Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

We had dinner for 4 on a busy Friday night and service and food was excellent. We ordered combination plates and chicken enchilada plates. The green chile was hot which I enjoy and we were told the red sauce is even spicier🌶 I love that they serve you 2 sopapillas per meal as I usually like 1 with my meal and another as dessert. Their beans and rice were excellent and no complaints around the table. I loved that they serve chips and salsa with their meals and the salsa had a kick to it. We knew going in this place was cash or check only so no problem for us. At $13 a plate this was well within budget for our family. We will definitely be back as this is going down as one of our favorite places to eat when in Albuquerque ❤️

Family run, not fancy just honest good New Mexican food. Great prices but remember they do cash or checks only-NO CREDIT CARDS! I would recommend their sopapillas & Posole. Great wait staff!

Felt very homey, we had a great waitress. The food tasted very good (I took a few bites before taking a picture🌚) and it came out hot! (Which is always good) the red chile was out of this world! Please remember they do not take cards they are a cash only business. 10/10

Had their Wednesday special - super good - highly recommend this place - great food at great prices and fast, friendly service

We did not notice it was cash only--we lucked out and had some cash (not always a given). The service was excellent. Our main server came over right away and advised us to order quickly ahead of a huge table next to us that would have delayed our meal, and at least two other servers came by regularly to offer water refills and ask if we needed anything. The food was very good, BUT as a vegetarian, noticing there was meat in the red sauce, without warning, was disconcerting. Rather than complain, we kind of scraped it off, but yikes. The sopapillas were terrific.

I was referred to this restaurant by a client, and I met my brother here for lunch. First and foremost, it's cash only! The restaurant has an authentic New Mexico ambiance. Their chips and salsa come in very small portions, but you can get free refills. I ordered the combination plate with green chile on the side, which I ended up pouring all over my food to add some flavor. The rice was dry, but the beans were delicious. The taco and tamale lacked flavor, while the cheese enchiladas were very good. Our server was nice, attentive, and friendly. Although we were there during the lunch rush and the place was quite busy, we managed to be served promptly. However, parking can be difficult to find since they share the lot with a laundromat and other businesses. All in all, I would rate this establishment a 5 out of 10.

We went on Thursday because their online menu shows Thursdays special to be Carnitas. When we arrived the parking lot was packed and the restaurant was very busy. We only had to wait about seven minutes for a table, so not bad considering how busy they were. Andreas was our server and he was awesome!! He made a few recommendations and I ended up going with the blue corn enchiladas with carnitas and the hubby ordered cheese enchiladas with a side of the red chili. To say that the food was GREAT is an understatement. We checked in with Lawrence at the door and later he came and sat at our table for a few minutes to make sure everything was good. He told us this is a family owned restaurant and they have been open since 1977. The quality of the food and the staff explains why they have been so successful. When we are back in Albuquerque we will definitely be coming back to Padilla's. Be sure to bring cash as they don’t take credit or debt cards. Prices are more than reasonable.

This is the best and most wonderful place to eat Mexican food. This is what I feel. They are always very polite and excellent service to your table. I've always had good food to eat and never complain about anything. It's so wonderful to eat there I like to have my friends come with me and they also agree that they liked it. I think you would like to eat there also you should at least give it a try.

Our go-to lunch spot when in the ABQ area. Family run, honest & authentic food, reasonable prices. It's not for the haute cuisine crowd. Speaking of crowds-it can get crowded at lunch & dinner time but be patient...this little hidden gem is worth the wait! I haven't had anything I didn't love here so it's hard to recommend one thing-just try it!

Good - the bread with honey Bad- Everything else all tasted like it came out of the can from Walmart or something nothing tasted homemade. We are used to TexMex restaurants so there is that. But to use this tasted like day old cafeteria food. We definitely wouldn't go back. Went in June. Service was slow and they didn't come back to table to even offer refills on drinks. But it was busy with lots of locals. We are new to the area. Would we try a 2nd time-definitely not and we do not say that about many places. But try it for yourself and you decide you might LOVE it. We did not.

