El Paragua Restaurant

I liked the food but my steak was over cooked, and so was my husband's shrimp. But the drinks were very good and so were the sopapillas.. yummy

Carne adovada was tough and somewhat flavorless, not even spicy. Pollo flautas we crispy but the sour cream had more flavor than the chicken inside them. It took a while (20 minutes) for wait staff to offer me a drink but it was great service moving forward. Overall, it's fine if you're a white octogenarian who is allergic to flavor.

I called to place an order and was put on hold for 20 minutes. The woman on the line didn’t say a word, but I could hear employees talking the entire time while completely ignoring that I was waiting to order. Please don’t waste people’s time if you don’t want to take orders, just say so. I eventually hung up and called back, only for the same girl to answer and put me on hold again for another 10 minutes. No one ever took my order, so I went elsewhere. Espanola, once again, with horrible customer service…

Excellent food. Loved the quiet atmosphere we dined in. Fajitas , Burritos, Sopapillas and their steaks served to perfection.reservations required only open Thur-Sat (August 24)

Atmosphere is bustling. We waited nervously to be noticed and seated. After a line formed behind us we were seated by a waitress in a little black dress (waiters wear white shirts and black pants). I wanted to take a pic of our menu as we had scoured the web beforehand trying to figure out prices, but they came too quickly to take our order. I had enchilada atencio $22 and my husband had chile relleno with chalupa $19.50. I noticed something was $60, but I think it was steak for 2. While we waited for our food we had fun looking at the walls full of mementos and deciphering tiles with quotes in Spanish. One roughly translated to "When the woman rules the house, the husband is a pumpkin" with a man washing dishes. Chips were too done for my liking and salsa was very spicy...maybe a degree less than Los dos Molinos in AZ, but similar. Strangely we were served a small plate of salad with Italian dressing, but it added to the "fancy restaurant" vibe. Finally our food arrived. I was disappointed the sour cream was inside the enchilada and thus hot, but that's my fault for not reading menu more carefully. My favorite was the chalupa smothered in cool guac. My husband said he didn't like the relleno as much as Sopapilla Factory's. Pintos were a little al dente for my taste but seemed more elegant that way. Portions were generous and I took half of mine home. Delicious sopapillas with real honey were served. Atmosphere is too lively for our taste, so would probably choose La Cocina for another special occasion. Certainly we will continue to eat at the adjacent Parasol and now won't have to wonder what's inside.

Amazing, the salsas both red and green best ever i am a snob when it comes to chilli flavor top three of the best ive ever had. ill be happy to drive 2 and a half hours just to eat there again!

I've had Christmas eve dinner here every year since 1993. Even when I lived out of state. The carne adovada with posole is something else. Covid screwed them up pretty good like most businesses, but they are back open for a few days a week. There's an old cottonwood tree in the restaurant next to a wood stove. Drove 125 miles for dinner.

This is such an interesting place tucked away in Espanola, NM. We discovered it by accident driving through town several years back and now make a point of eating there if we are in the vicinity. The food has never received anything but the highest of compliments from friends to whom I've introduced it. The decor is old NM with a tree in the bar area. It is, quite frankly, one of my favorite restaurants in Northern New Mexico.

We love El Paragua and all their sister restaurants in the area. Real authentic local New Mexican cuisine. I especially like their Carne Adovado burrito. We have purchased their red and green enchilada casseroles many times for family get together and large group. These are always highly appreciated by our guests. Everything we purchased there has been fresh and tasty. We also like their tacos which are made the same way they were when we cane to New Mexico before taco shells were invented. The chicken in their dishes is always fresh and tender.

The service and food was amazing as always. I have been coming here for years, and was so excited when I heard they reopened after covid, the people are so kind. Although recently, the hostess has been very dismissive and hateful. She took forever to seat us. She was an older lady with glasses who didn't care about our service. But other than that the food and waiters were amazing we have the teriyaki strips and great drinks.

Exquisite food. Sophisticated, professional service. Very impressed and looking forward to returning often.

Unpredictable hours. Some say they are open by reservation only. If you call their number it goes to some phishing service.

Pricey food but also the service was great but it took almost an hour and a half to get the food but other than that the food was amazing!

