Duran Central Pharmacy

The food is delicious and the atmosphere is incredibly unique. We ordered chilaquiles and it was some of the best we’ve had in New Mexico. The service was fantastic as well (thanks Kirk!) The portions are quite large so I’d recommend sharing plates. The only downside of this restaurant is how popular it is compared to its capacity. You really have to go at a good time or you’ll be waiting for quite some time. However, I wouldn’t say that detracts from the experience!

Visited from NYC and made it a point to come here after my boyfriend learned about them online. Absolutely delicious food! We went for dinner one night and came back for lunch the next. The blue corn chicken tacos were amazing, but I will never forget the green chili bowl with the buttered tortilla on the side! Already daydreaming of coming back to New Mexico soon to have it again ❤️

Food was great!! I got the breakfast enchiladas with green chili and loved it. My friend got the burrito and she liked everything but their thick tortilla. The taco had a lot of cheese on it too. Overall top of the list for New Mexican food! Coffee is also good. The gift shop has really fun stuff and you can spend of money there.

Had breakfast there this morning and it was amazing. We had the breakfast enchiladas and chilaquiles and loved both. Sat at the counter and watched a true hero make delicious Tortillas on the flat top!

My family and I love it here! You may get a long wait time, buts it’s so worth it! You get time to walk around their unique store for great gifts. Once seated your food comes out quickly and is so delicious every single time!

Use to be a go delicious breakfast but these past 6 months the food has declined. They must have got new cooks because the corn tortillas for the enchiladas are cooked dry without any oil like they use to and come out hard. They can barely be chewed and the breakfast potatoes are dry and tasteless now. I’ve been a couple times when the cook is there and seems disgruntled loudly and aggressively chopping/cooking food on the grill. Haven’t gone back. Very disappointed because we loved having breakfast there

Superb quality food. Red chile is hot for non locals. Green chile is perfect heat. Tortillas are handmade. Burrito is enormous but always a favorite. Quesadilla was the best I have ever eaten.

Some of the best food in the state! Chile is flavorful and the fresh, warm, buttery tortilla is a must-have. Friendly and inviting atmosphere.

Duran Central Pharmacy is hands down one of the cutest and most unique places I've ever visited! It's not just a pharmacy--it's home to an eclectic gift shop that feels like a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind finds. The shop is packed with an amazing variety of gifts--from quirky home decor to stunning jewelry and thoughtful knick-knacks. The selection is so diverse and charming, you're bound to find the perfect item for anyone on your holiday shopping list (and maybe a little something for yourself, too!). The atmosphere is delightful, with every corner of the shop offering something new to discover. It's truly the kind of place where you could spend hours browsing and still find something you didn't notice before. And the convenience of being able to pick up prescriptions while perusing this delightful shop is a bonus! If you're in the area, you must stop by--especially during the holiday season when it's brimming with festive vibes and gift-giving inspiration. You could browse forever!!

Wow, who could know that a pharmacy would have such great food and service. BTW, the pharmacy is also actually kind of a cool store with a wide variety of items. The food was some of the best that we have had on our trip. Everything was delicious. Well made. Fresh. Flavorful. Just great. Service was friendly and attentive. Just a great dining experience. Note, it does kind of feel like dining in an old soda hall. Definitely nothing fancy. Almost a reason in itself for going to Albuquerque, and don't worry if you have to wait, browsing the pharmacy can easily consume 30 minutes.

So, the food here is yummy, the green salsa is delicious as are the enchiladas and most of all ... their bowl of chile.. OMG NOMNOMx1000 If you're from out of town, be sure to take home a couple of jars of their red and green chile - you won't regret it NOMNOM Oh wait!!! Be sure to try their handmade flour tortillas, too - oink oink yummy nomnom

Durans is an Albuquerque institution. Tucked in the back of a pharmacy is a dineresque little place that puts out some of the best New Mexican fare around, especially breakfasts. On this visit I went for my go to favorite here, Huevos Rancheros, eggs over easy, smothered in green with a side of their famous sausage patties served with fresh lemon wedges. Yup, lemon wedges. Trust me, if you haven't tried them you need to. Their fresh homemade tortillas are the size of a small pizza and delicious. Durans is the real deal. I'll be back, frequently.

