Camacho's Place

THE BEST ALBONDIGAS THIS SIDE OF MAMA's !!!
Homemade with love and 72 years of perfection
Will definitely return again !
Thanks Rosie and Tommy

This place is nestled in the middle of fields, surrounded by trees that are home to many beautiful songbirds. When you step inside, you're greeted warmly by the owner (granddaughter of the original founders and owners of the restaurant, check out the plaque outside) and amazed by the history on the restaurant's walls. This place isn't fancy, but it is a well-loved institution, and it shows.

The food is amazing--my colleague and I tried the quesadilla with fresh guacamole, which resembles a large, plate-sized empanada. Everything was made by hand; I can taste the love in the food and feel it on the warm service.

I even got a few lollipops from the owner! I have the pleasure of traveling down to El Centro a few times a year, so I will be back. Bring cash and get the quesadilla--next time I'll try carne asada inside!

Don't forget its Cas Only!

Freindly owners, home made food so expect a little wait. The wait is worth it eating at this historic little cafe!

I love Camacho's, I love the drive out there, especially on a warm summers eve, driving with the window rolled down with the breeze in my face and the smell of fresh cut hay, seeing the reflection of the water in the canal from our headlights, then arriving at my favorite Mexican food restaurant, eager to get inside and order my favorite beef taco's, I have always been treated so warm with a friendly smile that isn't fake, my mother started going there when she was 14 her mother, my grandma would load her up in the car and they would head to Camacho's for lunch, then a few yrs later I was born, and I got to go and enjoy the best Mexican food I have ever eaten, and the tradition continues with my family I hope they will be able to open back up soon, I'm ready to take my new husband there and let him have a taste of their authentic Mexican food, might even bring a few of our friends, we live in Tucson, Az and the drive has always been enjoyable to make and well worth it

Meeting friends from high school after 39yrs what a better place to meet and catch up! It's great to know that places like this from our past still exist. The food is exactly the way I remember. Had never heard of their Carne Asada Quesadilla so I naturally had to try it.
Nice twist to the original!
Growing up in ELC there were only two places we went for Mexican food. La Hacienda and Camacho's. Camacho's is the last one standing and it's an original!

We have since moved away from El Centro, but we're planning a trip just to have another meal at Camacho's and visit with the owners. Absolutely love their food and the feel of authentic old El Centro.

I've been going to Camacho's literally all my life. Never had a bad experience. This was my parents' favorite mexican restaurant, and my grandparents', and my great-grandparents.

Camacho's started out in 1949 as a bar for farmhands and migrant workers, with a pool table; at some point they started serving tacos. Hasn't changed much in the 40 years I've been going.

The people there are cool - if you're from the valley you'll almost always run into someone you know; maybe even a blue angel. It's even inexpensive!

I prefer the machaca - shredded beef (without eggs, unless you ask for them). Just meat, that's all you need. The salsa is terrific, the side of guacamole is a must, as is cleaning the empty bowl with your finger. Special quesadillas - deep fried with great mexican cheese. Tostadas de chorizo, carne asada, plain ol' tacos, all strongly reccommended. I guess they have chicken too - but skip it and have the beef. Grab a pitcher of beer while you're at it, you'll need it.

If you get here the wrong time of year you'll get to smell and try to ignore the source of those yummy tacos and burritos ("olor de los vacas"); and i believe they close in August when it's way too hot to be out there anyhow.

Cash only!

I live over a hundred miles away and still come here. Without a doubt this is the best Mexican food you can get anywhere--and it's a fun place.

I have no recommendations regarding food because it is all good. You can't go wrong no matter what you order. I take friends and family and everyone always loves it. You got to go !!!!!

The owners Tommy and Rosie where so nice, I thought I was with family. We came for their menudo earlier in the afternoon, but they weren't open yet. Really in a menudo mood.. I called and ask if they were open and all that stuff, yes was the answer. We got there a little after 7:00pm, and were seated. When we ordered menudo, she ask if I called earlier, I said yup. Menudo was DELICIOUS.... For customer stating they are not open at stated hours. I found out later, Rosie and her husband are up in age, they have to buy everything for the day of cooking. They live in Calexico 10 miles away (yes traffic). They get to the restaurant, sometimes late, it is hard to get there on time. Rosy and her husband Tommy are a Gem. Rosie has bad knee because she got rammed by a goat, and Tommy keeps things going. He'll keep you entertained with so much history and story of the area. He told me a good place to catch canal catfish....

Seriously? Where do I even begin?

How about this for starters? If you love bad service, cock roaches on the floor and the smell of cat piss I guess I can see why you might give it 5 stars.

It took us forever to find, was not worth the drive and the "Chimichanga" that I had was awful ... I swear I ordered one with beef in it, but I never did bite into any meat I think. It was about the size of a taquito too.

Highly disappointed with this place. Be warned ... its old, it stinks, cockroaches on the floor and the food is yucky. I have done my duty.