  | AlbuquerqueSoo Bak Food Truck’s tag line reads: “Korean Seoul Food”—an apt description of the innovative fusion of traditional Korean and New Mexican cuisine apparent in their dishes. You can get adventurous with the Korean chile cheese fries, or stick with classic, and deliciously light kimchi and rice. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be pleased with the fresh mandu (veggie dumplings) or doeji bulgogi (spicy pork tacos). (Alibi Staff, July 18, 2013) Albuquerque - DowntownAsian Noodle BarMon-Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri&Sat: 11am-11pm
Closed Sunday (hours can change without notice)
This is the spot for a satisfying pre- or post-movie bowl of noodles, with a menu that stretches across the Asian continent. Think pho and pad Thai with a side of Japanese cold sesame noodles. The warming Thai soup is restorative on chilly days. Inside, it’s clean, classy and calm, and open until 11pm on the weekends. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Cafe Bienclosed Sunday & MondayTues-Fri 8-4Sat 9-2 (hours can change without notice)
Gold Street CaffèMon 7 am-4 pm.
Tue-Sat 7 am-9 pm
Sun 7 am-4 pm (hours can change without notice)
Gold Street was cool before Downtown was cool, but now that Downtown is cool, Gold Street is even cooler. Open for breakfast and lunch (and now dinner service on the weekends!), this charming café has pet-friendly sidewalk seating and serves up a menu of homey breakfast favorites like waffles and sophisticated lunches. It shouldn’t surprise you that the place with the Best Bacon in our restaurant poll also makes a memorable BLT. If you’re really lucky, they’ll have freshly baked cupcakes or a slice of flourless chocolate cake waiting for dessert. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  LuciaBreakfast: Mon-Sat: 6:30am-10:30am
Brunch:
Sun: 10am-2pm
Lunch:
Mon-Sat: 11am-2:00pm Dinner:
Mon-Sun: 4:30-10pm (hours can change without notice) Full review: My, how I do like them oysters (1/21/2010)
Downtown's Hotel Andaluz and its restaurant, Lucia, seem like they were designed to make you feel cool. The dining room is dimly lit by low-volt lamps hanging from paper ceilings and the occasional flash of fire from the open kitchen. Mediterranean fusion fine-dining begins with grilled artichokes smothered in saffron butter and capers, or heavenly grilled oysters with smoked chile-chive-oil mojo (a kind of Caribbean mayo) and pancetta on pea greens. Once you’re fully rested after a night of cocktails and herb-crusted rack of lamb, come back in the morning for fluffy, toothsome lemon-ricotta pancakes and organic breakfast burritos. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  Pasion Latin FusionMon-Fri: 11am-2:30pm
Sat: 9am-2pm
Closed Sunday (hours can change without notice) Cuisine: Latin American, Cuban, Fusion, Caribbean/Cuban, Marsicos/Mexican Seafood, Mexican, South American, Spanish Salsa night/ Live Music: - Read more: Locovore: Pasión is a green-chile-infused tour of Latin America (2/16/2012)
Elvis is in the house—Chef Elvis Bencomo, that is. With co-owners Monica (Elvis’ wife) and Orlando (his brother), Pasión Latin Fusion serves up dishes found throughout Latin America with Elvis’ own creative flair. Monica runs the front of the house and her gracious, lively style makes you feel right at home. To eat, there are fish tacos crusted in banana, garnished with pickled onions, avocado and sauce. The succulent carnitas tacos and George’s pescado à la Veracruzana are spectacular. The “croque señorita” is Elvis’ version of a croque-madame—a seared pork chop, fried egg and Swiss cheese served over tacu tacu (Peruvian rice and beans, similar to Cuba's moros y cristianos) with a huacatay (Peruvian mint) cream sauce. (Alibi Staff, September 1, 2011) Albuquerque - FairgroundsFareast FuzionMon-Th: 11-9 pm
Fri: 11 am-10 pm
Sat: noon-10 pm
Sun: noon-9 pm (hours can change without notice)
You may remember Bangkok Asian Fusion, which used to occupy this place. Now there’s a grand, shiny new sushi bar, with a huge fish tank behind it that lays out generous portions of great sushi. (Sadly, the
tom yum