I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this place before but we stop by every time we are in the area. The food is excellent and the service was very good. It's kind of a plain restaurant but really worth stopping in. Cash only.

10/30/2025 First visit to Padilla's. Started out with complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was good with plenty of heat. I ordered the the Thursday carnitas special which was good. It came with potatoes which were like hash browns and quelites (spinach), which was good. The plate came with two sopapillas which were very good. The meal was plenty and the only thing I would say is to taste the carnitas before adding any salt. My wife liked her chicken tacos. The restaurant was very busy when it opened. I highly recommend Padillas and appreciate the complimentary chips and salsa as well as the quality of the sopapillas. My wife had a glass of wine which was reasonably priced at $5.25 for a full glass.

Been eating there for 40 years.... Went last night.... Very disappointing!! Portions smaller, just not as homemade as I remember. Red chili only thing that I found to be consistent. Think it's the changing of the guard. Younger generation is coming in and getting greedy. Cheese was like "cheese wiz". Beans were over salted! My wife and I both had stuffed sopapilla with carnitas! They must have picked the smallest sopaipillas to stuff! Not going back...

Should you go? This one is a big fat YES Always a great meal at Padilla's!! Cash/check only-- so be prepared when you come, no debit or credit (or Apple Pay lol!) great service, and consistently amazing food!! This place is soooo busy and gets pretty packed in its smaller dining room! We will be back again and again!

I've been coming here for over 20 years and my favorite thing is it's consistency! 20 years later and the food is the same, service is always great and the prices are still extremely reasonable. We got the beef taco plate and the cheese enchilada plate. Each plate typically comes with rice, beans, and two sopapillas. The chili is great if you can handle spice and the sopapillas are some of the best I've ever had. It's a very casual neighborhood spot where locals are known by name. It's also a cash only restaurant so make sure you stop by an ATM first!

This busy neighborhood fav near the Carlisle whole foods college area continues a simple recipe for success over decades by making good classic NM foods well with not much of any modern day frills such as a cash payments only preference no credit cards payments here, local fans keep padillas busy with just the quality home style NM foods we know and crave, the green chili sauce is more flavorful with a bit of ground pork or beef and good medium spice, the red is not bad but standard , other ingredients look and taste standard but made well. If you seek to eat simple quality classic nm dishes and service eat here

What a great find!! This mom & pop place was packed with regulars and travelers. The parking lot was filled. The people kept coming in so we knew this place must have been great. We were seated in one of the last tables. Service was really fast with beverages and free chips and salsa before our order. We saw the size of the plate dishes. They were huge. We went a la carte ordering one beef and one chicken enchilada no onions. Both dishes come with Sopaipillas. The orders came super quick. Both were smothered with cheese and a special homemade green sauce e came with it. The sauce was delicious as were the enchiladas. Loved the Sopaipillas too! Our new favorite place in Albuquerque! They open Monday thru Friday 11am-7pm. With all the business they get, there is no need for them to be open on the weekends.

Had some friends traveling through meet us here for an early dinner. I bragged about the chili and flavors. The meal did not live up to my expectations this time. It was embarrassing really. The meals came out on the luke warm gelatinous side, cheese wasn't properly melted, while the burrito was cold. The red chili was as mild as ketchup ffs.

The food was excellent, at first the tamale plate looked kind of small but it did fill me up! And on a big guy! The workers in there really bust ass to get food out. It feels like you were dining in a food Hall. Very crowded and very loud. This is a cash only place.

The real deal. And really good. Located in a small strip center, Padilla's may not look like much--but looks can be so misleading. Best place in the city. Real deal northern New Mexican cooking. The carne adovada is beyond tender and the red chile sauce is even better. Love that spicy potatoes are aside rather than run of the mill Spanish rice. The pintos are cooked or so perfect--family recipes rule! As do the sopapillas--just the best around, not just in ABQ but Santa Fe too. Light, crunchy not chewy. And the beer rules--because it is COLD. And the service rules too. This place can get very busy but the staff keeps it humming, some how. It is cash only--keeps the riff raff out.

