Yup! Those great Yelp reviews are spot on! We started with postpones or fried, smashed plantains. So good! Next was 2 empanadas, one chili, one veggie. They hit the spot! Then we had arepa sandwich. Pulled chicken in a corn bun. Another great dish! Food was mildly spiced, we asked for hot sauce as we like it kicked up a bit. Service was fast and very informative. We loved this place. read more

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If there were ever a restaurant that made me cry it would be this one... Having been told I need to avoid gluten temporarily, hubby and I found this cozy (slightly over our usual budget) sweet shop the way I found all the others and it was so enjoyable! (Hint from a foodie: If gluten free, I suggest starting somewhere that routinely serves rice vs trying to replace the gluten with something else (sushi for example , I just wasn't in the mood for seafood!) The warm decor made us feel like we were transpodted to an idyllic location outside the city and our super helpful waitress helped me feel even more confident about my choice, making me cry happy tears after confirming I didn't need to take a Lactaid with my meal . It's always a lovely surprise. And the food??? Incredibly delicious and worth the price ! Definitely 5/5 from us, and we'll definitely be back! read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Pollo a La Plancha - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Mrs. E. and I stopped for lunch last Thursday and it was much better than I ever anticipated. It was noon when we arrived and just a small wait to get seated. I ordered the con carne arepa which featured tender, juicy rib eye that was very tasty and full of flavor. Mrs. E, predictably, braved the vegetarian plate which while decent, didn't compare to the beef!!! Score one for con carne! Drinks got to be interesting, let's say. They serve a marvelous cafe Colombiano. We meant to order an iced tea with extra ice and they served a hot green tea. They tried to correct this by bringing an extra large glass of ice. We decided to experiment with making our own iced tea and failed. The service was good, complete with the challenge, making for a very nice experience. We would consider coming back. 09/25 read more

Excellent authentic tasting Colombian food! A hidden gem in Albuquerque and highly recommend. The food is fresh and very flavorful.

Very very good. We always get multiple sides of the yuca frita because it is amazing. Service was great, they accommodated our large party well. read more

My hubby and I were looking for something unique. We found this Colombian restaurant. It was delicious!! Parking is a pain off Central but it's worth it! We like to order a few things to try different flavors. We have never had Colombian food before. We started with the arepas with creole sauce, plantains and ajiaco soup. The creole sauce had a nice Caribbean flavor with the arepas. The soup was amazing full of flavor. We also drizzled a little creole sauce in the soup. That was great. The sweet plantains were yummy. We had the paella and the arepas sandwich. The sandwich was unique and delicious. The paella was awesome. Full of shrimp, squid, mussels with rice, onions and red peppers. The sandwich came with a side salad with a light, sweet passion fruit dressing. It was great. The decor fun, light and cozy. The music was great. The server was friendly and helpful. We brought all our food out hot. It's a small cozy seating area with only about 7 tables inside and 1 outside. The bathrooms were very clean. Ver reasonably pricey. It was a very welcome change for us. read more

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Passing through Albuquerque with my sister. In the three years I lived in AZ, I never found a good Colombian restaurant. I'm in NM for 5 min and find an awesome spot. The venue is small but serves BIG flavor. Everything I had here reminds me of visiting my family in Pereira. Jugo de maracuya con leche to start. Thicker than I expected so I assume a lil yogurt or ice cream was added. It was absolutely DELICIOUS. Empanadas de carne because you just gotta. These were super crisp and the filling was loaded with beef and tasted identical to the empanadas I get when I visit Colombia. Picada for my sister and I to share. It was piled high with carne asada, chorizo, morcilla, chicharrón, yuca, plátano, papas, and arepa. The meats were freshly grilled and featured that hint of smoke that I absolutely love. I feel like I just had lunch in Colombia. Shame I can't eat as much as I used to. Después de ese almuerzo, me siento lleno.... lleno de orgullo. read more

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Ajiaco, the restaurant, makes a pretty tasty Ajiaco, the Colombian national soup, with chicken, potatoes, corn on the cob, guasca (Colombian herb), cream, avocados, and capers. Service is excellent, and the price is reasonable. They also have Arepas (Colombian corn cakes either stuffed or plain), I went with the traditional cheese and was not disappointed. read more