ain’t what it used to be.) A plate of sashimi, densely and artfully arranged, turns the table into a school of piranhas. Each variety of fish is carefully garnished with complementary flavors, with the squid tossed in wasabi tobiko being particularly memorable. The sushi salad has so many chunks of raw fish among the greens that you can’t stick your chopsticks in without getting any. (Alibi Staff, September 1, 2011) Albuquerque - Far Northeast HeightsGecko’s Bar and TapasMon-Fri 11:30-2 am
Sat-Sun noon-2 am (hours can change without notice) $ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Live Music • Karaoke • Outdoor Patio • Dog-Friendly
Gecko’s has expanded with a popular Northeast Heights location—housed in a building that looks like a jukebox, for some reason. Even though it’s clear across town, you’ll still probably bump into folks you know as you’re sipping a wicked Bloody Mary and enjoying tidbits from the affordably priced tapas menu. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - I-25 Corridor Torinos' @ HomeTue- Sat: 11 am- 9 pm (hours can change without notice) Read more: Locovore: A flawless meal @ Torinos’ @ Home (8/18/2011)
Torinos’ is owned by Maxime and Daniela Bouneou (a husband-and-wife team from Nice, France, and Torino, Italy, respectively), and their Northern Italian restaurant is the next best thing to a plane ticket to Occitania’s northeast corner. Everything is made from scratch, and ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. The
pappardelle all’Amatriciana
— fresh, house-made wide linguine tossed in a light tomato sauce with pecorino
,
chile, olives and
guanciale
bacon
—
is a glorious bowl of pasta. In the guilty pleasures department, the foie gras would satisfy the itch of the most jaded addicts. Don’t pass up the
spezzatino,
a slowly braised beef brisket served with seared polenta cubes. There’s also half-melted mallard duck confit served with cranberry rhubarb compote. Drop in for à la carte breakfast and lunch, or book a table for dinner service—a $36, six-course set menu. Vegetarians and other food restrictions can be accommodated, Maxime says, but it’s best if they call ahead. “Then we can make something special.” (Alibi Staff, February 2, 2011) Albuquerque - Nob Hill Fan TangSun-Thu:11am-9 pm
Fri-Sat:11am-10 pm
Sun: noon-9 pm (hours can change without notice) Read more: Mina's Dish: Chow’s dynasty takes root in Nob Hill (8/18/2011)
The historic building at the corner of Central and Carlisle yields a spacious dining room with booths, tables, free Wi-Fi and dog-friendly patios. Inside, the Zeng family (Chow’s) have retained their focus on quality ingredients and many traditional family recipes, but with a twist: The menu is aimed at folks who want a fast meal in a comfortable atmosphere. Prices are moderate. Meals are ordered at the cashier, then delivered to the tables within minutes. Dishes are generously portioned for individuals rather than family-style. The menu draws freely from many Asian cultures with the emphasis on Chinese. Try the coconut curry or coffee chicken. (Alibi Staff, September 1, 2011) Gecko’s Bar and TapasMon-Fri 11:30-2 am
Sat-Sun noon-2 am (hours can change without notice) $ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • NM Beer • Karaoke • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly
Gecko’s has a killer patio in a corner of Nob Hill that’s perfect for people-watching. Set directly between La Montañita Co-op and Scalo, you’ll be sure to bump into folks you know as you’re sipping a cocktail and enjoying tidbits from the affordably priced tapas menu. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) StreetFood AsiaSunday - Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday - Saturday 11am-11pm (hours can change without notice)
On the streets of Asia, vendors often specialize in one dish handed down through generations, preparing quick meals for passersby like hot noodle bowls, exotic sandwiches and spicy skewered satays. It’s a hotbed of cultural diversity including Vietnamese pho, Korean noodles, Japanese udon, and Malay and Chinese stir-fry. StreetFood Asia's menu offers a dizzying array of sauces, toppings, garnishes, meats, seafood, and vegetables in dinner portions or small plates in the heart of Nob Hill. Exotic bar drinks and an long list of excellent sakes adds sparkle to your meal. (Alibi Staff, July 12, 2011) Albuquerque - North ValleyFarm & TableDinner hours:
Wed-Thu 5pm-9pm
Fri-Sat 5pm-10 pm
Brunch hours:
Sat- Sun 9am-2 pm (hours can change without notice)
After a long winter of teasing us via its Facebook page, Farm & Table finally opened on Fourth Street between Paseo and Alameda. The setting is gorgeous, inside and out (the spacious courtyard overlooks 10 acres of farm field). The local and organic ingredients are meticulously sourced, and the food is reasonably priced for what you get. As mind-expanding as the pork pork belly is, Chef Ravey’s seafood is on another level entirely, as one might expect from a talented Hawaiian chef. (Alibi Staff, May 3, 2012) Albuquerque - Old Town Vinaigrette11 am-9pm every day (hours can change without notice) Full review: Vinaigrette knows how to dress a salad (2/7/2013)
A restaurant that focuses mostly on salads may be a hard sell for meat-happy Burqueños, but make no mistake: Vinaigrette does salad right. From gourmet options that feature duck and arugula to more delicate fare with pomegranate seeds and shoestring yams, Vinaigrette presents a world of salads you may not have known existed. And much of their menu is locally grown at their fields in Nambe, too. (Alibi Staff, April 25, 2013) Albuquerque - Southeast Talin Market World Food FareMon-Sat: 8:30am-8pm
Sun: 9am-7pm (hours can change without notice) Read more: Mina's Dish: Slurping up Talin’s ramen noodle bar (1/27/2011)
Talin is the grandmother of all ethnic grocery stores in Albuquerque. Though the store once stocked exclusively Asian ingredients, the merchandise is expansively global, with Caribbean, Indian, Latin American and Middle Eastern ingredients alongside the Japanese snacks, Korean condiments, Vietnamese noodles and Thai sticky rice. The freezer section and produce departments are unbeatable for the breadth and depth of unfamiliar ingredients, so set aside at least an hour for your first trip. There’s also a large, tempting prepared foods area and a maze of house wares, gifts and wine.The Talin Ramen Bar has expanded to include a new menu with select entrees and deli dishes. No more paper plates for eat-in dining. A can’t-miss food experience in Albuquerque. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - Uptown CoolWater Fusion RestaurantMonday-Saturday lunch: 11am-2pm
Monday-Thursday dinner: 4:30-8pm
Friday-Saturday dinner: 4:30-9pm
Monday-Saturday Happy Hour: 4-6pm
Sunday brunch: 10am-2pm (hours can change without notice) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Wine Bar • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet Read more: Mina's Dish: A first taste of Cool Water Fusion Restaurant (8/12/2010)
Proprietor/Chef Glenn Williams, formerly of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s Pueblo Harvest Café and Bakery, uses sustainable planning from the tablecloths (no throwaway paper) to the local produce. Shopping daily keeps waste to a minimum and ingredients are fresh. The menu's big flavors are expressed through braises, sauces, salsas and garnishes from the world over. Don’t be surprised to find a roasted corn salsa sharing the plate with beurre blanc or a boneless Idaho rainbow trout stuffed with crab and wrapped in bacon. But be warned: While the menu may sound familiar, the chef plays fast and loose with his interpretation of some dishes such as the Osso buco made with turkey and garnished with chimichurri. The menu is a work in progress as new ingredients and new ideas emerge. Recent decor incorporates an artistic interpretation of a running stream on the floor where there used to be a row of booths, a spacious arrangement that allows for larger parties at table seating. (Alibi Staff, September 3, 2010) AlbuquerqueCreatively Southern accurately describes Amy Black's superb menu. The ever-changing line-up features such triumphs as wild-caught shrimp over creamy goat cheese grits (stone ground in SC), a variety of po’ boys, and the Breaking Bad inspired Los Pollos Hermanos fried chicken. (Alibi Staff, October 29, 2012) | 
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