Albuquerque Eats: A Local's List
When we emerge blinking from the KiMo into the bright New Mexican sunlight this April, we’ll be surrounded by downtown restaurants and bars where we can eat good things, talk to new friends, or just chew over our thoughts.
A movie is an encounter, and so is a meal. So we asked Molly Perara-Lunde, an Albuquerqian friend of ours, for an introduction to her favorite spots. She loves hiking in the Sandias, the beautiful murals and graffiti downtown, and breakfast food (as you’ll see). Some of her favorites are quite close to our home base and some require a longer walk or an Über ride, as noted.
Java Joe’s (a 5-minute walk from the KiMo), is a bustling joint with good coffee and a hearty breakfast menu. They often feature live music as well. To visit Molly’s absolute favorite coffee shop you’ll want to hop in a car to Humble in the Nob Hill neighborhood (a 10-minute drive). They offer local pastries and burritos along with single-origin espresso and the best coffee in town.
El Patio (a 10-minute drive or 45-minute walk) is a local favorite for cheap and authentic enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and green chile cheeseburgers. It’s a small place and not known for its service, but you don’t need frills when you’re eating the best authentic New Mexican cuisine in town. Located in the charming Nob Hill neighborhood, it’s also a great jumping-off point for exploring the city outside of the downtown core. Molly’s personal favorite, Tía B’s La Wafflería (a 10-minute drive), is also located in Nob Hill in an old house near the university, and offers a Willy Wonka-like array of waffles: blueberry lavender, green chile and bacon, fried banana and bourbon...to name just a few.
Vinaigrette (a 20-minute walk) is a salad bistro with a bright and airy vibe. The menu is packed with delicious entrée salads, a slew of savory toppings, and creative sides like fried kale fritters and duck tacos. Many of the vegetables are grown at the owner’s ten-acre farm near Santa Fé.
For the beer lovers, Marble Brewery (a 15-20 minute walk—best taken with a group—or 5-minute drive) has a large draft list (they call the Wildflower Wheat their “liquid sopapilla”), and a rotating cast of food trucks out front. And Breaking Bad fan alert—the brewery was a favorite haunt of Bryan Cranston’s and the cast during filming.
If you want a grand night out to cap off your time at the festival, make a reservation (they’re required) at Farm and Table (a 15-20 minute drive). Between the gorgeous North Valley landscapes and the old hacienda nestled in native foliage, you’ll feel like you might be in rural Mexico. The food is fresh, locally sourced from the neighboring farms, and absolutely delicious.
So, just one question: are you now craving waffles or a green chile cheeseburger?