Posted in New Mexico Food & Dining, Unique Dining July 02, 2022 by

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 restaurants in New Mexico which offer entertainment, unusual food, or an unexpected atmosphere. You definitely won’t be bored!

1. The Love Apple, Taos
Yelp/George I.
Ekaterina Abramova/Google
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 a caramelized onion and apple quesadilla. But what really makes this place unique is the building which used to be a church. The restaurant is inside the old Placitas Chapel that dates all the way back to the 1800s. The Love Apple is one of the best places for unique dining in New Mexico!
803 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571, USA
2. El Pinto Restaurant and Cantina, Albuquerque
Yelp/Damaris C.
Yelp/El Pinto
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 unique restaurants in New Mexico.
10500 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, USA
3. La Cantina at La Casa Sena, Santa Fe
Yelp/Bill F.
Yelp/Luke M.
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 best restaurants in New Mexico.
125 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
4. Vernon’s Speakeasy, Los Ranchos
Yelp/My D.
Yelp/Vernon’s Speakeasy
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 unique dining in New Mexico.
6855 4th St NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, NM 87107, USA
5. Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House, Pinos Altos
Yelp/Jeanine D.
Yelp/David S.
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 best restaurants in New Mexico.
32 Main St, Pinos Altos, NM 88053, USA
6. Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ & Espresso, Hatch
Yelp/Tim S.
Yelp/Renata H.
Yelp/Tazeen A.
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.
115 Franklin St, Hatch, NM 87937, USA
7. La Posta de Mesilla, Mesilla
Yelp/ M S.
Yelp/Larry P.
2410 Calle De San Albino, Las Cruces, NM 88005, USA
Yelp/Teresa T.
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 restaurants in New Mexico and is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
2410 Calle De San Albino, Las Cruces, NM 88005, USA
8. Indian Pueblo Kitchen, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
Jane Kathleen/Google
Marleine Milford/Google
Yelp/Pueblo Harvest Café
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.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA

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

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Restaurants In New Mexico

July 07, 2022
Melissa M.

What food is New Mexico best known for?

If you’ve never tried New Mexican cuisine, you are missing out! Many of the state’s food is made with spices, red and green chilis, or piñons for unique flavors that are hard to find elsewhere. Made with meat, onion, potato, tomato, broth, green chilis, and a mix of seasoning, green chili stew is a signature dish around the Land of Enchantment. Frito pie is a favorite local dish that was invented in Santa Fe in the 1960s. Made with corn chips that are topped with red chili and cheddar cheese, it’s normally served right in the open Frito’s chip bag. For dessert, sopapilla is a delicious fried dough that’s normally served with honey, Delicious!

What are some of the best restaurants for New Mexican cuisine in New Mexico?

If you’re in search of some of the best New Mexican restaurants in the state, we have a few suggestions for you. The first spot is Cafe Pasqual’s. This Santa Fe-based eatery has been a local favorite since 1979. With red and green chili-smothered burritos, golden masa corn cakes, and mole enchiladas, this will become one of your favorite spots in town. With several locations and accolades such as the “#1 Best Green Chili” and “#1 Best Margarita,” Sadie’s of New Mexico is a popular local chain. You’ll find plenty of traditional New Mexican dishes on the menu from Carne adovada to tamales. It’s one place that can’t be missed!

What are the best themed restaurants in New Mexico?

While there are plenty of run-of-the-mill restaurants around the state, why not try one that has a theme for something different? Along Historic Route 66 in New Mexico, we suggest a stop at the Route 66 Railway Cafe. This train-themed roadside eatery offers homemade cuisine and an atmosphere that will delight any guest. Located in Albuquerque, The Kosmos has a space theme that's reflected in the artistic decor and a few of the food items. Try the Kosmic or the Meat-E-Or Burger here!