Pricey but delicious beef tacos are my fave as well as the chicken breast salad. Get an extra dressing

No drive through Espanola is complete without a stop at "the umbrella" better known as El Paragua. The service, the food and most recently discovered the sangria are all wonderful. We always order the shrimp cocktail and the tasty salsa and chips. During happy hour you are served a little side dish. This time it was the bean burrito smothered in red chili. The food has always been really good and we never have a bad server or bartender. This is a great stop for both appetizers and a full meal. After a weekend up north, it was more like a couple stops. We could not get enough!

Food is typical Southwestern fair, it's been awhile since we've been there but the service was ok, not outstanding but ok. The ambiance is dark, dingy and crowded, up stairs is crowded n cramped, the stairwell doesn't feel safe going up or down.

I really wanted to like this place more than I actually did. The service was personal and warm. They environment was eclectic and quirky. Everything about it was exactly what I wanted except for the food. What I ordered: I got a Midori margarita to drink. It was pretty good! we started off with the guacamole as an appetizer. It was more of an avocado sauce than guacamole. It get there is a lot of avocado in guacamole, but that was all I tasted. For my meal I got the veggie tacos. Okay maybe this place just isn't good for vegetarians. The tacos were pretty meh. Not a lot of flavor. The filling was a mixture of veggies that I normally wouldn't put in tacos. I loved that our meals came with side salads and sopapilla (delicious, soft, airy bread with honey and jam). And I told the server it was my boyfriend's birthday because I didn't want my bf to pay, we were looking for anything free. Still, he came out with some cheesecake for him anyways. I also thought the bill was a little expensive for the area and what we got, but that's just me! I would most definitely be willing to give this place another chance! Everything was great accept for the food:/

Hands down the best margarita & tacos I've ever had. Friendly, family service (literally - family members of the founders work in the restaurant) and so many delicious food options. I've never had anything here I didn't absolutely love. The recipes are flavorful, the ingredients fresh, and the service prompt. The house margs are to die for and should not be missed. For extra fun, order a swirl which is a margarita mixed with sangria. The beef tacos are award winning for a reason. The salmon was perfectly cooked. The borcheta was tender meat with veggies served flaming. Save room for sopapillas and homemade fruit preserves (apple is my favorite!) or honey for a sweet treat to finish the meal.

VEGAN EATERS HERE.....El Paragua is as good and soul filled Mexican restaurant as you are likely to find, EVER. We lived in Santa Fe for 20 years and made regular trips up to Espanola just for EP and always stopped for lunch or dinner on the way back from Taos. It is/was part of our routine and nothing could satisfy like it. Nearly seven years ago we moved back to California and have never not missed our El Paragua outings, craving, dreaming, longing. We are back for a visit and drove to Taos, our first stop and were so happy just to be in this beautiful, legacy filled space. The building, even the parking lot are unique. In the end, it's the food with the superb service a close second. We snapped up our favorite little bar-side table for two right inside the front door so we could see everything, soaking in the vibe, the people, mostly locals from Espanola and surrounding areas. Great chat with our server with whom we had many connections even back to SOCAL We ordered our favorite crispy veggie tacos, a couple of draft Stellas and sat back. First comes the dinner salad (included), the fresh from the fryer chips, hot and salty with some of their amazing salsa. Who does serves an included salad anymore??? Then the platters of crispy tacos, jammed with potatoes, onions, squash, peppers and other goodies, accompaniments on the side with a good portion of guacamole and their great "red rice" which is almost a risotto with fresh vegetables and tomatoes in a rich sauce that is a meal on its own. The finishing touch is always the super fresh made sopaipillas with tamarind jam and honey, though I always sop up the fresh green chile sauce too! The green chile is hot and richly layered in flavor. THIS, is a meal to be longed for, to drive hours for or fly across the country for. Never disappointed, always grateful for the food, the ambience, the service and the fact that there is still a place with this much attention to legacy and tradition. Thank You, until the next time.

Excellent service and consistently good food. I love the cozy bar for drinks and the restaurant for a sit down meal. I think I was first there in 1977. Still love it.

