Owl Cafe

I went for dinner with my family and the food is delicious! The fried mushrooms as an appetizer were tasty. The green chile burger, was a perfect size. All the food was very fresh! The service was nice and quick, didn’t have to wait super long for the food to come to the table. Highly recommend getting a milkshake, they are so worth it!!

The food is really good but what makes this place exceptional is the amazing staff and ambiance. Walking in is what I imagine a Time Machine feels like with juke boxes and neon lights, and the absolute best shakes I’ve ever had are a nice touch too. Not to mention, super inexpensive. I recommend this place to anybody local or driving through. Did I mention the building is shaped like an owl?

I asked her over hard eggs and I got runny eggs and I asked for toast and I got burnt toast. I do not recommend a place like this, especially when I sent the toast back and it still came back burnt. Holly made it right by giving us a discount on my meal

Driving through heading to Colorado, we were looking for lunch spots that would allow our dog on the patio, and that would please the kids. It's super hot out, 110 degrees. We ate on the patio, and while it was hot, it didn't feel that hot. The fans were on low, and we were the only crazy people needing outside seating, but i wish they had been on faster due to the heat. The food was good, burger was fresh. We got kids meals and shakes at the end. The inside was super cute, and our waitress was great. I'd eat here again. They had something for everyone, I think!

Driving through from Texas and my son wanted to stop here because he'd seen it in breaking bad. I was hesitant but was very happy when i saw the 1950-60's decor.i LOVED the atmosphere. It took me back to when i was a kid. I was also excited to see the first menu in New Mexico with items that included hatch chiles. Or waitress was nice but unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the hype. I got the owlchilaras - very little taste and the rice was horrible. I ended up eating about 1/4 of it and leaving the rest. My wife and son got the meatloaf and both hated it. They usually love meatloaf but neither finished theirs. One of daughters got the melt sandwich with bacon. She rated it a solid 2/10 and left half. On a good note, my other daughter ordered the hatch green burger and said it was decent 6/10. We also ordered an onion loaf as an appetizer and everyone loved it. Overall the food was not even average and we left most of it behind. Total bill around $100 for four meals, appetizer, two drinks and two waters. In short of you go, get the burger but more so the experience of stepping back in time. The food? Not so much..

The Mazatlan Turkey sandwich was large and flavorful. Will definitely be back to try the GCCB!

Frito pie & the french dip was great! Service was great and staff was friendly! The banana split was so good! The fried mushrooms were okay they were served on lettuce and were soggy :(

We loved it. Staff was super nice. Food was amazing. Fries was the best! Fast and attentive.

We had lunch at the Owl Cafe (now Owl Bar & Cafe). Great nachos and enchiladas. Service was great. Like being in a way-back-machine, the place originated in 1945 in San Antonio, NM, as a burger joint for Manhattan Project scientists. In 1986, locals relocated it to Albuquerque's Eubank Blvd, keeping the green chile cheeseburger recipe and 1940s vibe. Iconic for Route 66 nostalgia.

Yes. I DID see it in the Breaking Bad Movie, El camino. And yes, I DID go there because I wanted to see where Walter and Jesse had breakfast after almost dying in the desert. But I also love old school diners and this is one of those. It's on an old street which at one time used to have many motels on it because it's very close to Route 66. My grandparents used to take us on vacation and we almost always stayed in motels like that and got breakfast in places like this. With post cards and chotchkes for sale. It has a lived in diner vibe with booths and lots of counter space. Some of the booths have those old fashioned jukebox machines. The waitresses have a haggered but friendly vibe and the coffee is strong and good. I ordered a blue cheese burger which was pretty expensive for a burger, but what isn't these days? What came was a gigantic smashed burger on a fluffy bun, piled with blue cheese; absolutely delicious. Maybe one of the best in town. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. I went there being a bit of a tourist and will come back as a regular. ********************************************************** Just a note for tourists. If you're looking for Route 66 it's Central Ave. If you head west from The Owl you will see remanants of it's glory days including Neon signs, Diners and Old motels.

Classic New Mexican fare with large portions. I'm a big fan of owl decor and enjoyed the experience. Service was quick & attentive.

