Restaurants in New Mexico
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A
El Norteño
True Mexican - not New Mexican - cuisine is the thing here, with fantastic pollo norteño, chicken mole and the must-have cabrito al horno (oven-roasted goat).
reviewed
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B
Frontier
An Albuquerque tradition, the Frontier boasts enormous cinnamon rolls, addictive green chili stew, and the best huevos rancheros ever. The food and people-watching are outstanding, and students love the low prices on the 24/7 breakfast, burgers and Mexican food.
reviewed
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C
Tucanos Brazilian Grill
Next to Century 14 Downtown, Tucanos serves an all-inclusive Brazilian-style BBQ with skewered meats and a comprehensive salad bar.
reviewed
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D
Sadie’s
Make sure to snap a photo in front of the sign at Sadie’s that says, ‘in 1897 in this location, nothing happened.’ A massive place with a barn-like atmosphere, Sadie’s is a local institution. One author makes this her first stop in Albuquerque – bar none. Recite along with us: ‘a carafe of grand gold margaritas, please, and the enchilada dinner with blue corn, rolled, chicken, green vegetarian, no onions and a side of guac. Great. Thanks.’
reviewed
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Golden Crown Panaderia
[ourpick] Golden Crown Panaderia Who doesn't love a friendly neighborhood bakery? Especially one with gracious staff, fresh-from-the-oven bread, fruit-filled empanadas, smooth coffee and the frequent free cookie. Make time in your schedule to sample the goodies inside this beloved adobe oasis, and call ahead to reserve a loaf of quick-selling green chili bread.
reviewed
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Gabriel’s
It’s worth the 12-mile drive north of Santa Fe to eat at Gabriel’s. The scenic patio and beautiful interior, hung with Miguel Martinez’s art, are fabulous spots to enjoy fresh guacamole, made to order at your table, excellent New Mexican cuisine and even better ribs. Plan to drop by if you’re headed to the flea market or points north.
reviewed
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E
Cloud Cliff Bakery
Slip on some Birkenstocks and drop by for a stack of groovy blue corn pancakes (around US$6). Rainbow trout wraps (around US$9), organic lamb and quinoa (around US$9), and soups and sandwiches are served alongside organic wines and microbrews. As for side helpings, look for lefty commentary, live music, poetry or lectures.
reviewed
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F
La Plazuela
Make reservations to dine on pork medallions in prickly pear-Tecate barbecue sauce, chipotle-glazed filet mignon and other gourmet goodies at this lovely spot in the painted-glass heart of La Fonda hotel, where local artist Ernest Martinez has graced more than 400 windows with his paintings over the last 50 years.
reviewed
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G
La Cantina at Coyote Café
This lively rooftop cantina atop famed sister restaurant, Coyote Café, welcomes budget gourmets to sample chef Mark Miller’s cut-rate creations. Try the Oaxacan chicken mole ($11), spit-roasted pork tacos with pineapple ($13) and the signature mango margarita ($8). Sunsets are fabulous.
reviewed
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H
Joseph's Table
Chef Joseph Wrede doles out unique and creative Southwestern dishes with an emphasis on ingredients from local farms. The dining room sprouts pussywillow chandeliers and a lush flowery mural painted by his wife and his mother. Couples should go for a 'loveshack, ' one of the cozy, romantic window booths.
reviewed
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La Crepe Michele
Tucked in the corner of an adobe courtyard near Old Town Plaza, this intimate restaurant is the place to enjoy a quiet romantic dinner. A variety of crepes are served for lunch and dinner, while French specialties, ranging from beef Wellington to barramundi au champagne, change nightly.
reviewed
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I
Seasons Rotisserie & Grill
With bright-yellow walls, high ceilings, fresh flowers and a creative menu, this contemporary place provides welcome relief from the usual Old Town atmosphere. Try the hearty red-chile-dusted chicken burgers or Baja tacos inside or on the rooftop cantina.
reviewed
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J
Il Vicino Pizzeria
Sure, you can come for simple traditional fare like wood-fired pizza, sandwiches and pasta. But the real bread and butter here is spectacular award-winning microbrewed beer, including the Wet Mountain IPA and Slow Down Brown.
reviewed
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K
Blue Corn Café & Brewery
This friendly brewpub wins awards for its Atomic Blonde Ale, High Altitude Pale Ale and others, served alongside burgers (around US$8), carne asada (around US$14) and Chuy's chalupas ($8). Live music, too.
