Driving down central looking for a place to eat. Great choice. Greeted with a great smile from behind a mask. You could tell in her eyes she was happy to see us. We had a Indian Taco. Not on the menu, however no problem we can do that. The only seating was on the Patio. Indoor seating is closed due to lack of workers. The Patio area was very clean and plenty of space. Our meal was delivered and was very good. They came out often and checked one everyone taking complete care of their customers. Everything was served in takeout containers. We'll be back. read more

Mmmm. Very tasty NM style Mexican food. I would give it 5 stars, but things like (little details) home made taco shells rather then store bought should be used. Free chips and salsa should be given, and not paid for. No guac? WTH?? Really good overall but little things prevent me from giving them 5 stars. (they are lucky I didn't give them a 3 because of the massive heart burn it caused - but man ... it was good) read more

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The best red chili. Reminds me of my grandmothers. Everything is fresh. Attractive plating. So good.

I absolutely love this place! I first found out about this restaurant when my work bought lunch for everyone and El Charrito brought it to the facility. It was so good and so fresh; I mean the quality was incredible. So, my husband and found the restaurant and since it was closed inside due to COVID restrictions, we sat at a little table and ate outside. Once again the food was so wonderfully amazing and the owners and the staff were wonderful and so welcoming. We have very happy with every visit. read more

Red chile is just like the kind I grew up eating! I love this place

It's always a treat to get anything at El Charrito! I am so happy that this long-standing local restaurant is still here to get all their treats! My favorites... There's sopapillas there Chile Rellenos and their carne adovada! And they are always always friendly and professional! read more

The menu's packed with options. Food is delicious. I'm from out of town, and ALWAYS demand that this is my first breakfast spot in town. Food taste as if my grandmother was in the back cooking it up! More than reasonably priced. Staff of family like, and welcoming. Coffee is great- and, I don't think my cup dropped below half. Huevos Rancheros (Christmas style) for the win! read more

I usually order the cheese, onion, and red chile enchiladas. This is my favorite New Mexican restaurant that I've tried in Abq, and I've tried quite a few to say the least. I'd say it's the closest to our homemade enchiladas. The portions are large enough for at least 2 meals. If it wasn't so far from my house I'd definitely go there a lot more, but then again that might be a good thing too because then I'd be as big as a house. Their food is that good! Their service is good as well. The only thing I wish is that they would make sure their hours are updated, I went on my birthday about a year ago, I live in the NE heights so it's out of the way, and they were closed that day. Will that keep me from going back, heck no! Can't wait to go again. read more

El Charrito's is HANDS DOWN my FAVORITE New Mexican restaurant!! The red and green chile are AMAZING. Their portion sizes are wonderful and the staff treat you like family! It is always DELICIOUS and CLEAN!! I usually get the button buster.. I share it now a days but there were times I could eat it without hesitation. You can also ask them to fry your papas.. that's a game changer. Their sopapillas are to die for! ... is you don't know what that is - GET IT AND EAT IT WITH HONEY!!! read more

El Charritos - They have waiting areas for those busy Saturday mornings! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This unassuming place started out of their home and it slowly grew over the years. The meals are nothing less than awesome! If you like green or red chili, this is the spot! The prices are very very good and amount of food is perfect! The service is excellent and very friendly. From time to order to the time food is received is on par! The chicken fried steak fingers are the BOMB!!!! Taking family from out of town to El Charritos is always a treat and they remember the place when we go visit them. A must if entertaining or if wanting some good food on your own!! read more

I love the food is amazing, my brother loved breakfast so I'd come often to get his breakfast and dinner the girls and the mom are wonderful people.. Who ever hasn't been here come have a chili relleno burritos smothered with green my fav.... good job el charrito read more

El Charrito is it!!! Started with a great waitress that greeted us (party of 3). I opted for the Carne Avoada plate with sopaillas. Let me tell you, I 100% enjoyed my food. The other two with me enjoyed theirs also. Stop in and try them out!!! No regrets here. read more

