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    El Paisa

    4.5 (467 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

    El Paisa Photos

    EL PAISA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Paisa

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    Reviews With Photos - El Paisa

    Breakfast Menu, June 2025
    Jordan J.

    We read about this place somewhere on the internet, where it was described as one of the best inexpensive restaurants in the country. And we had been driving past it five times a week, 10 times if you count both directions. So we thought we would stop in for lunch. It's plain, the decor is nothing special, but you won't care. The food is amazing! Very Mexican, not at all New Mexican. My wife had the avocado torta, and the bread was amazing. I had a carnitas burrito, which was the best burrito I've had in a long, long time. We will be back.

    Crane Asada & alpastor taco

    I stopped in and ordered two tacos, a mole burrito, and an horchata. Sadly, nothing stood out in fact, it was a letdown. The al pastor taco was flavorless and didn't resemble any authentic pastor I've had before. The carne asada taco also lacked seasoning and had a strange aftertaste I couldn't place. Both tacos came with only one tortilla (which I found odd, but surprisingly didn't miss). I asked to try all their salsas, since salsa can make or break a taco but they only gave me two and mentioned there was a charge for more. The avocado salsa was bland, and I couldn't even taste avocado. The red salsa lacked any depth or spice. The mole burrito was literally just chicken and mole inside a tortilla no rice, no toppings, nothing. I expected a bit more balance or creativity. Service was average not rude, but not particularly welcoming either. The space itself was neutral and didn't add much ambiance to the meal. Overall, there's potential here, but they need to step up their flavor game, improve hospitality, and refine their menu to match expectations.

    Top : Desherbada en Rojo  Bottom: Frijol con Queso

    Their gorditas are absolutely to die for! Specifically our favorites are their Desherbada en Rojo (red chile , potatoes, shredded beef) and their Frijol con Queso. The ambience is what you'd expect from a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant but the food but it does certainly highlight the community and history of the South Valley

    Gordita and taco asada
    Peter P.

    I don't know where to start!!! This is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been. We got burrito, tacos and Gordita! Nothing had disappointed at all. The con was only cash but hey just go to the ATM and get some $$$.

    Fontaine C.

    True Mexican culinary heaven! I am thrilled to stumble across El Paisa. This is truly a hole-in-the-wall that takes care of every detail in preparing Mexican food. I had a bit of trouble ordering food. Thankfully, one of the staffs was able to help with translation. I was recommended to try their shrimp soup, as their menudo (i.e. tripe soup) was out. That didn't disappoint! The soup has delicious shrimp flavors, with plenty of shrimps, carrots and celery. It comes with delicious crispy bread. The ambience is casual. Most of its customers are Mexicans. It really speaks to the authenticity of their food. I can't wait to come back to try other items on the menu when I am in the area!

    Lengua
    Xiao Z.

    The tacos are amazing!!!! It's cash only, so make sure you have some cash with you to enjoy the great food. The price is very cheap tho, $2.5 for a taco. Their lengua is very tender and juicy, the buche is absolutely flavorful!! The sauce was also very good. They have a large indoor seating area and the wait is short on Saturday evening.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Best Mexican food ever! and the staff was so kind :) i really recommend the carnitas and the al pastor!

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Photo of Misha H.
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    6 years ago

    Best hole in the wall spot for authentic street tacos . Greatly priced . And the agua frescas are on point !!!!

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Photo of Martha H.
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    6 years ago

    Pretty good lil Mexican restaurant in a really sketchy part of Albuquerque. Tons of food for cheap, the gorditas are really yummy!

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Photo of Juan G.
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    6 years ago

    Authentic street tacos, only had take out so can't say much about the dine-in. Very affordable price as well. It is cash only though.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Best tacos in Albuquerque! Can't wait to go back!! You can't go wrong with your order, unless you order too few. Yum!

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great food the prices are very very affordable. Taste is very authentic .take only cash

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    Page 6 of 12

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    Frontier

    Frontier

    4.2
    (2.7k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Yes, I get the hype, and in my opinion, totally worth it!…read more I came here on a Sunday night and they were very busy. The place is huge so they have plenty of tables available. I stood on line to order for maybe 10 minutes or so. I had the Carne Adovada Burrito, one soft Beef Taco, and rice and beans. Everything was excellent and tasted delicious. The price was very reasonable. I wish we had a restaurant like this on Long Island.

    It seems like this place has been around forever. I remember passing by this restaurant as a kid…read moreand seeing the wagon wheel chandeliers from the road. Directly across the street from University of New Mexico's main entrance, this place is packed when school is in session. This place is huge, but not at first glance. Walk into the retro-looking, Western themed dining room, and you'll see a huge menu board above the order counter. There is are several freestyle soda machines in the middle of the room. There are little digital screens in the corner where you watch for your order number and a counter in the corner where you go pick up your food. It's not until you go into the next room that you discover there is another "next room," and then another. There is a lot of art on the walls, including several John Wayne pictures. The girl at the counter who took our order was an absolute ray of sunshine--so friendly and sweet. We ordered the green chili cheeseburger with onion rings and the daily special which is the "green pile-up" (beans, hash browns, scrambled egg, and green chili beef). The good came our talented quickly, and was quite yummy. Frontier is an Albuquerque classic. If it old? Yes, but it has a huge faithful following, not including the things of UNM students that pack this giant diner during the school year. It may not be a "must try" for some, but if you want Albuquerque nostalgia, this is your place. Btw--it's pretty darn cheap,!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)
    Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)
    Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

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    Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco
    El Pinto

    El Pinto

    3.4
    (1.9k reviews)
    9.9 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

    El Paisa - mexican - Updated August 2026

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