I haven't been here in years, but I was craving a chocolate malt so we stopped by on a Saturday for lunch. We were seated right away and our waitress was very friendly. We started with a half onion log which was crispy and delicious. My husband had the nachos and I had a Reuben. The nachos were good with lots of melty cheese. I liked my Reuben with fries, but I thought $18 was pretty steep price wise. My husband also got a soda and I had a chocolate malt at the end. Yum! All in all, this set is back $70 with a 20% tip.

I was reminded recently that the Owl had changed owners and a friend really wanted to make sure his favorite tuna melt was still the deliciousness that he remembered, so off we went. The service as always was amazing and the servers were super friendly. It's a cute little diner with a lot of fun merchandise with some owl-related puns. So also a good place to grab some souvenirs for visitors. They bring you some beans likely mixed with chile and some crackers as a tasty appetizer. I was thrilled to learn there was also a vegetarian version and it was absolutely delightful.I had to try the highly recommended tuna melt. Though I got mine with the side of fries. Normally it comes with chips and salsa so the fries are an add on. The sandwich did not disappoint! I will be back to try some more things.

Stopped in here for a quick lunch and it was like entering a time capsule. This has cool 60's vibe and it was pretty good to see. When you sit down they bring you some beans with green chilis. They were delicious. We both had cheese burgers with fires and the fries were very well seasoned. The cheeseburgers were fresh and hot. They have a huge amount of shake flavors. I had the cherry one and it was thick and flavorful. Definitely give this place a try

Great food, great service, and kitschy decor makes the Owl Cafe a great meal spot. I went to the Owl based on a recommendation from Roadside America. I was not disappointed. I went in on Saturday evening for an early dinner, and was seated immediately. The server was friendly and efficient. My meatloaf was delivered fast and piping hot. Everything was cooked perfectly. I was so impressed that I even bought a T-Shirt!!

The food was great, and the service was impeccable! Our server was so kind. The diner feel is amazing, I feel like I time traveled to 1959!

This has been a landmark cafe for decades. It's designed to look like a traditional railroad coach diner, complete with a rounded building entrance. It's been a long time since I've seen the tabletop jukebox by Sebring. Our waitress was welcoming and kept our coffee cups full! We all had the Huevos Rancheros with Hatch green chili. It's a sin not to do so here ;) The huevos were fantastic and the flour tortillas were home made. When you enter, there is a wall of plaques, clippings etc. covering the founders and the many awards they garnered over the years. One such clipping is about the "Best hamburger in Albuquerque?" Might have to try that.

When in Albuquerque, do yourself a favor and head over to the owl café! Outstanding green chili cheeseburgers, tall, frosty hand-made shakes, delicious cheesy french fries and homemade pies are on the menu at this landmark Albuquerque restaurant that celebrates the heyday and quirkiness of Route 66. While their typical American diner fare is awesome, do yourself a favor and get the New Mexico specialties: posole (pork cubes in red chile gravy), Red or Green enchilada, Chiles Rellenos, or the NM state burger: the green chile cheeseburger. Wash it down with a handmade shake - I got the Hot Mamma (vanilla and green chile). At, caramba was it good!! I had a cup of red posole (instead of fries) and a green chile cheeseburger for lunch, and it was a GREAT lunch! Located 1 block north of the I-40 along Eubank, the Owl Cafe can be super busy at lunch and dinnertime, so make a reservation to ensure you don't have to wait. And pick up a T-shirt too - they have lots of cool designs! 5 Love the Owl stars!

Tried a variety of breakfast orders, love them all. Wonderful old days nostalgia too.

Food was great and service was even better- recommend the country fried steak with home fries. DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT A SLICE OF PIE

Overrated due to being on breaking bad. Food prices were high. Drink prices outrageous. 5 dollars for a pop! Burgers and sandwiches and quesadillas, empanadas etc were around 20 dollars each. Food was mediocre. I got a reuben sandwich which was fine. Came with tortillachips. I thought was supposed to come with fries. Others like their more traditional new mexican food of quesadilla and enchiladas. Gave us asmall dish for free of beans no big deal. 2 people split a milkshake. They put in2 glasses. They sell lots of souvenirs including t-shirts. Pies and cakes looked great. They had table juke boxes.

