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Garcia's Kitchen Express

3.1 (58 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

Garcia's Kitchen Express Photos

GARCIA'S KITCHEN EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Garcia's Kitchen Express

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chicharron burrito
Tommy P.

I was really surprised when a knowledgeable friend suggested we meet here - I've never been all that impressed with the Garcia's restaurants I've visited and tend to avoid them. Turns out this one is a _franchise_ and they make everything fresh every day. Wow, I sure noted the difference and I'm grateful for the efforts of everyone at Garcia's Kitchen Express, because they really took the time to make sure we had a great lunch. Service was great: attentive and welcoming yet unobtrusive. Your drink does not sit empty, and the food comes out MUCH faster than we expected. There were plenty of comfortable places to sit and our larger party was given a table in a more secluded area off to one side. The food (I had a chicharron burrito, Christmas) was much better than what the Garcia's name on the sign led me to expect: tasty, fresh, and plentiful - clearly prepared by someone who knew what she was doing and who was happy doing it. This particular restaurant is really clear across town from us (we live east of Tramway), but my wife and I are pretty determined to visit it again soon - even though doing so will entail a twenty-five-minute drive in each direction.

Combination plate. Tamale, beef taco and enchilada. So good and so filling.
Lorelei P.

This is our first time visiting this location. I must say that when we tried to visit the location off Coors, it was closed and we were a little disappointed. But that's okay, times are tough these days. This one seems to be hidden, since it is behind Mariposa park and I never knew of the place. Now, that I do. I'm happy to come back in the future with my family. We were able to sit where we wanted to. Staff was friendly and we were served right away. Looks like only half the seating was open, but thankfully we were able to dine in. I loved the menu, because it says that you can get breakfast all day. How awesome is that? I totally love breakfast. But today, I wanted enchiladas. And the menu is so big I couldn't decide. Neither could my family, I love the variety that they offer. And the green/red chili... delicious. Had to order more sopapillas because those are the bomb! We will be visiting again, hopefully on a day when it's not too busy. Thank you!

Chile relleno plate with rice and papas covered with green chile
Debbie D.

Visiting from out of town. Family suggested this place. We were warmly greeted as we walked in. It wasn't busy so we were tended to as soon as we sat down. Great variety of food to choose from and reasonable prices. I ordered the Chile relleno plate with rice and papas covered with green chile. My food was flavorful, chile was not spicy. My cousin ordered red Chile chicken enchiladas with rice and beans. The red Chile was really tasty , she said her food was good and usually is as she has eaten there several times before. The sopaipillas were disappointing but the waitress did inform us that she wasn't pleased with them as the oil that they were fried in smelled burnt and asked the cook to change it. She offered an alternative, but I ate mine. It was ok but not as good as I know they can be. Overall very welcoming and friendly service and location. It was clean, food was good.

Soggy green Chile chicken enchiladas

This is my go to place to eat breakfast. Been eating here for 14 years. This morning I was extremely disappointed to find hair in my food. The waitress was so embarrassed and also disappointed. She compt our meal and sincerely asked us to come back again. Second chance perhaps...

Sopapillas
Michelle C.

Garcia's is intensely New Mexican. I recommend all of my friends and family who visit from out of town to come and try some of the food. I had the Thursday Special for Beef Enchiladas with Red Chili, Papas, and Beans. My food was good, but 2 bites In I realized "Where's the beef?" So I called the server who came and brought me a side of beef and potatoes. I guess that was an ok fix. The chili was nice and hot! My kids had Burgers, one with Guac and the other with Bacon. Their exact words were that the burgers were intimidating, but so delicious. My Husband has the Fajitas with Fries. His Fajitas were perfect. Overall, the staff was friendly and attentive. We were very pleased with this visit!

Leftovers after Christmas Day...green chile pork tamale & biscochito
Jaime C.

My grown up Christmas wish is pretty simple. Tamales, posole, and biscochitos. Throw a couple of cappuccinos in there, and a bourbon or two, and I'm glowing like a farolito on chilly December night. Garcia's saved my tushie this past Christmas...my schedule was overflowing with events, and peformances, and holiday to-do's, and since I don't have a stunt double on staff, there simply wasn't enough time to be all and do all. So, I picked up that smartphone, dialed up the Taylor Ranch location, and ordered up 2 dozen Tamales (1 dozen green chile chicken, 1 dozen red chile pork) to be picked up on Christmas Eve. But then there were a few friends I had been meaning to drop off some goodies to, so, heck, throw in a few dozen more to be picked up earlier, and now that I think about it, do I really have time to bake biscochitos??? No, no Sir, I don't. So while you're at it, how about 7 dozen of those bad boys, 5 dozen for drop offs, 2 dozen to be picked up Christmas Day..... *Bada Bing * Bada Boom,* done! The staff was so friendly and accommodating, talked me through the re-heat process for Christmas Day, gave me a few tips for serving. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Guys, the tamales were bomb diggity perfection. The meat so well seasoned, the tamales were moist and melted in your mouth. I even snuck a few away for leftovers the day after (see pic) - when I picked up my order, the process was painless, the restaurant was jamming pumping out the goods for their breakfast shift, and while I waited for my order to be packaged, I couldn't resist ordering a chile relleno to go, christmas chile smothered on top (but of course) to treat myself for all the hard work it took driving over there to pick things up *hehe* - Merry Christmas to me.

Rice Pudding, but apparently NOT available at Taylor Ranch location which wasn't addressed when this was posted. Bummer.
Courtney T.

