Where should we eat? In Albuquerque I am most interested in green and red chili. Any place between the cities would be a useful recommendation as well.
I thank you all in advance.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe and Gallup food bleg
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Chili comes from Texas, you want chile. Don’t forget to order sopapillas and honey for desert.
In Albuquerque it ain’t what it used to be. Consensus seems to be between Padilla’s and El Pinto.
Padilla’s is amazing. They have really strange hours however and Bring cash.
In Santa Fe, You must go eat at Pasquales. It is not pure new mexican but it is a great blend of central american specialties.
Tomasitas in Santa Fe on Guadelupe. Amazing green chile and sopapillas.
http://www.restauranteur.com/gabriels/
Gabriel’s Restaurant, north of the Santa Fe opera house. Two words: tableside guacamole
Tentatively second the recommendation for Gabriel’s. Good food, but not really a chile joint. Worth going to for the guacamole made to order at your table. Their sopaipillas are among the best in the state, but they aren’t on the menu and you need to know to order them (this is remarkable: nearly every other New Mexican restaurant just automatically brings them with your order). 10 minute drive from Santa Fe.
Also check out the chowhound.com boards. This is a perennial debate there.
If you make it to Santa Fe, the Shed has some great red chile. In the chicken enchiladas, Carne Adovada, or by itself, it is awesome. http://www.sfshed.com/
The Coyote Cafe on Water street is good, too. We have mainly done the “less formal” rooftop, but there is finer dining inside.
I haven’t spent enough time in Albuquerque to recommend anything there except breakfast at: http://www.thegrovecafemarket.com/
A second on The Shed. Yum! Get something with the blue corn tortillas.
I also recommend The Shed in Santa Fe. My wife’s favorite in the world!
Never been to The Shed, but heartily recommend its sibling, La Choza. So spicy, but so delicious, you can’t stop eating. Get whatever you get smothered in the green chile. I can’t recommend it more highly.
Everyone else will say this too, but Cafe Pasqual’s in SF is very, very good.
I second Cafe Pasqual’s, especially for breakfast. Eggs barbacoa.
+1 on Café Pascual’s in Santa Fe.
Also, joining the community table at Café Pascual’s makes for a special meal.
I recommend El Patio, right by the university. It’s tasty and reliable New Mexican cooking.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/60/650394/restaurant/University-Heights/El-Patio-de-Albuquerque-Albuquerque
I spent just under a month in Albuquerque and really I should have gone there more often.
Scott
I’ll second El Patio. I lived there for about a year and a half and took all my guests there.
I don’t know if you are much of a beer drinker, but I fell in love with the local brews while I was out there. I like Chama and Marble a lot, although they tend to run hoppy which is not some peoples’ thing. Chama’s tap room is a great place to sit on a Friday night and watch the tricked out cars go by.
Another vote for El Patio. The food is excellent, but the service can be super slow. Cash only
We love El Patio by the university.
Fourthed. Bring cash.
el patio! considerably better than el pinto, much more convenient, and less pricey. both colors are better there, and it’s inside of an old house. also, they take credit cards now.
Seconds on the Coyote Cafe and The Shed. Others to try include Tia’s and the Blue Corn Brewery in Santa Fe, both delicious the last time I was in town.
I second the rooftop at Coyote Cafe. Try the Navajo Taco, which features a delicious combination of pork, chicken, and buffalo.
If you are going to eat dinner
Tomasita’s in Santa Fe in Good both for atmosphere
El Pinto in ABQ, bit out of the way though
If you are going to eat breakfast (where I think NM food is best and which I miss most), these places have more of a diner feel:
Garcias (several locations)
Perea’s is a diner on Wyoming and Central
Barelas coffee house
I hope you enjoy my home town!
Central Pharmacy in Albuquerque is a fun and interesting place with good red and green sauce. Cafe Pasqual in Santa Fe is awesome for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The community table always has interesting conversation. Cowgirl BBQ is funky with lot of good food choices. For a change of pace from New Mexico fare, La Boca in Santa Fe is an outstanding tapas restaurant.
In Albuquerque, I recommend The Frontier for breakfast. I like the huevos rancheros with red chile or a breakfast burrito covered with the self-serve green sauce. I highly recommend Sadie’s for the carne adovada, but it has been a few years since I last ate there.
Second for Frontier.
You haven’t really been to Albuquerque if you haven’t eaten at the Frontier.
You’ll need to get a cinnamon roll at the Frontier.
If you’re looking for a hole in the wall, get the Travis at K&I Diner.
Another vote for the Frontier… Go for a Carne Adovada burrito.
Everybody goes to the Frontier. (in the good way, not in the bad way)
Definitely Frontier. Not high dining, just really really tasty.
