La Cueva Cafe

The actual restaurant itself is small but they have a cute outdoor area with tons of umbrellas. If you are someone who gets cold was, definitely bring a sweater. As for parking, there is public parking at the Municipal lot a block down. It is relatively inexpensive ($2.25/hr) and convenient to the restaurant. Now let's talk about the food.... I ordered the sampler combo with chicken enchilada, chili relleno and beef taco with green chili. My husband ordered the chili relleno also with the green chili. Wow! Sooo good! Our favorite was the green hatch relleno chili. The rice and beans were also a great as sides. Not saying the beef taco and chicken enchiladas weren't good as they very much were. It was just that the relleno was just sooo good! Our waitress was also great! Just be aware, they only have one restroom for both men and women so you may have to wait if it is busy. Overall, we were so glad we stopped by this little restaurant and had an amazing meal.

Recommended by the owner of the Inn we were staying at, and I’m so happy we went. My brother, myself, and our mom who’s in her 80’s dined in. Excellent hatch chile rellenos, chipotle shrimp enchiladas, and fish tacos were had. The salsa and guacamole were also excellent. Really really loved the salsa. Wish I could bring it home. Service was fantastic. All around great place!

Had chicken mole, and veggie enchiladas. Really fast service getting seated, getting drinks, and chips salsa and guacamole. The prices were better (lower) than some other places. The chicken mole was mild not anything strong or otherwise objectionable. The server was happy and pleasant. Sat outside. Some dog was barking at another table. People don't train their dogs and then bring them into close proximity to strangers. Veggie enchiladas tasted fine. Had rice and beans on both plates. Very predictable and was what we wanted. There is one NA beer, corona. Some vehicle noise since the street is a bypass for the nearby busy intersection.

La Cueva is the cutest little restaurant in Taos. If you are shopping in the plaza and are looking for an authentic New Mexican meal, be sure to add this to your list! My boyfriend and I ate inside of the very small dining room. Which was cozy and perfectly heated as we were there on a chillier day. We ordered the fajitas and then for desert my boyfriend had the mango cream chimichanga. I have a dairy allergy and they removed all the dairy without issues. It was all delicious! The waitstaff is wonderful and attentive- we will definitely be coming back! *There is a service charge for credit cards, so bring cash or a debit card*

Welcoming itty bitty restaurant packed with flavor and well plated dishes. Enjoyed the recommended seafood enchiladas in a chipotle cream- sounds odd but trust, the chicken fajitas with mole and chicken mole enchiladas to go- nicely packed. We arrived an hour before closing and still had time to eat at a relaxed pace with time to spare! Outdoor patio seating available, indoor has 4-5 tables. Highly recommend. Cash forward or 4% credit card fee.

Came here for dinner while in Taos for the night. I selected it based on it being #1 on Yelp for Mexican restaurants. What sealed the deal was realizing it was the place with the huge line I passed about an hour earlier on my way into town. I arrived around 5PM and inspite of the earlier line, I was able to be seated immediately. The dining room I was in had 4 tables, and only one for 4 people. It was cozy. I loved it. I ordered chips and salsa and the Rellenos NM. It is quite possible these were the absolute best chile rellenos I have ever had. They were sublime. If I was staying here for a few days I'd probably have dinner here each night just to have some of the other menu items. Do yourself a favor if you're in Taos. Eat here. You won't regret it.

Small, authentic cafe with excellent, service & food. Chips, salsa & guacamole were a tasty way to start. Also, liked the chicken enchiladas (shredded white meat chicken) with both red & green sauce. (Known as Christmas sauce in New Mexico) This entree came with rice, beans & pico de gallo which were all delicious, as well.

Visited La Cueva Cafe for the first time. It was recommend to us. Parking is not easy for the location. We had to drive around to find one. They have very little inside seating so if you don't mind sitting outside then you're good to go. My wife is a Mexican food lover tho she's not Mexican. We ordered chips with guacamole and that was good. We decided to share a combo fajita plate, chicken and steak. Order came out and for some reason the fajita iron skillet wasn't sizzling. It usually sizzles but not this time. The meat was slightly warm. Not to my wife's liking. That's not good news. Rarely if ever has my wife complained about her Mexican dish. Right away she looked at me and said, "the steak is tuff and the chicken is dry." I was stunned! She continued, "I don't care for it." Oh crap! She took the fajita meats out of her tortilla and added the grill veggies instead and ate that instead. Now I have to admit the steak was tuff. Difficult to bite through it for sure. On top of that, the rice given to us was a half cup size. I will never understand why at most Mexican restaurants they give you such a small amount of rice. The beans were served sauce less. Not a good presentation worthy of a 5🌟 rating. A little disappointed.

