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    Buckhorn Tavern

    3.9 (269 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Buckhorn Tavern Photos

    BUCKHORN TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Buckhorn Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Buckhorn Burger with side of fries
    Kiana B.

    Both indoor and covered outdoor seating available. Tried the Buckhorn Burger since it's rated #7 best burger in the country and yeah, that patty is legit. Bun was pretty standard though, but overall worth the price and trip. Nothing comes with the burger, so I ordered a side of fries and they were super oily and not particularly crispy or seasoned. Others in my group were similarly unimpressed with the onion rings. Would come back for the burger but nothing else.

    Wine-based margarita in a super fun glass!
    Lindsay K.

    I came here with a work group while we were staying in the area, and it is definitely one of the best options nearby. It had been recommended by others, and I'm really glad we made the (short) trip out here. It looks very unassuming from the outside, but has a warm atmosphere inside and seems to be a very popular spot for both locals and visitors. Thankfully we got here early on a Wednesday night, because the place is not huge and the inside filled up quickly... people were being advised of waits. There was an outdoor eating area, but it was snowing... I took a chance and ordered a wine-based margarita, having no idea what to expect. Holy moly is this drink delicious! I had three (I wasn't the driver)! Everybody in our party got the green chile burger and thought it was fantastic. I'm not a burger person, so I got a grilled chicken sandwich. They could make it on a role or on sourdough bread... I had to try the bread - it was really good! Nothing fancy about the sandwich, just yummy food that was well cooked. Our service throughout was lovely, and everybody was very kind and welcoming. If you're in the area, this is NOT a place to miss!

    Fries & Rings Combo ($7.25)
    John D.

    Green Tavern New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge part 4 of 4 Since 1918, the Buckhorn Tavern has been feeding locals, hungry travelers, and visitors to the nearby Bosque del Apache with their tasty homemade food that includes their famous Buckhorn Burger. Their success hasn't gone unnoticed despite their humble middle-of-nowhere location, as their Buckhorn Burger was named one of America's Best Burgers--#7 to be exact--by GQ Magazine; #3 "Baddest Burger in the Land" by the Nightlife Flavor Roundup (Marlboro.com); #1 Burger in the West by Saveur Magazine; as well as countless features in publications like Everyday with Rachel Ray, Sunset Magazine, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and New Mexico Magazine, just to name a few. The grandson of the original owner, Bob Olguin, even beat Bobby Flay in an episode (S6:E12) of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." The Olguin family sold the business back in 2019 to some locals, but it's important to note that despite the ownership change, the recipes are still the same ones used by the original family and the quality and consistency continues to this day. While all the accolades are well and good, the final determination is to be done by yours truly, and (spoiler alert) the live up to the hype! Let's get to the goods: Green Chile Burger (aka The Buckhorn Burger): The Bun: Tasty artisanal bun is only about a step-down from homemade. 4/5 Green Chiles: Check! There's nothing to complain about here, as the chilies were delicious, seasoned well, and grilled to perfection. 5/5 Cheese: The NM standard for cheese is a slice--or three--of American cheese - and they got that right here. The cheese was melted perfectly and didn't overwhelm the burger or chilies. 5/5 Ancillary topping: The burger came with a minimum of toppings, just a slice of tomato and onion to pair with the copious amount of green chiles and massive burger. 4/5 Burger: By-far, the Buckhorn burger was the biggest pot of the four, weighing in at a whopping 1/2lb/ea. The seasonings in the beef were terrific and paired well with the chiles, as the burger on the whole was a harmonious meal. 5/5 Fries: Housemade fries and rings were outstanding; crispy, well-seasoned, and fried to perfection. 5/5 Conclusion: Overall, at 28 out of 30 points, the Buckhorn Burger holds its own against some weighty competition and comes away with my gold standard for Green Chile Cheeseburgers. Other observations: *Small dirt lot and some street parking *Outdoor dining *Local brews (can & bottle only) *Friendly service *Family-friendly Conclusion: Fantastic burger, terrific service, historic location, and tasty libations--what's not to like?! Highly recommended.

    Green chile cheeseburger
    Josh D.

    I'm out here for work and drive by the Buckhorn Tavern daily when working. I've been here years ago, but this is the first time I've visited in over ten years. It did not disappoint and was as good as I remember from years ago! The green chile cheeseburger is a must if you've never been here before. I promise it will not disappoint! Also get the fries to accompany the meal. They are freshly cooked and crispy. The service was superb even though the place was busy and the ambiance is very casual. The chips and salsa are a great starter while you wait for your burgers to come out. The salsa has a small kick, but it is delicious! If you are in San Antonio New Mexico then do yourself a favor and stop in for a burger!

    The freshly fried tortillas chips and salsa! 10/10!
    Julie R.