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We went in for dinner tonight and the restaurant was quite busy as the Balloon Fiesta is in town. The service was good overall. The food was great. To bad they don't offer free chips and salsa like many other New Mexican restaurants do. They give you plenty of food and the sopas are wonderful. They have REAL honey NOT that fake honey flavored syrup. So definitely give them a try...you'll be back. read more

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The staff was very friendly and welcoming. They made me feel as though I was entering someone's house instead of a restaurant. Unfortunately I cannot say I the food gave me the same warm feelings. You do get a large plate filled with large servings. The arroz was muy aldente, and the tomato paste used to make it was clumping on each grain of rice. The earthy flavor of the ice berg salad evoked images of it being washed in a dirty clay pot. The carne chile relleno must have been breaded and fried by a person with impaired vision. I tasted more oil than chile. Being from Texas I tend to be critical of Mexican cuisine not from the S.Texas region. Sorry, El Charrito is supporting my prejudice. read more

This is the most delicious, authentic, locally owned New Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque! I got the large combination plate with added Carne Adovada, and it is superb!! So much food...lunch for tomorrow too. A favorite place for many years. Five stars!!! read more

We came in here after a get together and had a pretty big party of 8 people and were welcomed and accommodated in about 15 minutes. It was a busy Sunday morning and I really enjoyed the food. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, Chrismas (Red and Green Chile). It was a smothered plate with sopapillas to go around. The service was superb and they were very attentive to us throughout the meal. The plate was sooo large and I could not eat it one sitting (Leftovers!) Enjoy and you will probably be back. read more

El Charritos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

One of my top to go places for New Mexican food. They have one of the best salsas I've had; and a hot one at that. For breakfast I always enjoy their breakfast burritos, smothered of course and Christmas for me. It's a mouth filler for sure. Also have had their pancakes, which were nice and fluffy. If you're really feeling hungry in the morning the button buster is a good choice. Now on to lunch what is a must try is their steak fingers, again paired with their incredible salsa. Not a fan of thick cut fries like me? Sub whole beans on the side, which are delectably seasoned (I get mine without cheese). And another standard go too would be their beef tacos. Which has a potatoe and beef filling. Negatives would be that their tortillas are not freshly made. Other than that no complaints. read more

This is a very good place to eat. My cousins took us to this place i'll admit I wasn't too fond of the food but the second time we ate there OMG I I think whoever it was the cook didn't do a good job with my food but the last cook we had, mmmmmmmmm the food taste the bomb. Of course we I'll come again read more

The best authentic NEw Mexican food in town by far!!! If you have not tried it you're missing out

Service was extremely slow today. Usually they are on it. Took awhile to get a water ice tea and chips and salsa. Chips are homemade salsa is not salsa it's more of a paste than salsa. The food portions are huge so good luck finishing your plate. I will come back and hope for better service Next time try the Green Chile Cheese Burger! Went back and had the tamale plate! Omg it was excellent you can't go wrong with what you order. Go hungry bc they give you a ton of food. Price is reasonable will go back. read more

I really enjoyed my steak fingers. They're always piping hot and the cole slaw is always fresh and crisp!

Such a great little place , the owner and his daughters are always there and they are so friendly and accommodating. It's definitely a place that when you walk in they remember your name and order . It does get a touch busy Sunday mornings and the parking can be a little tough , but they make up for it with great food . The only thing that I will say is that they don't have Splenda or stevia for coffee only sweet and low and for some reason that really irks me . All in all it's one of my favorites the huevos rancheros is top notch I would say top two in the city and I'm pretty picky ! read more

You won't leave El Charrito hungry! Definitely recommend the Carne Adovada place. The sopaipillas are delicious and complement the Chile nicely. read more

To Anthony Blackstand your review was so outrageous first it isn't a Mexican restaurant it is New Mexican. my family friends and I have eaten here for many years and the food has always been fantastic. The owners and their family and staff are always kind and go out of their way to serve you. We all have our opinions but keep yours. No need to be nasty. read more

