🌮 Mexican Food Guide: No-Regret Eats in ABQ + Santa Fe! 🌮

Before my trip, I had zero expectations for New Mexican food—but wow, was I surprised! From flavorful street tacos to cozy brunch spots, I enjoyed delicious and affordable meals throughout my journey. Here’s my roundup: 📍 Santa Fe 🥞 The Pantry A beloved Mexican brunch spot! Stuffed quesadilla with seasoned ground meat Hearty breakfast burrito (only around $10!) – try it with chorizo and Christmas-style red + green chile French toast with chunky fruit jam – not too sweet, perfectly balanced 😍 A solid start to the day! 🥘 La Boca We originally wanted Geronimo (a top 5 U.S. fine dining spot!), but ended up here for tapas—and no regrets! MEJILLONES: Mussels in green sauce with coconut aroma GAMBAS AL AJILLO: Garlic shrimp with a tangy twist LAMB ALBONDIGAS: Crispy yet tender lamb meatballs TABLA MIXTA: A flavorful charcuterie board Even the dessert (creamy flan) was amazing! ✨ Cozy, lively, and full of charm. 🌮 Adelitas Mexican Restaurant An authentic local gem—so real the servers barely speak English! Menudo (tripe soup) was too gamey for my taste ❌ But the tacos… LIFE-CHANGING! 🌮 Especially beef tongue and pork belly—so good we ordered seconds! 🍣 Izanami Japanese restaurant inside Ten Thousand Waves Spa. Average food, but great ambiance—perfect after a soak! We had sashimi and wagyu hot stone grill. 🥟 Dumpling Tea Chinese dumplings and noodles—dough was thick, flavor was okay. 💡 Lower your expectations for Chinese food here! 📍 Albuquerque 🌮 El Paisa No-frills street tacos—cheap and tasty! Pair with horchata for the full experience. (Too bad the Coke wasn’t Mexican—would’ve completed the vibe!) 🌯 Sadie's A popular Mexican spot with great service! Huge portions of ribs and steak Free chips & salsa—addictively good! We finished three bowls 😂 🍹 Sawmill Market A stylish food hall near Old Town—perfect after exploring! Options include BBQ ribs, pho, tacos, pasta, and taiyaki ice cream. This food journey turned into one of the biggest highlights of my trip! New Mexico, you’ve won my heart—and my stomach ❤️🌯 #FoodDiary #NewMexico #NewMexicoTravel #ABQ #SantaFe #SantaFeFood #EatLikeALocal #MexicanFood #TravelAndEat 🌶️🍹📸