Such an underrated place, and so thankful to have grown up in a place with such a rich culture that’s also hours away from world class skiing and other thrills. Leaving New Mexico for Texas made me appreciate where I grew up, and that makes going back now so much fun. I’m sure others can relate, and maybe my fellow Burquenos will have something to say about my hot spot food choices.
Best breakfast in my humble opinion goes to Vic’s Daily Cafe, although I could eat there any time of day. The Vaqueros (pictured) is a plate with the classic eggs, hash browns, pinto beans, cheese, and then they throw a massive chicken fried steak over the top smothered with more cheese and your choice of chile. You could split it among four, but you won’t want to. Mannie’s, near the university, does tremendous New Mexican food plus fresh baked goods daily. Their meals come with plump, hot, and fresh biscuits. You can also take home cookies, breads, and other sweet treats to save for later that will rival any bakery in town. For lunch / dinner there are many options so you won’t go hungry, but a few New Mexican traditions stand out that deserve to be mentioned. One of my favorite uses of chile is to have a few juicy roasted strips right on my burger, and not many do it better than Blake’s Lotaburger – the hometown staple with locations in most Albuquerque neighborhoods (they also do a killer breakfast burrito). For a proper new Mexican sit down meal, El Patio takes the top spot. Everything from the salsa to the margarita, consistency and flavor of both the red and green chiles is always on point. I remember going to their location on Harvard near the university as a kid when it was essentially just a house with a patio, and now it’s my first stop whenever I come to town. Top notch for sure, and lastly I cannot leave out that I’ve never had a bad plate of enchiladas at Barela’s on 4th. President Obama made an appearance at this place, and for good reason. We do their takeout enchiladas for the holidays and they are crowd pleasers for sure.
First, activities in close proximity to Albuquerque that don’t involve extreme indulgence into cheesy meaty chile goodness: If you happen to be entering New Mexico from the south do yourself a favor and hit White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns. I did the two self guided tours at Carlsbad, and if I had more time and better shoes I would’ve done every one they offered. This is now on the coolest experiences of my life list near the top, and it’s embarrassing I only did this a couple months ago. White Sands was also a sweet escape, and I highly recommend watching the sun go down over the dunes.
After most meals you’re going to want to walk around, and strolling through the Bosque (bonus points for at sunset) is the perfect activity to soothe the belly after consuming enough to feed a family of four for a week. For the more aggressive La Luz Trail will take you to the summit of the Sandias, but the rest of the family has the option to ride the scenic tram which I highly recommend regardless of the hike.
There will have to be more for the Land of Enchantment as I didn’t even touch on the Balloon Fiesta or Santa Fe’s vibrant culture.
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