I go to El Charrito about 4-5 times a year. They always serve an above average portion of food. I love the carne adovada they serve. I'm not crazy about the beans so I avoid that. It has a nice atmosphere and the staff is very nice. Bon Apetit! read more

When a restaurant makes one mistake in how they do business I usually over look it, When 3 are made I can't or won't go back. It all started Black Friday, I went with friends and they were closed. no sign in the window stating they would be closed black Friday. That isn't even one of the three. I went by myself tonight. #1 the taco meat is CUT with cornmeal and isn't flavored, big mistake because it ruins the tacos. #2 no free chips and salsa at the beginning to you can munch and prepare for the meal. I personally love tortilla chips so I can save them to eat with my meal and often eat my whole meal as a dip, dipping the chips in it. I brought it up to the waitress cashier and she couldn't give a crap that they don't serve chips or a suggestion might be helpful. #3 I told her that asking if sopapilla's would be served with the meal or after the meal with honey kind of like a desert. She replied some people eat them with the meal. SOME! implies that there are others that prefer them after and HOT not cold because they sat on the table for the whole meal. I assume she was the manager since when she asked if I liked my meal I said it was so so and she listened to me but didn't get the owner or manager. Too bad the reputation lye's with her. All in all 20 bucks including tip for a combo and a soda it's that great a deal for the quality of food. The quantity was large and the green chili was hot, two plus marks and the only reason they didn't get one star. Save you money. There are plenty of better quality Mexican places in Albuquerque that will ask for sopapillas to be served before or after the meal, that don't cut the bland hamburger in the tacos and have better employees that actually care about your experience. read more

Best red chile and New Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque hands down. I've been coming here since I was little, and my family since waaaay when the place still looked like someone's grandma's house. And that's the way the food tastes, just like home. I cannot day enough good things about this restaurant, it's always the first place I suggest to any visitors to get an authentic taste of New Mexico. The staff is friendly and the plates are huge! Enough to share or take home for seconds. Tip- Weekend mornings (particularly Sundays) are VERY BUSY. Be prepared to wait but I promise you it's worth it. read more

Hadn't eaten here in years and either my memory failed me or things have changed?! I remembered eating weekend breakfast here and it being packed, food was good and live Mariachi playing. Maybe breakfast is better than dinner?? Or we got the bad cook? The photos posted must be from years ago?? Ate here on a Saturday night and it was dead. Seen 3 waitresses working and service was still very slow. Our waitress was not very friendly or accommodating. Had a taco plate. Taco shell the premade kind not freshly made. Rice was dry and plain. Refried beans had dry chunks like they were old sitting in open air too long. Food was horrible and not at all authentic. Chips & Salsa not free. Some of the chips were chewy and the salsa was more like a weird thick sauce. The honey even seemed more like corn syrup than real honey. Food was bland and seemed to be out of a box, can, or from any where but freshly made. Reminded be of chain food Mexican restaurants like Gardunos versus authentic New Mexican like Monroe's, Barelas or Macs La Sierra. Greatly disappointed that this business has changed to poor quality food. Way too many great New Mexican and Mexican restaurants in town that there's no room for less than desirable meals. Also, this establishment doesn't serve any alcoholic beverages. Count out the tacos y cerveza! read more

El Charritos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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If you only have one restaurant trip in Abq, let this be it. Adovada will make this non-pork eater repent. Rellenos the way they OUGHT to be. Sopapillas light as an angel"s eyelash. I order Christmas, but red is just as delicious as green here. Only thing I'd improve is coffee--always hot and fresh but a little timid for my taste. Do not miss this place. read more

This little place was awesome for several reasons. After unwisely trying several places with a party of 18 (yes, EIGHTEEN) without a reservation and being rejected either rudely or awkwardly, our troupe tried El Charrito. Though the restaurant was fairly busy and the front hostess looked a tad flustered at the size of our group, they took charge and had us seated outside on a shaded patio and had our drink and food orders taken pretty quickly. Also amazing was the waitress's ability to take all of the orders without writing anything done and getting everything served correctly. Kudos! I could tell they were pulling out all the stops for us, running around with pitchers of water, opening huge packages of napkins and being friendly all the while. The food was great. It was cheap, yummy, and hot. The staff at El Charrito all displayed exemplary hospitality and I'll definitely be going back when I find myself in Albuquerque again. read more