Updated: It's not my favorite New Mexican in Albuquerque, but it's not bad; actually, it's very good. I've been going here for well over 30 years (started going while attending law school nearby) and it's certainly been line-out-the-door popular the whole time. Small, fairly crowded rooms, but it's friendly like family and neighbors and they will find room for you pretty quick. Major downside is that it's still cash ONLY (or check - but no credit/debit). Giant PITA that generally keeps me from visiting and keeps Padilla's from the fifth star on this review. Not very large portions, but we could all use a little less, right? Beer and (awful) wine only. Prices are up, as they are everywhere: an additional hassle with the cash-only nonsense. They appear to once again be making their red from pods and the quality of the red is once-again top-notch. I know Norteños in their nineties who still come often; Padilla's is solid enough to attract clientele who know chile. Flat-out FANTASTIC service. And their sopaipillas are the most consistently best in town. Get in early to beat the lines.

Padilla's has been around for decades. Off the beaten path on Girard south of Indian School this place has a devoted following. Open at 1100 hours we arrived at 1110 and there were only 3 tables still available. By 1130 there was a wait line forming outside. The Juevos were cooked perfectly but the Chile was absolutely the focal point of the meal. But the green and the red had this unmistakable 'just got roasted' taste that's hard to describe. Suffice it to say Padilla's chile is the BOMB! And what a nice touch each meal came with 2 hot fresh Sopapillas. No question we'll be back sooner than later, that's for sure.

I've been eating here for years, it's been a family favorite. The food is always delicious and the people who work there are awesome. Every time we go back to Albuquerque to visit, we plan our trip around being able to go here. If you want the real New Mexican food, this is the place! My all time favorite place for Mexican food.

Everything! The service, the menu, the speed of taking our order, bringing our food, refilling drinks, asking if we needed anything else, bringing our check! Everything, particularly the food, was excellent.

The best food in Albuquerque! Can't recommend it highly enough. I don't get there often but love it.

Finally made it here. Super good red chile, love a place that can actually make rice. Sopapillas were wonderful. Only downside is cash only. I would go way more often if I could pay electronically.

We don't get here as often as I'd like. But here we are today. They're busy the parking lot is crazy and almost full. One recent addition to parking lot is an ATM. Great for those who forget to bring cash. Fortunately the restaurant wasn't as busy and seats were available. Our service was excellent, I ordered the bean & meat burrito. Came loaded with meat and fresh refried beans. The tamale plate came with 2 tamales, well seasoned meat without being being covered in too much masa. The food was delicious and keeps us coming back for more.

Ordered beef taco. They use potatoes as filler with the meat, it's an inexpensive way to stretch the meal. Unfortunately it's horrible tasting. When I let the waitress know the food was not yo my liking, I'd had one bite of a taco, nothing else eaten. Next thing I know I got a bill for the food. I let the cashier know the food was not eaten & why. Someone that guess is the owner told me they'd served their food that way for 45 years and still charged me full price. Never going back. Food horrible, service and rudeness are what they should be known for!

We came here because of their high reviews, but we were really disappointed in the food.. It was low quality and bland in flavor. When you go to a good Mexican restaurant, the food is fire and every dish has its distinct flavor. i have to say I've tasted better can food than this. Also the menu prices listed on menu here is not accurate. Add $2 more to the dishes, that's what their prices are now. We could have had a much better dining experience at another restaurant for the same price, but we came here because of the really inexpensive menu prices since we were on a tight budget and ended up paying more than we expected. We will not be coming back again. I have 2 stars because the service was good.

