Late lunch/ early dinner today. Hotter than heck outside so decided to hide at El Pinto for awhile. 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! read more

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Overall, the restaurant is quite remarkable. The location is unique and the interior and exterior spaces are beautiful. My parents lived in ABQ for years and always thought that the atmosphere was great, but the food was so-so. However, on this instance, we all thought the food was quite good. Flavorful carne adovada, although it was a bit tough. Red chile sauce was spicy but had great flavor. The green chile sauce was hot and tasty. Posole was also good. The gold margaritas were also good - to anyone complaining about the price - at $14.50, the price is very fair considering the cost of ingredients. If you want a cheap junk margarita that is more sugar than anything else, go somewhere else! Our gripe... The place is huge and has an abundance of great places to seat guests. We had a pretty large group - 7 people celebrating a family reunion of sorts. However, they sat us right next to the bussing station that had noisy carts, dishwashers, and other distractions. It was so loud, it was hard to hear the person across the table. There were at least 10 other tables that they could have seated us at! It seems to me that this area should be used only when the restaurant is completely full. This seems to be a poor management decision rather than the fault of the servers or hosts. read more

This place has amazing vibe, livelihood, and outdoor, cute seating areas. The place looks vibrant and 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. read more

I have always loved this place until now. The atmosphere is great. This time though my service was really slow and spotty. Will not give this prince server's name. When the check came, I just paid it because I had 2 people with me that I was treating. Margaritas were $14.50 each. The guacamole must have been made of gold because one scoop on a lettuce leaf was $13.70. That is exorbitant! The kicker though was the credit card convenience fee of $3.18! Say what? Why should I be charged extra for using my credit card? I will think twice about bringing out of town guests here! read more

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This is one of the biggest restaurants I've ever been to. Amazing that the food is pretty good. But double check what room you're seating in, because some are prettier than others. Things are well marked on the menu for what's gluten free or vegetarian. So that's really helpful. Although I wouldn't recommend for celiac. The app of fried chilis was surprisingly good. Ask for Lily as your server. She rocks! read more

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We came with a group of about 25 with our soccer team for dinner Saturday night and it was very impressive. The property seems massive and it's really beautiful with all the cottonwood trees. When you get into the restaurant, there are just tons of combinations of these cozy little nooks, long dining tables, separated rooms, patio seating, and event spaces. There is something to see everywhere you look; fountains, fireplaces, and plants, hanging chiles, and more. They even raise cattle and chickens on property and source from their own greenhouse for their menu items. The ambience was just really cool and even though the winds were blowing like crazy, we were totally comfortable out in the patio section with the screens up. The food is authentic New Mexican cuisine. They brought out delicious tortilla chips for us to snack on while we decided on what to order. It really felt like there was no wrong choice to make. They were very accommodating for food allergies and restrictions. There was great flavor in everything our group tried. I split the half order of chicken nachos and it was a hefty half order! I was so stuffed, but then, hot sopapillas appeared and I couldn't say no to those! Especially not since the tables had their own sourced honey. There is also a full tequila bar, but since we were traveling with kids, didn't get to take too much advantage of that as an option. I wish we would've had more to explore the property but if I end up back in the Albuquerque area, I'll stop by again. read more

El Pinto - Patio - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I will be dreaming about this green chili heaven for a years to come! What an experience! The green chili strips fried to perfection with the best amount of flavor and heat! Why didn't I think of this? The combo plate allowed me to taste almost everything I wanted to by doing one chicken and one beef taco, tamale, green chili enchilada and rice and beans. Incredibly flavorful and the flavors are so authentic, made me feel like I was home! This place is huge! Lots of patio space, the vibes are great, the drinks are flowing and the customer service was unmatched. Thank you! read more

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This is a must stop around 15 minutes off the I-40 and well worth the drive. I always try to stop on our road trips. Even though it was 96* degrees outside we were very comfortable on the patio. Cooper was our server and made our experience excellent from start to finish. read more