Cool old school diner with jukebox's at each table. The service was excellent. I had the Albuquerque Patty Melt which of course has green chile on it! It was very good.

The Owl Cafe in Albuquerque recently changed owners, and the boys from the VA Writing Group were interested in assessing whether the quality remained as we all remembered it. Good news--it's the same as before. Join Tom Neiman, Dan Wetmore, Mike Hibner, Mark Fleisher, and Jim Tritten as they sample the excellent food at the long-standing New Mexico favorite. Friendly service and interesting decor make this trip to the east side of town worth the drive. See if you can catch the seat where we saw a flashback sequence between Walter and Jess in the Breaking Bad movie "El Camino." Hint: it is at the end. Just click on the following YouTube link and enjoy our report. https://youtu.be/egGnPzgByoI?si=P0-ITxb9x9ThIT_G

Service was great. The shakes tasted amazing but I did have to heavily salt the white gravy and the chicken fried steak sandwich also added hot sauce to give it anything.. Overall enjoyable experience.

This place has a chill diner atmosphere complete with little jukebox terminals at your table just like the diners from my childhood. Great selection of shakes and I really like the fried zucchini and mushrooms combo plate. Service is efficient and friendly.

The Owl Cafe boasts the best pancakes in Abq. As someone who is on a quest to find the best pancakes in the city, I can confidently say these pancakes are not the best. They are overcooked and mostly flavorless. The service was average. The facility is retro, which would be cool if it wasn't covered in decades of restaurant grease. I wanted to love the Owl Cafe but it just left me feeling sticky and unsatisfied.

I ordered the ham steak and eggs about an hour ago. It was supposed to be a 6 oz ham steak. I asked when I got it how much this thing weighed because it really looked like it was about 3 oz with a sliver of bone in the middle. The hash browns I received were undercooked so I asked for some more to be cooked longer. I received what look like broken brown rice on a plate and it was completely inedible. I had three other guests and they all found extreme fault with their food.The wait staff was extremely busy. Our service was okay. I felt ripped off.

We stopped here because it was close by. We went inside and everyone was very friendly. We bought we had ordered the French toast with an appli compote but just plain French toast was brought to our table. We running late so we didn't send it back. The food was good but we thought everything was a bit on the high side. I suppose I would recommend for good food but on the pricey side. This is mainly what I only gave 3 stars.

The owl cafe, estimated 15 minute wait more like 45 minute wait. Food comes out, hair in the toast and cheese in the omelette when noted lactose intolerant. Omelette comes back a second time, still cheese in omelette. Not to mention flies and dirty counters in the entire place. Would give this place a 0 if I could.

Fantastically cute traditional diner featuring outstanding New Mexican food as well as blue plate specials . Entire team friendly and providing excellent service. We had huevos rancheros (red) along with Frito pie and a chocolate chili malt. Thick, chocolatey and spicy shake, super filling and served with the steel cup alongside as is traditional. The portions were so big that we could barely finish. And when they say the chili is spicy, they mean it..,come prepared! With jukeboxes on each table, as well as counter service, will go back every time we're in Albuquerque!

Stopped for gas and was looking for a breakfast spot. We always try to find a local spot. Accidentally found The Owl Cafe! What a surprise. Old school diner at its best! The breakfast was great and the coffee hot! I have not been to a spot lately that had as friendly staff as this place. Amazing! We have pinned this spot as a must stop in our way through town.

The Owl is a perfectly competent diner, maybe even a little bit better. Diner food, maybe a half step up. Good diner service. And diner ambiance. If you're nearby and enjoy diners then it's well worth a visit.

