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    McAlister's Deli

    2.4 (155 reviews)
    InexpensiveSalad, Delis, Sandwiches
    Closed • 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

    McAlister's Deli Photos

    MCALISTER'S DELI ATMOSPHERE

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

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    John P.

    I decided to try this restaurant in Carlsbad since I use to have good experiences with the one in Hobbs, but I should have looked at the reviews first. I got there before the crowd did so my order came our quickly. I was disappointed in the portion size. The soup cup was smaller than I previously recalled and it barely half full. The wrap was also not very filling. If they put it on a smaller plate, it might not appear as to be so little.

    Menu
    Magda G.

    When in Carlsbad there is limited options for vegetarian/ vegan food; I think there are 3 options so McAlister Deli we went. Ordered the the veggie sandwich which came w lots of yummy veggies; side pickle & chips - omitted the herb mayo. The sandwich was fresh & delicious. The staff was fantastic & so sweet. They checked in on us twice & refilled our unsweetened ice tea twice. Excellent service all around. CC accepted.

    Maira B.

    Service was good! Food was not what I expected paying $35 for both of these plates. Sandwiches were supposed to be toasted and everything was ICE COLD. Salad was ok... however overall, I'd never go back. Toooooo expensive!

    Chicken Caesar wrap
    Mark A.

    I stopped in here for something to eat. I got a wrap and ordered a croissant sandwich for my wife. I was happy with my wrap, but the croissant sandwich was squished and looked pretty sad. I also got a big cup of strawberry lemonade, which was good. They got my food pretty fast, and I was happy with the overall experience. I would get from here again.

    Steve B.

    We ordered the large Italian sandwich and asked for the sauce on the side, but they put it on the sandwich, deliciousbut it now very messy. The restroom was clean and stocked. There was not one clean table to sit at even though at 2 it should be well past the lunch rush.

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    If zero was an option it would be it. The wait time is unbelievable. 30-45 minutes is crazy.

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    2 years ago

    Waited 20 minutes in the drive through for anyone to even open the window. Had to call them. The worst and slowest service ever.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I never seem to get an au ju with my French dip, and the wait times are always very slow.

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    4 years ago

    Food was great service was good ordered to go girl at the window was friendly will be returning love there salads

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    2 years ago

    The customer service here sucks. Nine people working and not busy and not one of them could acknowledge me.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - McAlister's Deli

    Review Highlights - McAlister's Deli

    “Bobby (the manager) took it into his own hands and hooked us up with a decent meal on the house.”

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Carniceria San Juan De Los Lagos - Carnitas Tacos ($8)

    Carniceria San Juan De Los Lagos

    4.4(454 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    Carniceria San Juan de Los Lagos in Carlsbad, NM has to be some of the best Mexican food I've ever…read morehad! I usually have a rule when traveling that I don't visit the same restaurant more than once, but this place was the exception. I came back three times in two days. Yes, it was that good. Sadly, the third time I came back, they were closed. The food tasted very authentic and absolutely worth the visit. I noticed some reviews mentioned communication issues or that the staff may not speak much English. I had a little bit of that struggle too, but honestly, that's how you know you might be in the right place for truly authentic Mexican food. I also felt like it was partly my fault for not doing enough research before ordering. But we figured it out, and the food was more than worth it. One small suggestion: it would be helpful if the menu had a little more English explanation, pictures, or item numbers to make ordering easier for both customers and staff. Overall, this is the kind of true hidden gem you hope to find in a small town. I would definitely take a detour to come back here whenever I'm in the area again.

    Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos - Worth the Detour, Even Years Later…read more Some places stay with you. So much so that five years later, on a completely different road trip, you find yourself checking the map and thinking... "we're kind of close." Back in 2021, while exploring nearby national parks, we stumbled across Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos and loved it. This time, on our way to White Sands National Park, we made a small detour to see if it still held up. First surprise... I barely recognized the area. What used to feel like the middle of nowhere has filled in. Suburban life has arrived. Growth happened. But the place? Still there. Still good. Inside, it keeps that same warm, easy charm. Cute wood, farm-style Mexican decor, nothing fancy, just welcoming. The space has grown too, now clearly divided into restaurant, carnicería, and panadería, which means more reasons to linger. And the smell when you walk in? That alone could convince you to stay. Service was just as we remembered, sweet, friendly, and genuine. The kind that makes you feel like a regular even if you've been gone for five years. We went with pozole and shrimp tacos, and both delivered. Flavorful, comforting, exactly what we were hoping for. It's always a bit of a gamble revisiting a place you loved years ago. This one paid off. Still a favorite. Still worth the stop.