I am all for ambiance and nostalgia. And that is something that El Pinto offers. This was my first time ever at El Pintos. I lived in Rio Rancho for awhile. But never went. Shame on me for sure. So glad on my visit back to NM and being invited out for dinner with my Manager. Who I was meeting in person for the first time. Perfect setting. Our server never brought us any Chips and Salsa. A little numbed. But oh well. Gives me an excuse to return I guess. I had the Rice Bowl which is on the healthy conscious menu. It comes with rice, your choice of chile flavor, pinto beans, your choice of meat, and a flour tortilla. I chose green chile and shredded pork. The portion is a really good size. And it was really good. Something I would recommend and I would have it again. I will return and bring my husband next time. One thing I noticed is they accommodate large parties with such ease. I liked seeing that. read more

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Fun place to take out-of-towners, especially folks visiting ABQ on business. The salsa is always super fresh (not spicy), which inevitably results in eating too many chips before you order...but if you're a real glutton for punishment, the fried green chili strips are a fun, tasty app (though wholly unnecessary given the huge portions). Unpopular opinion: El Pinto's is best for Sunday brunch. Blue corn pancakes with blueberries and pecans FTW, though the eggs benedict is a close second! Entrees are overpriced, but the coffee is good, and I love the outdoor seating area on a nice day. (Ask for the Garden Room, if you want to sit inside.) By comparison, the lunch and dinner menus aren't as good. The carne adovada is a safe albeit spicy choice. I find most of the other dishes (beef brisket, enchiladas) to be overly salted. Ribeye was not good, and I wish they'd serve real honey with the sopaipillas instead of the fake karo syrup stuff... Reservations recommended. Beautiful ristra-laden entrance. Bathrooms are always clean, and there's plenty of parking in the dirt lot. read more

El Pinto - Pretty entrance - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We've been coming to El Pinto for over 30 years. Sometimes it's been okay. The ambiance is great. We had reservations for a party of 5. We were seated far in the back by a fireplace. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas ($95!) They were some of the worst margaritas we have ever had, no tequila that we could taste & very acidic. Appetizer was fried green chile strips, tiny pieces of what could have been green chili, not good. The waitress forgot green chile sauce that was missing on one meal, never showed up with it. The guacamole was good. Chips & Salsa were good. The food was just mediocre. Service was a 2 for sure. read more

A must stop when we hit Albuquerque. The ambiance is second to none! Huge restaurant with a multitude of outdoor patio seating and so many great artifacts that are theme appropriate. Service is always great here! Food is also pretty good. The Sopapillas Rock! Ask for some Honey to drown them in! Guac is super fresh but a bit bland. Queso is good but the Blue Chips were underdone and soggy. My entree Pork Stuffed Sopapillas was awesome, big, delicious and filling. Try the spicy sauce it was great and not dangerously spicy, I like the Red sauce best. You can also buy a couple jars to take with you! read more

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Our last stop before leaving Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We stopped in for lunch, party of 9, they sat us in the back area patio type setting, lots of plants and clear roof top for all the natural lighting. Very cool. Our waitperson was prompt and attentive, chips & salsa ready to go and water glasses always filled. A really extensive menu but for me I had the red pozole soup. It was very good with big pork chunks. Someone else had a rice bowl and they said it was perfect portion size. They even have a gluten-free menu! Outstanding. Some in our group bought the jarred salsa they have for sale. T-shirts and Bloody Mary/Margarita mixes for sale as well. Definitely a return visit is a must. read more

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Food amazing Service awesome Ambiance breathtaking Highly recommended bringing the wife significant other the family read more

We came here for an early dinner and really enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a unique vibe that sets it apart from other places I've visited. I would recommend not sitting too close to the fireplace, as it can get a bit warm. The waitress was nice enough to move us somewhere else. The food was absolutely delicious! They also offer curated gift boxes, one with mixed drinks and another featuring a variety of their salsas. We tried both and loved them. They would make such a fun and thoughtful gift idea. We'll definitely be back! read more

