Buckhorn Tavern — Restaurant in Socorro

Buckhorn Burger tried on 9/20/2022 Excellent burger. The patty was 1/2lb, and was fresh. Was cooked medium, with a very lught pink center, and it was delicious, with just a little juice: enough for a moist burger, but not so much that it made the bun soggy. The bun was pretty basic, but lightly toasted and it held together well. The green chile was fresh and maybe medium heat; but with good flavor, and plentiful. The cheese was American and well melted. Toppings included lots of lettuce, tomato, pickle, diced white onion, and mustard. Unfortunately, the toppings were on the bottom, which makes everything slide off. The fries were hand cut and cooked properly: a light golden brown with a soft center. They were very good, and plentiful as well.

The Mule tried on 9/20/2024 This is a very big burger. It was between 4-1/2 and 5 inches tall. The patties, as always, were fresh, moist, and delicious. The burger was juicy, but the bun held up. The patty looked as though it had a decent fat content, as the grain was fairly open. The American cheese was melted very well, and the green chile was medium heat and tasty. Toppings included lettuce, tomato, pickle, diced white onion, and mustard. Unfortunately, the toppings were on the bottom, which makes everything slide off. I removed the tomato slices and had no more problems. The fries, as before, were hand cut and cooked properly: a light golden brown with a soft center. They were very good, and plentiful as well.

We pass by the tavern every year on our way to Ruidoso. And every year the service is excellent. We sit at the picnic tables outside because we have our dogs with us, and the young ladies who wait on us give us good attention, and bring water out for the dogs. The service is great. As for the atmosphere, the locals are always nice; however, it is an old building on the side of the road.

Note: For comparison sake, the single patty Buckhorn Burger was $10.40, but it was $8.45 2 years ago.

Note: I've now rated 87 green chile cheeseburgers. The Buckhorn comes in a #12 for me. The ONLY knock I have on it is the fact that they use American Cheese, which melts nice and tastes good, but is a processed "cheese food". The burger would have scored higher in my ratings if it had real cheese, such as cheddar, on it. That said, this is still an excellent burger, and I highly recommend you try it. It's worth going out of...

My favorite gems in this country are the small-town, road-less-traveled byway diners and bars. Not only will you find some of the best food around, but you will often meet some of the most fascinating and wonderful people.

Buckhorn Burgers isn't just some obscure dive and enjoys a good amount of regional fame, but that doesn't detract from it being a down home local spot. As a New Mexico native, I greatly appreciate seeing places like this thrive as the small-town businesses of my childhood have largely gone the way of the dodo. Buckhorn is the perfect little local spot that stands almost frozen in time as a great place to grab a beer and a burger.

It is no wonder that Buckhorn Burgers stays busy to this day, because they have one of the best green chile cheeseburgers I have ever had. I will spare you the minutiae of individual characteristics that make the burger good, as a good New Mexican green chile cheeseburger has that certain "no sé qué" that defies description. Needless to say, it is worth the trip.

Come hungry, but prepare yourself for a wait. If you go at peak hours, seating is at a bit of a premium due to the size of the place. The food is also not quick to the table as the small kitchen and even smaller kitchen staff makes everything to order. Don't let this deter you. A golden rule I like to have in culinary adventures is that a wait is usually worth it. Buckhorn Burgers is no exception. Grab yourself a beer, cocktail, or a generous glass of iced tea and take in the sights in this wonderful...

This is another of our favorite places in the county. It's much higher quality than you might expect from the outside. It is as good as bistro style places I've been to in large cities. I have had the famous green chile cheese burger and it was excellent. It's a different burger than the place across the street, more elevated ( but not pretentious) in terms of ingredients, like you would expect to find at a place that specializes in burgers. The meat has the flavor you get in burgers with high quality beef. Both are good but fit different moods.

But honestly, our go to items are enchiladas suizas and Fred's special burger, both of which feature an amazing mushroom cream sauce that absolutely compliments the chile. Chile and beans are local, from Socorro County ( home to chile that regularly wins awards). This place has my favorite red chile of anywhere in New Mexico so far, spicy but also a bit smokey. I have guesses about the farm that they use, and it was an excellent choice. I haven't formed an opinion about who has the best green chile but this place does it well too. It should also be noted that the onion rings are awesome.

The service is always awesome here. It's very much a local place and you'll see people come in and start conversations with other customers...