I have been to El paragua more times than I xan count. The chips and salsa are my favorite and a must. I always enjoy the cheesy flautas. My favorite is the natillas dessert a traditional Spanish delight. Anything on the menu really is delicious. This is a local and family favorite. Reservations are recommended Friday nights and weekends.

The Atenciios always provide a great experience and good service. Sometime it gets a bit crowded and its location isnt as nice as Ranchos de Chimayo but the food is good, service is good and more importantly the experience is consistently good.

We are back in New Mexico for the holidays. And our first stop was one of my favorite Northern New Mexico family owned restaurants. You cannot go wrong eating and drinking here. The food is authentic and so good. Be aware that you might need to get the Chile on the side for non locals. And alas my time away from here I have become that person. Witness the photos attached, Bummer. We had burrito con carne, bean burritos and two version of shrimps. Everything was outstanding. I did have to tease my parents for eating fish in a land locked state. We had just arrived from Maryland with seafood galore. And the shrimp were beautiful and so delicious. But I digress. Anyway if you are near here please take the time to eat where the locals hang out. Friendly smiles for all and yummy margaritas await!

Currently closed due to Covid issues. Website says they plan to reopen when able. Stars given just to open review for these comments. We plan to visit when they reopen.

Fair warning: everything here, starting with the chips and salsa, is spicy! (And this is coming from a south Texan). It's delicious, but I would at least recommend putting some sugar in your tea so you can power through the heat. I ordered the stuffed sopapillas with red chili sauce (the green sauce is made with hatch chili and also very good, my mom ordered it on her blue corn enchiladas). The sopapilla texture and flavor is fabulous, and the meat was seasoned with a warm spice with lots of depth. All lunch entrees except the stuffed sopapillas came with a sweet sopapilla with honey, we ordered an extra and took them home for later and they were fantastic. Not too sweet, very yeasty, and a good pastry texture.

Inevitably, I've returned to El Paragua, one of the finest and most reputable eating houses in all of Espanola. This is another restaurant that I grew up eating at, often enjoying the selection of New Mexican specialties for birthdays and other important occasions. Today, I came in with my girlfriend for her first experience eating lunch at this remarkable restaurant. After a brief wait, we were seated at a four-top table in the back, allowing us to sit our preferred style of side-by-side. Soon after, we received chips and salsa, the sauce green and potent, perfectly scoopable and noticeably spicy. I ordered a coffee and ate the small salad that my entree (the Mexican Combo plate) features. After that, a full half hour passed before our food finally arrived. Recognizing that Sunday brunch in Northern New Mexico is one of the busiest times to eat, we chalked our late food up as an unavoidable inconvenience, and dug in. The rice and beans were fine, but the taco was noteworthy, as tasty as any made next door at El Parasol, but less greasy. The tamale was delicious, with flavorful cornmeal and spicy pork, and the enchilada more than satisfied my craving for cheese ( the over-easy egg on top provided flavor and protein). By the time I finished off the carne adovada, I barely had room for the posole and sopaipilla. This isn't a cheap meal, but it's thoughtful and traditional. Drinks are a little pricey but the margaritas are worth a shot. Though formal attire isn't required, treat yourself and dress up fancy. You'll have a good time.

While in Santa Fe, we drove up to Espanola and visited the cliff dwellings nearby. For lunch we ate at El Pargua. This is a classic New Mexican restaurant. It is more upscale than the usual small town joints. We started with very good salsa. It was green tomatillo with medium heat, appropriate salt and well balanced flavors. It was served with good quality corn chips. Ms T ordered homemade Chicken and Rice soup. It had onion, a lot of chicken, onion, tomato, onion and some onion. I see onion as a crutch for cooks who don't know how to flavor things any other way. Ms T not being an onion eater was not too pleased. It really should be advertised as onion soup with chicken. I had a side order of posole. This was decent with very good stewed chicken, lots of chicken and good quality posole. It was salted just right but was a little bland, not much chile if any. I fixed it with a squeeze of lemon. This is worth ordering as a meal and maybe when you do so, you will get lime wedges. Ask for them if you do not and ask for red chile. TT ordered a plate that comprised a tostada with chicken and a chile relleno. In this version the chile is stuffed with tomato and onion instead of the usual cheese. The chile was poblano and was well roasted. It had good flavor. There was orange cheese on top of the tostada which seemed unusual. Bro J had a big bowl of menudo with posole and red chile added. He also liked the posole. My huevos rancheros were served with green chile and potatoes that were fried with chorizo. The chorizo used was very scant. Refried beans were bland, not creamy and lardy. The green chile was awesome however. The roasted flavor of the chile was delicious and it was salted properly. I would return for this green chile. The whole thing was served on a homemade flour tortilla. This does not work. The flour tortilla turns to goo under the eggs and salsa. I could not eat any of it. This deserves a partly fried corn tortilla and it would have been very good. El Pargua has some hits and misses. The Posole is decent with some doctoring. The green chile is very good. The service was erratic, with things missed and having to be asked for more than once. There are four star things and two star things. I will average it out to three.

