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    Plaza Cafe Downtown

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    PLAZA CAFE DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Plaza Cafe Downtown

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    Crispy Fish Tacos
    Marleen M.

    The food was delicious! I loved the beans and even though I ordered to-go and drove a bit, the fish was still crispy and delicious. The place inside was cute as well. The only thing I had a complaint about was the hospitality; they seemed to be bothered by the interruption of the conversation. If in Santa Fe again, I would definitely be back!

    Fresh Pressed Prickly Pear Lemonade
    Sabrina C.

    Everything here was absolutely delicious!!! So much so I had to eat here several times while visiting. There's something on the menu for everyone, it's homemade, and service is friendly and prompt. Both breakfast and lunch have tons of options. I would highly recommend this place and look forward to going back!

    Santa Fe Green Goddess
    Rachael B.

    The food was excellent! I ate a whole plate of sopapillas and honey to myself. The green goddess salad was fantastic as well. Our server was friendly, offered up local suggestions for things to do in town and gave us stickers at the end of our meal. We sat outside overlooking the square. For what seems to be a super touristy spot the food was excellent! I highly recommend stopping here!

    Haiyang H.

    It is a good cafe, situated right in the plaza. We came in for a late lunch one day around 1pm. They got my number. We went to check out a few vendors nearby. Got a text soon after and got an indoor seating. The interior is very retro. Christmas decorations were up. Seats are big and comfortable. Waitress was helpful and attentive. I ordered posole with green chile with coffee. Kids received kids menu and colored pencils. One got fish and chips and the other got impossible chicken nuggets. Both got their drinks. My posole was solid! Loved it. The hearty soup was nicely flavored. First day of soup came in with onions, cilantro, herb blend (heavy oregano) and a side of puffed tortillas along with butter. The pork was so tender and the pork flavor went deep into the flavor. The tortilla was good too. Kids enjoyed their food. We received complimentary cookies after. We loved it so much that we went back the next day ordering the same food. I got additional cabbage for my posole on the second day. Got extra fried eggs and switched my carbs from tortillas to wheat toasts. Yummy yummy. We sat outside the second day and got to enjoy watching some dances on the plaza. Waiter was excellent. Great service. We would love coming back again if we revisit. Nice cafe with history, solid food and wonderful service!

    Chicken Fried Steak
    Jerry F.

    Excellent chicken fried steak, great focaccia bread, and pretty decent potatoes. I didn't touch the veggies this time around so I can't speak for them. The place had a pretty good windchill for the constant entering and exiting from the waiters. I didn't care for the curtain as it seemed to me like a health and food hazard but perhaps it does something (super small) to mitigate the intense wind. Unlikely. Service was pretty great, with our server being on top of refills and a fast turn around on the check. Ambiance was unique, with white tiles on the ceiling, and some mural/artworks around the place. The cookies at the end was a very nice touch! Impossible upcharge of $3.50 was a bit weird considering the price for a frito pie but my partner really enjoyed it nonetheless!

    Bloody Mary
    Dan D.

    Plaza Cafe has been serving awesome meals since 1905 Had a delicious breakfast / brunch there over the weekend. They were *packed* with people, so there was a waiting list. Easy enough to get on the list & share your cell # The inside is updated, clean and buzzing with good energy. The service is fast, friendly, & efficient. Located right on the Plaza, [hence the name :) ] I imagine they're almost always busy. Definitely worth a try

    Michael S.

    We stopped for lunch at the Plaza Café and couldn't have picked a better spot. Sitting outside right on the square was perfect -- great people-watching, warm sun, and we even caught live Native American performers nearby, which made the whole experience feel extra authentic and fun. I had the sopapillas with ground beef, Christmas-style chiles (both red and green) -- absolutely delicious. Perfect balance of spice and flavor, and the sopapillas were light and fresh. Jen had the upside-down Frito pie and loved it -- hearty, crunchy, and loaded with flavor. Service was quick and friendly, and everything came out hot and fresh. You really can't beat this spot for a true Santa Fe lunch: great food, perfect location, and classic local atmosphere. Highly recommend grabbing an outdoor table if you can -- it's the best seat in town for soaking in the Santa Fe Plaza energy!

    Chile rellenos omlet
    Barry M.

    WOW!!. A friend recommended eating here while we were in town and she was spot on. We love Mexican cuisine and this is food heaven. We had breakfast here the options were hard to decide between. The other cool part was they still have a counter service with stools. It's hard to find that anymore and it was fun watching the staff navigate the small space, almost like a dance. I had the MEXICAN SHAKSHUKA and it was freaking amazing. What a huge amount of flavor with a bit of a kick. It was seven with a fresh made flour tortilla and hash browns. Loved it and will definitely go back and have it again before we leave. My wife had the special which was a Chill Rellenos Omlet. A very flavorful dish with green chills sauce on the top. YUM! Our waiter was super friendly although super busy. This place rocks so expect to wait, but it well worth it.

