Favorite New Mexican Restaurants (Los Lunas, Belen: patio, road, burritos)

[jsc23]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

For a Salsa like NONE seen in south New Mexico:

The universal Maya table salsa of Yucatan- Xni-Pek (shnee peck)
The name, in Yucatec Maya, means Dogs Nose...because it WILL give you a wet (runny) nose. This is one of my favorite salsas, and the basic recipe was given to me by the mother of a hammock weaver in Tixkokob, Yuc. I've substituted for the 6 T of Sour (Seville) orange juice. Have not seen one in New Mexico. Some restaurants use vinegar anyway.

6 to 8 Chile Habanero toasted over a flame, lightly peeled, halved and seeded
3 or 4 ripe plum tomatos, diced
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
" quartered and thin sliced red onion
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
2 Tbsp white vinegar a 3rd T optional
pinch of salt, a few twists of fresh black pepper
pinch of Mexican Oregano
Mix everything, let it sit an hour or so. Apply to Mexican food and enjoy!
This salsa will elevate even the most ordinary Mexi-chow.
I don't believe I've ever seen a pinto bean in traditional restaurants in Yucatan or Quintana Roo...black beans are the rule, period.
I think some pre-prepared mole pastes are good. The very available Dona Maria mole poblano is decent with chicken, and their Pipian is pretty good too. There are lots of others...taste and test.
Oaxacan moles tend to be quite different, excepting the Mole Oaxaqueno, which is similar to mole poblano. Most of the others available are red (I like Coloradito best), though I have found a green one a few times. The famous Mole Amarillo must be made fresh, and you don't even see it in Oaxaca that much.

Yep, hardly see pintos south of DF or past Orizaba... great recipe, have printed and filed. Oaxaca Colorado Moles seem to me the best moles to compliment beef. Best steak I ever had was in a little joint off Oaxaca Zocalo called HippoCampo II, it was sauced with a fantastic Coloradito- 30 different tastes in a moment, none overbearing and all complimenting the steak...

Estella's in Las Vegas makes Red Chile that doesn't have the complexity of a Mole, but is worth eating daily and has some weird tonic effect-

[Towanda]

This is the second time today I have seen Estella's in Las Vegas referred to.

Gotta go there!

[jsc23]

Originally Posted by Towanda

This is the second time today I have seen Estella's in Las Vegas referred to.

Gotta go there!

I can't help but plug Estella's again... it's one of those rare places where after the meal you leave feeling ready to tackle the world... like you've just had a visit from your favorite, somewhat eccentric aunt...
Same family has run Estella's for 58 years now- Estella's granddaughter runs the kitchen now. The place is one of the top 3 reasons we moved to Las Vegas.

[Towanda]

NEXT TIME we are in Las Vegas - Estella's it is!

[uforoswell]

Hunan Restaurant. If you love Chinese food and find yourself in Roswell NM this is a must. The new owners (2005) came from Oakland CA Chinatown and ‘fresh’ is the key to their success here. There are only Chinese chefs in the kitchen and everything is so authentic. They truck their foods in from Oklahoma City (don’t know why). The owners have allowed my wife and I to order ‘off’ the menu vs from the menu. We have our special likes we brought from CA also and they make them for us.

[Idunn]

Lots of great dining options in Taos, NM. Would like to mention just a few.

Alley Cantina. Just off the Plaza, part of their adobe building is said to be the oldest adobe structure in Taos. Great live music many nights. A good place to run into an eccentric local, and many a tourist. I like the hamburger and fries. A good place for a pleasant lunch, and certain menu items are late night offerings. Modestly priced.

Apple Tree. One block off the Plaza, on Bent St., the Apple Tree restaurant is situated in an authentic old building with nooks and crannies and lovely patio dining in summer. The food is good, although I recall the atmosphere more vividly. Somewhat expensive.

Guadalajara Grill. They have two locations, on the south and north sides of town, on Paseo del Pueblo Sur y Norte respectively. My feeling popular with locals, and one of mine for simple, good Mexican food. Try the tacos. Modestly priced.

Rita's Authentic Mexican Restaurant. That may be the official title but I know them only as Rita's. There used to be two, north and south side of town, but believe the south side location now closed. Liked the north side location better anyway; it is directly off US 64, near the Old Blinking Light. An unpretentious place with good food and prices. Limited seating, and probably far more take-out business. Try their tacos as well. Modestly priced.

