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El Jefe, Palm Springs, CA

El Jefe

4.1 (107)
$30 and under
Mexican
View menu
1800 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264-1617

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A photo of El Jefe restaurant

El Jefe

4.1
$30 and under
Mexican
Palm Springs

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighborhood gem
Located in the heart of Palm Springs, El Jefe is your go-to destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night taco cravings. Serving up authentic Mexican flavors, our menu features vibrant street-style favorites, crave-worthy tacos, tortas and bold dishes made with the freshest ingredients. A local favorite, our Drag Show Brunches are an absolute blast packed with high-energy performances, unforgettable entertainment, great cocktails, and enough sparkle to rival the Palm Springs sunshine. Come hungry, come thirsty, and maybe don’t make early afternoon plans afterward. Tickets are available on our website. El Jefe offers a fantastic selection of tequila and mezcal, refreshing fresh-fruit margaritas perfect for any Palm Springs day. Whether you’re stopping in for morning chilaquiles, afternoon tacos by the pool, or evening cocktails with friends, you’re guaranteed a lively, fun-filled experience. Locals who show a valid local address receive 15% off with our Local VIP Card.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Traditional Mexican, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 7:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Ana Sabatino
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Palm Springs
  • Cross street
    E Palm Canyon Dr. & Sunrise
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Public transit
    Bus Stop in front of hotel
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week

    $25.00 - $39.00 per person

    1 - 8 people

    May 29, 2026 - Jun 7, 2026
    Come join us at El Jefe for Palm Springs Restaurant Week. Chef Ana has curated this special menu to showcase the culinary diversity of the Saguaro at a discounted price. $1 from every reservation booked online will be donated to FIND Food Bank, supporting local communities. Come on down to El Jefe and experience our take on a Desert Latin flare!
    Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week Photo

Concierge
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Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 107 people are saying

El Jefe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.1
4.1 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 3.9Service
  • 3.8Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities

    Good for groups

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities

    Healthy

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities

    Lively

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert

    Good for groups

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert

    Healthy

  • Palm Springs / Palm Desert

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Jefe shines with "outstanding service," offering delicious tacos with vegan and gluten-free options. "The best roasted salsa" and margaritas with fresh lime juice impress. Taco Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with Happy Hour, deliver great value. It's a "fun, lively, and relaxed place," perfect for casual meet-ups.
107 Reviews
  1. Angela

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 8, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We took out-of-town guests for fish tacos on Taco Thursday and had a great experience. The food was very good, the service was excellent, and those who ordered cocktails enjoyed them. The salsa is clearly made for people who didn't grow up in Southern California, but that makes sense!

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  2. Sean Gold

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 5, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Took forever for each part of the meal from the moment we were seated to the drink order to being checked on to anyone returning after we asked for specific things. They brought incorrect drinks, I said as much, they said it was made correctly then later came back and said I was right and then brought the original order instead of the new drink I ordered. Little things go a long way. I had asked for more water and a steak knife. We were done and waiting for a bit before they noticed no one had come back. They were nice of course but disappointed at the service.

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  3. Robert Gold

    Palm Springs16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 2, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have always had a great time at El Jefe! And Valeria is wonderful!

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  4. Erin Gold

    Phoenix28 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on March 17, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    We were excited to try this restaurant. The menu looked great with so many vegan and GF labeled items. Unfortunately the service was abysmal. The restaurant was NOT busy but it took forever to order drinks and appetizers and then our apps arrived before our drinks. The potato flautas lacked flavor and then it took additional time to order our main dishes. We also asked for plain guacamole without spice due to dining with our 6 year old. The server said it was premade and this was not possible, which is annoying. We eat at a lot of Mexican places and everywhere else can mash up plain avocado for our child. The server never offered to refill our waters and then we had to get up and go to the bar inside to find someone so we could get our check. The icing on the cake was seeing an automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill. We were a party of 3 and no where on the menu did it say gratuity would be added for such small a party. This is an obscene business practice and if we had autonomy with giving gratuity we would have given maybe 10% due to the lackluster service. We left with such a bad taste in our mouth about this restaurant.

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  5. Cathy Gold

    Vancouver1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 12, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    This is an iconic must when visiting Palm Springs. Taco Tuesday or Thursday and happy hour are great value. We love sitting outside and the ambiance outside is great however inside is a little dark and not the strong point for the visit. We bring all guests here and even come ourselves when doing errands in the area. Casual dress.

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  6. Precious Gold

    Seattle17 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 5, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Decent food, but terrible service. We were directed to choose a table in the nearly empty restaurant, but no one came to give us menus or serve us for at least 15-20 minutes. We ordered drinks, that also took forever and they forgot one. Food arrived and was fine, if not amazing, and had to ask a 3rd time for the missing drink. Very inattentive service. We will not return.

