Barelas Coffee House — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I've heard such wonderful things about this place and I decided to try it for myself. I thought it was going to be a small little coffee house but I didn't realize the scope of this place! It's huge and it took some figuring to know where to enter and where to park. I think I got the last parking space in the parking lot across the street. I think I got the last table in the place too when I arrived because I had to sit right by the door in the high traffic place, but the whole place was bustling. From the time I placed my order to the time I got my food was probably less than 3 minutes which was super impressive! The service was nice. Everything was definitely in good flow and you could tell that a lot of people probably frequent there. Having said all that, I wanted some comfort food and I got it. I thought it was okay. Not amazing but okay.

The chicharrones were something I was looking forward to because everyone was talking about them. They were so hard to chew and swallow because they were soo dry. And to be honest, they weren't that flavorful. I don't see how that's the case because it's really just fried pork fat for the most part. I even told the waitress that I didn't think they were very good when she came to check in. I was hoping she was going to tell me that I must have got the bottom of the batch or something. But she just said oh that's too bad.

I got some menudo and I thought it was amazing because I can get menudo without all the posole as well in it. It was good, but again, not very flavorful, especially for menudo. I feel like they make the food kind of bland and then you get to put what you want in it to make it how you want and maybe that's what serves a lot of people's tastes. ??

You can tell that the atmosphere is definitely something that feels more like home and the people are people who come back often. There was a very homey feel even though it was such a busy place.

I'd maybe come back, but it wasn't...

This is a New Mexican breakfast/brunch place like you’ve never had! Its name with Coffee House in it is a misnomer. It’s great, great, great New Mexican Food for the New Mexican Foodie! This joint is so popular that over the years it has expanded, and expanded, and expanded. You can tell the evolution of this eatery from its incremental growth spurts room to room, to its patio and the gift shop. But the thing about Barelas is not so much the size and the amount of people (a huge amount of mostly regulars) they can feed… but incredible, tasty, and traditional New Mexican eats! This is true old-fashioned New Mexican food at its best. We stopped-in for breakfast recently on a Thursday morning, by the time we arrived Barelas was maybe 1/3 full, by the time we left close to noon, it was jam-packed. It shows that locals know where to go! My breakfast selection consisted of their delectable tender and savory red chile marinated carne asada with 2 eggs over easy, perfectly shredded, crispy-soft, and browned hash browns, and of course the essential home-made tortillas. I could not pass up ordering a cup (that was more like a bowl) of an incredible rendition of their Hatch green chile posole – fabulous. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her choice of the Huevos Rancheros Deluxe offering of 2 eggs with beans, chile and cheese drenched over home-made corn tortillas, with hash browns. Great start to the morning! We left happy! We left full! We left satisfied! Buen...

Another Albuquerque staple. I have lived here for 35+years and never heard or been to Barelas. Read a website that suggested the best Mexican restaurants in New Mexico and decided we need to go to all of them! This place left me craving their food and I cannot wait to go back. I ordered the Carne Adovada with eggs and hash browns, and it came with a tortilla. The Carne adovda was amazing! The chili not crazy spicy but really flavorful and the meat was tender and juicy, not dry. The tortilla tasted like a grandmother made it fresh with fresh ingredients on the spot! Parking was hard to find as there is a a few spots in front and around the building but they have a separate parking lot across the street that accommodates extra vehicle's. There is a clear sign that points out the lot that I did not see at first. Once parking was taken care of there was a long line but moved fast. I am sure this place stays packed as they are only open from 7:30am to 3pm except Saturday where they are open till 2:30. The employees were friendly and seemed to enjoy their job, from the table seater, to the menu bringer(is that a word? Lol);to our waitress, to the cashier. They also have several photos of famous people who have come through the restaurant which was really cool. They have a separate store that sells New Mexico items as well. Perfect portions, for the perfect price, with perfect service, Thanks Barelas for a perfect breakfast!...