El Pinto Restaurant

The restaurant is as beautiful as it is historic. It opened in 1972 and you can tell it’s a landmark. There’s a huge wall of fame as you enter the door with pictures of everyone from Mick Jagger to Lil Wayne. It was a great day so we sat outside and it was fantastic, even with the honey bees circling for a shot at some of that delicious honey. The food was great and the beans were well flavored. I mean the beans have to be great at a restaurant called El Pinto right? I had the combo plate #1 and my girl had the ribs. Both were delicious. Even the chips and salsa at the beginning was on point and the salsa had a nice kick. The staff was super friendly and explained what I didn’t understand which was what’s the difference between mild and hot 🔥

Our group of 35 ate dinner here with a 7:00 reservation. Because it was booked by the travel agent, it was a big buffet. It had 2 kinds of chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, southwestern corn, salad. Also chips and yummy salsa on tables. Everything was very good! The restaurant itself was beautiful. Although huge, it was divided into numerous dining rooms for a comfortable dining experience. Servers were attentive and friendly.

El Toro Pinto in Albuquerque, NM is an absolute must-visit! The food, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. Every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. From the appetizers to the main courses, everything tasted fresh and authentic. The staff was warm, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The restaurant itself has a charming vibe — perfect for a relaxing meal or special night out. El Toro Pinto is a true gem that delivers an unforgettable dining experience.

Our server Samantha was everything you want in a server as she made the experience so much more enjoyable. Food was out to the table within 5 minutes of ordering i kid you not (full disclosure the restaurant was very slow.) Only downfall i would say is it can be pricy depending on when you go but there is a Monday-Friday lunch menu.

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!

Good food, very large restaurant with plenty of patio seating, pet friendly, and excellent service. The aesthetic is casual and comfortable, but lovely. The food feels like comfort food to me, and we enjoyed our meals and our time at El Pinto during a recent visit to Albuquerque.

We ordered the chili stew and unfortunately it was cold they brought us another one and it was also cold. However the flavor was wonderful. the sopapillas were phenomenal really nice.

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.

An outstanding dinner tonight Great service from start to finish . And appetizer plates brought with our appetizer!! From stuffed sopaipillas to combo plates and tacos, all terrific

Fun place to take out-of-towners, especially folks visiting ABQ on business. The salsa is always super fresh (not spicy), which inevitably results in eating too many chips before you order...but if you're a real glutton for punishment, the fried green chili strips are a fun, tasty app (though wholly unnecessary given the huge portions). Unpopular opinion: El Pinto's is best for Sunday brunch. Blue corn pancakes with blueberries and pecans FTW, though the eggs benedict is a close second! Entrees are overpriced, but the coffee is good, and I love the outdoor seating area on a nice day. (Ask for the Garden Room, if you want to sit inside.) By comparison, the lunch and dinner menus aren't as good. The carne adovada is a safe albeit spicy choice. I find most of the other dishes (beef brisket, enchiladas) to be overly salted. Ribeye was not good, and I wish they'd serve real honey with the sopaipillas instead of the fake karo syrup stuff... Reservations recommended. Beautiful ristra-laden entrance. Bathrooms are always clean, and there's plenty of parking in the dirt lot.

A must stop when we hit Albuquerque. The ambiance is second to none! Huge restaurant with a multitude of outdoor patio seating and so many great artifacts that are theme appropriate. Service is always great here! Food is also pretty good. The Sopapillas Rock! Ask for some Honey to drown them in! Guac is super fresh but a bit bland. Queso is good but the Blue Chips were underdone and soggy. My entree Pork Stuffed Sopapillas was awesome, big, delicious and filling. Try the spicy sauce it was great and not dangerously spicy, I like the Red sauce best. You can also buy a couple jars to take with you!

I've been to El Pinto restaurant four times now. It's a bit unbelievable how expensive the simple restaurant has become. We went out for dinner and it was $23.50 for a simple dinner plate of enchiladas with rice and beans. We had two dinners with iced tea and the total bill was gratuity was $72. Just seems excessive. Perhaps it's just the inflation of the times we live in, but I know the prices have gone up way too much.

