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    Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

    4.3 (450 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Padilla's Mexican Kitchen Photos

    PADILLA'S MEXICAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

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    Tasted dried out and old and like it all came from a can!
    Jamie B.

    Good - the bread with honey Bad- Everything else all tasted like it came out of the can from Walmart or something nothing tasted homemade. We are used to TexMex restaurants so there is that. But to use this tasted like day old cafeteria food. We definitely wouldn't go back. Went in June. Service was slow and they didn't come back to table to even offer refills on drinks. But it was busy with lots of locals. We are new to the area. Would we try a 2nd time-definitely not and we do not say that about many places. But try it for yourself and you decide you might LOVE it. We did not.

    Lunch with mama!
    Emma M.

    Should you go? This one is a big fat YES Always a great meal at Padilla's!! Cash/check only-- so be prepared when you come, no debit or credit (or Apple Pay lol!) great service, and consistently amazing food!! This place is soooo busy and gets pretty packed in its smaller dining room! We will be back again and again!

    Sopaipillas!
    Molly B.

    Our go-to lunch spot when in the ABQ area. Family run, honest & authentic food, reasonable prices. It's not for the haute cuisine crowd. Speaking of crowds-it can get crowded at lunch & dinner time but be patient...this little hidden gem is worth the wait! I haven't had anything I didn't love here so it's hard to recommend one thing-just try it!

    Taco Plate
    Megan L.

    I've been coming here for over 20 years and my favorite thing is it's consistency! 20 years later and the food is the same, service is always great and the prices are still extremely reasonable. We got the beef taco plate and the cheese enchilada plate. Each plate typically comes with rice, beans, and two sopapillas. The chili is great if you can handle spice and the sopapillas are some of the best I've ever had. It's a very casual neighborhood spot where locals are known by name. It's also a cash only restaurant so make sure you stop by an ATM first!

    Menu
    HoyMay P.

    What a great find!! This mom & pop place was packed with regulars and travelers. The parking lot was filled. The people kept coming in so we knew this place must have been great. We were seated in one of the last tables. Service was really fast with beverages and free chips and salsa before our order. We saw the size of the plate dishes. They were huge. We went a la carte ordering one beef and one chicken enchilada no onions. Both dishes come with Sopaipillas. The orders came super quick. Both were smothered with cheese and a special homemade green sauce e came with it. The sauce was delicious as were the enchiladas. Loved the Sopaipillas too! Our new favorite place in Albuquerque! They open Monday thru Friday 11am-7pm. With all the business they get, there is no need for them to be open on the weekends.

    Perfect sopapillas
    Carroll V.

    The real deal. And really good. Located in a small strip center, Padilla's may not look like much--but looks can be so misleading. Best place in the city. Real deal northern New Mexican cooking. The carne adovada is beyond tender and the red chile sauce is even better. Love that spicy potatoes are aside rather than run of the mill Spanish rice. The pintos are cooked or so perfect--family recipes rule! As do the sopapillas--just the best around, not just in ABQ but Santa Fe too. Light, crunchy not chewy. And the beer rules--because it is COLD. And the service rules too. This place can get very busy but the staff keeps it humming, some how. It is cash only--keeps the riff raff out.

    Enchiladas de carne, Christmas
    Tommy P.

    Updated: It's not my favorite New Mexican in Albuquerque, but it's not bad; actually, it's very good. I've been going here for well over 30 years (started going while attending law school nearby) and it's certainly been line-out-the-door popular the whole time. Small, fairly crowded rooms, but it's friendly like family and neighbors and they will find room for you pretty quick. Major downside is that it's still cash ONLY (or check - but no credit/debit). Giant PITA that generally keeps me from visiting and keeps Padilla's from the fifth star on this review. Not very large portions, but we could all use a little less, right? Beer and (awful) wine only. Prices are up, as they are everywhere: an additional hassle with the cash-only nonsense. They appear to once again be making their red from pods and the quality of the red is once-again top-notch. I know Norteños in their nineties who still come often; Padilla's is solid enough to attract clientele who know chile. Flat-out FANTASTIC service. And their sopaipillas are the most consistently best in town. Get in early to beat the lines.

