New Mexican
El Modelo
Real as it gets. It’s a tamale factory! After 80 years, there’s no real seating, but you can eat your burrito at a picnic table in the parking lot next to an old woman selling statues of La Virgen. The burritos here are cheap, huge and muy deliciosos.
El Norteño
Ever been immediately treated like family? Their old spot on Zuni burned up a few years back (but not from linseed oil), and they had to move to a strip mall, but the food’s never tasted better. Eat an hour and talk to Monica another 20.
El Patio de Albuquerque
The only restaurant in Burque whose potatoes remind Damien of his Grandma’s. Also features excellent green chile, homey atmosphere (inside and out.)
Eloy's
You’ll leave stuffed to the pores. Guide recommends everything on the menu, but the rellenos are battered to perfection, and when the chiles are extra-hot, they take on mystical properties. Dinner’s invariably served with chips & guac before, rice pudding after.
Ezra's Place
The Funky, eclectic, quirky second of three amazing brainchildren of Dennis Apodaca (Sophia’s and Jo’s holding down the trifecta). A small regular menu and an ever-changing list of specials bring creative variations like enchiladas (duck!?!), tacos (fish, beef, or scallop), burgers (kobe, bison, poblano/mole), pancakes (lemon), and other unexpected treats.
Flying Star Café / Satellite Coffee
A local business owner’s wet dream, the Star began as a far-flung satellite of California ice cream chain The Double Rainbow. Took a few years for the new name to catch on and old-time locals will still refer to them as “the Double Yuppy”, apropos of their growth model. It used to be the place you recommended everyone new in town go. Now, the Star’s the kind of place you take wealthy relatives ready to foot the bill.
Golden Crown Panaderia
An Old Town veteran. Empanadas, panes (Green Chile, Marble Rye, Cinnamon Pecan, Guess How Many Grains, and more), gourmet pizzas, huge salads, biscochitos like your jefita used to make, and everything else, baked (or assembled) fresh.
Grandma's K&I Diner
A certified Mom & Pop, and a strange mix between Cracker Barrel and Nuevo Mexicano. The guide gets the country fried steak with green chile on the side. Oh yes, there will be hash browns with that. Two words, and then some other words: The Travis: a 5 lb. burrito, free if you can swallow it in one sitting. Take your recycling to Wise and stay awhile on South Broadway for some breakfast.
Hurricane's
Can we get a, “Fuck Sonic!”? If you want the real 505 drive-in/diner experience, head straight for Hurricane’s. Kitschy and greased to a fault, they’re great for a hearty breakfast or classic all-American lunch.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Your one-stop portal to the 20 pueblos of New Mexico. Gas station (with tobacco and papers), history, traveling exhibits, work by local artists, a high-end gift shop and wine-your-future-boss-here restaurant all in a huge, recently remodeled (and gorgeous) site.
Jo's Place
Will this madness end? Local genius Dennis Apodaca opened this place (named after Mom, who works there sometimes) as the third in his dynasty of quirky family-run dives, all within a quarter-mile strip. (The others being the nationally-recognized Sophia’s Place and hidden-away Ezra’s Place.) Late breakfast, late lunch, espresso.
La Esquina Restaurante
Strangely, it’s a rare restaurant in downtown with an explicitly New Mexican menu. Luckily, La Esquina’s chile is solid, their cheese ships from Wisconsin, and the pseudo-rustic-underground-living-room atmosphere works.