I got the Carne Adovada platter and it was one of the more memorable meals I had in New Mexico. I got takeout and while I was waiting for my dish to prepare, I was looking at all the cute gifts around the shop. I typically don't really like spicy food, but with this dish, I start to see why people get addicted to spice. It was the first time I felt the food move through my G.I. tract and it was pretty exciting lol. The heat is very latent and it doesn't come in until a little bit later but the pork marinated and red chilies topped with green chilies is sure to make you sweat a little bit. I was really glad for the respite of potatoes and beans as everything felt pretty balanced out. The portions are pretty big so I would feel comfortable with splitting this dish with someone and still being pretty full. This was my last meal in New Mexico, and it was fun having my belly feel so warm and spicy on the flight back home.

If you haven't been to Duran's, you need to check this place out. Whether it's for grabbing a bite to eat, doing holiday shopping, or filling a prescription, these guys have it down pat. Focusing on their diner, they make excellent New Mexican food. Over the years, I've tried a lot of different dishes and have enjoyed them all. They make great leftovers, too. The wait staff knows how to deal with busy times (which is most of the time) and is kind. There's always a line to get a table, but don't worry. There's plenty to look at and buy. I love this place for kitchen supplies, kids' games, greeting cards, casual clothing, and tchotchkes. The handful of times I've come here to get my own prescription filled or go with a friend who needs to, it seems like the prices are reasonable. They are a full-service pharmacy. They offer immunizations, including those for travel.

This is a beautiful location rich with New Mexico culture that is a must visit! The restaurant is located in the pharmacy and it does get very busy. We did wait for about 45 minutes before getting a table, but spent the time browsing the store and checking out all the unique souvenirs and products. Our group decided to share a few dishes as the portions are quite large. The food came out hot and fresh, and I appreciated the warm and soft tortilla that came with our meal. The carne adovada plate is a must try as the green chile provides a nice heat factor to the meal. However, the potatoes are not as layered with flavor or seasoning. The blue corn taco is delicious and blends well with the chicken and cheese combination. Overall, the staff and service were amazing and friendly! I highly recommend checking it out and getting some trinkets before walking out.

Delicious breakfast! Came here early to beat the crowds. Got seats at the counter right away. We got a cheese quesadilla with red sauce and a big breakfast burrito, Christmas style. Both were so good, the quesadilla is better for a smaller breakfast and obviously if your starving get the burrito. Service was fast, atmosphere is casual. There's a cute store in the front half of the cafe.

Went here this afternoon and was very pleased. My tacos were great and my wife's carne adovada was fantastic! We were seated promptly and the service was great!!

Such a lovely place never fails to impress! So much selection and so many unique finds. Prices are somewhat higher than competitors but they have unique items. Friendly and welcoming service.

A very popular destination for good reason. I've been a handful of times while visiting the area, both for dine in and take out, and had a great experience every time. The staff is very friendly and the takeout experience is quick and easy. The flour tortilla is a must-try!

Absolutely delicious! I had the Huevos Rancheros with red and green chile....so delicious, filling, and flavorful! I love the steamed potatoes! The tortillas are chubby, large, and homemade. Enjoy them with melted butter! Comfort food, home style cooking at its finest! The coffee is a nice flavorful brew, not too strong and not too light. Have fun shopping or browsing the store and get some tasty chocolates on the way out!

My coworkers took me out to eat here as part of a farewell for me since I was moving to Phoenix. I wanted to eat New Mexican food because I was moving out of state and won't have much green chile anymore. Funny enough, all 5 of us decided to get the enchilada plate. lol this was an excellent choice. It's a touristy place yet locals love it too. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Albuquerque :) the pharmacy is so fun to look around too!

The best red chile ever, so delicious. Hands down, the best New Mexican restaurant in old town/downtown area.

Stopped here while passing through town. We really enjoyed praising through the store (we walked out with every items) before sitting down at the restaurant in the back. We sat down at counter spots and the service was very prompt. Had to try both the red and green chili but my favorite was the green. Would love to come back and try the many other menu items covered in this delicious sauce!

