Our quest for hot and spicy food in New Mexico has not abated one bit since we set foot in Albuquerque. I like to say it’s a reaction to the blandness of Peruvian food, but we know the truth, right? We’re gluttons for spicy food! Bring on the chilies. Red chilies, green chilies, x-mas sauce, baked, broiled, raw…we have binged like you would not believe. Here’s where we found the pain:
1. Golden Crown Panaderia
Jan and I are merely occasional pizza fiends, but we’ve had Golden Crown Panaderia’s green chile crust pizza three times in the past two weeks. It’s simply amazing and so hot. We made the mistake of ordering our first with jalapenos (pickled, not fresh), but quickly corrected course with fresh roasted green chilies on top of the crust.
We also recommend the hand-tossed crust versus the thin — it’s a little sturdier but well made with lots of char from the wood-fired pizza oven. Pro tip: always flip your slice over to see if the char makes it to the bottom.
Located at 1103 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque NM. Closed Mondays. If you don’t have time for pizza, pick up a loaf of green chile bread instead.
2. Weck’s
Weck’s serves up better-than-average diner fare in Albuquerque and neighboring towns in cheerful, kitschy locations filled with Elvis and Betty Boop memorabilia. They tout a “full belly” approach to their meals, and honestly? We got more than two meals out of what you see above.
The x-mas sauce (a slather of both red and green sauces) is excellent for the price point. Only have a few bucks? Stop in! Have more than a few bucks? Grab a cinnamon roll on your way out. Regret nothing.
Multiple locations. Hours vary.
3. Cocina Azul
Just for kicks, we went down the street to Cocina Azul (across the street from Golden Crown) to see if their green chili stew could make us cry. It did — but to be fair, those were happy tears! We also ordered an enchilada filled with carne adovado — slow roasted, chili-soaked pork; and a shredded, juicy rib-eye burrito that was simply amazing.
Everything was #hurtyamama hot, but done a cut above the diner examples we’d tasted elsewhere. Cocina Azul is a mid-range neighborhood restaurant that’s on the fringe of the tourist crowd, but keeps it real. I don’t mind paying a little more to see Jan sweat from eating chips and salsa.
Multiple locations, but we went to the one on Mountain View. Hours vary.
4. Pueblo Harvest
We visited the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to get some culture, watch the Native American dancing, and to try the food at Pueblo Harvest, which focuses on indigenous cuisine with ingredients that are locally sourced and presented seasonally.
I went with a variety of tacos — turkey, napoles, carne asada, and al pastor — to deliver the heat. Jan chose taco bites filled with carne adovada, and we split the difference on blue corn-coated onion rings. Everything had a nice heat level, though the green chili ranch sauce that came with the onion rings gave a nice illusion of cool while punching you right in the taste buds. I may have dipped a few tacos in the stuff. We enjoyed everything and may come back, time permitting.
Located at 2401 12th ST NW inside the Cultural Center. Open Monday
– Saturday 7am – 9pm and Sunday 7am – 4pm.
5. Ponderosa Brewery
You don’t really have to try that hard to find chili-slathered fries in Albuquerque. We were just fortunate to find them at a brewery where we could kill the pain with tall pours of good beer. To add to the misery, we also ordered a green chile burger and macaroni & cheese with more chile. It’s how we roll.
Ponderosa Brewing‘s kolsch was a good foil to the heat, though I would also strongly recommend the Sour Belgian Brown. It neutralizes the tingle and replaces it with a well-rounded, balanced sour beer.
Located at 1761 Bellamah Ave NW. Open Sunday – Wednesday 11am – 10pm, Thursday – Saturday 11am – 11pm.
6. Sadie’s
Sadie’s was on the Best of Burque list for both their red and green chile sauces, so of course we had to dive into the matter. We started with jars of hot and extra hot salsa we found at the local Smith’s as well as a Lobo’s branded jar of Sadie’s salsa, and found the mix of garlic, chilies, and pain to warrant a trip to an actual restaurant. Good stuff.
The meals at Sadie’s are extra large — the burrito was football sized, so be warned if you’re expecting something sized for human consumption. Like most places, you can get your meal sauced either, or, and x-mas. Always choose x-mas and don’t live a life of regret. I finished maybe a third of my burrito and at least three glasses of iced tea. It didn’t help cool anything down, but the effort was made.
Multiple locations. Hours vary by location.
7. The Candy Lady
Not satisfied to only experience New Mexico’s chilies in burrito, salsa, enchilada, fry, and pizza form, we also splurged on white and chocolate chile fudge from the Candy Lady. You start out enjoying good, homemade fudge but are soon scouting around for the nearest tall glass of water when the heat hits you on the back end. Fortunately, she also sells drinks in a cooler up front. Do yourself a favor and buy them together.
Stop in for some chocolaty pain, but don’t skip the divinity, and the blue rock candy that subbed for drugs in the first few seasons of Breaking Bad.
Located at 424 San Felipe NW. Open Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.
While I’m lucky to have a boyfriend who’s also into hot, spicy food, I may need to take him out for a grilled cheese after we leave New Mexico. But until then? MOHR HEAT!