The menu at Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria required two hands to hold and many decisions to be made; it was a large bill of fare.

The Menu

There were a few surprises, a lot of variations on a theme and, it seemed, no chance of making a wrong choice. The menu is divided into 18 sections based on proteins and/or types of dishes including burritos, seafood, chicken, combo plates, beef and more. 

Critic’s Tip

It’s worthwhile trying dishes that feature the restaurant’s name. It’s often an indication that it’s a signature dish. Vaquero’s has eight items in different categories bearing the name.

On the Table

Heeding my own advice, I opted for the Burrito Vaquero Asado ($20.99). Our server (and the menu) referred to it as the “crazy donkey.” Even after enjoying it, I don’t know why since Vaquero means cowboy and asado means grilled. Nonetheless, this massive burrito was packed with pieces of tender grilled skirt steak, refried beans and rice. It was topped with cheddar and Jack cheeses, pico de gallo and big dollops of sour cream and guacamole. It was plated over pork green chili.

It would have been easy for the meat to be overshadowed, in quantity, by the rice and beans, but this was not the case. The amount of steak was substantial; for that matter, so was the burrito itself. It would have required a heftier appetite than mine to consume it all in one sitting; I had leftovers.

Although we struggled with the pronunciation, enchiladas de espinaca ($18.99) were easy on the palate. Two rolled corn tortillas were filled with mushrooms, cheese and, of course, spinach. They were covered with tangy, green tomatillo sauce, cheese and a large spoonful of sour cream. The latter helped temper some of the tartness of the sauce. Black beans and rice rounded out the plate. (Most entrees included rice and beans.)

There’s a separate tacos menu that showcases six options ($17.99 each): tripe, tongue, chorizo, carnitas, el pastor and carne asada. The main menu, however, includes tacos al carbon de carne asada ($27.99), which we ordered.

Besides prices, the former were street tacos and a little smaller, while the latter were larger and crispy. Carne asada was juicy and tender. 

From the large combinations section of the menu we selected the chimichanga and chile relleno ($21.99). The chimi was hidden under a bed of shredded lettuce, a single tomato slice, sour cream and a very small amount of guacamole. Once we found it, we enjoyed the shredded beef within the shell of the large flour tortilla.

We had a choice of soft or crispy relleno and chose the latter. The golden coating encased a chile stuffed with cheese. It maintained its crispiness far longer than the chimichanga. 

The Venue

The combination of rustic wood trim, leather booths, ironworks and tile-inlaid tables gave Vaqueros the look and feel of a hacienda. It’s a comfortably large space and noise levels never interfered with conversations. 

Afterthoughts

Although water glasses were kept full, we had to ask for someone to find our server to get the bill.  Food was well-prepared and servings were plentiful.

Know Before You Go

Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria

Extensive range of Mexican fare

Location: 9605 Prominent Point 

Contact: 719-900-7862; prominent.vaquerosmexican.net 

Entrée Prices: $11.99 to $59.99

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday & Saturday 

Details: Credit cards accepted. Alcohol. Wi-Fi.

Favorite dishes: Enchiladas de espinaca and Vaquero burrito.

Other: Limited gluten-free and vegan options available

El Paso County Health Department nspection: of 51 of 56 items in compliance August 2025.