If you are driving to Taos from Albuquerque this is a must stop for lunch or dinner. Or if you are driving around skip Santa Fe and head to Espanola and El Paragua. Both the restaurant and the building that houses it have lots of history. When you walk in it seems like you go back in time. This was our third visit to El Paragua and the food and service have remained wonderful for each visit. On our recent visit I selected the enchiladas (flat) with ground beef and it was just what I was hoping for. No beans, no rice to spoil the favors of this meal. I asked for the green Chile and boy was I glad I did. Hot and flavorful. My wife ordered the tacos with shredded beef and they were loaded with beef. I knew she liked them because there was nothing left on her plate just like my plate.

This is where we usually stop if we're passing through Espanola at mealtime. Our teenagers are happy with their burgers and fries. My husband loves the chiles. The ambiance is cool with a huge tree growing inside.

Here I had the best margarita in New Mexico. Even better than Patron margarita @ Sadie's. Great place with great food and super friendly service. Definitely a must go place in New Mexico. Sopapilla was warm and not greasy. Salsa was so good. The best salsa I ever had in my life level! Beautiful restaurant with excellent food. Worth to drive here for sure. We were on the way back to Santa Fe from Ghost Ranch.. Good food after visiting a great place is a memorable experience.

Closed! I haven't come here for a long time, tried last year but they were closed due to Covid, appears they haven't opened, the staff at their taco stand in back told me they didn't know when they would open again.

Exactly what you expect. When friends tell you about the family run restaurant with the tree in the middle, you know you want to try it. AND the food is authentic, flavorful and great!

Had a 7pm reservation, got there at 7. Was told that we were "checked in and it would be a 10 min wait." Were seated at 8:10, orders taken at 8:30. Server was cheerful and...adequate, not particularly attentive. Food (when we finally ordered) came quickly and was good. Biggest frustration was the wait and the lack of honesty about the wait. If the reservation doesn't actually get you seated any faster, why take reservations? If the wait is over an hour, why say 10 minutes? Food was good but not that good.

Came here based on positive Yelp reviews on our way back to Santa Fe from Ojo Caliente. Was really looking forward to it and the grounds are gorgeous, there's plentiful parking and a beautiful mural on the side of the building. We saw a sign about gentlemen having to wear shirts with sleeves as we walked in but thought it was a joke--why would the rule only be for men and not women? It's also 100 degrees out and we're a party of 5 about to spend a ton of $$$ at 3pm on a Friday in an otherwise empty restaurant. We walked in and the hostess immediately said that our male friend could not eat in the restaurant in his sleeveless shirt. I'll point out that he was with 4 women wearing tank tops and a strapless dress but WE could eat and HE could not. We asked if they had outdoor seating--nope. We tried to figure out why a place would have a rule like this and just couldn't make sense of it. We ended up eating at El Parasol which is on the same property and is basically a stand with some picnic tables. It all worked out since the food at El Parasol was delicious and cheap and the service was great! Plus, we didn't have to deal with a silly sleeve rule.

My favorite place to eat when I visit home! From tacos to enchiladas, mmm. If you don't have time to sit and eat, stop at el parasol.

