Travel

5 Must-Visit Restaurants in Albuquerque

by Katelynn Kellogg

Eating out at restaurants can become expensive rather quickly if you’re traveling long-term, which is why I chose to eat out selectively at some of the most popular and diverse restaurants in Albuquerque.

When it comes to dining, I can’t say that I was truly blown away by the selection of fantastic places to visit, but I also wasn’t disappointed at any restaurant I decided to visit either. Below is my list of must-visit restaurants in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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1. Route 66 Diner: A Retro Trip Back in Time

One of the most visited restaurants in Albuquerque, NM, allows you to step into the past – The Route 66 Diner. This vintage eatery is brimming with 1950s charm. Located along Albuquerque’s famous stretch of historic Route 66, this diner is a nostalgic tribute to America’s golden era of road trips.

Visiting this diner is more than going out to eat, it’s a whole experience. You can take your photo by the road sign wall outside of the diner, peruse the options in the Jukebox, and spend your whole breakfast looking at all the memorabilia around the restaurant.

The Pez collection and Elvis collection had me entertained!

I visited for brunch and ordered a breakfast bowl with eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and of course, green chiles. It was a bit too spicy for me (okay, a lot too spicy) and I ended up picking out a lot of the chiles, so feel free to order those on the side if you’re not used to spicy food!

I highly advise visiting during the day and night if you have the time to fit it into your schedule. Seeing Route 66 all lit up with neon lights inside and out is something you don’t see every day!

One of the most photographed walls in Albuquerque, NM, the road sign wall at Route 66 Diner.
One of the best restaurants in Albuquerque, NM - Route 66 Diner. Image is of the exterior of the building showing an almost all white building with blue and pink rope lights around the top and a big Route 66 neon light on top.
Turquoise bar stools at the route 66 diner. Pink lighting hangs above the bar and black and white checked tiles line the walls.

2. Frontier Restaurant: A Local Legend

No visit to Albuquerque is complete without a stop at the iconic Frontier Restaurant (or so I was told!) Frontier has been open since 1971 and has earned its reputation as a beloved institution in the city and a must-visit restaurant in Albuquerque.

Once inside, Frontier was a bit of a surprise. It was much larger than I realized from the outside and there was all kinds of seating available.

What impressed me more than anything was the speed of service. There are about 10 cashiers ready to take orders and they each have a light above their station (just like at regular stores) to indicate which ones are ready for the next customer. The line was so fast that I didn’t even have time to review the menu before I was called up to the counter and made a rushed decision.

Personally, I think the food was average, and there was nothing to write home about, but the place itself was worth a visit. Take the time to read about the history of the location and venture all the way to the back to get the whole experience. The tortillas were made to order and you can’t beat that. 5/5 stars on tortillas.

The sign to Frontier Restaurant showing a cowboy with his hat in one hand and a ranching rope in the other about the Frontier Restaurant text.
Exterior of Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM. The building is white with red lines and a red sign making it sort of look like a barn with a yellow roof.
Breakfast at one of the best restaurants in Albuquerque, NM - Frontier Restaurant. Breakfast is Scrambled eggs topped shredded cheddar cheese with beans and green chiles on the side. Another plate has a freshly made tortilla.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Parking can be stressful. Frontier is located off a busy road with minimal parking options. There are parking lots behind the building that are confusing to navigate because they are shared with other restaurants and some are labeled with 45-minute parking only and then there are also premium parking options which cost a fortune. I drove around too long, got a little frustrated if I’m being honest, and finally found a spot farther away and walked.

The image below shows where I parked (for free!) and the walk took me about 4 minutes. Once I arrived, I was satisfied with the ease of the walk and securing free parking.

Google maps screenshot showing where I parked (on Silver Ave.) and the route I took to Frontier Restaurant (walked 4 minutes up Cornell Dr. SE).
Where I parked and walked to Frontier.

3. Green Jeans Food Hall: Eclectic Eats for Everyone

This was a local recommendation; it didn’t originally show up on Google when I was looking for restaurants in Albuquerque, but I’m glad I took the recommendation! Green Jeans Food Hall is a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, entertainment, and dining options. It’s made out of shipping containers and has a very welcoming atmosphere.

I visited alone, but Green Jeans is a great place for a date or a group of friends. There was a space for cornhole, a large fireplace to sit around, gift shops, and an arcade. Bonus, it’s dog-friendly!

