Albuquerque Travel Guide

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
Golden Crown Bakery
#1 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (848)
$ - $$ | Wine Bar, Brew Pub, Southwestern, Pizza
1103 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-1865
Read More »
#2
Antiquity Restaurant
#2 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (798)
$$ | American, International
112 Romero St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1417
Read More »
#3
Central Grill and Coffee House
#3 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (237)
$ | Diner
2056 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1404
Read More »
#4
The Range Cafe
#4 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (361)
$ - $$ | Mexican, American, Southwestern, Cafe
2200 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107-1721
Read More »
#5
California Pastrami
#5 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (390)
$ - $$ | Deli, American, Southwestern, Grill
6125 Montgomery Blvd NE Suite 5, Albuquerque, NM 87109-1449
Read More »

#6
Thai Vegan
#6 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (245)
$ - $$ | Asian, Thai
5505 Osuna Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-2542
Read More »
#7
Vinaigrette
#7 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (596)
$ - $$ | American, Soups
1828 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1160
Read More »
#8
Monroe's Restaurant
#8 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (782)
$ - $$ | Mexican, American, Southwestern, Soups
1520 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1255
Read More »
#9
The Grove Cafe & Market
#9 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (751)
$ - $$ | American, Cafe
600 Central Ave SE Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3656
Read More »
#10
Padilla's Mexican Kitchen
#10 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (289)
$ | Mexican, Southwestern
1510 Girard Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-1823
Read More »

#11
Farina
#11 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (394)
$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar
510 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3520
Read More »
#12
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
#12 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (1028)
$ - $$ | American, Seafood
5011 Pan American West Fwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-2239
Read More »
#13
Rudy's
#13 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (670)
$ - $$ | American, Barbecue
2321 Carlisle NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
Read More »
#14
La Crepe Michel
#14 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (378)
$ - $$ | French, European
400 San Felipe St NW Ste C2, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1565
Read More »
#15
Standard Diner
#15 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (984)
$ - $$ | American, Diner
320 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3516
Read More »

#16
Mas - Tapas y Vino
#16 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (746)
$$ | Spanish, Wine Bar
125 2nd St NW Hotel Andaluz, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3304
Read More »
#17
Marble Brewery
#17 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (200)
$ | American, Pub
111 Marble Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-2315
Read More »
#18
Cocina Azul
#18 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (484)
$ - $$ | Mexican, Southwestern
1134 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-1866
Read More »
#19
66 Diner
#19 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (706)
$ - $$ | American, Diner, Deli
1405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4801
Read More »
#20
St. Clair Winery & Bistro
#20 of 2,041 Places to Eat in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor (805)
$ - $$ | American, Wine Bar
901 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-2057
Read More »