La Mexicana Tortilla Co — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Okay, buckle up, because I just experienced a little slice of New Mexican heaven at La Mexicana, and I need to shout it from the rooftops! If you're craving authentic, soul-satisfying New Mexican cuisine that tastes like it came straight from someone's beloved abuela's kitchen, then look no further. La Mexicana is the real deal. From the moment you walk in, you're enveloped in a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's not fancy, it's comfortable and genuine, which perfectly sets the stage for the incredible food to come. And oh, the food! It's clear that everything at La Mexicana is made with love and meticulous attention to detail. This isn't your run-of-the-mill, mass-produced New Mexican fare; this is home-cooked goodness, elevated by fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional recipes passed down through generations. The star of the show, undoubtedly, is the "made from scratch" aspect. You can taste it in every bite. The tortillas are clearly hand-pressed and cooked to perfection. The red and green chile? They are rich, complex, and bursting with flavor. They are not spicy for the sake of being spicy; they had layers of flavor that danced on my palate. You can tell they've been simmering for hours, coaxing out the perfect balance of heat and earthiness. I devoured the huevos ranchos, and it was simply divine. The table raved about their dishes as well, from the tamales to the light, airy, sopaipillas, which were perfect for soaking up the last bits of that amazing chile. The service was also exceptional. The staff were friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve. They were happy to answer questions and offer recommendations, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. If you're tired of generic New Mexican food and are yearning for the authentic, heartwarming flavors of New Mexico, then La Mexicana is an absolute must-visit. It's a true gem that celebrates the art of home-cooked meals made with love and the finest ingredients. My taste buds are already dreaming of my next visit. Five stars...

Breakfast and lunch spot off the beaten path.

The service was very fast, though I may have come just after the lunch rush, but I think even during a lunch rush the service would be fast as they had more than ample staff for such a small spot. The staff was very friendly and it feels like family.

They offer both indoor seating and an outdoor patio, and a generous parking lot which isn't common for downtown.

From two blocks away, you can smell the corn tortillas they are making.

The tacos are fried and a little greasy, but of course that makes them taste even better! The enchiladas were pretty good too. The tamale I had was very dense, and almost entirely corn though: I had to hunt to find meat in it and there was about a spoonful of meat at the end of the tamale.

The complimentary chips and salsa were a welcome surprise as the prices here are small. The salsa was a little watery as was the red chile sauce on the entrée, though both tasted good. The calabacitas was okay as were the beans.

Lastly, the sopaipilla was tasty, though more dense and "floury" than I'm used to...This isn't a bad thing. They do not have genuine honey for the sopaipillas, but instead use a corn syrup-based "sopaipilla sauce" that has become ubiquitous in southwest food due to the rising costs of honey. There are only a few places left in Albuquerque that still use real honey.

Prices for meals: this starts at $7.95, plus $2 for a fountain drink. That is very affordable for downtown. The only place that has food in that range is the hot bar at Silver Street Market ($5.99 for an entrée and two sides there).

I'll return again for breakfast next time! If you're in the neighborhood, give this...

Let me put y’all on FAM when I say this place is a 10 out of 10 it is a 10 out of 10 food made fresh 10 out of 10 price of food 10 out of 10 atmosphere, 10 out of 10 customer service 10 out of 10 shout out to Sarah Ruthie, and oriah best customer experience I’ve had in a while. I cannot say enough about this place. It was amazing. I had the Por Vida burrito which has ground beef with potato beans wrapped in a homemade tortilla top that with fries, chili con, queso, red and green chili OMG, the best thing ever my buddy had the burrito plate with chicken and let me tell you the chicken was well seasoned and very juicy not dry at all, the salsa was absolutely amazing fresh cut ingredients chunky not blended exactly the kind of salsa I like with the little bit of heat just all around this place is amazing. Shout out to y’all for the great experience. This is one of my favorite places highly recommend. I will be back again and again and again. Oh don’t forget about all the fresh tortillas made fresh daily fresh made corn tortillas fresh chips, Chicharrón taco shells. I did buy me some taco shells to make tacos for dinner. They also hook me up with some extra salsa for my tacos and hook me up with some guacamole oh, and the guacamole is amazing, they have so much stuff. I’m telling y’all check it out for yourself FAM. You will not be...