This is the place to go if you're visiting ABQ and want the full experience of classic NM food.

An Albuquerque must! Food is delicious, flavorful, and comes in HUGE portions! Servers (we had 2) were helpful and friendly. They attended to our every need. Three patios offer great seating in addition to the many inside rooms. Chips are crisp and thick and well salted. Salsa is a little warm but good! Cozy fireplaces everywhere.The patio music sound track playing was great! Parking lot is huge--but uneven so watch your step,

In search of highly recommended dining in Albuquerque we happened upon this spot. We arrived to an almost completely full parking lot including tour busses. The outside decor is lovely and romantic in southwest style. We waited a bit for our reservation then the Hostess kindly seated us in the highly sought after outside dining area under the cottonwood trees. We were at the far end by the stage which had trash on it empty planters a broken lights. Think that area needs a little sprucing up to match the rest of the nice decor. Waiters were young and were not overly attentive. Food was typical American/Southwest fare. Nothing spectacular. Margaritas were about the same. Overall we would return for the ambience but may ask to be seated inside or near the beautiful bar area.

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!!

I was born and lived in New Mexico for many years, so I was excited to go back and have some New Mexican food. Made reservations at El Pinto on the day we arrived. The restaurant is in the outskirts of town but easy to find. They have a large parking lot so parking was easy. We went in to the restaurant and was seated quickly. My wife and I ordered and our food and margaritas came quickly. We both enjoyed our meals and drinks including the anticipated Sophillias. We left full and satisfied, so much so we went back a couple of days later.

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.

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.

It had been many years since we last visited Albuquerque, and we intentionally chose to return to a place we had enjoyed long ago. It did not disappoint! The salsa had a wonderful burn--just the way we like it. The queso was rich and flavorful, with chunks of green chiles throughout. The red chile was mild; I could have enjoyed a bit more heat with my burrito, but overall it was excellent. The tender chunks of pork were absolutely fabulous. We didn't get a photo of our sopapillas, but they were warm, light, and delicious. I had intended to request that they be served at the end of our meal, but I forgot that in New Mexico they are traditionally included as part of the meal. I prefer them as dessert, drizzled with the honey conveniently waiting on the table. The atmosphere was festive and welcoming. When we arrived, it was dark, damp, and chilly outside, but the entrance was beautifully decorated with red chile ristras hanging overhead. Once inside and seated, the restaurant was comfortably warm and inviting--perfect after the cold evening. Be sure not to miss the stunning amethyst geodes displayed in the waterfall near the bar. It's well worth walking through that area just to admire them. I may not have the exact terminology for the rock formations, but they are truly impressive and memorable.

Try to eat here once a week! Their grass-fed steak burrito is beyond delicious. Never had a waitress as good as "Natalya" (hope I spelled correctly", she was attentive and had everything to us swiftly, very capable and professional yet genuinely friendly. Can't wait to go back, it's our weekly treat to ourselves!!

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.

AAA plus for Ambiance! Service is as great as well as the hostesses! I only had the half rack of ribs and was stuffed. Their signature ribs were fall off the bone tender. Taste good but not what I care for in rib sauce.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

Great ambiance. From a wedding rehearsal dinner to a celebration of life, this place has the service you can count on. Authentic cuisine with plenty of spice to make you drown your sopapilla in honey.

Top notch restaurant in Albuquerque! Great service and facility to go along with the delicious food. Would for sure return next time visiting the region. The story of the facility is very neat!

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.

Great brunch! I had the biscuits and gravy with an egg. I also got a Bloody Mary and OJ. The biscuits and gravy were the best I've ever had. The green chili in them added a slight kick. Our server, Ceana was sweet and attentive. We also got the pop tart which was excellent and a sweet ending to our brunch meal. The ambiance is superb and hard to beat. There are outdoor heaters and soft Mexican music playing.

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!

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.

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.

