Fusion Restaurants in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Albuquerque - Downtown
Asian Noodle Bar
Mon-Thurs: 11am-9:30pm
Fri: 11am-11pm
Sat: noon- 11pm
Closed Sun (hours can change without notice)
This is the spot for satisfying pre- or post-movie cravings with a menu that traverses the Asian continent. Think pho and pad Thai with a side of Japanese cold sesame noodles. The warming Thai soup is especially restorative. Inside, it’s clean, classy and calm and open until 11pm on weekends.
Full review: Ambiguous Asian restaurant delivers deliciousness ()
 | | |  | | 2.9 rating (49 votes) |
The Feel Good
Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm (hours can change without notice)
The Feel Good shares a lineage of family recipes, palates and tastes. Passed down through the decades, this cultural DNA is very much alive here for luncheon or supper and continues to thrive. Efforts to preserve and nurture permeate the food—mostly soups, sandwiches and tartines—and culture and will leave you feeling, well, good.
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Albuquerque - Fairgrounds
Fareast Fuzion
Mon-Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri: 11am-10pm
Sat: noon-10pm
Sun: noon-8pm (hours can change without notice)
You may remember Bangkok Asian Fusion, which used to occupy this place. Now there’s a grand, shiny sushi bar with a huge fish tank behind it that lays out generous portions of great sushi. 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 seafood salad has so many chunks of raw fish among the greens that you can’t stick your chopsticks in without getting any.
Full review: Fresh food—and a lot of it—at Fareast Fuzion ()
| | | | | 4.18 rating (17 votes) |
Albuquerque - Far Northeast Heights
Gecko’s Bar & Tapas
Sun-Thrs: 11am-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am- midnight
Bar hours: Mon-Sun: 11am- midnight (hours can change without notice)
$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Wine • Live Music • Karaoke • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly
Gecko’s expanded with a popular Northeast Heights location that’s housed in a building that looks like a jukebox, for some reason. Even though it’s clear across town, you’ll still probably bump into folks you know as you’re sipping a wicked Bloody Mary and enjoying tidbits from the affordably priced tapas menu.
| | | | | 3.11 rating (79 votes) |
Savoy Wine Bar & Grill
Dinner: Daily from 5pm
The Lounge: Daily from 3pm
Happy Hour: Daily 3-6pm (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Fine Dining, American, Bar, Dessert, Fusion, Organic/Locally Grown, Seafood, Steakhouse, Vegetarian, Wine Bar
$$$ • Vegetarian Available • Gluten-free available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • Wine • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Live Music • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet
Wine flights are the best way to try different selections without going broke, and Savoy has some interesting choices. They pair perfectly with the restaurant’s stunning interiors and lovely New American dishes—stovetop clam bake, grilled peach salad and the house charcuterie plate. For dessert, there’s praline-chocolate torte, house-made blackberry-Chambord ice cream, cheese plates and, of course, a glass of La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti.
Full review: Grape harmony ()
Read more: Patio and Happy Hour Guide (6/8/2017)
| | | | | 3.17 rating (84 votes) |
Albuquerque - Food Truck
Kamikaze
For a unique take on Asian/Southwestern fusion food, look no further than the Kamikaze food truck. This new truck on the block makes dishes like fortune cookie fried chicken and rice and eggroll-aritos (yeah, it’s exactly what it sounds like). Most dishes come with green chile fried rice. After only being open for two months, Kamikaze won ABQ Beer Week’s Food Truck Battle—pretty impressive.
| | | | | 5 rating (1 vote) |
Kitsune Food Truck
Mon-Wed Closed
Thu-Sat 3pm-10pm
Sun 12pm-6pm (hours can change without notice)
The creations of the resident food truck of Dialogue Brewing aren’t just tasty, they’re beautiful. Though the tacos are relatively small, we highly recommend the karaage tacos—the kitsune slaw is life itself. (The size of the portions don’t matter as long as you add a side of Thai fries.)
| | | | | 3 rating (2 votes) |
Soo Bak Food Truck
Soo Bak Food Truck’s tagline is “Korean Seoul Food”—an apt description of the innovative fusion of traditional Korean and New Mexican cuisine apparent in the dishes. Get adventurous with the Korean chile cheese fries or stick with classic and deliciously light kimchi and rice. Vegetarians and carnivores alike will be pleased with the fresh mandu (veggie dumplings) or daeji bulgogi (spicy pork) tacos.
| | | | | 4 rating (28 votes) |
Street Food Institute
The Street Food Institute is way more than just a food truck. It’s a non-profit program that fosters young chefs and entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources, education and hands-on training that they need to start their own culinary businesses. A part of that hands-on training involves crafting menus and cooking up food in the SFI truck, which stops at Marble Downtown most Wednesday evenings. Check them out on Instagram (@streetfoodinstitute) to see what their menu of the day is and where they’ll be parked tonight.
