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    Frontier

    4.2 (2.7k reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Frontier Photos

    Business Info

    FRONTIER ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Frontier

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chicken Soft Taco
    Leena S.

    Frontier is definitely not a secret. The lines to place your order wrap around the restaurant. The good news is they have the process down to a science and it took maybe 10-15 minutes to receive our food. The complimentary hot green chili to smother your food with is a great touch! Just wish they had some complimentary tortilla chips. The interior is large and spacious. Even though fully packed, it wasn't difficult to fine a table. A definite stop to make for an authentic Mexican meal.

    Connie H.

    Well priced! Awesome customer service! Well flavored food! Daily specials! Free chile/beans for dine in (not sure as I didn't eat there)! Spacious! Free parking! It's a hit for me. I ordered the cinnamon roll, frozen horchata, green chile stew (comes with a warm tortilla), and adovada taco. The total comes out to less than $20! In this economy?! That's amazing. The most expensive item of my item was the iced horchata, which was good. The food still takes the spotlight though. The cinnamon roll could use a TINY bit more cinnamon and brown sugar, but is still pretty good. I'd definitely come back here.

    UNM across the street
    Denise M.

    It seems like this place has been around forever. I remember passing by this restaurant as a kid and seeing the wagon wheel chandeliers from the road. Directly across the street from University of New Mexico's main entrance, this place is packed when school is in session. This place is huge, but not at first glance. Walk into the retro-looking, Western themed dining room, and you'll see a huge menu board above the order counter. There is are several freestyle soda machines in the middle of the room. There are little digital screens in the corner where you watch for your order number and a counter in the corner where you go pick up your food. It's not until you go into the next room that you discover there is another "next room," and then another. There is a lot of art on the walls, including several John Wayne pictures. The girl at the counter who took our order was an absolute ray of sunshine--so friendly and sweet. We ordered the green chili cheeseburger with onion rings and the daily special which is the "green pile-up" (beans, hash browns, scrambled egg, and green chili beef). The good came our talented quickly, and was quite yummy. Frontier is an Albuquerque classic. If it old? Yes, but it has a huge faithful following, not including the things of UNM students that pack this giant diner during the school year. It may not be a "must try" for some, but if you want Albuquerque nostalgia, this is your place. Btw--it's pretty darn cheap,!

    Indoor seating
    Rashid M.

    Yes, I get the hype, and in my opinion, totally worth it! I came here on a Sunday night and they were very busy. The place is huge so they have plenty of tables available. I stood on line to order for maybe 10 minutes or so. I had the Carne Adovada Burrito, one soft Beef Taco, and rice and beans. Everything was excellent and tasted delicious. The price was very reasonable. I wish we had a restaurant like this on Long Island.

    2 egg breakfast plate
    Jake T.

    An absolute Albuquerque staple and a must go. Just a great spot for breakfast lunch or dinner a place where all the locals go. Been going here for years due to their consistency. I usually get breakfast but know the lunch/dinner menu is just as good. Staff has always been friendly and don't forget they do close at 2am but reopen a few hours later.

    Menu
    Liza M.

    The Frontier is a staple in the University area in Albuquerque. That large warm buttery cinnamon roll. I had not been to the Frontier in probably 10 years. The menu looked upgraded. Lots of soda options and all the cool decor in every room. Same calling system when your food is ready. Felt like stepping back in time. Lite Huevos Ranchero's with red chili it was just enough to fill my belly. Great company, great service. The place was clean and workers constantly cleaning. Cinnamon roll wasn't as good as I remembered. Maybe because I waited too long after the microwave warm up.

    Jim T.

    Another good example of a great place that we have been to before and enjoyed going back again (and again). Everyone knows the Frontier, but did you all know that there are just a few days between the end of classes at UNM and the start of new classes, when you can actually get a place to park in their lots? We didn't either, but we found out and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves walking up to the counter without having to wait in line for the terrific food and reasonable prices. Great food, efficient bussing service, and a thoroughly interesting ambiance tilted heavily towards John Wayne. Highly recommended (again) and with a new YouTube video review from the boys at the VA Creative Writing Group. https://youtu.be/3qr4vfk-eWg?si=L-k-g5mexWa6MU62

    Breakfast plate #1 with scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and whole wheat toast
    Annie J.

