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    Viva Mexico

    4.2 (84 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Viva Mexico Photos

    VIVA MEXICO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Chips and salsa
    Alyssa O.

    My wife has been coming here since she was 16.. she seen the old building standing outside waiting for the food to now, the bigger building with a full indoor dinning room. They are so consistent and delicious. The customer service is amazing. They cook the food fast and it's delicious. We love ordering the small nachos to share. The top things we order the shrimp cocktail, taco plate, the soups.

    Parrillada para dos
    Maxwell M.

    Dos palabras mis amigos. Parrillada para dos. Jajaja. I'm telling you. The meat is succulent, the tortillas are fresh, the salsa is flavorful, the queso fundido is soooooooo friggin good. You get potatoes and beans. It's a feast. It says it's for two, but it's really for 4-6 adults. Come lo!

    Costillas de res - all beans no rice
    Bern B.

    This is my GO TO restaurant every time I visit Albuquerque. The food is amazing! Every bite has so much flavor! The shorts ribs are 10/10 so good! Through the years the flavor hits every spot still years later. Chips and green salsa so good, not really spicy but flavor is savory. Horchata 9/10. Not everyone can make a good horchata but this one is a must. I will always come here every time I'm in Albuquerque and I will recommend this restaurant for authentic Mexican food to anyone and everyone who wants a great plate of food.

    Shrimp Ceviche
    Theodore D.

    Absolutely loved their ceviche here and can't get enough of it. Place is always packed so be prepared to possibly wait in line. Need to explore more of the menu but would highly recommend this place if you are on the hunt for a good ceviche in town. I would suggest holding off on devouring the chips and salsa and save the chips for the ceviche.

    Fajitas!!!!
    Kirstin B.

    This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the world! The salsa is heavenly and the guacamole is to die for!!!! Tried the fajitas today and couldn't be happier. Pro tip- if you like soup try the Caldo 7 Mares. Make sure to try a cheese enchiladas here too- the cheese is delicious to the max

    Great plate of food at a great price

    Best place to enjoy good home cooked meal. I make a point every we come to ABQ. Carne Asada Burrito

    Asada Tacos

    Queso is decent. Salsa (the red) is good, green not so much. Service is HORRIBLE. Expect to WAIT and be ignored...at least until you finally just give up and cash out. The asada is flavorless. Just finely diced beef with little to no seasoning, charred a bit on a flattop. Would not eat here again; nothing is memorable, nor tasty enough to revisit, and with the poor service, is a waste of time

    Gerrit K.

    Delicious Mexican food in an understated casual environment with excellent service at a great price. I've been here a few times so far and every time everything was perfect. The food is even more delicious than it looks. Each time I've tried something new and had a taste of what my friends ordered and everything has been great. We will continue to come back as often as we can.

    Fajita with asada and shrimp

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    1 year ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    They are okay. Ask what you want and they might give it to you. I did like the asada burrito though.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and friendly staff!! Presentation is awesome and food comes out nice and hot!! They never disappoint!

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    4 years ago

    My favorite place to go! Food is always great and prices are good! Staff is extremely kind.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    This place is delicious and they are always super friendly to us! There huevos rancheros a must have there!

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    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd - Front of restaurant

    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd

    4.4(2.9k reviews)
    6.2 miDowntown
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Catering service

    There is one southwestern joint in town that is a must visit that's Cocina Azul. The place is…read morebeautiful, sharp clean and very new looking. They have ample seating in brightly lit areas and even patio seating. It was fun busy and alive on a Tuesday night. Our server was so wonderful, very happy and relaxed it's a sign of a good place. All the front staff were wonderful workers and seem to work very harmoniously. My coworker and I had t different things he got a smothered burrito and I got the brisket combo, both dishes were too much food for too grown men. Delicious and huge portions plus a really nice presentation. The wait was a bit long but that just means they are making everything before service. The only hard part was parking, it's a small lot so be prepared to walk a block or two during dinner rush. Trust me it's totally worth it!!!

    I'm in Albuquerque for a few days. I wanted some New Mexican food so I have Cocina Azul a shot…read more East to get to and easy parking. Their 2 big things were their "chili". Everything has either red or green chili or what they call Christmas style and that's both green and red. Not on top of each other but side by side. They both were good. HOWEVER, they were spicy. Really spicy. The green Sause looked like mostly diced hatch green chilis with seeds left in. It had a good flavor. The red Sause was heavy (I think) New Mexico chilies. It had a bright red color, actually stained my fingers, and a woodsy taste. I got a comb plate. It has a chili relleno, tamale, taco, and enchilada with rice and beans. And it was good. It was a lot of food. (See pics) I'm from Oklahoma and the Mexican food there is alot different. But I enjoyed my meal. I would have licked the plate clean if it wasn't so spicy. 4/5

    Photos
    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd
    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd
    The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd - Arellana's Guaco Sopapilla Burger

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    Arellana's Guaco Sopapilla Burger

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

    Frontier

    4.2(2.7k reviews)
    3.9 miMidtown/University
    $$

    Well priced! Awesome customer service! Well flavored food! Daily specials! Free chile/beans for…read moredine in (not sure as I didn't eat there)! Spacious! Free parking! It's a hit for me. I ordered the cinnamon roll, frozen horchata, green chile stew (comes with a warm tortilla), and adovada taco. The total comes out to less than $20! In this economy?! That's amazing. The most expensive item of my item was the iced horchata, which was good. The food still takes the spotlight though. The cinnamon roll could use a TINY bit more cinnamon and brown sugar, but is still pretty good. I'd definitely come back here.

