From a cookie vending machine to a hot dog hangout, Albuquerque's vibrant culinary scene goes beyond traditional New Mexican fare.
Albuquerque’s rich culinary scene is shaped by the city’s long and diverse history. For thousands of years, Native Americans lived in and around the region. Then, in 1706, Spanish colonists established a new city. Located along the Rio Grande and named for the 10th Duke of Alburquerque in Spain (whose name eventually lost its first “r”), Albuquerque has a lengthy history of culinary influences. This unique cultural background – blending Native American, Spanish and Mexican influences – creates a truly distinctive food scene. To experience “Duke City’s” best flavors, try these 10 cool places to eat in Albuquerque.
1. Golden Crown Panaderia
Golden Crown Panaderia is a family-owned, neighborhood bakery that crafts sensational sandwiches and offers an impressive variety of empanadas with fillings such as blueberry, sweet potato and raspberry. They’re known for their green chile bread and traditional biscochitos, New Mexico’s state cookie. Biscochitos are a bit like shortbread. Golden Crown has flavors of anise, cinnamon and orange, and the New Mexican holiday season isn’t the same without them.
If you can’t get there during business hours, pay a visit to the Golden Crown ATM, which serves treats 24/7. The cookie ATM is stocked with some of their signature items, including cookies by the dozen, three packs of empanadas and bread loaves.
2. Dog House Drive-In
Known for its vintage neon sign featuring a wiener dog eating a string of hot dogs, Dog House Drive-In is one of the coolest places to eat in Albuquerque. The spot was even one of the filming locations featured in “Breaking Bad.” However, Dog House has been popular with locals for years before its onscreen debut. This no-frills drive-in has long been a local favorite for a quick snack. The foot-long chili cheese dog is one of the most popular items, and they also offer other options, such as cheese fries, chile burgers, shakes and floats. All you have to do is pull up into the parking lot, and someone will come out and take your order.
3. Flying Star Café
Flying Star Café is an Albuquerque institution. First established in the late 1980s, Flying Star now has six locations throughout the city. Each Flying Star location is styled slightly differently, reflecting the unique character of its surrounding neighborhood. What’s the same at all of them is the tasty food you can get. Enjoy breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner favorites. The food is a mix of hearty diner-style dishes, such as breakfast burritos, pancakes and fish and chips. Over the years, Flying Star has garnered numerous accolades, having been voted “Best of the City” for its grilled cheese sandwiches, milkshakes, and mac and cheese.
4. Ten 3
The Sandia Tramway on the northeast side of town takes you up to 10,378 feet to the crest of the Sandia Mountains. Waiting for you at the top of a series of hiking trails is Ten 3. Guests can enjoy the restaurant’s panoramic views and look at the city of Albuquerque, some 4,000 feet below. They have a casual bar lounge open for lunch, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Their local bison smash burger, topped with green chile house bacon, is a favorite.
For their evening fine dining experience, make reservations ahead of time, and be sure to follow a business casual dress code. It’s definitely the place to go if you’re celebrating a big occasion with dishes like bone-in bison rib-eye with local oyster mushrooms and duck breast with parsnip puree.
5. The Sawmill Market
Another must-stop on our list of cool places to eat in Albuquerque is The Sawmill Market, which opened in 2020 as the state’s first artisanal food hall. Since then, this adaptive reuse project has become a mainstay in Albuquerque, giving new life to the formerly old building. Visitors are spoiled for choice here, as the market features nearly 30 vendors, offering everything from taiyaki – a Japanese fish-shaped cake topped with ice cream – to fresh, handmade pasta. Sawmill Market offers indoor and outdoor seating. There is also a small market where visitors can buy designer dishes, cookbooks, cards and the like.
When it comes to drinks, the Botanic Bar has inventive cocktails, and Paxton’s Taproom has a range of local beers and ciders on tap. If you’re looking for something alcohol free, Lemon & Brine serves flavored lemonade as well as pickle juice shots.
6. Ex Novo Brewing Company
Ex Novo Brewing Company opened near downtown in the summer of 2024, and has had people lining up for a table since. Along with their popular beers, Ex Novo has a menu of tasty small plates, perfect for sharing. The downstairs dining room houses a spacious game area, ideal for darts and tabletop shuffleboard. Upstairs, the more intimate bar, the Bitter Nun, is an adults-only area. The menu features a variety of elevated cocktails and dishes, but the Sticky Pork Ribs are a must-try.
7. El Patio de Albuquerque
El Patio de Albuquerque was frequented by the stars of “Breaking Bad,” with Bryan Cranston noting it as one of his favorites (he also loved Flying Star). They have two locations, one near the University of New Mexico and one near Old Town. Both locations serve breakfast, lunch,and dinner and are known for their home-style New Mexican cuisine, including stuffed sopapillas and green chile chicken enchiladas. Diners can also enjoy El Patio’s festive atmosphere and appreciate live music during the week.
8. M’Tucci’s Bar Roma
M’Tucci’s Bar Roma, along historic Route 66, is the largest of the four M’Tucci’s locations around the city. The Italian spot serves up some of the best Italian in the city and is known for the thousands of pounds of pasta that are made in-house each week. Farm-to-table drives everything here, and M’Tucci’s makes its pizza dough and breads from its own sourdough starter. The menu features a variety of delicious dishes, including wagyu beef carpaccio, Margherita pizza and grilled sea bass.
While it’s certainly lovely to linger over your dinner and a glass of wine out on the patio here, they have a 30-minute menu at lunch, so if you’re in a rush, you can still get tasty Italian food.
9. 505 Central Food Hall
505 Central is another beloved food hall. Located in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, 505 Central is a popular after-work spot for locals. Last year, the restaurant introduced a brunch service, which has proven equally popular with diners. 505 Central houses more than half a dozen vendors that will appeal to all types, offering everything from Detroit-style pizza, Hakata-style ramen, incredible burgers and a long list of local beers and spirits.
10. Blackbird Coffee House
The early bird gets the worm at Blackbird Coffee House. Tucked away in Old Town, you’ll want to go early to grab a delicious cup of joe to avoid the throngs of tourists that come through the area by the middle of the day. Blackbird opened in 2018, and since then, the shop has been recognized for its extensive menu, which features a wide array of gourmet coffees and baked goods. Their specialty drinks are all named after local flora and fauna, such as the Tumbleweed, a chai latte, and the Bison Coffee, which features espresso, buttered toffee and sea salt. But, visitors to Blackbird can enjoy more than just a hand-crafted coffee. The space is bright and colorful, decorated with a gorgeous mural.