El Charro Restaurant

(map) Just like every small Texas town must have a Dairy Queen, they should also have a good, mom-and-pop, Tex-Mex place. As so Johnson City has El Charro. Creamy guacamole, hearty enchiladas and nachos, along with a few more unusual dishes, like menudo, barbacoa, even shrimp cocktail. Below, the gordita, stuffed with your choice of fillings (this one is barbacoa, slow-roasted beef cheek), refried beans, cheese and sour cream, all for just $2.49.

The decor may harken back to the 70s, but so do the prices. Where else can you get a great plate lunch for just $4.99? Six choices, including the Vallarta Plate, above. Your choice of enchilada, chalupa and crispy taco. And there’s nothing tastier than that radioactive-looking ranchera sauce. The chips and salsa tasted both fresh and homemade, too. Next time you’re driving through Johnson City on your way to the wine trail, fortify yourself with some small-town Tex-Mex.

El Charro reviews