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    El Camino Dining Room

    3.8 (97 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

    El Camino Dining Room Photos

    EL CAMINO DINING ROOM ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - El Camino Dining Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jim T.

    Gracious, good morning on this brisk Wednesday morning (we had freeze warnings last night). One way to get warm is to visit the El Camino Dining Room on 4th Street. They have some excellent food guaranteed to warm your insides and tickle your taste buds. Come join the boys, and one girl, from the VA Creative Writing Group as they venture out and try different restaurants (mostly) in central New Mexico. Just click on the following YouTube video link to see what we ordered and meet the owner. https://youtu.be/QNwjfqgMrKQ?si=Hky1QE-MMspsjn4a

    Beef taco fiesta salad
    Lisa D.

    Older non-descript building on the east side of 4th street. We were looking for something close to where we were at the moment and this came up as a choice. I ordered the ground beef taco salad. It was good. It did not come with dressing but it was good with the sour cream. TONS of meat. Not the wow-est taco salad but I did enjoy it. I believe it is a family run place. Everyone was super helpful and service was quick. We got there just in time for them to start getting busy.

    Been meaning to try here for some time but it's a smidge out of the way from where I normally am when I go to Albuquerque. Fountain sodas are from a can, and the one I had tasted off. Almost ordered a burger taco, was asked if I wanted cheese as it's not extra so I ordered a cheeseburger. It was pretty good. Turns out, its $3 more than the hamburger was (so much for not charging for cheese). For a "fat cheeseburger" it was normal sized. Had mashed potatoes with gravy for the side, was OK. The homemade chips give out are fantastic. Service was ok, very friendly but it annoyed me that I had to go across the restaurant to snag a napkin. The atmosphere was nice but in need of a cleaning and maybe update. While the place was clean, there was a lot that was worn down over the years needing some TLC (or a deep scrubing and a little paint). The plates and cups also need replacing when they're chipped and cracked as badly as I was served today.

    Ground Beef Taco Salad
    John D.

    Decided to try this place after getting some recommendations. Walking thru a door that's seen better days we step into a place from eras long gone. We're ok with nostalgia for a simpler time. Grab a booth and menus arrive immediately. Drink orders given and get served with chips (some homemade) & salsa. Food selection was difficult. Carne Asada Burrito & Papas for me and a Ground Beef Taco Salad. The burrito was overloaded with meat and a nice amount of whole beans(v refried beans). Good flavor and plenty there. The taco salad was good - no dressing tho. Salsa or salad dressing would have made it better. In both cases there was enough for another meal. As for the sopapillas - they didn't come with a combination of honey & corn syrup. They come with the real thing. We opened a fresh bottle of 100% honey. Yes there is a difference in taste.

    El Camino Fritos Dogs
    Ben A.

    El Camino Dining Room on Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM, was one of our favorite stops during our visit... a visit focused on fan-boying our way through various Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul filming locations. From the moment you step through the door, you are transported to the nostalgic era of the 1950s, with its historical aura and charming decor that perfectly captures the spirit of that time. The quaintness of El Camino Dining Room is truly enchanting. The attention to detail in preserving a vintage diner atmosphere is commendable, and every corner of the restaurant exudes a sense of authenticity. The small counter, the heavily lacquered wood tables, mismatched chairs, old-school coffee mugs... the whole place was a fun throwback to a different time of travel across our great country. What adds an extra layer of excitement for fans of the AMC series Better Call Saul is the knowledge that this charming establishment was featured in several episodes. The connection to the show adds a unique allure, and you can almost imagine the characters from the series enjoying a meal in this nostalgic setting... even though the show made the place seem a lot larger than it actually is! One of the standout features of El Camino Dining Room is the generous portion sizes. The dishes served here are not only delicious but also hearty, ensuring that you leave completely satisfied. The menu offers a variety of classic American comfort foods, each prepared with care and attention to quality. Reasonable prices, even with the worldwide markup of everything that has happened over the last couple of years. The outstanding service further elevates the dining experience. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about creating a memorable visit for patrons. Our interaction with the owner was a highlight, as she took the time to engage in casual conversation and share fascinating stories about Jonathan Banks and Rhea Seehorn, adding a personal touch to our experience. The owner's anecdotes about the actors from Better Call Saul added an extra layer of excitement to our visit. It was a pleasure to hear behind-the-scenes stories while enjoying a delicious meal. The casual and friendly atmosphere encouraged a relaxed and enjoyable dining experience. El Camino Dining Room is a must-visit destination for those seeking a taste of Route 66 nostalgia, excellent food, and a touch of TV history. The staff even let me geek out and recreate a couple of photo-angles from behind the counter. If you're a fan of the show, or just a fan of unpretentiously good food and better service, you have to stop in here on your next visit to the ABQ.

