160 Best Restaurants in New Mexico, USA

Beautiful loaves—Old World Rye, South Valley Sourdough, Sunflower Seed Multigrain, and Rustic Baguettes—beckon at the open-kitchen storefront location of Bosque Baking. Tucked away in an historic neighborhood on the western edge of Downtown, it’s helmed by Jim Mecca, the best bread baker in town. While he also keeps a stand at the Corrales Market (on Sunday), visitors come here for great bread, empanadas (both savory and sweet), apricot scones, and perhaps a Ginger Molasses or Red Chile Chocolate Pecan cookie; in winter he’s been known to whip up batches of sublime soups as well.

A smart little walk-up with a few outdoor counter-style stools to perch on (and enough parking to tailgate, as many do), Burque Bakehouse made its name at the local growers’ markets and now focuses on this standalone shop just a few blocks south of Central Avenue in the heart of EDo. The changing menu of freshly baked breads and pastries is scooped up fast—they might shut early when the day’s goods are gone.

This beloved local joint—it opened as Scoopy's in the 1990s and longtime fans still call it that—offers all kinds of mix-ins (such as regional faves, salted and unsalted pecans) and toppings to embellish the luscious custard-style ice cream. Chili dogs are among the savory treats. There are three locations in Las Cruces.

This comfy, cafeteria-style restaurant in the visitor center serves basic food—hamburgers, sandwiches, some Mexican dishes—and is fine in a pinch. There are also packaged takeout items. Note that no alcohol is served.

The fajitas at this welcoming local spot with a romantic garden patio are a favorite here, and are served-up in generous portions. The burger wrapped inside a sopaipilla is another specialty, as are the chimichangas packed with beef. As always with New Mexican cuisine, diners will be asked if they would like their dish with red or green chile (or Christmas); the sauces are both pork-based here, so vegetarians will want to skip them and ask for roasted green simply chopped instead. The charming restaurant occupies a late 19th-century Territorial-style adobe house. If there's a wait, enjoy a Negro Modelo (with lime, please) at the pleasant bar.

This Portales steak house in the heart of cattle country was the founding establishment for the popular chain that now extends into Roswell, Ruidoso, and Las Cruces. Prime rib is the specialty, and the trademark salad bar doesn't disappoint with its fresh greens, crisp veggies, and homemade soups. The interior is decorated with plenty of wooden accents and skylights.

You'll find the standard array of grilled meats and seafood at this centrally located restaurant, which is part of a regional chain. While the food and service is merely adequate, the extensive and fresh salad bar is a relief if you're hankering for a big plate of fresh veggies with lots of toppings and tasty dressings. The dark-wood furnishings here are offset by big windows and a skylight.

Huevos rancheros and burritos smothered with spicy salsa top the list in this friendly, simply furnished New Mexican diner that's been around since the 1950s and is a great bet for hearty breakfasts and lunches. You can also pick up cookies, doughnuts, and pastries from the on-site bakery or a stack of freshly made corn tortillas from the tortilleria.

Although the name of this cheery bakery suggests sweets, and it does sweets especially well, Chocolate Maven also produces impressive savory breakfast and lunch fare. Meals are "farmers' market–inspired" and feature seasonal dishes, including wild-mushroom-and-goat-cheese focaccia sandwiches, eggs ménage à trois (one each of eggs Benedict, Florentine, and Madison—the latter consisting of smoked salmon and poached egg), and Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. A plus for those looking for healthier fare is the option of various plant-based meat options for breakfast or a lunchtime sandwich. Some of the top desserts include Belgian chocolate fudge brownies, mocha-buttercream torte with chocolate-covered strawberries, and a fantastic carrot cake. Don't let the industrial building put you off; the interior is light, bright, and cozy. From the dining room, you can even watch the bakers in action through a large picture window.

This locals' favorite is the best place for a full meal (lunch or dinner) in town. It made its reputation on pizza, but now you can fuel up from a broader menu that includes blue corn enchiladas and other New Mexican fare.

