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La Zenita

4.5 (37 reviews)

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Snacks and other drink options. There was also some dessert in a cooler (not pictured here).
Katy H.

We had a difficult time finding many restaurants open for dinner on Saturday in the off season. Luckily, we were saved by La Zenita, and judging by the stream of customers around us we weren't the only ones. The menu was plentiful and it felt like we couldn't go wrong. The Indian taco was delicious - a doughier fry bread than I was expecting but that just meant it could soak up all the amazing sauce. The green sauce in particular was heavenly. Plus, I got the Indian taco as vegetarian by opting for just beans on it. My husband enjoyed his al pastor tacos and his only nit-pick was him wanting the marinade to come through more. The staff were also friendly and on the ball despite the constant stream of customers. Now if they could only get rid of the styrofoam containers this would be eligible for a 5 star experience!

Mina C.

Fantastic! Great little spot to satisfy your taco needs. We didn't have time to try much, only the birria tacos but they were amazing. 4 nice sized tacos, big bowl of consume, limes, cilantro, and onions! Rice was nice and fluffy, perfectly flavored. Lady was so sweet and made sure we enjoyed our meal!

Mo S.

It was very good and friendly service. Food was delicious. Lots of options. It's right next to the convention center

Carne Asada Enchiladas
Lauren G.

Food was fantastic! I ordered carne asada enchiladas and I got the most satisfying plate of food. Nicest family in the entire world too. Simple place, simple ambiance. Multiple TVs and parking in the garage is $1 for every half an hour.

Enchiladas
Garett S.

What a great little gem in downtown Albuquerque! Family run, limited menu, and delightful. Order at the counter and they bring you your food. All three dalsa were delicious and some of the best rice I have had. Will definitely eat here again next time I am in Albuquerque

Burrito bowl and chicken tamale
Moe S.

The red and green chile sauces are quite amazing here! Fresh and tasty food along excellent service!

Horchata
David M.

To be honest I have stopped posting Yelp reviews- when Yelp was considering adding the report racism button. I had to come back out of Yelp reporting retirement to give this place my FULL 5 stars. First it is sparse and neat. It was super clean. The food portions were amazing and well a bit much! :) the lovely lady running the kitchen (I suspect she is owner) made us FRESH chips - not kidding - while we waited for our order. I ordered a horchata - my parting words to her was "Tu Horchata es mi favorita!" - it was the best I've had. If you expect white table cloth and table side - move on. If you want to sit down for your Mexican grandma's table, and be filled with amazing fare- go here. I was in abq for a week and ate there twice. I'm headed back in few weeks and I will stop in again.

John R.

The chicharrones were perfectly cooked and the flan chocolate cake was an unexpected delicious treat! Order at the counter, delivered to your table. Additionally, I had the pleasure to meet the owner/cook. She was delightful. Very close to the Convention Center and should be on everyone's radar!!

Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.
Mickey P.

The food is fantastic and a great value. Service was fas and attentive. The place has a good vibe and a very beautiful Mural done by a local artist.

Street tacos al pastor

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3 years ago

Highly recommend the street tacos or the super nachos, they we delicious !!!!!! The ingredients were fresh and the food tastes authentic.

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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)
1.0 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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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(906 reviews)
1.6 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
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Frontier - Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

Frontier

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

Man, what a spot to visit and try! I went here twice while on vacation in Albuquerque because I…read morejust couldn't get over how good the food was! This place has been around since 1971, and it definitely has that old-school charm and vibe. The Frontier Burrito is a very smart choice -- packed with flavor and absolutely delicious! And whatever you do, save room for a cinnamon roll! Order it after your meal so it can be freshly warmed up, and let me tell you... CHEF'S KISS! As for the dining experience, you order your food at the counter, find a table, and wait for your number to pop up on the little overhead screen (shown in my photos). There are about three different dining areas, each with its own unique decor and character. Once your order is ready, you pick it up at the end of the counter where you ordered, grab your utensils from the utensil station, and dig in! They even have bussers walking around to collect your plates when you're finished, making the whole experience easy and convenient. The food, the atmosphere, the history -- everything about this place makes it worth a visit! Albuquerque, you've got a gem here. I can definitely see why this place has been around for so long, and I only wish we had something like it back home!

"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.

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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

Sadie's - Small nachos with spicy ground beef.

Sadie's

3.9(691 reviews)
5.7 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

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Mary & Tito's - No restaurant does NM-style chicharrones better than these folks.

