From Quick Bites to Skyline Nights: Dining Around Union Plaza, El Paso

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Union Plaza in downtown El Paso sits at the crossroads of convenience and character—where familiar fast-casual chains share the stage with distinctive dining rooms and a rooftop bar with sweeping skyline views. Whether you’re darting between meetings, fueling up before a Chihuahuas game, or settling into a long evening with friends, the area offers plenty of ways to eat well on your own schedule.

Below is a look at a mix of quick bites, casual chains, and destination spots that together map out a full day (and night) of eating near Union Plaza.

Easy Starts and Midday Fuel

Smooth, Light, and Fresh at Tropical Smoothie Cafe

When you want something light but satisfying—especially in the heat of an El Paso afternoon—head to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Tropical Smoothie Cafe® was “born on a beach®,” and that easygoing spirit is reflected in its menu of fresh, made-to-order smoothies, wraps, flatbreads, and bowls designed to “make eating better easy breezy.”

Smoothies here are meant to “instantly boost your mood,” and the broader menu offers the kind of quick, handheld meals that work for a working lunch, a post-gym snack, or a grab-and-go dinner. You can order ahead in the app or online for delivery, curbside (at participating locations), or pickup, so it’s simple to fit a “tiny vacay in the middle of your day” into a packed schedule.

Custom Sandwiches, Two Ways: Subway and Jersey Mike’s

Sandwich lovers in and around Union Plaza have a couple of familiar, reliable options—each with its own personality.

The downtown Subway at 105 N Stanton Street offers the brand’s mix of “bold new flavors and classic favorites.” Here, you can build your own Footlong or 6" sandwich, opt for a wrap or salad, and load up on fresh-cut veggies and tasty proteins. Fresh-baked bread and cookies make it a recognizable stop, and you can order quickly via the app, online for delivery, or swing by for in-restaurant dining or curbside pickup. Independently owned and operated, this location is staffed by the chain’s signature Sandwich Artists™ who assemble your meal right in front of you.

Nearby, Subway at 200 Rick Francis brings the same formula—Footlongs, wraps, salads, and cookies—into another convenient stop that’s well-suited for commuters and residents close to Union Plaza. Like its sister location, it emphasizes a “fresh alternative to typical fast food,” with flexible ordering options that include app and online ordering, delivery, and curbside. Both are also ready for catering, making them easy picks for office lunches, team meetups, or events.

If you’re craving a slightly different style of sub, Jersey Mike's Subs offers an East Coast spin. This fast-casual sub sandwich franchise, with roots at the Jersey Shore dating back to 1956, is known for serving “authentic East Coast-style subs on fresh baked bread—the same recipe it started with over 60 years ago.” The company’s mission is to bring customers “the highest quality, freshest made sub in the industry” while giving back to the communities where it operates. It’s a strong option if you prefer traditional deli-style subs, sliced and assembled to order, in a quick in-and-out format.

Familiar Comforts: Burger King and Chipotle

Sometimes, the day calls for comfort food you know by heart. Around Union Plaza, you’ll find that in both drive-thru burgers and customizable burrito bowls.

Burger King at 5431 Alameda Avenue delivers the global brand’s flame-grilled favorites. As “the original HOME OF THE WHOPPER®,” this El Paso location leans on the chain’s commitment to “high-quality, great-tasting and affordable food,” with burgers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner “prepared your way.” The emphasis on signature recipes, iconic sandwiches like the WHOPPER® Sandwich, and a “fast, family-friendly dining” environment makes it a go-to for quick meals or a classic burger-and-fries fix on the way to or from downtown.

If your idea of comfort food leans toward rice, beans, and salsa, Chipotle Mexican Grill at Zaragoza & Edgemere channels a fast-casual take on Mexican-inspired bowls and burritos. Chipotle is known for its customizable menu of burritos, bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The brand’s philosophy centers on “cultivating a better world” by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked food made from 53 real ingredients without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Chipotle’s “Food with Integrity” principles prioritize sourcing from farms that follow humane and sustainable practices, and team members use classic culinary techniques to serve “handcrafted entrées in abundance at an extraordinary value.” Regulars can sign up for Chipotle Rewards to get exclusive offers and earn free food—handy if you’re popping in regularly from work or home near Union Plaza.