This traditional adobe eatery features New Mexican--style family recipes, which happily feed streams of hungry tourists. Locals, too, are drawn here, especially for the alfresco dining in the lovely courtyard (and in the mosaic-bedazzled great room looking out to it), amid trellises of sweet grapes and flowers, and further enhanced by the occasional accompaniment of a classical and flamenco guitarist. Buttery guacamole, with just a bit of bite, is the perfect appetizer to prep one's palate for the tender carne asada main. Try the house specialty, chile rellenos stuffed with pork and cheese, or a portobello-and-bell-pepper fajita. Traditional desserts and hearty breakfast choices are also offered.

Undeniably French, this bustling café serves authentic, delicious food. Walk through the door of this bright, open space and you'll almost certainly be greeted with a cheery "bonjour" from Anne-Laure, who owns it with her husband, Philippe. Start your day with a crepe, a fluffy omelet, or le gauffre (large waffle). Lunch offers quiches with perfectly flaky crusts, an enticing selection of large salads (the salade de la maison has pears, pine nuts, blue cheese, Spanish chorizo, tomatoes, and cucumbers atop mixed greens), and savory sandwiches like the classic croque madame (grilled ham, egg, and cheese) on homemade bread. The classic onion soup is comforting on a cold day. Save room for the café's namesake dessert, clafoutis. The baguettes and pastries are perfectly prepared—no small feat at 7,000 feet elevation.

This folk-art-filled restaurant, with decor by famed designer Alexander Girard, is one of the most well-known dining spots in town. The oft-changing menu is devoted to seasonal and local ingredients with a variety of meats, fish, and pastas. The extensive, and expensive, wine list will please the most discerning oenophile. Lunch is as popular as dinner with the chicken schnitzel a popular favorite. In warm weather, enjoy the charming patio while younger folks prefer sitting at the u-shaped bar that has a more social atmosphere than the dining room.

This low-key, slightly off-the-beaten-path café is worth finding for its delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or even just for an afternoon coffee break. Inside the industrial space, tuck into plates of huevos rancheros and other eggy fare in the morning, and a mix of Southwestern and Asian dishes later in the day. The dog-friendly, covered patio beyond the dining room has long communal tables and a few smaller, more private ones. There's a good selection of house-made baked goods and espresso drinks as well. It's cash-only and casual—you order your food at the counter. Prices are reasonable for the quality and amount of food served.

The huge fiberglass bull perched on the sign makes this landmark easy to find. Del's has been serving Route 66 travelers since 1956 with American and Mexican food. Eggs, pancakes, and bacon fill the breakfast menu, and the spicy chiles rellenos and hand-cut steaks keep customers returning. This is good, reliable food and one of the only places open until relatively late. Windows all around make for great nighttime neon viewing.

Fresh flowers grace the wooden tables and light streams through the large windows at this cheerful bakery and eatery. Owner Diane Barrett's menu includes Hatch-green-chile Benedict, "Grandma's" spaghetti, steaks, and a deftly prepared lemon-caper chicken. The sandwiches are all made with wonderfully tasty house-baked bread; if you're in the mood for something sweet, don't hesitate—this chef really shines when it comes to desserts. Bottled microbrews and well-chosen wines are available. There's a popular Sunday Champagne brunch.

Located in the Historic Taos Inn, Doc Martin’s takes its name from the building's original owner, a physician who saw patients in the rooms that are now the dining areas. The beautiful, centrally located restaurant serves authentic Northern New Mexico cuisine.

Slovakian transplant Annamaria O’Brien's bustling bakery and brunch spot is as bright and crisp as her food. The menu borrows a bit from the chef's Eastern European roots with favorites such as paprikash, langos, and goulash, but also features regional American dishes like cornmeal waffles with buttermilk fried chicken and a surprising bone broth "morning soup." The quiche of the day is always delicious. Nearly everything served at Dolina was either grown on the Dolina farm or sourced as locally as possible. After your meal, be sure to peruse the goodies in the bakery case—tarts, pastries, and tvaroh (a ricotta-like fresh cheese) await, best accompanied by a macchiato or Mexican mocha. Make sure you wear your walking shoes as it's nearly impossible to find a parking spot in Dolina's tiny lot.