This place is little and kind of in a hard spot to find. It looks unassuming from the outside. Inside, the place is tiny and cozy, with a fireplace I believe. Not a lot of room to move around, but worked for dining alone. The service was good. The menu is interesting and varied, with different sauces and kinds of dishes. I was pleased with the interesting variety of vegetarian options. My food was really delicious. It totally hit the spot and my was worth my lunch stop on my drive. My margarita was pretty and tasty, as were the chips and salsa. I left full and satisfied.

What a cool, quaint space. There are only a few tables inside. The patio would definitely be the place to be in the warmer months. Food was good, quite good. If you are looking for a simple, comfy taqueria close to Old Town, this is a great choice.

A cute little cafe with a few indoor tables and a patio space with multiple outdoor tables with large umbrella canopies! The servers were all super friendly and nice, and while the service was a little on the slower side, we did not mind too much as we were there to relax in good company. The best entree that we ordered was the shrimp enchiladas and the second best was the beef chimichanga plate! We also ordered the combination plate but felt that the other two were the stars of the show. A few things to be aware of, there is limited parking in the area due to ongoing construction work being done. Also, due to the nearby construction, there is debris and the lingering smell of heavy tar in the air while you are sitting in the outdoor patio area. In my opinion, the portions are on the smaller side and if you are super hungry you may want to consider ordering an appetizer + entree, or even an extra entree to split. Unfortunately, I have to detract a star because the iced Diet Coke that we ordered was flat and also had the aftertaste of soap. Hopefully this can be fixed in the future for other guests!

This is one of the best Mexican food places I've been to. The enchiladas had a unique taste. Amazing! I loved the chicken tortilla soup too! The service was great. The staff is friendly and brought the food out quickly. Definitely comfort food. The inside of the restaurant is small. I imagine in the evenings there is a bit of a wait. I can't wait to visit Taos again, and stop here!

There are several different options of where to dine. You can eat inside in two different casitas or outside on a patio. I enjoyed trying to brush up on my Spanish to communicate with the wait staff. We had the beef nachos with were a great portion size for two people. They were like little tostadas. I had the chicken enchiladas with red. They were healthy and cooked well. It's unsuspecting from the outside but the comida es muy bueno.

This was a highlight and a fun spot. We had seats outside and the biggest thing to note was the quick and friendly service and the amazing flavors of the food. I haven't had chili rellanos before so was looking forward to this taste of New Mexico. It was an amazing flavor of just enough heat in the green sauce to make it interesting, but not enough to overpower combined with the cheese and perfect fry...not grease but crispy and crunchy. I ate every last bite! It had a great mix of flavors and paired so well with the beans and rice. I liked the spot and would go back again and can honestly say it was perfect!

This place was highly suggested online and by some locals. It is near the downtown plaza and has tons of seating. They even grow some of their fruits and vegetables there! The service was quick and kind. I got the combination plate. The beef taco was moist and flavorful! Sadly the rest of the plate didn't meet the same standard. My chicken enchilada was dry and the red Chile had a flour taste. my Chile relleno was fine but not amazing. Overall, I enjoyed my time and would go again to try other foods.

Delightful service in a very small restaurant. During better weather they have a nice patio to expand their seating. We went twice during our short stay. The chili relleno was delicious

In two prior visits to Santa Fe, we didn't have any spare time for daytrips, but this fall we used the city as a base for a few of them. One was to Taos because, well, it seems that everyone says that you need to visit Taos if you're in northern New Mexico. The approach to and setting of Taos is stunningly beautiful, but the central part of town sure wasn't in October 2023. There was quite a bit of construction on both the main highway and in the plaza, and the traffic was horrible for a weekday in autumn. To say the least, we were quite disappointed by what we saw in the center of town. (The rest of the day--Taos Pueblo, the Rio Grande Gorge and bridge, etc.--was pretty great.) But the modest La Cueva was a surprisingly good find. Just a block off the plaza, it featured a basic Mexican lunch menu, but for very reasonable prices, the food was plated beautifully and was remarkably fresh-tasting. The menu at lunchtime was quite limited, and and a chicken enchilada plate isn't exactly exciting, but this was easily better than I expected. The wife had frito pie, which neither of us had ever tried. That was excellent. The little outdoor seating area in back was very pleasant in October, given that a line of crawling vehicle traffic was only a few dozen yards away, and the service couldn't have been much friendlier.

