What is the best Mexican food restaurant in El Paso? Best daycare center? Best law firm?
The El Paso Times' annual 2026 Official Community Choice Awards Best of the Border featured more than 125 categories, as varied as best TV personality to the best in a wide range of businesses.
The nominations were submitted by the public, who then voted for the winners of the annual Best of the Border contest.
The full list of finalists and winners can be found in an insert in last Sunday's El Paso Times newspaper on Oct. 11 and online at elpasotimes.com.
And the winners in select categories are:
Best restaurants in El Paso
Best Dining Experience — Cattleman's Steakhouse, a yearly staple of El Paso "best of" lists, located at a ranch site at 3450 S. Fabens Carlsbad Road in Fabens.
Best
Mexican food — L&J Cafe, the longtime restaurant at 3622 E Missouri Ave., next to historic Concordia Cemetery is a popular spot for locals and tourists.
Best Sub/Deli/Sandwich Shop — The Brown Bag Deli has been serving mini to family-size subs since 1980 at 4319 Fred Wilson Ave.
Best Burritos/Tacos/Tamales — Food City, the homegrown supermarket chain is known for its Mexican bakery and deli.
Best entertainment in El Paso
Best family amusement — El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A minor league baseball team didn't have winning record this season (60-90) but always brings the fun.
Best of the Border — Businesses
Best customer service — GECU Federal Credit Union.
Best law firm — Mendez Isaac Joudi, PLLC
Best bank — WestStar Bank.
Best of the Border — People
Best radio personality/show — Buzz Adams of KLAQ 95.5 FM. The other finalists were "Iris & Grizz in the Morning" on KISS 93.9 FM and Johnny Kage of 104.3 HIT FM.
Best TV personality — "Doppler" Dave Speelman is the longest serving chief meteorologist in the history of Channel 7-KVIA, where he has provided the weather forecast since 2000.
Best columnist/reporter — Hillary Floren, known as the "Queen of the Morning News" at Channel 7-KVIA, where she has been a part of "Good Morning El Paso" since 2002.
The other reporter finalists were Brianna Perez, who is now at KVUE in Austin and was at KVIA from 2021 to January of 2025 and is apparently still missed by viewers, and Edgar Ramirez of Channel 26-KINT.
2026 Best of the Border: The full list of winners and finalists is available online at elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: From TV news to restaurants: El Paso selects Best of the Border 2026