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The staff was super accommodating for my mother on oxygen and the "paella" was very good. They should get more table staff though. Dude was run ragged. read more

Well prepared, well presented authentic Colombian food with a New Mexican spirit. Not heavy or greasy. Very light and fresh. The environment felt the same: clean and fresh, with a comfortable ambience for dining that is both casual and elegant at the same time. Recommend the arroz con pollo! read more

The food was great. We started with a vegetarian epanada and an arepa , corn cake, stuffed with cheese. One of our group got the vegetarian plate, the 2nd had the chicken sandwich and I tried the brisket which came with rice, delicious beans, hogan sauce (tomatoes, onions and seasoning), double fried plantains topped with avocado and a fresh side salad with a delicious fruit based dressing. Everything was cooked after we ordered...so fresh. No main entre was over $20. They show a beer and wine selection but still don't have their liquor license. They juice drink choices. May try one next time. Yes, I want to go back. Ajiaco refers to the chicken soup that is made. Small in size & waiter was attentive. Probably not great for a large group. I would call and reserve before going.Takes a little time to make freash food but not unreasonable. read more

Came here on whim and glad we did. I was greeted right away with a smile from the host and welcomed into the cozy dinning room. Our waiter was very helpful and made some great recommendations. The staff were super attentive making sure our glasses were full and that we were enjoying the meal. The place is super cozy with just a handful of tables was very clean and comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

Such great food and sweet owners . Every single item on the menu is delicious and the tropical drinks make one feel like you're in Columbia!!!! read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Home on the range in the 505 - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I had the Pollo a la Plancha, which was "boneless chicken breast marinated in homemade pineapple juice topped with pineapple pieces and served with rice, plantain slices, and salad." It was a decent, if unimaginative, meal that I would have been pleased with had I made it at home, but was not very interesting for dining out. The restaurant was hot, likely because it was 90° outside and I don't think they were running the AC. Another patron asked the server to turn the AC on, though since I saw an indoor wall unit I don't believe they have central air. The service wasn't attentive; we had to ask for our drinks to be refilled, and no one checked in on us. Overall, an okay experience, but one I'll likely forget about almost immediately. read more

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While out of town, my group was looking for a nice meal Valentine's evening. A group of 6 ended up at Ajiaco after reading positive reviews. We were unable to make reservations but were seated probably 20 minutes after arriving. This is a small restaurant but we were grateful they were able to put together 2 tables for our group. I will say service was very slow, but considering it was a holiday, the restaurant was packed and they accommodated our group last minute, we happily waited. Knowing it would likely take some time, I ordered yuca frita and patacones for the table. Both were delicious and fried light and crispy. My mom had the pollo a la plancha and I ordered the arepa sandwich. The pollo a la plancha was a big portion - we probably could have shared the meal. The chicken was seasoned well, juicy, and I loved the pineapple. The meal was served with rice, sweet plantains and salad - all very fresh and tasty. The arepa sandwich was a style I'd never had before. The arepa "bun" was thin and crispy with a nice corn flavor. There was an ample portion of chicken inside and I was worried it would be spicy since I'm a wimp, but instead found lovely flavor and not burning heat. The sandwich it kind of hard to pick up, so be prepared to fork and knife it. It was served with the same fresh salad. I ate about half and took the rest back with me. There was a Valentines special that one member of the table took advantage of, but the rest of us ordered off the regular menu. If I'm ever back in Abq, I would totally love to return to this restaurant. read more

This place is way overrated: The place is overpriced for the food they offer. The "Ajiaco soup" was terrible. My husband doesn't like complaining so I didn't but if you have eaten Colombian food you know this isn't the greatest. The steak was hard. It seems the owners are cheap because we ordered bandeja paisa,and other things,, among them empanadas that come with a sauce and it came as if they measured the tiny bowl. Then we asked for lemons (twice) for our waters and they couldn't have sliced them any thinner. Also no napkins in the table you have to ask for everything. The one thing. I can say is that the waitress was very nice: however, we won't be returning read more

