There is a moment, somewhere between your first bite of a smoky elote bowl and the second sip of a cold agua fresca, when El Paso stops feeling like a stopover and starts feeling like a destination. For me, that moment happens every single time I walk into Lick It Up, the beloved vegan and vegetarian spot tucked into the heart of the city’s vibrant Sunset Heights neighborhood, just north of downtown.
Now, before you roll your eyes and assume this is some austere, joyless temple of green juice — stop right there. Lick It Up is one of the loudest, most colorful, most unapologetically fun dining rooms in El Paso. The walls are a riot of murals and local art. The music has a pulse. The staff greet you like a neighbor rather than a customer. And the food? The food is the kind that makes you genuinely forget to miss meat.
The menu draws deep from Mexican and Tex-Mex tradition, reinterpreted with imagination and real culinary skill. The nachos are a towering, shameless affair — loaded with house-made cashew queso, black beans, pickled jalapeños, and a pico that tastes like it was made about fifteen minutes ago (because it probably was). The tamales, when they appear on the specials board, are dense and earthy and wrapped with the kind of care that takes years to learn. Even something as simple as a breakfast taco here carries a confidence that most full-service restaurants struggle to achieve.
What makes Lick It Up genuinely special is how it fits into the neighborhood’s rhythm. Sunset Heights is one of El Paso’s oldest and most architecturally interesting districts — lined with early-twentieth-century homes, a few galleries, and a community energy that feels lived-in and real. The restaurant is a gathering point for artists, students, longtime locals, and curious visitors who wandered in from the hotel and stayed for two hours. Tables fill up fast on weekend afternoons, so arriving early is wise, though honestly, even waiting outside on the sidewalk feels like part of the experience.
Pricing is genuinely reasonable, with most plates landing well under fifteen dollars. Portions are generous. The agua fresca changes with the season and is almost always worth ordering. If you happen to catch a day when the horchata is freshly made, consider that a small personal victory.
El Paso has a long and proud food culture built on masa, chili, and flame, and Lick It Up does not stand apart from that tradition — it extends it. This is a restaurant that respects where it lives. It sources thoughtfully, supports local artists on its walls, and feeds its community with genuine enthusiasm.
Whether you are a committed plant-based eater or simply someone who likes excellent food served with personality, Lick It Up deserves a spot on your El Paso itinerary. Go hungry. Stay for the conversation. Leave already planning your return.
