Very chill cafe with a big menu. Ordered a breakfast burrito. It was delightful. The green chile is on point. Recommend. The ladies behind the counter were very sweet and made great recommendations. The clientele are clearly local retirees who know a good spot when they find it. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Grande Burrito Grande Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Extensive menu. Ultra fast and super friendly service, both behind the counter and the waitstaff. Tasty food. This'll be my go-to ABQ diner from now on. Love Central Grille! That said, for management: there's one issue that prevents me from leaving 5+ stars -- the styrofoam take-out containers: a huge environmental no-no. Not-so-fun-fact: "A Styrofoam container takes 500 years to a million years to decompose, and many scientists argue that it never truly biodegrades at all." read more

What a nice cute personable diner! Stopped by for the first time on our way back from a doctor's appt. As soon as we walked in we were greeted and asked if this was the first visit. We were then given instructions about ordering at the counter then choosing whatever seating we wanted in the main room or in the adjoining heated closed patio. The food that came to the table was great! The breakfast burrito was HUGE and very tasty! Eggs, hash browns and pork chop, also delicious! The prices very reasonable! The manager came by to ask how everything was! We will definitely be back! read more

I finally tried out this breakfast spot and it truly lived up to the hype! I've attempted to stop by on weekends but it was so poppin I couldn't find parking. I finally went during the week and it was smooth sailing! You enter the restaurant and order at the counter- they have a large breakfast and lunch menu with all the favorites. I have been on an omelette kick and I love that you can build your own! They have a variety of veggie options so you can really get creative! Their pastries looked incredible, I will def return to try them! They have the option of getting a piece of toast or a biscuit, I of course tried their biscuits and they were perfect. I'll have to bring my finance the biscuit king to really be the judge!! read more

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The discovery of breakfast places around town continues and we were in the old town area when our bellies started growling. Central Grill was an option nearby and we stopped by. All staff were friendly, which could be especially hard an hour before closing. Even though the food took a long time to reach our table, they were quite helpful with some additional request for red and green salsa sides. We ordered the chicken and waffles and the chilaquiles with a nice lavender latte. The waffles were sweet and fluffy. The chicken pieces were a bit small but were ok in flavor. The green and red chile salsas gave it a little extra flavor, in case you're interested in sweet and savory chicken and waffles. I ordered the chilaquiles with two over medium eggs and Christmas style. For sure, the red salsa is more tasty, but the chunks of the green salsa have it a nice texture. The tortillas seemed air fried or baked instead of fried, making them lighter than most chilaquiles. The papitas and beans were fine as sides. Overall, we were glad we got some breakfast to satisfy our hunger. The staff, coffee, waffles, and salsas were good while the rest was ok to get us fed. read more

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If you're looking for a breakfast place that's a crowd pleaser, this is your winner. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and there was plenty of seating. We sat on the covered patio and the fans kept it totally comfortable even though it was 83° outside. And the FOOD... OMG. We got huevos rancheros, eggs Benedict, and waffle dogs. Everything was perfectly cooked, and the portions are very generous. I am sitting here baffled at the fact that it's not absolutely packed in here because this was the best breakfast I've had in a long while. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Eggs Benedict, Waffle Dogs, and Huevos Rancheros - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

It's a little bit of a weird setup. You walk on and you need to order at the counter. The line moves pretty fast. If you want to sit in a different section you have to walk outside and then they that door. Me and the wife both had the biscuits and gravy with sausage. The gravy was creamy but the biscuits were a little dry. Also, I wish the sausage was mixed into the gravy instead of just being on top. It wasn't a bad enough experience that we wouldn't try it again. If you are staying in the areas you should give it a try read more

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The hype is real--this is an authentic diner with amazing food and a menu with something for everyone. I ordered their famous blue corn pancakes (among the best in the nation, we're told) and they lived up to their billing. The owner works the register and greets guests at their tables; I love the personal touch. And it's right across Central from Old Town, making it easy to grab a meal before or after shopping. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Counter and menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hmm I think I just ordered wrong.. the eggs were overdone which ruined the benny experience but the hollandaise sauce was very good. Also love the fresh fruit. You go up to the counter to order and then try and find somewhere to sit. I was there early so it was not an issue, but I can see that being frustrating. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Eggs Benedict - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Oh wow! I am not in love with the space, but the food, pricing and service are all fantastic. Order/pay at the counter and then find a seat and someone brings you notably delicious food (the green was much better than the red on the day I went; I don't see the red as ever knocking me over but it was fine) and then keeps checking on your drink level, etc. The part of the restaurant that's technically indoor is in with the kitchen, and there was some grease smell going on in there; we sat in the sheltered annex area where we were entertained by a preposterous number of healthy-looking pigeons picking for crumbs around our feet. Food was delivered promptly and staffers continually checked on whether we needed anything. Food was delicious (I had a chorizo breakfast burrito, smothered in both red and green chiles), prepared well from obviously quality ingredients and of a completely reasonable portion size for the money. Parking was fine even at a crowded time; there was an auxiliary lot that was an easy walk and seemed perfectly safe. Despite the fact that Central Grill and Coffee House has been there for a long time, I've never visited before (the prospect of Old Town traffic and parking issues kept me away, despite the good reviews). When I returned from this brunch with a friend I told my wife to plan to go with me soon - I was very happy with the place. read more

