3 Best Restaurants in Northwestern New Mexico, New Mexico

There are plenty of bars in this town, for sure, but this is a friendly, relaxed pub, locally owned by the Chavez family. A good selection of microbrews is backed up with pub standards like burgers, bratwurst, steaks, salads, fish, and crispy, gooey appetizers. There's live music Tuesday through Saturday evenings.

If you have time for only one meal in Gallup, do as most people do and head to Earl's. The home-style rib-sticking daily specials here include meat loaf and chicken-fried steak, pie, bottomless coffee, and the oversize servings you would expect. Though not in its original location, Earl's has been a family-run institution in the area since 1947. This is a classic diner, grand-scale and Southwestern style, down to the Naugahyde booths and the Western Americana objects hanging on the walls. It's a custom here for Native American jewelry vendors to go table to table displaying their wares. Simply say "No, thank you" if you're not interested and the vendor will leave.

Open daily, and serving fine traditional New Mexican–style enchiladas and the like, El Sombrero is the cozy alternative to Earl's.