Go for the Frontier! If you get up toward Taos, try El Paragua in Espanola. And don’t miss chiles rellenos.
Second for Sadie’s Carne Adovado! When I first started going there it was the restaurant in the bowling alley across the street. The wait was always long so we would bowl a game to pass the time.
We used to call the “I want to die early rolls”
It isn’t exactly a low-key hole in the wall, but El Pinto in NW Albuquerque is very tasty.
http://www.elpinto.com/restaurant
I can only speak about the Red Chili Ribs, but they were delicious.
El Pinto is a must every time I am in Abq. Although, not New Mexican, try Rudy’s for some great Texas BBQ
I’ll echo Rich on Duran’s Central Pharmacy in Albuquerque–just as a heads-up, they do close early, though. Generally speaking, low-brow is your best bet for good red or green chile. I like Monroe’s on Lomas and about 14th–they look like they haven’t redecorated since the 1970′s, and they do a good relleno.
Rich is correct…I second Durans Central pharmacy for the best red chili and assorted new mexican food. There is a second location that has more accessible hours on lomas call Duran’s Station. Same food. The Frontier is a place everyone must experience. Over-order and sit back and taste things.
For chicken check out Los Pollos Hermanos: 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW
Bobcat Bite in Santa Fe. Green chile cheeseburger. Worth the wait if there is a line.
In Santa Fe, La Choza. Fantastic New Mexican style food. Perfectly done green chiles. I stop there every time I drive through New Mexico.
Duran Central Pharmacy is excellent for red chile and carne adovada.
The Frontier, across the street from UNM is a local institution, worth checking out for the experience (breakfast is best). The food is good, not life-changing, with the possible exception of their signature cinnamon rolls.
I found Santa Fe a tough food city. Some was good; much was awful. Crowds of tourists significantly depress average quality, and my usual strategies to find the local food scene didn’t work very well. Cafe Pasqual’s was the only place in city center I would recommend. I liked it so much I came back to eat there again the next day. La Boca was highly recommended by to us by a couple different sources, but was unimpressive for tapas compared to what’s on offer in a large East-Coast city.
My general rule for Santa Fe would be that any place within walking distance of the plaza is a risky proposition. Even the street carts were tasty but dull.
Yes Santa Fe is not so good, honestly you’d be better off driving up to Espanola and going to La Cocina.
New Mexico breakfast traditionally consists of Huevos Rancheros or a breakfast burrito. But they’re not just for breakfast.
If you find yourself in Los Alamos (50 minutes from Santa Fe), the best breakfast burritos in the state can be found at Coffee House cafe near the Y junction of Trinity and Central. I recommend the No-Meat Green(*) with black beans and onions, and urge you to try it Bernini style (lightly pressed on a panini grill).
(*) New Mexico is the only state with an Official State Question, “red or green?”, referring to chile. Expect to hear that at most restaurants. Neither is necessarily hotter or tastier than the other, it really depends on the restaurant and the batch of chile. It’s OK to ask which one is better that day.
“(*) New Mexico is the only state with an Official State Question, “red or green?”, referring to chile. Expect to hear that at most restaurants. Neither is necessarily hotter or tastier than the other, it really depends on the restaurant and the batch of chile. It’s OK to ask which one is better that day.”
It’s also OK to order both red + green “Christmas” style on the same dish.
If you make it to Sadie’s I highly recommend a side of papitas con chile w/ queso Christmas style for the table. It’s outstanding, especially with a few margaritas.
I second The Frontier and Sadie’s in Albuquerque. Both are the real deal, have been around for decades, and attract mostly locals.
Stop where you can, find some fried eggs and country ham.
la Casa Sena in Santa Fe:
http://www.lacasasena.com/
Totally agree. La Cantina there is also good, and the wait staff sings Broadway show tunes which was fun.
I left the area a coupel fo years ago and here are the places I miss eating at the most
Santa Fe: Santa Fe Baking Company for breakfast burrito
Albuquerque: Sadie’s for carne adovada
Both: Weck’s for a bowl of papas
I would go to a Sonic for a green chile burger. And least I have in the past.
They also serve Frito pie. There’s some real Rio Arriba cuisine.
Oh man, I could kill for a frito pie right about now.
Yum!
La Salita, Sadie’s, Barela’s, or Duran’s in Albuquerque. No atmosphere, but they’re real. El Pinto is OK, but I think lately they’ve watered down their chile to appeal to tourists and other non-New Mexicans who can’t handle the heat and the bold flavors. If you want both atmosphere and authentic chile, try the Range (and definitely finish with the cinnamon ice cream). In Santa Fe, the Shed’s red chile is unbeatable, but be sure to make a reservation.