The food is great. Know matter what time you go breakfast,lunchtime or dinner the food is fantastic." Great job guys. Gino. 5 star all the way

I was in ABQ for work and had finished way earlier than I thought I would so had plenty of time to try and find a place to eat. Green Chiles! Green Chiles! was a refrain that I heard over and over when I mentioned New Mexico. I was a little off the beaten path-lot of chain restaurants and storage units but not much else but Yelp directed me to The Owl Cafe and I liked the old school diner vibe it gave off, at the very least I could take a picture of the kitschy exterior. I walked in and the interior definitely had that old school diner vibe too. I got seated and Mary, my server dropped off a small bowl of pinto beans and green chiles. Since I already checked the box in getting chiles so I decided to go with their burger special which was cheap, like throwback to the 90s cheap. I did tell Mary that I wanted to get chiles and while the beans and chiles checked the box, I still had an itch to scratch. She suggested getting fries with chiles on top and get the Christmas style. She also checked on me a lot and made sure my Arnold Palmer was full during my meal. I had good hot meal at a fast casual price.

I went today and never again. I sat in a area with food all over the floor and employees walking back and forth stepping on the food. Our meal was OK. I was waiting for a pig to come out and start eating from the floor. Atrocious!

"Grease burger" is actually a compliment for this place! I was very pleasantly surprised by Owl Cafe. I tried OC for the first time for a Sunday evening dinner. Our server Holly was friendly, attentive, and answered our questions. I ordered a Bleu Max Burger, which came with "a mound of bleu cheese & grilled onions topped with lettuce, tomato, & mayo", accompanied by french fries, for $16.70. After ordering, Holly brought us a small plate of complimentary spiced pinto beans with green chile and crackers. I hadn't had that as an appetizer before, and I usually don't enjoy pinto beans, but it was pretty good. The burger was great! Usually the bleu cheese isn't very noticeable to me on black and bleu burgers, but this was sharp and delicious. Everything is cooked to order. The portions of the burger and fries were huge! I almost always eat my entire meal while dining out, and I took half of it home for my next meal. I still had no room for a milkshake even with saving half! The diner is casual and 50s themed with working mini juke boxes in the booths near the center of restaurant. They play music for the entire place. There's postcards and shirts for sale, along with baked goods to go. The restaurant and tables are accessible to patrons using a wheelchair. Large bodied people will not have an issue at this establishment; there are non-booth tables, and the chairs have no sides and are a sturdy metal. Go get your burger! We'll be returning shortly.

Great food and environment! Try the green chili cheese burger and also try the shakes

Really enjoy Owl cafe, our server has been there for years. Food was decent, loved the milkshake. It's a cute and unique cafe. Friendly staff.

We had an above average size group so when we were finally acknowledged 10 minutes later, we were told it would be at least fifteen minutes. Keep in mind there were two empty booths. So 10 minutes later we were told that it would be 15 minutes longer. We were fine with that as two empty booths were still sitting unoccupied. Now because we were a sizable group I figured they would seat other guests with less people. Nope! Finally we were offered the two booths. Great we were seated. Our orders were finally taken and then we proceeded to wait 15 minutes for beverages then an additional 25 for our food. Unfortunately it wasn't up to the Owl Cafe standards. I think we might try again and just chalk it up to a bad day.

I really like the building - reminds me of 1930's Calif, when there were a lot of eateries came in a shape. (Not that I was around then). We haven't been back in a looong time so with some time on our hands here we are. Sat quickly and seemed like our server was already there. Not quite lunch time so we got to choose from breakfast menus. Veggie 2 egg omelet for me and Carne Adovada for my wife. Omelet was full of vegs and not overcooked. The carne adovada was tasty and tender. Once again plenty of leftovers. Good food, good service glad we stopped.

This place is spot on with their burgers and shakes. I haven't tried their breakfast since I was only driving my during dinner time. But after reading the reviews about the food and trying their food. I'm sure it's not a disappointment. People were very friendly and the place is clean. I've had no issues with anything. I had a banana Rama shake, California burger and my husband had the mama's quesadilla. Everything tasted good. I think the price for the amount and taste is well worth it. If you're really hungry then get the California burger, if not probably go for a smaller burger.

We try to hit this place every time we drive through Albuquerque. Always great service and food. We found out today the deep fried bacon has been removed from the menu...so disappointed, we really looked forward to that. But the place was clean, and as always, amazing New Mexico flared food.

My husband and I tried Owl Cafe for the first time and the service and food were great. Everyone that works here is very welcoming and just pleasant to talk with. Our Server Jerrae helps us customize our breakfast to what we wanted and didn't force us to follow exactly how the menu is printed. She makes sure you're happy with your meal and doesn't forget to stay on top of your drinks.