The best date place! My husband and I love to come here to celebrate special occasions but also just weeknight bites when we are too busy to cook. The staff are always so nice and attentive, and the food is great. Their salsa is soooo good.

Very bad service unprofessional and had to wait over and hour and a half for our food and the manager was very rude. Very expensive check also.

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!

Don't know why I waited this long to let everyone know how special this place is! From host/ess to manager - staff is top notch. All so attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable! Tonight went with a friend to share a pitcher of the greatest margaritas in town. We both wound up getting entrees and dessert. My friend had the stuffed sopapillas, which you can order many different ways. I had the huevos rancheros - eggs are fresh and amazing!! The dessert was ark Pinto's version of Tiramisu - incorporating Biscochitos. It is indescribably delish. Make sure you save room for this! The chips (warm) and salsa (cool) are always a great start to the evening. The vibe and decor transports you away from every day life and I feel like I'm far from home every time I walk up to the beautiful entrance. Best part of the night was Dom, our server. I mentioned he could teach a Master Class, only to find out this was his second day as a server ANYWHERE in his life. Well, I had to compliment the manager on their hiring and training of all staff - especially Dom. Truly the atmosphere, food, drink, and staff keep this local coming back for mor

We visit Albuquerque a few times a year and this is one of our favourite places to eat. The service is always good and so is the food. Looking forward to our next visit

We really enjoyed our meal and recommend you give this place a try whenever you are in Albuquerque! I enjoyed a pork taco salad with green chillies and my hubby had the taco plate made with the beef. They even serve you dessert with honey collected locally, delicious. Service was spot on too! Enjoy.

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!

I really enjoyed my visit to El Pinto. The ambience was exceptional. The food delicious and the service was on point. I would definitely return here.

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!

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!!

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!

The place is amazing, very large place with really nice ambience. The food was excellent. I had tacos and the margaritas were a little weak what still tasted good? Also, the staff were very helpful and friendly.

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.

So sad. I grew up going to this place. We went last night and it was less than average. We were with a large party and every single person said they barely had any chile and their dishes were dry. That is not the NM way. We were given only one small basket of sopapillas with one container of honey for the whole table. We ordered pitchers of margaritas which are now $99! And yet had very little tequila. Our guacamole had no seasoning. This place is not the same. It's bigger but it's gone down hill.

Patio: 8/10 (loved the rural setting but it wasn't as picturesque as in the website, and the mosquitoes were annoying) Chips: 10/10 Salsa: 8.5/10 Sopapillas: 10/10 (never had them before!) Margaritas: 5/10 (tasted good!! Cute glass. But very small serving) Food: 4/10 Service: 5/10 Chatgpt did me dirty recommending this place. It was so far out of town, which would have been ok, but the patio (what I was looking for) wasn't anything super amazing. What really ruined our experience was the service. We were seated and served chips, salsa, and water immediately. However, the server was MIA for about 25 minutes after that. We were visiting from out of town and would have loved to enjoy the chips and salsa with a margarita, but we weren't able to place our drink order until the chip basket was empty (They did refill the chips quickly, which was great). We usually like to take our time and have a drink before ordering our dinner, but based on our server's earlier negligence, I was worried we'd be there all night if we didn't order right away. I got the combo enchiladas. Very one-note and I didn't find much meat inside! Run down bathrooms.

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

I have been going to El Pinto since it opened in the 70's. It is by far my best choice for Mexican food in Albuquerque. I moved to Denver 13 years ago, and every time I come here, I always go to eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant. It has gotten more and more expensive over the years. But I don't care. I bring my friends and family here from in and out of town!! This time, I've had it!! I'll put up with anything but beans in the chili con carne!!!. How could you do such a thing to a dish I have been eating for 50 years!! Are you that broke that you have to make it taste like Ranch Style Beans that you can buy in a can??? What are you thinking??? The sopapillas were cold as well, and so were the Tamalies. Whoever is the manager needs to pay attention to the quality of food that the original family cared about. Shame on you, El Pinto, for serving Ranch Style Beans as Chili Con Carne!! I'm very disappointed and doubt if I'll ever go there again.