When Gonzalo Morales opened Los Jalapeños on Greenwood Avenue, Bend’s population was somewhere around 30,000 people, the Old Mill District shopping center was still just an old mill, and the town’s first roundabout hadn’t even been built yet.
That was 1995. The restaurant has been serving authentic Mexican fare ever since.
“I’ve seen every change, ups and downs,” Morales said.
Morales said at some point he won a “Best Of” award from the Source but can’t remember when. Maybe 20 years ago?
Now, he has another feather in his cap. The burritos from Los Jalapeños were voted best in Central Oregon by readers of the Source.
That award says something given the number of other restaurants and food trucks serving burritos, Morales said.
“After seeing the competition, it just completely feels great,” Morales said.
He hails from the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico, near Mexico City. His recipes are family recipes inspired by his mother, he said.
“The main thing is, we prepare everything from scratch,” Morales said. “We don’t buy any sauces from the store. Everything we make is fresh.”
Customers love the habanero sauce, he said.
“The beans, we cook here,” he said. “These days, you can buy the beans ready. We don’t do that.”
Online forums rave about large portions and reasonable prices at Los Jalapeños. Their house burritos are $16.75, but there’s an option to get the “student” burrito with beef and homemade mole sauce for $13.50.
A sign outside Los Jalapeños says, “Best Breakfast Burritos.” But for Morales, it’s not just the burritos that are the best in town. He said Los Jalapeños has some of the best margaritas and Chile relleno, as well.
Runner-Up: Super Burrito
Los Jalapeños
Mon-Fri 7:30am-8pm, Sat 8am-5pm
601 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend
losjalapenosbend.com
This article appears in Best of Central Oregon 2026 and the Source August 13, 2026.
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