Happy Wednesday - it's time for another review of one of our local New Mexico small business restaurants. Today, we ask you to join the boys from the VA Creative Writing Group as we venture downtown again to a delightful restaurant filled with friendly owners, great food, and an interior that permits them to showcase their wares including food boxes you can order and support local farmers. Just click on the following YouTube link and watch what we're talking about - highly recommended. https://youtu.be/4PWs_fSPFf8?si=-70veNyAwJJSFVFZ read more

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Amazing. Some of the best tacos i have ever had. I went based on recommendation and got the carnale tacos. Great atmosphere and super friendly, even got some tips to improve my stuff at home. read more

Es Que Market - Carnales tacos - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

It had been a minute, but I was really craving an El Hongo sandwich so today was a perfect day to stop in. As the owner David would say, there's nothing else like it. Es Que is such a gem when it comes to the downtown lunch scene. Everything is super local when it comes to their ingredients and just the overall flavor. I've had a variety of dishes, but my absolute favorite is El Hongo which is basically a mushroom barbecue sandwich. The taste is so unique and I love mushrooms. read more

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This place is fabulous. The chef is inspired using simple locally sourced ingredients to create complex flavors. The food is wholesome and nutritious and tastes GREAT. How often do you get to say "the coleslaw is to die for"? The slab of brisket in my sandwich was tender and tasty! read more

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This is a super-charming quirky little family-owned business with lovely ambience, great food and friendly staff. Service was a little slow when my girlfriend and I went there for lunch because the owner was the only one there talking orders, preparing the food and serving customers, all his family had other commitments that day. But he still had time for some stimulating conversation with us about his public graffiti chalk board. I'll definitely be going back. The *only* reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the weird parking arrangement, a very small lot managed by a private parking company called Glideparcs that requires you to scan a QR code to pay for parking. I couldn't get it to scan and decided the system was down. When I came back out I found a $36 parking ticket on my windshield. The owner advised us to park in the County parking lot across the street next time, which is free. read more

If you're left starving after a 4 hour visit to the SSA. Make sure you stop and get something to eat here! The owners are cool. The prices are low. The vibe is laid back. And the food is homestyle! Highly recommend. Great options for dairy free and vegan people. The slaw is made with cashew butter!!! So if you're vegan and dairy free come get some homemade slaw! It's delicious! The brisket is tender and greasy! Very filling portions and very fast service! read more

Es Que Market - GET #13!!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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At the recommendation of the cashier, I got the Chicano sandwich and it did not disappoint! Super good. I took the sandwich to go, but I had a little bit of time to pole around the restaurant, which was fun because there's a small market inside and a free book cart. I would definitely recommend. read more

Es Que Market - Chicano sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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After a grueling day spent at the Social Security office, we happened upon this little gem of a restaurant and market. We thoroughly enjoyed our flavorful food and especially enjoyed our conversations with the owner. We spent time looking around and also enjoyed local artifacts and art. We had the brisket burrito with all the extras. The shredded chicken salad with local greens and the Pajarito chicken sandwich. We all also had their potato salad. Epic!! Everything was flavorful and filling. We will definitely be back for more. read more

Very friendly cook and owner! Shared his story with us and gave us advice on what to see in NM. We all tried the breakfast burritos and they were great. Very filling and gave us fuel for our hike. read more

I really want to like this place. Prices are fair, staff is friendly but...not sure why we haven't clicked. Food is fine. Bright, airy space. As Bono says, "I haven't found what I am looking for..." try it, you might. read more

Artisanal food - that sounds shi-shi, doesn't it? Well, it's not at Es Que . . . very delicious, reasonably priced, served in a calm space by a fellow who's an artist in the kitchen and a kind, caring person as well. House made bread, pickles, meats, atole . . . wow, and done differently than you've had before: you'll order something familiar but be able to enjoy it as something new. Downside is the parking, but what are you gonna do? You can pay by credit card online or you can walk a block and park for free. But Es Que is good enough that you don't care: you'll want to return soon - and to bring new folks who've yet to eat here. read more

Es Que Market - "El Chicano" with potato salad (incl. house-made pickles) and an atole lagniappe from the super-cool owner. - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Got the brisket breakfast and for the price I definitely recommend! Whole thing is toasted on the grill right before handing out giving the whole experience a great finish! Brisket was excellent as well! Full of flavor. read more

