El Pinto Restaurant

El Pinto completely exceeded my expectations. The chili-smothered ribs tasted nothing like I imagined — they were even better. The flavor was bold, smoky, and unforgettable. It left such a strong impression that I’m already looking forward to ordering them again the next time I visit Albuquerque. Beyond the food, the atmosphere at El Pinto was top-notch — lively yet relaxed, with a warm Southwestern charm. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back and try everything on the menu. Whether you’re with friends or enjoying a night out with your partner, it’s an ideal spot to soak in the local flavor. Highly recommended!

We had a great experience sitting at the bar for dinner and drinks, thanks in large part to Natalia. She was attentive, friendly, and really made the evening enjoyable. We tried the margaritas, sampled a few beers, and had dinner. I’m giving a 5-star review based on our overall experience, especially because of Natalia’s excellent service. That said, I do want to note that the food and drinks felt overpriced. While everything tasted good, the quality didn’t quite match the cost, particularly with the margaritas and steak I had. Still, we had a great time and would definitely return if we were locals. It’s a nice spot with a welcoming vibe and outstanding service.

This place is in such a beautiful location! The atmosphere is incredible! The staff is super friendly! The food was delicious especially the NM green chilies! The margaritas were great too! The prices were on the higher end. There is no better spot to enjoy a good drink, good food, and enjoy family and friends!

What a beautiful restaurant full of the kindest people I may have ever met. I was in Albuquerque for a work trip and one of the locals mentioned that El Pinto was a must do. I went my last night and it did not disappoint. I dined solo and was sat in this gorgeous room. I was given complimentary chips and salsa as I looked over the menu and they were perfect. I ordered the stuffed sopapillas (one chicken and one pork adovada) and a cider. Everything was amazing and the vibes were impeccable. Everyone (from the host stand to the waiters to folks cleaning up after parties left) was so kind. Seo was one of my waiters and she was SO sweet. She helped me figure out what to order and made me feel like I'd know her for years despite it being busy. The hospitality I was shown was unmatched. I didn't have room for my sopapillas because of their huge portion sizes so she packed them for me to take to go which was so sweet. They have plenty of parking and seating. I didn't have a reservation but they do have them available which I would recommend because of how busy it was when I arrived. I would highly recommend a meal at El Pinto!

So the place is magnificent, staff is wonderful an the ambiance is truly spectacular!! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone!! However the reason I gave the food 4 stars is bcuz I am a BBQ pitmaster an well versed in smoking/grilling so I know a thing or 2 about steaks!! Matter fact I've dry aged my own steaks ans I've also purchased dry aged wagyu steaks that are bms (beef marbeling score) 1 - 12!! I literally begged my server to grill my "dry aged" tomahawk to medium rare with a hard sear!! When I got it back yes it was medium rare but hardly any dry aged umami flavor nor any seasoning not even salt on the steak!! As a BBQ enthusiast & pitmaster that was not worth $140.00 bucks. I am going to post sum pictures showing where for 12 more dollars you can get a 32 oz. wagyu tomahawk steak bms score of 4-6 as well as dry aged for 60+ days from grand western steaks. But everyone else's food was delicious!! So if anyone is wondering about their $140.00 tomahawk.......there u go!! But I'm glad I tried it!! Cuz now I kno!!

Came here on a recommendation for some good Mexican food in town, and this place doesn't disappoint. Great food and excellent service. Really enjoyed my ribeye and enchilada. My wife had the chicken sopapias, and they were excellent. Really good green chili sauce. I also enjoyed the salsa.

