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It’s not always easy to take a week (or even a whole weekend) off for vacation. Luckily, New Mexico is filled with delightful destinations just a quick car ride outside of Albuquerque. And you’ve got to eat sometime. So why not make the food your primary destination?
Feel like some Frito pie in an out-of-the-way saloon? Or how about some top-notch sushi at a mountain retreat? New Mexico has an amazingly wide range of choices for those with a full gas tank and an empty stomach. And some of these hidden food destinations are located in beautiful, historic parts of our state. Perfect for a day trip or a quick overnight.
So if you’re in the mood to escape your same old routine this spring, why not consider a memorable dining experience outside of town? After all, sometimes lunch or dinner isn’t just a meal; it can be a vacation onto itself.
Legal Tender
151 Old Lamy Trail, Lamy
Visionary architect Allan Affeldt, who renovated the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Ariz. as well as the Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, NM, teamed up with Chef Murphy O’Brien (Santa Fe’s Café Fina) to revive the historic Legal Tender restaurant and saloon in little Lamy. Located along the original rail lines for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Legal Tender has a long and storied history in New Mexico. The building dates back to the 1800s and has been home to The Legal Tender (in one form or another) since 1970. The small but well-curated menu runs the gamut from appetizers (red Chile rubbed wings, chicken liver pâté with mostarda) to main courses (pan seared ruby trout, house smoked pork quesadilla). Selected nights feature live music. Check the calendar online (legaltenderlamy.com) for details. The establishment is only open on weekends (Fridays 4 to 7 p.m. and Sat./Sun. 12 to 7 pm.), and reservations are encouraged. You can reach them at (505) 466-1650.
Izanami @ Ten Thousand Waves
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, Santa Fe
Though conceptualized as upscale izayaki fare (a type of informal Japanese tavern that serves alcoholic drinks and simple grilled, broiled or pan-fried bites), Santa Fe’s award-winning Izanami looks like an old-fashioned Japanese lodge or ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn). It’s the perfect cozy spot to feel like you’ve traveled thousands of miles from home. The beautiful, woody setting (particularly after a day of soaking in the hot tubs at Ten Thousand Waves) is sure to inflame your appetite. Guests are encouraged to sample a wide selection of Japanese beers and sakes while interspersing shareable plates of cold (like onagiri or apple kimchi salad), raw (sashimi ceviche, temaki hand rolls), hot (crispy kurobuto pork belly, roasted Japanese mushrooms), grilled (from wagyu beef to octopus), fried (tempura cauliflower, beef & shiso croquettes) or sweet (hojicha panna cotta, yuzu ricotta cheesecake). To check out the seasonal menu or to make a (recommended) reservation, go to tenthousandwaves.com/food or call (505) 982-9304.
Bibo Bar & Grille
1175 State Rte 279, Bibo
Casual and definitely off the beaten path, Bibo Bar sits north of Laguna Pueblo right on the edge of the picturesque Cebolleta Land Grant (established in 1800) in the unincorporated community of Bibo. (You know, just outside Paguate.) An old (and largely unreconstructed) trading post built in 1913, this family-owned joint is typically filled with locals. If you’re in the mood for burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, onion rings, taquitos, jalapeno poppers and beer, this is the place for you. There’s no wifi in the bar, but they do have a website (bibobar.com/). Plus, they’re open seven days a week! Feel free to linger in Laguna Pueblo on the way for some culture and history. Be sure to check online (newmexico.org/native-culture/native-communities/laguna-pueblo/) for open days, tribal events and other special holidays beforehand.
Cold Beer, New Mexico/Colfax Tavern & Diner
32230 US-64, Maxwell
Is it the name of the town or the name of the establishment? Technically neither. The sign outside (pretty much the only thing outside for miles around) simply says “Cold Beer, New Mexico.” But its official name is Colfax Tavern & Diner, and it’s located about 40 miles east of Taos, near the town of Maxwell. Everybody just calls it Cold Beer. And it’s been around since 1929! (The current owners have been running it since 2016.) You better believe you can score a cold beer here, along with pizza, Frito pies, green chile cheeseburgers and pulled pork sandwiches. It’s only open Thursdays though Sundays (Thu.-Sat. 5 to 9 p.m., Sun. 12 to 8 p.m.). It’s not exactly a “reservation” kinda place, but you can find more info at coldbeernm.com.
Buckhorn Tavern
68 US Highway 380, San Antonio
Owl Bar & Cafe
77 US Highway 380, San Antonio
The debate has raged since the 1940s: If you’re going to San Antonio, NM, where do get your green chile cheeseburger fix? The Buckhorn Tavern or the Owl Cafe? It’s a crosstown (well, across-the-only-street-in-town) battle that has raged for (literally) generations. Honestly, while some people express a strong preference, there’s no wrong answer. Both places serve up fresh, hot New Mexico green chile cheeseburgers, and both are among the best in the state.