And yes, in NM we have chile, not chili. Chili is something Texans eat out of a can with beans and ground beef. NM chile is a delicious and unique culinary tradition marrying native, Spanish, and American flavors.
I was born in NM and lived there for about twenty years. I’ve followed many of your blog recommendations since moving to the DC area and think you should not leave NM without stopping at Padilla’s. It’s a grungy, family run, hole in the wall that serves simple food that speaks for itself. You’ll see real Burquenos eating real chile here. El Pinto isn’t terrible, but I remember it being really touristy. There will probably be a mariachi band at El Pinto. There’s no room for one at Padilla’s. The line wraps around the inside of the restaurant so get there early.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Los Cuates. It’s another family run place that started at the location on the south side of Lomas. They later added another location across the street. Die hards swear by the south side but north side is okay, too. Their salsa is unlike anything you’ll get anywhere else, more like a smoky red chile base than tomato.
Frontier is a local treasure and makes for excellent people watching, especially after midnight. Their sweet rolls are incredible, but you can get better New Mexican food elsewhere.
Do not go to Gardunos. There are several in the city and they’re not terrible, but they definitely cater to a tourist crowd and you can do much better. I think the same is probably true for Anita’s. It’s better than the one in Vienna, but it’s no Padilla’s.
I tend to agree that Santa Fe is less exciting for food. If you’re stuck there , I’d vote for Tomasita’s for authentic food and La Casa Sena if you want to shell out for ambiance.
If you can’t decide between red or green, order Christmas and they’ll take care of you. Make sure you get some green at least once. You can’t get it anywhere else.
| If you can’t decide between red or green, order Christmas and they’ll take care of you. Make sure you get some green at least once. You can’t get it anywhere else.
Funny, I would have said the opposite: New Mexican Red can not be found anywhere else. All other reds tend to use tomatoes. The green, while amazing, is emulated more often…
If you are in DC, what do you do for NM food. I mail order chile and make it myself, curious what others do.
I grew up in Albuquerque. It has much better food than Santa Fe, which is overly touristy. In fact, Albuquerque has some of the finest food in the country.
Los Cuates is the best overall, and has odd, thick, smoky salsa. But you should also try at least Frontier, which is a staple and has fantastic carne adovada. Contact me if you want more recommendations or details.
In ABQ I heartily agree about Los Cuates and Padilla, another place that is a bit different but very gemutlich is Cervantes, which has the advantage of being close enough to the airport I have hit it often when I get into town late at night and can’t make it to Sadie’s.
My favorite thing is the unassuming family restaurants that serve very, very good New Mexican in copious quantities for the price. Atrisco (it’s in a mall), La Choza, Guadalupe Cafe and Tomasita’s are my favorites.
Beyond those, the single place I would call a complete must is Cafe Pasqual’s — truly New Mexican food, but also exemplifes the Santa Fe bourgeois-bohemian vibe to a T. Reservations a must.
You can get some great snacks at the farmer’s market, as well as dried chiles and other things suitable for bringing home.
My favorite thing is the unassuming family restaurants that serve very, very good New Mexican in copious quantities for the price
And this recommendation fits in with one of Tyler’s general restaurant recommendations. No reason why what applies for good Asian being in low rent strip malls shouldn’t also apply to good New Mexican food.
(Have not been to NM in a long time, but even 25 years ago Santa Fe was too touristy and starting-to-feel-like-Aspen for my tastes.)
I only know options in Santa Fe: A second vote for burgers at Bobcat Bite. Breakfast at the Horseman’s Haven is also a good bet for chile. Pasqual’s for lunch (though there will be a wait).
I find very good chile (and sopapillas) at Garcias Kitchen, 1736 Central Ave SW in ABQ. Santa Fe was better, though. Tia Sophia’s, 210 W San Francisco St. A lot of people also like the Tecolote Cafe, 1203 Cerrillos Rd, which has pretty good blue-corn baked goods, but I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic.
In Ablqu-cracky – Frontier, El Pinto, Range Cafe. The Southwest Bennie at Flying Star is fantastic for b’fast.
In Bernalillo – The Range Cafe is good. Abuelitas is a real hole-in-the-wall and very traditional and very good. Same goes for La Casita.
In Santa Fe (my home) – some of the other suggestions are higher end restaurants targeted at touristas. If you want to go that route for green chile fare – Shed and La Chaoza are owned by the same people. Marias is popular. Gabriel’s north of town is fantastic (make a reservation).
For locals eatin’ holes in SF, try Tortilla Flats, Red Enchilada, Tia Sohias (breakfast/lunch only). One of my favorites in El Tesoro in the Sanbuso center. IMO, Tomasitas is overrated. If you want really good traditional Mexican try Los Portillos.
Also another vote for Guadalupe Cafe (next to the Roundhouse) and Tecolote (b’fast only).