What a lovely evening we spent at El Pinto Restaurant & Cantina. It's tucked away in Albuquerque's North Valley, surrounded by cottonwoods and adobe walls. It feels more like stepping into someone’s beautiful casita than going out to eat. The patio was glowing with string lights, and the smell of roasting green chile filled the air. We sat outside, with the sound of laughter and plates clinking around us, and it honestly felt like one of those perfect New Mexico moments. El Pinto’s been around since the early 1960s, started by a local family using recipes passed down from their grandmother. It's grown a lot since then, but it’s still all about traditional New Mexican food done with care - no shortcuts, no fuss, just bold flavors and local ingredients. They even have their own greenhouse and a hen house on-site, so the eggs they serve are gathered just steps from the kitchen. How many restaurants can say that? Seriously! They’re famous for being the only restaurant in the U.S. with an Animal Welfare Approved laying hen program. Their eggs come fresh from a little "hen hotel" right on-site. It’s honestly a cool touch and it makes the food feel even more honest and close to the earth. We ordered the classics: enchiladas with Christmas (red and green) chile, their famous red chile ribs, (theFood Network ranked them among the top 3 ribs in the country), tamales, stuffed sopapillas, and the massive combo plates we devoured way too fast. Everything tasted homemade, deeply rooted in place and tradition. Even the salsa was unforgettable, it had just the right heat, smoky and fresh at the same time. They also have this incredible tequila bar (I think they said over 170 kinds?), but we stuck with one of their house margaritas. Cold, tart, and perfect with the food. El Pinto isn’t just any place - it’s practically legendary. It stands out not only for its flavor but its legacy. At one point, they even prepared green chile for the White House, and delivered take‑out directly to Air Force One on the tarmac right here in Albuquerque. It's one of those places that feels like a local treasure but also gets national attention. This restaurant has actually served the White House. They were invited to provide food for an event, and their salsa is even available in some D.C. stores. So it’s got a little political star power. And speaking of stars, tons of celebrities have been spotted at El Pinto over the years. It’s that kind of place… casual and homey, but a magnet for big names who want real New Mexican food done right. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere very much and service was excellent. It’s just one of those places that feels like a celebration. I’m happy we had this special evening together.

El Pinto’s is truly a magical place—easily one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever experienced. Every turn reveals a new, enchanting corner filled with lush greenery, rustic charm, and romantic southwestern ambiance. Dining here feels like stepping into another world—warm, welcoming, and full of soul. The atmosphere is only the beginning. The staff radiate friendliness and hospitality, creating a sense of genuine care from the moment you walk in. Our waiter, Michael V., was outstanding—gracefully juggling a busy section, constantly on the move, and yet never without a smile. His energy and dedication were remarkable. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. We started with the guacamole, which was fresh and perfectly seasoned. The green chile was packed with bold, authentic flavor. The chicken enchiladas were tender and rich, and the ground beef stuffed sopapilla was pure comfort on a plate—crispy, savory, and satisfying. As someone originally from New Mexico, I’ve grown up with these flavors—and El Pinto’s continues to capture the essence of home. Even though we now live in Florida, this restaurant is a must-stop every time we return to visit family. It’s not just a meal—it’s a memory in the making, every time.

Best ambiance of any restaurant in the Albuquerque area. The patio is incredible and great for large parties or a more intimate dining experience. The service is usually very attentive and have had many pleasant dining experiences over the years. This is what elevates El Pinto from a 3 star to 4 star. That being said, the food is very average. The good thing is they have a lots of options, but with NM food it begins and ends with the Chile which is just okay.

Visiting from out of state and had high expectations due to family recommendations of this place. However, almost everything fell short of expectations. We got seated quickly thanks to a reservation. However, it took at least 20 minutes for our waitress to acknowledge us. After she took our drink orders, it took another 15 minutes for her to take our food orders. We quickly ran out of chips and drinks and were only offered refills at the end of our meal. While the food was okay, we were not expecting the large check. We came in during lunchtime on a Friday but were charged for the dinner portion. Our waitress did not ask whether we wanted lunch or dinner. When we asked why we were charged the dinner portion, she said we should have specified that we wanted lunch and to remember that for next time. Unfortunately, this will be our first and last visit here. At least the guacamole was tasty.