Stopped into this little gem on our way back from a relaxing girls weekend at Ojo Caliente! We wanted something brunchy and didn't want to go all the way into Santa Fe so we "asked Siri" for a recommendation and this was it. It's a very authentic and inviting atmosphere with lots of cool antiques. The stairs going up to one of the two bathrooms were a little crooked and rickety which added to the old world feel. It has several small rooms on two levels and it was very f We decided to get 3 different things to share. We had the rellenos which were flavorful with just the right amount of cheese. The portion was generous with the beans, rice and Carne Adovada on the side. We also ordered the breakfast burrito with Christmas on the side. It was a bit bland but ok and finally we ordered the brunch waffle which was loaded with whipped cream, fresh berries and walnuts. My friends added the syrup and the raspberry sauce but I opted not to. Overall a great experience. My only reason for a 4 was because we received the waffle after we finished the burrito and the rellenos and to me that was inefficiency in the kitchen.

Wow what a great find! By far the best service I have had in years, wish I would have paid more attention to her name but she was personable, knowledgeable and very intuitive. The salsa was top notch and really good ice tea. The food great and just different enough to be not your typical Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere was very unique and worthy of a trip to experience. Definitely will be back next time through

Wow. Just Wow! The food was excellent, from the salsa, to the sopapillas, to the jam, to the salad dressing, to the entrees. The service was warm and professional (I love men in ties!). The dining rooms are charming. After a cross-country odyssey to cities large and small, we found the prices to be fair. I think I'm gonna have to move to Espanola! About that jam.....so often, preserves taste just like sugar. You could really taste the berries in these. I think a place that keeps its eye on "small" details like that is doing a good job in other ways as well. Same with the fresh mint in the iced tea and the house salad dressing. Another yelper mentioned that food of this caliber can be had for less money elsewhere in town. Being a fan of dives in my own hometown, I'm sure she's right. But this is a date place, where we saw many local families celebrating special occasions like birthdays and Mother's Day. So I don't think it's a question of price, really. It's good food, it's fun and a teeny bit fancy. We liked it so much we spent another day around here just to eat there a second time.

In short: Awesome looking building on the outside is what caught our attention. A friend of ours who has visited told us it was one of the better places to get food. Well worth the drive from Santa Fe. Went around 5:30 during the week. No wait. By 7 the place was packed. Really nice server (Devin, I believe), drinks were filled up quickly and frequently. Salad came with our entrees, chips brought to the table as an appetizer, and shortly after we had our food. I ordered (2 beef & 1 chicken taco, with a side of fries) and I enjoyed it. If we don't find anywhere else new to eat during our stay we would probably go again.

In short: When in Espanola, this is the place to go. The prices are a little pricey for this area and the type of food served, but the food is good and worth it the experience. Plus they have sopapillas. Longer: I came here for a date on a Monday evening. For it being Monday, and fairly early (around 5:45) it had a nice amount of people there. The man in the front seated us immediately yet didn't smile once, which I found strange. We had multiple people help us, one to seat us, one to get waters, one to bring chips, one to take our order, yet the service was kind of slow. When we finally ordered I decided on the bowl of soup. Arozz con pollo. This soup came with a salad, and a sopapilla. The soup, chips, salsa, and sopa were all very good. The salad had a bit too much dressing on it for my taste, so next time I'll ask for it with out it. The soup was flavorful but could use a bit more chicken. It was mostly vegetables and rice. We shared the sopa, and I didn't finish the bowl of soup, but I didn't leave hungry either. The amount of food was perfect. He and I shared "The Swirl", which is a red margarita type drink, so good. I would go back for that alone. To sum it up, the food is good, no more, no less. The service is slow, the waiters are okay and come back to the table rarely. The alcohol is great, so drink up.

This is a great little spot just off the busy street in Esplanola -- it's totally and old school Mexican gem with a great menu and cocktails. My favorite is the Mexican platter where you can sample a little bit of everything. Have returned several times for the Tamales :)

This IS the place to eat while you are in Espanola. When suggesting places to eat, this is number 1. It is located just off of Riverside drive on NM Highway 76. The parking is in the back and kind of narrow getting in but plenty places to park. When someone asks what New Mexican cuisine is like...refer them to this place. The building itself could not be more original. The walls are made of rough stone and the ceiling are composed of Viga beams. The atmosphere begins before you walk in, with a sign stating "Gentlemen NO Sleeveless Shirts Please". I've personally have had great service here and have always come with a group of people. They do a wonderful job in the kitchen and on the floor. I ordered the Chimichanga and it is soooo good! Smothered in goodness, Goodness = Guacamole, Green/Red Chile (I ordered Xmas). It has shredded beef and its a BIG plate. Tough to eat in one sitting.