El Pinto in Albuquerque delivers a flavorful New Mexican experience. Carne adovada is a highlight. Tender pork in a rich red chile sauce with depth and balanced heat. I usually find combo plates tacky, but here they're genuinely enjoyable. The portions are generous. The variety lets you sample multiple dishes without sacrificing quality. The atmosphere is warm. The service is friendly and efficient. Overall, El Pinto strikes a nice balance between festive and authentic. read more

In town from Houston. This place is AMAZING. The patio can't be beat. Margaritas are FRESH. read more

Great place to eat. Plenty of seating, especially on their extensive patio. My team and I went for an after work lunch, and had no trouble getting a reservation for 7. Despite the fact it was July, the outdoor seating was covered, and the garden is full of greenery, meaning our meal was pleasant despite the almost 100 degree heat in downtown ABQ. There's a surprisingly large amount of vegetarian options, and they are denoted on the menu with a special symbol. This is a must go to place to bring out of towners, or for anyone new to Albuquerque. While it is not the BEST food in town, it's still very good, and with an incredible ambiance as well as polite service, you can't go wrong with El Pinto. read more

Beautiful dinner at El Pinto to celebrate my best friends birthday! We sat in a gorgeous outdoor room that was covered and looked out to the garden. This restaurant is BEAUTIFUL! It's the perfect place for a celebration or for out of town visitors (or just a special occasion). Now the food-- I wasn't as hungry today so I wanted to try out some smaller appetizer things!! I got the fried green chile strips I HATED THEM. Lol they are just too thin, they had no structure and just crumpled right apart. I am used to different green chile strips, thicker like a fried pickle. Do not recommend. The guac was delicious and fresh. Everyone in our party loved their food! Our sweet server was amazing! She did a great job managing a huge table of crazy ladies!!! We will 100% be back for another celebration!! read more

El Pinto - Green Chile Strips - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I've been to El Pinto restaurant four times now. It's a bit unbelievable how expensive the simple restaurant has become. We went out for dinner and it was $23.50 for a simple dinner plate of enchiladas with rice and beans. We had two dinners with iced tea and the total bill was gratuity was $72. Just seems excessive. Perhaps it's just the inflation of the times we live in, but I know the prices have gone up way too much. read more

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While in Albuquerque, you have to eat New Mexican food. We came for lunch and the sopapillas. This restaurant is big and so is the menu. I was having trouble deciding what to have but our server Colin helped me out. I wanted to try the green chile stew and the papitas so he said I could have those as my sides with the chicken adovada. Everything I had was delicious. The green chile stew was tasty but kind of on the spicy side. The chicken and the potatoes were very good. The sopapillas were fresh and absolutely delicious with the honey. Colin was so helpful and just a great server. The restaurant was clean and the parking lot is pretty big. read more

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An Albuquerque must! Food is delicious, flavorful, and comes in HUGE portions! Servers (we had 2) were helpful and friendly. They attended to our every need. Three patios offer great seating in addition to the many inside rooms. Chips are crisp and thick and well salted. Salsa is a little warm but good! Cozy fireplaces everywhere.The patio music sound track playing was great! Parking lot is huge--but uneven so watch your step, read more

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First off; new to this piece of our country and learning it's history and food.... found this by invite for an agave tasting and came back to experience its venue. I found the bar area wonderful with lotsa tables high ceiling. But the bar.. chairs are really high to get into and the bartop is even higher.... so .... not so comfortable... and the bartender stands barely a head above the bar... the other bartender made the drink while the other bartender took a couple of minutes... first Marg perfect . Balanced. Order 1/2 nachos with carnitas shredded. Just like I like. Honestly .. but I got shell shock when I got the check after ordering a 2nd margarita.... 60.00. Charming environment, enjoyed the nachos.... read more

I keep saying that I'm so over this place, but here I am eating overpriced food and having a weak-ass margarita... The good: The red chile rubbed ribs are phenomenal, but 1/2 rack for $44?! It's not a lobster tail. Beans and guac-excellent, calabacitas-very good. The chicken enchiladas-delicious with tender chicken. The bad: 2 Grand Gold margaritas at $15 each that were neither grand or gold. I've had better house margaritas at Applebees, lol. Their red chile was sparse, but that actually turned out in my favor because it was on the edge of burnt. A bit acrid. The sopas were dense, flat, chewy, and overcooked. The salsa-underwhelming. If you want excellent Grand Gold margaritas, the best salsa in New Mexico, and excellent portion sizes- SADIE'S ALL THE WAY!!! read more

