Probably the best
Beltran's is a deli and meat market with lots of fresh meat and prepared meat meals such as chicken and beef fajita meat. Lots of good stuff to take home and prepare yourself. On the south side of the store are approximately 12 or 15 tables with a salsa bar in the middle. Pictures of Pancho Villa are all over the walls. You sit where you want. Customers are mostly Hispanic and Mexican types. A lot of Spanish is spoken here. Very friendly place. The place is very casual, yet bright and clean. Waitresses took my order right away and the meal was brought to the table within 7-8 minutes. One waitress spoke little English, the other very good English. Prices are very reasonable. My meal...tacos al pastor with a baked potato and drink came to $5.35 including tax. Menu is mostly tacos and burritos with all kinds of different meats...pork al pastor style, barbacoa, carne asada etc. They also serve great looking tortas with many varieties of meat. Plastic forks are at the salsa bar which had a great assortment of salsa and pico de gallo etc. Waitress came by to see if I wanted extra tortillas with my meal; four came with the meal and she gave me two extras. No complimentary chips with the meal-- the only downside. The pork on the plate was delicious, and a rather large amount to boot: 6 corn tortillas worth. The baked potato I thought could have been cooked longer, but it was very good. No rice or beans-- of course you can order other food a la carte. All-in-all, very good, very tasty food. I would say that this is the best authentic Mex in Las Cruces because of the variety of the meat and the delicious taste. Well worth a stop and the value is unbelievable! (Chihuahua's has superb deshebrada however!)    [13 Dec 2006 18:54:45]

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Recommended Dishes: pork al pastor, but it all looked great

     ­Roberto   

New Location...Better than Ever !!!
Beltran's Mexican Grill has moved a few doors down in the same plaza (as of July 2007). The new location is at a minimum three or four times larger than the original and very nice. The store on one side is much larger as is the eating area itself. The comedor probably has about "thirty" tables in a wide-open and well lit area. It is very clean. The same photos of Poncho are on the walls, but the atmosphere is greatly improved. No crowding here now. Silverware came wrapped in a napkin on the table and a pleasant waitress arrived with a menu within moments. Service was good...they try hard and the waitresses are super-pleasant. The same salsa bar is available. No chips provided in the gringo style in this "authentic" restaurant. The food was prepared quickly and was, as usual, hearty and delicious. Most meals are heavy on the meat and chicken, (parrilladas, burritos, tortas, tacos), but seafood and shrimp are available in tacos (soft tortillas, of course, not the hardshelled Taco Bell type, or the semi-hard-type often seen around Cruces), tortas, and burritos. No enchiladas or New Mex meals here. This is strictly Northern Mexican cuisine (estilo Mexicano). Many places advertise themselves as "authentic" Mexican, but this is "the real deal." This is clearly the best authentic Mexican restaurant in Las Cruces. The food is not only delicious, but comes in great quantities...no skimpy portions here...and at bargain prices. They could jack the prices up 25% and the meals would still be a good deal! This is not to be missed!    [12 Jul 2007 17:56:44]

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Recommended Dishes: Parrilladas, tortas al pastor, barbacoa, asada

     ­Roberto   

GREAT SERVICE GREAT FOOD
Wow... I absolutely love this place.
The owners are almost always there mingling with customers and the waiters and waitresses are really trying hard to be the best they can be. The hosts are very nice at the entrance especially one curly-haired boy who is always smiling and happy. The food is delicious; there is such a big selection of different "carnes" it's a bit overwhelming. Price-wise this a very good eat. There is no doubt about it, this is the most authentic Mexican food joint around, only topped by the ones in Mexico.    [01 Aug 2007 17:41:10]

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Recommended Dishes: EVERYTHING

     ­Carol Sanders    

Restaurant is Heading Downhill!
I have been to Beltran's a couple of times in recent months and came away disappointed. Recently they closed the grocery side of the business and the carniceria is no more. A giant California concern recently bought up the plaza which houses Beltran's and is scheduled in the not-too-distant future to put in a huge Mexican food grocery store and a number of specialty Mexican food grills or a food court. I think the family that started Beltran's has already thrown in the towel. The restaurant is not flourishing and seems to have gone downhill. The service and food preparation have deteriorated. The food we had this evening was quite mediocre and seemed re-heated or left over from lunch. I do not believe they have maintained their professional pride and Beltran's has been dropped from my top ten Mexican restaurants in Las Cruces.    [05 Mar 2009 19:47:28]

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Recommended Dishes: Tortas

     ­Roberto, City of the Crosses