Due to work assignment, we are staying in Gallup long enough to try out pretty much every restaurant in town on weekends. Genarios was recommended to us so we popped over for dinner. It was crowded, but we usually take that as a good sign. I liked the chips and salsa to start. We had seen the stuffed sopapilla on other menus, so I wanted to finally try it. Hubby agreed. We paid a dollar extra to have them cut it in half and put it on two plates for us. We also ordered the combination to share. (I took the chili on the side because they are too hot for me). We were sorely disappointed in the food. We had to look for anything but a huge pile of browned hamburger in the sopapilla. The combination plate was very drippy greasy. I can't remember if it was hamburger or not but not very good. Beans and rice were tasteless. This is one we won't be returning to. Neither of us liked it. read more

This place makes the best green chile Mexican food that I've ever had I always stop by here when I am in town read more

Genaro's Cafe - Best green chile sopapillas and enchiladas this side of anywhere. - Mexican Near Me - Gallup, New Mexico

5 stars for the food and 4 for customer service. The food is delicious indeed love the chips and salsa. I stop here when I'm coming from Phoenix. But this past weekend since July 1st it has been closed! Disappointed about that but Jerrys cafe made up for that 110%. Recommend this place when it's open haha if not try Jerrys cafe around the corner. read more

Yelp buddies, you let me down on this one. We were passing through on I-40 and choose this place based on great reviews, sort of laughing that you can't ruin Mexican food. We were wrong, because these guys surely can. Everything was commercially made, from the cold thick tortilla chips and hot salsa that is still burning my stomach, to the canned refried beans and hominy, to the thin tasteless tortillas. There was nothing there that I could not have bought off the shelf in Walmart. Positives were that there was lots of bland chicken in the enchiladas and steak in the tacos, and the service was very fast, so since the food wasn't something we wanted to sit and savor, we were back on the road very quickly. read more

We were simply looking for a lunch along our route and chanced upon Genaro's. Wow.. not to be missed.. very busy.. totally authentic for central New Mexico.. service was super nice.. and the food just plan inexpensive and very flavorful. this is a locals restaurant in the true sense of the word and we loved it.. read more

It is rare that SWMBO will take a referral from a billboard, but as we were entering Gallup, NM, she barely caught the name Genaro's and fresh chili rellanos. "Did you catch the name or address of that restaurant?" She asked. She then pulled off the I-40 and on to famous Route 66. "No," I replied, "But, I am sure Jane can find it." I started entering Genero, Generro, Gena...., luckily we past another billboard and got the name right, before the temperature in the car got hotter than the 105 it was outside. Jane said, "Please follow the highlighted route." After passing about a hundred Indian jewelry outlets, all with the best prices in town, we came to 6th St and turned left. And...appeared to be in a residential area. SWMBO again questioned our trusty GPS and asked, "Are you sure this right?" ` After two weeks, I had finally learned the correct answer, "No! This is what she said was the way to the restaurant." After two more blocks of homes that were getting older looking and more decrepit, SWMBO obeyed said, "I am turning around at the next corner." Fortunately for all of us, Genaro's was on the next corner on the right. Jane said, "Approaching 600 W Hill Ave on left." DOH! There was only one parking space left in the parking lot and all the cars seemed to have New Mexico license plates. Being tourists, we past the side door and entered the restaurant. The place was packed at two o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, and only two of the tables had "Gringos" sitting at them. The rest was made up of Gallup natives and there were at least two tables with ten or more diners. The second thing you notice right away are the large portions on the plates at all the tables when they're being severed and all the empty plates of the patrons that are getting up to leave. We stood at the door for about 5 minutes being ignored by the hostess/cashier; when I finally walked over to her and asked if we were suppose to seat ourselves. As I waited to be acknowledged, another couple entered and went to one of the two empty available tables. Not being a complete idiot, I snagged the other table. Our waitress appeared almost immediately with menus and chips and salsa. The salsa was different from most Mexican restaurants I have been to, being tomato paste thick with green onions, but tasted great. After the waitress returned with our usual ice tea for SWMBO and water for TfH2 and me, she asked if we were ready to order. "What are those huge things that everyone seems to be eating?" I queried. "Those are Genaros Special Stuffed Sopapillas. They are a deep-fried flour shell, stuffed with beans, ground beef, guacamole and cheese. Then smothered with either green or red chili sauce." SWMBO and TfH2 weren't sure, but decided to split one. They also couldn't decide on a chili and had one of each on the side. I braved having mine slathered in the green chilies. When arrived at the table, my sopapilla nearly covered a large oval dinner plate, with just enough room for the green chili sauce to spill over the sides. It was stupendous! With the stuffing, it was nearly an inch thick and, about the best Mexican meal I have ever had! Even TfH2 finished her half. The waitress returned and asks if we wanted desert. On the napkin container was a sign saying ice cream sopapilla were $4.99 or $7.99. SWMBO asked, "How big is the 4.99 sopapilla?" The waitress stated, "About as big as the meat one. Big enough to share." So they ordered one. Our eyes bugged out when it arrived at the table. It was huge. As the waitress had said, about as long as the dinner sopapilla, but it was stuffed with three huge scoops of fresh vanilla ice cream stuffed in a cinnamon coated sopapilla shell, the slathered with chocolate and strawberry toppings, and finally covered with what appeared to be a whole can of whip cream. It was great, too. Can't even imagine how big the large desert sopapilla are. Genaro's Authentic Mexican Food definitely lived up to their billboards. Off the beaten path of Route 66, but well worth the three block diversion. Another restaurant to look forward to, it TfH2 gets accepted at Webster! read more