We liked the food and the friendly service. However, I am giving the low rating because both my partner and myself got sick after eating here. read more

This is restaurant is in my TOP 3 - as one of the best restaurants in the city. The food is cooked up fresh daily, always consistent, very generous portions. They specialize in both, Mexican/American food. EVERYTHING IS GOOD here! Seriously!! You can always find the owners, husband/wife/daughters, working their tail off here. They're always very attentive, kind, friendly and interested in making your dining experience a memorable one. I can't say enough good things about this place. You need to try it for yourself. Don't look for anything fancy... just good home style cooking, lot's of it, and reasonable prices. I live in the far NE heights - drive across town to eat here. I don' mind though - for sure, it's worth the drive. Been here about a dozen time in the last year, always come away totally satisfied, with the service quality/quantity of the food they serve. I wish we had a restaurant comparable, to El Charritos', in the NE heights! Yeah, most likely, you're going to have a wait, however, it's worth the wait!! read more

Really good. Great sopapillas. Tamales and chili rellenos were superb. Huge portions. Very reasonably priced.

We went to this restaurant for dinner and it was great! Since indoor seating was closed, we ate in the outdoor seating was clean and nice. My partner had two chicken tacos with rice and beans and I had two tostadas with beans, lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Sapodillas with honey were included with our order and they were yummy with the honey! read more

I stand by my original review. I have loved Mexican food all of my life and was taught how to cook authentic Mexican by several Mexican friends. Many people who have never tasted really good Mexican food do not know what they are missing and settle for what they get. I to am sorry that I could not give your restaurant a better rating but I couldn't eat the food and I left your restaurant still hungry. read more

Adequate but forgettable New Mexican food. No beer. Hard tacos. Lots of cheese on everything. Menu is small and not many healthy choices. Sopapillas were incredibly greasy. read more

Awesome food! Very caring and friendly staff!!! Perfect way to start off our vacation in New Mexico!

Walking into El Charrito feels like a visit to a New Mexican grandmother's home. Once you get past the somewhat overwhelming collection of religious artwork near the entrance, the dining room is very tastefully decorated in paintings of New Mexican landscapes and chile ristras. Lovely pieces, not overdone like many New Mexican restaurants tend to be. Overall, the restaurant is bright, clean, and inviting. The servers and owners are very friendly and attentive. I've never had to flag someone down or wait on a refill. The menu is standard New Mexican and the portions are very generous. Chips and salsa aren't complimentary, but if you're a fan of hot, hot salsa, order some. I have a very high tolerance for the spicy stuff and that of El Charrito did a good job of clearing up my sinuses! I ordered a Chicken Stuffed Sopaipilla, my New Mexican go-to. It's technically not on the menu (only other meat versions and bean), but they made it with no hassle. Misprint on the menu? Loaded with juicy white-meat chicken and smothered in green chile that matched the heat of the salsa. Wished it came with sides of beans and rice like other entrees, but, then again, I was only able to conquer half of that giant sopaipilla so maybe it was for the best! Solid true New Mexican food! read more

This has been a staple of mine ever since I moved out here 4 years ago. I have always had some great experiences here, the service is always great and food is always fresh. The El Charritos hamburger steak special, is one of my favorites. you might ask a burger at a New Mexican Restaurant?? But once you try it, you will know why. It is smothered with red or green chile, or you can get it X-mas style like I normally do. It is served with potatoes and beans. It is very tasty and full of flavor. The sopapillas are one of the best in town. read more

I love this place, their food is pretty good. They serve a variety of New Mexican dishes, not real Mexican food. I typically don't like New Mexican food, though their food isn't that bad! Sopapillas are Dank, try them. Services is pretty good taking into account how busy they are when I go. Parking sucks though.... read more