When I come to Albuquerque I ALWAYS make sure I stop into this incredible spot. The food is a unique blend of NM traditional cuisine with an artistic use of bold flavors and ingredients. You won't find options like this anywhere else, especially for the reasonable cost. The atmosphere is warm, cultured and vibrant. I love the environment cultivated here. The love for NM isn't just seen it's felt. What initially brought me in? The owners. They are knowledgeable, they are hospitable, they are inspiring and they are for the people. They work with local farmers and outside of their establishment they are on the forefront of ensuring children in NM have access to quality nutrition, especially inside the school system. They are also advocates at the legislative level for local farmers. I love Es Que Market! read more

Es Que Market - Huevos rancheros - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I don't make it to restaurants downtown very frequently but this cute place with its yummy food made from scratch gives me a good reason to come back more often! I ordered the Pajarito sandwich which was shredded chicken, local greens, and garlic-lemon aioli. I liked it! The potato salad on the side was excellent. It had a few slivers of pickled onions and green chile on top. A nice touch. Be warned that the green chile had a bite to it! And speaking of pickles, the ones on the side were very fresh. David, the owner makes the pickles, grows mushrooms, and has a hand in about everything in between- so you're in for a treat! The bread the sandwiches came on was very good with a nice texture. My lunch companion had the Iced Dirty Chai and he said it was good. It had coffee in it and a choice of oat, almond, or cow milk. I had the apple ginger herb tea. Also good but I'm more of a black and unsweetened tea person. The atmosphere was very pleasant. Lots of room, which I like. There were t-shirts for sale and interesting people to watch walking by. I liked the time we spent there. Unfortunately, parking was metered but you expect that downtown. David was great and happy to fill us in about his business and background. We even got a very interesting peek at how he grows mushrooms. He has been in the food business a very long time and he clearly has a passion for it. read more

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Es Que Market offers good selection of sandwiches for one to try...and they are all tasty! I learned from David that his ingredients are not only locally sourced (he has connections with local farms) but also of high quality. His thought takes a further step from the well known saying "You are what you eat" to "You are what you eat eats!" This further step of what David believes results in him not just sourcing locally...but organically. He cares about how the food was made and how the animals were fed (ensuring good quality food for the animals and plants that we customer ended up eating, too!). Because, after all, if the ingredients are well fed and of high quality, there's little need for him to modify the natural taste of the food. And when we all eat great ingredients, it not only tastes good and we feel good about it, too. It is obvious that David is passionate about food. Stopping by here allows me to learn that David has vast experiences working with food. He used to be private chef for very rich people, run farm-to-cafeteria establishment to provide high quality meals to APS students and now...he's branching out to his own sandwich shop (which was just opened to lucky downtown employees in March 2022)! Very much wish him the success in what he is doing...and it seems everyone agrees..including me! I had a chance to try 2 of the many sandwiches: the Chicano (carnitas and Spanish ham) and the Carnal (green chile brisket). They were sooo tasty, unique and wonderful....and simply just very different than the usual bland, plain sandwiches you get anywhere else! The potato salad isn't just mayo and potato like what other places give out. It has other things like spice and pickled onions...and probably other things that a fake foodie like me wouldn't know. I also got to try their iced apple ginger herb tea...so refreshing! Everything is made from scratch and you can taste the freshness of the food he dishes out, too! Next time I stop by here...I'd be trying something else..not because I didn't like what I tried..but more because I have a feeling everything on the menu is good and tasty..and I don't want to miss out having the same tasty sandwiches I already had tried before. *gluttony smile* read more

Es Que Market - Chicano sandwich and iced apple ginger herb tea - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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The Food is excellent and reasonably priced! Plenty of parking and a true local business supporting other locals.

Cute little cafe in downtown Albuquerque. The sandwich was amazing with soft but crunchy bread. The ingredients were fresh. The potato salad tasted light and fresh, the added green chile was my fav part. I also got the chia tea with almost milk. Everything about this place is 5/5 Now that I know about this place, I will definitely be back. I also want to go back to try the blue mush read more

Es Que Market - Yelp event: Pajarito (Shredded chicken, local greens, lemon-garlic aioli)airlines, potato salad, and chia tea - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

The shop is lovely and bright. The service was excellent. But the food! Wow! I have had: chamaco sandwich (all the cheese!) el hongo (shrooms), el hongo taco, & chilaquiles and they were all outstanding. But my favorite was my beloved atole with almond milk and piñon on top, felt like home! read more