All you have to do is read my profile to know how I feel about Genaro's. all I gotta say is the best sfuffed sopapilla I have ever had in my life. read more

Honestly? Don't go out of your way. After trying several restaurants in the Gallup area over a period of month (while here on business), we finally got around to trying Genaro's. As another reviewer mentioned, every car in the parking lot was from New Mexico, and once inside, it was apparent that this was a family restaurant. The menu was Mexican-American leaning toward American and we saw more people eating cheese-burgers than Mexican food...but hey, we didn't come to New Mexico to eat American! I ordered the house specialty, the stuffed sopapilla. A sopapilla is basically a large, slightly sweet, puff pastry. It was stuffed with beef and I chose the green chili topping. It wasn't that good. Basically, the beef was a finely ground burger, the consistency of sloppy joe mix, not especially well seasoned and just not that appealing. I ate half and left the rest. Also, the menu said "stuffed" sopapilla--I got a layer of sopapilla on top and nothing underneath. Maybe there was a shortage that night. read more

Great small-town cafe good food.Good people Was just passing through. I would go again for sure read more

Great food and service! You just can't find sopapillas in California !! I bought 5 to go:)

This restaurant was very good in the past, but now? Quality has been sacrificed in the name of profit or lack thereof. For example, refried beans and Spanish rice come from a canned source; chips are store bought. It takes great dedication to serve high quality food, which Genaro's now lacks; food is poor quality, green and red chili are flavorless; and all menu items look and taste like assembly line food. Avoid this restaurant. read more

Tucked away in a neighborhood, very local. Fantastic food. Excellent sopapillas, great green sauce, fresh guac. All around excellent with friendly service. read more

Stated on Yelp open til 8 PM Sunday - sign on door said closed Sun & Mon - please correct. Disappointed. Needs to be corrected.

I ate here for the first time in the afternoon and it would be my LAST! Gross food. No real taco meat variety, everything is overly smothered in sauce that tastes like a bunch of red enchilada sauce or watered down hatch chili. There "salsa" is runny which salsa is not suppose to be. It's also not suppose to taste like they made it with can red enchilada sauce. You want REAL Mexican food go to CA! read more

Sorry to say but this place is my least favorite Mexican restaurants I've been to. Chips are not homemade and you have to buy extra salsa, when they only give you a small bowl of it. Didn't taste authentic at all. It's just not real Mexican food. :(( read more