Saturday brunch This week has been extremely hot and we were seated on one of their patios. Was very pleasant but very warm, we were not in the sun but was thinking our visitors might be too hot. So top tip, make sure your guests can handle the heat or ask for indoor dining with air conditioning when you make your reservation The bar has a decent amount of seating as well and is nice and cool

Beautiful dinner at El Pinto to celebrate my best friends birthday! We sat in a gorgeous outdoor room that was covered and looked out to the garden. This restaurant is BEAUTIFUL! It's the perfect place for a celebration or for out of town visitors (or just a special occasion). Now the food-- I wasn't as hungry today so I wanted to try out some smaller appetizer things!! I got the fried green chile strips I HATED THEM. Lol they are just too thin, they had no structure and just crumpled right apart. I am used to different green chile strips, thicker like a fried pickle. Do not recommend. The guac was delicious and fresh. Everyone in our party loved their food! Our sweet server was amazing! She did a great job managing a huge table of crazy ladies!!! We will 100% be back for another celebration!!

While in Albuquerque, you have to eat New Mexican food. We came for lunch and the sopapillas. This restaurant is big and so is the menu. I was having trouble deciding what to have but our server Colin helped me out. I wanted to try the green chile stew and the papitas so he said I could have those as my sides with the chicken adovada. Everything I had was delicious. The green chile stew was tasty but kind of on the spicy side. The chicken and the potatoes were very good. The sopapillas were fresh and absolutely delicious with the honey. Colin was so helpful and just a great server. The restaurant was clean and the parking lot is pretty big.

May not be the BEST New Mexican Cuisine, but it's as good as smaller places well reviewed. The Hacienda-like setting and outside seating is wins best atmosphere hands down. Waiters were on point, and we never were of need of anything. Best part? I'd been there as a kid and had vivid memories of this magic Mexican restaurant outside ABQ! It's now INSIDE ABQ. The memories hit like a tsunami!

The service is fantastic. Italia took wonderful care of our family party and Donny the manager stopped by more than once. The food is tasty and served in good sized portions - not the best in town to my palate, but in the better-than-average tier, for sure. There's plenty of parking, although you'll probably have to walk a bit and should plan on dropping off any folks with mobility issues right at the drive-up entrance. Inside the cavernous maze of the building, the bathrooms are clean and all of the rooms are pretty and well appointed (although my sensitive nose discerned an off-putting faint smell of cat urine in the big indoor/outdoor room where we were seated - the prowling cat(s) that kept staring in the windows cleared up that mystery). El Pinto is iconic and the crowds show it's loved. My wife and I used to love it in the early and mid-Nineties. The reason I took a twenty-five-year hiatus despite living in town is the same reason this review is not a four-star ("good"): it's preposterously expensive. And it has been for years - figure fifty percent more for a given dish than at any other place in town. (In all seriousness, familiarize yourself with the pricing with the online menu to avoid shock: $23.50 for a plate of enchiladas con carne now. Golly.) If you want to take a visiting tourist to sort of a grand fantasy hacienda, this is a good choice - the service will be great, the food will be fine and the place has that "adobe Disneyland" vibe. But, like Disneyland, steel yourself for the fact that you'll be paying a whole lot of entertainment premium - at least you don't need a line pass, I suppose.

We keep coming back here because of family in town. I really need to start suggesting something else. The staff is super nice and nothing against them. Use to be the only good thing about this place was the ambience. Even that is starting to go. Ordered sangria and it was watery so asked for another and same, watery. Got the breakfast burrito for $19. It was dry and had hardly any cheese and bacon. This place is so overrated. I can't express that enough. But I'm sure I'll be back. Ugh

Food, service, and ambiance were great! I'm gunna be honest- the food was good, I may have had better tacos before (I ordered the 2 tacos) but the chips and SALSA which were the first things I was snacking on when I got to El Pinto were SO good that it just left such a good impression that in my head I'm like everything tastes amazing. The salsa was super fresh/well balanced and those restaurant style tortilla chips were so crispy and nicely salted. Our server was very friendly and just a super nice guy. I met up with 2 friends and we were just visiting and this was our last day and the ambiance was just perfect. Good vibes and a sunny day to have a nice lunch.