    Steak and enchiladas, Christmas
    Tommy P.

    I haven't been here since the Nineties, but the place is just the same as it ever was. And the food seems to actually be better - so is the service. And so is the area. Came for lunch with a friend and we both enjoyed it. Friend had green huevos rancheros - he thought the green was good but noted that it's more the Río Abajo style. I had the ribeye and enchiladas, Christmas - perfectly medium-rare that I ordered and very tasty, and I'd note that the red is made from pods and not powder. (That's a good thing, if you're new to chile.) I was very happy with the red and preferred it to the (perfectly fine) green. The service was just flat outstanding: polite and helpful and on-the-spot with whatever was needed. I won't let almost thirty years go by again before going back to El Camino Dining Room - in fact, I suspect I'll be back before thirty DAYS pass. Very nice place.

    This is the inside of the El Camino dining room!
    Tom G.

    In full disclosure, the El Camino dining room is right over my back wall. My brother was visiting and we were looking for a fun place to grab a bite to eat before he returned to California. When I suggested we take a walk over to the El Camino, I could see a smile crept over his face. There's always plenty of parking as it is a large lot. Inside, we arrived close to their closing time, hours are always 8 AM until 2 PM. My brother ordered a taco salad which he seemed to enjoy quite a bit. I had the chicken enchilada lunch with an egg over easy. I couldn't finish it all and saved a portion of it for lunch the next day. Pro tip: it microwaves very well the next day.

    Cyn P.

    So this is a nothing fancy little bit rustic old Mexican restaurant. It is apparently infamous for having been featured on the better call Saul series which I personally have never seen. I went with two friends and they were very excited to be able to sit in the booth that Kim said in?. Okay now for the review Service was wonderful we came around 1:00 p.m. and they were closing at 2:30 we were told to take our time. I had had Mexican food the day before and wasn't into Mexican so it took me a while but I found a burger that was surprisingly and exceptionally delicious. My two friends ordered Mexican entrees one of burrito that was enormous he could meet the whole thing the other person ordered a taco plate and she had to take a lot of it home. I didn't finish my burger although it was delicious and so where the french fries. The food is very reasonable Lee priced service was very kind and generous. I would go back there for another Burger any day of the week it was so delicious.

    El Camino exterior
    Deborah O.

    Blast from the Past!!! A throwback from Rt 66 days! Vintage interiors. Pueblo NM Architecture from 1950. Home cooking New Mexican foods w lots of local clientele. Sit at the counter and eat, booth, or table. Serves Breakfast and Lunch. No evening dinner. I ordered the Lydia's Special for brunch which was very good and not too much. A fried flour tortilla w 2 eggs, green chili stew and cheese on top. Very tasty and the green chili stew was not to hot. The fried flour was a nice change. Service and atmosphere was relaxed but good. Prices have gone up since I was last here a few years ago. Closes at 2:30pm. Take your out of town family or friends here for a view of yesterday!!

    Breakfast burritos and French toast
    Mike T.

