![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mary & Tito\u2019s Caf\u00e9<\/a> Guava Tree Caf\u00e9<\/a> Giovanni\u2019s Pizza & Subs<\/a> Budai Gourmet Chinese<\/a> El Modelo Mexican Foods<\/a> Jennifer James 101<\/a> The Stumbling Steer<\/a> Hartford Square<\/a> Indigo Crow Cafe<\/a> La Cr\u00eape Michel<\/a> ABC Chinese Restaurant El Patio De Albuquerque Duran Central Pharmacy<\/a> Standard Diner<\/a> The Grove Caf\u00e9 & Market<\/a> 1. You Can\u2019t Leave Without Trying Mary & Tito\u2019s Source: Yelp Mary & Tito\u2019s Caf\u00e9 2711 4th St NW 505-344-6266 Yelp: 4 Stars, 90 Reviews Alright, when you first step into the caf\u00e9, you might do a quick double-take. Is this really the restaurant all of your friends said you had to\u2014had to\u2014try the moment you sit foot into the 505? \u00a0Well, take a seat, hombre, and prepare for the heat. The dish everyone swears by is the sopapilla\u2014basically a New Mexican turnover with delicious, spicy meat stuffed inside and drowned in the chile you\u2019ll soon be putting on everything. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","post--single"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2711 4th St NW
\n505-344-6266
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 90 Reviews
\nAlright, when you first step into the caf\u00e9, you might do a quick double-take.
\nIs this really the restaurant all of your friends said you had to\u2014had to\u2014try the moment you sit foot into the 505? \u00a0Well, take a seat, hombre, and prepare for the heat.
\nThe dish everyone swears by is the sopapilla\u2014basically a New Mexican turnover with delicious, spicy meat stuffed inside and drowned in the chile you\u2019ll soon be putting on everything. \u00a0Maybe this is the dish that keeps that trend going, huh?
\nBe warned if your taste buds are on the wimpy side: this is a hot dish. \u00a0But the \u201cflavor fiesta\u201d is one that you\u2019ll want to savor and again and again. \u00a0I don\u2019t even need to tell you to, in turn, tell your friends. Odds are, you\u2019re already texting everyone know about this need-to-eat spot.<\/p>\n2. Can\u2019t \u201cComplantain\u201d About The Food At Guava Tree Caf\u00e9<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Guava Tree Caf\u00e9 via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n216 Yale Blvd SE
\n505-990-2599
\nYelp<\/a>: 4.5 Stars, 51 Reviews
\nAnother spot that\u2019s sketchy on the outside, tasty on the inside, this little spot in University Heights has a comfortable homestead feel. The place is bright, bursting with color, and the food is bursting with as much flavor. Even standing downwind of this spot is a culinary experience. \u00a0And\u2014it\u2019s cheap.
\nYour mouth will be astounded that a dish as simple as rice and beans can suddenly make so much sense. \u00a0If you don\u2019t get it, you have to try it. \u00a0Every frijole you\u2019ve eaten until now has been underwhelming.
\nBut for the more exotic palette, there are the delicious plantains, of course, and the opportunity to add Cuban Sandwiches to your Things-To-Eat-Out-Of-A-Bucket List.<\/p>\n3. Arrivederci, All Other Albquerque Pizza Places, I\u2019m Going To Giovanni\u2019s<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Yelp<\/div>\n
\n921 San Pedro Dr SE
\n505-255-123
\nYelp<\/a>: 4.5 Stars, 61 Reviews
\nMany a transplant from any of the big pizza cities will be glad to be get something different with the burritos on basically every corner, but every now and then you\u2019re bound to get a hankering for something crusty, something saucy, something pizza-y. That\u2019s a real word, right?
\nBut you know what is real? How legit the pizza is here. Of course, you\u2019re never going to escape green chile wherever you eat out in ABQ, and Giovanni\u2019s is no exception. Green chile pepperoni\u2014bite the bullet, order a large, eat like a king for tonight and tomorrow.
\nAlso, this place isn\u2019t too impressive from the outside either.There seems to be a direct correlation between how unwelcoming the outside is and how jaw-droppingly good the food inside is. More money for primo ingredients, I guess?<\/p>\n4. Chinese Food \u201cBudai\u201d For At Budai. \u00a0Get It?<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: \u00a0Budai Gourmet Chinese<\/div>\n
\n6300 San Mateo Blvd NE
\n505-797-7898
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 70 Reviews
\nAnother authentic staple of any American cuisine is, of course, Chinese food! Ha. You may find it generally lacking out here in the shadow of the Sandias. But Budai is more authentic than some spots in San Francisco, which has an actual Chinatown.
