El Vaquero

El Vaquero has some serious fans.

These fans voted for El Vaquero in the Joplin Globe’s “Favorites of the Four States” contest, making it the winner for “Best Mexican” in Joplin for 2014 and 2015.

These fans helped bring El Vaquero back from extinction, too. When the May 2011 tornado roared through Main Street, it destroyed El Vaquero’s building. When owner Ramon Villasenor moved to Oklahoma, the future of the restaurant remained uncertain.

El Vaquero fans were left in a panic. Would their beloved El Vaquero ever return?

To convey to Villasenor how much El Vaquero meant to them, these fans set up a Facebook page called “Joplin Misses and Wants El Vaquero Back.”

Like I said, serious fans.

Villasenor heeded the pleas of his people, and decided to rebuild on Main Street.

The new El Vaquero opened in January 2014, and its fans eagerly rushed to get inside.

When they did, they were welcomed by these fans.

No, not the people. Look at the ceiling. 

See, I told you El Vaquero had serious fans.

Enough wordplay; let’s get to the food.

Travis (my husband) and I recently visited El Vaquero for dinner. When the basket of fresh tortilla chips came to our table, we immediately dove in. The chips came with flavorful salsa served in a small carafe, making it convenient for us to refill our dipping bowls whenever we ran low.

For an appetizer, we ordered the Queso Trio so that we could expand our chip-dipping fest. This came with a spinach artichoke queso, a mild green chili queso, and a chorizo and tomato queso (which won me over with its sassy, spicy kick).

The trio came with a fourth friend: a sweet mango salsa that provided a refreshing contrast to its creamy, savory pals.

We happened to be at El Vaquero on National Margarita Day (yes, there is such a day), so naturally we had to order some of these limey libations.

 

We tried El Vaquero’s Margarita Shaker. This drink is served in a cocktail shaker that’s partially filled with ice; after you give it a nice shake, you pour it into a cocktail glass to enjoy. Serving it this way instead of the traditional on-the-rocks way prevents the flavors of the drink from being diluted by any melting ice.

Next, we focused our attention on the menu to figure out what we’d order for dinner. When I read the description of the Carnitas – “carmelized pork that melts in your mouth” – I immediately made my decision. Hearty beans and fluffy rice rounded out the Carnitas dish, which also came with flour tortillas for enjoying with the tender pork.

My husband ordered the Carne Tapatia, a zesty dish with grilled beef tips topped with El Vaquero’s unique cheese sauce.

Since our visit to El Vaquero, I’ve talked to several people who’ve raved about the chimichangas here, so I’ll be sure to order one the next time I visit.

El Vaquero is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week. Yes, that means even on Sunday (which is when we went).

It’s a very family-friendly restaurant, and the kids’ menu even includes Americanized items for finicky littles (like good ol’ macaroni and cheese).

Do you want to enjoy your enchiladas and support a cause? Dine at El Vaquero on one of its Fiestas and Fundraising nights, when a portion of the sales is donated to a local organization.

Bring your friends and family, too, because this restaurant was designed to hold a lot of hungry patrons, although you wouldn’t guess that when you walk inside.

Inside, the cantina and several intimate dining rooms are connected by a long corridor, giving the illusion of a small space and creating an intimate atmosphere while also serving a large volume of diners.

There’s an outdoor dining patio, too.

And remember the fans that I mentioned earlier? Well, they eat here a lot; you can tell from the tightly-packed parking lot.

But, don’t worry. There’s always room inside to accommodate fans, both old and new.

Human fans, that is.

El Vaquero is located at 2412 South Main Street. Click here to visit its website.

WANT MORE?

To learn more about other Joplin restaurants, click here.

Get the latest information on by what to see and do in the area by following Joplin MO Life on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on Facebook. Or, sign up for the newsletter at the top part of this post.

This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.

Click here to visit the Joplin CVB’s Facebook page.

---

Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.