El Paragua Restaurant

El Paragua Restaurant Review

With a dark, intimate atmosphere of wood and stone, this historic place started out as a lemonade-cum-taco stand in the late 1950s but is now known for some of the state's most authentic New Mexican and regional Mexican cuisine. Steaks and fish are grilled over a mesquite-wood fire; other specialties include chorizo enchiladas, panfried breaded trout amandine, and menudo. This restaurant is still a family affair; service is gracious and the food is worth the drive. If you don't have time to sit down for a meal, stop at El Parasol taco stand (¢) in the parking lot next door for excellent, cheap Mexican-New Mexican fare. Vegetarians rejoice! Ask for the Khalsa special, a superdelicious veggie quesadilla created for the local Sikhs (the many folks you may see around the area wearing white turbans), or try the veggie tacos. You'll also find El Parasol restaurants on the 84/285 frontage road in Pojoaque, and at 1833 Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe.