Rio Rancho Restaurants in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Albuquerque - Rio Rancho
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952, this award-winning burger or chili dog is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. Indulge in fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each one is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
 | | |  | | 3.04 rating (27 votes) |
M'Tucci's Moderno Italian Restaurant
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 11am-9pm (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Italian
Sister to the original M’Tucci’s location, this location offers a different—and somehow even more delicious—menu of delectable foodstuff. While it is closer to Rio Rancho than the metro area, it’s well worth the drive for a taste of this heavenly cuisine.
| | | | | No Votes Yet! |
Slate Street Billiards
Mon-Sat: 11am-2am
Sun: 10am-12am (hours can change without notice)
Play a round (or 10) of billards, grab some potato skins and chicken wings (we prefer the Thai seasoning) with your favorite drink, whether that’s an Old Fashioned or Marble IPA.
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Rio Rancho - Rio Rancho
Aldo's Pizzeria
Sun-Thurs: 11am-8:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-9:30pm (hours can change without notice)
This establishment does not yet have a description. Would you like to contribute one? Use the 'Any other notes' blank.
| | | | | 3.86 rating (12 votes) |
Blake’s Lotaburger
Cuisine: American
A New Mexico tradition since 1952, this award-winning burger or chili dog is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. Indulge in fresh fries and fountain favorites that hit the spot for just a pocketful of change. Countless counters are scattered throughout the city, and each one is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. Why look any further?
| | | | | 3.2 rating (30 votes) |
Blue Grasshopper Brewery
Anyone who is nervous about trying new beers doesn’t have to worry at Blue Grasshopper, they offer all of the local beers you already love and offer some of their own brews if you want to try something new. Those who enjoy good music with a cold beer will enjoy this pub because there is never a shortage of live bands.
| | | | | 4.67 rating (3 votes) |
Cafe Bella Coffee
7am to 3pm, Monday through Saturday
Sunday 9am-2pm (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Coffee/Tea/Espresso
It does the heart good to see a local coffee shop not just surviving but flourishing in Rio Rancho. Café Bella seems to have it all figured out with a comfortable lounging area, a roster of music and poetry events, and a diverse menu featuring irresistible wonders like the red chilé mocha.
| | | | | 3.19 rating (21 votes) |
Cazuela's Mexican Grill and Brewery
Closed Mondays
Sun,Tue,Wed and Thu 9am-9pm
Fri and Sat 7am-10pm (hours can change without notice)
$$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Wine Bar • Craft Beer • Catering • Live Music • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet
Cazuela's Mexican Grill & Brewery offers a wide selection of cocktails, wine and award-winning house brews. The outdoor patio can seat up to 300 people for parties. Cazuela's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with options that include Mexican seafood, as well as steaks, soups and salads. They offer daily specials on both food and drinks, and live music is played on Fridays and Saturdays. Happy Hour is one dollar off all drinks from 2-6pm every day.
| | | | | 3.75 rating (5 votes) |
Dion’s Pizza
Sun-Thurs: 10:30am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 10:30am-11pm (hours can change without notice)
Dion’s. Dion’s never changes. Every location seems to be a hold-over from the 1980s, and every location seems staffed by the same army of teenagers. Fortunately, that holds true for the pizza as well. No matter where you find yourself in Albuquerque, the pizza is made fresh to order (you can watch the high school-aged staff rolling and tossing the dough) and is always, always delicious with a side of ranch.
| | | | | 3.74 rating (30 votes) |
Fat Squirrel Pub & Grille
From the same folks behind Turtle Mountain, Fat Squirrel is an English-style pub and full-service restaurant in the heart of Rio Rancho. Featuring beyond-flavorful American fare and some traditional favorites from across the pond (corned beef 'n' cabbage year-round anyone?), Fat Squirrel's menu is as vast as its extensive wine and beer selection. The intensely juicy burger, which you can customize to your liking, is one of the best in town. Generous portions and reasonable prices, too.
| | | | | 3.14 rating (87 votes) |
Federico’s Mexican Food
24 hours 7 days a week (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Mexican
The thought of a restaurant without green chile scares the crap out of most New Mexicans, but if you can get past the initial shock, the authentic Mexican food at Federico’s is good and good for you. The cheap prices don’t reflect the grande portions, or the top-rate quality of the ingredients, and the place is open 24-hours every day. Take the kids, take the dog or just take yourself out for late plate of authentic tacos, burritos, chimichangas and an ice-cold horchata. Your stomach and your wallet will thank you in the morning.
| | | | | 2.93 rating (29 votes) |
Hot Tamales New Mexican Food
Mon to Fri 11am-9pm
Sat to Sunday 8am-9pm (hours can change without notice)
High quality New Mexican food in the heart of Rio Rancho. The atmosphere here is a little rough around the edges, but the service is friendly, and the food is good, especially the red and green chile (ground from pods and fire roasted, respectively). For breakfast, try the burrito puerco todo with ham, sausage, bacon and eggs stuffed into a flour tortilla and smothered with the chile of your choice.
| | | | | 4.17 rating (19 votes) |
Jerusalem-Taste of the Holy Land
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
The shawarma was fantastic with really good seasoning that allowed the meat to stand out on the merit of its own natural flavors, adding enhanced notes to the dish. The rice wasn’t overcooked or soggy, helping to give texture and fullness to the bites I was enjoying. The freekeh soup was a first for me, and I found it to my liking. It wasn’t too heavy or too light, and the cracked wheat was fantastic, adding a new level of deliciousness to every bite of chicken breast and broth. Cleaning the plate was made easy with the pita, which was warm, a little chewy and left me a little heartbroken when it was gone.
Full review: Taste of the Holy Land offers Rio Rancho something new ()
Alibi recommends: Kanafeh, Santa Fe Chicken Shawarma, Shawarma Combo
Vibe: Middle Eastern eatery focused on great food
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Joe's Pasta House
Mon-Fri: 11am-9pm,
Sat: noon-9pm
Sun: noon-7:30pm (hours can change without notice)
This cucina italiana has won multiple TripAdvisor Awards of Excellence and has won the Best Pasta category in our own reader polls. Fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, traditional gnocchi, ravioli rustica, salmon farfalle, flat iron steak with sauteed red peppers ... ugh, we’re drooling. Don’t even get us started on the tiramisu.
Full review: Hanging at Joe's Pasta House ()
| | | | | 4.58 rating (39 votes) |
Kyoto
Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-9pm (hours can change without notice)
This establishment does not yet have a description. Would you like to contribute one? Use the 'Any other notes' blank.
Alibi recommends: Agedashi tofu, Kyoto roll
Vibe: Kind of suburban, business lunch crowd
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Little Anita's Express
Cuisine: New Mexican
Little Anita's menu is New Mexican to the core with enchiladas, burritos, carne adovada and stuffed sopaipillas. The red chile is generally milder than their green but is well seasoned. Consistency, generous portions and fair prices make Little Anita's an Albuquerque mainstay—not to mention its many locations ranging from full-service dining to quick and easy take-out counters (like this one). Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
| | | | | 3.15 rating (20 votes) |
Mac’s Steak in the Rough
Sun 11am-8pm
Mon-Thu 10am-9am
Fri-Sat 10am-10pm (hours can change without notice)
With everything from fried steak fingers, white rolls to Texas toast, and thick, creamy shakes, it’s hard to make a final choice for what meal to eat but the super friendly staff is more than willing to help with any questions customers may have. Our favorite are anything with ribs—you’ll be so full you could just lay down and take a nap in one of the spacious booths (but don’t be that guy, just go home. Oh, and get some fries to go.)
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Namaste Cuisine of India and Nepal
The meal begins with a simple greeting, namaste, and is quickly followed by a plate of pappadam and chutney, vivid green like fresh-cut grass. Things continue to impress from there. Virtually unheard of in Burque, Namaste’s Nepalese dishes—like succulent chicken momos—throw noodles and dumplings into the Indian repertoire. By highlighting this region that blurs the line between India and the rest of Asia, and doing it with impeccable service, Namaste quietly sets itself apart as a worthwhile reason to drive to Rio Rancho. Don’t miss the masala tea—a Darjeeling brewed with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks and milk.
Full review: Divine from beginning to end ()
| | | | | 4.29 rating (43 votes) |
O'Hare's Grille & Pub
Sat-Wed 11am-midnight
Thu-Fri 11am-2am (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Bar and Grill/Pub
This establishment does not yet have a description. Would you like to contribute one? Use the 'Any other notes' blank.
| | | | | 4.33 rating (25 votes) |
Pizza 9
Sun-Thurs: 10am-11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am-midnight (hours can change without notice)
Cuisine: Pizza
Pizza 9, from the former owner of Chicago Beef, slings dough at multiple locations across town. It’s not deep-dish, but the puffed up, buttery crust will warm Midwestern hearts, as will the Fire Eater pie—a monument to capsaicin, it scathes taste buds with pepperoni, jalapeños, green chile and hot giardiniera relish. With gluten-free crust options, it’s a perfect spot for groups with opposing dietary needs, and with several locations, you can have it all delivered right to your front door!
| | | | | 3 rating (19 votes) |
