I can't recommend this place. I'm sympathetic to the difficulties of running a restaurant in a small, isolated location, but every dish we had used canned green chiles and stewed tomatoes, an absurd amount of cheddar cheese, and was prepared in a microwave (which you can hear if you are seated in the restaurant). The enchiladas consisted of small hard bits of meat scattered through a soupy mix of shredded cheese and watery red sauce. I understand that this restaurant has a storied past, and was previously a favorite stop for many former governors. But I fear those days are long past. read more

Yea, Yelp! Another fantastic find in a kinda out of the way place for me and my party. CASH ONLY! before I forget. Adam is the perfect person to introduce one to his family's establishment. Explains everything for the newbies. Patient and erudite. Such poise in such a young person. It's a small dining area. Clearly a local fave. Phone was ringing off the hook. But many clearly knew their way around. A few ppl walked in, placed their order and said they'd be back at such and such a time. There's only a small kitchen We got to mean Domenic, our cook A sweetheart and a skilled chef. The food itself seems straightforward and pretty simple, but each dish had its own flavor which I think is pretty hard to do and each was so satisfyingly delicious. I think I would've bn satisfied with just the menudo and the half order of nachos, but didn't know it at the time we ordered so we went on and got the El Faro burger, my friend ordered the cheese enchiladas and of course we got the chile Christmas on the side. Fantastic! And a tremendous value. We were quite shocked that our entire meal, including 2 sodas came to less that $40, such that we left double that bc these small businesses are such treasures and we want such places to remain in business. Seemed there were quite a few locals but also lots of travelers coming through. I certainly plan to be back soon! read more

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Real NMi-ican food and fun. Order at the counter at the intimate shotgun style adobe. Limited seating, but cozy. Locals come and go, and seemingly order take away often. If you are dining in don't worry, plenty of games to play while you wait for fresh yummy food. The sopapillas come out with the food. Honey on the table, but ask for butter and it will be brought to the table. The Farolito plate is a great way to sample the yummies. Green or red or both are acceptable choices. We saw the chef working hard in the kitchen from our table, as order after order was plated and served with precision and care. Locals catch up on family, work and the latest chisme as they come and go for food. El Farolito has a good pantry that is stocked with canned veggies and other items and are for those who are in need. I was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices and tasty variety of offerings. Snooty tooty left or right wings are all welcome to break bread within arms reach of each other, and it's the luck of the draw who you find eating there depending on the season and weather. I absolutely fell in love with this place. I plan on making a regular treck out to El Rito to try different things on the menu and to people and group watch. All are welcome, and from the diversity of clients they serve it's a good place to land for a late lunch(they open at 3) or dinner ! read more

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Favorite neighborhood restaurant! So convenient! Can call in my order and pick it up 15 minutes later. Everything is always so delicious. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

This place was highly recommended by everyone we spoke with. Sadly they weren't open the day we were in town (Wednesday, on their schedule to be open). It happens... we'll try again. read more

LOVE this little gem of a restaurant! Brings me back to the NM restaurants from my youth, not the dumbed-down for pretentious tourists situation that is happening at so many once great NM restaurants in Northern NM. Just a simple cafe serving amazing simple New Mexican food mainly to locals. Super friendly staff! One of our favorite restaurants in all of New Mexico! We come here when we feel the need to escape the insufferable tourists of Santa Fe and Taos. read more

We love this small gem of a restaurant! Every time we are in the area we make a point to get some of their delicious food. it is a cash only place that serves excellent unpretentious basic New Mexican food. It Is clear that the local community supports them. The phone keeps ringing off the hook and people constantly drop buy to pick up phoned in orders. Every meal I've had there has been really good all at a reasonable price. I highly recommend them. read more

