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
- #1
Antiquity Restaurant#1 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
$$ | American, International112 Romero St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1417Read More » - #2
California Pastrami#2 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #3
Thai Vegan#3 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #4
Central Grill and Coffee House#4 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #5
Golden Crown Bakery#5 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #6
Farina#6 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #7
The Grove Cafe & Market#7 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #8
Monroe's Restaurant#8 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #9
The Range Cafe#9 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #10
Padilla's Mexican Kitchen#10 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #11
Mas - Tapas y Vino#11 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #12
La Crepe Michel#12 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #13
Standard Diner#13 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
$ - $$ | American, Diner320 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3516Read More » - #14
Two Fools Tavern#14 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #15
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen#15 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #16
Vinaigrette#16 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #17
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm#17 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #18
Rudy's#18 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #19
Frontier Restaurant#19 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque - #20
Cocina Azul#20 of 1,839 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
Explore More of Albuquerque
If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.