Paying $24 for a "Combination Plate #3" (a customer favorite!) will have you asking yourself, "maybe I should start paying people to let their dogs crap in my yard?". Chili con carne was half fatty pieces, relleno was soggy (and shitty), chicken rolled taco might as well have been a pencil (for the size and texture), and the cheese enchilada was covered by lettuce ....because I know the cook hoped I wouldn't find that miserable tasting thing. 0/4 on this plate. For apps, the fried green chilis just taste like fried batter, and if you have holes in your drywall that need to be repaired with some bland patching compound, save a little to take home with you. The $6, 12oz Dos Equis beer was nice and cold, but I didn't have (and couldn't afford) enough to help me forget the food. My recommendation if you go there: get blackout drunk at home beforehand and skip the food. The place looks nice, but when you see that the average age of their patrons is +/-80 years (with a small exception of young foreigners that probably got a discount voucher from their hotel), you start to connect the dots. The food is legitimate garbage, and the prices are an insult to anyone with money. read more

El Pinto - Combination Plate #3 - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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The setting and ambiance are definitely worth seeing. Beautiful and dog friendly!! The service was exceptional!

I was born and lived in New Mexico for many years, so I was excited to go back and have some New Mexican food. Made reservations at El Pinto on the day we arrived. The restaurant is in the outskirts of town but easy to find. They have a large parking lot so parking was easy. We went in to the restaurant and was seated quickly. My wife and I ordered and our food and margaritas came quickly. We both enjoyed our meals and drinks including the anticipated Sophillias. We left full and satisfied, so much so we went back a couple of days later. read more

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The service is fantastic. Italia took wonderful care of our family party and Donny the manager stopped by more than once. The food is tasty and served in good sized portions - not the best in town to my palate, but in the better-than-average tier, for sure. There's plenty of parking, although you'll probably have to walk a bit and should plan on dropping off any folks with mobility issues right at the drive-up entrance. Inside the cavernous maze of the building, the bathrooms are clean and all of the rooms are pretty and well appointed (although my sensitive nose discerned an off-putting faint smell of cat urine in the big indoor/outdoor room where we were seated - the prowling cat(s) that kept staring in the windows cleared up that mystery). El Pinto is iconic and the crowds show it's loved. My wife and I used to love it in the early and mid-Nineties. The reason I took a twenty-five-year hiatus despite living in town is the same reason this review is not a four-star ("good"): it's preposterously expensive. And it has been for years - figure fifty percent more for a given dish than at any other place in town. (In all seriousness, familiarize yourself with the pricing with the online menu to avoid shock: $23.50 for a plate of enchiladas con carne now. Golly.) If you want to take a visiting tourist to sort of a grand fantasy hacienda, this is a good choice - the service will be great, the food will be fine and the place has that "adobe Disneyland" vibe. But, like Disneyland, steel yourself for the fact that you'll be paying a whole lot of entertainment premium - at least you don't need a line pass, I suppose. read more

El Pinto - Chile con carne enchiladas (3), flat with all beans and no rice. I don't believe I've ever spent so much for enchis before - tasty, tho. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

In search of highly recommended dining in Albuquerque we happened upon this spot. We arrived to an almost completely full parking lot including tour busses. The outside decor is lovely and romantic in southwest style. We waited a bit for our reservation then the Hostess kindly seated us in the highly sought after outside dining area under the cottonwood trees. We were at the far end by the stage which had trash on it empty planters a broken lights. Think that area needs a little sprucing up to match the rest of the nice decor. Waiters were young and were not overly attentive. Food was typical American/Southwest fare. Nothing spectacular. Margaritas were about the same. Overall we would return for the ambience but may ask to be seated inside or near the beautiful bar area. read more