Great spot for lunch or dinner while in Taos. Searched for fire bread on Yelp and this place came up - though there was no fire bread, got to eat some yummy food. There is no reservation, so you do need to wait in line. And there is both indoor and shaded outdoor seating, but indoor seating is on the limited side. I tried the combo plate, which hit the spot. One modification made was I had mole sauce on the enchilada vs the red/green sauce for a slight up charge, but it was so worth it! Literally everything was so good! It's a cute little spot worth stopping in for a meal! The menu does have non-Mexican food for those looking a different option - so should meet the needs of groups with different cravings.

Holy guacamole, that's some good mole (and I'm not even a mole girl)! This place is so nice, I ate there twice (and I broke my rule...I ordered the same dish 2x)! But let's be honest here, there are a few hurdles, that made my two visits less than convenient. Parking is tough (and now even more so with the construction). The interior of the actual restaurant is tiny, and a tad cramped (BUT in their defense they have a spacious patio and additional room in the nearby building), and the service my first visit was pretty...meh. But really and truly, none of this mattered once the chicken mole enchiladas and that bomb rice blessed my lips! If you're deciding to or to not visit this restaurant, know that all of the hurdles are worth it. The food is delicious, portion sizes appropriate, and my meal, dispute it's appearance was not too heavy (and certainly did not slow down my shopping in the plaza next door)!

- not best in terms of parking - nice staff - nice patio - large portion - enchilada is very cheesy - chimichanga is very cheesy - some of the staff speak English, some do not - inside might get kind of cramped

Fast, friendly, and amazing tastes. Some of the best enchiladas I've had in Taos. Outdoor patio seating with plenty of shade.

Taos is a bit weird and almost all places close at 3 PM. This was one of the only options, so we were a bit curious if it was going to be busy. We ate inside since it was colder out. The interior is small and cramped, with only about four tables to eat at. The patio would have been great if it wasn't as cold as it was. There was no wait and we were seated immediately. I ordered the chicken mole enchiladas. It was mid. The chicken inside was fine, but had no flavor or seasonings. The mole also didn't taste like anything, so it was a bit odd. No salsa was provided and everything was pretty bland. We also ordered the shrimp enchiladas. Those had a bit more flavor. The rice and beans were okay. The staff was nice and service was quick. I don't think we'd return here though.

This place is a hidden gem, I really enjoyed the enchiladas!! My wife had the rellenos and honestly both of them were amazing!! The service was kinda spotty here in there but overall they got it together as a team! The ambience was also nice very friendly and music music !! That's something I grew up with and it feels refreshing that they made it a point to play it!

This place is small but mighty. I have to say the chocolate cake alone would have sold me on this place. My husband and I both ordered the combination plate with Christmas sauce. Every bite was spot on. The servers were remarkably friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this stop.

delicious soup and nachos. very attentive service and intimate setting indoors. would love to come to enjoy the patio during warmer weather. would recommend!

Friendly service, warm atmosphere outside, and the good was really good and surprisingly low price.

Visiting Taos and came across this restaurant. Such a cozy place with beautiful area with outdoor seating but unfortunately it was raining that day so we sat inside. Service was very attentive and polite. The food was AMAZING!

It was such a great surprise to find a delicious chili relleno in the heart of Taos. The service was amazing, and don't miss a chance to sit on their outdoor patio. Highly recommend this place.

This is a tiny restaurant that serves great food with great service! We went on a Friday afternoon and were seated in the back building by the patio. It probably has about 8 tables in this building. The main build probably has another 8-10 tables. The entire wait staff did a great job getting our food to us in a timely manner and were extremely friendly too. The burrito I ordered was absolutely stuffed! It was so good and my wife's enchiladas were the same. The flan was very well done too! Definitely would go again.

