. I guarantee if you smile at them they will smile back.

Wait time: Jorge's has always had a wait time. I have myself been part of the crowd that crowds at the front door waiting for a table, jealously watching the lucky ones that are happily eating at their table. BUT, they get people in and out pretty fast for being a little place. The crowd very quickly diminishes. They've added a small part to the restaurant with a bar inside, and that's provided a couple more tables. I couldn't imagine how crowded this restaurant would be if it was any bigger, there would be tons of people in there.

Service is always great, especially when they are really busy, and the staff are easy going. I have never felt rushed by the wait staff, even when there is a crowd at the door.

Jorge's prices are great and reasonable, especially having survived through inflation. Very affordable.

I hope that Jorge's has many more years ahead of serving great food, and we are able to continue this tradition...

First, just entering the restaurant was awkward. It seemed like we entered the wrong door but the only other door was locked. So we walk in & the staff looks at us but then just goes back to what they are doing. There's no clear hostess station. Are you suppose to seat yourself or wait to be seated? Then a waitress finally asks how many & tells us to sit anywhere. It took longer than expected for someone to bring us menus & get our drink order. The food was pretty good but later we all had stomachaches. I've also never been to a Mexican restaurant that charged you for salsa/ chip refills. We sat in the bar area so maybe they close that part down sooner than the rest of the restaurant but the entire meal the vibe we got was that they were trying to close up. They were putting chairs up at the tables around us & mopping which was just weird to me. Kind of like when you go to a place 15 minutes until close & you can just tell the staff is annoyed with you. But it was 3 hrs before close according to their sign on the front door. Not...