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Amazing food and pancakes! Great staff and service! People all work together and the place is very clean. Food was quick once ordered.

Overall: Central Grill and Coffee House is one of my favorite diners and breakfast spots. The food and service is always excellent. Food: 5 Pancakes: They live up to their name of best pancakes in Albuquerque. The pancakes are fluffy and buttery but crisp on the outside. They can make them with any toppings that you want. Tuna Melt with Onion Rings: This was a tasty sandwich, and the onion rings were excellent. Service: 5 This is a casual restaurant where you order at the counter, take a number, and then someone brings your food. The cashier is always super patient while you decide what to order and if you have any questions. Ambiance: 4 The restaurant has plenty of tables. The biggest problem is probably parking if it is busy, but there is usually a spot available in the lot next door. read more

This place is such a gem. The food is always delicious and the staff is welcoming ans accommodating. Our favorite go-to for breakfast. Blueberry pancakes are the best! read more

The place was bustling and the seats were filled. The food did take a bit of time to come out but the food was excellent. I ordered a BLT with a side of onion rings, a blueberry pancake, grande bacon burrito , huevos rancheros and a chile Aquiles. Everybody enjoyed their meals. The only thing that was needed on the huevos was more hash. Service was very slow but we came during the rush hour so we remained patient as my plate and daughters came out later than usual. read more

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Phenomenal meal and hospitality! Our family of 4 had a great dining experience at Central Grill and we look forward to going back! It can be difficult to make everyone happy when it comes to dining out, but Central Grill was a home run! Legendary delicious pancakes, Frito pie, Rueben sandwich, veggie skillet are the main dishes we ordered and it was all yummy! We also were entertained by a lovely man who stopped by to check on our table and tell us Dad jokes. "Did you know my pony was getting sick? Yeah, he's a little horse!" Lol cracked the table up and made us all smile. Definitely try this restaurant and get the pancakes! : ) read more

I love this establishment so much I had such a good time her with my husband the ordering was quick and easy at the counter and the prices are amazing here they bring the food to you . We sat in the outside portion the lady out here is amazing she is so attentive. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Grande Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I ordered the French toast with bananas. Maybe it was not a best option to order. I do not understand what was wrong with the bananas. I can only describe them as tasting like they were green, as in not ripe. The caramelized sauce was overwhelmingly too sweet. My partner ordered the pork chops and eggs with green sauce because she wanted to try something different. She definitely got what she wanted....something different. It just wasn't good. We were visiting from out of town and chose this restaurant based on reviews. It just didn't meet our expectations. read more

It's important to note this review is from when the balloon fiesta was taking place. We came into a huge line going out the door but we wanted to wait due to the raving reviews we read prior to coming. The staff did relay it would be 30-45 min for food and were quick to have someone get drink orders out while you waited to place your order. Getting a table was hard with how many people were waiting, I'm pretty sure it was the owner but someone started setting up fold up tables in the patio area so there was more seating available which I thought was kind. We got lattes and the barista made sure we liked them prior and also gave us plenty of time to enjoy our coffee prior to the food. While we were waiting the staff kept updating those in line of current wait times which did turn some people away. The staff were definitely under a lot of pressure with how busy it was and there was definitely an argument in the back but the rest of the staff did remain calm. when the 45 min mark was approaching I was watching the food come out of the kitchen like a hawk. The waitress did notice me eyeing everything and gave me the heads up we were next. our food arrived and I ordered mine christmas style and it was missing all the chile... I was able to get a side of chile from the waitress and the owner did come and ask how everything was. My burrito was dry without the chile but the huge pieces of bacon made up for it. I think overall if you are here during the balloon fiesta it's an ok option. Probably better to come during a non peak time. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Grande Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Nice little spot to have breakfast at before we head home. Love that it's on Route 66! Definitely a must to go to! Great food and service

The food was awesome. The staff is excellent. It was mother's day and my lunch on them. I have never experienced the kindnesses from the staff anywhere else. They are hard workers and seem to enjoyed working there. Thank you! We will comeback! read more

Otherworldly pancakes and veggie skillet during a pass through of Albuquerque. A must stop for the brunch obsessed!.