\nDelicious Exhibit A: The pork stomach (or dong bo, if you don\u2019t want to get weirded out by the visual). Budai is a seriously rewarding adventure for any foodie looking to check off outlandish things on their international cuisine bucket list.
\nAnd then, if you want something nice and reliable, get anything with noodles.<\/p>\n5. The Model of New Mexico Comfort Food Is At El Modelo<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: El Modelo Mexican Foods via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n1715 2nd St SW
\n505-242-1843
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 71 Reviews
\nJust as everyone needs their high-class foreign flavors, they need their go-to greasy spoon. The New Mexico edition of that is El Modelo. Come hungry\u2014it\u2019s the guaranteed way to leave happy.
\nTuck into the green chile burrito (surprise!) with your buds outside. You\u2019ll be realizing pretty quick why all the locals pick up dinner from this spot. Affordable balanced with scrumptious comfort food have made this spot an Albquerque institution.<\/p>\n6. JJ101 Is Worth Every Cent<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-6.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: jennifer james 101 via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n4614-A Menaul Blvd NE
\n505-884-3860
\nYelp<\/a>: 4.5 Stars, 55 Reviews
\nOf course, cheap, delicious comfort food will only go so far. Luckily, Jennifer James\u2019 award-winning high cuisine experience is there in a pinch (just make sure you make a reservation).
\nAdded perk: it\u2019s an open kitchen so you can feel like you\u2019re a part of the action, or at least watching a dull episode of some reality television show.
\nWith a menu that rotates with the seasons and has wild approaches to traditional New Mexican cuisine, the only downside is the price. But well worth it for the tongue-shattering experience of the mandatory chickpea fries appetizer, spicy seafood, American cuisine, and chocolate burrito. \u00a0Dessert is sort of where it\u2019s at in this place, but the journey there is just as good.<\/p>\n7. It\u2019s Called The Stumbling Steer For Good Reason\u2026<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: The Stumbling Steer via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n3700 Ellison Dr NW
\n505-792-7805
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 40 Reviews
\nIt\u2019s a given that no matter where you go in this world, you\u2019re going to want a nice gastropub. \u00a0Why would you seek any other option? Welcome to The Stumbling Steer.
\nWith a tremendous selection of beers\u2014some of them brewed in-house\u2014your craft brew sensibilities will be tickled nicely. Go for the IPAs. As far as food goes, disconcertingly hip brussel sprouts serve as a nice opener for the solid Southwest Poutine or the basic Steer Burger.
\nYou\u2019ll be hard-pressed to find a bar with this balance of cool, cozy and crazy-good comestibles out in this part of ABQ. \u00a0Mark it on your GPS.<\/p>\n8. A Square Meal Can Always Be Found In Albuquerque<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-8.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Hartford Square via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n300 Broadway Blvd NE
\n505-265-4933
\nYelp<\/a>: 4.5 Stars, 21 Reviews
\nSlow-food. There is so much to be said for something that actually resembles a home-cooked meal. \u00a0Once you\u2019re out on your own, they don\u2019t come around too often. So, in the immortal words of Parks and Rec, \u201ctreat yo\u2019 self\u201d at Hartford Square.
\nSo, what\u2019s good? The fact that they serve Michael Thomas coffee is a nice nod to locals, as is and the fact that all the ingredients featured in the ever-changing chalkboard menu are locally grown.
\nNothing sticks around long enough to ever get boring here so you\u2019ll have to let your taste buds guide you (but just picture this: Baked orange-vanilla-nutmeg French toast) but do yourself a favor and pair your order with some sweet, sweet, lemonade.<\/p>\n9. Not A Far Trip As The Crow Flies\u2026<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-9.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Indigo Crow Cafe<\/div>\n
\n4515 Corrales Rd
\nCorrales, NM 87048
\n505-898-7000
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 42 Reviews
\nBut if you can get to Indigo Crow Cafe, it\u2019s worth it. \u00a0If you hear this oasis of farm-to-table food calling down from Corrales, you had best heed it and make a reservation. The service is nice and casual, but the food belongs in a five-star hotel.