    Ate breakfast for the first time at this legendary place- was not disappointed! My carne adovada with green was the best breakfast burrito I've ever had, and portions are huge. French toast was superb as well. Service was great and the atmosphere is very quaint/ local If you're a fan of Breaking Bad, this place was in Better Call Saul several times. Check out this local treasure ASAP!

    Breakfast burrito
    Amber W.

    I have visited at El Camino for breakfast for years now since they are in our neighborhood. There is nothing fancy about this place but service is always really fast and friendly, and the portions are huge. I also believe that it's family owned and operated. We like to come eat here when we want a simple, quick & good breakfast.

    The El Camino is on historic Route 66.
    Arwen L.

    Just ate here for the first time. Husband unit has been on the hunt for a place that is just real. Too many pretend to be down home goodness. Well, the El Camino isn't pretending. This place, around since 1950, is the real deal. My husband had the nacho salad. He said it was very tasty and huge. I ordered the posole with red chili. So good. Their red chili is a smoky goodness on the tongue. But I need to back up. The homemade HOT chips complimented the salsa like Richard Burton romancing Elizabeth Taylor. Then things got fun. We came in at 1:30 and were seated. It was obvious that they'd been busy. And were still busy. In fact, we were the last table seated because they close at two. I noticed a woman beginning to show all the signs of an entitled hissy fit. She commented that other people were getting their food. Then she asked if she could speak to management. So the owner spoke to them. They had already brought out some mashed potatoes for the child with them. There were three adults and the child. When the food arrived, it wasn't correct. They offered to remake it. Mrs. Entitlement wasn't having it. She said to leave it as they had waited too long. Then she said that they wouldn't be paying for it. The manager said no to that. So Mrs. Entitlement lost it. Yelled. Complained. Showed her butt. And the owner raised her voice back. Now. The owner admittedly lost her cool. But, as an eyewitness to the whole thing, the owner was not out of line. It ended with the woman's child sobbing, the husband apologizing, and one of the employees going outside to make sure they left. The woman screamed "I'll make sure no one ever eats here again!" Yes, I'm serious. Talk about entitlement. So our first, but not last, meal at the El Camino was, as they say, memorable. To Mrs. Entitlement...We will be eating there again. The food is worth the wait.

    House omelet with sausage

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    23 days ago

    Best Huevos Rancheros in Burque. Full Stop!! A real diner not this contrived hipster BS with overpriced shakes and shitty green chile

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    3 years ago

    Homemade Red and GreenChile with generous portions, highly recommended breakfast stop.

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    The last two times I've gone they were out of something, Carne adovada and bacon the other time.

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    El Pinto

    El Pinto

    3.4
    (1.9k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Late lunch/ early dinner today. Hotter than heck outside so decided to hide at El Pinto for…read moreawhile. Ordered cold beer and cocktails after we were seated inside Lotsa flies.....we get it....pretty much an open-air restaurant this time of year They did set a spinner on our table which helped. Was decently cool inside too I have been wanting to try their Kizer beef and pork offerings so i threw down on a cheeseburger (hard to not order New Mexican food here) But that burger was perfect! Delicious I recommend and was plenty big Of course i dropped a big spoonful of green chile on it And the green chile strip appetizer was outstanding Summer at El Pinto. Enjoy!

    This place has amazing vibe, livelihood, and outdoor, cute seating areas. The place looks vibrant…read moreand lively. But the overall food is average. I had the house special chili ribs and the ribs aren't flavorful. There is no distinctive taste to these ribs but chilied. But since the chili is tasteless themselves, it doesn't contribute to the overall flavor of the ribs anyway. 2/5 Stuff sopadillas with beef is very large and filling. For the lunch menu, the price is rather affordable for how much food I ordered. The tastes? I can't tell because it is comparable to any other restaurants. Nothing really stands out to me. 4/5 The regular sopadilla with honey as a side dish is amazing and you can't really go wrong with sopadilla and honey 5/5. Chips and salsa is continuously refilled as requested. Overall service is average, with water refill being done per request, not automatically. I personally would take tourists here to experience the cute vibe of New Mexico that this restaurant gives: a cute brunch with the ladies, a nice hang out and gathering with friends.