We ate for the 1st time on Pride Day, and expected it to be really busy, but it was not too busy. We arrived a little later in the afternoon, but it was fine. We were seated immediately outside, and it was a very nice day. We ordered Yucas Fritas, and they were really good even even though they were out of Chimmichurri, they made some more from scratch for us, which was so nice. We also ordered the Arepa con hogao, which was ok, but if you order, maybe get one with a meat like the Chicharepa. Our friend had the vegetarian plate and we (2 of us) shared the Bandeja Paisa - which was really good, especially the Chicharrón, and the beans were super flavorful. Plus arróz with a fried egg? Delicious! No room for dessert, though they had a selection. Will be going again! read more

We stated with a chicken empanada, which was made with corn meal and fried. Amazing! My wife tried the passion fruit drink with water. Spectacular! We ate the bandeja paisa sample plate! Wow! I would come back for just the beans, rice, and plantains! We ended with platano con queso for dessert. Oh my! We will be back. read more

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I ordered a house salad and a cup of the ajiaco soup for pick up. Everything was ready and carefully packed when I arrived. The ajiaco soup was one of the best soups I have ever had. The balance between the chicken, potatoes, and corn were perfect - flavorful without anything being overpowering. The soup alone should put this place in the top 10 for gluten free restaurants in ABQ! read more

WOW! Tired of the same-old-same-old??? Step out for some Colombian fare! Authentic, delicious, unique! Friendly staff, great service and delicious food! read more

Super cute, staff is friendly and food was DELICIOUS. We will definitely be back. Not only was everything seasoned well, but it was also plated very nicely and was aesthetically pleasing read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Arepa Sandwich - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This place is a hidden gem!! Food is made fresh and delicious. Service was thoughtful and attentive. 5 stars! The winners of the meal were the Yuca Fries with chimichurri. I will go back specifically for those. Prepared perfectly. The arepas were hearty and delicious and my vege friend loved the mixed salad. It had artichokes radishes and a few other delicious surprises. read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Cheese Arepa - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

From now on sweet dreams are made of Carne con arepa ;) Went back to visit my Colombian retreat Ajaico Modern Colombian comfort dishes packed with passion . Started off with jugos con leche and empanadas and arepa con queso these aperitivos were delicious. On to the Platos carne con arepa, pollo a la plancha patacon con ropa vieja every dish was authentic and so SEXY! Service has always been attentive and friendly. It's always nice to see Nubia & Pedro the owners of the little gold mine still busting arse out of this kitchen, so much respect to owners who man their business! Closed out this sweet evening with Flan de cafe AJAICO you still have my heart! Ciao read more

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Food is absolutely amazing and fresh. Service is always friendly. Restaurant is very little but cozy. We used to come often but food prices have gotten a little too high so we had to explore other options. This restaurant is definitely worth checking out. You will not regret anything you get on the menu. read more

Great atmosphere, friendly service, and the food is amazing. If you like a good strong coffee after your meal they have fresh brewed Columbian coffee that's so good. read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This restaurant is literally the best thing I found in my travels to Albuquerque. In Albuquerque, I found very little. Seems everything downtown was closed very early and outside of the balloon fiesta and Walter White's House there was little to do as a tourist. That said, Ajiaco was an oasis in the desert because the food was delicious. I had an empanada, a chorizo arepa, and the Ajiaco soup. It was absolutely delicious! The service was also terrific, friendly, and helpful. I would highly recommend this to anyone in the area. read more

FOOD get the chicken empanadas and yucca are healthy yummy Colombian "French fries". Paisa plate with the steak...all was good except for the steak. Inside and outside seating. Small place but classy. Bathroom was decent. Good service. Able to order to go. read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I loved the food here! The portion sizes are not that big but amazing taste!! The wait can be long, they seemed to be understaffed. Next time I'll order online and pick up. I love the set up tho! Beautiful little restaurant. You'll love it!! 100% read more

Delicious authentic Columbian food made perfectly. Friendly welcoming servers at family run restaurant. Make sure you're not in a rush though, but expect to have a great experience at this cozy establishment. If you haven't had it before, be sure to try the Lulo Juice. It's made from a fruit from Columbia and is delicious. It's hard to go wrong with anything you order. Their empanadas are amazing. The yuca fries are addicting. Their sauces elevate anything you eat them with. My personal favorite entree is the patacon con ropa vieja. If you have a gluten allergy, there is plenty to offer here, including the arepas. read more

Can't believe I went so long without trying. Quality exceeded my expectations. Great portions.