Exactly what we were hoping for. A downhome diner with some really nicely done food! The specials board has many temptations but I came for the blue corn pancakes. So good! I didn't even add syrup I was enjoying them so much with a little butter alone. My companion had the blueberry pancakes and really enjoyed them as well. The eggs were done perfectly (we had scrambled) and the OJ was not fresh squeezed in house but was delicious (he let me taste it first and it was a go). Good coffee, friendly and efficient service, and a bustling staff taking care of keeping things moving and clean. Oh, and groaner Dada jokes from the proprietor! What else can you ask for? Convenient from off of the highway, and the fuel we needed to keep going. Just go. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Specials for today, September 8, 2025 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Tried the Central Grill early this morning and it was great. Very friendly staff, food was easy to order at the counter, when it arrived in a timely fashion it was delicious. I had the BYO omelette, hash browns, toast and one pancake. All YUM!!! Thanks for a great way to start Sunday and see y'all soon read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - EAT EM UP! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kitchen wasn't quite up to par on a slow January Saturday morning, which is troubling. Potatoes in my carne adovada burrito weren't fully cooked, and my partner's blue corn pancakes tasted noticeably burnt. Still great value, but not quite as good as in the past. read more

This place is so yummy and delicious! You have to order your food first then find a seating which can be a bit difficult when they are super busy. They do not allow people to save tables ahead of time. Their food is so good and we like to come here on the weekends! read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Well worth the visit! Friendly service and excellent food. Loved the kids breakfast burrito, the house made hot sauce, and the blue corn pancakes were a must-try. It wasn't busy at noon on a Tuesday so the food came out fresh. Fast casual restaurant where you order at the front and seat yourself. read more

This local establishment is owner operated and is a local favorite! It will not disappoint! The line stayed consistently at least 7-8 people long! The door was constantly opening as new patrons entered to join in the line. The owner worked the register and was very friendly. The place is nothing fancy just a good old local small business with amazing breakfast! We both drank water and our bill was just under $30 out the door. I had a Jr burrito (2 eggs with turkey sausage, potatoes and cheese) smothered in green gravy! It was excellent! 9/10 a homemade tortilla would have made this perfect 10. Sorry I'm a foodie and very critical but this was still delicious and I definitely recommend it with no hesitation! My man got the All American with three scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and the most moist and soft biscuit on the side! I could have ate 20 of them thangs! Joking but seriously the biscuit is a perfect 10! I used only a tab of strawberry jam on my bite and wow it was delicious! He loved his breakfast and said it was a perfect 10! Overall if you are ever near old town do yourself a favor and go get breakfast here! read more

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Group of 4 traveling from TX to UT...this was ahhhhhmazing! We ordered the egg Benedict, bacon taco with both red and green sauce (highly recommend) and the bacon burrito jr. w/ red chile sauce (Yummers). The coffee was perfect and the man and lady working up front were very friendly and helpful. Would definitely come back again! Great fuel for the road. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Eggs Benedict - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Very polite and helpful service. Really good food. Nice atmosphere for a casual breakfast. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Carne Adovada Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

The pancakes were good. The waffle dogs were good. The Eggs Benedict was awful.....hash browns were ice cold and eggs were barely cooked & warm-ish, still kind of slimy! I didn't eat any of it! The plate did look good and probably would have been it the food was hot! read more

T is our favorite spot for breakfast in Albuquerque. The food is always delicious and the service is top-notch. They also have specialty coffees so I can skip the Starbucks for a latte at the restaurant. They actually make a better latte at a better price so it is a win-win overall. The owner, George, keeps things running smoothly and always has a great one liner joke. He goes out of his way to make sure you're happy with your food and your dining experience. And an added bonus, as they have a drive-through for those in a hurry. I highly recommend getting your coffee here then at a chain like Starbucks because it is better in flavor and cost. and who doesn't appreciate supporting local businesses? read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - All American with scrambled egg whites and a side of salsa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I live in the area and had never popped by until yesterday. The service was really nice and quick. The food was delicious and very affordable. The chefs also brought out the food as quickly as they could, considering how packed it was! And the location was very cute, just like a good ol diner. I'll definitely be back! I got the huevos rancheros with red chile and we got chocolate chip pancakes to share. Both were flavorful and not too heavy. Their chile was not overwhelmingly spicy, very flavorful, and savory. The papitas were the correct choice for this dish. The pancakes were fluffy with the perfect amount of chocolate chips. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Huevos Rancheros - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a nice old-fashioned dinner near Old Town that offers traditional and New Mexican dishes. After you order and pay, find a table inside or outside, and their staff will bring the food to your table. We ordered coffee, avocado toast, huevos rancheros with green chile sauce and, a side of French toast. The food came out at the same time and it was delicious. They have a drive-thru window, and there are about 10 parking spots on either side of the building. read more