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The Supper Truck
Parking at a brewery near you, The Supper Truck serves up a variety of cuisines and fusion dishes—shrimp and grits, tofu banh mi, bbq beef tacos and vietnamese beef burritos. If you’re missing some Southern classics, go for the chicken and waffles or black eyed peas. They’ll be parked out at Isleta Amphitheater for many of their concerts this summer, and can usually be found at Tasty Tuesdays in Hyder Park as well.
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Umami Moto
For example, the Korean Burrito ($9). With bulgogi beef and a house-made kimchi fried rice making up the heft of the burrito, you also have Napa cabbage, carrots and pickled Daikon. To finish it all off, there’s a Korean queso inside. First off, this burrito is big, even by New Mexico standards. It was large enough to make me curse when I first saw it, knowing the state that my appetite was currently in. The rich flavor of the bulgogi beef is the first thing you notice, with the taste of that long marinated beef blossoming on the tongue. That’s closely followed by the sourness of the daikon that turns back to sweetness as your taste buds adjust to the profile, with the final kick of cheesy heat coming from the Korean queso. There’s so much to process and every bite is an exciting trip through these segments of taste, meshed together to create something deeply lovable and excessively filling.
Full review: Umami Moto finds new home in New Mexico ()
Alibi recommends: The yellow curry.
Vibe: Modern food truck with Asian street food flair
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Albuquerque - Nob Hill
Duke City Kitchen
Tue-Sat: 7am-2pm
Sun: 8am-1pm, breakfast only (hours can change without notice)
This burger came out dripping with jam, a knife rising out of the top. I felt like I was watching an Ides of March reenactment from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar). I boldly jumped in and was instantly floored by how phenomenal the flavor combination was. Beyond all reason, this was one of the best burgers I’ve ever tried. Maybe it was the fact that it meshes nostalgic childhood tastes with the New Mexican comfort food of green chile and cheese, all held together with this juicy beef that fills your mouth with every bite. Maybe it was the fact that I’ve never experienced all these flavors working in tandem, and my body reacted happily to something new and different. Or maybe it was just because this is one hell of a hamburger, and risks deserve to be rewarded. All I can tell you is that your biggest disservice to yourself in life is not giving this a shot at least once, because I have finally found love after 30 years of life on Earth, and it’s with this insane burger.
Full review: Duke City Kitchen rules AM roost ()
Alibi recommends: The Betty, The Betty and The Betty
Vibe: Chillaxed breakfast and lunch joint
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Fan Tang
Mon-Thu:11am-9pm
Fri-Sat:11am-10pm
Sun: noon-9pm (hours can change without notice)
$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Craft Beer • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly
The historic building at the corner of Central and Carlisle yields a spacious dining room with booths, tables, free Wi-Fi and dog-friendly patios. Inside, the Zeng family (Chow’s) have retained their focus on quality ingredients and many traditional family recipes, but with a twist: The menu is aimed at folks who want a fast meal in a comfortable atmosphere. Prices are moderate. Meals are ordered at the cashier, then delivered to the table within minutes. Dishes are generously portioned for individuals rather than family-style. The menu draws freely from many Asian cultures with emphasis on Chinese. Try the Mongolian noodles or coffee chicken.
Read more: Mina's Dish: Chow’s dynasty takes root in Nob Hill (8/18/2011)
| | | | | 3.72 rating (45 votes) |
Gecko’s Bar & Tapas
Mon-Fri: 11:30-2am
Sat-Sun: noon-2am (hours can change without notice)
$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • Wine • Catering • Karaoke • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly
Gecko’s killer patio sits on a Nob Hill corner that’s simply perfect for people-watching. Set directly between La Montañita Co-op and Scalo, you’re sure to bump into folks you know as you sip a cocktail and enjoy tidbits from the affordably priced tapas menu. On Mondays, the wings are 50 cents each, and on Wednesdays after 6pm, you can get a cheeseburger for $5.50. Watch some sports, eat a burger and enjoy a seasonal ale.
Read more: Meditative Meals: Burgers and Abrasive Drummers (9/25/2014)
Read more: Weekly Specials: Patios (6/13/2019)
Full review: Gecko's: where size really doesn't matter ()
| | | | | 3.67 rating (93 votes) |
Matanza
Mon: 4pm-9pm
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11:30am-11pm
Sun: 11:30am-9pm (hours can change without notice)
$$ • Craft Beer
The cuisine here goes by the moniker “progressive New Mexican,” which seems to mean adding green chile to a cubano sandwich, duck to a tamale and the like. More impressive is the extensive beer lineup, featuring over 100 local New Mexican brews. Try the ahi tuna wonton tacos.
Full review: Matanza has bountiful beers but issues with spices and prices ()
| | | | | 4.67 rating (3 votes) |
StreetFood Asia
Sun-Thu: 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm (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. StreetFood Asia is a hotbed of cultural diversity serving Vietnamese pho, Korean noodles, Japanese udon, and Malaysian 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 a long list of excellent sakes add sparkle to your meal.
Full review: Too many items, not enough expertise ()
| | | | | 4.07 rating (37 votes) |
Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
Brunch:
Sun: 11am-2:30pm
Dinner:
Sun: 5pm-9pm
Mon-Thurs: 5pm-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm
Cellar Bar:
Tues-Sat: 4:30pm-12am
Mon: 4:30pm-11pm (kitchen until 10pm) (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: American, Fine Dining, French, Organic/Locally Grown, Wine Bar, Bar, Dessert, Fusion, Steakhouse, Vegetarian
$$$ • Vegetarian Available • Gluten-free available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • Wine • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Live Music • Wireless Internet
Zinc is a delightfully renovated historic space in Nob Hill, reborn as an upscale restaurant serving elegant American food with noticeable French inspiration. Downstairs, the cellar bar attracts a younger crowd for drinks and music. The happy hour menu, wines by the glass and prices are the best around. Give the brunch a try, and while you’re at it, try a Taos Mule from the bar.
Read more: Patio and Happy Hour Guide (6/8/2017)
Read more: Burque Burger Week: All the Best Burgers in Albuquerque (5/23/2019)
Read more: On the Hunt for Chicken and Waffles (2/20/2014)
Full review: A tale of two restaurants ()
| | | | | 4.22 rating (82 votes) |
Albuquerque - North Valley
Farm & Table
Dinner hours:
Wed-Thu 5pm-9pm
Fri-Sat 5pm-9pm
Brunch hours:
Sat- Sun 9am-2 pm (hours can change without notice)
Farm & Table’s North Valley setting is gorgeous, inside and out. (The spacious courtyard overlooks 10 acres of farm field.) The local, organic ingredients are meticulously sourced, and the food is reasonably priced for the level of quality you get. Several salad options and vegetarian entrées make this a perfect place to graze. For brunch, try the carne adovada with eggs. Don’t forget a refreshing dessert of house-made ice cream or a sorbet trio.
Read more: Theater News: Theatre on the Farm (6/21/2018)
Read more: Summer Guide: Make Me Melt (5/5/2016)
| | | | | 4.38 rating (27 votes) |
Albuquerque - Northeast Heights
Asian Pear
On a Korean kick? This is the best place in town. Not only is the proprietress the absolute nicest person you will ever meet, but her food is heaven. Try the delicious bulgogi (Korean beef) tacos, refreshing udon avocado salad, hearty bi bim bob with Korean bbq chicken, tasty don kasu (crispy pork cutlet with curry) and the savory vegetable pancake. Also, don’t forget to ask for a little cup of the best green tea ice cream you will ever taste.
| | | | | 5 rating (1 vote) |
Cantina Nueva
Sun-Thu 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat 11am-10pm (hours can change without notice)
$$ • Vegetarian Available • Gluten-free available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • Wine • Take Out / To-Go
Cantina Nueva has plenty of the margaritas and classic dishes that have made its sister restaurant Garduño’s such a local classic, but it also has some creative new dishes that set it apart. The addition of fresh greens, pickled red onions, smoky molé sauce and herb-infused cremas makes for a pleasant surprise in a culinary landscape filled with one-note enchiladas and the like. Sit at the bar and order a few of the creative and tasty street tacos for lunch, or get the chicken molé enchiladas for dinner. And don’t forget a margarita.
Full review: Cantina Nueva’s fresh and modern take on New Mexican ()
Alibi recommends: Any of the tacos, red chile mango margarita and the avocado toast
Vibe: Friendly, casual and a good happy hour haven
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