reviewed
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L
Bobcat Bite
Often voted as serving the Best Burger in Santa Fe by locals, this relaxed roadhouse beneath the neon really does an outstanding green chile cheeseburger ($7). The steaks are pretty darn good too.
reviewed
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M
Shohko Cafe
Did you expect anything less? Even sushi comes Santa Fe-style - try the cream cheese and green chile roll. They also serve bento boxes at lunch and teriyaki dishes for folks who don't do raw fish.
reviewed
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N
Railyard Restaurant & Saloon
Housed in a corrugated tin warehouse in the up-and-coming, gritty-artsy Railroad District, this conventional steaks-and-chops house also offers pastas, sandwiches and a bar menu. Service is good.
reviewed
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O
Tesuque Village Market
In the wooded, horsy, upscale village of Tesuque, grab gourmet groceries or an excellent lunch - from subtle cheeses to various fajitas - and enjoy them on the pleasant outdoor porch.
reviewed
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Purple Onion
Mogollon, a semi-ghost town, lies 4 miles north of Glenwood and then 9 miles east on steep and narrow Hwy 159 (inaccessible during the winter). Once an important mining town, it’s now rather deserted and empty, inhabited by only a few antique-like shops and, as is typical for middle-of-nowhere New Mexico, one proud little restaurant. This one is called the Purple Onion and it claims to serve the best burger in New Mexico. We’re not sure if it’s the best, but it’s pretty darn good, as are most of the homemade dishes at this friendly, weekend-only place.
reviewed
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P
Café Pasqual’s
Make reservations for dinner if you’d like, but definitely wait in line to enjoy the famous breakfasts. We highly recommend huevos motuleños ($12), made with eggs and black beans, sautéed bananas, feta cheese and more; tamale dulce ($12), a sweet corn tamale with fruit, beans and Mexican chocolate; or the enormous Durango ham-and-cheese omelet ($13). They’re all served up in a festive, if crowded, interior. Grab a seat faster by sitting at the community table, where tourists and locals mix it up daily.
reviewed
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Tara’s Organic
Ice cream is what to order at Tara’s Organic, after you’ve had your fill sampling the tasty lunch specials. All the ingredients are locally grown – the lavender comes from Los Poblanos, a small town near Albuquerque, the green chiles are harvested on an Espanola farm. But back to the ice cream: Rosemary’s combined caramelized pear and allspice is the latest in a stable of all natural ice-cream flavors that often taste as wild as the nearby mountains – sage anyone?
reviewed
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Taos Diner
- Taos, USA
- Restaurants › Other
[ourpick] Taos Diner It's with some reluctance that we share the existence of this marvelous place, a mountain-town diner with wood-paneled walls, tattooed waitresses, fresh-baked biscuits and coffee cups that are never less than half-full. This is diner grub at its finest, prepared with a Southwestern, organic spin. Mountain men, scruffy jocks, solo diners and happy tourists - everyone's welcome here. We like the Copper John's eggs with a side of green chili sauce.
reviewed
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Q
Jinja
Asian fusion cuisine and tropical cocktails make this bright spot a place to linger. Choose from among Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Malaysian-style mains, but whatever else you do, don't miss the wasabi mashed potatoes. The kids' menu keeps young ones happy and the drinks menu inspires adults to be bold - try a Polynesian 'party bowl' with four straws (around US$29) or a Thai martini (around US$9) with lime vodka and house-made lemongrass syrup.
reviewed
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R
Compound
A long-time local foodie favorite, the Compound features the contemporary American creations of Mark Kiffin, recognized by the James Beard Foundation as the Best Chef of the Southwest in 2005. The acclaimed seasonal menu draws on the elegant flavors of Southwestern and Mediterranean cooking. Ingredients are always fresh, and the presentation perfect. Come when there’s reason to celebrate – the wine list includes several top-notch champagnes.
reviewed
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S
Baja Tacos
Nosh on New Mexican classics - including an extensive vegetarian menu and good carne adovada - inside the cramped interior or at the drive-through. And here's a bonus: the amazing mural outside, Her Story is a Part of Our History, by noted area artists Julia Coyne and Amberleigh, uniquely depicts Santa Fe's cultural heritage, showing San Ildefonso potter Maria Martinez , flamenco maestra Maria Benitez and painter Georgia O'Keeffe .
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