    You know, when I think about the Frontier, I think about their burritos, tacos, green chile stew, and carne adovada. These are all solid choices; basically, everything on the menu is solid. Their green chile competes with the best. They are known throughout the land for their sweet rolls (cinnamon rolls). But I always forget about their breakfast dishes ... and their hamburgers. I don't even know what the Copy Cat is, except guessing that it's a vegetarian alternative? So finally, I recently went to the Frontier specifically to try one of their breakfasts. It was the #1: two eggs (scrambled), hash browns, bacon, and whole wheat toast (instead of the flour tortilla). It's just a basic breakfast, but there's a reason it's on the menu of probably every restaurant in the US. They offer carne adovada as one of the meat options. It always sounds like a lot more food, but it probably isn't overwhelming in this dish. I loved the meal. They know how to make scrambled eggs right (though no one can top my dad's). The hash browns were perfect, and the bacon was outstanding. True confessions: I still need to try their burgers. Next time! The food is worth it, and the price is reasonable since it's across the street from UNM, and mostly students go here. The service has always been great. I like how you have to wait for the green light to turn on before walking up to one of the many cashiers to place your order. I like the down-to-earth atmosphere of a college-centric, oversized, divey diner, with its booths and oddly placed stools at some tables. The place is a legend.

    Green chili hash browns
    Doreen T.

    I don't think Frontier has the best food in New Mexico, but it's definitely an Albuquerque staple and worth a visit for the experience alone. It's fascinating to see how smoothly the whole system runs! Don't be intimidated by the long lines. They move fast, and there are even signs showing estimated wait times depending on where you're standing. There's plenty of parking in the back, and tables are cleaned quickly between guests. We decided to share several items: the famous cinnamon roll, a breakfast burrito, carne adovada burrito, green chili hash browns, and the Frontier burrito. Since I can't handle spicy food, I asked for the chili sauce on the side for my breakfast burrito. Surprisingly, our favorite ended up being the carne adovada burrito which is the red chili-marinated pork, it had a bit of heat but was delicious! The green chili hash browns were also really tasty. The cinnamon roll, however, was a little bland, and the Frontier burrito felt too heavy. Service was quick and friendly, prices were affordable, and overall, it's a fun local experience you should try at least once when in Albuquerque.

    Bacon breakfast burrito topped with extra green chilie (I asked for it smothered but I don't know that wasn't a thing)

    This is a crazy gem to stumble on. Absolutely delicious breakfast burritos made with think cut bacon, fluffy eggs, and fresh made tortillas! Walk up or dine in but be ready to know what you want when you reach the counter. Inside you get your own drinks and condiments then, sit down and relax your food will be made fresh and arrive shortly. They have screens up to let you know where your order is in the queue. There's a nice crew that will buss and clean your table when you leave. These people are making great food! Not fancy but well worth it!

    Frontier Sweet Roll
    Sophie B.

    I love the atmosphere of this place. the food is cheap and comes quick. there's approximately 1000 places to sit. just watching the people around you is part of the experience. i will return again and again

    Green chile burrito
    Corina D.

    Walked by Frontier and couldn't resist grabbing the green Chile breakfast burrito. I love how they have their walk up window. Perfect option for when you are in a hurry and just need to grab and go. Frontier's employees got it going on when comes to quick and friendly service. Even with the breakfast rush, my burrito came out quick.. and as always so good. Gotta love this Nob Hill staple.

    Mark O.

    2025 Albuquerque. Dinner review. New Mexican. Ordered: FRONTIER BURRITO beef, beans, green chile inside, green chile stew & cheese on top, w/rice & flour tortilla BREAKFAST BURRITO one egg, hash browns, cheddar cheese and green chile with CARNE ADOVADA GREEN CHILE STEW Frontier Sweet Roll Frozen horchata Overall, classic Albuquerque institution. "I'm a fan."

