El Jefe Authentic Mexican Cuisine held its grand opening on May 24, 2024, and has been attracting new customers ever since. Located in what was formerly the Village Inn, El Jefe brings new life to Lincoln Way in Ames.
I had to find out for myself whether El Jefe could compete with Ames’ current lineup of Mexican restaurants. Giants such as El Azteca and Celaya TexMex would be hard to beat. In my opinion, El Jefe is a force to be reckoned with.
El Jefe offers an extensive menu with many options, including enchiladas, burritos and fajitas. One paramount detail: every meal is served with free chips and salsa, which is refilled multiple times throughout the meal. I ordered the Guadalajara Special, which was covered in queso. I would highly recommend it. As a bonus for students on a budget, the portions were large enough to take home leftovers for a second meal.
Another inviting aspect of the new restaurant is its atmosphere. One customer offered their opinion of El Jefe.
“Not only was the food great, but the decorations and the atmosphere made for a really good experience,” Olivia Hesse, a senior in genetics, said.
The service was excellent and swift at El Jefe. All of the food ordered at my table came out in under 10 minutes. The wait staff and manager, Santiago Flores, were friendly and conversational with the customers. Based on the table of 12 next to mine, El Jefe can accommodate large groups of people as well. It may just be the place for your next family reunion or margarita night with your friends.
Judging by the Google reviews, I am not the only one who enjoyed their time at El Jefe. The restaurant has received 190 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. This average rating narrowly surpasses El Azteca and Celaya TexMex, which both boast a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, according to Google.
I asked another patron if she would return to El Jefe.
“Most definitely,” Olivia Higdon, a senior in business management, said.
According to El Jefe’s Facebook Page, “El Jefe is now serving breakfast every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.” During breakfast hours, El Jefe serves dishes like chilaquiles, pancakes and huevos rancheros.
El Jefe’s weekday hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the weekend hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
