A 'Fake' Breaking Bad Fan’s Trip

Name: John B. Robert Dam
Rating: 4.7

Last month, I took a trip to New Mexico with zero solid plans—until I remembered Breaking Bad, the show I never finished (I stopped after Hank died because it was way too heartbreaking 😭). Even though I’m barely a “fan” (let’s be real, I’m a total poser), I figured I’d hit up a few iconic spots anyway—why not? My first stop was the famous “Pollos Hermanos” stand-in: Twisters Burgers and Burritos 🍗. The address is 4275 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105—super easy to find. Inside, it was funny: not many people were actually eating tacos or burritos, but there was a steady stream of folks taking photos by the counter, the walls, even the door. I felt right at home with my “tourist” energy! Then came the best coincidence of the trip: I ran into a uncle there—he was also snapping photos, and we ended up leaving at the same time. Later, when I got to John B. Robert Dam (the spot where Jesse Pinkman had his pickup scenes 🚗), who do I see? Him again! We laughed about our matching “random check-in route,” and he asked, “You a big Breaking Bad fan?” I awkwardly laughed and mumbled, “Kinda… I haven’t finished the show yet” 😅—total “fake fan” moment, but he thought it was funny too. Next, I visited the fan-made spot: The Breaking Bad Store at 2047 S Plaza St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 🎬. It’s packed with merch—from “Blue Meth” candy to Gus Fring mugs—and has a tiny little “museum” area with behind-the-scenes stuff. I wandered around, pretending I knew all the references, and even bought a cheap keychain just to say I had a souvenir. Honestly, for someone who’s not a die-hard fan, Albuquerque felt a little boring at times. The only spot that really wowed me was the Rio Grande State Park 🌊—the river views were calm and pretty, way more my speed than chasing TV spots. But I did think: maybe if I come back during the Balloon Fiesta 🎈, it’ll feel more lively. All those hot air balloons filling the sky? That’s the kind of chaos I can get behind. Overall, it was a silly, low-pressure trip—no need to be a super fan to enjoy wandering around. And hey, now I have a reason to finally finish Breaking Bad… maybe. #BreakingBad #NewMexico #Albuquerque #CitySightseeing #FakeFanAdventures #USATravel #MovieLocationTour