Editor's note: This article is not sponsored by El Jimador nor is it endorsed by Northern Star as an organization.
dekalb – Founded in 2020, El Jimador Mexican Grill serves authentic Mexican cuisine at bi-weekly events for community members to enjoy.
El Jimador is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant is located at 260 E. Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb.
Ryan Gifford, one of El Jimador's four owners, said the restaurant will have karaoke nights on Wednesdays and a DJ on Fridays. The restaurant may host or cater events on Saturdays and Sundays.
“(El Jimador) is a good thing for DeKalb,” said Annie Riley, an associate nursing major. “I would love to go to their event. It looks like fun.”
Gifford said the restaurant is planning new events, such as salsa dancing and more consistent tequila tastings, given the restaurant's success with existing events.
“Fridays in general are always busy because we have a DJ on Friday nights,” Gifford said. “Our upstairs room has a more party atmosphere with lower lighting and a DJ. It's a bit of a luxury to have an upstairs room to create the perfect atmosphere for the younger crowd. .”
During the warmer months, an event called First Friday takes place on the first Friday of the month. Gifford said First Friday will be busy because the DeKalb community can walk downtown with food and drinks to promote local businesses.
“Essentially, the community is patronizing,” Gifford said. “You can buy drinks and food on the street, and you can walk (through) blocks downtown with food and drinks, patronizing different businesses. It's very, very cool.”
Gifford said El Jimador's most popular menu items include El Gobernador, a seafood taco with grilled shrimp and scallops, and a 12-inch-long burrito with a sauce that resembles the Mexican flag. There is a “La Bandera”.
Because of La Bandera's size, guests compete to see who can eat the most, Gifford said. Winners may be featured on El Jimador's Facebook page.
On February 8, El Jimador received the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year Award. Gifford and the staff at El Jimador said they were honored to receive the award.
“It's really a serendipitous honor,” Gifford said. “We still have a lot to prove. We don't consider ourselves successful yet. This is a great honor, but that doesn't mean our attitude will change. It makes us think, 'OK, what can we do now?'
Robert Sacca, a senior communications major, visited El Jimador in August 2023 and ordered a steak burrito. He said he enjoyed the meal.
“I think this (El Jimador) is the best place to eat Mexican food in DeKalb,” Sacca said. “That was a big deal. I think it deserves Business of the Year, and it's in a great location in downtown DeKalb.”
El Jimador recently purchased the former Lincoln Inn at 240 E. Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb. Mexican Grill has an undisclosed restaurant looking to rent out the building. The restaurant is expected to open in late summer or early fall, Gifford said.
“I can officially say there are restaurants interested (in leasing the building),” Gifford said. “It's tentative, of course, but we don't know if we'll have a restaurant there in the summer or fall.”
In celebration of Margarita Day this Thursday, El Jimador is having a sale on all margaritas.
