The service was very friendly, the food was very good, and the ambiance relaxing. Glad we stopped - we were hungry and this place did not disappoint. When hungry and in the area we recommend stopping. It's a quick bite, not super fancy but nice and good food nonetheless. We would go back and will when in the area again. Cheers read more

Esther's Family Diner - Diners Near Me - Fort Sumner, New Mexico

*** really good roadtrip meal stop *** As soon as my daughters and I walked into Esther's Family Diner in Fort Sumner, NM, on 10.11.2025 we were warmly greeted by the lone waitress and told we may sit down even if our order was for takeout. While we waited, we argued about Mountain Dew versus Dr. Pepper and watched the extraordinary tall cook as he dodged the exhaust fan, flipping our burger patties then shifting back over to the fries. The green chile was hot and I loved it so much with my thick patty and melted cheese. All the fresh veggies piled on were delicious and crunchy. The back seat kids were happy while we ate on our way to Clovis. Three burgers with fries and three canned drinks set me back $45.68, but it was worth it. This looks to be the best place in this tiny town. Not sure how big rig friendly the parking could be, but if I would make the effort to go here. RATING BREAKDOWN Food: 5 | Service: 5 | Ambiance: 4| Price: 4.5 read more

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We were traveling to Albuquerque from Lubbock & needed to stop for lunch. Esther's Family Diner was our choice for today. It's a small restaurant where locals gather & travelers stop in. We had burgers that were cooked & seasoned just right. The fries were really good. My husband ate his & most of mine, too. The place is a bit dated, but the service was fast & friendly. Your food is cooked basically in the middle of the restaurant, so you kinda feel like you're at home. read more

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ABSOLUTE CINEMA!! This had amazing foods. Amazing service, and was very well served! Would recommend!

My bf and I took a road trip to ABQ from Texas to the Balloon fiesta. In our way back we stopped here for one last green chili meal. It was the best meal we had on our trip. Just plain delicious food made with love. The beans were fantastic. Service was very nice. So glad we stopped here. read more

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Stopped hear after seeing the recommendations on yelp. Thank you once again yelpers. This place is fantastic. Small, one owner restaurant. Friendly, food is prepared with care and delicious. We liked it so much that we stopped again on our way home two days later. First time through I had the huevos rancheros. Cooked and served exactly as I like, with red chile on the side. Red chile was flavorful and not real hot, but spicy enough. My table mates had a cheeseburger with hand cut fries. It was cooked exactly as she asked for it. My other table mate had biscuits and gravy with two scrambled eggs, and she ate every bit of it. On our way back home on sunday.They had a special sunday menu. Two of us had the spaghetti with meat sauce. It had flavorful meat sauce. Could have used a little more garlic in the sauce.But that is a personal preference of mine. I had enough to take home and have for a second meal at home. Both times we were there.The owner came over to make sure our meals were as we asked for and that we were enjoying them. On Sunday when we came back through, he was the one waiting tables and told us a lot of punny jokes. If you are going south through Fort Sumner, instead of taking a left towards Clovis, take a right and try this restaurant, you will not be sorry. read more

This place is an amazing hidden gem we loved the food and would definitely return. Loved it!! Service a lil slow but food was worth the wait. read more

On our way from Austin to Angel Fire. We passed on the lunch options in Clovis and we couldn't wait till Santa Rosa. We found ourselves in Fort Sumner and Yelp pointed us toward Ester's. It doesn't get anymore quaint than this - one cook, one wait person, maybe 8 or 10 tables. Burger, spicy chicken sandwich and chicken tenders - all good. And outside down the street is a billboard advertising Pistachio Land "I like Big Nuts and I Can not Lie." Glad we stopped. read more

10/26/25- This place would have gotten 4 stars but they had no variety in meal options because they have a limited menu which differs from day to day so we had to choose from something off the "Sunday menu", 9 whole dishes! very disappointing. Awsome young staff who treated us like royalty. All in all the food was average( cheeseburger & spaghetti) and the prices were fair. read more

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We are traveling cross country on motorcycles, this was our final meal of the day and the only choice in Fort Sumner at 8pm on a Friday night The menu was very limited with burgers and a couple other choices, hence only 4 stars. It was a Game Night menu, apparently celebrating the High School football game being played nearby. The 3 of us ordered the spicy fried chicken sandwich, highly recommended by our waitress, who was eating one herself! Our sandwiches were delivered quickly. They were spicy and flavorful, Buffalo style spicy. The waitress was super sweet with a great sense of humor. I'm not sure we will pass this way again, but if we do, we would happily eat at Esther's again. read more

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All was fantastic! If you are driving through you should stop! We had a chicken ceasar salad, cheeseburger, chicken strips and spicy chicken sandwich. Everything was fresh and fantastic! Not gonna lie, we pulled up and debated going in, and I'm so glad we did. It was clean, friendly, bathroom was legit, and service was great! Highly recommend! read more

What a great diner! Happy to have another option in the Fort. We are in town visiting family for Thanksgiving. Stopped into Ester's for lunch. It was very good! We got the spicy chicken sandwiches, and the tenders. Literally witnessed the cook batter up the chicken when we ordered. I call that fresh! All the employees are very kind and welcoming. read more

Esther's Family Diner - Diners Near Me - Fort Sumner, New Mexico

Great food!! Friendly staff!! Will stop here again!! Worth the visit!!! Next time we are traveling through we will be stopping.