    Juevos Rancheros smothered in Green
    Joe P.

    Padilla's has been around for decades. Off the beaten path on Girard south of Indian School this place has a devoted following. Open at 1100 hours we arrived at 1110 and there were only 3 tables still available. By 1130 there was a wait line forming outside. The Juevos were cooked perfectly but the Chile was absolutely the focal point of the meal. But the green and the red had this unmistakable 'just got roasted' taste that's hard to describe. Suffice it to say Padilla's chile is the BOMB! And what a nice touch each meal came with 2 hot fresh Sopapillas. No question we'll be back sooner than later, that's for sure.

    New ATM in parking lot
    John D.

    We don't get here as often as I'd like. But here we are today. They're busy the parking lot is crazy and almost full. One recent addition to parking lot is an ATM. Great for those who forget to bring cash. Fortunately the restaurant wasn't as busy and seats were available. Our service was excellent, I ordered the bean & meat burrito. Came loaded with meat and fresh refried beans. The tamale plate came with 2 tamales, well seasoned meat without being being covered in too much masa. The food was delicious and keeps us coming back for more.

    Blue corn enchiladas and Chicken Taco plate
    tiffany c.

    Finally made it here. Super good red chile, love a place that can actually make rice. Sopapillas were wonderful. Only downside is cash only. I would go way more often if I could pay electronically.

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    11 months ago

    The best food in Albuquerque! Can't recommend it highly enough. I don't get there often but love it.

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    11 months ago

    great food, excellent service, very friendly, and easy on the pocket book. Very busy and we found out why.

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    8 months ago

    Best place in town!!!!! Friendly staff. The food is always the same. Big portions. Been going here for over 25 years

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    Ask the Community - Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

    Do they have beer?

    Yes, Beer and wine

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

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    We continue with the exploration of breakfast places and this time we chose Duran Central Pharmacy…read more Don't let the name trick you as it tricked us for a while. This is a pharmacy/store/diner with a very good local vibe. The pharmacy has a bit of everything, from books, jewelry, and toys, to clothing, decor, and kitchen stuff. And when we thought there was no space for a diner, we found where the magic takes place just around the corner, where we were welcomed and seated. People were friendly, kitchen staff were getting stuff out quickly, and our server was ok. Efficiency was a clear target for everyone and our food was on our table in no time. For food, our friends ordered the breakfast burritos (with red only and a Christmas version), , the hubs ordered the carne adobada, and I ordered the tamal plate with red and green, just like I like I like it . Everyone was pleased with their choices. The burritos were big and tasty. The carne adobada had a lot of deliciously marinated pork and the steamed potatoes were quite a good addition. The tortilla with butter was simple yet delicious, with a firm and thick tortilla. The tamal plate was almost perfect. The red and green sauces were amazing, but I was slightly partial to the spicier green chile sauce. The masa on the tamales was firm and good. If there was one change I would make, it would be for the tamales to have more filling. Overall, we had a good experience at a very unique place! Stop by the store to get some local products or useful things for your home.

    Came on a Friday when they had their stuffed sopapilla special. It was basically a thick bread with…read moretoppings on it. I personally wasn't a fan of the sopapilla bread, it had a bit of a sour taste that didn't sit right with me, so I didn't finish it. My husband, on the other hand, really liked it. The toppings were simple, just beans and green and red chile, tasty, but nothing too exciting. We also ordered a flour tortilla with butter (recommended by a friend), and that was really good! I actually enjoyed that more than the sopapilla. We had dinner reservations later, so we just stopped by for a small bite. The attached pharmacy was cool, it reminded me of a New Mexican mom-and-pop version of CVS and looked like a fun spot to pick up local gifts.

    Padilla's Mexican Kitchen - newmexican - Updated May 2026

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