Feature
 Oct 7 - 13, 2010 
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Best of Burque Restaurants 2010

Around the World

Ethnic cuisines

Best Indian: Taj Mahal
Eric Williams ericwphoto.com
Best Indian: Taj Mahal

Best Greek

Olympia Café

2210 Central SE • 266-5222
olympiacafeabq.com
Savory Greek delights from gyros to full platters of lamb, chicken and more keep this university hot spot elbow-to-elbow. Don't forget the baklava! (MY)
2) Yanni's Mediterranean Grill and Opa Bar
3) Mykonos Café & Taverna

Best Italian

Tie: Scalo Northern Italian Grill, Trombino's Bistro Italiano

Scalo Northern Italian Grill
3500 Central SE • 255-8781
scalonobhill.com

Trombino's Bistro Italiano
Northeast Heights: 5414 Academy NE • 821-5974
bistroitaliano.com
Good thing they aren't next door to each other, because we'd have a good, old-fashioned vendetta (Italian for “blood feud”) on our hands. How else to resolve this tasty dilemma? With fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas, hearty steaks, seafood and veal on both menus, it's simply a matter of geography. In the Heights, Trombino's trumps. In Nob Hill, Scalo scores. (DO'L)
2) Vivace
3) Mario's Pizzeria and Ristaronte

Best Middle Eastern

Pars Cuisine

4320 The 25! Way, Suite 100 • 345-5156
parscuisine.us
Try the ground beef kabobs at Pars. Even if you're a vegetarian. They'll change the way you see things. (JB)
2) Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery
3) Café Istanbul

Best French

Brasserie La Provence

3001 Central NE • 254-7644
laprovencenobhill.com
Brasserie chefs add panache to the very best of classic bistro cuisine from crêpes to daily specials. The moules frites with Parmesan truffle fries will never disappoint. (MY)
2) Chez Axel
3) La Crêpe Michel

Best Vietnamese

Viet Taste

5721 Menaul NE • 888-0101
The globe trotters we know say Viet Taste has the best pho in the city—and with so many top-notch Vietnamese restaurants in Albuquerque, that's a mighty big bowl of praise. (LM)
2) Tie: May Café, 2000 Vietnam
3) Pho #1 Vietnamese

Best Thai

Orchid Thai Cuisine

4300 Central SE • 265-4047
orchidthaicuisine.com
Dishes of fresh, authentic fare have made Orchid Thai an East Nob Hill staple for years. Touches such as the murals on the walls and the flickering fake-fire lamps, plus the orchids that come with most every plate, make this a great date spot, too. (MD)
2) Siam Café
3) Bangkok Asian Fusion

Best Chinese

Chow's Asian Bistro

10000 Coors NW • 899-6889
mychows.com
A perennial favorite for its classy digs and elegant take on traditional Chinese-American dishes, Chow's makes our readers wanna chow down on some chow fun. (DO'L)
2) Budai Gourmet Chinese
3) Chen's Chinese Food Restaurant

Best Indian

Taj Mahal

1430 Carlisle NE • 255-1994
tajmahalcuisineofindia.com
The lunch buffet overflows with a daily variety of Indian cuisine. Then, for a memorable dinner, try the masterful tandoor-grilled fish. (MY)
2) India Palace
3) India Kitchen

Best Korean

Korean BBQ House

3200 Central SE • 338-2424
koreanbbqhousenm.com
Get an authentic, spicy bugolgi box with a side of kimchi, and afterward treat yourself to some of that sweet rice wine next door at the conjoined Sushi and Sake. (AF)
2) Fu Yuang
3) Yen Ching

Best Japanese

Japanese Kitchen

6521 Americas Pkwy • 884-8937
japanesekitchen.com
Like a 600-pound sumo wrestler, Japanese Kitchen dominates this category every year. It’s spent decades perfecting fresh fish and teppanyaki delicacies, and the cocktails alone will take you half way to Yokohama. (LM)
2) Azuma Sushi and Teppan
3) Shogun Sushi

Best Mexican

El Norteño

1431 Wyoming NE • 299-2882
elnorteno.com
Is it the salsas (traditional mole, tomatillo, habanero, chile de arbol—of which El Norteño is justifiably proud) or is it the heaping helpings of carne asada, flautas de res, tinga de pollo, cochinita pibil and huachinango a la Veracruzana that keeps 'em coming back for more? All of the above, say our readers! (DO'L)
2) Taquería Mexico
3) Los Equipales

Most Wanted Ethnic Cuisine That's Not in Albuquerque

Ethiopian

Responses ran the gamut from "Ethiopian?" to "Ethiopian!" to "Ethiopian!!" to "Ethiopian!!!" Those people didn't know about Damara Fresh Ethiopian, with its catering and dinner service at Winning Coffee some Saturdays. Consult freshethiopian.com for availability. (LM)
2) Jewish delicatessen
3) Russian
Results reported by John Bear (JB), Christie Chisholm (CC), Marisa Demarco (MD), Adam Fox (AF), Ari LeVaux (ALV), Laura Marrich (LM), Devin O’Leary (DO’L), Mina Yamashita (MY)
Public Comments (2)
 
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