Can't believe I'd never bn here before! There's a great store one has to walk thru to get to the eatery. Cute stuff, eclectic collection. A bit pricey, but what isn't nowadays? There was a 30" wait for 2 ppl. The hosts were very nice, friendly, polite, efficient as they asked if booth would be ok - and handed us the buzzer thing. We lucked out with Gavin. Such a great soul. When queried, he gave terrific recommendations-- yes, get the butter on the tortilla! Just try it My friend luvd his huevos rancheros whereas my chilaquiles was terrific but far too big a serving; I ended up taking it home. Don't get wigged out by the appearance of my eggs: I asked for them to be runny; the chef was bang-on! And yes, voted best red chile in Albuquerque! And well-deserved imo. But I actually liked the green chile as well Andrew at the gift store check out is a real sweetheart too Oh, everyone seems to think the restaurant closes at 2 pm - but they don't! They close at 7 pm usually (Wednesdays thru Saturdays), I think 4 pm Sundays thru Tuesdays. But when we left the restaurant that had been chockfull at 1330 -we didn't get seated till 1400 - at 1500, there was only one customer left in the dining area; it was wild. I've included a photo of the hours (sorry for the glare)

This little diner is exceptional! Around for decades, they have great food! Even after months of being here, they have different signage which is polite and easy to understand! Again, they are still short staffed and ask to be patient. Arriving during the week, and non peak hours it was perfect! The staff sat us down right away. Our waiter was very nice and because of the open layout, he was always there and checked on us several times. So tasty and delicious! Appreciate the shop attached! They have the cutest things. I want to buy everything. Great buy for visitors out of town and awesome place to stop by for some tasty authentic New Mexican food!

Don't miss this spot! And don't panic if the Pharmacy is closed... the restaurant might still be open. (There is a separate door.) My coworker and I pulled up 10 minutes before the pharmacy closed and hopeful that we could eat. Success. The pharmacy lights dimmed within minutes, but we were seated and had plenty of time! The hours posted in Yelp were pharmacy - and the restaurant was open later/longer. Because there are chicken tamales and chicken specials on Wednesday, we had the fortune of choosing chicken in the combo plate. I opted for chicken tamale and beef taco to go with my cheese enchilada. Christmas, all the way, baby! My coworker opted for chicken and chicken in his combo plate. (He was markedly content.) The fresh tortilla with butter was so amazing and one reason you need to stop reading this review and order already! Great, all by itself. Or...Drag it around the plate to sop up every bit of egg yolk, chile, or protein. Quick and efficient service from a small and might team that operates as much like a family, all putting in the effort to serve the guests. The beef taco was flavor perfection, the chicken was tender and tasty. The adovada was also tender and flavorful, spicy shallow bowl of deep comfort. Though we were there for dinner, I took an extra tortilla and red and green to go with my leftovers for the next day. Hard to imagine anything much better than fried eggs with Duran Pharmacy tortillas, red and green. Looking forward to my next Albuquerque visit and stopping here for breakfast. And then probably for dinner, later.

My friend found this place by accident and it was absolutely a cool find. There's a pharmacy, and they have one of the neatest gift shops or stores that's attached. But there's this restaurant, and we had to wait a half hour to get into it. (During which time we shoppppped!) And it was oddly well worth the wait. We both had breakfast burritos that were FTW! I also bought a whole bunch of their green chili sauce, which, by the way I am a new fan of, for all of my friends. Come here. No joke. Update - you can get their sauce online!! Dangerous ... =D

First trip to this institution and they did not disappoint. Cooking good green and red chili is a skill that comes from decades of practice and the chili here is perfection. Well worth the holiday wait. My breakfast burrito was smothered with both red and green. It was outstanding and was huge. Now I understand the reason why this place is so popular.

Quite a disappointment, considering all the rave reviews. Very ordinary tasting, and prices rather high. Six dollars extra for chips and salsa that are complimentary most other places, margaritas were apparently from a mix.