Coming from a person who lived a few years in Mexico, the enchiladas here are better than any others I've eaten outside of Mexico. They are incredible. Their salsa is very good and, like most things in Mexico, have some bite. If you want something authentic, order the enchiladas with red sauce but the green sauce is incredible as well. Each plate comes with a sopapilla, which I request to be brought out later. read more

We visited Genaro's on a recommendation from a local. He said the sopapillas were amazing, and that was all we needed to hear! I had a bowl of posole, which is hominy stew, with green chile. It was spicy and tangy with lemon juice...wonderful! My son had a combination plate (taco, enchilada etc) with red sauce - again, very spicy and delicious. Each dish came with a large sopapilla, which we dipped in honey, yummmm! One thing to realize - as with any New Mexican restaurant, they assume you know that salsa, green chile and red chile are going to have some heat! There is nothing mild about this food, it was quite spicy. We loved it, but if you can't tolerate spicy food, ask them to recommend something mild. read more

Good basic New Mexico/Old Mexico cuisine. The salsa was medium hot,the red chile was hot and the green chile was medium but flavorful!

I was starved from driving all day, so after I got a room I looked on here for a good Mexican place in Gallup. When I got here I noticed it looked like all of the locals eating...so it must be good right? wrong. I ordered a combo platter. It was nothing special at all, the food was kinda bland and I've had better...a lot better in the NE..hell, even Charlotte NC compared to this place. The food was very Americanized...I wanted good authentic Mexican! I want a fresh Mexican street taco..not a hardshell one with ground meat piled high with too much lettuce, tomato, grated cheese..bleh The rest of the meal was forgettable also. read more

The food is sooooo good. It is authentic and is a can't miss for Mexican food while in Gallup.

Well the first night we got the stuffed sopapilla and it was good. But my aunt started choking on her red chile enchilada, went down the wrong pipe. The darling woman is 82 and she said it was a first. So she couldn't finish her enchilada. I took a bite and was in heaven, and very sorry I had ordered the sopapilla. My dad took a bite and then quickly finished the enchilada before I could have any more! So of course we had to come several more times during our visit, and never strayed from enchiladas again. We decided it's the best food to showcase red chile. Genaro's is almost as good as my aunt's and grandma's. Almost. Scrumptious. read more

Amazing food!!! This is the best mexican restaurant to eat at in Gallup (with the exception of Virgies). I love their chips and salsa!!!! One thing I always love to get is their Stuffed Sopapilla with green chili on the side!! :) I always love to come here!!! read more

I tried to come here to eat but they were closed for vacation according to a hand written sign on the door. Would have between nice if they updated this info on Yelp. They are closed the first two weeks of July, until the 12th of 2016. read more

Wow. Good food. Busy at lunch but quick. We had the stuffed sopapilla. Big enough to share. Save room for sopapilla and honey. That was the best part of the meal. read more

I agree, best Mexican food in America. Great service, owner on site very friendly. We will be back

Chile rellenos were fantastic! Salsas (red, green, and the one with chips) were super

Best Mexican food I New Mexico. I grew up on it, and now my kids love it!

As we we're driving through Gallup we looked up a place to get a bite to eat. Yelp reviews were good so we decided to give it a try. Service was slow, chips and salsa were good. Ordered a Mexican coke from the bottles, needed ice as it was warm. I ordered the Green chile soup with beans and pork. When it arrived it was smothered in green chilie sauce, way too spicy, and I like spicy. Soup was very bland, 3 pieces of pork and all beans. It was the worst bowl of green chile that I've ever had. The rest of my family ordered the stuffed sopapillas. Sopapillas came with ground beef that was way overcooked, seemed like it was just steamed, bland with an odd taste to it. The staff didn't bother to come back. Needless to say we left about 90% of what we ordered without eating it. Grossly overrated, would not return or recommend. read more