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Food, service, and ambiance were great! I'm gunna be honest- the food was good, I may have had better tacos before (I ordered the 2 tacos) but the chips and SALSA which were the first things I was snacking on when I got to El Pinto were SO good that it just left such a good impression that in my head I'm like everything tastes amazing. The salsa was super fresh/well balanced and those restaurant style tortilla chips were so crispy and nicely salted. Our server was very friendly and just a super nice guy. I met up with 2 friends and we were just visiting and this was our last day and the ambiance was just perfect. Good vibes and a sunny day to have a nice lunch. read more

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I'm here for work and the guy at the rental car place recommended this place. Did not disappoint. I had the whole rack of red chili ribs. They wer fall.of the bone and had great heat. Great outdoor seating. read more

El Pinto - Red chili ribs - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Great service, great food and certainly affordable. Never have trouble getting a table and the setting is always a joy. The management is even on the floor checking with patrons to make sure they are enjoying their dining experience. Keep up the excellent service and quality of food. We appreciate you! read more

El Pinto - Grandmother and granddaughter out for the evening. The food and ambience made it special. Thanks! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We decided to have lunch at El Pinto. We arrived shortly after 11 and we were immediately seated. We got a nice table in the patio section. The atmosphere of this restaurant is unlike any other restaurant in New Mexico. I would say it is hands down when it comes to ambiance, that it is the nicest restaurant New Mexico has to offer. They have several fountains, greenery, and they have a rustic look. I even noticed a hummingbird feeder, a nijer seed feeder, and a suet feeder. I like that they feed the birds on the patios. Our server greeted us, took our drink orders, came back with our drinks, and then took our food order. We all ordered off of their lunch menu. Our food came out quickly, and it was warm and delicious. The server then dropped off our sopapillas. Our service was great. We were even greeted by one of the house cats as it strolled by. The restrooms were very pretty and clean. I don't eat here very often, and after a meal like today, I realized I need to make some changes. read more

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Best ambiance of any restaurant in the Albuquerque area. The patio is incredible and great for large parties or a more intimate dining experience. The service is usually very attentive and have had many pleasant dining experiences over the years. This is what elevates El Pinto from a 3 star to 4 star. That being said, the food is very average. The good thing is they have a lots of options, but with NM food it begins and ends with the Chile which is just okay. read more

We came for a bachelorette with a party of 9 with a reservation. Service: Our server's name Kevin & he hooked it up with our chips. It comes with salsa but we ordered side & was attentive to our drinks/water. Ambiance: Beautiful gentle volume music Temperature controlled area, fountains galore & open fireplaces. Definitely a vibe! Food; Our group ordered a lot of food! And drinks a good experience and portions were hugeeee for read more

El Pinto - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This place is a fancy restaurant with a beautiful decor. We took the chance to go during a weekend day on the balloon festival. The wait was long unless we went to the bar. We immediately found seating in the bar area next to a waterfall. Our waiter was awesome with the right blend of helpfully available and not overbearing. We enjoyed a leisurely and delicious lunch. The salsa was damn good and they sell it. Not only do they sell it but there is a sample cart to try the varieties. A fantastic tourist stop or place to take visiting relatives like I was! read more

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AAA plus for Ambiance! Service is as great as well as the hostesses! I only had the half rack of ribs and was stuffed. Their signature ribs were fall off the bone tender. Taste good but not what I care for in rib sauce. read more

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El Pinto was a pleasant location for a family dinner. There was an event going on with a DJ so it was a little loud, but the music was good. Service was extremely slow. Food was good and I would come back. read more

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I'm very ashamed that this restaurant is a representative of New Mexican cuisine. The prices are astronomical considering that you're mostly paying for beans, corn and rice! I understand that with the size of this restaurant it may be too much to ask for red chili made from pods versus red chili made from powder!! If you really want to the true New Mexican flavor go to Mary and Tito's or Pete's Cafe in Belen. read more

This is one of my regular hangouts, and so I was back for a nice lunch with a friend. As always, our food was amazing, the service was great, and the ambience is always top-notch out on the open patio. Food is still good and consistent and as always, I highly recommend El Pinto. read more