
What to Eat in Albuquerque
When dining in Albuquerque, you'll encounter your fair share of strong and spicy flavors, and in doing so you'll also gain a deeper understanding of how food plays into the city and state's history and defines its identity. New Mexican cuisine is a combination of Mexican, Native American and Spanish flavors. Dishes are built on a foundation of native ingredients, namely corn, beans, squash and, perhaps most importantly, chiles. The chile comes in two varieties: red and green. If you're at a restaurant that serves New Mexican cuisine, you'll likely be asked, "Red or green?" If you want to taste both, say you'd like your dish served "Christmas-style." High Noon Restaurant and Saloon in Old Town is a favorite New Mexican eatery that's as popular for its steak as it is its tequila. But if you really want to heat things up, plan on attending the annual National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show in March, which features more than 200 booths filled with more than 1,000 products related to chile peppers.
Another element that makes Albuquerque's food scene so unique is the city's wine. Spanish missionaries planted the first grape vines in New Mexico in 1629, which means the Rio Grande Valley is the oldest wine making region in the country. You'll find a variety of wineries around Albuquerque and Corrales, New Mexico (the visitors bureau offers a directory), but if you want to sample a bit of everything, consider visiting during the Albuquerque Wine Festival, which takes place in May. Prefer suds to grapes? The city is also home to a variety of craft breweries. You can map out your own brewery crawl, or attend one of the city's beer events like ABQ Beer Week, ABQ Blues and Brews or the Albuquerque Hopfest.
Beyond its New Mexican eateries, Albuquerque offers a variety of fine dining restaurants. Travelers and locals particularly enjoy Restaurant Antiquity and Artichoke Cafe. If you'd like to sample some authentic Native American cuisine, both travelers and the visitors bureau suggest you head to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which has its own cafe and bakery.
Find the Best Restaurants in Albuquerque
- #1Antiquity Restaurant#1 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (868)$$ | American, International112 Romero St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1417Read More » - #2Golden Crown Bakery#2 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (886)$ - $$ | Wine Bar, American, Brew Pub, Pizza1103 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-1865Read More » - #3California Pastrami#3 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (429)$ - $$ | Deli, American, Grill6125 Montgomery Blvd NE Suite 5, Albuquerque, NM 87109-1449Read More » - #4Thai Vegan#4 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (267)$ - $$ | Asian, Thai5505 Osuna Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-2542Read More » - #5Central Grill and Coffee House#5 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (279)$ | Diner2056 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1404Read More » - #6Farina#6 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (415)$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar510 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3520Read More » - #7The Grove Cafe & Market#7 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (773)$ - $$ | American, Cafe600 Central Ave SE Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3656Read More » - #8Mas - Tapas y Vino#8 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (789)$$ | Spanish, Wine Bar125 2nd St NW Hotel Andaluz, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3304Read More » - #9Monroe's Restaurant#9 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (873)$ - $$ | Mexican, American, Southwestern1025 4th NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102Read More » - #10Padilla's Mexican Kitchen#10 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (327)$ | Mexican, Southwestern1510 Girard Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-1823Read More » - La Crepe Michel
Tripadvisor (397)$ - $$ | French, European400 San Felipe St NW Ste C2, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1565Read More » - #11Two Fools Tavern#11 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (433)$ - $$ | Irish, Bar, Pub3211 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-1441Read More » - Standard Diner
Tripadvisor (1036)$ - $$ | American, Diner320 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3516Read More » - #12Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen#12 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (1090)$ - $$ | American, Seafood5011 Pan American West Fwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-2239Read More » - #13Vinaigrette#13 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (636)$ - $$ | American, Soups1828 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1160Read More » - #14Rudy's#14 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (695)$ - $$ | American, Barbecue2321 Carlisle NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110Read More » - #15Cocina Azul#15 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (546)$ - $$ | Mexican, Southwestern1134 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-1866Read More » - #16Frontier Restaurant#16 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (1933)$ | Mexican, American, Southwestern2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-3507Read More » - #17D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro#17 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (862)$ - $$ | American, Wine Bar, International901 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-2057Read More » - #18Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro#18 of 1,838 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Tripadvisor (339)$ - $$ | American, Wine Bar3009 Central Ave NE Nob Hill District, Albuquerque, NM 87106-2214Read More »
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