Such a family restaurant...I had a feeling that i was there as their guest. The cafe was super tiny and small but the atmosphere and the food were everything...The food smells so good...We enjoyed every bite of it. The food made by the heart of cooker...Great Service while great people work here...This place is the most try for great local food...

Ate a late lunch here with my dad after skiing at the ski valley. We come to eat here every time we come to Taos- the food is excellent and the staff super friendly. Inside is small, with only a few tables for seating, but they have a nice patio that was comfortable even at the beginning of March. We both ordered the Plato Combinado- chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and beef taco. I ordered mine with all green chile and my dad got it Christmas style (half red and half green chile) Parking is tough but worth the effort.

Has the enchiladas de Cameron and hubby had the combination plate. We were both happy campers and will be back. I saved half for breakfast tomorrow. Chips, salsa and guacamole to start was amazing.

Everything was delicious. We both had the combo plate which comes with beef taco, chicken enchilada (we got green sauce), chile relleno, beans and rice. I can't tell you which was the best- they were all that good. I'm used to street tacos but this was quite different. The double corn taco was a combination of soft and crisp which was delish, but the real standout was the beef! The taco was studded quite full with a sliced brisket type beef. Fantastic!!the chicken enchilada was my hubby's fav. Again stuffed with a lot of white meat chicken which was not smothered in a sauce, but instead just tender and yummy. The green enchilada sauce and melted cheese was pretty heavenly. And then the relleno. I love them anyway, and this was large, tender, cheesy, with a light batter. Even the beans and the rice were especially tasty. What I don't like (but seems to be the thing in New Mexico), is paying for chips and salsa to start the meal. We should have passed on it anyway, but didn't...I also was not fond of my hubby's "traditional margarita made with wine". It was definitely not at all traditional tasting, instead it tasted like a sour mix, instead if from fresh limes. We didn't get desert, but from prior experience (about 6 years ago) their flan and chocolate cake were is both good, but the Key lime pie (not on menu but offered on special times of the year is OUTSTANDING. (This wasn't one of this times, evidently, or we'd have made room for pie! PS The other times we came was in early summer when sitting out back was delightful. As it's quite cold on these fall evenings, we sat inside. There isn't much heat inside- We lucked out to get a table near the portable heater/fan which we only felt when the waiter turned it towards our legs. (We were lucky. Everyone else had vests, or jackets on.) If you can handle the cold, and duck in the doorways, you must go! The staff is so friendly, the food is fantastic, and the prices are reasonable.

Absolutely the best food we've had in Taos. Chile Rellenos were outstanding. Even the wine margaritas were good. Dog friendly patio and cool ambiance. Service was exceptional. If we had another day, we would go back.

Charging a credit card surcharge without notification or consent is theft. Disgraceful.

A must go when in Taos. Small place, servers were very attentive. Beers were cold. Ordered the chicken enchiladas with red and green chile. Very good but do yourself a favor and order the Chipotle Fish Tacos. Just craveable. Not too spicy. The rice and beans were nice sides.

Cute little cafe with outdoor dining. Authentic New Mexican cuisine. Red Chili is so delicious. Unique tasting rellanos using Hatch green pepper instead of Pablano.

Let me start with the food is very good. The location is very confusing. Cannot find a place to park and the street by the restaurant is a busy narrow one way with hardly any room. It feels like an accident waiting to happen. It was very stressful. I had to drive through and try 3 times before I found a decent place to park.

Service was fast and food was hot, fresh and delicious! Hit La Cueva after a full day on the slopes. I was recommended this on the ski lift and was happy I listened. Keep in mind that seating/parking is VERY limited. (Hence a prime hole in the wall location). Seating is literally for ten people max. They do have outdoor seating. Their salsa is absolutely the best. I wish they sold jars of it to take home with.

