Since 2008, Pan y Agua Restaurant and Bar Group has been one of the biggest restaurant/bar names in the 915 with over 500 employees and thousands of daily customers. They have more than satisfied the west and the east side of El Paso with juicy burgers, al pastor tacos, squared doughnuts, fresh cups of coffee and a variety of local favorites. They are definitely not new to the east side, and have finally shared one of their many west side favorites, Fool’s Gold, at a new second location.
There had been many whispers as to who was going to reside in the newly opened location at the Sun Fire Village shopping center—until Pan y Agua Group made their next move.
Pan y Agua partners, Rudy Valdes, Nick Salgado and Octavio Gomez discussed how they could not pass up going east. “We came across a good opportunity and knew it would be challenging, as were all of our projects,” Gomez explained. Fool’s Gold grasps the culture and atmosphere of El Paso by allowing its patrons to enter through the pawn shop, which can feel quite misleading up until they open a refrigerator door to the ultimate backyard party. “We wanted to create a bar that celebrated El Paso, a desert dive bar, where bartenders will learn your name and give you great service. The patio makes you forget where you are and live in the moment.”
“Fool’s Gold transports you for the time that you are there, to good times,” Gomez said. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, we try to have all the drinks that people normally want. My favorite, is the Backyard Ranch Water—it’s Maestro Dobel tequila, tons of lime juice, club soda and a sprinkle of salt. It’s what I drink at home, so why not put it on the menu?”
What makes Fool’s Gold tacos great and a local favorite? Chef Rudy Valdes explains, “It’s the attention to detail that goes into them; the pastor is sliced and marinated in-house, the salsas are also home made and the tortillas are made daily. And when people see that amount of effort and then realize it’s all for a buck, what’s not to love?”
Pastor tacos are not the only snack that east side foodies will be craving. Independent Burger and Hillside Coffee & Donut Company have also recently opened their second location serving breakfast, lunch and dinner—every day of the week. If having these 2 locations on the east side isn’t enough, they are also conveniently next to each other.
Their first concept to go east was Crave Kitchen and Bar on 11990 Rojas In 2011. “We have had a presence on the east side since 2011 with our second opening of Crave Kitchen & Bar on Rojas,” Salgado said. “Since then, we have also opened another Crave Kitchen & Bar in the Fountains. We have always been welcomed with open arms, so we knew we were ready to open a couple more concepts of ours. This included Hillside Coffee & Donut company, Independent Burger and Fool’s Gold Bar.”
Independent Burger’s second location has stayed true to their burgers and chicken sandwiches by offering the same standard since 2013—fresh produce, fresh beef and free-range turkey and chicken. The only difference on the east side menu is an exclusive treat to the location—soft serve concrete.
Hillside Coffee & Donut Company’s second location also offers the same menu as their west side location, but cater to their morning go-getters who are perhaps in a rush with a new addition to their concept: a drive thru. Hillside Coffee & Donut Company continue to use local, 2Ten Coffee Roasters for their signature blends.
Pan y Agua Group’s constant expansion contributes to El Paso’s very own growth in the restaurant and bar industry. They keep it local with their own twist, and welcome El Paso’s culture in every establishment. The group expressed Pan y Agua LLC’s progress: “El Paso is growing so much and we want to be a part of that growth and be able to show our concepts to all of El Paso. We aren’t nervous to grow, El Paso has always been good to us.”