The best and most exciting way to learn about a city’s culture is through its food – and today I’m sharing the top five food spots in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Albuquerque, New Mexico was my first trip to the Southwest and after five days exploring this city thanks to Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau, I fell in love with its sights, sounds, aroma, and most of all, its food.
If you’re visiting Albuquerque, a city where the sun shines 310 days a year, your first stop has to be the community driven, carb-loaded bakery: Golden Crown Panaderia. Community driven because their story, as told to us by Chris, the owner’s son, was heart warming and touching. Building this bakery took the efforts of everyone in the neighborhood – and you can sense that feeling of home the moment you step inside.
Above, you can see a photo of their ever popular Green Chile Bread, a savory bread packed with local green chiles from all over New Mexico, parmesan cheese, cilantro, and more. It’s a gorgeous loaf that I recommend purchasing early morning to snack on throughout the day. If your hotel room has a kitchen, a grilled cheese sandwich made with this bread would be the ultimate New Mexican sandwich!
Up next, El Pinto Restaurant, the largest restaurant in New Mexico and the place where you will taste some of the best ribs in the nation. Their Red Chile Ribs are cooked until fork tender and the meat falls right off the bone – they are that delicious! The spices aren’t overwhelming, I promise. They just bring the right amount of heat. Oh and did you know they have their own worm farm? An odd addition to a restaurant, the worms actually consume most of the food waste the restaurant produces and creates nutritious fertilizer for their gardens.
During your free time in Albuquerque, a brewery tour is a must. The craft beer scene is up and running, with the list of breweries longer than the list of restaurants! Here’s a great list thanks to Beer Advocate:
- La Cumbre Brewing Co. – 3313 Girard Blvd NE, Albuquerque
- Marble Brewery – 111 Marble Ave NW, Albuquerque
- Bosque Brewing Co. – 8900 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque
- Chama River Brewing Company – 4939 Pan American Fwy NE, Albuquerque
- Canteen Brewhouse – 2381 Aztec Rd NE, Albuquerque
- Ponderosa Brewing Company – 1761 Bellamah Ave NW, Albuquerque
- Boxing Bear Brewing Co. – 10200 Corrales Rd NW, Albuquerque
- The Stumbling Steer – 3700 Ellison Rd NW, Albuquerque
- Nexus Brewery – 4730 Pan American East Fwy NE Ste D, Albuquerque
- Kelly’s Brewpub – 3222 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque
- Boese Brothers Brewery – 601 Gold Ave SW, Albuquerque
- Lizard Tail Brewing – 9800 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque
- Red Door Brewing – 1001 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque
For dinner, my favorite spot was Zacatecas, an authentic Mexican taqueria and tequila bar located in Nob Hill, a trendy and up and coming restaurant in the area. The varieties of tequila are impressive and they have a menu to build you own margarita, something I’ve always wanted to do. For dinner, make sure to order the carnitas tacos, chile relleno, or the ceviche tostadas. And don’t skip dessert, because their churros are the crispiest, most flavorful churros. A sweet treat to end the night is always a good idea and Albuquerque has some delicious desserts – from tres leches to flan, New Mexican inspired recipes show up in every restaurant. If you’re looking for Insider Tips for Things to See and Do in Albuquerque, make sure to check out this link. Another great dinner option is Hotel Andaluz, where the chef combines Spanish, Lation American, and Caribbean ingredients to create some sublime tastes like this crab salad with nopales (cactus) as well as saffron aioli.
Thank you to the Albuquerque Convention & Tourism Board for inviting me to discover and explore Albuquerque.