El Pinto was a pleasant location for a family dinner. There was an event going on with a DJ so it was a little loud, but the music was good. Service was extremely slow. Food was good and I would come back.

This is one of my regular hangouts, and so I was back for a nice lunch with a friend. As always, our food was amazing, the service was great, and the ambience is always top-notch out on the open patio. Food is still good and consistent and as always, I highly recommend El Pinto.

Matthew was our server tonight. He certainly is wonderful young man waitering while he works on his Master's Degree. He gave us great service. I had the taco bowl in a shell with all the usual fixings. My daughter had the combination plate #3 with chicken tacos, which she thoroughly enjoyed. The sapodillas with honey is the best way to finish off your meal. The place was not too crowded tonight and you could carry on a conversation without being blasted by the people sharing the same dining room. As usual, we will return.

We came for a bachelorette with a party of 9 with a reservation. Service: Our server's name Kevin & he hooked it up with our chips. It comes with salsa but we ordered side & was attentive to our drinks/water. Ambiance: Beautiful gentle volume music Temperature controlled area, fountains galore & open fireplaces. Definitely a vibe! Food; Our group ordered a lot of food! And drinks a good experience and portions were hugeeee for

This place is a fancy restaurant with a beautiful decor. We took the chance to go during a weekend day on the balloon festival. The wait was long unless we went to the bar. We immediately found seating in the bar area next to a waterfall. Our waiter was awesome with the right blend of helpfully available and not overbearing. We enjoyed a leisurely and delicious lunch. The salsa was damn good and they sell it. Not only do they sell it but there is a sample cart to try the varieties. A fantastic tourist stop or place to take visiting relatives like I was!

Beautiful restaurant, great server, authentic New Mexican cuisine. Get the chopped green chile and chicharrones appetizer. Perfect. 10/10 no notes.

Vacation Mexican food is usually sketchy. We had outstanding service from Colin. Food was good. Wife liked hers more. I would not get the enchilada next time. The taquito and tamale were good. Chili con carne spiced everything up to my liking. Chips and salsa ending with a sopapilla. Truly enjoyed our experience.

As a tourist this was a great stop to experience some New Mexican staples. Neat breezy space, and a bonus restaurant cat! Service was super friendly and a fun conversation ensued when they heard where we were from. Upon ordering, the waitress confirmed we requested the two best items on the menu if we wanted to experience local cuisine! The Carne Adovado, and the Red Chili Ribs were melt in your mouth delicious. Great developed flavors and smoky chilis. I also ordered Breaking Bad's El Camino cocktail that was well thought out and balanced. I would order that drink over and over again if I could. Huge parking lot and reservations available for a low stress meal.

If you live in Florida, you are probably familiar with The Columbia... I got a very similar vibe from El Pinto... good food, served in a sprawling, gorgeous space, with lots of different rooms and ambiance. Our family wanted to take us here because of the gorgeous views, and we were all about it. Since it was during the balloon fiesta, we couldn't get a seat outside, but we were placed in a huge room with a water feature and skylight, so plenty of natural light. I didn't mind at all. We started with margaritas, and they were fabulous. Our cousin wanted us to try the fried hatch chiles, and I wasn't entirely sure how they would be, but yum! They were not at all greasy, and came with a lovely spicy ranch dipping sauce. I could have made a meal of them. Again, we had lots of options for lunch, and I went with stacked enchiladas with hot green chile (sadly, it wasn't really hot at all, but they tried). I went with just cheese (no protein), and they were soooo good. Loved the rice and beans with them as well. Most everyone cleared their plates, and so the meals were a huge success. Service was great, if a little leisurely, but we weren't in a huge rush. And this time, I DID try the sopapillas and honey, and they were divine! Absolutely delightful. This is a great place to bring visitors, or to go when you're out with big groups. Solid food, great experience, all the way around!