El farolito was recommended to us by a friend who knew we were exploring the area. It's supposed to open around 1:30 but was around 2:30 when they finally opened the doors. We wouldn't have normally waited but there aren't other options in the area and we weren't in a hurry. We ordered the Chile rellenos and number 4 combo, both Christmas style. The plates consist of deep takeout dishes which wasn't a problem for us. The disappointment came when opening the containers to find our food was drowned in so much sauce and cheese that it was hard to make out what we were eating. I can see someone eating this high on weed or getting over a hangover but it's definitely not worth the drive out. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - We ordered 2 different meals and I took a pic of each.. honestly can't tell them apart. - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

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Amazing place! The man lovingly making the food in the kitchen brings it out and hand delivers it to you and thanks you for stopping through. Wow the food is so delicious I would eat it again today but unfortunately for me they are closed. read more

Been there many times! The food is always excellent and the service is great! It makes the drive from Albuquerque worth the trip!

This is a tiny little hole in the wall. The food was amazing!!! Authentic Mexican food. The hamburger was perfect also! read more

El Farolito Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

Small family restaurant with truly great food. Worth driving out of your way to reach it.

For some authentic northern New Mexico eating experience, this place is worth the trip. Finding El Rito is fun and its Main Street is unique, but the tiny El Farolito is a worthy destination. Rustic and rural, paper plates and only beverages from the cooler, the food is served hot from the kitchen on close quarters benches and tables. We were received with smiles and genuine curtesy by the staff. We got there for an early dinner at about four. read more

We recently were traveling in northern NM on our way to Ojo Caliente and detoured to El Farolito on the recommendation of an acquaintance. It is definitely a destination place since it really is off the beaten path. The tiny town of El Rito really doesn't have much of anything unless you are one of the few locals. We almost missed the place driving through and realized and turned around. Overall I was most impressed with the salsa and chips, as other reviewers note it is home made and outstanding. We also order guacamole, tacos and a cheese enchilada. They were mediocre and served in takeout boxes even though we were dining in. The enchilada was in the bottom of a container of chile making it messy to eat. If you're in the area and need a snack, maybe give them a try. A family run place with a very rural village feel. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - Cheese enchilada and beef tacos - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

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Was just looking for a bite on the road headed north, didn't think much of it, but prices were surprisingly cheap. Quantity and quality wasn't anything less than amazing! Super sweet people and amazing service! A super cute place too, loved it all. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - Front of restaurant with cool dudes approval. - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

If you find yourself in El Rito, NM, or anywhere in a 100 mile radius, this is the place you want to eat. Simple and delicious. The red chile is amazing! read more

Fantastic food and local experience. Owners very friendly and have great stories. Double check if open, call before going. It's an experience, not if your in a hurry. Highly recommended. Very small. read more

Most authentic New Mexican food I've ever had! They are located in the middle of small town, it's a quite way from anywhere. I guess you need to know this place exist to come here. Love the way they look from outside. It's like a little house. Driving here from Ojo Caliente was about 20-25 mins. Hardly any cell signal in between, my cell phone was useless finding this place. I mapped my route ahead of time, and memorized my way here to drive. Once I was in town I had spotty 3G signal for a quick Yelp check in. I wasn't hungry when I came but since I had to try their food, I ordered small green chili enchilada. Oh the green chili sauce had the best green chili flavor I ever tasted in my life. I always liked green chili but didn't realize it could be this good. No credit or debit cards accepted. Bring cash (price is very very reasonable anyway). I like their sign behind the cashier, "this is not a Burger King". Don't ask too much, just order and enjoy the food the way they serve you. Their food is so good, don't need to think anything. Just eat and enjoy! read more

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Great restaurant, family owned, very reasonably priced and large portion. The staff is very friendly.

Excellent food and super friendly service. Worth the drive from wherever you are for this delicious food.