We got take out from Ajiaco. The steaks are delicious, nicely grilled but still moist. I cannot get enough of the yucca fries. The arepa was a little dry, but maybe it was because it took a little while to get home with the food. We ordered the take out in person. The wait for the food was a little long (35 min) but well worth it. read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. The food, the service -- I especially love the maracuyá beverage. I have spent a lot of time in S America and this makes me feel like I have been transported back. The place is cute, clean -- great to take a date or to go with friends. So far, all of the food I have tried has been fantastic. Great flavors -- all of it. read more

Delicious food with plenty of gluten free options. Our two adult children with multiple food allergies were able to enjoy lunch and dinner here without any problem. The server was able to remember us and took care to avoid the top 9 allergens. The restaurant serves delicious juices, appetizers, and amazing entrees. We enjoyed the clean and comfortable tables and chairs. There is a lovely outdoor dining area as well. Highly recommend this restaurant especially their appetizers. read more

The food is yummy, I love the plantains, the eggplant, chicken, and the shredded beef dishes. This spot is a treat!

Cute upscale feeling place! The empanadas were delicious and had great variety, will definitely be a frequent visitor. Beef empanada and cheese empanadas were my two favorites read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Empanadas - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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My previous review is nearly five years old and, following just two more visits, it's high time for an update -- even if the rating remains the same. I suppose the first thing to admit is that I've since realized that Colombian, with a second "o", is an incredibly important distinction when discussing this South American cuisine. Like (probably) most North Americans, I was an ignoramus in the previous review. Hey, I'll call myself out. Okay, so Ajiaco remains one of the finest and most unique "ethnic" food finds in ABQ, and you should go eat it. In the ever-changing (not necessarily evolving) restaurant scene of Nob Hill, the place deserves big props for stayin' alive; it's off the main Central drag and it's a smallish joint, with a makeshift curtained wall separating dining from bathrooms. Salsa and other ColOmbian tunes give the vibe some voom when you enter, and your wait for your plate is warranted because the food is downright fresh. Steering between four and five-star, aim for these winners: Empanadas, simply heaven. Bandeja paisa, a sampler plate (20% off with a Yelp check-in, score!) offering a great spread of the basics. Arroz con pollo, don't skitter on the ketchup note, it's soooo good. And don't go with the pollo a la plancha, sorry guys, it says the chicken breast is marinated in pineapple juice, doesn't taste that way. This is a family run business with a heart of gold. The beer selection could be way better, but the vino list is worthy. read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Arroz con pollo - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Wowzer! Visited for the first time today and was very impressed. The food is delicious and cooked to perfection. Literally every item on the plate is fantastic: I ordered the Bandeja Paisa and I may never order anything else...when I come back, soon! read more

Cute little restaurant. Recommend a reservation on a weekend evening. Everything is GF which is great for diners with Celiac. We love the soup and the empanadas. Service can be slow because it seems like the kitchen can sometimes get backed up with meals to-go. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. From the moment we walked in I was in love with the service and atmosphere. Our sever was friendly and helpful. The food was top notch. The fried cassava appetizer with chimichurri was my favorite item and quite possibly one of the best things I've ever eaten in my entire life. Chicken empanada was a close second. I am gluten free and dairy free and my server was able to recommend several items that would work for me. It seemed that almost the entire menu was gluten free. If you are a gluten free person passing through Albuquerque... or any person in or passing through Albuquerque, you must go here. read more

Ajiaco Colombian Bistro - Colombian Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Little spot located near the university that is absolutely delicious. I can't remember the names of all the items but everything I consumed was amazing! read more

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