The 12 Best Restaurants in Santa Fe

"If it feels like Tia Sophia’s dishes are something an abuela (grandmother) would make, that’s no mistake. The restaurant is named after owner-operator Nick Maryol’s grandmother, though the recipes for its sizzling red and green-chile sauce come from a pair of Hispanic grandmothers outside the founders’ Greek family. The menu proclaims the eatery isn’t responsible for too hot chile—and makes sure it lives up to the warning with sauces that warm bellies for hours after the meal ends. The just-off-the-Plaza diner has been slathering its signature sauce on all manner of burritos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and stuffed sopapillas since 1975. It’s a favorite among everyone from local legislators to visiting movie stars. Although Tia Sophia’s is careful not to claim it invented the breakfast burrito (folks have been wrapping fillings in a tortilla for on-the-go meals for ages), it’s one of the first in this chile-crazed town to put it on the menu. So, ordering a hand-held version is a must." - Ashley M. Biggers