One of the best cheeseburgers we've ever had! Highly recommend!! Small restaurant, but great staff. Owner stopped by the table to greet us and tell us the history of the restaurant. Be sure to stop here when you're passing through! read more

Cheeseburger with green chili & fried egg is outstanding! Combined with the friendly greeting, this will be a planned stop for future trips between TX and NM! read more

This place is an awesome place to stop. The burgers, fries, steak fingers, and chicken fingers were really good. Everything tasted homemade and fresh. If you are coming through Ft. Sumner you have to eat here. :) read more

The hamburgers were terrific. What a great place to visit. Santa Rosa has warm, embracing folks!

Delicious spicy chicken sandwich! Fast and friendly. Love to support local businesses!

Good solid breakfast. Biscuits, cream gravy, sausage and two perfectly cooked over-easy eggs. Simple diner doing things well, super clean. Esther's picture is on one wall as memorial. They're honoring her well through good food and good service. read more

Great service, we ordered the hamburgers and the spicy chicken sandwich, both were very tasty, made when ordered and arrived at our table quickly. Restaurant was clean and the bathrooms were sparkling!!!!! read more

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I ended up here early on a Saturday night by default. Nothing else was open. I'm really glad I did, the menu is small but it's the kind of place that is smart enough to do a few things very well rather than several things ok. The waitress was great, I asked her opinion between the daily special which was BLT with gauc or chicken fried steak. She informed me they hand dredge and batter as ordered so I went with the chicken fried steak which came with toast and mashed potatoes. It was very good. I would definitely recommend and definitely go back. read more

Decent little Diner. Stopped by on our way home from Clovis. Good size & filled burrito. Had cup of soup also. Tasty cream of chicken with green chili. The chili had a good amount of "warm" but not too spicy. We enjoyed our meal. 12-27-23 read more

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friendly fast service and great food! truly a local place and well worth the stop. the green chili stew was great!

Stopped in for a bite to eat on our travel from Texas back to California. The service was great, the food delicious, and the place was clean. We had the cheese burger and fries. read more

Great food. We had the beef and bean breakfast burrito and the egg breakfast burrito. Everything was perfect, the green hatch warm salsa was delicious! read more

We had stopped in for dinner on 8/31. Knowing it was a holiday weekend and the menu was a "game day" menu, but not 100% knowing what that would consist of, we decided to give it a try. I am so glad we did! The customer service was like no other; it was just like eating at Grandma's house if you grew up in the 90s like I did. This hidden gem will be included in all our stops up this way from now on. The chicken-fried steak and the steak fingers were amazing and homemade! The burgers and fries were served to perfection as well. Then it was time for the end of our meal, and I was craving a sweet, tasty treat.... they do not have dessert on their menu, but made an impromptu dessert "tostada", I'm from Texas, and the crispy tortillas are tostadas. But this off-the-menu dessert was amazing! I am not sure how to add pictures, but the food didn't last for pictures, only the dessert, which looked too good to eat. If you don't stop in, it's definitely your loss! Thank you for an amazing family dinner during our long weekend family vacation. read more

Driving through and craving a cheeseburger. Thank you Yelp reviews, this was a great place. Family friendly, and damn good cheeseburgers!!! We will be back! read more

Esther's is a wonderful place to eat. We always had top service from the owner and waitresses. The food was so good we ate there about 6 times during one week. Chicken pot pie, hamburgers, everything was freshly made. The sausage gravy and biscuits was delicious! read more

On our way to Texas for the eclipse & needed lunch. We looked up Esther's on YELP & thought we'd give it a try. Nothing fancy, just good food & friendly service. read more

Simple menu, but the food is amazing. One of the only businesses open in town when we came through and it was awesome.

Drive thru service was excellent; quick and friendly experience. The steak fingers, gravy and home fries were exactly what we were hoping they'd be. We'll be back! (Too hungry for pictures, but trust me, looks like it should) read more

delicious food, Excellent atmosphere , over all an amazing experience. I was going to Fort Sumner for an unrelated reason, and decided to eat here, best choice ever. The chicken was phenomenal, the fries salted to perfection, and the biscuit's , Oh the Biscuits! Thirdly, we were served quickly and got free drink refills. Best establishment ever read more

the owner met us at our table with menus; we had homemade posole and a burger. He came by and visited more than once, very cordial and the food was very good. we will stop again read more