    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
    Frontier - Interior

    Interior

    Frontier - Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

    Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

    Frontier - 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

    Herencia - Crab Enchiladas

    Herencia

    4.5(133 reviews)
    4.3 miEastside

    We were traveling from North Carolina to our home in San Diego…read more We looked up places to eat and were tired of "road trip food". We found Herencia and took a chance. We know good Mexican food, as we are from San Diego, and wanted to try the southwest fare. WHAT AN AMAZING CHOICE! The lovely hostess was charming, engaging and sweet (wish i had her name) and our waiter (Edgar) was authentic, personable and fun to chat with. We had been at a movie and had eaten a bit too much popcorn so we did not order a lot. The three of us shared the free blue corn (not fried) chips with three salsa samples. We then shared a salad and the amazingly good four taco sampler. Thank you Herencia (Enrique the owner, and staff) for this wonderful evening.

    Very expensive Mexican food with small portions. Food was good but not worth the price. They took…read morethe food too artsy and shrinked the sizes too much. Service did not match the price. Server didn't check on us too often and let someone at the table run out of water for 5 minutes until we asked for more. I had the pork al pastor ($26). It was cooked well and seasoned really nicely. Lobster enchiladas were nice but unique just to be unique. I asked for recommendations and all of the options were the most expensive on the menu which was odd to me. If they have a cheaper lunch menu it might be worth trying, but I think the dinner isn't worth it for the price. Four entrees and a soda was $130 plus tip.

    Photos
    Herencia
    Herencia - Tacos

    Tacos

    Herencia - Costilla de Rez

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    Costilla de Rez

    El Patio De Albuquerque - An oldy, but a goody. Been loving this place for over 25 years.

    El Patio De Albuquerque

    4.0(902 reviews)
    4.0 miMidtown/University
    $$

    My favorite meal this year. Very friendly staff and comfortable seating outside underneath a tree,…read morewith fairy lights above. We had the guacamole and salsa, I recommend mixing them together, they pair surprisingly well. A little pricey at $9.60 for the plate. For entrees, we had the green chile chicken enchiladas and carne adovada Christmas style. The latter is one of the most distinct and delicious regional dishes I've had. All entrees had really nice pairings with pinto beans, potato hash, and freshly cooked sopapillas. We chose to have the sopapillas with honey as a dessert, but there's the option to stuff them with the entree.

    This place is like a Mom and Pop hole in the wall gem. The restaurant is small. Parking is a bit of…read morea challenge. There are parking meters along the street and they are free after 6 pm. We stuck a few quarters into the meter that couldn't be read, and we walked into the restaurant. We were greeted at the door and given several options for seating including outdoor seating. We took a table in the entry way, not in the main restaurant. It was a quaint spot overlooking the patio section out front of the restaurant. A server met us, took our drink order, and we placed a few appetizer orders. We got some chile con queso, and the chicharron. They initially brought out the queso in two small plastic to-go containers. I was not very thrilled with that. Then, when we polished them off, they brought out some more in a small serving dish. Why we didn't get the dish in the first place is beyond me. The queso was good, but I didn't think much of the chicharron. My husband like it though. The server did an excellent job keeping our drinks filled. We placed our order, and it wasn't too long that our orders came out. I got the combination plate, red sauce, ground beef taco. My husband thought he ordered the enchilada plate, but the chile relleno plate came out instead. He told them that was fine. The ground beef taco was so delicious. The chile relleno was pretty good, and the cheese enchiladas were okay, even though it was like they were barely there. The pinto beans, not refried beans, were also enjoyed. What really set them apart was their papas - those potatoes were soft and super flavorful. Their red sauce was spicy and flavorful. The server brought out two fresh and hot sopapillas. We poured honey on those things bite by bite. I honestly think those were the best sopapillas I've had. I also used the restroom before we left. It might need a little updating, but it was certainly clean.

    Photos
    El Patio De Albuquerque - Nice conversion of old house

    Nice conversion of old house

    El Patio De Albuquerque - Chips and salsa were fair. $4.00 for a very small serving of salsa. I would not recommend the salsa and chips for the money you are paying.

    Chips and salsa were fair. $4.00 for a very small serving of salsa. I would not recommend the salsa and chips for the money you are paying.

    El Patio De Albuquerque - Patio seating.

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    Patio seating.

    El Pinto - Fresh Guacamole

    El Pinto

    3.4(1.9k reviews)
    9.5 miBusiness Parkway/Academy Acres
    $$

    When visiting New Mexico, my friend took me to El Pinto, and I was extremely impressed! From the…read moremoment we arrived, I loved the atmosphere, design, and layout of the restaurant. Make sure you take the time to walk around and see the entire property--it is HUGE! It feels like you're stepping into a beautiful Spanish-style hacienda, yet it still manages to feel warm, homey, and down-to-earth. The restaurant is very spacious, has beautiful areas for events, and is also dog-friendly. We made reservations, and I definitely recommend doing the same--you NEED them! We were seated right away, and our server was attentive, friendly, and made our experience even more enjoyable. Now, the food! I loved that you can order your chile "Christmas" style and get both red and green. And FYI--endless chips and salsa! The margaritas were strong and delicious, exactly how a margarita should be. I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas. The chicken was moist, tender, and perfectly shredded. The tacos were also great, and the mole chicken was delicious. My only wish is that the menu offered a few more seafood options. Between the atmosphere, great service, delicious food, and margaritas, El Pinto was such a fun New Mexico experience. If you make it to New Mexico, El Pinto absolutely needs to be on your list of places to visit!

    Overall, the restaurant is quite remarkable. The location is unique and the interior and exterior…read morespaces 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.

    Photos
    El Pinto - Come on in!

    Come on in!

    El Pinto - Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

    Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

    El Pinto - Interior entrance

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    Interior entrance

    Viva Mexico - mexican - Updated August 2026

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