Ran in to buy single cookies for work. Cookies were 5 days old still sold at full price. 3.50 each. Typically day old baked goods are marked down. Five day old baked goods ,well should probably be thrown out.

This is the epitome of a classic American diner. Reasonably priced, casual, qnd retro atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s. The menu is large and offers something for everyone. Staff are friendly despite the fact tables are full nearly every hour of the day.

Besides having to get a new waitress after our original one was so rude from the very beginning I believe it was because of the hat I was wearing.... Anyways... our new server was kind the lady who brought our food was very friendly to me and my son BUT his food was awful! The potatoes were so gross he had the kids breakfast plate eggs , toast , potatoes and bacon. I got the owlchiladas the sauce was good but the enchiladas were paper thin, the beans were lukewarm and kind crusty. I feel so ripped off.

I knew the day would come when we ended up dining at a location which has added me to their social media account, but it was the right day and time for this restaurant... picture this: you missed lunch (had snacks but not sustainable, just had a flu/covid shot and just want comfort food that's conveniently nearby. Where do you go?? The Owl Cafe, of course. We were seated immediately at a small table by the window and offered beans with green chile and crackers. (They were good!). Initially the menu prices looked high, and after flipping through a few times I saw a mushroom Swiss burger, and our sweet long silver haired server confirmed that she really loved that choice! Initially, it came back with Mayo (I had ordered without, just because I didn't trust my tummy to sauces that night, and she repeated it back before leaving the table), but they did correct it and give me a new burger (I worked in a restaurant before... mistakes can easily happen when there's a high flow rhythm, which is a sign of how popular the menu items are!) ... which was more than worth the wait! I could see why the prices were listed as such. The food quality is excellent! Hubby and I will definitely come back! Oh and as for the ambiance?? We couldn't stop talking about how perfect the theme was! From the window designs to buildings shape (which we suspect was built special) to the talon shaped structure and the owls along the ceiling screaming diner were just perfect! 5/5 from us! #gourmetrecovery #foodfreedom #intuitiveeating #gentlenutrition #allfoodsfit #nofoodrules #dietculturedropout

UPDATE: I spoke with the manager the following day and was told that they would make up the two missing shakes. Because it was Easter weekend we made arrangements to go on Monday. Visiting ABQ and we decided to have food delivered. Unfortunately I did it as a guest through Toast which delivered through Uber. We ordered the mushroom Swiss burger, fried mushrooms w/ ranch dressing, Owlchilidas and two chocolate cordial shakes. While the food that we received was good, our order was missing the two shakes and the ranch dressing for the fried pickles. The driver indicated that they didn't know there should have been shakes. The Toast app said to call the restaurant if there was an issue. I did and they told me there was nothing they could do. I would have to indicate that the order was incomplete through the app. As I went in as a guest, there was no way to indicate any issue. The restaurant told me I could call back the next day when a manager was there. This experience left a little bit of a bad taste.

Have come here multiple times for breakfast and lunch/dinner. Walking in you can tell the feel of the place is 50's dinner. When my parents visit it is one of those places they have to go eat because they love the ambiance of it. I've never had a bad meal here and my favorites are the Owl's Nest for breakfast and any of the burgers for lunch will make you and your belly happy.

First time here. Best green chicken enchiladas ever. And the service was excellent. I'm from out of town and try many Mexican restaurants as I travel, this is definitely one of my favorites. Also the complimentary bean and green chili before meal is awesome. Thanks Owl Cafe for the awesome meal. Don't change a thing.

Drove into Albuquerque for the weekend and decided to have breakfast at The Owl Cafe. The people were very friendly and informative. The food was very delicious besides a few things. The tortilla wasn't heated up correctly and my eggs weren't cooked correctly but was still very delicious! This cafe is still very good considering it wasn't the perfect experience. I still recommend this place! Good food and good people!

Delicious Breakfasf and full menu of choices, friendly service. Clean place and love all the Owl Decor. I am from out of state but I look forward to coming back for lunch menu. I heard the burger's are delicious. What a CooL Building. I was so Blessed I discovered this place on Father's Day. Enjoyed with My Dad:) We even put on the Juke Box that was at our table. Was fun to pick out our song's Love It.