    Buckhorn was stop on our way to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Decided to stop for dinner as we didn't really know what options (if many or any at all) we would have in T or C late at night. The Buckhorn is a small place but don't fret, if the dining room is full, there is a few picnic tables outside that you can sit at as well. That's where we ended up. It was the first Friday night of October, temperature hadn't really dropped yet, to be honest it was still warm. We were greeted by flies. The norm when you sit outside, especially when they are swarming some hot fresh food! LOL We ordered the taco burgers, and of course, a green chile cheeseburger. That is was they are known for. Hell, apparently good 'ol Bobby Flay from the Food Network made an appearance here for the green chile cheeseburger, some maybe, ten years past or so. So we had to have it right? We also got an order of fries to share, along with an order of chips and salsa to start. So here's how it went down. As the sun went down, so did the flies. They traded places with the mosquitos! As I got eaten alive, our food found its way out. Everything is made to order. Even the tortilla chips are fried to order. The chips and salsa were delicious! Fresh salsa, and spicy too. Hot tortilla chips too. The taco burgers were hefty sized, but suuuper messy to eat. They fell apart when you picked them up. The green chile cheeseburger was, good. Nothing spectacular about it, to me, but it was good. The bun wasn't soggy on the bottom and the chile wasn't too hot. Actually, it wasn't really hot, at all. The salsa had more heat. The fries, we pretty good. I liked them more than my burger! They are cut and fried to order, not frozen. If you haven't stopped, check em out. They is long standing rivalry between them and the Owl Cafe across the street. Which do you like better?

    The sign outside Buckhorn Tavern, San Antonio
    Bruce K.

    After spending the morning touring the Trinity Site, we stopped here for a light lunch snack. Uh, big mistake. The famous "green chile cheeseburger" is not a snack. It's a half pound monster. Which is not to say that it isn't absolutely delicious. Quite busy with tourists today but probably not usually so busy, we waited a bit for a table and then placed our orders. The burger (with a basket of fries big enough to feed three hungry dudes) took 20 minutes. Worth it. Yeah, the reputation lives up to the quality. Delicious, perfectly cooked and topped with cheese and green chiles (and lettuce, tomato, onion). Yummy! [Review 21031 overall - 103 in New Mexico - 2016 of 2023.]

    Green chile cheeseburger ("Buckhorn Burger") & fries.  Scrumptious!
    Ginger F.

    I'm so confused as to why this place doesn't have a higher review score. We were there today, were greeted with friendly smiles. Our waitress could not have been better. We got green chile cheeseburgers & fries. The burgers were generously sized. The meat was very well seasoned & cooked perfectly. The fries were also delicious. We'll be staying in the area for only 3 more days - - will return to the Buckhorn 2 or 3 more times, no doubt!

    Green chile burger no cheese. Huge. And the amazing onion rings!
    Emily S.

    Great place! Went to the Owl cafe and I truly hate to say this as I love the ABQ location, this place beats it hands down as to food. Had the green Chile burger. Beautiful and awesome. Someone said it fell apart in a review? Well so does In and Out. If you can only pick one place I would come back here no contest. Staff definitely excellent also. Really friendly and accommodating. And super cute decor. Try the Fred sauce on the smothered burrito. It's a mushroom sauce, one of those things you have to try. Also the onion rings are excellent, some of the best I've had, and I'm old!

    We had the green chili cheeseburger and the American style burger with Texas toast. So good. The burgers are huge, and the prices are fantastic for what you get! Wait staff is friendly and attentive. A must stop when nearby!

    Stacked grilled cheese, Onion rings, Chips and Salsa and fresh Ice Tea
    Jordan M.

    Buckhorn is famous for their burgers and they are delicious! This time I got a stacked grilled cheese very good they made it in a heart shape for Mother's Day. Buckhorn never disappoints the food it always good, service is always friendly. Passing through stop by.

    Jim L.

    Outstanding green chili cheeseburger in a very cool location. This has been my favorite meal so far in New Mexico and my all-time favorite green chili cheeseburger. It's huge! And it's delicious! Super flavorful burger and the green chili was just right! Not too spicy but also not bland at all.

    Outside the buckhorn
    Gabriel S.

    Truckers driving north on I25 don't eat in Hatch or Las Cruces down shift your gears and turn right onto 68 US Highway 380. When you get into San Antonio park your truck on the left side of the road where there is plenty room. Now walk 300 yards to this place. Visitors from 49 states follow the same instructions I gave the truckers, but park in front or side parking spaces. California visitors keep driving to Canada and don't stop. [Joking] lol. Everyone is welcome. I drove almost five hours to this place because I was craving a green chili New Mexico burger. I was told by an old timer that this is the place to go. 76 year history Rated #7 burger place in America by GQ magazine # 3 baddest burger in the land by Marlboro.com #1 burger in the west by saveur magazine In 2009 Bobby Flay lost a throw down at this tavern. This burger lived up to its hype! I ordered the green chili buckhorn burger with bacon and a basket of onion rings and fries. The green chili was fresh and tasty and not to hot. The bun was moist and the burger was cooked perfect! Each bite was something to savor and the burger was huge. The French fries and onion rings were also homemade and perfectly salted and battered. Was it worth a five hour drive from Arizona? You Bet! Yum Yum!