I came here while visiting my girlfriend in New Mexico and we stopped by for a late lunch. The service here was superb and our waitress was attentive and gave us a good menu rundown. When you first step into El Pinto, you can feel the unique ambiance of the restaurant. It feels like you get transported into a different era and the restaurant is massive, it's easy to get lost! A great perk is that they still provide you with free chips and salsa, so be sure to take advantage of eating those crispy chips. We initially wanted to order some items off the lunch menu, but we decided to get the award-winning full rack of Red Chile Ribs. The portion was large enough to share with two hungry people. It came with a simple tossed salad with croutons and tomatoes. We substituted the baked potato for papitas (sautéed potatoes) and calabacitas (veggie mix of zucchini and squash). Both sides were well seasoned and paired well with the ribs. Honestly, the ribs did live up to the hype! They had a good amount of heat and did indeed fall off the bone. The meat was juicy and tender with a nice amount of red chile heat. To wash it all down, El Pinto provides free sopapillas with honey. They were fluffy and a great way to end the meal. Overall, if you're in the area, I highly recommend visiting El Pinto for a wonderful experience with New Mexican cuisine.

food was delicious server was goated Hot water was hot in bathroom atmosphere was amazing

Chips and salsa were great. The guacamole app amazing. Sat in the bar, loved the ambiance that can only come from a restaurant started in 1962. Brianna our server very informative and always there when we needed something. Great smile and super friendly. Hope to come back.

Totally failed to get pictures, but hey it looks like any other new Mexican food. Food taste always spot on. The service is always amazing!!! Beautiful place to eat as well, this place is huge!!

We love El Pinto. Every time we are in the area, we try to go at least twice. I love the uniqueness of the grounds, and they close in the patios during the winter so you can enjoy the outside feel without freezing. Beautiful fireplaces surround the facility as well. The food is amazing, large portions, and very tasty. I had the taco salad with chicken, my husband had chicken tacos, and my son got stuffed sopapillas with chicken. All of us loved it plus they brought out tons of chips and salsa as well as sopapillas. The server was really nice and overall we had a great meal. We will be back again soon!

The ambiance is really nice, but the whole experience felt low-end and cheap. It's so overpriced as to be laughable. The only plus, and it is a real plus, was the salmon and baked potato. Other than that wonderful salmon and potato, it's hard to describe the overwhelming cheapness of the rest of the food and drink. As soon as we sat down, the waiter asked us if we wanted chips and salsa/guacamole. We hadn't even looked at the menus yet, so we thought that it was complimentary. It wasn't. We wouldn't have chosen that appetizer, but he made it sound like a throw in, so we said 'sure'. Shouldn't he have waited until we looked at our menus first? The waiter was nice, but way, way too hurried. It was like he didn't want to engage with us at all. We felt like we were talking to him at a distance, catching him as he was flying by. It was weird. For drinks, my husband ordered a Silver margarita (aka sweet lemonade) and I ordered a glass of Pino Grigio. The first glass of my Pino was about 1/3 full. The second was about 1/2 full. I ended up ordering three glasses, and together they added up to about 1 1/2 glasses of wine for $33. Honestly, it felt like a robbery. My husband was hungry. He munched on the strictly mediocre appetizer of chips, salsa and guacamole that he didn't order, but what cost $14. I took a shot at the 'fresh greens' salad as it was the only 'healthy' appetizer on the menu. 'Fresh Greens?' There was nothing fresh about it. A handful of rough romaine out of a bag, three chunks of hard, light-orange 'tomato', none of which were edible, and some avocado that had a distinctive brown tinge. That was it. That's the 'fresh greens' salad. I did like the balsamic dressing though. It had a nice vinegary finish. For dinner, my husband ordered the Carne Adovada, which he described as over- cooked, and tasted as if it had sat around for a few days. And believe me, that's a lot coming from him. Our bill was a laughable $150, and we left a $20 tip. Why, I am not sure. We were hoping for a nice experience. Instead, other than the salmon, the whole thing felt like a con. Believe it or not, we may be back in for the salmon and potato. It was that yummy. Other than that...........Yikes.

