Like its famed enchiladas drowned in blankets of purple and inexperienced chile sauce, Albuquerque is swimming in conventional New Mexican eating places. Whereas town has a powerful culinary id rooted in basic Southwestern flavors, its meals scene is actually as various as its folks. The eating places that outline it embody low-key staples in addition to buzzy trendsetters, all of which make Albuquerque probably the greatest locations to eat within the area. These are the important eats of ABQ.
1. Grove Cafe & Market
Breakfast and lunch dishes are elevated at chef-owner Jason Greene’s East Downtown (EDo) cafe. The menu is constructed round native and natural merchandise, which improve breakfast classics like a scramble served with native favourite Tully’s sausage. Seize a bag of house-made English muffins to have at residence or keep and savor the Grove’s croque-madame, stacked with Black Forest ham, Gruyere, whole-grain mustard, tomato, and a sunny-side-up egg on toasted bread. [$$]
2. Farina Pizzeria
This decade-old pizzeria is a staple in East Downtown. Farina prides itself on handmade dough, house-cured meats, and regionally sourced produce for every pizza and bowl of pasta it sends out. Eight pizzas headline the menu, and sure, you may add roasted inexperienced chiles to any of them. The Northeast Heights location is essentially the most spacious and presents extra pasta dishes than its EDo sister. [$$]
3. Duran Central Pharmacy
Duran Central Pharmacy (or Duran’s, because the locals name it) is probably going the one speakeasy the place the choice to be made isn’t between whiskey or gin, however fairly purple or inexperienced chile. Hidden behind the journal rack in an old school drug retailer, Albuquerque’s culinary darling is anchored by handmade flour tortillas that envelop tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, all completed with a beneficiant ladle of your alternative of chile. Although you’ll usually discover it filled with downtown staff on their lunch break, it’s well worth the cease in, and potential wait, regardless of which a part of city you’re coming from. [$]
4. Mary & Tito’s Cafe
Since 1963, Mary & Tito’s has been Albuquerque’s gold customary for carne adovada — a New Mexican-style pork dish stewed in purple chile. (Eater named it certainly one of America’s 38 Essential restaurants in 2018.) Descendants of founders Mary and Tito Gonzales nonetheless run the place, and have preserved the unique recipes that earned the restaurant leagues of devoted regulars. The aforementioned purple chile-stewed carne adovada must be your go-to, however nobody will choose should you go for a mix plate smothered in a savory and spicy inexperienced chile. [$]
5. Campo Restaurant
James Beard Award-nominated Jonathan Perno heads the wood-fire kitchen Campo at Los Poblanos, which sits deep off of the meandering Rio Grande Boulevard in Albuquerque’s north valley. The well-executed menu is vast ranging, to say the least — you will get every little thing from a ceviche with pickled inexperienced chile to tagliatelle bolognese. Reservations are required for dinner, so name forward. [$$$]
6. Sister Bar
The craft cocktail factor is slowly catching on in Albuquerque, and this unassuming downtown hang-out is main the cost. The bar workers right here is adept with each basic and authentic concoctions, and presents a big selection of beers on faucet (much more in cans). The kitchen dishes out an eclectic menu of tacos accompanied by fries and tots with toppings like kimchi, cheddar cheese, Sriracha crema, onions, and cilantro. [$]
7. Inexperienced Denims Farmery
This transport container compound hosts quite a few meals and beverage companies from throughout New Mexico. Attempt a sausage and shroom pizza at Amore Neapolitan Pizzeria, a “divine intervention” burger at Rustic on the Inexperienced, a refreshing La Mora cocktail at Damaged Path Spirits + Brew, and a pint of 7K IPA at Santa Fe Brewing Firm. The open-air multi-restaurant idea makes it straightforward so that you can satiate nearly any craving in a neighborhood setting. [$]
8. Antiquity Restaurant
Restaurant Antiquity is certainly one of Albuquerque’s few remaining relics of superb eating. The quiet restaurant simply off the plaza in Outdated City is thought for timeless steakhouse and seafood staples, like grilled lobster tail, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, and chateaubriand for 2. Outdated-timey romantic vibes make the place a go-to for date nights and celebrations. [$$$]
9. Canine Home Drive In
To get your sizzling canine repair in ABQ, there’s Canine Home. The drive-in restaurant’s parking zone is eternally filled with locals relishing drippy, footlong chili-cheese canine with mustard and onions. If this sounds too messy in your automotive’s upholstery, there are a few tables inside to chow down at as nicely. [$]
10. Frontier
The Frontier solely closes for 4 hours every day, we suspect to replenish its shares of eggs and house-made tortillas. Positioned throughout the road from College of New Mexico, the Frontier serves breakfast all day and night time for hungry college students, workers, and native night time owls. The restaurant itself stretches a full half metropolis block, and you may virtually all the time rely on a line of individuals ready to complete off their night time with a breakfast burrito. [$]