    Buckhorn burger
    Destiny L.

    Stopped by on a recent return trip from Ruidoso and the green chile cheeseburger was very very good. They seem to offer a good list of beers and such, a good amount of burger and food options but you kind of have to go with the classics. I skipped the beer because I was driving but I will say the water comes with the good ice. As a New Mexican, I obviously take my green chile very seriously and a green chile cheeseburger has to be done right. They know what they are doing here for sure. The burger was well seasoned, chile had good flavor but wasn't too hot. Also a huge bonus for their fries because they were perfect, not too thin but still crispy for being on the thicker side. We sat outside on the little patio and the weather was great. Service was friendly and fast, they weren't very busy though.

    Buckhorn burger (double) and fries

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    2 days ago

    Great service and amazing food. Good selection of beer and a nice environment for food a drink.

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    Thank you for the awesome detailed review, we really appreciate it.

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    Desert Diamond - Stuffed Sopaipilla Plate w/Chicken

    Desert Diamond

    4.2(21 reviews)
    9.3 mi

    I had a work trip to New Mexico over the summer, and my colleagues and I stopped in Socorro for a…read moremeeting on our drive back to Albuquerque from Las Cruces. What an interesting pit stop! One of my colleagues used to work in Socorro, so she was happy to be our tour guide for that segment of the trip, sharing personal anecdotes, fun facts, local insights, and other background on Socorro County. After our meeting and brief windshield tour, we ended up at Desert Diamond for lunch, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is a no-frills mom and pop that specializes in New Mexican cuisine. There was a decent crowd in the restaurant for the lunch rush, and all signs indicated that this place would be solid. Once we were seated, and I had a chance to scan the menu, I quickly landed on the stuffed sopaipillas since I had never had that particular dish before. About ten minutes later, our meals were expertly delivered to our table in perfect unison. The stuffed sopaipilla came out piping hot and extremely well-seasoned. I decided to enjoy the moment and indulge, effortlessly reinstating my membership in the Clean Plate Club!

    A bit disappointed in both food and service. The waitress was spunky and yet forgot to take our…read moreorder. I think her sarcasm was meant as a joke but couldn't be sure. I had the chicken burrito plate with green chili on the side. The chili was spicy for sure and absolutely had to go on the burrito because it was otherwise entirely bland. The rice was dry, beans were ok. The highlight of the meal was the sopaipilla with honey. Very tasty. Hard rock from the 70s and 80s was playing. Interesting vibe, not what I expected.

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    Desert Diamond - Hard Shell Tacos

    Hard Shell Tacos

    Desert Diamond - 4 item combo in front, chile relleno plates hit in rear. Delicioso!

    4 item combo in front, chile relleno plates hit in rear. Delicioso!

    Desert Diamond - Reasonable prices!

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    Reasonable prices!

    Yo Mama's Grill - Bosque Burger ($14)

    Yo Mama's Grill

    4.3(252 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $$

    We were pleasantly impressed, we were hesitant because of the name, lol "what's in a name". We…read moreenjoyed the ambiance, wonderful service and a very good menu.

    Nice small Town family bar and grill, In the old days, we would call it a tavern. With definitely a…read morelocal feel. Both the husband and wife who own the place work there and really try to make a difference. All the staff I met were very helpful and kind. I love the fact that they got locally sourced.Chiles for their salsas and their chillie cheeseburgers. Although I had a tech burger , I made sure I got a side of the local chiles. They have an extensive variety of food chicken dishes, salad's and burgers. Restaurants and bars are also about expectations, what type of bar and restaurant are you going to? And everyone is under staffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. The small town restaurants you have to remember serve local families, ranchers, couples on dates to workers on temporary assignment for cable or some other service and really are gathering places. They're not used to big city out of town tourists.So if you keep that in mind you'll have a great experience at any of the small towns you visit. They offer quite a variety of New Mexico beers as well as some regular favorites. They make quite a variety of cocktails as well. Single diners are welcome at the bar or they'll fit you in a table.If that's not too busy.

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    Yo Mama's Grill
    Yo Mama's Grill - Bosque Burger ($14)

    Bosque Burger ($14)

    Yo Mama's Grill - Blackened Catfish ($19)

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    Blackened Catfish ($19)

    Buckhorn Tavern - burgers - Updated July 2026

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