Mary & Tito's

4.2(544 reviews)
1.9 mi•North Valley/Los Ranchos
•$

A must try if you're ever in Albuquerque. This was our favorite meal for a weekend in Albuquerque…read more Parking lot is a bit small, so definitely recommend getting there 10-minutes before they open or you'll need to park on the street. Food was delicious. I thought I've tried my share of Mexican food, but this was "New" Mexican food and unlike anything I've ever had. We had the enchiladas with "Christmas" red and green chiles and carne adovada turnover also with Christmas chile! WOW, food was amazing and so flavorful. The red chiles are a bit hot, so be careful. We're definitely coming back here when we visit Albuquerque again!

"Tasty Mexican treats in North Valley area"…read more Came here at 12:35pm on a Saturday afternoon with a group of 5. There are cameras outside around much of the building that repeatedly audibly warn you that you are being recorded, which was a bit funny but fine. As others have written, you need to enter from the side door. The people working clearly did not love that we arrived with a larger group, but they nonetheless accommodated us after about a 15 minute wait. The restaurant was HOPPING, with others also waiting for tables. They apparently are a bit famous for their Mexican wedding cake, which they told us is nearly always gone by noon. The overall place was down-home, spanning two large rooms, and relatively brightly lit due to the big windows. I ordered the large combo plate, which came with a beef taco, a cheese & onion enchilada, and a chile relleno with Christmas (red and green) chile sauce. There were also refried beans and rice on the side. Food came in maybe 10-15 minutes. The beef taco was good--nicely ground meat, good fresh veggies on top. No unusual toppings and no salsa or the like, but good. The cheese & onion enchilada was fine--not my favorite, but it was alright. However, for me, the delight was the chile relleno with the chile sauce: absolutely scrumptious. If I came back, I'd just order that, or maybe 2, or maybe 3. So good, so flavorful. The chile sauce was a bit spicy for me, but I absolutely loved its flavor. Service was good especially given how crowded it was. They still checked on us and brought us drink refills. The biggest delight was the price. With tip and tax, I think we paid around $74. Not bad at all for a big dinner for 5 people! I'd recommend, especially if you go for the chile rellenos!

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Mary & Tito's
Mary & Tito's - You will not find better chicharrones for sale in Albuquerque.

You will not find better chicharrones for sale in Albuquerque.

Mary & Tito's - Carne adovada enchiladas

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Duran Central Pharmacy - Delicious Blue Corn Chicken Taco Plate | 06.08.2025

Duran Central Pharmacy

4.2(482 reviews)
1.2 mi•Old Town
•$$

"Cute pharmacy, mini-shop, and restaurant in Old Town"…read more Came here on a Sunday just after noon. The shop is cute with an eclectic assortment of goods-- candy/ nuts, games, stationary, drug store products, and more. It was HOPPING, too-- lots of people everywhere. We actually came for lunch, and there was a 30 minute wait, but we decided to stick it out, and I'm glad we did. The dining area is no-frills-- there are two large rooms and a bar area. We got a two-seater table. I had the blue corn chicken enchiladas with Christmas (red and green) chile on them, and shared some buttered tortilla with my girlfriend. The waitress was friendly but clearly stretched given the number of people in the restaurant. Food came out in about 10 minutes. BIG plate-- two large enchiladas, with some salad and pinto beans on the side. The enchiladas were coated half with green chile and half with red chile. The plate was SUPER hot. The taste was absolutely excellent. I loved that the chile added flavor and some heat but was not overpowering in its heat so I could enjoy the dish. The cheese and chicken inside were also good, as were the pinto beans. I loved scraping the last bit of sauce up with the tortilla. The price was very reasonable too-- about $15 for the dish before tax and tip. Overall, I'd very happily come enjoy this dish again or come try something else. And I wouldn't mind getting either trinkets or actual useful goods from the store either. Come check it out!

This used to be a place for locals to get great New Mexican food. Now it's a tourist trap. I…read moreguess this has been coming for a while. For decades it was a secret gem, but it became very popular, with significant wait time to be seated. Just went there recently and now the food has completely changed, catering more to tourists than locals, being more bland, and boring. The restaurant staff was great though, except for the one male there, who seemed like a blowhard. The rest of the store is full of kitschy tourist stuff, like it always was, and there's some fun stuff in there. The staff at the front kept greeting us, which was annoying. Anyhow, definitely not what it was, and not worth going to anymore for great, authentic New Mexican style food.

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La Zenita - mexican - Updated October 2026

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