This is one of those places that has 5 stars, and that actually tastes like 5 stars! I stopped here after a brief visit to Taos, NM and wanted to get some dinner before embarking on the 4hr drive through the desert back home to Arizona. I was greeted with extremely warm customer service. The staff made you feel like family! The staff looked young and around my age group (in their 20's). They all worked as a team and in unison. I really admired this, because it is unfortunately rare to see this kind of quality service these days. It is outdoor seating, and it has a nice upbeat and soothing feel to it, with the Christmas lights strewn and the colorful tables arranged. I ordered the seafood enchiladas for my main course, and chips and salsa as my appetizer. The chips were nice and fresh, and the salsa was bold and flavorful with a nice kick of spice! I really took my time eating the chips, as they soothed the soul with each bite. The seafood enchiladas were recommend by my waitress & man oh man was she not lying! They came smothered with a chipotle sauce, a piece of grilled shrimp and grilled salmon on top! + stuffed with crab and lobster meat, in addition to a side of rice and beans! My mouth is watering just reliving the experience of this meal! So, the enchiladas were just MMM MMM GOOD!!! The chipotle sauce created a warm element, while the fresh seafood echoed elements of freshness and flavors with a mesquite grill char. The rice and beans had so much warmth in each and every bite! I have to stop myself here, as I am honestly getting hungry again. Check this place out! If I am ever in Taos again, this will be my go to! Cheers to good eats!

the combo plate and the frito pie was amazing. the margaritas are made with agave but are strong. service was first rate, I really enjoyed this restaurant!!

Great place. Sat outside with excellent service. Ceviche was incredible even for a skeptic, I would get it again, again, and again. Nice balance with lime and onion. Margarita is good as well as a unique Corona Familiar ( much I'm not familiar with. ) We also had the chicken enchiladas with mole. Delicious! You'll love this place.

Food was very good. It was crowded and not a lot of tables but we got there on the early side for dinner. Servers were like a well oiled machine keeping track of everything going in around them. We sat inside which is a very small space. They had an outdoor patio as well.

Really good Mexican food in Taos NM. I recommend the chicken chimichanga, it was so good that I ate it all before I remembered to take a picture. The green chili was soooo good smothering the crispy chimichanga! Yum!

Very good food, cute patio, and great service. Best salsa and chips!!!!! Too bad they were working on the road--what a mess

La Cueva is appropriately named...we sat in a little "cave" dining area at the front of the establishment housing just 4 tables and our table for 4 became a community table since there were only 2 of us. But we didn't mind! The service here was fast and the food was really good. We ordered chips and salsa (not complimentary here but it is a resort town and prices were fair), beef chimichanga and shrimp enchiladas in chipotle crema. The enchiladas were the star dish, the velvety sauce was chock full of flavor and complimented the shrimp very well! Soft drinks, a few beers and an agave wine margarita were also available. I understand there are more seating areas, including a patio. Since we visited in the winter and had just been snowshoeing, we were happy with the warm, cozy room we were seated in. The service could be friendlier but I get the impression they seat a lot of folks in a day and run like a well oiled machine! I would definitely come back.

A small, quiet cafe off the Plaza offers traditional Mexican fare at reasonable prices. This is by no means a fancy restaurant! A little hole in the wall that serves excellent food. The interior is very small and seats about 10 people at most. There is an exterior seating area that is available in nicer weather. We were pleasantly greeted, and immediately seated for a mid afternoon snack. We enjoyed the tortilla soup and the chili relleno. We also had an order of chips and guacamole. The guacamole was very fresh, the soup was one of the best I've ever had ranwas very good Check out this place if you're looking for good food, good service, and a very simple building.

There is construction in front of this restaurant so getting to it is very very challenging. They don't have a liquor license so the margaritas they serve are with wine - not good. I was ready for a margarita after a long day on the road, and this definitely did not satisfy.

I came here after reading the glowing reviews of the crispy chilli rellenos. Truly mediocre and not crispy after being soaked in mediocre red and green chilli. Same was true of the enchilada But the real kicker was when i got my bill after buying $16 plate I was charged another $4.50 for stale chips and mild salsa without telling me. What a rip off. Never again

First off, the food was good and the servings were generous. Had a local beer (not draft) and that was fine, too. The patio is cute but oh. So. Dang. Hot. And while we did try to angle the sunshade to keep us covered, there was just enough breeze to keep moving it around so we were as melted as the cheese in my chile rellenos even tho it was the coolest day of our trip and it had sprinkled on and off that morning. It was a nice stop after a morning spent at the Taos Pueblo which was fascinating and highly recommend. Really enjoyed the relleno, I think I would have really loved the Huitlacoche tacos if I had gotten to taste the sauce, too. It was a bit bland without it but that's the fault of the sharing and not the restaurant. Good beans and rice, too. Not sure why there are reports of it being cash only, I paid by card (they don't split checks but I think that's totally fine).