Stopped by this place since we heard that the ribs and salsa were pretty good here. We booked a reservation ahead of time and the first thing that definitely stands out is that entrance. I loved the green chile decorations on the outside and inside has this waterfall/rock decor which is beautiful. When we got seated, our server gave us their chips and salsa first. The salsa was pretty good and I liked that there was enough chips and dip for everyone. We ordered a lot, but for our side we ordered the Posole, Hatch Chile and Chicharrones, Fresh Guacamole, The famous red chile ribs, and the Sopapillas which I believe were in-house. My favorites out of everything of the night were the ribs, and the sopapillas. The sopapillas were so warm and fluffy, and with the honey that they have for to drizzle on top, it was so comforting. The Red Chile ribs is what they are notorious for. The ribs were very tender and it was seasoned well too. And it had a good level of spice to it that didn't feel too overwhelming. I haven't had posole in forever either so getting to try it was another treat. Wasn't particularly my favorite, but it had a good level of spice and dipping it in the tortilla was good. The fresh guacamole of course was good, but man, paying $13 for guac and having literally two pieces of chips on top of it wasn't cutting it for me. At least give us a bowl of chips instead of aesthetically throwing two pieces on top. The other dishes that our table ordered was a burger and other mexican plate dishes. The hatch chile and chicharrones was good and spicy. But I do feel like it was a little too dry for my taste. At least they had the butter to give it that creaminess though. I do feel like some of the food is up charged a little too much. Some things I understand, but other things like the chips and guac seems a little weird with it being $13. It's a nice place to sit and eat with people, but if you wanna come here, I think just ordering the ribs and the sopapillas is definitely worth it.

El Pinto was recommended to us by the tour guide on the Sandia Tram, which we experienced right before dining here. We came here for lunch. Hubby ordered the burger and I ordered the taco salad. The meal started with delicious chips with very spicy salsa. Everything was yummy and we also were served two sopaipillas with honey- yum! Mary was our server and she was very attentive. This was one of our favorite dining experiences in Albuquerque!

Their portions are big. My husband and I share. But their appetizer chicharrón is so delicious. By the time we leave I can't try a dessert from so much ch we ate. But we are never disappointed.

First thing driving in the parking lot amazing esthetics. Have a reservation immediately was seating service was excellent quick even ordered drinks and was quick and delicious order house specials and they were amazing and delicious. So from walking in ordering and getting food took all of 10 minutes server was prompt and very attentive. Chips and salsa were great and super fresh.

Her is a Gem! Hidden somewhat in an unsuspected rural ish area in Albuquerque. I only found this place because, well yeah I asked the locals where to eat! So as I pulled up I was intrigued. As I walked in instantly transporting to a Villa in Old Mexico, I was sold! This restaurant Rocks! Thats an understatement! The patios sprawl on and on and I am told they do over 1000 covers a night average! I was here on a Tuesday evening and I know they had served a couple hundred whilst I was here! This is a machine operationally! Big tables and small all orchestrated, functioning at a high level. Food runners just kept strolling by with enticing platters of delicious food! The drinks don't lag either. So many great flavors and so many choices! Went with the classics and I was not disappointed! Tamales were plump with tender delicious Pork,sauces are just spicy enough! Chips fresh and crisp and warm. But the fresh Sopapillas are the best thing on the table, well especially drenched in local honey! This is the spot for your next New Mexico meal!

Delicious food, excellent service and fun vibes in the outdoor dining area for groups big and small. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area! The red chili ribs are spicy but worth the slight pain if you're sensitive for spice. The chili con queso is so addictive, and the tortilla chips are great. The treat at the end with the honey and sopapilla bread is awesome!

Wow what great food, great service and great ambiance! The chips and sauza were dynamite! We had the Number 3 combo plate and loved it and they topped it off with warm sopapillias! Number one place for a steak or Mexican in The big A!

Very disappointed in the food. Nice people but not at all a good value. Feel cheated out of $80 for two dinners and 2 drinks. $24 for mediocre chicken enchiladas.

The food is always delicious at El Pinto, some of the best red chile in town! The plates are pricey so I don't go here often but worth it for the vibe, especially if you have out of town guests. Our server was great and very nice! I will always be back for more red chile enchiladas! Yummy treat!