It is super dark in there which makes me suspicious! The service was excellent...we were a group of 7 and everyone enjoyed their food. I got ground beef tacos and i was surprised coz they had potatoes in them...very good! My boyfriend got the red chile cheese enchiladas and he really enjoyed them. Everyone else got chicken tacos or carne adovada...everyone was pleased with their meals. The best part is the sopaipillas with the preserves which were too die for! I will go there again since we aren't out that way too often but for two our bill was about $43 which i think is pricey for a small town and New Mexican food. I would rather go to their sister place El Parasol.

I was at this restaurant last night and was very upset. I and my friend was visiting from out of state and wanted to have a nice steak. We ordered "Argentina Parilla" which I have had many times. When our dinner arrived we took our first bite and could not eat it . It was very spicy . We told our waiter and all he did was smile. He came several times and asked how was the food like if he had not hear me complaining about we could not eat it. Never offering to fix it. I paid $65.00 for the steak and I would never go back. They should tell people that they only serve very spicy food. The manager was told and said he could not discount not even a penny.

There's no reason EVER to be in Espanola, unless Black Mesa golf course is in good shape (which it's not now) or you're eating at this place, or both. The atmosphere here is just great. It appears to be an old house converted into a great place for New Mexican cuisine. There's plenty of history denoted via news articles and food reviews, proclamations from Governors, etc. hanging on the walls. Staff was super friendly to a handful of tourists (me and my schmuck friends), and the bar drinks served cold and quick. (Great bar, btw). Waiter was super nice, and did a great job handling a diverse order. Food came out hot and quickly. I choose the rib-eye steak with a green chili on top, red enchilada on the side. Off the chart. Great place to get a meal when you're passing through...

Fantastic mushroom enchiladas. Found this place by accident. World cup on the TV, a large biker sitting at the bar, a tree growing up through the building. Rat pack ambiance, history, and menu combined with really good local cuisine.

Food is good, drinks were good a little pricey. Service can be hit or miss. Sometimes they cone across like "if you don't like it tough"

Without a doubt, El Paragua was our favorite off the beaten path restaurant find on our northern New Mexico trip. Located in the not so small town of Espanola, El Paragua is the perfect layover on the way up from Bandelier National Monument to Taos. I will note that Google Maps places El Paragua further on Santa Cruz Road than it's actually located - it's just off the Rt 68 turnoff. The interior of this place is Kodak worthy. As soon as we walked in, I thought I was walking into a Western version of Frodo Baggin's hobbit abode. There's a massive tree on one side of the room with Western as well as religious and antique kitsch items decorated throughout - it's actually quite tasteful when it's all pulled together at El Paragua. The food was oh so delicious. While I wasn't thrilled with the crispy taco shell for the beef taco dish we got (more personal preference than a comment on quality), the stuffed sopapilla with frijoles and carnitas that's smothered in green chile sauce blew me away. I wish I had my iPhone docking cable so I could upload photos, but this dish is massive both in portion size and flavor. We didn't get our sopapilla until the end of the meal, but it was the best one I had tried on our trip. The service was wonderful - clearly 5 star worthy for a place like this. Our waitress was so nice and friendly. The busboy asked if we wanted ice in our waters (very impressed he asked). Honestly, we felt quite welcomed at El Paragua. We enjoyed it so much that as we were heading from Taos back to Santa Fe late Friday night we were tempted to stop by El Paragua to grab a late night dinner. If your travel plans allow you to pass by Espanola, make a definite note of stopping by at El Paragua for a meal that you won't forget.

