Amata,
Thanks for the post on Albuquerque! I split my time between there and Chicago, and always bring an extra carry-on bag to bring back New Mexico delicacies. Here are my favorite spots for traditional New Mexican food:
The Frontier
A local landmark across the street from UNM, this 24-hour diner has your basic breakfast/burger options, but despite its no-frills, frenetic atmosphere, I still think it has some of the most consistent (and cheap) New Mexican food around. I would go for breakfast, order the Huevos Rancheros, some Western style hash browns (crispy shoestring potatoes with green chile, onions and cheese), a few carne adovado burritos (pork stewed in red chile; the burritos are small), orange juice (fresh-squeezed), and some extra tortillas. These are, I feel, the best flour tortillas on earth. They are available in bulk, as is the green chile stew and the adovada, all of which freeze well for plane rides home. In addition to the food, the Frontier has great people-watching, and a huge collection of tacky Southwestern art, including a giant John Wayne picture. The Frontier is also affiliated with a local drive-in chicken place, Golden Pride: same great carne adovada, tortillas and breakfast burritos in four or so ABQ locations.
Mary and Tito's
Also a good bet for breakfast or lunch, this family-run diner in the North Valley has some of the best chile I've had. The chopped green is smoky and hot, and the red chile is very smooth and slightly sweet. Mary and Tito's devotes some of their menu to another New Mexico specialty, stuffed sopapillas: fried pastry filled with either beef, pork, carne adovada, beans, etc. which are always too much for me, but I hear the ones here are good. Plus, M & T's is on 4th Street - easily one of the weirdest (and interesting) streets around (should you need any taxidermy work or a tattoo while you're visiting).
Perea's
A sign on the door of this Route 66 diner directly informs vegetarians that the establishment regrets that there isn't anything inside for them. This translates into very porky green chile sauce, which is fantastic on their gigantic breakfast burritos, but the red chile is also very good. Order it "Christmas" and have half and half. This place is also on a stretch of Central with a lot of old motels in various degrees of funkiness/seediness, which is a plus for those interested in 50's American architecture and decor.
Las Montanitas
As seen above, most of my haunts for New Mexican food are best for breakfast or lunch, mostly because of atmosphere (bright, diner-like), but also because this food is HEAVY and coffee can help counteract the effects. When I want NM food in the evening, I go to Las Montanitas, a fixture in the North Valley in an old adobe house. The patio is one of the best around (too bad you're visiting in January, Amata!), but the interior is great too: many tiny rooms with uneven floors and a claw foot tub in the ladies' room. The dish here is the posole: hominy stewed with pork and green chile, which they serve with every meal. For the first couple of years we lived in New Mexico, my Mom and I would try making our own on Christmas Eve, when it is traditionally served. Now we just buy a quart here. The stacked blue corn enchiladas are also very good.
Golden Crown Panaderia
Speaking of Christmas Eve, check out this neighborhood bakery for biscochitos, cookies traditionally served during the holidays but made here year-round. They are sugar cookies made with lots of lard. These folks will ship them anywhere in US very cheaply, and are also known for their "bread turkeys," dough shaped into fowl for your vegetarian friends. This spot is on a cute stretch of Mountain near Old Town and the Museum District.
Garcia's Kitchen
A local chain of New Mexican restaurants that are always reliable and reasonably-priced, with notable flour tortillas. My favorite outpost is on Central near Old Town, so it would be a good choice if you are checking out the plaza.
The Fruit Basket
A local chain of small grocery stores for stocking up on red and green chile, piñon nuts, pumpkin seeds, and good flour tortillas (try Albuquerque Tortilla Company). Insanely cheap produce.
Blake's Lotaburger
After always having the option of adding green chile to a burger while living in New Mexico, eating burgers since has always been a bit sad. This New Mexico chain has some of the best, although ordering a green chile cheeseburger anywhere in the state is usually a solid choice. Although it appears to be strictly fast food, everything is cooked to order and benefits from years of grill grease. I haven't tried the recently-added breakfast burritos, but my Dad, the king of grease, says they are great. There are probably 40 locations in the area, but my I have included the address of my favorite below. It's a popular lunch spot for North Valley farmers and builders, and you can enjoy a million dollar view of the Sandia mountains across the parking lot, while sitting under a red and white tin 50's style umbrella on plastic stools. A very New Mexico scene. Plus, one of the outposts of the Fruit Basket is a few blocks away.
