North Valley Restaurants in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Albuquerque - North Valley
Amadeo’s Pizza and Subs
Mon-Thu: 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am–10pm
Sun: noon-8pm (hours can change without notice)
You can bank on getting good pie here. From plain old cheese to the "super combo"—pepperoni, sliced ham, mushrooms, green peppers, red onions, black olives, beef, pork sausage and Italian sausage—all is well. Amadeo's makes them up to 26 inches across. The subs rate just as high. Toasted rolls, baked locally, are stuffed with your choice of meat (salami, ham, meatballs and so on), cheese and veggies. The meatballs are totally boss. Not too heavy with an almost silky texture, they come drowned in a spicy tomato sauce and smothered in mozzarella cheese.
 | | | |  | 4.07 rating (30 votes) |
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café
Mon-Sat: 8am-9pm
Sun: 10am-8pm (hours can change without notice)
Ayurvedic cuisine works with your body’s natural energies and constitution to create “soul” food that’s on a whole new plane. Winners of Best Vegetarian in our poll several years running, Annapurna is devoted to vegan and vegetarian cuisine. The food is satisfying but never heavy and, well, you just feel better after eating there. The lunch special is a good bet with a spicy Indian soup, rice, wheat-free chapatis (a flatbread cousin of naan) and your choice of a vegetable entrée for about eight bucks. Check out the Chai Happy hour for 50% off a cup of chai from 3-5 pm daily.
| | | | | 4.35 rating (11 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952! For a quick, award-winning (for both Best Burger and Best French Fries) burger or chili dog, fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change, it’s got to be Blake’s. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
| | | | | 3 rating (2 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952! For an award-winning (for both Best Burger and Best French Fries), quick burger or chili dog, fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change, it’s got to be Blake’s. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each one is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
Full review: Blake’s turns 65 ()
| | | | | 3 rating (3 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952! For a quick, award-winning (for both Best Burger and Best French Fries) burger or chili dog, fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change, it’s got to be Blake’s. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each one is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
| | | | | 3 rating (2 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952! For an award-winning (for both Best Burger and Best French Fries), quick burger or chili dog, fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change, it’s got to be Blake’s. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each one is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
| | | | | 3.5 rating (4 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952! For a quick, award-winning (for both Best Burger and Best French Fries in our poll) burger, fries or a breakfast burrito that hits the spot for just a pocketful of change, it’s got to be Blake’s. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
| | | | | 3.33 rating (6 votes) |
Bob's Burgers
Sun-Thurs: 7:30am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 7:30am-10:30pm (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: American
Home of the Ranchero burger and a screamin’ $2 Frito pie (which usually takes top honors in our restaurant polls), these burgers are similar to their Lotaburger or Itsaburger cousins, except they have loads of green or red chile on them. And Bob's offers "taco burgers"—burgers in taco shells instead of buns. And the chili dogs are a foot long. And there are blended root beer floats. Bob is quite the creative entrepreneur.
| | | | | 3.69 rating (16 votes) |
Campo
Mon–Fri: 7:30-10:30am; Sat–Sun: 7:30-11:30am;
Wed-Sun: 5-9pm (hours can change without notice)
The newest incarnation of the restaurant at Los Poblanos is a farm-to-table, fine-dining restaurant under the helm of Executive Chef Jonathan Perno. Cooking up Rio Grande Valley cuisine like blue corn hushpuppies and green chile gnocchi, this gorgeous restaurant is great for date night or brunch with the family. Reservations are required for dinner and recommended for breakfast. Or, stop in at Bar Campo for an excellent cocktail made from artisanal bitters and farm-fresh ingredients.
| | | | | No Votes Yet! |
Casa de Benavidez
Mon-Thu 10:30am-8pm
Fri: 9am-9pm
Sat: 8am-9pm
Sun: 8am-3pm (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: New Mexican
Casa de Benavidez is located in the far North Valley, but if you’re looking for one of the most beautiful patios in town and a good breakfast burrito or just someplace to sit and have some chips, queso and a mind-erasing Bloody Mary, this place is well worth both the drive and your time.
Full review: A taste of “old" Placitas in the North Valley ()
| | | | | 4.1 rating (103 votes) |
Cravin’ Cookies ... and More!
Tues-Fri 9am-5pm
Sat 9am-4pm
Closed Sunday (hours can change without notice)
Easily the most excessively punctuated business title in Albuquerque, Cravin’ Cookies ... and More! is a cozy bakery nestled in the lush greenery of the far North Valley. Café-style seating indoors and out, potted plants and a wooden display hutch create a warm, homey environment that begs visitors to sit and sip a cup of tea. Barb, the carbohydrate crafter, bakes up at least a dozen different cookies a day, along with several pies, cakes and tortes. Cookies are available in mini and regular sizes, and there’s always a plate of samples to help you make up your mind—but may we suggest the red chile-chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, toasted coconut pie ... and skipping lunch and going straight for the flourless chocolate torte.
Full review: A sweet ending note ()
| | | | | 4.33 rating (13 votes) |
Cutbow Coffee
This craft coffee shop, opened by master roaster and New Mexico native Paul Gallegos, makes some fine coffee blends for you to enjoy by the cup or by the pound. If single-origin is more your thing, try the naturally processed Guatemala coffee, which has earthy, rich flavors and a mellow mouthfeel. All that said, you don’t need to be a coffee nerd to enjoy the tasty joe, good environment and friendly service.
Read more: The Dish: Coffee Talkee (10/3/2019)
| | | | | 4.33 rating (3 votes) |
Dion’s Pizza
Sun-Thurs: 10:30am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 10:30am-11pm (hours can change without notice)
Besides having the Best Pizza, according to past Best of Burque Restaurants polls, Dion's also has a wonderful selection of salads (particularly the Greek or any of the “gourmet” salads with fresh greens) and sandwiches (the pastrami is especially good). The pizza is made fresh and you can see them rolling and tossing the dough. Dine in or order takeout until 10pm weeknights or 11pm weekends.
| | | | | 3.47 rating (17 votes) |
Down N Dirty Seafood Boil
Mon-Fri 11am-9pm
Sat noon-9pm
Sun noon-8pm (hours can change without notice)
Coastal ex-pats thank God for small mercies like Down N Dirty Seafood Boil. Nothing instantly siphons the sea inland like sticking some steamy crustaceans in your face. And nowhere can you stick steamy crustaceans in your face with such abandon as at Down N Dirty, where the seafood is ordered by the pound and eating it is a question of no-frills efficiency. You’ll leave feeling like you just returned from a seaside vacation.
Full review: Down N Dirty Seafood Boil ()
Full review: Southern themed restaurant isn't hogwash ()
| | | | | 4.33 rating (18 votes) |
El Bruno's Restaurante y Cantina
Mon-Sun 11am-10pm (hours can change without notice)
$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Live Music • Outdoor Patio • Lounge
New Mexican food in the Garduño’s vein—plus burgers and booze—in a bucolic valley setting. In fact, El Bruno’s does indeed occupy the site (and, one might assume, the demographic) of the former North Valley Garduño’s.
| | | | | 2.82 rating (49 votes) |
El Camino Dining Room
Tues-Fri: 7am-2:30pm
Sat-Sun 7am-2pm
Closed Monday (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: New Mexican
Because it’s just far enough away to to be the perfect excuse for a Saturday morning motorcycle ride. Because there are handpainted cow skulls on the wall and the waitresses call you “hon.” Because the down-home breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros are just plain good.
| | | | | 3.09 rating (34 votes) |
El Papaturro
Mon closed
Tue-Sat 9am-8pm
Sun 10am-5pm (hours can change without notice)
This quiet little establishment in the North Valley is serving up some majorly tasty Salvadoran food. Go for one of their lunch specials like the filling El Papaturro plate, or have a big steaming bowl of seafood or beef caldo on a cold evening. We love their homemade tomato sauce on top of pupusas and tamales, and the side of curtido adds a nice acidic kick to every dish.
Full review: El Papaturro makes mouthwatering Central American fare ()
| | | | | No Votes Yet! |
El Pinto Restaurant & Cantina
Mon-Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 10:30am-9 pm (Sun Brunch 10:30am-2pm) (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: New Mexican
$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Live Music • Outdoor Patio
Touted as New Mexico’s largest restaurant, the North Valley’s El Pinto is best known for its gorgeous, shady environment (perennially Best Patio in our restaurant polls) and award-winning jarred salsa. Try it for margaritas, brunch and a little flan.
Read more: Patio and Happy Hour Guide: Oxygen-Rich Music (6/16/2016)
| | | | | 4.03 rating (98 votes) |
Eldora Craft Chocolate
Cuisine: Bakery/Sweets
Once you walk inside, you realize you’ve just arrived somewhere very special. Albuquerque’s first and only bean-to-bar chocolaterie smells heavenly inside and looks even better. The wallpaper sports an intricate design of cacao trees and the many large windows fill the space with sunlight. From the counter—where you’ll see a glass display filled with foil-wrapped truffles and bars—you can see into the spacious, high-ceilinged kitchen that gleams with stainless steel. There’s a Scandinavian look to the space with its open layout and beautifully simple design.
Read more: Locally Made: Eldora Craft Chocolate (7/12/2018)
| | | | | No Votes Yet! |
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) |
