Cheap Eats in Albuquerque 2026: Under $15 Picks

Eat well in Albuquerque for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.

Cheap eats worth seeking out

The Frontier Restaurant ★ 4.7

Brunch$universityDaily 05:00-01:00

The Frontier on Central Avenue across from UNM serves the green chile breakfast burrito and Frontier sweet roll daily 05:00 to midnight since 1971.

Try: Green chile breakfast burrito

2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

El Modelo Mexican Foods ★ 4.5

Mexican$south-valleyDaily 07:00-19:00

El Modelo on Second Street SW in Albuquerque is the Barelas heritage counter since 1929, with red chile tamales

Try: Red chile tamale plate

1715 2nd St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Garcia's Kitchen ★ 4.3

Mexican$north-valleyMon-Thu 08:00-15:00; Fri-Sat 08:00-20:00; Sun 08:00-15:00

Garcia's Kitchen on Fourth Street in Albuquerque is the family-run New Mexican counter since 1975 with breakfast burritos and house red and green chile.

Try: Huevos rancheros plate

4917 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107

Mary and Tito's Cafe ★ 4.7

New Mexican$north-valleyMon-Thu 11:00-15:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-17:00; closed Sun

Mary and Tito's on Fourth Street in Albuquerque is the James Beard America's Classic 2010 winner serving carne adovada turnovers and red chile enchiladas.

Try: Carne adovada turnover

2711 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107

Barelas Coffee House ★ 4.4

Mexican$south-valleyMon-Fri 07:30-15:00; Sat 07:30-14:30; closed Sun

Barelas Coffee House on Fourth Street SW in Albuquerque is the family New Mexican counter since 1978, with breakfast burritos under $10 and a posole bowl.

Try: Breakfast burrito and red chile

1502 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Papa Felipe's Mexican Restaurant ★ 4.4

New Mexican$northeast-heightsDaily 11:00-21:00

Papa Felipe's on Menaul Boulevard in Albuquerque is the longtime New Mexican kitchen with the Adovada Mexicana burrito and unbeaten sopaipilla baskets.

Try: Adovada Mexicana burrito

9800 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112

Yasmine's Cafe ★ 4.4

Middle Eastern$universityMon-Sat 10:00-21:00; Sun 11:00-19:00

Yasmine's Cafe on Central Avenue near UNM in Albuquerque is the Middle Eastern halal counter with falafel sandwiches under $10 and shawarma plates.

Try: Falafel sandwich

1600 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Pueblo Harvest Cafe ★ 4.4

New Mexican$downtownTue-Sun 09:00-16:00; closed Mon

Pueblo Harvest Cafe at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on 12th Street in Albuquerque serves the Indian taco frybread under $14 and posole at the modern.

Try: Indian taco frybread

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

The Owl Cafe ★ 4.4

New Mexican$northeast-heightsSun-Thu 07:00-20:00; Fri-Sat 07:00-21:00

The Owl Cafe on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque serves the official New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail entry as a combo under $13 with fries.

Try: Green chile cheeseburger combo

800 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123

Annapurna's World Vegetarian Cafe ★ 4.4

Vegetarian$universityMon-Sat 08:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-20:00

Annapurna's Vegetarian Cafe in Albuquerque is the ayurvedic vegetarian and vegan counter with chai, dosa and millet South Indian plates at counter prices.

Try: Kitchari bowl

2201 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

The Frontier Sweet Roll ★ 4.6

Bakery$universityDaily 05:00-01:00

The Frontier's sweet roll cinnamon roll on Central Avenue across from UNM in Albuquerque is the $4 city snack and the most photographed pastry.

Try: Frontier sweet roll, the iconic cinnamon roll