Your favorite ABQ restaurant? (Albuquerque, Loving: vacation, build, steakhouse)

[ziaAirmac]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

So if its by Dions, does that mean its right off of Tramway and Four Hills?

Negative, abqsunport. There's a few Dion's around town now, and the El Taco Tote is West of the Bank of the West building (at San Mateo) on the north side of Central.

As for quality, for some reason there are some disproportionately die-hard fans among our friends. I think it's something to do with the decent food at a great price combined with the extensive buffet style bars for dressing up your food. The ambiance is somewhere between a Taco Bell and a cafeteria, but if you're going into El Taco Tote with the word 'ambiance' in your head, you're in the wrong place. You'll forget all about it when you're on your third taco heaped with your choice of stuff. The buffets were fresh and well-tended when I was there last.

[ziaAirmac]

Don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but I noticed The Range Cafe in Albuquerque is moving to what used to be a Carrow's on the southwest corner of Montgomery and Wyoming (near the old location) just down from the Taco Cabana (which offers Carne Adovada burritos at ANY hour of the night, for those that are interested in that sort of thing). I mention it because it's been the focus of many posts here.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by ziaAirmac

the Taco Cabana (which offers Carne Adovada burritos at ANY hour of the night, for those that are interested in that sort of thing).

The Taco Cabana - while a regional fast food joint and not just local to ABQ - is just so, so good; for the prices and the 24-hour service, one of the most underrated places in ABQ. Those carne adovada burritos are fantastic (although sometimes rough on one's digestive tract late at night), but there is so much else tremendous there...tortillas are great, barbacoa, all of the breakfast items (brkfst burritos, corizo y huevos, etc.)...even the simple chicken tacos on those soft, warm tortillas are great. Oh, the quesadillas are fantastic too, with gobs of guacamole on top!

Good call zia.

[vegaspilgrim]

What's the ABQ locals' opinion of Twisters? We have one of these in Aurora, CO (my hometown). I'm assuming it's the same franchise. I ate there when I visited back home earlier this summer, here's a picture I took:





A little piece of Albuquerque that found its way 450 miles north.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

What's the ABQ locals' opinion of Twisters? We have one of these in Aurora, CO (my hometown). I'm assuming it's the same franchise. I ate there when I visited back home earlier this summer, here's a picture I took:

A little piece of Albuquerque that found its way 450 miles north.

It's good vegas!!! Note, there are a few pads in Denver in the adobe-style offering "New Mexican (or Santa Fe)" style cuisine...New Mexico envy from the big city up north?

Seriously...the breakfast burritos are really good, among other items. The thing with Albuquerque is, there is an oddly disproportionate rate of local fast food restaurants (Blakes, Bob's, Mac's Steak in the Rough, etc.) so Twister's kind of blends right in. For a city of 500K, it is odd how many tremendous fast food local chains there are...you'd think one at most...but ABQ has many. But Twister's is among the good ones for sure.

[abqsunport]

Not a huge fan of twisters. Here is what I think outdoes Twisters locally(for breakfast burritos):
Golden Pride
Dos Hermano
Sandia Chile Grill
Hurricanes

[Nedely]

I don't really go out to eat breakfast anymore, but when I do, I like the Waffle House. As for the Frontier, I like their chef salad, and pozole. The pozole itself is not the greatest, but, outside of home made, it's the closest I can get.

For Italian food, I like the Macaroni Grill. Nana's is great, when you can get decent service. The last few times I went, the servers weren't all that interested in working. Also, there's very little seafood on their menu.

For Mexican (not new mexican) like my family makes, I like Marisco's Altamar, Viva Mexico, Pro's Ranch Market, and a couple of other places in the South East.

I try not to eat much Pizza now, but when I do I prefer Red Brick or Dion's. If I need quick to go pizza, then I'll get a $5.00 large from Little Caesar's. Anything is better than Pizza Hut or Dominos!

Burgers are another thing I don't eat much anymore. I prefer to make them at home out of the best beef or buffalo I can get. However, if I were going out for a burger, I'd go to Fudruckers for a buffalo burger.

I also like Pho Saigon, Wings N' Things, Buffalo Wild Wings, which will be opening here in the city soon, and The Yummi House.

I have yet to find a good seafood restaurant, for now Red Lobster will have to do.

[ziaAirmac]

I like twisters when I'm on the run. If I'm sitting down I prefer a Monroe's or something like that, but the Twisters burritos are good sized for the money (Not a Dos though, although, I'm getting to the point where I'm questioning my ability to consume a Dos.) and the fries are tasty.

Nedely, some thoughts on some possible change-ups you might enjoy:

Breakfast: Weck's. Various locations
Barelas Coffee House. On Fourth St. near Avenida Cesar Chavez.
The Range Cafe. Montgomery and Wyoming or the original in Bernalillo.

Italian: Buca di Beppo south of Coronado Center but just north of I-40.

Pizza: The Marios on San Pedro
Saggios down by UNM.

Hamburger: Keller's on Eubank near Candelaria always has fresh ground buffalo in stock and I've never been disappointed after repeated visits.

It seems like you can't swing a dead horney toad without hitting a Vietnamese restaurant these days, but as you mentioned Pho Saigon, I'd suggest you try Viet Taste on the north side of Menaul, east of San Mateo. Que Hung near the corner of Central and Louisiana is also quite good.

Just some thoughts that occurred as I read your post.

[rybert]

I totally spaced on this when thinking about ABQ food...

TULLY'S!

Great subs!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by rybert

I totally spaced on this when thinking about ABQ food...

TULLY'S!

Great subs!

If talking about subs, what about an ABQ classic that I always forget here to post about: The Yeller Sub! We always loved the Yeller Sub.

Out of towners always laughed at the name / appearance, but we'd take them there, and they ended up LOVING the YS!!