A few comments on previous posts:
Dos Hermanos is indeed very good for traditional New Mexican, although the atmosphere of both locations I have visited is a bit utilitarian. They give the Frontier a run for their money on tortillas, and my family always gets tamales from DH on Christmas Eve. They are used to handling large to go orders, but call ahead during the holidays.
In contrast, the setting at El Pinto is hard to beat - great mountain views and charming patios- although it is a gigantic operation which can be overwhelming and/or alienating. Their food, the last couple of times I've been at least, suffers from this large scale approach. A great place for chips and beers, though.
The Cowgirl Cafe in Santa Fe does have amazing Frito Pie (an essential NM dish), plus a vegetarian version.
Unlike Bill, I do love New Mexican food, but I think he made some valuable points. I have lived in both Mexico and NM, and NM food is certainly very different from interior Mexican. As a result regional Mexican (not New Mexican) places in Albuquerque can be pretty uninspired. There are some folks, though, who make incredible New Mexican dishes. The key is to find out what each restaurant/family/town specializes in and go from there. Bill's comment reg. masking flavors behind chile is important because it highlights the absolute necessity of making quality red and/or green chile sauces for this cuisine. Also, if you ever get the chance to attend a feast day at one of the neighboring Pueblos or eat with a Native American family from the area, you will encounter numerous (and delicious) dishes not found at local restaurants, and should be considered an important part of checking out traditional New Mexican food.
Below are a few of my non-New Mexican food places in Albuquerque, which I hope you'll enjoy, Bill. Next time I'm at Costco I'll go hungry!
Il Vicino
Pizza place and brewery in the Nob Hill neighborhood with a small but well-executed menu of wood-oven baked pies, sandwiches, salads and lasagna. They have good wines by the glass and great beer: the Wet Mountain IPA is amazing and is available to go by the jug.
Model Pharmacy
Also in Nob Hill, they have fountain drinks and desserts, and good sandwiches.
Korean Barbeque
You can grill your own outdoors, or they will do it for you tableside.
Thai Tip
Way up in the heights (close to the Sandia mountains), and in a strip mall, but cheap, good, and run by nice people.
Pearl's Dive
Several steps above bar food, with a nice patio, good salads and burgers, and sandwiches.
Geezamboni's
An informal, kid-friendly place in the North Valley with a superlative patio. Great burgers, Greek specials, steaks, and decent barbeque. Large beer and wine selection. They have indoor seating, but the patio's really where it's at.
La Crepe Michel
Tucked away in old adobe in Old Town, a good place for a tart or crepe and a glass of wine.
For fine dining:
Ambrosia
High Noon
Artichoke Cafe
The Frontier
2400 Central Ave. SE
505.266.0550
Mary and Tito's Cafe
2711 4th Street NW
505.344.6266
Perea's New Mexican Restaurant
5801 Central Ave. NE
505.232.9442
Golden Crown Panaderia
1103 Mountain Road NW
505.243.2424
Garcia's Kitchen
1736 Central SE
505.842.0273
The Fruit Basket
3821 12th Street NW
505.345.3942
8405 4th Street NW
505.898.7367
6343 4th Street NW
505.344.0885
Blake's Lotaburger
8440 4th Street NW
505.897.0762
Il Vicino
3403 Central Ave. NE
505.266.7855
Model Pharmacy
3636 Monte Vita Blvd. NE
505.255.8686
Korean BBQ Restaurant
3200 Central Ave. SE
505.338.2424
Thai Tip
1512 Wyoming NE #E
505.323.7447
Pearl's Dive
509 Central Ave. NW
505.244.9405
Geezamboni's
3851 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
505.345.3354
La Crepe Michel
400 San Felipe NW #C2
505.242.1251
The Artichoke Cafe
424 Central Ave. SE
505.243.0200
High Noon
425 Sand Felipe NW
505.765.1455