Duran's likely has the best New Mexican food I've had, especially the red chile, which has a more complex and tasty flavor than usual. The red chile enchiladas are great, with their good corn tortillas and the red chile. In addition, their gift shop is so fun to get lost in, with a wide assortment of quirky and fun gifts and things for bath, kitchen, games, and more. Some of the products are local. It is on the costly side. Also, they have a real operating pharmacy so you can support local while you fill your prescriptions. I don't think I've ever eaten in, so I can't comment on that experience.

My favorite ever even after growing up in Alb and now over 60 years old. The flour tortillas are the closest to what grandma made. A rare treat.

It's never not good here! I always get the red chile cheese enchiladas and they never disappoint. I should mention that I don't like red chile unless my mom or one of my good friends makes it. I've had a lot of bad red chile (chalky, bland, too hot to enjoy, etc) in this state, but Duran's is the next best thing to homemade. It's truly the highest honor I can give and is one of my first stops when I come back to Abq! I'll always come back for their flavorful chile which is never too hot. It's consistently good and that's what I love in a restaurant.

This neat little gift shop/pharmacy/luncheonette has all sorts of fun little trinkets and souvenirs, things that would be great gifts or mementos. The attached restaurant is a good lunch spot with some tasty options.

The gift shop is wonderful. All kinds of unique merchandise, some from local artisans. The food is not all that great, however. The huevos rancheros is very soupy. One cannot even find the eggs under the soupy green chili.

Was very disappointed! Took my family to eat at Durans for the first time, and to start with, they shoved 5 of us onto a very small 4top table. My mother is handicap, so was a bit difficult to all sit and eat comfortably. We asked if they could add a 2top to the end of our table, but waitress refused. Waitress was very rude and always seemed in a hurry, not taking my sons order, threw straws on the table, and would run off when we were trying to talk to her. Paid $100 for 5 of us and felt super rushed to get out. Will not recommend, especially during the lunch hour....we waited over 40 minutes cramped in the store.

Located in a place where you can get your yellow fever shot, a true ABQ souvenir, and some great New Mexican food. Really busy during breakfast time! I got the chilaquiles (red of course), I wasn't a big fan of them using manufactured tortilla chips. Before my dish came in I was treated by an overweight flour tortilla, that looked at me straight in the eyes and said "You can't finish me fool"... and damn he was right, but in my defense, I was trying to aim for a six-pack this summer (you know for the ladies). Serves were great and I decided to sit in the booth and test out my posture.

Great service and great food, the hype is real. Green chili is spicy not over the top. Carne adovada cooked to perfection. And those tortillas are like mama used to make them! Damn closest thing to home cooking(my family is from NM) . If you are in the area definitely stop by..

Had the Carne Adovada plate, highly recommend comes with a warm tortilla. It is spicy, but delicious. Ask for a side of sour cream.

Only took me almost 5 years to finally visit this gem everyone keeps telling me about. We unfortunately came during balloon fiesta due to family being in town, which was probably a mistake. The wait was so long another group gave us their beeper and fortunately it was only another 30 minutes. I'd wait 30 minutes, probably not 1.5 hrs though. First, the shop is smartly situated as a waiting area so while you're waiting to spend money on food, you spend even more on retail. It is a cute, local, quality shop, but you pay for all of that. A pair of gloves were like $50. It is very cute, don't get me wrong, but it is not inexpensive. After walking around for 30-40 minutes, it gets old. The pharmacy is also interesting, I've never filled prescriptions here but other reviews have noted they seem to be more expensive than other, no surprise. On to the most important part: the food. It was delicious! I was pleasantly surprised after waiting forever, don't come hungry by the way. The service was excellent, older gentleman with glasses and balding was very kind and great. Went with the tamales, which were delicious! I've heard a lot about their red sauce and it did not disappoint. Their quesadilla is interestingly open face. Chips and salsa were also delicious, I'll have to come back on a regular day and see how long of a wait there is, but I'll be back!

Quick & friendly service. The food was delicious and more than enough to allow for leftovers! I didn't have a tortilla, yet it was a treat to watch the ladies cook them up on the grill top! Brought back some wonderful memories of my nina! I can't believe I grew up in the South Valley and have never eaten here! I would highly recommend and will be back myself!