I live in Santa Fe. There are several great places for breakfast. Tia Sophia’s downtown and the Pantry on Cerrillos both have great huevos rancheros. My favorite New Mexican places for lunch/dinner are Tia Sophias, the Shed (or their more local-oriented version called La Choza). I agree Tomasita’s is a little overrated, and the same for Pasqual’s (best place to spot tourists waiting outside). If you are up for a more upscale dinner try Santacafe.
In Albuquerque the Frontier by UNM is an institution, but I don’t know enough about everything else to recommend there.
If you need recommendations for where to stay or what to do feel free to email!
As you drive from Albuquerque north on NM14 (the very pretty “Turquoise Trail”) to Sante Fe, stop at Burger Boy in Cedar Crest for a green chile cheeseburger. Excellent roadside diner.
Seconded. If driving during daylight, don’t you dare go up I-25 to get to Santa Fe. The Turquoise Trail takes an extra 25-30 minutes, but is well worth it. ABQ food: Duran’s Central Pharmacy (closes early) and at some point be sure to get a Green Chile Cheeseburger (Owl Cafe always had good ones)
You might enjoy the Range Cafe in Bernalillo, a little north of Albuquerque on the way to Santa Fe:
http://rangecafe.com/
Oh, and a vote for the Standard Diner in ABQ, too. There’s not much in the way of chile on the menu, but I enjoy the fare and the place:
http://www.standarddiner.com/
If you want to eat between ABQ and Santa Fe…. well, I hope you like sand.
Bigtime seconding for Bobcat Bite’s burgers (green chile or no) and El Tecolote’s breakfast in Santa Fe. See many mentions of Pasqual’s — it’s certainly good but not as good as its reputation seems to be.
Like most places, Santa Fe’s restaurants are best when they cater to locals (and the cognoscenti like us) rather than tourists.
I second all of these. It would be a big food day but I’d do Tecolote for breakfast, Bobcat bite at lunch, and Cafe Pasqual’s for dinner if I felt I had room. Pasqual’s usually requires a reservation but there is a communal table which is often interesting. Tecolote has the most consistently good and hot adovada breakfast burrito.
Sadly the restaurants famous for their “new mexican” food have all underwhelmed. The El Parasol in Pojoaque is an exception.
Guadalupe Cafe. Awesome and far enough from the beaten path that it’s not overrun with tourists.
Papa Felipe’s, on the southeast corner of Menual and Eubank. Red, green, or christmas. It’s been my favorite New Mexican place for nearly 30 years.
For Albuquerque, a few people have mentioned Sadies along with other choices. I wanted to reinforce it by mentioning it in a comment all by itself. I lived there for two years, and a return is much enhanced by dining here.
The Range in Albuquerque is very good.
After a five year quest for the perfect huevos rancheros, I suggest Perea’s on east Central in ABQ. Order green, flour, potatoes, over easy…
For red, try a chicken skillet at Fiesta. I also love Padillas red.
On the way to Santa Fe, the Mule Barn gets an honorable mention. In SF, Tecolote is the must visit breakfast – though more Mexican than New Mexican.
Good luck choosing, all strong suggestions from my fellow readers, Albuquerque is my favorite place to eat.
Gallup look for mutton and fry bread with chile. Also remembered Chama Chili at the Rio Chama in SF – best NM take on the texMex standard.
Mary and Tito’s on North Fourth in Albuquerque.
In Santa Fe I ABSOLUTELY recommend the Shed and Cafe Pasqual’s. In Albuquerque, you should try Duran’s Central Pharmacy, Garcia’s or the Range (in Bernalillo) if you want the real deal. Duran’s may have the best chile in the city. Albuquerque is home to some great non-New Mexican restaurants too, like the Standard Diner and the Artichoke Cafe.
Lived in Santa Fe in the 1970s. I still desperately miss Josie’s green chile, a locals institution that closed decades ago. At one time she was catering and even having occasional impromptu takeout out of her Marcy St place. I heard she had retired but that maybe her daughter was still holding down the fort. Worth inquiring about.
Otherwise, I can second Tomasitas (most locals), ask for “Christmas style,” the Shed (mostly tourists but still very good for red chile) and Don Pasquals, the only one of the three with culinary aspirations. All of these serve chile that is surprisingly, and perhaps disappointingly mild, I suppose to cater to a larger audience. Blue Corn is passable and Maria’s has a locals following that I never belonged to.
Maria’s (corner of St. Francis & W. Cordova) is very good, and has great margaritas to boot. La Choza is excellent but surprisingly hard to find. In ABQ you’ll also want to try Los Equipales for some wonderful seafood (yes, really. Veracruz style). El Pinto has a nice setting and good food but you can do better at Padilla’s on Girard.
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