    Our order

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Always a great stop for the carne adovada burrito or a regular bean green chile burrito.

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    Page 4 of 69

    Frontier Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Frontier

    Can you buy frozen hatch chiles?

    I don't know

    Do their tortillas contain lard?

    No they don't have lard, but most tortillas do.

    Is breakfast served all day?

    Yes all day!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd - Front of restaurant

    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd

    4.4(3k reviews)
    2.4 mi•Downtown
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Catering service

    Came here for lunch and tried the creamy chicken enchiladas with green chile definitely worth the…read morewait!! our server was attentive and gave us some great recommendations.

    We came in for lunch after reading good reviews. It was crowded but we were seated within a few…read moreminutes. The restaurant refers to itself as New Mexican rather than Mexican, like in Texas. The food has a little different spice mixture (some lighter or a different blend) and some food items are interpreted a little differently by the chef. Nothing disappointed us. I ordered the Frank Sr's Combo Plate to sample some of my favorites. The surprise here was the green chili sauce and using brisket instead of ground beef. It was the good kind of surprise. My wife ordered Calista's Carne Adovada Plate (brined & marinated pork cushion). Both dishes came with rice and charro beans. We exchanged forks of food across the table and every item (all 7) were a hit. The rice was cooked in chicken broth and butter and the beans had almost no cumino or chili powder but had something else slightly spicy and delicious. I could have eaten a bowl of rice & beans. But the Combo plate and Pork entree were some of the best I've had. Now I know why it is New Mexican food not Mexican food. I will come back and recommend this restaurant to people I know,

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    El Patio De Albuquerque - Chips and salsa were fair. $4.00 for a very small serving of salsa. I would not recommend the salsa and chips for the money you are paying.

    El Patio De Albuquerque

    4.0(905 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Midtown/University
    •$$

    My favorite meal this year. Very friendly staff and comfortable seating outside underneath a tree,…read morewith fairy lights above. We had the guacamole and salsa, I recommend mixing them together, they pair surprisingly well. A little pricey at $9.60 for the plate. For entrees, we had the green chile chicken enchiladas and carne adovada Christmas style. The latter is one of the most distinct and delicious regional dishes I've had. All entrees had really nice pairings with pinto beans, potato hash, and freshly cooked sopapillas. We chose to have the sopapillas with honey as a dessert, but there's the option to stuff them with the entree.

    This place is like a Mom and Pop hole in the wall gem. The restaurant is small. Parking is a bit of…read morea challenge. There are parking meters along the street and they are free after 6 pm. We stuck a few quarters into the meter that couldn't be read, and we walked into the restaurant. We were greeted at the door and given several options for seating including outdoor seating. We took a table in the entry way, not in the main restaurant. It was a quaint spot overlooking the patio section out front of the restaurant. A server met us, took our drink order, and we placed a few appetizer orders. We got some chile con queso, and the chicharron. They initially brought out the queso in two small plastic to-go containers. I was not very thrilled with that. Then, when we polished them off, they brought out some more in a small serving dish. Why we didn't get the dish in the first place is beyond me. The queso was good, but I didn't think much of the chicharron. My husband like it though. The server did an excellent job keeping our drinks filled. We placed our order, and it wasn't too long that our orders came out. I got the combination plate, red sauce, ground beef taco. My husband thought he ordered the enchilada plate, but the chile relleno plate came out instead. He told them that was fine. The ground beef taco was so delicious. The chile relleno was pretty good, and the cheese enchiladas were okay, even though it was like they were barely there. The pinto beans, not refried beans, were also enjoyed. What really set them apart was their papas - those potatoes were soft and super flavorful. Their red sauce was spicy and flavorful. The server brought out two fresh and hot sopapillas. We poured honey on those things bite by bite. I honestly think those were the best sopapillas I've had. I also used the restroom before we left. It might need a little updating, but it was certainly clean.

    Photos
    El Patio De Albuquerque - Nice conversion of old house

    Nice conversion of old house

    El Patio De Albuquerque
    El Patio De Albuquerque - Patio seating.

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    Patio seating.