[imcrazymary]

My Take:

Hello Deli has the best sandwiches, and try the Turtle Cheesecake. To die for!
Garduno's has a fun atmosphere, rather gringo in their spices but fun for tourists. I do like a mariachi band when the occassion necessitates. (Like my Bday *S* )
Cervante's for sure makes the best Gold Coin Margaritas (made with cointreau). Living in PA now makes me appreciate it all the more.
Burrito wagons? We called them "Roach Coaches" and always had the best burritos you could find, made in someone's nameless kitchen but with love.
The gem of Albuquerque is indeed El Sabor de Juarez, just west of Carlisle on the north side of Gibson. A true hole-in-the-wall. There is usually someone there who speaks some English, and sometimes there is soap in the unisex bano. I used to joke about getting a "menudo pipeline" to my house and now it's hardly a joke. The stuffed sopapillas there are smothered in spicy green chile. They serve with Mexican tradition there and the men always get served first and your meal comes with the condiment tray of chopped onions, lemon slices and spices. Everyone should try their caldo de cameron, a mild shrimp soup that has tasty plump shrimp that are never overcooked. With lots of fresh lemon and onion added, of course.
In Santa Fe, Cowgirl Hall of Fame makes the best chicken-fried steak in the world! Hand-pounded Angus and creamy gravy. Their green chile-cheese fries RAWK! On the flip side, The 66 Diner in Abq makes the worst chicken-fried steak. Brown gravy that tastes like a packet mixed with water. Gross.
I hate to disagree with everyone, but I still think The Owl in San Antonio has the best green chile cheeseburgers in the world. Served hot and fast and by a staff that can't be beat. The second time I ate there, the waitress remembered me from 6 months earlier, and also told me where I sat and with whom, describing my best friend to the letter. After that I was a regular until my return to the Frozen North.
And Mike041 should rot in Hades for his evil picture of that fabulous-looking burger. I too, am now cursed with paying $1.50 for a 4 oz. can of slimy chile and begging for the "dry heat" of my beloved New Mexico. *sniff*

[savage_1492]

Gallup: Genero's serves up the best and hottest mexican cuisine in Northwestern NM!
Albuquerque: My favorite place would have to be Sadie's which serves up the best and hottest mexican food NM.

[Towanda]

Okay, so I was going to go to Estella's when I got to Las Vegas, but we were in LV yesterday, and we went by Charlie's Sp!c and Span, and had heard it was good as well, so we decided to stop there for lunch. The place was packed, which usually means a place is good.

Well, this restaurant was awesome! I had cheese enchiladas and they were drowning in REALLY EXCELLENT green chile. Pintos were good too. Rice was minute rice - yuck. My husband had a chicken sandwich with green chile on top...and an order of onion rings which were perfect.

They have a bakery too, and everything looked fantastic, though we didn't get anything. They make their own tortillas in the back of the restaurant.

No wonder the place was packed .... great place!

[rybert]

Originally Posted by imcrazymary

My Take:

Hello Deli has the best sandwiches, and try the Turtle Cheesecake. To die for!
Garduno's has a fun atmosphere, rather gringo in their spices but fun for tourists. I do like a mariachi band when the occassion necessitates. (Like my Bday *S* )
Cervante's for sure makes the best Gold Coin Margaritas (made with cointreau). Living in PA now makes me appreciate it all the more.
Burrito wagons? We called them "Roach Coaches" and always had the best burritos you could find, made in someone's nameless kitchen but with love.
The gem of Albuquerque is indeed El Sabor de Juarez, just west of Carlisle on the north side of Gibson. A true hole-in-the-wall. There is usually someone there who speaks some English, and sometimes there is soap in the unisex bano. I used to joke about getting a "menudo pipeline" to my house and now it's hardly a joke. The stuffed sopapillas there are smothered in spicy green chile. They serve with Mexican tradition there and the men always get served first and your meal comes with the condiment tray of chopped onions, lemon slices and spices. Everyone should try their caldo de cameron, a mild shrimp soup that has tasty plump shrimp that are never overcooked. With lots of fresh lemon and onion added, of course.
In Santa Fe, Cowgirl Hall of Fame makes the best chicken-fried steak in the world! Hand-pounded Angus and creamy gravy. Their green chile-cheese fries RAWK! On the flip side, The 66 Diner in Abq makes the worst chicken-fried steak. Brown gravy that tastes like a packet mixed with water. Gross.
I hate to disagree with everyone, but I still think The Owl in San Antonio has the best green chile cheeseburgers in the world. Served hot and fast and by a staff that can't be beat. The second time I ate there, the waitress remembered me from 6 months earlier, and also told me where I sat and with whom, describing my best friend to the letter. After that I was a regular until my return to the Frozen North.
And Mike041 should rot in Hades for his evil picture of that fabulous-looking burger. I too, am now cursed with paying $1.50 for a 4 oz. can of slimy chile and begging for the "dry heat" of my beloved New Mexico. *sniff*

Cervantes!

They still have the drive-up window (although not operable).