There was a good variety of food options as well. I chose to eat at Fusion Taco, but there were burgers, tacos, wood-fired pizza, pho, and more.

One of the best restaurants in Albuquerque, NM - Green Jeans! It's actually a whole food court made out of containers with multiple restaurants so it's even better.
I chose to eat at Fusion Tacos within the Green Jeans food court and I ordered an asada bowl, shown in the image that comes with meat, lettuce, beans, rice, pico, and avocado.

Check Green Jeans out on Instagram @Greenjeansfoodhall

4. The SawMill Market: Albuquerque’s Culinary Playground

If you’re looking for a trendy spot to explore, The SawMill Market should be at the top of your list. This vibrant urban market combines food, drinks, and shopping under one roof, creating a dynamic atmosphere for all ages. It was my personal favorite spot for lunch and dinner. I even visited twice!

It’s a typical food hall, but with more options than I’ve seen anywhere else! I’d say it’s comparable to the Lexington Market in Baltimore or the Anaheim Packing District if you’ve ever visited either of those (if you haven’t, you should!)

During my first visit, I had a delicious lamb gyro from Meso Grill and a beer flight from Paxton’s Taproom. On my second visit, I had a BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich from Dr. Field Goods and was very satisfied. You’ll find everything here from candy, ice cream, sushi, pizza, burgers, tacos, potato bars, poke, and so much more.

I loved the atmosphere of the place too. It’s huge, well decorated, and busy inside while offering a large outdoor wrap-around patio and backyard space complete with a stage for events, yard games, and multiple different seating options. I could easily spend hours here with friends, on a date, or in a large group.

When I say there is something for everyone, I stand by that!

One of the best places to go get food in Albuquerque, NM. This food hall has restaurants of all kinds so there is something for everyone. Image shows entrance to food hall.
Dessert waffle with ice cream on top and a breakfast waffle with fried chicken on top displayed side by side at a waffle restaurant inside the SawMill Market
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich from Dr. Field Goods.

Check the Sawmill Market out on Instagram @sawmillmarketabq

5. Flying Star Cafe: Comfort Food with a Local Touch

This place was a sweet, sweet surprise. I was staying in an Airbnb close to the Rio Grande Blvd NW location and it was really the only breakfast place around that wasn’t fast food so I went there simply because of convenience.

The second I walked in the door I was so happy to be there. Flying Star Cafe is welcoming, cozy, and has a very laid-back vibe. There are multiple seating options and it would be a great place to sit down, grab some food and coffee and work remotely. There’s a lot of natural light filling the restaurant and the staff were welcoming and attentive.

When you walk in and go up to the counter to order, the first thing you see is a beautiful display case of desserts. I’m not typically a dessert person, but the frosted pumpkin cookie was calling my name. They have pie, cake, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and so much more.

The food was also incredible. I ordered a two egg, two toast, bacon, and potato breakfast plate and it was delicious. The jam for my toast was a 10/10 too.

I stayed a little over an hour enjoying my meal and reading my kindle.

There is a beautifully decorated outdoor patio space as part of this restaurant and the patio is dog-friendly. If you’d like to bring your dog, there is an exterior patio entrance. Just find yourself a seat and staff will come to you to take your order. No dogs inside the building.

There are multiple Flying Star Cafe restaurants in Albuquerque, but I loved the one I visited. If this was back home (in Texas), I’d be a regular here! Apparently this is a chain restaurant I’d just never heard of.

One of the best breakfast restaurants in Albuquerque, NM is Flying Star Cafe! Image shows my plate with 2 pieces of wheat toast, two eggs, potato wedges, bacon slices, jam, and an iced pumpkin cookie on the side.
Flying Star Cafe, one of Albuquerque, NM best restaurants. Image shows outdoor patio seating with many seating options.
Dessert counter at Flying Star Cafe in Albuquerque, NM

Check the Flying Star Cafe out on Instagram @FlyingStarCafe

Plan Your Albuquerque Food Adventure

Although Albuquerque, NM isn’t really known as a culinary hotspot, I didn’t leave disappointed. I tried the red and green chiles. I ordered my food “Christmas”, and I did my best not to let the heat make me cry (I have no tolerance for hot/spicy foods). I enjoyed my visit to each of the above five restaurants in Albuquerque and I’d happily revisit each of them as well.

I’ve written quite a few posts about my trip to Albuquerque, NM. If you’re visiting soon or would just like to know more about it, check out some of the other posts below!