We arrived at 4:45 and by 5:00 the place was full. It looks like this is where the locals go for good food. It was Thursday so I enjoyed the carnitas special. Delicious. And going out didn't break the bank, $27 for 2. Atmosphere is a dinner feel with great service.

Wanted to try something different so we chose Padillas on Girard. Walked in it smelled amazing. Well it was short lived. They only accept paper checks and cash. No debit or credit cards. What????!!!! Yes you heard me right. Well we walked right out. Come on Padillas get with the times. What a disappointment

I found this spot good enough to visit twice on this trip. The red chile is very good. The sopapillas are outstanding and I was so happy that they made a Carne Adovado sopapilla with red on the side. Then I tossed in a relleno and a cup of Green Chile posole to round out my meal. My first bowl of posole was devine but the second visit it was mediocre, not consistent. The carnitas were very good on Thursday. The service is quick and the ladies may be a tad forgetful but are so darn cute they get a pass. Tables are full at 5 pm so be ready to wait. CASH ONLY! Average table is $20 per person.

great food, excellent service, very friendly, and easy on the pocket book. Very busy and we found out why.

Phillip our waiter was friendly, quick, & informative. We got there about 130, (Place was still busy), but seated quickly. Salsa was good, chips a little hard but tasty. We ordered Chicken Enchiladas Dinner with Sopaipillas. Food was great, hot, & just the right amount. Parking is interesting, with no room for RVs. Restaurant wasn't a fancy place, more the you feel right at home or at grandma's vibe. All of the staff were friendly & efficient. Lots of locals & seniors, who know the right place to eat. We will go back. **Only cash is excepted** go prepared.

We went on Thursday because their online menu shows Thursdays special to be Carnitas. When we arrived the parking lot was packed and the restaurant was very busy. We only had to wait about seven minutes for a table, so not bad considering how busy they were. Andreas was our server and he was awesome!! He made a few recommendations and I ended up going with the blue corn enchiladas with carnitas and the hubby ordered cheese enchiladas with a side of the red chili. To say that the food was GREAT is an understatement. We checked in with Lawrence at the door and later he came and sat at our table for a few minutes to make sure everything was good. He told us this is a family owned restaurant and they have been open since 1977. The quality of the food and the staff explains why they have been so successful. When we are back in Albuquerque we will definitely be coming back to Padilla's. Be sure to bring cash as they don't take credit or debt cards. Prices are more than reasonable.

First time here yesterday for lunch. Quite a popular place, as it was packed and we waited about 20 minutes for our food. I ordered the red chile bowl with beans and sopapilla. Delicious, spicy and hot but good! Will return to try their enchiladas. This place is legit!

The food was delicious and serves was good and quick and very friendly workers very clean. Michael G.

Staff made you feel like family. I walked in 5 minutes before they closed and they were so nice about serving me. The food was wonderful! It's in a strip mall but it's worth stopping in.

This is my favorite spot in Albuquerque. I absolutely love the carne adovada, which is available only Monday through Wednesday. My family has been coming here for decades, and I return every year to enjoy the best New Mexican cuisine. There's nothing quite like it anywhere else in the country. Be careful, closed weekends and maybe some holidays. Plus, it's a cash-only place but don't worry, it's very reasonably priced. It might look like a "hole in the wall", but it's the best new mexican food in ABQ.

Excellent food. Some of the best New Mexican food I've had. The enchiladas were fantastic. Everyone we visit New Mexico we make it a point to go there

Best place in town!!!!! Friendly staff. The food is always the same. Big portions. Been going here for over 25 years

Had a wonderful meal at Padillas and great service as well!! We really appreciate it so much! Thank you so much.