We enjoyed this, quaint little Mexican restaurant off the plaza in Taos. It does have a small kitchen but the outdoor seating was wonderful. We ordered the salsa and guacamole appetizer. The guacamole was very fresh, smooth and tasty. The salsa was a smokey chipotle, and when mixed with the guacamole on a chip was divine. For entrées, we ordered the chicken Molé fajitas and the two taco plate (1 beef and 1 chicken). The chicken taco was a little plain, but the beef taco was delicious with a wonderful depth of flavor. The real star of the was the chicken Molé fajitas (1 of 2 daily specials). The grilled vegetables (green and red peppers and onion) mixed with the chicken breast and the Molé sauce had that wonderful chocolate flavor you expect from Molé. 30 minutes later we were still talking about the dish. The service was timely, and the waitress was extremely friendly. The patio remained full for lunch. The restaurant is dog friendly. I believe we will be hard-pressed to find a better meal in Taos.

We were staying in the area and wanted to try New Mexican cuisine. This restaurant was the first place we went in Taos and every other place we went was overshadowed by the memories of the food here. My enchiladas were incredible and the chile rellenos were as well. Just amazing food, I'll dream about it until I get to go back. If you're in Taos don't waste your time with any other restaurant, go to La Cueva Cafe.

Got a few recommendations for this place. It doesn't look like much from the outside, especially with the road work going on, but don't let that discourage you. It seems to be a collection of small seating areas and an outdoor seating area. We ordered some chips and salsa, shrimp enchiladas in a creme sauce, and a veggie burrito. We have a lot of good Mexican places in Atlanta, but La Cueva would be in the top 3 of any list. The chips and salsa are not free, but worth paying for. Excellent salsa. The veggie burrito got a thumbs up and the shrimp enchiladas were simply excellent. The creme sauce made the dish. Even the rice and beans were a cut above. There service was fast and efficient too. We share a flan for desert and it too was a cut above. Just a very good place for Mexican food.

It was jam packed on a Tuesday afternoon! We had to stop by after seeing good Yelp reviews and seeing a long line made us think that it must be good. Our waitress was still patient and attentive despite this! I'm used to restaurants giving out chips and salsa for for free, so I was going to skip it when I saw it wasn't free here, but then I overheard a bunch of ladies next to us saying how good the chips and salsa were, so we ordered it - AND WOW. I don't know what they did with it, but it was SO delicious. I kept asking my fiance "What do you think they did with the salsa to make it this good?" as if he'd magically know the answer. The chips were nice and crunchy as well. Not a single moment of stale disappointment. My entree was a chimichanga which was good, but pales in comparison to the chips and salsa.

Hiddengem, we couldn't find it but our persistence paid off. Old Spanish Court yard hotel turned into a restaurant! Each guest room turned into a dining room and the staff keeps up your not denied of service. The chefs here are great excellent cuisine. I had garlic Salmon, very delicious and cooked just right very tender and juicy. My wife had tacos of which I tried and they were very good ingredients are fresh and crispy. My daughter has fresh flour tortillas turned into yummy chicken pizzas Quesadillas. We came for breakfast & dinner. Family owned and Operated

Very nice patio... quaint and charming with very delicious salsa... perfectly salted, fresh, with a pleasant smoked chipotle flavor. I noticed previous reviews said they take cash only so I was prepared but I see they did take cards if I wanted to use one the day I visited. I had the chicken and vegetable enchiladas and the vegetable enchilada was delicious. I'll be back to order more of those. The wait staff was very pleasant and very attentive offering me refills regularly. I can't wait to come back here.

Solid affordable New Mexican spot downtown Taos. Friendly staff and outdoor seating. Wine margaritas, chips, and salsa/guac were all decent. Enchiladas were tasty as were the fajitas. Overall if you're looking for something tasty and affordable and centrally located, I definitely recommend. Cash preferred or they do charge an extra fee for using your credit card. I will be back to try a few more dishes!