El Farolito is a hole-in-the-wall type place in the smack middle of nowhere, New Mexico. Food is good, experience is amazing. The cook/owner is such a nice guy that accommodates hungry travelers, sometimes even out of regular hours. Check their Facebook for opening hours. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - Award winning green chile - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

We ate at this restaurant during our vacation to Abiquiu about six years ago. My husband remembers our meal here so fondly. The food was delicious, the service was friendly, and the town was very quaint. read more

El Farolito is a fantastic little CASH ONLY Mexican restaurant in El Rito, NM! If you're in northern New Mexico exploring Ghost Ranch or visiting the Ojo Caliente Spa, you should go off the beaten path and check out El Farolito. All of their dishes are hearty and really reasonably priced. I tried the chicken enchilada and chile relleno combo plate, which came with green chile, refried beans and rice + 2 sopapillas for dessert all for the low low price of $10! I thought the enchilada shined a bit more than the relleno but everything was great for the price point. read more

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I've had the pleasure of eating here more than once. I don't live in the area any more but when I lived in Santa Fe, I'd come up every now and again ever since I was taken there the first time by a director I was working with when we were filming in and around town. I was amazed that so much flavor could come out of such a small place! Hands down the best northern New Mexican food I've ever had. The green chile chicken enchilada plate is my goto. It's amazing and worth the two minutes I spent writing this. Now I wonder if I should post. I'd rather keep the place to myself. Flavorful. Friendly. Down home. Cozy. Delicious. One of the very few places I give 5 stars! read more

Ate here 20 years ago, loved it. Looked them up again because my friends will be in the region and I wanted to see if they are still recommended. Yep- the reviews all matched my great experience. Simple place with great food in a sweet local village. read more

Wow. As someone who grew up in New Mexico, I can honestly say this is some of the best New Mexican food I've had. It really is in the middle of nowhere but it is beyond worth it. Yum! read more

Great place! It has everything: local feel, great owner/chef and the best New Mexican food I've ever had. If you are within 30 miles, it's a must! Best rellenos I've had... read more

Some of the best green chili I've ever eaten. SO worth the little side trip from Ojo Caliente.

I found this tiny lil spot to have THE best new mexican cuisine. It's a nice 2 1/2 hour drive from albuquerque. We were using our gps and it sent us off road. Do not turn on the dirt road per say the gps voice stay on the paved road and if your not driving too fast you'll see it on your right. It's a very tiny brown building that very easily blends into the landscape. Very few tables and a few more picnic tables. The staff were wonderfully nice and very helpful. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and they were so delicious it was like eating a Mexican pizza with extra cheese and flavor i Also ordered the mexican hot chocolate so delish it totally reminded me of my mom's!! When i asked how big this spot was the chef said approximately 3000 sf! We got there close to their closing hours. They have a break in between lunch and dinner we got there just before daytime closing hours and they didn't make us feel rushed to eat and run. The server just chatted with us as we ate our meal and she preped for the evening hours. This is one of those spots that you have to take visitors to. It's a nice drive, they have delicious food, great conversation, terrific prices and a wonderful experience. Go to El Farolito! Period! read more

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Great place! Food is amazing and the service. This is a must see place! Owner/chef very personable!

Delicious food as far back as I can remember. They have THEE best salsa, guacamole, green chile burritos and ... actually everything is amazing! Cooks/owners have always been such friendly people. 10/10 recommended. read more

