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    Barbacoa El Primo

    4.9 (108 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Barbacoa El Primo Photos

    BARBACOA EL PRIMO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Barbacoa El Primo

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    1lb of barbacoa 20 tortillas and the goodies
    Maggie S.

    Best Barbacoa in town! Last time I went it was in a Sunday before we went to the railyards. There was no wait. Quality and taste was no lost. The staff was friendly. 10/10 recommend if you are craving barbacoa. The salsas are spicy but are so good.

    Barbacoa taco - i added the toppings from their bar - A taco filled with shredded beef, topped with diced tomatoes, cilantro, and green sauce, served on a soft tortilla.
    Aram K.

    This is my second time coming to barbacoa El Primo. The first time I came I really liked the tacos and gorditas and torta, so I ordered them again this time. But this time I also asked if they could make me a quesadilla, I didn't notice it on the menu; they made it for me and.. just wow . Their barbacoa meat melts in your mouth and has the perfect flavor and texture. Their green salsa has just the right kick while maintaining a high level of flavor from the tomatillos. Their cantaloupe drink is out of this world delicious. I've had their horchata before and it's good but the cantaloupe drink is my new favorite drink there. It blew my mind. Their quesadilla which seems to be a secret menu item was sooo delicious I had to buy a second one and take it home. I couldn't believe how good it was. I will say this, it's a bit over the top greasy, but the flavors and textures inside make up for that. You know how sometimes when you go somewhere the greasiness outshines the flavor of the food? No here it's just something passive, you'll notice some drops of oil leaking when you eat the quesadilla but the flavor of the food itself greatly outshines that. I also had a taco and torta and gordita which we're all good and you had to load your own toppings from the taco bar.

    A rectangular sign for Barbacoa El Primo is mounted on two beige pillars beside a street in Albuquerque, NM, with trees and buildings in the background.
    Liz A.

    If you have never tried Barbacoa, this place is awesome to try them for the first time. This is the 2nd time I have had them. This place has friendly service, fast, efficient and is a clean facility. Plenty of food for one person. I ordered the half lb of meat. It came with all the fixings, plenty of corn tortillas. Reasonable prices. Give this place a try.

    James O.

    A bit disappointed Only available tacos are shredded beef , very small portions and a bit of a wait

    Tacos - A taco filled with shredded meat, topped with chopped onions, cilantro, and shredded cheese, served in a foam takeout container.
    Heidi A.

    I was surprised how bare it looked without the toppings, but the sauce and the toppings made it complete. The service was quick. And the interior was very cute and fun. The tacos were really tasty, and full of flavor. I can't wait to come back!

    The pineapple horchata is so refreshing. - Two beverages in clear plastic cups with straws are placed on a white surface. One drink is yellow, and the other is dark with bubbles. Both cups have a label from Barbacoa El Primo LLC in Albuquerque, NM.
    Jean C.

    I can see why they were listed in the top 100 restaurants.in the SW. The meat is tender and flavorful. The pineapple horchata is amazing. The 1lb deal has tons of food. Great food and great value.

    Barbacoa Tacos with fixings
    Yuri F.

    the food is absolutely amazing for the price you're paying. The tacos are small and delicious. I just wish they were open for dinner too!!!

    Agua de horchata
    Antonio G.

    Buenisima la barbacoa. 100 recomendada y el agua muy buena. La de horchata excelente precio

    a sign for a mexican restaurant - A rectangular sign for Barbacoa El Primo features bold black and pink text and a logo with a bull, set between two concrete posts.
    John D.

    One of the things I miss about South Texas is the food. Simple food with basic ingredients. Like barbacoa, a great weekend breakfast food. We would buy some on Sunday morning, take it home and eat. But that was then. After hearing rave reviews from friends and co-workers I had to find out for myself. I can sum it up in one word - wow! We decided to eat in. We ordered a pound of barbacoa and a couple of drinks at the counter. Drinks are mostly served in bottles/cans. Within minutes our food was served up with a stack of steaming hot street size corn tortillas - which ran out as we spooned the last of the barbacoa. Onions, cilantro, lime and red/green hot sauce. Red is extremely hot!!! - taste and then apply. A little went a long way. The barbacoa was delicious and considering the usually greasiness of the meat, I was expecting a large amount in the bottom of the cup. To my surprise it was almost nonexistent. ¡Simplemente La mejor!? Si!

    Barbarcoa burrito.      Flour tortilla filled with delicious barbarcoa.