\nYou\u2019ll find your \u201cregular\u201d order (regular here meaning \u201cfood you\u2019d expect of any celebrity chef\u2019s restaurant) becoming the lobster risotto, strip steak, or clams. Any of the salads will satisfy a hungry vegetarian, too.<\/p>\n10. Baguette Out Of Here With This Crepe<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Flickr user Klardrommar<\/div>\n
\n400 San Felipe St NW
\n505-242-1251
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 60 Reviews
\nMost other lists about fantastic French restaurants would normally write here something along the lines of \u201cTres bien!\u201d or \u201cAbsolument delicieux!\u201d \u00a0but let\u2019s make this one simple:
\nWhat do you usually get on a cr\u00eape? An artichoke spinach spread? Pork dijonnaise? Artisan chocolate? No? Get yourself to La Crepe Michel.<\/p>\n11. Good Cantonese In ABQ Is Easy As ABC<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Flickr user Jason Lam<\/div>\n
\n8720 Menaul Blvd NE
\n505-292-8788
\nYelp<\/a>: 3.5 Stars, 23 Reviews
\nSure, you can order as much General Tsao\u2019s chicken as you want at ABC Chinese. \u00a0Nobody\u2019s going to judge you for that. But you might get a sidewise glance if you don\u2019t get something off the blue menu.
\nDip into a gigantic bowl of wonton soup or the beef chow fun. There are some secret menus running around on the Internet, too, so once you\u2019ve penciled in your second trip you can come with a little more expertise to try and top the first.<\/p>\n12. It\u2019s All About The Patio… At El Patio<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Flickr user Eugene Kim<\/div>\n
\n142 Harvard Dr SE
\n505-268-4245
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 129 Reviews
\nMaybe you want to chill with some cold beers. Maybe you\u2019re feeling lazy and want some hot, spicy food delivered right to you. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re a 17th-generation Albuquerquian or new to town, you\u2019ll love the down-home feel of El Patio de Albuquerque.
\nYou\u2019ll find similar cuisine here to what you\u2019d see on other ABQ Mexican restaurants, from the sopapillas to the enchiladas to, of course, the green chile. But don\u2019t think that fact makes this place ordinary. Everything still rocks.<\/p>\n13. Duran Central Pharmacy Has Prescription-Strength Deliciousness<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-13.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Duran Central Pharmacy via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n1815 Central Ave NW
\n505-247-4141
\nYelp<\/a>: 4 Stars, 47 Reviews
\nYou might stop by to pick up your allergy medication, but you\u2019ll stay for the diner tucked inside of this pharmacy\/general store. \u00a0You\u2019ll never have to worry about having someone perform the Heimlich again!
\nNot that you\u2019ll be wolfing down the delectable red chile or the humongous tortillas slathered in butter. \u00a0Honestly, I should just leave it up to the fantastic wait staff at this location, too. \u00a0Like your favorite physician, they\u2019re easy to talk to and they can offer up any (culinary) remedy for what ails your stomach.<\/p>\n14. The Standard Diner Is Anything But Standard<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-14.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Standard Diner via Facebook<\/div>\n
\n320 Central Ave SE
\n505-243-1440
\nYelp<\/a>: 3.5 Stars, 193 Reviews
\n\u201cOh, wow, what do you call that delicacy? \u00a0A bourbon butter burger, you say? \u00a0I guess I\u2019ll have to try it, considering I have two eyes and a stomach.
\nBut first I need to try the bacon wrapped jalape\u00f1os, thus ruining all other appetizers I have had and will have in the future? \u00a0Well, if you insist.
\nAnd, you\u2019re right, I think will have to wash all that tastiness down with a cold, bitter IPA. \u00a0Thanks, Standard Diner!\u201d
\n\u2013 This will be you, whenever you stop in here. They even got on \u201cDiners, Drive-Ins and Dives\u201d in 2009. Why aren\u2019t you there now?<\/p>\n15. Yes, This Is The Grove From \u201cBreaking Bad\u201d<\/h2>\n
![\"Best](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2014\/01\/ABQ+Restaurants\/15restaurantsabq-15.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: The Grove Cafe & Market<\/div>\n
\n600 Central Ave SE
\n505-248-9800
\nYelp<\/a>: 4.5 Stars, 265 Reviews
\nMore Stevia?
\nSorry. Had to.
\nDon\u2019t worry\u2014-the food at The Grove will do anything but make you the victim of a cunning scheme laid out by the world\u2019s most famous meth cooker.
\nDon\u2019t take my word for it, though\u2014dig in! The croque madame is highly recommended for breakfast, and try pairing it with the Intelligentsia coffee. It\u2019s pretty much the only non-local item you\u2019ll find on the menu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"