    Photos
    Carniceria San Juan De Los Lagos - Inside, part meat market, bakery, and food spot

    Inside, part meat market, bakery, and food spot

    Carniceria San Juan De Los Lagos - Carne Asada Enchiladas

    Carne Asada Enchiladas

    Carniceria San Juan De Los Lagos - Chiles Toreados

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    Chiles Toreados

    Guadalupe Mountain Brewery - Four Beer Flight ($8)

    Guadalupe Mountain Brewery

    4.1(165 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    •$$

    Great place for a wood fired pizza! Quality ingredients at a great price. Service is excellent…read more Tiffany was our server and awesome. Great atmosphere with great music. Definitely, will eat her when I come to town!!

    We stopped by here for dinner after spending a full day of hiking at Guadalupe Mountains National…read morePark, so boy were we hungry! We ordered the New Mexico Green Chile Chicken pizza and the plain nachos. NM Green Chile Chicken Pizza (4/5): Crispy bacon, grilled chicken, red bell peppers, and plenty of green chiles elevate the flavors of this pizza to the height of El Capitan! The crust was also nice and crispy. Something felt missing though, like some more salt or a deeper flavor profile to the crust. Plain Nachos (3/5): This tastes exactly how it looks -- beer infused with that canned ultra-processed bright yellow synthetic cheese poured over some tortilla chips out a bag. You can also ask for pickled jalapeños with it, but you only get a small cup. We asked for more jalapeños after we ran out but they told us it'd be extra charge... It was pretty busy for a week night as well and we had to wait for seating to open up. It looked like the hottest spot in town! Overall, the food is decent but not even close to the best food I've had nearby a national park. But considering how close it is, still a solid option!

    Photos
    Guadalupe Mountain Brewery - Four Beer Flight ($8)

    Four Beer Flight ($8)

    Guadalupe Mountain Brewery - New Mexico Green Chile Pizza ($15)

    New Mexico Green Chile Pizza ($15)

    Guadalupe Mountain Brewery - Green Chile Beer 6.7%ABV ($6/16oz [pint])

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    Green Chile Beer 6.7%ABV ($6/16oz [pint])

    Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Q - Our meal

    Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Q

    3.9(269 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    •$$

    Wonderful BBQ and a great experience!…read more Red Chimney BBQ was a wonderful dining experience! The interior has a quintessential steakhouse-meets-log-cabin vibe--warm, rustic, and inviting. The food was fabulous. We ordered the one-meat special and chose the smoked turkey. Due to dietary restrictions, we could only have the mac and cheese and macaroni salad as our two sides. The turkey was smoked perfectly--nice and moist and, most importantly, not dry! The BBQ sauce had a nice tang that complemented the turkey perfectly. Both sides were also very good, and the portions were generous for the price. The prices here are very reasonable. Jill, the owner, was incredibly nice, and we had a lovely conversation about New Mexico. The service was top-notch, which made the whole experience even better. If we're ever back in Carlsbad, we'll definitely be back! And maybe by then, we'll be able to put brisket back on our menu! Thank you to Jill and her staff for a truly pleasant dining experience. Highly recommended!

    While in Carlsbad, we were craving some great BBQ and we found it here. Everything is made from…read morescratch and they even have green salads on their menu. The staff is friendly and seated us as soon as we got there. The decor is as described. But what sealed the deal is their homemade Sourdough Cobbler! Cherries galore! The crust was perfect too! With vanilla ice cream!!! I wasn't going to have the ice cream as I'm lactose intolerant but once I saw it, I ran out to my car and got my Milky pills! No problems whatsoever! Sometimes ya gotta make choices! We did and I highly recommend this restaurant.

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    Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Q
    Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Q
    Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Q

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    McAlister's Deli - salad - Updated October 2026

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