    Sadie's - Small nachos with spicy ground beef.

    Sadie's

    3.9(688 reviews)
    5.0 mi•Business Parkway/Academy Acres
    •$$

    We had dinner at Sadie's on Saturday August 22. The vibe inside is cute and very New Mexico-Mexi…read more We were seated right away. Our server was ... okay. He asked if we would like ice waters. I told him I would like my water with no ice. He repeated "no ice" okay. And then he brought four ice waters. Oh well. I had water at home. They provide complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is fantastic. We ordered our meals and the food came out in a timely manner. Unfortunately, our server brought the sopapillas at the same time as the meal ... by the time we ate them they were cold. Oh well. My husband ordered the carne adovada. He thought that unlike the description on the menu, the meat was not at all lean but rather a bit fatty. He did enjoy the flavor of the pork. I had a chicken taco salad. It was very good. My daughter ordered something vegetarian and she also enjoyed hers. When we were finished with our huge entrees, we sat through the remainder of the time with piles of dirty dishes while we tried to find room on the table to eat our sopapillas. It is lovely that they provide complimentary sopapillas but I'd have preferred that they were warm and that we didn't have to eat them with piles of dirty dishes all over the table.

    I haven't been to this one, but I was a little bit skeptical for sure since I loved the one on…read morefourth Street but I gotta tell you the service was great....The food was fantastic as usual ... this experience made us quite quite happy to come back to this location again. very delicious and I must say it is a very generous serving. Service was all on us. Thank you Sadie's team at the bar....

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    Sadie's
    Sadie's - Roberto spaecial

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    Sadie's - Kind of an amazing deal, Aug'26

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    El Pinto - Fresh Guacamole

    El Pinto

    3.4(1.9k reviews)
    8.6 mi•Business Parkway/Academy Acres
    •$$

    When visiting New Mexico, my friend took me to El Pinto, and I was extremely impressed! From the…read moremoment we arrived, I loved the atmosphere, design, and layout of the restaurant. Make sure you take the time to walk around and see the entire property--it is HUGE! It feels like you're stepping into a beautiful Spanish-style hacienda, yet it still manages to feel warm, homey, and down-to-earth. The restaurant is very spacious, has beautiful areas for events, and is also dog-friendly. We made reservations, and I definitely recommend doing the same--you NEED them! We were seated right away, and our server was attentive, friendly, and made our experience even more enjoyable. Now, the food! I loved that you can order your chile "Christmas" style and get both red and green. And FYI--endless chips and salsa! The margaritas were strong and delicious, exactly how a margarita should be. I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas. The chicken was moist, tender, and perfectly shredded. The tacos were also great, and the mole chicken was delicious. My only wish is that the menu offered a few more seafood options. Between the atmosphere, great service, delicious food, and margaritas, El Pinto was such a fun New Mexico experience. If you make it to New Mexico, El Pinto absolutely needs to be on your list of places to visit!

    Overall, the restaurant is quite remarkable. The location is unique and the interior and exterior…read morespaces are beautiful. My parents lived in ABQ for years and always thought that the atmosphere was great, but the food was so-so. However, on this instance, we all thought the food was quite good. Flavorful carne adovada, although it was a bit tough. Red chile sauce was spicy but had great flavor. The green chile sauce was hot and tasty. Posole was also good. The gold margaritas were also good - to anyone complaining about the price - at $14.50, the price is very fair considering the cost of ingredients. If you want a cheap junk margarita that is more sugar than anything else, go somewhere else! Our gripe... The place is huge and has an abundance of great places to seat guests. We had a pretty large group - 7 people celebrating a family reunion of sorts. However, they sat us right next to the bussing station that had noisy carts, dishwashers, and other distractions. It was so loud, it was hard to hear the person across the table. There were at least 10 other tables that they could have seated us at! It seems to me that this area should be used only when the restaurant is completely full. This seems to be a poor management decision rather than the fault of the servers or hosts.

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    El Pinto - Come on in!

    Come on in!

    El Pinto - Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

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    Interior entrance

    Frontier - mexican - Updated October 2026

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