My husband and I were passing through here coming from Toas to Albuquerque. Are we ever so happy we stopped in to have a bite to eat! Our server, Chloe, was outstanding and so welcoming. The food was fabulous and talk about having the homemade taste! We loved it here! We unfortunately had gone a few days before to Tomasita's in Santa Fe thinking we would love it there only to find it not good and extremely dissapointed with the frozen food that is brought in (chile rellenos) and my husbands tacos made with boxed store bought shells. At El Paragua you will get the authentic homemade meal. My husband cannot eat spicy food and the advocado was a little on the spicy side, so Chloe had the kitchen make him a fresh batch with no spice. Wonderful service!! We will be back and it sure made up for a bad meal we had a few days before at Tomasitas. Thanks Chloe! We will be back!! : )

Absolutely one of the best New Mexican enchilada plates I've had. Outstanding Cadillac Margarita also. I won't fail to visit on my next stop in Espanola.

My sisters and I stopped by here just after scattering the ashes of my mom. One of my sisters had been here several times before, and it came well recommended. While the ambiance was quirky, the margaritas just right, and "Eres Tu", one of my mom's favorite songs, filled our hearts with joy, it is with deep disappointment that I write this review. We each ordered something different, and one of my sisters got a scrambled egg dish. While she was eating, she bit down into something hard, crunchy, and....bendy? She fished it out of her mouth, and upon close observation found it to be a wire. That's right, a metal wire was in her food. As she messed with it, she bent it, then broke it in two. We showed the waiter then when the waiter disappeared for more than fifteen minutes, I had to get up from the table to call a manager over, who also disappeared. Meanwhile the check arrived without any compensation for the uneaten food or an apology or even an acknowledgement of what happened. The second manager admitted that it was a piece of a wire brush from cleaning the griddle, but the two owners absolutely refused to take responsibility for SERVING A WIRE with her food! That's the stuff that KILLS people. Nobody even apologized. I recommend that you keep on driving. What may once have been a place filled with pride and service is no longer. What a disappointment.

Great little hidden gem with potent drinks. I was warned that the swirl was strong and I didn't believe that warning. I was wayyyyy wrong. So take it from me, be careful. They limit you to two. We had a party of 11 and we were well taken care of. Even though this place was busy busy on a Thursday night! That's how you know it's good. Their green chili is hot, hot, hot. Way too hot for me and even my friend who is a New Mexican native. So another warning there! Lol I got the enchiladas which were yummy and I would dip it in the green chili ever so slightly. The flavoring was good but I couldn't handle much more. The red chili is not spicy but I think the green is more flavorful. I'd hit this spot next time we are in town

I have eaten at a variety of the Northern New Mexico restaurants in that I lived in and and worked around the area for 12 years. It is one of the best that the area has to offer. It offers some of the best food at an excellent value. Like other reviews say, shares a parking space with El Parasol, but if you ease past the restaurant and turn left there is ample parking behind the place. The building itself is a converted Spanish house that is likely 100 years old so it is provides an atmosphere that feels like authentic Spanish food. This place will take large groups or small parties and offers a nice bar. I have eaten a variety of items on the menu such as the fajitas, green chile in a bowl, and the chile relleno. They have the best chile relleno in the state. I should note that is better during the green chile harvest (august-october) but it is never bad. My favorite way to order is to open with the guacomole (though it says market price, I haven't paid more than $12) and it is also better during the harvest but it is worth it and it is made fresh when you order it. I then follow with the green chile relleno, and close the meal with the sopapillas with honey or the "in season" jam or preserves. Very delicious, with a cup of coffee. I recommend calling ahead on Friday or Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. Any other time you will get a table, no problem. I have had numerous waiters and waitresses and the service is stellar. The food is always fresh regardless of the time that I go in. This restaurant is not a chain so you get to boost the local business.

As a local, El Paragua is one of those places all my friends know about but that I've never really had the chance to try, until yesterday. Passing through, I took the opportunity to eat inside and was extremely pleased. I had a bowl of the menudo as a starter and a chalupa and chili relleno to finish. The food was awesome. I took a pint of the menudo home for breakfast. This is THE place to stop if you have the occasion to.

Cold beer. Good food but spicy! Good service... definitely a reccomend, and we'd come back!

Over priced considering you can buy the same food next door for half the price, but the margaritas are the best and very rarely does the service stink.

Great place...big portions, great service. Yummy margaritas. Friendly staff! Great location, nice ambiance. Worth the trip!