Came in with my husband and ordered omelette and hash browns, then my husband got the heuvos rancheros while we shared two blueberry pancakes. The pancakes had crispy edges just how we like them. Super delicious! Staff was very nice and checked on us. Definitely a mom and pop ambiance :) read more

The huevos rancheros with papitas and a side of the blue corn pancakes with piñón are so delicious !! I like this place, they are relatively quick and there's a lot of seating available. The staff is also really nice. read more

After a somewhat disappointing experience at the Grove the morning before, we were looking for something a little less highfalutin--and more traditionally New Mexican--for breakfast. Central Grill and Coffee House, just across from Old Town, got the job done. Initially, we weren't too excited about another breakfast place where you order at the counter, but there was no line, and our food ended up coming out pretty quickly. And in contrast to the Grove, the waitstaff was diligent about drink refills (very good coffee for a relatively modest place) and about amiably checking in on how were doing. Huevos Rancheros are, of course, not New Mexican, but the green chile that I ordered mine with punched things up a bit--a very satisfying version of the dish. (Mild complaint: the home fries were a little bland and seemed warmed-over.) The wife was over the moon about her blue corn pancakes, a dish she'd never had before. (After having these, she even ordered a bunch of New Mexican blue-corn pancake mix so we could have these back home.) Nice, traditional diner atmosphere with both an indoor section and pleasant looking screened-in outdoor area. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Huevos Rancheros (w/green chile) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a must visit Great food in a friendly atmosphere. The huge cinnamon rolls are a must try. The best I've had yet. But get there early, you'll want more than one Five out of five stars read more

What a perfect spot along Central! Great value, great food, all around great experience! Central Grill is a fast casual, order-at-the-register place offering breakfast, lunch, and a variety of coffee beverages. The line to order moved quickly and the wait for food was negligible. The restaurant is small, but clean, well lit with many windows, and well organized. Parking and dining-in seating is somewhat limited given Central Grill's growing popularity, but I did not have an issue with either. Staff were efficient, communicative, and courteous. In fact, a nice gentleman who I assume to be the owner or manager came by to ensure my table had everything and brightened our day with a few jokes! Side note, be sure to remember to tip when ordering because staff brings your food out, check on you, and dispose of your dishes! I ordered and loved the chile relleno breakfast plate off the specials menu! Perfectly crispy and cheesy chile relleno, mild in spiciness, smothered in delicious green chile. The entree came with two eggs (I opted for scrambled), breakfast potatoes/papitas, refried beans, small handmade tortilla. Great portions for $11.95! Great value and flavor! I was also very happy with the chai tea latte ($3.25) to accompany the meal! I also was able to try the blue corn pancakes off the specials menu- wow! Fresh, fluffy, thick, and moist! I got the impression you can't go wrong when ordering at Central Grill! read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Chile relleno breakfast plate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We've had good meals here in the past. Their service is excellent and the food options are reasonably priced and generally delicious. Our meal Saturday wasn't up to Central Grill's usual standards. I tried the croque monsieur. The eggs on top were cooked well and the Swiss cheese and ham were tasty, but a better quality sourdough would make this dish something special. The hash browns were really underseasoned. I couldn't detect any salt, pepper, etc. Next time I'll order their veggie breakfast platter since that has worked well in the past. My husband had the huevos rancheros with red. He said the eggs and potatoes were good but the red chile was overly salty. We chose half of a four-top that was clean since it was the only open table inside. The other half just needed a couple of coffee drips wiped up, and since they were super busy it wasn't a big deal. My husband mentioned the drips to our server when she came to take our order. A couple of minutes later the owner stopped at our table and told us he would fire whoever hadn't been able to finish cleaning the other half. We said, "No, don't do that!" It was weird and he didn't seem like he was joking. Maybe everyone was having an off day? We will most likely return to Central Grill at some point, but this visit was just strange. read more

Central Grill and Coffee House - Croque monsieur. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We stopped in at the end of a busy Sunday. That may have impacted the visit, but it shouldn't have. First, it's tricky getting a spot to park. Note that there is some extra parking available just east of the restaurant on Central. We stepped up to order. Staff let us know (thankfully we had time AND he was kind to let us know ahead) that it would be 35 minutes to get the food out. We both ordered hamburgers. We also ordered tater tots to share. French fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries are extra $$. The food came out in about 15-20 minutes. So better than expected. The burgers were just average, very salty. Tater tots were perfect. I've been before a few years back. I had breakfast food then and my memory was good. This visit was not as good. Not bad, but not great. read more