This neighborhood café-newsstand sells fancy coffees, various snacks, and sumptuous pastries as well as one of the largest assortments of newspapers and magazines in town. The shaded patio is a fun spot to people-watch and a great place to fuel a Canyon Road stroll.

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.

Nothing fancy is served here, just big helpings of tasty regional favorites like enchiladas, stuffed sopaipillas, burgers, and the breakfast of Southwest champions: huevos rancheros, smothered in chile of course. Kids are welcome and happily accommodated.

Considered one of Santa Fe's best food trucks, El Chile Toreado offers hearty, delicious, and affordable New Mexican breakfast and lunch. Although it has made it onto many “must-eat” lists, it has retained both quality and convenience, cementing itself as a perennial local favorite.

This endearingly modest hole-in-the-wall on the tree-shaded main drag of tiny El Rito doesn't look like much from the outside, but devotees drive for miles to taste the stick-to-your-ribs classic New Mexican specialties, including a rich, smoky green chile stew that's garnered numerous awards and accolades. The drive here—it's about 20 minutes from both Abiquiú and Ojo Caliente—offers stunning views back east toward the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

This stylish restaurant located in the heart of Tesuque village has a rustic American à la carte menu specializing in items cooked over an open-flame grill as well as a separate Omakase sushi set menu option. Grilled favorites include cast-iron tenderloin, Wagyu burgers, and whole grilled branzino. In cooler months, the old adobe building is cozy and welcoming, and there is a large covered patio for dining in warmer weather. El Nido is hugely popular on summer nights before the nearby Santa Fe Opera performances—reservations are highly recommended at these times.

This no-frills, family-owned local chain might not look like much from the outside, but its fast, fresh New Mexican cuisine is a standard favorite among northern New Mexicans. Consistently praised for its superior chile, tacos, carne adovada, and breakfast burritos by locals and national media alike, it's worth a stop for those looking for a true New Mexican food experience. The Atencio family has been serving straightforward New Mexican classics, in one form or another, since the 1950s, and they have several locations throughout the city.

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

Next to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, this Mexican restaurant achieves a kitschy flair with matador paintings, piñatas, and wrought-iron wall lamps. The kitchen uses family recipes in the preparation of ethnic favorites such as fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. Cold beer and wine help cool the delicious fire of the spicy dishes.

For a family evening out with no worries about the kids being loud or throwing their peanut shells on the floor, Farley's is the place. Choose from a huge menu of basic pub victuals: popcorn shrimp, burgers and sandwiches, salads, wood-fired pizzas, all sorts of appetizers, and, of course, beer. There are TVs everywhere, plus a few video games and pool tables.

A standout amid the strip of mostly unmemorable fast-food restaurants along Paseo del Pueblo on the south side of town, this airy, high-ceiling contemporary space—part of a regional chain with locations in Albuquerque as well—serves stellar burgers using hormone-free Angus beef from respected Harris Ranch; turkey, veggie, Colorado lamb, bison, and salmon burgers are also available. You can also choose from an assortment of novel toppings, including fried eggs, wild mushrooms, grilled onions, and crispy jalapeños. Beer and wine are also served.

A staple in the city, each outpost of this locally owned order-at-the-counter-first café suits its neighborhood (some have patios and allow pets). At the original spot here in Nob Hill, the university crowd digs into a creative mix of American and New Mexican dishes (plus several types of wine and beer). Options include rosemary chicken with couscous risotto, a tossed Cobb salad with tangy tomatillo dressing, a green-chile loaded turkey-and-Jack cheese on toasted sourdough, and an egg- and chile-packed "graburrito." Count on a tempting array of desserts, from a bite-size salted caramel blondie to a Nike-sized coffee-cream-filled éclair.