Absolutely the best chili relleno I've ever had. My fiancé and I loved the food here and now compare every Mexican restaurant we eat at to Padilla's. So far none has won out. Padilla's has now set the bar for us and it's a very difficult bar to beat. I couldn't recommend this place enough! If you are in ABQ go eat here, you won't be disappointed. NOTE: BRING CASH! (They didn't take cards when we were there. 04/2024)

My first visit to this Mexican kitchen. I went on Friday, just before noon. The place was packed, and deservedly so. The wait staff is friendly and very efficient, the atmosphere is relaxed, the decor is simple and unpretentious. The menu is a list of various Mexican style dishes. I had the combination plate that included a beef taco, enchilada, tamale, Mexican rice, and beans. The food came out very first considering how busy the place is. As I looked around, I saw smiling faces, and a sense that the restaurant is filled with incredible positive energy. It seems to me that there are many loyal regulars who come here. Everything was absolutely delicious. The sopapillas were a special treat, and I would describe it as like trying to bite into a cloud. Yum! Prices are very low, I'll be back.

Repeat customer; bringing all the family and friends! Going at different times it is almost always packed. However, I don't mind because it is delicious. The staff is fast and the wait is pleasant. Again, it's like being at the Grandmas house! I love it

Excellent food and service. Best place in Albuquerque to eat New Mexican food. The food is always consistent on delicious. Very good red chili.

Not bad for a Ma and Pa New Mexican restaurant. Prices for the quality are a bit over too much though. Good if your local but there's much better "New Mexican". Btw it's not Mexican food.

Another gorgeous New Mexico Wednesday morning finds Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten at a long-time local favorite eating establishment - Padilla's Mexican Kitchen. We've both been going here for years and plan to return many more times. Just click on the following YouTube link and see our latest report. https://youtu.be/KlyrLD3PzLo

The best Mexican in Albuquerque! The blue corn stacked enchiladas with green chili and sour cream. nothing better! servers have been working there decades. The local art lends its charm. don't miss Padilla's

One of the best places in town for some of the bestest New Mexican food. The service is wonderful and the ambience is fantastic. It is cash only I believe.

Simple, straight ahead New Mexican food. Loved the Salsa Rosa they brought with the chips. For lunch I ordered a Bean & Cheese Tostada and Tamal with Beans and Rice. I've noticed that in New Mexico most restaurants serve whole pinto beans whereas in Arizona it Frijoles Fritas. I like both. The food was simple but very good. My server was friendly and efficient. The prices were very, very reasonable. I walked out paying just $16. I'll go back again when I'm in Albuquerque. Sorry, no pictures as I was starving and my food was gone with the wave of the fork.

Overall: Padilla's is worthy of its fame as an Albuquerque staple Food: 5 Enchiladas de Carne: These beef enchiladas come stuffed and topped with cheesy ground beef. They were juicy and flavorful. The rice was tasty but the grains of rice themselves were a little mushy/broken. Sopapillas: Hands down the best sopapillas I've had in town. It isn't thick and doughy like other places. It's light but crispy with a slight chew. Service: 5 The man that took my order was super nice. It only took about 10 mins for my to go order, so it was ready as soon as I drove to the restaurant.

Still the best new Mexican food in the whole state. Which means in the whole world. They'll even put your Christmas on the dishes you want Christmas on. I had green on my enchilada and red on my chili r elleno. We at The Shed in Santa Fe yesterday. It was almost as good as Padilla's.

Food was average tasting; portions were small. Sopa's were not greasy, thank goodness. They were fluffy and light. Yum! Service was adequate. No real ambiance, per say.

Great find as an out of towner! This is a must try while in Albuquerque! Cleaned our plates and were very pleased with all of the items we picked off the menu. Very busy and tight seating inside - but go for the food and friendly service.

I absolutely love "New Mexico" Mexican food. Green Chili! Sopaipalla!!! Yum. Luckily my first stop after landing in Albuquerque was at this gem of a restaurant and it was amazing. Fresh, well seasoned, wonderful friendly service, great price. I'm bummed I can't eat here every day! Bring cash! They don't take credit cards.

This is a restaurant that has a great following in the community. It is a basic place with good Mexican food , generous portions and excellent value. Do not miss the sopapillas!