Santa Fe Restaurants

For a small city, Santa Fe has a remarkably diverse restaurant scene, showcasing not only New Mexican cuisine but also European, Asian, Middle Eastern and even Native American fare. Many dishes feature locally grown chiles, which come in two colors — green and red. The difference? Green chiles are generally used fresh, while red ones are dried. Ask for “Christmas” and you can sample both colors.

Bobcat Bite Restaurant
Address: 418 Old Las Vegas Highway
Cuisine: American
Word of Mouth: “I would never have believed this tiny spot would produce a world-class burger, but it most assuredly did! My green chile cheeseburger was delightful; it even made the potato chips taste better. The place only seats about 30, but all 30 are the happiest diners in New Mexico.” — TNmilt

Yummy Cafe
Address: 1616 Saint Michaels Drive
Cuisine: Asian
Word of Mouth: “This is the best Chinese restaurant in Santa Fe. … They have many vegetarian options and will cook the food anyway you want. All you have to do is ask. Spicy, no problem. Steamed, no problem. Leave out an ingredient, no problem … they will cook anything to your liking. My husband especially likes the noodle dishes which are not greasy as in some of the other Chinese restaurants in town. … Great food matched with great service … you can’t beat that. Maybe that’s why we go there almost every week. Highly recommended by this local!” — Kathamann

Cafe Pasqual’s
Address: 121 Don Gaspar Avenue
Cuisine: Eclectic
Word of Mouth: “The interior is quite small and very cheerful. Lots of fun decorations hanging from the ceiling. Nice selection of breakfast items, a few typical items and many unique items with a southwest flair. My husband and I both selected the DURANGO OMELETTE, which included Organic Ham, Jack, Scallions, Guacamole, Sauteed Field Mushrooms, and Sour Cream. You could choose from a Green Chile Sauce or Tomatillo d’Arbol Salsa. We asked for half and half. It came with Home Fries and excellent english muffins. At $16, it was a pricey omelet, but WOW — just fantastic. Everything there is organic, which helps to explain the prices. We highly recommend this place.” — bloomcrew

Jambo Cafe
Address: 2010 Cerrillos Road
Cuisine: African
Word of Mouth: “Located in a Strip Mall this little gem was so far above what you expect that it took our breath away. The decor is great, the food fantastic, so much so that we can’t wait to get back and try some more of the menu. We shared Coconut peanut chicken kebabs (won’t be any sharing next time as we will make sure we are well and truly hungry) and then I had the Grilled Talapia, absolutely fantastic with the dried fruit and ginger chutney. My better half had the Grilled Beef Kebabs and loved them so much I could only get one bite. The Mango Ginger lemonade was also fantastic. We can’t wait to get back.” –akoobra

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El Meson
Address: 213 Washington Avenue
Cuisine: Spanish
Word of Mouth: “Let the stress melt away as soon as you step into this darkened lounge (there is also a formal dining room). We started with the gazpacho — served with relish, chopped cucumber, bread crumbs — which you could customize yourself. … On to the most tender pork tenderloin ever, with a sprinkle of spice (may be a bit too much for some). It was topped with sauteed onions. A bite of blue crab croquettes with a tangy, sweet dipping sauce. Exhale. The bruschetta had a diced tomato sauce and jamon with a drizzle of top shelf olive oil. … Destress here. It’s a wonderful place.” — SouthwestCompass

Vinaigrette
Address: 709 Don Cubero Alley
Cuisine: American
Word of Mouth: “We took our vegetarian daughter here and had a lovely meal on the outside patio. The patio is charming — shaded and clean with the tables well spaced. Had great service and a delicious dinner. Not all the salads are vegetarian, but my daughter loved her beet salad which was overloaded with beautiful beets. Nice wine list, great dessert menu — we shared an apple/ice cream delight — it was plenty for the three of us.” — AndiColumbia_MD

Pantry Restaurant
Address: 1820 Cerrillos Road
Cuisine: Mexican, American
Word of Mouth: “This place is a little off the beaten path, and doesn’t stick out like a lot of touristy restaurants, but I think that’s the secret. It’s a hidden gem with wonderful food!! My boyfriend’s father swears by the brisket tacos! He has come a few times since he moved here and the staff all knew him by name, they were so friendly and accommodating. I had the veggie sandwich and salad which was excellent!! The roasted red peppers had so much flavor. It’s nice to see a veggie sandwich that offers some unexpected flavors. I ordered a side of green chile and it is seriously some of the best I’ve had!! Made from scratch and ready to smother on everything.” — texasbondgrrl

For more Santa Fe restaurants, click here.