15 Places You Don't Want To Miss On New Mexico's Breakfast Burrito Byway
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Juliet White
Author
The Breakfast Burrito Byway was dreamed up by our state’s tourism board to promote this iconic New Mexican food. There are competing stories about the origins of the breakfast burrito. Some believe the dish was invented at food stands during the annual Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, while others think that Santa Fe restaurant Tia Sophia’s was the genius behind the breakfast burrito.
The byway launched in 2014 and it features 50 stops. A public vote determined which restaurants should be included and, in this manner, 400 establishments serving breakfast burritos were narrowed down to 50. Yummy and democratic! As locals would expect, Blake’s Lotaburger snagged many of the spots. But what about the other places on the list? Here are 15 unmissable restaurants on New Mexico’s Breakfast Burrito Byway. (They aren’t ranked in order because it was tough enough limiting the selection to 15!)
Katrinah’s Mountain Grill earned the most votes out of all 400 restaurants hoping to be on the Breakfast Burrito Byway! The breakfast burritos here contain cheese, scrambled eggs, and home fries wrapped in a flour tortilla. You can add the usual meats: ham, bacon, or sausage. Katrinah also lets you add green chile sausage, which is an interesting twist.
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If you’re a breakfast burrito fan, a stop at Tia Sophia’s is mandatory. Your oven-fired burrito arrives doing the backstroke in a lake of red and/or green chile. Here you have the option to add an egg on top, which is a thing in New Mexico and worth trying at least once. (Candle not included!)
The name alone is enough to draw me to Shotgun Willie’s. In case that’s not a sufficient lure for you, how about the fact that this restaurant lets you add brisket to your morning burrito?
Since breakfast burritos are easy to customize, they’re also vegetarian-friendly. Still, Mesilla Valley Kitchen offers a veggie burrito, which is convenient if you’re not a carnivore or just want to pack a few more veggies into your day. This burrito spot also serves three other meatier types of breakfast burritos, including the ever-popular Bonus Burrito.
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The breakfast burrito at Michael’s Kitchen - Martin’s Breakfast Burrito - has a cult following in Taos. Potato is a common but not required breakfast burrito ingredient. Some restaurants incorporate soft chunks of potato into their burritos but at other places, like this one, the burritos contain hash browns instead.
Golden Pride has been in business since the 1970s and has more than ten breakfast burritos on the menu. The restaurant is known for using super fresh tortillas and for its budget-friendly prices. The same folks behind Golden Pride are also responsible for Frontier Restaurant.
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Speaking of… Frontier’s breakfast burritos are equally delectable.
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Chili Works doesn’t look like much but this burrito spot makes a mean carne adovada or chorizo breakfast burrito.
Multiple presidents have dined at the Range Café. If they chose the humungous breakfast burrito they doubtless left with positive impressions of New Mexico. This burrito joint allows you to bundle your eggs, white cheddar, and choice of meat into a whole-wheat tortilla. So it totally counts as a health food, right?
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Let’s just put it out there: Chaco Grill is located in a Phillips 66 Station. Many of New Mexico’s best food finds are housed in underwhelming buildings and this is no exception. Here you can score an affordable and awesome breakfast burrito while gassing up. Now, that’s a win.
When it comes to breakfast burritos, portions are typically generous, but the version at the Pantry could double as a dumbbell. The restaurant first opened in 1948, so this establishment has had plenty of time to perfect its burritos. Some less typical add-ins, such as veggie sausage and corned beef, are available if you want to mix things up.
Two words: green monster. No, we’re not referring to the wall at Fenway Park. That’s the name of the breakfast burrito at Baby J’s. It involves all the usual suspects plus sausage, bacon, potato, onion, and tomato.
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At ¡Ándele! Restaurante, you can order your breakfast burrito "traditional" or "a la Mexicana" style. With the latter, you receive a burrito with jalapenos, tomatoes, onions and cheese. Unless you’re taking a burrito to go, always order it "smothered" for the full New Mexican experience.
El Parasol began in the 1950s as a summer job for two brothers who sold their mother’s tacos and tamales under the shade of a patio umbrella. Fast forward to the present day. El Parasol now has six locations, some of which are full-blown restaurants, while others offer to-go service.
Prices for these bacon, chorizo, ham, sausage, or meat free breakfast burritos are super low, without sacrificing flavor.
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You may have noticed that the title refers to 14 must-try spots on the Breakfast Burrito Byway and that El Chile Toreado is number 15. Consider it a bonus. We believe it's an oversight that this teeny breakfast and lunch stand isn't on the official byway. El Chile Toreado offers massive, perfectly spicy burritos, bursting with flavor.
What’s you favorite burrito spot either on or off New Mexico’s official byway?
Want to learn more about New Mexican cuisine? Here are some of the most popular food and drinks in New Mexico.
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