These 8 Unique Restaurants In New Mexico Will Give You An Unforgettable Dining Experience

A great meal should be a culinary adventure, so don’t settle for a run-of-the-mill dining experience. Instead, head to one of these fun and unique restaurants in New Mexico which offer entertainment, unusual food, or an unexpected atmosphere. You definitely won’t be bored!

1. The Love Apple, Taos

If you like to know where your food comes from then you’ll love The Love Apple. The restaurant focuses on local and organic food and serves up unexpected combinations such as caramelized onion and apple quesadillas. But what really makes this place unique is the building which used to be a church. The restaurant is inside the old Placitas Chapel which dates all the way back to the 1800s. The Love Apple is one the most unique New Mexico restaurants!

Take a look at this video by @NewMexicoTrue:

2. El Pinto Restaurant and Cantina, Albuquerque

There aren’t many restaurants that can comfortably seat over 1,000 people! This local fave is owned by twin brothers who also run a salsa company from a facility off the restaurant. The salsa production alone requires 120 tons of chile per year. You might have seen El Pinto salsa in your grocery store and that's because it’s distributed nationwide. The other reason El Pinto is unique is because it has a tequila bar, serving 160 different tequilas - you can even order sampling flights. It’ll give you a different kind of burn than the red chile ribs. El Pinto Restaurant and Cantina is one of the most famous restaurants in New Mexico.

3. La Cantina at La Casa Sena, Santa Fe

Singing waitstaff? Yep, that’s right. If you head to La Cantina after 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, your server will deliver your burrata salad, cannelloni, or beef tenderloin in between belting out pop songs or Broadway show tunes. This is one of the most fun and unique restaurants in New Mexico.

4. Vernon’s Speakeasy, Los Ranchos

Who says that gangsters can’t be gourmands? Behind a door in Los Ranchos Liquors lies a den of debauchery. Well, okay, not really, but the secrecy certainly creates those expectations. In order to gain access to this fine dining subterranean steakhouse, you have to knock on the unmarked door and then give a password. Makes you think that Carrie Nation could appear any minute with her hatchet. Come to Vernon's Speakeasy for fun and unique dining in New Mexico.

Take a look at this video by @vernonsspeakeasy:

5. Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House, Pinos Altos

Looks can be deceiving so ignore the exterior of this 1860s building which looks ready to collapse. Instead, head inside this historical restaurant to experience a taste of the Wild West. The Buckhorn is a steakhouse that has served everyone from miners and gunslingers to ladies of ill repute. And it's one of the most unique New Mexico restaurants.

6. Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ & Espresso, Hatch

Sparky’s is a kitsch lover’s dream. It’s the kind of place that makes you hit the brakes if you’re driving by. The restaurant serves scrumptious BBQ and, of course, the World Famous! Hatch Green Chile Cheeseburger. Hatch is synonymous with chile so it should come as no surprise that this ingredient permeates the menu from the green chile lemonade to green chile milkshakes! You'll love Sparky's because it's one of the most fun and unique restaurants in New Mexico.

7. La Posta de Mesilla, Mesilla

La Posta occupies a massive 10,000 square feet that's packed with decidedly unique décor and even live birds! Supposedly Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa stayed here when it was part of the Corn Exchange Hotel, a stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Line. The La Posta is one of the most historic and famous restaurants in New Mexico and is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

Take a look at this video by @lascrucestv7726:

8. Indian Pueblo Kitchen, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

Indian Pueblo Kitchen serves a fusion of Native American cuisines. Blue corn (which has an earthier, nuttier flavor than yellow corn) features heavily on the menu from the blue corn enchiladas to blue corn pancakes and onion rings. You may also enjoy sandwiches, desserts, and breakfast all day. Indian Pueblo Kitchen is one of the most unique restaurants in New Mexico. Check out the restaurant's website for more information.

Have you eaten at any of these fun and unique restaurants in New Mexico? What did you think? What New Mexican restaurant do you find truly unique? Let us know in the comments!