El Paso's New Elmer's Dinner Is Sparking Nostalgia

Growing up in El Paso, Saturday mornings meant breakfast at Elmer's Diner.

My family would pile into the car and head over for a big breakfast before starting the weekend. It was one of those places that felt like it'd always be there- until it wasn't. The longtime East Side restaurant closed its doors and the building was eventually demolished in 2021.

So when I started hearing about a new place called Elmer's Dinner on Montana Avenue, I had the same question a lot of El Pasoans did: is this the same Elmer’s?!

Elmer's Dinner Is Already Getting El Paso Talking

Elmer’s Dinner has officially opened in Central El Paso at 1730 Montana Ave. And if you’re like me wondering if it’s the same, the answer is no.

Elmer's Dinner isn't the original Elmer's Family Restaurant and it has different owners. Still, I had to see it for myself.

Walking inside, I immediately understood why people are doing a double take. The interior looked a little familiar, and some around town have said the restaurant has the same motif and feel as the original Elmer's.

Even the menu might make longtime fans do a bit of a double take. Elmer's Dinner offers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, Mexican dishes and, yes, fried chicken.

I Went for Breakfast, but Everyone Was Talking About the Chicken

I ended up going with breakfast because, honestly, it felt right. If I was revisiting my Elmer's memories, breakfast was where I had to start.

I didn't get to test the fried chicken theory for myself. I did, however, spot someone else's order, and I have to admit- it looked pretty incredible!

And after mentioning my visit to a few people around town, I kept hearing the same thing:

"The chicken tastes the same!"

Now, I can't confirm whether it's the exact same recipe. Maybe it is. Maybe it's nostalgia working its magic. But the fact that so many people immediately brought up the chicken says a lot about the memories people still have of Elmer's.

A New Restaurant Name Is Bringing Back Old El Paso Memories

Whether Elmer's Dinner tastes exactly like the original probably depends on who you ask.

But maybe that's not really the point.

The original Elmer's was more than a restaurant for a lot of El Pasoans. It was family breakfasts, fried chicken dinners, weekend traditions and memories that somehow stayed with us long after the doors closed.

No, Elmer's Diner isn't back. But if Elmer's Dinner reminds people of those mornings, those meals and those memories, that's not a bad thing at all.

Sometimes it doesn't have to be the same restaurant to feel a little like coming home.