On rare occasions we've all come across that one place where a 5-star rating is not good enough. This is one of those places. It's not always about the finished product - its ingredients, and attitude. I'm not inclined to look for places downtown during the week, parking sux - this was no exception. You have basically 2 choices pay lot or pay street. But 25 5-star reviews could make it worth the trip. We walked into an art covered aged building - refreshing considering the abundance of modern bldgs in the area. Hit the counter to place our order, the Carnal (trans: brother, pal, friend) sandwich & Pajarito Verde. Add a Apple-Mint tea - plenty of mint in this one. The Carnal is a brisket sandwich with slaw & pressed panini style. The brisket is thin sliced and spends a little time in the grill before being added to the sandwich. It was delicious! The little green bird was a chicken salad served along side a green salad with a little vinaigrette. Plenty of tender chicken and great taste. After our meal we were able to have a nice conversation with David S, the owner, cashier, cook, dishwasher and busboy. He has a background in food from a very young age - hanging at his family's restaurants since he was 4. He has an extensive background in food service. All of his food is locally sourced, and organic where possible. His relationship with these sources means David knows how the food supplying his restaurant is raised. Does it make a difference? Yes - in taste. He gives back to the community too. David was instrumental in starting a healthy meal project in APS - balanced & healthy meals replaced junk food common in many school lunches. The food was great but that's just one reason for a return trip. You owe it to yourself to try a meal here. This is the real deal and worthy of a 5+ stars. If you're not interested in downtown during the week they're open weekends. read more

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My first time experiencing local treasure! I got to meet one of the co owners who shared with me a lil history on how they started... by providing nutritionally dense meals for schools. Wow! What an impact! It's true so much of our food now a days is so GMO that a lot of food has lists is original nutrients. It's nice to see so many options in the market to purchase organic foods and lots of traditional items like atole (blue corn meal drink) and pickled items, etc. There really is a sense of cultural preservation and heritage in this market. I enjoyed a delicious breakfast burrito and was delighted with the delicious flavors. The walls are filled with lots of beautiful local art and the tshirts they sell have all the local lingo. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Unique sandwich bistro, good wholesome food. Well done! Patio and inside seating, casual dining. Locally sourced ingredients, NM True!

This place is very special!! We ordered a bunch of sandwiches and every bite was delicious. The combinations of flavors as well as the fresh ingredients - it all came together so very well! Prices were also very fair. Parking is a little tricky. I read they are starting brunch, but haven't experienced that yet. I need to go back soon! This should be on your "must visit" list! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is always so fresh, the service is always amazing, and it's a super cute spot in downtown Albuquerque. Everything is local produce!! Chef David is extremely careful about where his food is sourced from. He knows each farmer and grower and has close relationships with them. Store bought produce can never taste like this! The food is grown, cooked, and served with love. And you can taste that. We recently went to one of their private events with a prefix five course meal. It was so amazing! It was a family style event where you got to meet new people and share a delicious meal. I will always come back, especially for the el hongo sandwich!! read more

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I had some time this morning while in the area to drop by and check out this new place. I love the vibe. There are several spots to sit and hang out while not being in the way since the entrance has a large open area for people to be able to order and then wait for their food. I tried the Chicano, which is supposed to be a twist on a Cubano, but I've never had a Cubano anywhere delicious as this sandwich. The warm melty cheese saturating all of the delicious crispy meat in between perfectly crunchy pieces of amazing bread with a nice amount of spicy deliciousness impressed me. It's not hard to find great sandwiches in Albuquerque, but I'm definitely going to make time to come back and try the other offerings on the menu. I had potato salad on the side and was also impressed with it, mostly because I actually liked it and I'm normally not a fan of potato salad. It is a little lighter on the sauce than most, which is nice, but also has great flavors, which is what saved it. The apple ginger herb tea that I tried is refreshing and tasty without being overly sweet. It was a perfect way to finish off the meal. There are a bunch of private parking lots nearby, making it seem difficult to park, but fortunately Silver Ave has metered parking with a bunch of empty spots to use while getting lunch, so it was not a problem. read more

Fresh, super yummy homemade food. Beautiful location, lots of light. Food is made to order and can take a few minutes, but it is worth it. Call ahead or order online if you are in a hurry. Many ingredients are locally sourced. The menu includes classics like breakfast burritos, but also mushroom tacos and an excellent chicken salad. read more

I charge my electric car at their solar-powered charger and get drinks and sandwiches inside. Those sandwiches are tasty and reasonably priced. Fast and friendly service, often by the owner himself! read more