i'd give this place one star, except for: 1. maybe it was just what i had ordered 2. there doesn't seem to be any decent food along I-40 summary: i was on a road trip through the southwest and was looking forward to an awesome lunch at a local place with good food. i was disappointed. i felt this place was overpriced and didn't offer any remotely healthy options. if you aren't picky about not eating greasy, low-grade food, you may really enjoy this place. i, however, did not. i would have rather spent my $25 at the grocery store and had a picnic lunch at a rest stop on the highway. full explanation: first of all the chips and salsa was awesome. if that's all you're eating, then by all means go there just for that. if you're ordering more, hesitate. i ordered tostados and though the server asked which type of chili i wanted and whether or not i wanted it on the side, also if i wanted sour cream and avacado, but she didn't ask if i wanted the cheese, bean, or beef version. after answering all of the other questions, i forgot to specify that i wanted the bean version (as i don't normally eat meat) and when it came out, the default tostada was apparently the beef version. no big deal, i'm not completely adverse to eating meat on occasion, but this low grade ground meat was pretty gross. in fact, all of the food on the plate (lettuce, tomato, refried beans) was pretty low grade. i had high hopes for the green chili, but it was meh. and fyi, this plate was a $9.99 lunch. if it were $5, i wouldn't gripe, but this was not $10 lunch grade food. you can spend $10 in the fancy part of downtown denver and get awesome food--so i'm griping. also, i'm not used to people coming around to booths selling jewelry, so that was kind of weird. in addition, when i went in the restroom before leaving, the floor was covered with pee. my suspicion is that it was the old man who was in there just before me. i doubt this is the standard state for the restroom. read more

First introduction to stuffed sopapillas and was not disappointed! Phenomenal! I wish I lived closer just so I can get another meal.

Nice and clean but the pulled chicken salad left a lot to be desired . Chicken was tiny pieces over chunks of lettuce. Green chili was good!

I did a grad internship in gallup the late 70's. the place was very good then, and I am sure it still is. I remember a very modest exterior(kind description) which concealed an equally unimpressive interior. Had I followed my first impulse, I would have missed a great place to eat. I also remember crowds at lunch, very little parking, but worth the hassels in the end. I hope they remodeled, updated both inside and outside and made more parking available, though that might be difficult as it is in, if I recall correctly, a primarily residential area. if I am ever in gallup again i shall see. no matter what I will still go in and enjoy and reminisce about days long gone by. read more

I've been here several times, the food is the best in gallup, kinda like being the tallest midget in the room, there's no other good option in gallup as far as I've seen and I've been here a while and tried a lot of what this town calls food. If you have the option then I suggest you cook your own food. If you want something local come here and I suggest the nightmare steak with sauce on the side. Good eats read more

This place is as authentic as it comes. Nothing fancy on the inside, but the staff was friendly and the food is pure Sonoran. My relleinos with red and green chili was as good as it gets, and a fresh torta bun to boot. They're not licensed, but you come here to EAT. read more

Good comfort food, have tried quite a few different menu items, all good, efficient, courteous staff.

We stopped for lunch, often our visit to Gallup. We love the green chile, stuffed sopapilla and rellenos. Another great meal today.

We stopped here on the road on the basis of reviews we found on the net. Mid-day Friday, the place was packed but we walked in and got the one table that was free. Chips and salsa were quick and exceptionally tasty -- and the salsa spicer than I am used to finding in New Mexico restaurants, thankfully. Entrees were generous in size. The ground beef tacos I got were a little under-spiced, I thought, although generous in the amount. I'm happy I found this place and would happily go there again. I might ask for the meal to be a little more spicy: I suspect they can do it but don't automatically do so, especially for gringos. read more

Food is delicious and spicy. Ordered the combo fajitas. Service is great and friendly. Music was horrible; desired some good South of the border tunes. Don't care much for the location - found place in a remote, ghetto neighborhood. Parking is horrendous; had to park on a narrow street. There is only one bathroom for everyone. I'll give 2 good stars for authentic food. read more

Awesome! Best Mexican I've ever had! Service wasn't warm and cuddly, but better than I expected as out-of-towners in a local restaurant. The chili sauces were on point. If you're squeamish, don't get them "smothered." Just get them on the side. read more

Archeologists coming in the area it is a bet whether or not they can manage the heat on a stuffed sopapilla. Most can. I like ordering the beef stuffed sopapilla so good. read more