The only thing better than a New Mexico road trip is taking a food-themed New Mexico road trip! Enchiladas are one of the most popular dishes in New Mexico, so we decided to create a drive that unites some of the best enchiladas in NM so that you can enjoy them all in one journey.

This loop covers 525 miles and has a drive time of 9 hours and 10 minutes. That might sound long but (we assume) there is a limit to the number of enchiladas you can eat in one day, so it’s meant to span several days. You’ll find plenty of attractions, gorgeous landscapes, and – of course – delicious enchiladas on this trip through northwestern New Mexico. Here is the map. What are you waiting for?

Google Maps
1. Sadie’s of New Mexico (Albuquerque)
Facebook/Sadie's of New Mexico
6230 4th St NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, NM 87107, USA
Yelp/Jon M.
Sadie's is renowned for its enchiladas and has been for decades. Choose between stacked or rolled, yellow corn or blue corn tortillas. The carne adovada enchiladas available at dinner are sublime. There are several Sadie’s locations in Duke City. This route includes the one at 6230 4th Street NW in Albuquerque, but additional restaurants can be found at 15 Hotel Circle NE and 5400 Academy Road NE, both in Albuquerque.
2. Hot Tamales (Rio Rancho)
Facebook/Hot Tamales New Mexican Food
1520 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, USA
Yelp/Lourdes V.
Stick to traditional stacked enchiladas – add the fried egg – or branch out a little with the scrumptious green chile chicken enchilada casserole, which gets its kick from fire-roasted chile. This is probably one of the best places to eat in New Mexico. We think you'll be as obsessed as we are once you're done.
3. Abuelita’s (Bernalillo)
Yelp/Ricardo S.
621 S Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004, USA
Yelp/LA M.
In addition to being known for its "tacopilla," the folks at Abuelita’s dish up a mean enchilada. There’s a whole section of the dinner menu devoted to rolled enchiladas – order the Enchiladas Abuelita’s if you don’t want to commit to one filling. Vegetarians don’t have to stick to cheese here; enjoy calabacita enchiladas instead. Be sure to visit the official Abuelita's Facebook page for the most up-to-date hours and specials.
4. The Shed (Santa Fe)
Yelp/Paisley B.
113 1/2 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Yelp/Allie R.
The Shed has been around since 1953 and, while tourists already flock here, it’s for good reason. Tuck into one of several divine blue corn enchilada plates - you'll find ones tailored to both meat lovers and vegetarians. This Mexican restaurant in NM is housed inside a hacienda that dates back to 1692 and dining here is an experience that belongs on your bucket list.
5. El Paragua Restaurant (Espanola)
Facebook/El Paragua Restaurant
603 Santa Cruz Rd, Española, NM 87532, USA
Tripadvisor/Reasonable50
You don’t stay in business for 50 years without doing something – in this case a lot of things – right. El Paragua started out as a taco stand before evolving into this beautiful restaurant. The enchilada suprema (featuring chicken and cheese) is a superb dish, filled with bold flavors. Be sure to visit the official website before visiting to ensure they have re-opened (coming soon).
6. El Bruno’s Restaurante y Cantina (Cuba)
Yelp/Kevin Z.
6453 Main St #550, Cuba, NM 87013, USA
Tripadvisor/paso57
The enchiladas de Herrera are a family recipe that’s a definite winner but, if that doesn’t appeal, there’s no shortage of choices on the extensive enchilada menu. At this restaurant, enchiladas are stacked, and you can substitute blue corn tortillas for a small charge. These are easily a contender for the best enchiladas in New Mexico!
7. Tortillas Doña María (Farmington)
Yelp/Dale H.
930 San Juan Blvd suite i, Farmington, NM 87401, USA
Yelp/Chris K.
The world's best homemade tortillas at Tortillas Doña María’s take the restaurant’s green chile chicken enchiladas from good to superb. Seriously, this is one amazing New Mexican restaurant that you cannot pass up, no matter what.
8. Genaro’s Café (Gallup)
Yelp/Chris E.
600 W Hill Ave, Gallup, NM 87301, USA
Yelp/Daver P.
The chicken enchiladas at Genaro’s are authentic and succulent. It’s hard to decide whether the red or green sauce is better here, so go for Christmas colors and do both. Genaro’s is a bit of a diamond in the rough but you won’t regret giving this restaurant a chance.
9. Kiva Café (Milan)
Yelp/Hope B.
1500 Willow Dr, Milan, NM 87021, USA
Facebook/Kiva Cafe
Located within Chaco Canyon Travel Center, Kiva Café blows away any preconceived notions about road food. When it comes to the stacked enchilada plates, there are the usual choices. However, if you’re ready to mix things up, order the enchilada burger – literally a patty with an enchilada on top. Talk about a new take on a cheeseburger! Alternatively, try the steak and enchiladas. This unassuming New Mexico restaurant is a step well above the rest.
10. Monica’s El Portal Restaurant (Albuquerque)
Yelp/Matt H.
321 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA
Facebook/Monica's El Portal
Who’s in the mood for juicy chicken enchiladas buried under a mound of gooey cheese? Yeah, us too! This family-owned restaurant in New Mexico offers generous portions and a convenient Old Town location.

Where do you go when an enchilada craving hits?

We realize that this drive only covers one corner of the state, otherwise you’d be driving for weeks! However, these articles on scrumptious Mexican restaurants in NM and the best taco spots in New Mexico are more geographically comprehensive. You may also be interested in exploring New Mexico’s burrito byway.

Bring your appetite!

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More to Explore

Best Enchiladas

Leah | April 16, 2020

What are the best Mexican restaurants in New Mexico?

Many of the places on the Enchilada Trail are exceptionally good Mexican restaurants, but here are a few of the other stellar - and often considered the best - Mexican restaurants in New Mexico. Habanero Fresh Mex in Las Cruces will start your meal off with a delicious, complimentary welcome soup before you get to divulge on their impressively tasty and well-made menu. Their potato tacos are certainly worth a try, among many other options. Taqueria Mexico, located in Albuquerque, is easily missed as it's tiny and has an old-fashioned walk-up window. You don't want to pass this one by, however, as their food - especially seafood - is out of this world. The fish tacos and ceviche are amazing.

What food trails can I take in New Mexico?

If you liked this road trip, then you'll love these other food trails in New Mexico. If you're in the mood for tacos, try our New Mexico Taco Trail. The loop includes 10 top-notch taco joints and restaurants from Santa Fe to Roswell, Los Alamos, and many places in between. If sweets are more of your thing, we have a delicious New Mexico Chocolate Trail that is simply to die for. And what visit to the Land of Enchantment would be complete without a green chile trail? Yes, you can indeed go on a New Mexico Green Chile Trail through Mesilla and Las Cruces. The restaurants featured on the trail have green chile on everything from burgers to ice cream, or simply roasted as-is.

What are the best restaurants in New Mexico?

After trying all these places for the best Mexican food in New Mexico, you might also be interested in some other types of cuisine that these top-rated restaurants offer. The Bavarian in Taos serves hearty, tasty German food and other Old World meals that you'll love. Charlie's Spic & Span, also known as Charlie's Bakery & Cafe, is the Las Vegas, NM food destination you won't want to pass up. They have classic diner meals, freshly-made tortillas, and scrumptious baked goods. Hankering for a burger? Chef Toddzilla's Gourmet Burgers, located in Roswell, are massive and towering with toppings that'll definitely fill you up.

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