    Frito pie
    Peg D.

    Wonderful outside ambience outside on the plaza. I tried the upside down frito pie w green chiles. And wOw spicy, but yummy! Don't let them tel you it's not hot--it is!! but delish! My granddaughter had the posole, but wisely asked for the chili on the side--so she could season to taste. My boring hubby had a blt--which he liked. Didn't like the fries. Attentive service.

    Mexican mocha.
    Kneesee P.

    We always have to eat at Plaza Cafe when in Santa Fe! I love the ambiance. The food servings are generous and the quality is excellent. I ordered a classic breakfast today. The thick bacon is always perfect. My husband ordered the sticky bun and that is a must for breakfast. This trip he tried a Mexican Mocha and it definitely has the chocoletta flavor. We will return again!

    Blue Corn Piñon Pancake, plant based sausage, eggs, tropical ice tea.
    Val R.

    Plaza cafe has been established for many years. I stopped by two days in a row for breakfast. The blue corn pancakes are delicious with an in house made syrup. I ordered the plant based sausage as a side (I don't eat pork). I ordered the tropical ice tea (unsweetened) delicious. Service was excellent. In addition Plaza Cafe sells green and red chili sauces . I purchased the green to take home . Prices are reasonable for the food quality and service. I definitely will be returning.

    Chicken enchiladas (Christmas chile on top)
    Kally G.

    I can tell why the Plaza Cafe is always packed- the food is tasty and authentic! We enjoyed the chicken enchiladas with red and green (Christmas) chile, and sopapillas. Would absolutely return. They gave us stickers to take home when they returned our credit cards after payment- nice touch!!

    Nora F.

    Worth the wait to get in! Amazingly fast service despite it being packed for the Holidays. My most memorable item was the Mexican hot chocolate. It had just the right kick, not overpowering to make it undrinkable. It wasn't too loud in there - could have a comfortable conversation.

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    El Callejon Taqueria and Grill

    El Callejon Taqueria and Grill

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    OK, I'm giving this place 5 stars for the food. The service actually sucked, but the food was…read moreoutstanding! I had the Pollo Asada Burrito and my wife had the Shrimp Fajitas. The topped the burrito with green and red sauce... delicious!!! The flour tortillas were warm and soft awesome. As for the service... not good! The bartender is a rockstar, but the other server was not good. Forgot to give our drink order, forgot we asked for water, and forgot the beer I ordered. Actually, the food made up for it! Give ECT a try if you're in the Santa Fe Plaza area.

    Don't believe the hype! Seeing that there was such high rating for this restaurant and also voted…read moreone of the best tacos in the country I had to give this place a try! Unfortunately I was highly disappointed by food and service. I ordered fish and shrimp taco. The food wasn't bad but it's didn't come with a side of salsa or any sort of sauce. It did comes with a side of rice which I felt was under seasoned. The service was slow. I walked in around 1pm and door was locked. I was surprised to find them close even though online says that they are open at 11am that day. I checked on google and it was suppose to be open. I called and they said that they are open but waiting for alcohol to be delivered at 3pm. Did they assume that every customer coming in is ordering alcohol? As far as I understand this is a restaurant that serves food and alcohol and not a bar. Shortly after my arrival, there was a large tour with 12 people showed up. I could see that the waiter was a bit flustered because he also had to tend to other customer as well as the tour. I guess this is where the tour take people for authentic taco experience. In my opinion these are more toned down gringo tacos. My taco didn't come with a side of sauce like everyone else. I also noticed that the tour all received a side of salsa which I didn't. I'm not sure if the waiter forgot. I had to flag down the waiter a few time because he also forgot my drink. I also ordered an agua Fresca watermelon and it wasn't made of real watermelon but flavor syrup from the bar. I wished I had known that it wasn't real melon. 2.5 stars for the food and 2 for service. Again food wasn't terrible, but certainly wasn't close to be the best.

    Photos
    View walking in
    View walking in
    Chips, salsa fresca, guacamole
    Chips, salsa fresca, guacamole
    Large bar with minimal restaurant seating.

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    Large bar with minimal restaurant seating.
    Palacio Cafe

    Palacio Cafe

    4.5
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We're repeat customers at Palacio and have had an outstanding experience every time. Food, service,…read moreambience, never disappoint. Located in a quieter part in the edge of downtown, parking is usually pretty easy to find on-Street, and it's a few steps over to shops. The outdoor patio is secluded and quiet, and the indoors offers plenty of seating in a historic setting that's bright and fresh. On the food side, Palacio cooks their red Chile for over 8 hours, making it in my opinion one of the best and most flavorful in Santa Fe. Most other places I get Christmas style, but here, the red Chile is just perfect. On this trip, we had a smothered breakfast burrito and enchiladas suizas. Both were perfectly cooked, served hot, and resulted in another visit of what we expected from Palacio - great food and friendly service in what had quickly become our favorite Santa Fe restaurant.

