Sadie's of New Mexico ★ 4.6
Sadie's of New Mexico serves New Mexican cuisine on Fourth Street NW, with big portions and a signature kick of heat, in a family owned room.
SignatureGreen Chile Chicken Birria Tacos, Stuffed sopapilla sliders
History
The sopaipilla is a puffed fried quick bread with a flavor similar to Indian fry bread, and the New Mexico version is very large. It serves as a standard table bread at New Mexican restaurants, with a squeeze bottle of honey or honey butter. Before the 1930s sopaipillas were served with jelly or jam, and honey became the traditional accompaniment from the Great Depression on. They can also be stuffed: El Pinto, Cervantes and El Modelo list stuffed sopaipillas, Sadie's makes sopaipilla sliders, and Papa Felipe's gives free fresh sopapillas at the end of the meal.
Common allergens: Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 500g all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons shortening or lard
- 300ml warm water
- 1 liter neutral oil for deep frying
- Local honey, for serving
Method
- Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening with fingers until pebble texture.
- Add warm water gradually and knead 5 minutes into a smooth dough. Rest 1 hour covered.
- Roll the dough out to 5 mm thick. Cut into 8 cm squares.
- Heat oil to 190 C / 375 F. Fry 2 to 3 squares at a time, pushing down with a spider so they puff. They should rise hollow.
- Flip after 30 seconds. Fry 30 more seconds until golden. Drain on paper.
- Serve immediately with honey for drizzling or pouring inside the pillow.
Tip from the editors. Oil temperature is the make or break: too cool and the dough soaks; too hot and they brown before they puff. Use a thermometer for the first batch.
Where to eat sopaipillas
Sopaipillas in Albuquerque
El Pinto ★ 4.5
El Pinto opened in 1962 to serve one family's recipes at 10500 4th Street NW, and now bottles its own salsa and sauces for stores nationwide.
Papa Felipe's Mexican Restaurant ★ 4.4
Papa Felipe's is a New Mexican restaurant at 9800 Menaul Blvd NE serving green chile carne adovada, tacos and enchiladas made from scratch, open daily.
OrderGreen chile carne adovada, made from scratch
Cervantes Restaurant and Lounge ★ 4.3
Cervantes Restaurant and Lounge at 5801 Gibson Blvd SE serves New Mexican food prepared from scratch, and makes its own red and green chile sauces.
El Modelo Mexican Foods ★ 4.7
El Modelo Mexican Foods at 1715 2nd St SW is known for handmade tamales, with breakfast anytime, from huevos rancheros to breakfast burritos.
Why locals goA counter that began in a three-room home at 1715 2nd Street in April 1929, where Carmen Garcia made tortillas by hand every morning.
TipCall ahead for pickup, since call-in orders end at 6:30 pm, or come by and enjoy the outdoor patio.
Sopaipillas in Santa Fe
Tomasita's ★ 4.4
Tomasita's has done sub-$20 stuffed sopaipillas and chile combo plates since 1974; the line is part of the deal, the kitchen never rushes you.
TryChile combo plate
La Choza ★ 4.8
Sister of The Shed, La Choza has plated Northern New Mexican on Alarid Street since 1983; voted #1 New Mexican by Santa Fe Reporter readers repeatedly.
SignatureCarne adovada burrito, Blue corn enchiladas, Green chile stew
Maria's New Mexican Kitchen ★ 4.5
Maria's has anchored Cordova Road since 1950 with 150-plus hand-shaken margaritas, 170 tequilas and chile-laced plates served with hand-rolled tortillas.
SignatureGreen chile enchiladas, Carne adovada plate, Hand-rolled tortillas
Atrisco Cafe & Bar ★ 4.2
Atrisco builds family-recipe red chile from sun-dried whole pods at Devargas Center, served with local Santa Fe lamb, beef and honey-glazed sopaipillas.
SignatureSun-dried whole-pod red chile, Carne adovada plate, Sopaipillas with raw honey
More cities are in research. Want sopaipillas covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.