An Albuquerque must go! Outstanding service, food and atmosphere. I could eat there everyday and not be disappointed.

What a concept - restaurant inside a drug store. How 60's! Many of the local drug stores at that time had a lunch counter/booths to enjoy a meal so this is definitely a throwback. But this place is way busier. After a wait to get on the list we got a pager and explored. We had about 30 mins for a table. Perfect timing about the time we finished exploring the pager went off. We got seated - no wonder there's a wait - the dining area is small. Took our seat and ordered the combination plate with pork tamale and beef taco plus the pork tamales. We started with chips and salsa. Very flavorful, and on upper end of medium heat. The combination plate was good - too much masa for the tamale, otherwise everything was tasty. The pork tamale plate was equally delicious. In typical NM fashion there was a lot of food, we didn't leave hungry. Service was great we saw our server frequently and she kept our glasses full. Definitely a great stop and worth the trip for good food.

Food is good and cheap at the restaurant, the shop is perfect for tourists or locals needing some awesome locally sourced souvenirs! Loved this place and will come again!

I came here back in the late 90's with one of my aunties, and I remember it being so good back then. I brought my girlfriend for our last day visiting family, and it was even better than I remembered! Our server was the gentleman with the large turquoise piece around his neck, and he was so thorough & helpful. He is VERY good at his job! We started with margaritas, and they had to have been the best we got in Albuquerque the entire time we were there. I wasn't as hungry as I wish I was to get a full meal, so I just ordered a bowl of beans & cheese and added onions & green chile on top with a tortilla. My girlfriend got the chilaquiles with Christmas, and I was eating off of their plate more than my own. It was so yummy!! I wish we were there another day so I could go get them for myself. My girlfriend also ordered a side of potatoes, and they were almost mashed, but not quite (kinda odd and not what we were expecting)- don't let this weird description fool you- they were surprisingly tasty & well seasoned! My girlfriend loved that this was the ending meal out for our trip back to VA, and we are gonna make this one of our first stops next time we're in town. We also popped in to shop a bit, and enjoyed the excellent customer service by everyone we ran into.

One of our favorite spots for breakfast when visiting ABQ. Service is usually fast and friendly. Tortillas are large! Yummy carne adobada - you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Super clean as well. You have to walk through the pharmacy/store to get to the cafe.

Pregnancy is scary, Cravings are strange, Durans hits the spot, And is the same authentic standard since my High School days!!! Happy Valentine's Day!! Really though, this pregnancy has had me eating Durans 2-3x per week. The freshness of the tortillas (or TORPEDO), the not-too-hot red chile, fresh beans, or sometimes rolled enchiladas have been everything to me. The boyfriend loves his Christmas bean burrito with added potatoes. Even the garnish is FRESH! I use to come here in the early 2000's with my high school boyfriend because everything was fresh-- you cannot beat the warm fresh tortilla with melted butter. Nothing has changed in terms of quality, quantity, and bang-for-your-buck! I keep telling myself to get pictures of the food... but it's so good I forget. From dining in to taking it curbside the quality does not change. When you're looking for comfort New Mexico style food: Durans hits the spot! The fact you can trust them to stay NM True, a cherry on top! 10/10 will be going here for the next 20 years just as I've come here for the 20 years!

This is a hidden gem! The food is great and the service even better. A fun shopping experience in the front and unexpected food in the back. Truly the best service I have experienced in a very long time.

Well.... Cannot rave enough about this bespoke operation. The pharmacy with its array of lotions, ointments, fragrances: spectacular. And unique gift items to die for. The cafe? Friendly top-notch service, efficiently provided at affordable cost. If this place ever closes I will have a nervous breakdown, I kid you not. One of Albuquerque's gems!!

Hot does not mean flavorful! Presentation does not mean flavorful! The food here has no flavor it's very bland especially the steamed potatoes. The Tortilla cracked like a cracker so weird wasn't soft or bendable and needed salt. People rave about this place and I try it every few years and find the food does not change. I know I'm in the minority with my opinion and their popularity will not change with my review it's just my opinion.

Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten recently visited Duran's and prepared a podcast report extolling its virtues as an eatery. Come join us as we visit one of Albuquerque's favorites right along historic Route 66 - some of the best food in the Duke City. Click on the following YouTube video link to watch. And enjoy! https://youtu.be/rULRw8F2zKw

They need to provide some additional training to their waiters. Our waiter neglected to let us know there were some specials. After I ordered, I happened to notice them on the far wall and realized I wanted the breakfast enchiladas. When I got up to tell the waiter I wanted to change my order, he said it was too late. No apology. I mentioned to the hostess the waiter's failure to let us know about the specials, and she just made excuses and offered no apology. She said people look at the on their way in (so it was my fault even though it was my first time there -- and probably last). But the sign is to your back as you walk in. Overall, I didn't appreciate their attitude or the space/decor. Food was so so. Not sure what the big attraction is.

I've been here before and have been greatly satisfied, today one of us was off. The opened at 9am which seems late for a breakfast place. Eight a.m, would have been fine. The place is clean and the staff are friendly, so what could go wrong. The bkfst burrito with bacon and green chili seemed safe enough but the bacon pieces were on one side of green chili burrito and the bacon was in the other side. It was so unbalanced. The green chili had no flavor whatsoever, I guess they are gearing words the tourist trade. I made the mistake of letting them put onions on top of the burrito, the onions totally dominated the 5one and flavor of the dish. The coffee was bland but the ice water was great. Overall the food experience was lacking this time around. Will definitely be back as the days they have posole and sopipillas is with the trip to Central.

It had been 10 yrs since eating at Duran's Pharmacy on Central and we thought we'd give it a try again. The breakfast burrito was huge and the green & red chile had good flavor but the potato to egg ratio was ridiculous. NO egg seen until half way thru the burrito. Sadly though, the red salsa was disgusting. Basically it was red chile molida with vinegar. However, service was good. But.... we will stick with Barelas!

Let me start with this: Many reviews say this place has the best tortillas in town. We would agree. Hot, buttered, pillowy, amazing. They were so good we bought extra to take back for breakfast the next morning. We both had blue corn chicken tacos. They were terrific and the salsa on the side was H-O-T!!!! I'm a little sad the pharmacy was closed for the weekend so we couldn't buy any salsa to go. Staff was terrific and the food is cooked right in front of you at the fountain counter. Worth the calories and not a horrible walk to get there if you're staying in Old Town Albuquerque. (Takes care of the calories)

I feel so conflicted--all I know is what I learned from going twice. Are they busy? Yes. Will you wait? Probably. Is it worth it? ... sometimes?? First time we went, they had posole as a special. The service was friendly and fast, the posole was great! Second time we went, I think they were having an off day. It took soooo long to get a seat. Ordered a Margarita and it took about 15 minutes to emerge from the kitchen. What's strange is I watched them make it. My first sip filled my mouth with a tasty margarita as well as a massive shard of glass that cut my lip. What's weird is the glass was clear, but the only other clear glass involved in the making of the drink was my glass itself, which had no chips. But then it got worse. I didn't want to make a scene, so I called the server over to let her know. She asked for the glass (still covered in my spit) and held out her hand. I gave it to her and she went to the prep line and set my spitty, bloody mouth glass on the cold prep table. 3 people stared at it. Then they threw it away and continued to prepare food that didn't need to be cooked on my salivated surface without disinfecting it or washing their hands. And nobody said anything or offered an apology. So we left. The former food service worker in me cringed at how my bloody, spitty mouthglass was handled and how many people's food encountered my lovely bodily fluids. I'm not sure I can try them again after seeing that. **edit after owner response** this was during the balloon festival. Same day a guy passed out in the dining area and emergency personnel had to be called--I'm sure your staff would remember that. I don't know what to tell you--it's the correct business and my account of what happened is correct.

Nothing but good things to say about my experience at Duran's. Pharmacy staff are communicative, prompt, and respectful. As an added bonus, the shop smells delicious.

It's local and a real community vibe. Great food and service, would recommend red and green salsa (Christmas).