    Great local spot to grab some local Santa Fe breakfast. I ordered a traditional breakfast with…read moreeggs over medium, bacon and potatoes. However, something must've gotten lost in the translation because I was served an omelette, Christmas style (meaning both red and green chilies, and it was simply delectable service was outstanding other than the confusion on my breakfast order, which the the server apologized multiple times for messing up my breakfast, but at the end of the day, it was actually a blessing because what I received was much better than what I ordered Ambience wise... The Restaurant was not that busy but had a nice quiet vibe to it. Made for a very enjoyable lazy morning. Coffee was standard fare and very enjoyable to go with my breakfast. My dining companion went a more healthy route with granola and yogurt and said everything was very tasty

    Photos
    Palacio Cafe
    Huevos Rancheros with green chili
    Huevos Rancheros with green chili
    Steak tacos

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    Steak tacos
    The Shed

    The Shed

    3.9
    (2.7k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Because of it's kitschy decor and placement right on the plaza, as well as all the tourists milling…read morearound, I was worried this place would be a gimmick I would regret. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I was greeted super warmly and was educated on their menu as the host led me to my table (this place is sprawling and has inside and outside tables). My server greeted me immediately and was so helpful in her recommendations. She was truly interested in giving me the best experience as opposed to running the bill up for a bigger tip. Fresh out of the museum of New Mexico, I had learned adovada is a native dish, so I went with the carne adovada plate. Made with slow roasted lean pork, marinated in red Chile, garlic, and oregano. Served with cheese blue corn, red Chile, and onion. With a. side of pinto beans. It was spicy. Not HOT, but not "white people" spicy. It was warm and filling. Delicious. As far as margaritas, all I had were great. I had one of their premium 24 dollar margs, but it wasn't any better than the 12 dollar one recommended by the server. They also offer huevos rancheros, various enchiladas, tamales, burritos, tacos. For those wishing to go a little more americanized (but then why would you come here), they have a buffalo burger, grilled chicken sandwich, and regular burgers. Don't let the crowd deter you. I was seated immediately mid day on a Friday. It's right on the plaza so you can stop off here during your shopping and exploring.

    We were never able to eat at The Shed, but our experience is worth noting…read more We called there three times to make reservations on separate days and no human being ever picked up the phone. This morning, a few minutes before their scheduling opening time, we walked by; the door was open and a manager was sitting on a chair. My wife entered, said hello, tried to make eye contact, and was ignored. THAT'S the way to make sure diners find their way to other SF restaurants!

    Photos
    The doors from inside to out, showing the low historical door dating back at least a century
    The doors from inside to out, showing the low historical door dating back at least a century
    Carne Adovada Plate
    Carne Adovada Plate
    Exterior/patio area

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    Exterior/patio area
    Sazon

    Sazon

    4.4
    (812 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$$

    tldr: THE SOUP This…read moreis a place where a tasting menu would be amazing because I'm sure everything is that good. Before they even bring the menu they bring out 7 moles to taste. Apparently moles aren't all dark chocolate spicy sauces ... ?!?? Loved the education and samples. I'm typically not a mole fan, but they were fun to try. We had the octopus but to me the sauce was too oily. The actual octopus was tender and delicious. Also had the duck skin tacos which were more of a minced duck meat taco and delish. The 5 stars go for impeccable service and the SOUP. This soup is not to be missed. Nothing on paper makes me think it should work but it totally does. It's a big lump of blue crap topped with creamy poblano pepper soup with whipped cream and amaretto and then topped with a spicy kick. Someone said cinnamon but for me it tasted more like hot red chili powder. Sounds incredibly weird but it was the best dish I've had in forever. Waitress was extremely knowledgeable and the chef was very welcoming and present in his cowboy hat! Space was cozy with amazing art. Perfect date night spot but plan to spend a bit of $$$

    We had a lovely meal here with friends. The decor gives off Mexico and New Mexico vibes…read more The moles are definitely the star of the show, It would be nice if they could be bottled up to be taken home, which apparently they did at one point in time. The service was good after we got settled in, our waiter was attentive and the chef stopped by several time to check-in on us. My husband loved the pork dishes he tried, including the pork belly and the pork with your choice of mole. I agree that they did a nice job with the pork. The Azteca (yellow fin tuna crudite) was tasty, but a bit saucy and a little too salty. The Soup de Amor is a must get! And if you are a fan of tequila, they do flights with sangrita. I read a review that this place would benefit from having a set tasting menu, and I am in agreement. But for now the option is to share multiple dishes if there is a larger group.

    Photos
    Incredible setting
    Incredible setting
    Lamb with Mole Selection
    Lamb with Mole Selection
    Avocado ice cream w/beet sauce

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    Avocado ice cream w/beet sauce

    Plaza Cafe Downtown - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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