Distinctive Dining: From Asian Flavors to Wood-Fired Mexican

A World of Asian Flavors at Asian Market and Sushi Bar

For those craving something beyond sandwiches and burgers, Asian Market and Sushi Bar brings an eclectic mix of Asian cuisines to the El Paso dining scene. Here, you can “discover bold Asian flavors,” with a menu spanning fresh sushi and “authentic dishes from Japan, China, Korea, and Thailand.”

Chefs “craft every meal with care and tradition,” making this a top choice for sushi lovers and foodies looking to explore a broader range of flavors. It’s flexible, too: whether you need a “quick lunch, family dinner, or special celebration,” the restaurant pairs “warm hospitality” with “unforgettable flavors.” You can dine in, take out, or order online—ideal for everything from a focused lunch break to a relaxed night in. It’s positioned as a local favorite for Asian cuisine, inviting you to “visit today and taste the difference.”

Wood-Fired Mexican Craft at Ambar Restaurante

When you’re ready for a more immersive meal near Union Plaza, Ambar Restaurante stands out with its focus on wood-fired Mexican cuisine. Diners are invited to “immerse yourself in the time-honored techniques and evocative flavors” that define the menu.

From an open-concept kitchen that “plays audaciously with fire, smoke, and spice,” chefs turn out handmade tortillas, churrasco-grilled meats, and regional specialties like carnitas, enchiladas suizas, and ceviche. Watching dishes “materialize” from the grill adds a sense of theater to the meal, making it well-suited for date nights, special occasions, or simply a lingering dinner with friends.

The bar at Ámbar is home to “the largest and rarest collection of agave spirits in Texas,” spanning tequilas, mezcals, bacanoras, and sotols. That extensive selection makes it a natural choice if you’re interested in exploring the depth and diversity of agave-based drinks alongside your meal.

Skyline Nights and Playful Evenings

Rooftop Views and Refined Bites at La Perla

For a Union Plaza evening that’s as much about the view as the food, La Perla delivers a true “skyline night.” This rooftop bar occupies what was once the penthouse suite where a famous starlet lived during her marriage to Nicky Hilton, now “reborn as a contemporary rooftop bar” with “impressive views of El Paso, the surrounding Rocky Mountains, and the borders of Mexico and New Mexico.”

Here, you can sip “reinvented classic cocktails” or sample shareable dishes from Chef Acosta and Pastry Chef Rojo, all while taking in the city lights. The experience is designed to make you “feel like West Texas royalty as you admire the skyline,” making La Perla a standout choice for sunset drinks, celebratory evenings, or a memorable nightcap after dinner elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Food, Games, and Sports at Dave & Buster’s El Paso

When your ideal night out combines a meal, a game, and the big game, Dave & Buster's El Paso has it under one roof. This location is pitched as “your premier spot for food, fun, and entertainment,” with an outstanding restaurant and sports bar where you can enjoy “chef-crafted meals” while watching sports on high-definition TVs.

Beyond the dining room, the “world-class arcade” offers cutting-edge games, simulators, and “exciting virtual reality experiences,” turning dinner into a full-blown outing. It’s also set up for events—birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and more—with customizable event spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and catering services. If you’re organizing a group night from Union Plaza, it’s an easy way to cover food, drinks, and entertainment in one spot.

Mapping Your Own Union Plaza Food Tour

From smoothie bowls and sub sandwiches to sushi spreads, wood-fired Mexican feasts, rooftop cocktails, and game-filled evenings, the dining landscape around Union Plaza, El Paso offers something for every mood and schedule. Mix and match:

Whichever route you choose, Union Plaza and its surroundings make it easy to move from quick bites to unforgettable nights without ever straying far from the heart of downtown El Paso.