    Photos
    Come on in!
    Come on in!
    Hatch Chile and Chicharrones
    Hatch Chile and Chicharrones
    Interior entrance

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    Interior entrance
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

    4.0
    (521 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    In the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen serves foods from or inspired by…read morethe pueblo culture of New Mexico. Just because it is in the IPCC don't think the food isn't good. I would come to the Indian Pueblo Kitchen even as a stand alone location. Every dish has an inspiration from Pueblo cuisine. For example, horno bread with the stews, indian tacos, and the pies are prepared as a Pueblo would. This time I had the indian taco. Quite tasty and the bread soaks up all the flavors from the toppings. The pie isn't overly sweet. All good. Enjoy local native flavor here.

    I expected a more authentic and distinctive dining experience after discovering this restaurant in…read morea highly regarded magazine. The menu initially sounded creative, especially the waffles featuring pepitas, quinoa, and blue corn, which led me to assume that the same thoughtful use of ingredients would carry throughout the rest of the menu. The blue corn enchiladas were the clear highlight and were genuinely delicious. Unfortunately, the red sauce served alongside them tasted noticeably canned. I had hoped for a fresh, house-made sauce that would complement the quality of the enchiladas. The calabacitas were also barely seasoned and could have benefited from much more flavor. The eggs Benedict was disappointing. The addition of a sausage patty made it feel more like a typical American breakfast than the regional and authentic dish I had expected. Many of the available sides were also potato-based, mainly hash browns or French fries, which made the menu feel less varied and imaginative. The blue corn porridge was acceptable, and the generous amount of berries helped bring the dish together, but the porridge itself could have been much more flavorful. There is plenty of potential here, particularly if more attention were given to fresh sauces, seasoning, regional ingredients, and a wider variety of side dishes. The service was good, and the meal overall was fine, but based on my experience, it was not distinctive enough to justify making a special trip.

    Photos
    Blue corn onion rings served with green chile ranch dressing & fresh homemade salsa. Photo courtesy of GlobalGumshoe.com.
    Blue corn onion rings served with green chile ranch dressing & fresh homemade salsa. Photo courtesy of GlobalGumshoe.com.
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

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    Lavender Cocinita

    Lavender Cocinita

    4.5
    (28 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    NEW INFORMATION: WE WENT TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT ON JUNE 11TH AND JUST POSTED THIS REVIEW. SEEMS THEY…read moreCLOSED PERMANENTLY ON JUNE 30TH. THE REVIEW REMAINS VALID BUT THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS. Sometimes the newspaper gets it right. A nice review in the Albuquerque Journal enticed the boys from the VA Creative Writing Group to venture along 4th Street, NW, to a relatively new eating establishment. Everyone tried something different, and everyone wants to come back. Good food. Order at the counter. Nice tchotchkes (good ambiance). Just click on the following YouTube video link and listen to us regale you with our report. https://youtu.be/rNc5bUgLwc8?si=0PjbEM_I4ivF_t80

    It's great to have additional dining options along 4th Street in Los Ranchos, and Lavender Cocinita…read moreis a welcome newer addition for breakfast and lunch. I stopped by for lunch and found the menu offered a nice variety of choices. I ordered the Los Ranchos Turkey sandwich with homemade chips and a Lavender Iced Tea. Both were flavorful, and the homemade chips were an unexpected treat. The iced tea was ready right away and was a refreshing complement to the meal. My sandwich arrived about 24 minutes after ordering, which may have been due to the lunch rush. Including tip, lunch came to about $30. While the price point felt a little high for the overall experience, the quality and flavor of the food helped balance that out. Overall, I enjoyed the food and appreciate having another locally owned option in the neighborhood.

    Photos
    Ordering station and seating
    Ordering station and seating
    Gyros
    Gyros
    Lavender Cocinita

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    El Camino Dining Room - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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