The Best Ribs in New Mexico Are Hiding In The Most Unsuspecting Restaurant

One would expect melt-in-your-mouth pork ribs at a barbeque joint or maybe a soul food restaurant, but you will find amazing tender, tasty ribs hidden among the fajitas and enchiladas at a Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe.

You must try Los Potrillos in Santa Fe.

You'll find Los Potrillos on the south side of town, away from the Santa Fe tourist hoopla. Since its quiet beginnings in 2006, this place has grown a steady and faithful following. Potrillos, by the way, means foals. Be ready for stepped-up "horseman" food!

The ribs are out-of-this world amazing!

On the menu as Costillas Carrilleras Asada, the pork ribs have a flavor and juicy richness that will keep you eating long after you are full. The charbroiled ribs are expertly spiced with seasonings that strike a balance between subtle sweetness and savory flavor. The asada rib plate comes with charro beans and guacamole. The ribs also come on the dinner for two; the Costillas Pancho Villa. Here, the tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs are served with chorizo, nopalitos (prickly pear cactus pads), a quesadilla, and a relleno.

Explore the deep Mexican menu.

If you get tired of the ribs, there is plenty of choice on the multi-page menu. Los Potrillos says it is dedicated to rescuing the traditional Mexican recipes that have been cooked for generations. Instead of smothering everything in New Mexican red or green chile, the flavorful sauces here are matched to the dish: rich tomato, delicate creamy corn, complex moles, and some chef specials.

Sure, they have enchiladas and tacos.

Try the enchiladas alongside side the steak Tampiquena, or have a burrito stuffed with chicken mole. The taco selection will keep you busy too, with tacos carbon, desebrada (shredded beef), al pastor, fish tacos, and shrimp.

Choose your favorite gordita.

If you think gorditas only come from Taco Bell, think again! Here, the Zacatecas-style masa pockets come filled with your choice of guisado (stewed) pork, shredded beef or chicken, or the vegetarian rajas con queso (strips of chiles with cheese).

They serve up food from the coast too.

The seafood choices at Los Potrillos are almost as vast as the Mexican coast. Start with a variety of traditional seafood cocktails, oysters on the shell, or ceviche. After that, move on to one of the main "plates from the sea," like fish in a mango cream sauce, or shrimp Veracruz, with bell peppers, onions, and olives in a tomato sauce.

The soups are a meal.

If you crave something hearty and rich, the birria Zacateca is just the thing. This lamb soup is especially delicious on a cold winter day. Other meal-sized caldos include pozole, and the robust seafood stew, "Lavanate Lazano." This soup to wake the dead comes filled with almost every type of seafood available, including crab legs.

When is the last time you had food served in a hot molcajete?

Two dishes come in warmed basalt stone bowls — the grilled pork and pineapple Molcajete al Pastor, and the Los Potrillos original, the Molcajete Relleno de Cameron. This dish is a mix of shrimp, mushrooms, and a few of the chef's secret ingredients.

The atmosphere is just right.

Reflecting its horsey name, the decor in Los Potrillos is equestrian themed, from saddles, carved chairs, and a colorful vaquero (cowboy) mural. The vibe is casual and the staff is friendly. Find the restaurant at 1947 Cerrillos Rd, in Santa Fe, near Saint Micheal’s Drive.

We know that saying anything is "the best" is polarising and tricky, so we want to know where you get out-of-this-world ribs too. Comment below with your favorites.