Just enjoyed my first, but not last lunch at Es Que Market. What a gem! The food was fantastic, and the owner was friendly and helpful. I loved the Pajarito sandwich - lots of yummy goodness (enjoyed it so quickly I didn't have time for any pics!). Make time to visit this local business soon; otherwise you are missing out. read more

Everything about this little gem is wonderful! The food is fresh and delicious, the owner is welcoming and knowledgeable. Service was great. I loved the atmosphere, bright and plant-filled. We had carnal and chicano tacos, chicano sandwich and chilaquiles; each unique and yummy! Thanks , we'll be back read more

What a great place to get a fresh, local, DELISH meal. Been through Esque Market a few times and am never disappointed!! The head chef takes pride in his food and attention to detail, and ins a genuinely nice human. They also have local dried goods like beans, chile, corn, and atole and local honey, reusable beeswax sheets, dried marigolds, tee shirts, and skin care items! Check it out, but be sure to pay for parking- they do not mess around!! read more

Es Que Market - Order counter and indoor seating - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This place is legit. The sandwiches were delicious but the atole is amazing. Made with local pueblo blue corn and finished with agave syrup and pine nuts. The burritos are also delicious read more

Es Que is an awesome addition to the downtown scene breakfast and lunch scene. David, the owner, was friendly and I enjoyed chatting with him about his menu. The shop's retail area was great - fun clothing, candles, ristras, and more. I loved the open space; it felt welcoming! Their website is beautiful and very user-friendly, which I always appreciate in general, especially in this digital/online ordering world that we live in. The Pajarito sandwich - wow. Packed full of tastiness. And you can't go wrong with their potato salad and pickled veggies! read more

Es Que Market - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Delicious local spot with a great menu and a lot of locally made goods for gifting. The breakfast burritos are absolutely heavenly! Check them out! read more

Es Que Market - Breakfast burrito - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Went over here to get brunch downtown, new spot was curious to see what they'd done with the space. Food was absolutely great, good atmosphere, cool sustainable items in the shop. The levanta breakfast sandwich was delicious and i loved the spice mix for the mashed potatoes. Locally owned, sustainably sourced. Great small business, great example of what we need more of! read more

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It would be in my best interest to not tell everyone about this hidden gem, but, at the same time, I want everyone to go. Small, creative, and gourmet menu at standard lunch counter prices. I've had the cubano and the mushroom sandwiches, both of which are served on pillowy homemade bread and have an assortment of great pickled and spicy toppings. They are served with a green chile-laced potato salad. They have amazing homemade chai and fresh-pressed apple cider. The owners/chef are devoted to making a comfortable, spacious community space and obviously care deeply about food and local ingredients. read more

Delicious sandwiches! Offers many products for sale from local growers and businesses.

EAT HERE!!! What a great, authentic place with wonderful food. I had the Carnal sandwich-super tender and seasoned brisket with great slaw and a fresh green side salad. Hubby had the brisket burrito and didn't even let me have a bite he said it was too good to share! Not only is the food first rate here, the ambiance is one of a kind. Restaurant, marketplace, greenhouse-racks of seedlings being tended to right in the restaurant! Owner David Swan-who was single handed running the place-took our order, ran back to the kitchen made the food and brought it to our table-was a delight to talk to. Go here have great food and support a small business. You won't regret it! read more

I stopped in here for lunch with my boyfriend and am so happy we did! The staff was immediately super friendly and restaurant itself is quaint but spacious. I ordered the Chamaco sandwich which is essentially a fancy grilled cheese and it was wonderful! It has pickles in it which in my book was amazing. The bread was great. They are very conscious about where they source their ingredients from and you can tell because everything tasted super fresh. As my side, I got the potato salad which I definitely recommend. I am typically not a potato salad person but their dressing was light, flavorful, and not eggy (thing that usually turns me off). They have a cute little market shelf which includes jars of apple butter which I want to try when I get the chance. The one thing that I see for improvement is that the food was served on paper plates and with plastic silverware and i would much prefer real reusable ware however I do understand that it adds an extra responsibly and work for the staff to wash all of it. Also keep in mind the parking lot small and tight but don't let that stop you. I look forward to going back. read more

Es Que Market - Chicano - Sandwiches Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a terrific new restaurant. While it isn't cheap, that's because they use quality fresh ingredients. Their vegetarian options are great, and absolutely everything we had was delicious. read more

Always good vibes. Love the breakfast burritos and the sandos. Good place for a coffee too.

The sandwich and slide salad were ready fast. And they ere fresh and delicious. I had the Chamaco and the Manchester cheesyness was sublime. My new downtown favorite Chamaco Sandwich read more