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  7. Cheryl Gold

    New Mexico23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday ($5 street tacos). The margaritas used fresh lime juice (not mixer) and were delicious. The tacos were great with vegan and veggie selections plus chicken mole and shrimp, fish, and meat. Even the salsa and guacamole tasted fresh and homemade —with some heat. Fun to sit in the bar and enjoy the casual vibe. We go quite often and it’s a fun, lively, and relaxed place to meet up with friends.
    El JefeResponded on March 6, 2026
    We are so happy to hear you had a great time with us! Thank you for making us your go to place. We look forward to taking care of you and your friends. See you soon!!

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  8. Mary

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding service at the restaurant and hotel. Everyone is amazing

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  9. Dan Gold

    Palm Springs13 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on January 22, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The best roasted salsa I’ve ever had. Delicious tacos, and margaritas. I just think they need to up their game on their chips which are probably mass produced.

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  10. Sunny

    Vancouver1 review

    1.0

    Dined on January 20, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Booked a reservation for 9:15pm and when I arrived they were closed. The front desk told me they tend to close early if slow. Not right for customers paying to uber to them for them to be closed, very disappointing.

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Traditional Mexican, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 7:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Ana Sabatino
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Palm Springs
  • Cross street
    E Palm Canyon Dr. & Sunrise
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Public transit
    Bus Stop in front of hotel
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, El Jefe is a lively, casual spot that makes a fun date-night choice, especially if you enjoy creative margaritas, tacos and a colorful hotel-cantina vibe. Guests frequently praise the fresh fruit margaritas and flavorful tacos, and the bar/outdoor patio is especially convivial. If you prefer a quieter evening, request outdoor or bar seating or aim for an earlier table, since the indoor dining room can get loud on busy nights. Book ahead for popular nights to secure the vibe you want.

El Jefe is open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. For special events or holiday hours, call ahead to confirm.

Family-friendly: yes, guests often dine with families and celebrate birthdays, and kids are welcomed. There are outdoor patio and bar seating options that work well for families. Accessibility specifics aren’t listed in the available information, so if you need wheelchair access or other accommodations call ahead so staff can prepare.

Yes, you can request seating preferences (outdoor or bar seating) or mention dietary needs when you book, and guests report that adding notes to reservations can help. Keep in mind some items may be premade (one guest reported guacamole could not be customized), so call ahead for special preparation requests to confirm what’s possible.

El Jefe is a casual, colorful cantina with a lively, Palm Springs vibe, fun at the bar and outdoor patio, relaxed and friendly staff, and upbeat energy. Guests rave about the bar atmosphere and margaritas, though several note the indoor dining room can be noisy or feel more cafeteria-like on busy nights. Overall it’s a cheerful, casual spot great for groups, cocktails and Taco nights.

Tuesday or Thursday, those are Taco nights and many guests call Taco Tuesday/Thursday a can’t-miss deal (often $5 street tacos) with great margaritas and a lively atmosphere. For value-driven cocktails, try arriving before 6 PM for happy hour.

There’s no explicit public waiting-list policy available. Guests recommend booking via OpenTable to secure entry and seating on busy nights, reservations are advised for popular times like Taco Tuesday, Thursday and weekend evenings. If you arrive without a reservation, expect possible waits during peak periods.

Busiest: Taco Tuesday and Thursday evenings, happy hour windows and weekend nights when groups gather, those nights are lively and can be noisy. Quietest: weekday mornings, early afternoons and off-peak hours outside Taco specials tend to be calmer. If you prefer a quieter meal, aim for non-special weekdays or early service hours.

Portions at El Jefe are generally generous and shareable, guests often mention sizable tacos, burritos and appetizers that make it easy to split plates. Several guests specifically note “generous portions” and good value on Taco Tuesday and happy hour. If you’re sharing, order a couple of tacos plus an appetizer (chips & guac, nachos or elotes) and you’ll likely have plenty to enjoy.

For the best value and energy, go during Taco Tuesday or Taco Thursday and arrive early for happy hour (many guests recommend coming before 6 PM). Those nights offer $5 street tacos and strong drink specials. If you want a quieter meal, aim for off-peak hours (weekday mornings or early afternoons) or reserve outdoor/bar seating.

El Jefe offers three distinct dining areas: an energetic bar, a lively outdoor patio, and indoor dining rooms (including a larger back dining area). Guests often prefer the outdoor patio or bar for atmosphere and quieter indoor seating can be louder on busy nights. If you have a seating preference, add a note to your reservation or call ahead.

Yes, guests frequently praise the outdoor patio and bar seating, and many say they prefer sitting outside for the ambiance. Outdoor seating is popular on Taco nights and for happy hour, so reserve or arrive early if you want a patio table.

Casual dress, the restaurant lists a casual dress code, matching the relaxed, hotel-cantina atmosphere. Guests typically visit in casual attire for brunch, happy hour and Taco nights.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
  4. Palm Springs / Palm Desert
  5. Palm Springs

Make a reservation

A photo of El Jefe restaurant

El Jefe

4.1
$30 and under
Mexican
Palm Springs

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.
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