DJ Rocks- only been here 32 years! Thanks for the great service! Green chili cheeseburger is still the classic.

We were starving when we got here, so I asked the gal at the front desk of our hotel what she recommended for some new mexican food. She told us about this place, which was right up the street from us. I was not a fan of the refried beans and rice- but everything else was tasty! We ordered chili cheese fries to share, fully expecting them to be, well, fries with chili on them. The waitress asked if we wanted red or green chili and we all just kind of looked at each other...then chose green. They were super tasty and the fries were salted to perfection. My chile relleno was pretty good, the batter was different, it almost had a cornbread feel to it! I had the waitress put both red and green chili on my dinner so I could try them both. They also brought out a little dish of pot beans that had green chiles on them with saltine crackers. Pretty solid little place! Love the neon too.

My husband and I were staying along hotel row just off Eubanks. The Owl Cafe, at Eubanks and Hotel Ave is in easy walking distance from at least 5 hotels/motels there. We ate at the Owl around 6 pm on a Friday evening. We'd previously looked at their online menu and the prices seemed very reasonable. We'd also read that the online prices were incorrect. This proved to be true; the online menu prices (as of this writing) are about 30% lower than those on the in-diner menu. We were seated promptly in a booth, and a free appetizer of pinto beans and green chiles was served with packaged crackers. The beans were bland, so the chiles atop were a nice kick. Given the reputed large portion sizes at Owl Cafe, my husband and I split an order of a fried chicken tender sandwich and fries. The food arrived nicely plated for each of us, without us having to split things ourselves. This was great, and there was plenty of food for us older folks. We were quite pleased with the quality of the chicken, and lettuce and tomato were included in the sandwich. The fries were crisp. Service was excellent. Overall, we were quite pleased. Given the relatively high prices for individual entrees and large portion sizes, splitting portions made for a very reasonably priced meal.

To be noted my underwhelming experience was during non-busy hours. The waitress was nice the two times we spoke, when she took my order and when she cleared my plate. I ordered the pancake sandwich. The egg in my order was cooked correctly and the bacon was served crisp as I requested. I did receive my side of green chile. The pancakes, however, were undercooked, doughy in texture and stuck to my teeth. They syrup seemed watered down and seemed void of much sweetness. Pancakes from Owl Cafe have been a favorite of mine in the past because they were light, fluffy, and cakey. It was very sad to experience the quality of food and service The Owl is delivering these days. I would have gladly told my waitress or cashier but neither bothered to be trained in the inquiring of their establishments quality. Its unfortunate how this business has changed because it follows such a nostalgic history and walks in the footsteps of a previous owner that took great pride in how it was run. Gone are the days of attentive servers, mouthwatering food and heartfelt environments. ​

So.....gave The Owl Cafe another turn. We've had hit or miss, and this was definitely a MISS. Probably the last visit, as well. We walked in and was immediately greeted and seated. That was all the service we received. I had my heart set on a late breakfast (11a) The server who sat us, never returned, much less looked at us. I get it, she may have not been OUR server, but the other 7 employees on the floor didn't feel like they were our servers either. I had to walk up to the lunch counter to ask for a breakfast menu, which we weren't even given an option to receive when sat. At this point, my husband was annoyed and asked me if I wanted to leave. I said no. After I decided what I wanted to order, we waited. And waited. There were 2 people in booths, eating when we walked in. They apparently had servers. 2 couples walked in, and the employee that had just started--saw him putting on his apron-- enthusiastically greeted and sat them. And we waited. Never even got water or offered any beverage. Not one employee walked over to our table to maybe ask if we were there TO EAT!! Shame shame. 12 minutes later...we walked. We will not be endorsing this business, nor will we recommending it to our family and friends. Done trying. But thank you. Because of your stellar service, we found and tried SANTIAGO'S. Great, delicious food and the employees, well....actually did their jobs and were friendly AND attentive. So THANK YOU AGAIN, for THE FAIL. If there was an option for 1/2 star--for being sat to be fair, that's what we would rate.