Update: we saw this photo on FB, and our daughter loves rice pudding so of course we went to get some!! What we got was a sad sad sad version of some rice with milk & spices, and it was very dissatisfying. The staff at the Taylor Ranch location said "we don't usually have this here" and it wasn't on the menu. I posted a comment on FB on the ad, and this is what I received: "We do greatly apologize for the inconvenience however Taylor Ranch is an affiliate location and they do not follow the same recipes as The Original Garcia's Kitchen. Generally our 6 other locations should always carry Arroz con Leche. Please try us out again at one of our other locations! Again we are sorry for the inconvenience we hope your next visit with us is nothing less than stellar!!" Disappointing "customer service", & I'm reducing my rating for that reason, and for false advertising. *************************************** Hands down better than Sadie's! The food was soooo good, portions were hearty but not over the top gut busting, and the second was great! At this location there's one kid, I can't remember his name (Isaac...) who was so friendly and funny, we loved it! The place is clean and the prices are just right.

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12 years ago

I love this place!! It's a great spot to go after church (: the food is always great and the service is awesome as well!!

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Boring, tasteless food not worthy of the 1 star given. I tried all four dishes at our table and none were even marginally acceptable.

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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)
5.2 mi•Downtown
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Catering service

While downtown on Mountain Road this Friday evening, I came across a Mexican establishment that…read moreproved to be a thoroughly marvelous discovery. Being situated right along the main avenue made it effortlessly easy to locate. Stepping inside, the restaurant makes an immediate, positive impression spotlessly clean, beautifully appointed with authentic Mexican-style decor, and filled with a wonderfully warm, vibrant atmosphere. The hospitality was top-tier from start to finish. A gentleman named Luis attended to me with exceptional grace, providing service that was attentive, welcoming, and thoroughly polished. With Luis's expert guidance, I ordered a Strawberry Margarita to celebrate the end of the week, which arrived artfully crafted, perfectly balanced, and delightfully refreshing. For my main course, I selected the Shrimp Tacos and the Azul Fish Tacos, accompanied by a side of beans and plain white rice. The kitchen moved with remarkable efficiency, and the dishes arrived after only a brief moment. Every bite was an absolute culinary triumph exceptionally fresh, beautifully seasoned, and executed with high-status quality. Between the immaculate cleanliness, lively ambiance, sublime cuisine, and Luis's stellar service, this spot earns full marks from me. A thoroughly memorable experience I shall most certainly be returning

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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The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd
The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd
The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd - Arellana's Guaco Sopapilla Burger

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Frontier - Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

Frontier

4.2(2.7k reviews)
7.2 mi•Midtown/University
•$$

"Quick local and general faves right by UNM campus!"…read more Came here at 12:30pm on a Monday-- the place was HOPPING. There was a long line to order at the counter. Still, I was impressed that the line moved fast, and that we were able pretty quickly to sit at a table for 4. The place looks like a barn from the outside, but the inside is quite large and inviting, where you order at a counter, see when your number is ready per screens, and pick up your food. I ordered the green chile cheeseburger and a side-salad with thousand island dressing. I also had a few bites of my girlfriend's sweet roll. Food was ready in under 10 minutes despite the incredibly large number of people ordering. The salad portion was pretty big-- I didn't expect that at the price of something like $4. It was good-- pretty standard lettuce/ tomato/ etc., but nothing wilted and no stems. The burger was delicious. It was a little hard to eat since the green chile sauce had made the bread pretty wet and was dripping all around. But the burger was good, the sauce excellent, and the accompaniments on the burger also fresh and tasty. The bite of the sweet roll-- wow. LOTS of butter, but man, did it taste good! The place was pretty clean overall for a large diner-like place. A nice lady came and took our trash, and the restroom seemed like it'd been maintained. To be clear, the place was hardly spotless, but when you're feeding that many people, it'd be impossible to be so. Price was great. Very inexpensive. I'd heard good things about this place, and having sampled, I get it. For a quick, easy, decent quality lunch by campus, it's hard to imagine better.

We stopped at Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque during our cross-country road trip, and it was…read moresuch a fun local experience! The restaurant has a unique Southwestern atmosphere and a lot of character. We enjoyed trying the New Mexican flavors, and the portions were generous and satisfying. Everything felt casual, affordable, and very local. I can see why Frontier has been an Albuquerque favorite for so many years. If you're visiting Albuquerque and looking for a classic local food stop with a laid-back atmosphere, and friendly services, this is definitely worth checking out! Albuquerque, New Mexico Great stop for travelers exploring the city! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8T9jtLH/

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Frontier - Inside

Inside

Frontier - Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

Frontier - Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

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Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

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

4.1(905 reviews)
7.3 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.

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El Patio De Albuquerque
El Patio De Albuquerque
El Patio De Albuquerque

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Sadie's - Small nachos with spicy ground beef.

Sadie's

3.9(691 reviews)
6.5 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 need more stars. We always eat at The Cafe on Church Street but since it was balloon fiesta last…read moreweekend, i figured we would have to wait forever. Sadie's got us seated right away. The food was delicious, the service was super and the decor inside was so cute. We will definitely keep it on our list for any future visits to ABQ.

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Sadie's
Sadie's - Roberto spaecial

Roberto spaecial

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

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Kind of an amazing deal, Aug'26

El Pinto - Fresh Guacamole

El Pinto

3.4(1.9k reviews)
5.5 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.

Photos
El Pinto - Come on in!

Come on in!

El Pinto - Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

El Pinto - Interior entrance

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Interior entrance

Garcia's Kitchen Express - mexican - Updated October 2026

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