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    2 days ago

    Outstanding breakfast burritos. Great service and clean. Loved all the fresh chopped ingredients at the condiment bar.

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Food great. I accidentally put top tip and they called it to my attention and fixed it. It was a take out order. Tasted like homemade.

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    7 months ago

    I was wowed. One of the best barbacoa burritos I had this place definitely a go back. Super clean place. Service was fast and very friendly.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Extremely fast service. The food is good and pretty affordable. I ordered the torta which is just meat inside.

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    1 year ago

    You know when a place only does one thing, that thing is good as hell. Enter Barbados el Primo. Salsas are fire, too!

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    3 years ago

    Best barbacoa I've ever had, and best restaurant I've been to in ABQ so far. A true hidden gem!

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    They have moved! Great inside eating location at 1300 San Mateo. We visit every time we are traveling though! Consistently delicious!

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    When do you open? It looks like it's getting close?

    Barbacoa is only open from 10-3 pm No dinner time here

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    Herencia - Crab Enchiladas

    Herencia

    (124 reviews)

    Eastside

    Everything from top to bottom was excellent. My inlaws live in Placitas and we brought our young…read moreadult sons to visit. One of our sons has Celiac and is very sensitive. It's difficult to find good restaurants that can cater to young adults and have REALLY good food and service. We came first on Sunday for brunch. The food was very good. It was a bit small on the portions though. We had breakfast enchiladas and omelet and blue corn pancakes. Then we came back for dinner. The chicken mole was divine, tacos, sea bass, pork steak etc. absolutely perfect. Good portions. Food tastes like it was homemade. The cuisine is Mexican...not New Mexican. The server was great about answering any questions and willing to omit something if possible. Our server was attentive and so gracious. The wine list was surprisingly good. We had a French Viognier for less than $50. Finally the owner came out to talk to us and thanks us for coming. I'm in the business and haven't had this kind of service for a long time. Our son with Celiac was very satisfied, but also we all were. I would absolutely come back regardless of food restrictions. Please go!!

    Had a great Sunday brunch with friends! Our waiter was terrific and the hostesses and other dining…read moreroom staff were so nice and friendly. The food was fabulous! A extra special bonus is the restaurant is gluten free. The dining is pleasant and the ambiance was colorful and upbeat. Will definitely go back!

    El Pinto - Fresh Guacamole

    El Pinto

    (1.9k reviews)

    $$

    Business Parkway/Academy Acres

    We came with a group of about 25 with our soccer team for dinner Saturday night and it was very…read moreimpressive. The property seems massive and it's really beautiful with all the cottonwood trees. When you get into the restaurant, there are just tons of combinations of these cozy little nooks, long dining tables, separated rooms, patio seating, and event spaces. There is something to see everywhere you look; fountains, fireplaces, and plants, hanging chiles, and more. They even raise cattle and chickens on property and source from their own greenhouse for their menu items. The ambience was just really cool and even though the winds were blowing like crazy, we were totally comfortable out in the patio section with the screens up. The food is authentic New Mexican cuisine. They brought out delicious tortilla chips for us to snack on while we decided on what to order. It really felt like there was no wrong choice to make. They were very accommodating for food allergies and restrictions. There was great flavor in everything our group tried. I split the half order of chicken nachos and it was a hefty half order! I was so stuffed, but then, hot sopapillas appeared and I couldn't say no to those! Especially not since the tables had their own sourced honey. There is also a full tequila bar, but since we were traveling with kids, didn't get to take too much advantage of that as an option. I wish we would've had more to explore the property but if I end up back in the Albuquerque area, I'll stop by again.

    I keep saying that I'm so over this place, but here I am eating overpriced food and having a…read moreweak-ass margarita... The good: The red chile rubbed ribs are phenomenal, but 1/2 rack for $44?! It's not a lobster tail. Beans and guac-excellent, calabacitas-very good. The chicken enchiladas-delicious with tender chicken. The bad: 2 Grand Gold margaritas at $15 each that were neither grand or gold. I've had better house margaritas at Applebees, lol. Their red chile was sparse, but that actually turned out in my favor because it was on the edge of burnt. A bit acrid. The sopas were dense, flat, chewy, and overcooked. The salsa-underwhelming. If you want excellent Grand Gold margaritas, the best salsa in New Mexico, and excellent portion sizes- SADIE'S ALL THE WAY!!!

    Barbacoa El Primo - mexican - Updated May 2026

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