Our experience was fantastic, the location is like in the movies.. enchanted. I observed all the associates happy and providing great and personalized service. Michael our server provided a great service going an extra mile making out of this experience a memorable moment. The ambience was so expectacular like to not wanting to leave the place. The steaks cooked to perfection. We order a 2 ribeye and New York strip., the 3 cuts cooked to perfection in the perfect temperature. It was just a memorable evening with great friends, food, drinks and ambience.. we were able to thank the owner for a great dinner. See you soon El Pinto.. hasta la vista!

Got to attend Yoga and brunch on Sunday morning in the garden. El Pinto always has the best ambiance! It's Spanish decor and vast amount of outdoor seating transports you instantly. Definitely recommend making reservations ahead of time, it is very popular! Service is always great and I love the food! I always get the taco salad, because it is my absolute favorite! I always order this when we go there. The lightly fried tortilla is my favorite and the seasoned ground beef is just the perfect combo!

Came to El Pinto for dinner last night with friends. Went to the bar for a drink while our table was getting ready. No more than a 10 minute wait. The margaritas are wonderful. They are made from scratch. Once seated we ordered chips, salsa and guacamole. For dinner we had chili carnitas enchiladas, hard chicken tacos and soft chicken tacos . Everything was delicious. The restaurant is so beautifully decorated you feel like you are at someone's home and patio. A great dining experience.

Now, if I could, I would leave a "zero". This establishment does not deserve four stars. The food is bland and flavorless. It's almost comparable to frozen Mexican food. The service was terrible. The servers lack engagement & menu knowledge. The ambiance lacks authenticity. To display an Indigenous Warrior such as Geronimo in a Mexican restaurant is distasteful. If you're ever in the mood for good Mexican food & consistent service, then check out Sadie's. They don't promote cultural misappropriation. I live in California & I used to live in ABQ. So I know what good/decent restaurants to frequent in Albuquerque. I'll definitely spread the word to all my friends inquire about the food in Albuquerque.

I made a reservation, but it seems like the walk-in customers got a table immediately as well which was nice to see considering how busy they were. The service was wonderful and the waitress did amazing, and was able to build a rapport regardless of how busy she was. The food was amazing. Genuinely the best ribs I've ever had. The history and sustainability of the restaurant is what was really impressive. 5/5

The restaurant has really nice vibe, lots of patio seating with beautiful dried chilli decors under the roof. The servers were helpful and friendly. I love their fresh guacamole, it's chunky and so fresh! I ordered a verde soup as well, and it's super comforting, with potatoes, shredded chicken and chilli verde in it, served with a soft tortilla. We also tried the famous red chilli rib, it's pretty tender, and the seasoning was unique, the spices were covered all over the rib and it has some good smoky flavor.

The place is beautiful, but the food is so so. The service is horrible. We waited 20 minutes for our server to bring us Togo boxes, another 10 for her to bring us the check, and 5 to get a bag. Over, we waited 2 hours for our food to come out and zero refills.

I've been here many times in my 20 year Albuquerque life. This time will likely be last. The chips and salsa were ok. Pretty standard. I got a flat Coke, was nicely switched to an ice tea. My husband had the Gold Marguerita- he said it was overpowering mix flavor. I had the carne adovado plate dinner, asked for some avocado but got guacamole. It was a small serving compared to price. The carne adovado was plenty for me- but if you're used to most local restaurants, this was SMALL. Even smaller than the small order at Sadie's. The taste was overpowering spicy, so if you like it hot. You might like that. Meat was dry and barely warm. Guacamole helped me with the spiciness. Husband ground beef burrito was nothing to write about. Nothing great. He was disappointed- but he did bring home some of the very large burrito and did eat it the next day. Sopapilla were thick and chewy. Not my style. Honey is honey! So that's good, no added corn syrup! Waitress was very nice and large reason I'm giving this a two. But the food was overwhelmingly not up to par. Can't give it a 3! Beautiful property.