The rustic Buckhorn was established 1943 by the Olguine family. In 2019 the Sichler family, famed green chile growers in the Rio Grande Valley for six generations, bought it out, and the tradition continues. Buckhorn’s Burger was rated No. 7 Burger in America by GQ Magazine in 2005 and No. 3 “Baddest Burger in the Land” by the Nightlife Flavor Roundup on the Marlboro.com website. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay even lost his “Throwdown With Bobby Flay” at the Buckhorn Tavern in 2009. Feel free to drool over the menu at buckhornburgers.com.
After he came home from World War II in 1945, Frank Chavez opened a little bar in the San Antonio grocery store owned by his wife’s father. It soon became the hangout spot for atomic scientists from the nearby Trinity site. The world famous recipe for Owl Cafe’s green Chile cheeseburgers remains unchanged since 1948. The fourth generation of the Chavez family is still in control, with Frank’s granddaughter Janice operating the tchotchke-filled restaurant today. The massive wooden bar was originally part of Conrad Hilton’s trackside rooming house in San Antonio. (The famed hotelier was born in San Antonio in 1887.) You can learn more at sanantonioowl.com.
There’s no need to tell you what’s on the menu at either restaurant. You know what to order.
Fred Harvey Whistle Stop Cafe
104 N. First St., Belen
Located inside the Belen Harvey House museum, this charming little coffee shop pays tribute to the roadside dining history of Fred Harvey. Conrad Hilton wasn’t the only business tycoon to get rich off the railroads. Harvey opened railroad station-adjacent lunch rooms and souvenir shops throughout the American Southwest, including in Belen. The Belen Harvey House shut down in 1939, but found new life as a historical museum some 50 years later. The cafe is only open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. The tiny menu changes from week to week, serving up nostalgic favorites straight outta grandma’s kitchen. Expect classics like chicken pot pie, grilled ham and cheese, apple pecan chicken salad, roasted pork chops and some incredible deserts. Check out the museum before or after a meal for a little history lesson. (It’s only $5 to get in). Get all the details at harveyhousemuseum.org/cafe-pictures.
Los Ojos Restaurant & Saloon
NM-4, Jemez Springs
This legendary local eatery has been around since 1947, decked to the vigas with Wild West memorabilia. “Cowpokes, city folks, hikers, bikers, drifters and debutantes” are invited to pull up a bar stool, have a Margarita and chow down on Northern New Mexico favorites like chile rellenos, Frito pies, enchiladas and (of course) green chile cheeseburgers. Read up on them at losojossaloon.com. The drive alone, up through the cool mountains, is worth the trip on a hot summer day. Plan some extra time, of course, to hang out in Jemez Springs and take a dip in one of the mountain town’s famous hot springs, spas or commercial bath houses.
Lambert’s of Taos
123 Bent St., Taos
This full-service Contemporary American restaurant is the perfect destination for those looking for an extra-special night out of town. Saffron pappardelle, king salmon and bison strip loin are some of the items typically found on this high-end menu full of locally sourced, made-from-scratch delights. Soups, salads and starters are also up for grabs. And how about a nice glass of port with dessert? Indulge yourself; you’re on vacation! And for those not in the mood for linen tablecloths, there’s always the funky Treehouse Bar upstairs. The place is dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays and open for dinner service 5 to 9 p.m. other nights. You’re gonna have a hard time getting in without reservations, so check in at lambertsoftaos.com or call (575) 758-7200. Note: The restaurant will be closed for spring maintenance starting Monday, April 7. It will re-open on Friday, April 18th with a new spring menu.
El Farolito
NM-550, El Rito
Tiny El Rito, NM – located a few miles west of Ojo Cliente and a few miles north of Abiquiu – has less than 1,000 residents. But it boasts one of our state’s most popular New Mexican restaurants. Even tinier than the town is the simple adobe house containing the mom-and-pop eatery El Farolito. It can only fit about five tables, so you’ll be elbow-to-elbow with your fellow diners. Not that you’ll notice with your face down over a steaming plate of El Farolito’s traditional New Mexican grub. Choose from tacos, tamales, stuffed sopapillas, huevos rancheros, chile rellenos and more. Prices are surprisingly cheap as well. Just don’t show up on Mondays and Tuesdays, when they’re closed. Hit Abiquiu on the way up for a look at the Georgia O’Keefe Home and Studio and Ojo Caliente on the way back for a dip in the mineral springs!
What? No Chope’s? Highway 28 near Las Cruces. James Beard nominee hole in the wall.