This reviewer, Mixmaster Mez, is a 2-souled being. One soul is green, the other red. Together, we have been making pilgrimage to El Farolito since well before the turn of the millennium. Let the Green soul speak. Chef del Farolito is the High Priest of green chile. I let out something like the gospel cry of The Staple Singers' "I know I Got Religion" when I taste this soul food: savory, meaty, juicy, earthy, hot. Makes me wanna quit my day job, buy the vacant general store across the road from the restaurant, and set up shop just so I can take green chile lunch breaks at El Farolito. Okay, now Red. It's hard get more deeply divey than El Farolito, but what a little light it is. Slightly smaller than my first studio apartment and packed with picnic tables that literally have you booty-to-booty, this place is peopled by locals and in-the-know tourists alike. Want to overhear conversations that range from how Hans Kung's Stiftung Weltethos is a misguided attempt to homogenize faith traditions, to how-in-hell the "N" in the new "El Rito Community Center" center sign was plasma cut backward but still welded on to the gate, then this is the place for you. The deep red chile is complex with a little heat and is vegetarian, and goes perfectly with burritos filled with frijoles enteros and cheddar. The rellenos are fresh and well prepared, and twice as good (at least) as at places charging three times as much. Eating here is like being invited over to a local's home for dinner--if you got to order off a surprisingly large menu (including fresh pies and cookies) and had to pay cash for your meal (they take no plastic and charge extra for IOUs). The service is usually very friendly (perhaps a bit less so when they're packed, understandably), and it's BYOB if that's your thing. Definitely check this place out--unless it's Monday or between 2:30 and 4:30 pm when they're closed. Oh, and do note that their area code has changed from 505 to 575, contrary to what the Yelp info says. Let your little light shine. And while in El Rito, why not visit the studio of potter/multimedia artists Kathleen and Terry Vanderbrook? Beautiful work, gracious people, fair prices. read more

El Farolito Restaurant - This little light.... - Mexican Near Me - El Rito, New Mexico

This was a really disappointing out of the way hole in the wall. After ordering their largest combo Chili Relleno, enchilada, and taco rice and beans the waiter came back ten minutes later and indicated they were out of chili relleno,s Ended up just getting a couple of tacos that were made of over salty ground beef. To get those it took fifty more minutes. Taco Bell tacos are better and that's not saying much. Terrible!! They couldn't pay me to go back. read more

Hole-in-the-wall serving Mexican food that is as good as it is inexpensive. Get there early 'cause there are only a few tables and they fill up early. You better not mind waiting for your food since they cook it to order. This is food that is worth a LONG drive. read more

This place is starting to catch on through word of mouth and I wish them all the best, but don't expect some kind of transcendent experience. It was *crazy* packed in there (2pm on a Tuesday) and we waited over an hour for our $9 enchiladas and a frito pie. They were working like mad to keep up with all the white people in there- the locals seemed pissed :p It was fine. But it's no different than any other greasy spoon Mexican place besides the vibe (small town, down home) and the sopaipillas which were great (although seem impossible to screw up). If it's not busy then by all means go for it- hey you already drove 747395 miles to get there. read more

Must do when staying at Ghost Ranch. Stop at Bodes and pick up a six pack of beer and make your way to El Rito to enjoy a home cooked New Mexican dinner. EVERYTHING is good. Make sure you try both red and green chilies and save room for sopapillas. Come early (before 6pm) as there can be a wait for dinner. read more

El Farolito is a northern New Mexico institution with "auténtico" charm (excuse the cliche). A scenic drive from either direction takes you to the shady main drag and cheerful ruins of "downtown" El Rito-a very vibe-y corner of the world. Even if the food was nothing special, it'd still be worth it for the drive--but the food is very good. the service is friendly, and the space is cozy. Ordered the cheese enchilada dinner w/red chile, which came with rice, beans, and two fluffy sopapillas w/honey-more than enough to share. The red chile is quite mild. Disappointing, since the award-winning green chile is made the traditional way with pork (vegetarians be warned). Cash only. BYOB. read more

This is a must stop! You have to look hard to find it but once you do you will walk into the wonderful world of southwest cooking at its best. The little place sits 20 people and it was packed! Beware, cash only. They did take a check from us. I had the tostada with green chile sauce! Delicious and just the right amount of kick. The best treat was the sopapillia's at the end of the meal. Nice and warm served with honey! read more

Stumbled upon this place while going from Taos to Abiquiu. Food and service were both very good and when we mentioned this great "out of the way" place to a local in Abiquiu we got a knowing smile. Definitely worth a side trip if you're in the area. read more

After visiting Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, we decided to treat ourselves to the best green chiles in New Mexico! Farolito special took care of us... Don't forget to load your sopapilla with honey! Visit if you get the chance! read more

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