We made a reservation for our 40th wedding anniversary (notified restaurant of occasion). I wasn't looking for some extravagant grand celebration, but a little token for my bride to feel that we were at a special place for our special occasion would have been nice...at least a congratulations would have been nice. Our server did a great job even though she seemed a novice, she tried hard and was attentive. The manager came to the table next to us over and over checking on them, giving free drinks, a special free desert, and just plain kissing their A%# due to some mistake that was made on their order. It was over the top with kissing up. You would think she would have noticed and at least greeted other nearby couples during her a%# kissing session. Food was good, very pricy but very good. Ambiance of place overall was eclectic and cool!

So this was my first time at El pinto. The immediate impression is oh my gosh there's so many cars in the parking lot and oh my gosh the parking lot is huge. The next impression upon walking in is that oh my gosh this place is enormous. When asked how many people they serve the answer was they can serve up to 1200. Like wow! So with that said let me expound on our experience. There were 10 of us. Our party was supposed to be 12. We usually all get individual checks. For reference we were told that they will give individual checks for party up to 10 but larger parties they will give only up to four checks per table. I hope that's helpful information to somebody. Additionally, for a large parties they add a 20% tip automatically to the bill. This is not an issue for us we don't mind when the tip is automatically added as long as we know they're doing it. Nothing like overtipping and then day and age when tipping is pretty overdone anyway. Okay, our service was really good. Very congenial and timely service. The food portions were big. They serve a lunch menu until 4:00 p.m. daily. So we got there around 3:00 got our drinks and then ordered by 4:15 we actually had our checks. The place was not slow but it also was not overly busy on a weekday at 3:00 p.m. . I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and trying more menu items. The only potential note about this location is, according to two members of my group who need handicap parking, is that there is not enough handicap parking. I hope that the owners will notice that comment and take that too hard to make it easier for those who walk with canes and walkers and other such devices. Also, the ambiance in the garden is just spectacular it's really inviting and wonderful place to just relax and breathe.

This restaurant is huge - drop a pin so your guests can find you. Service was excellent. I enjoyed the chicken enchiladas with hot green chili peppers. The gold margarita was sweet and strong at well. Sound level was not too loud as everyone is spread out - so it has a nice ambience for casual dinner or brunch or drinks.

Beautiful place to sit outside for a mellow, peaceful lunch. The staff is kind, the margaritas are good. Definitely not the best New Mexican food. However, it's a nice place to visit once in a while.

I was very excited to dine at this place, but was a pretty disappointed with the food and service. - the Ambience is amazing, lots of photo booth places. - The food was ok, we ordered stuffed Sopapais with calabasitas. The Sopapia were actually not stuffed just cut in half, with a few pices of squash and rest with rice and beans mixed together. The flavor was good but considering I am in New Mexico where mexican food is their speciality, it was ok. I ordered 1 drink - twin falls which was really good and I wanted another one, but the service was so poor that the server instead of asking if we needed anything else gave us a check. I had called another server previously but she too dis not bother coming back. I am.not so sure if I am coming back.

Great ambiance, wonderful service and the food was scrumptious and authentic New Mexican! Our family brought us and we had the rolled tacos w/grass fed beef, chicken enchiladas with free-range fried egg on top, chile rellanos and a beef burrito. We will be back yum

For the past 3 years El Pinto has been our place for Nachos. In my opinion they were the best in town. Not so sure now. The past few times they have not been very good. The ones we got today had juice, from the beans maybe on the bottom so all the chips on the bottom were wet. The server said that always happens but as many times as I've had these nachos that's never been the case. Then to top it off, they raised the price of the nachos and the last two times the serving size is smaller. Makes me never want to go back. Time to try another spot.

Food Had the red chile ribs very good with calabacitas and a side salad. Side salad was very good have avocado! Prices Very very high for new mexican food. You can get bigger portions for much cheaper elsewhere Ambiance so so we wanted to sit outside on patio but they could not accommodate a party of 9. Boo!! Parking. There is a lot!!