The places in Albuquerque the guidebooks miss.
The places in Albuquerque the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
El Modelo on Second Street SW in Albuquerque's Barelas neighborhood is the carne adovada counter since 1929.
Why locals love it: 1929 Barelas takeaway counter wraps carne adovada burritos in butcher paper, tourists miss the South Valley turn.
Tip: Order one of everything from the counter case, eat at the picnic tables outside or take it down to the Rio Grande bosque.
Pop Fizz at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Fourth Street SW is the Alvarez family paleteria with organic Mexican popsicles since 2013.
Why locals love it: Storefront paleteria tucked inside the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Fourth Street SW, overlooked by tourists chasing Old Town.
Tip: Order the cucumber lime paleta or an ice cream taco, then walk into the NHCC galleries next door for a quiet afternoon.
Tia B's La Waffleria on Campus Boulevard in a bungalow in Albuquerque's Nob Hill is the waffle only restaurant.
Why locals love it: Bungalow on a residential Nob Hill side street with waffle only menu, missed by Central Avenue tourists.
Tip: Order the green chile waffle for the New Mexican angle, or the bacon brie sweet waffle with maple syrup for the classic combo.
Vernon's Speakeasy on Fourth Street NW in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is the unmarked steakhouse and Prohibition cocktail bar.
Why locals love it: Unmarked door on a North Valley boulevard hides a steakhouse and Prohibition era cocktail bar with no signage.
Tip: Reservation required, ring the bell at the unmarked Fourth Street door, ask for the speakeasy bar list inside.
Yasmine's Cafe on Central Avenue near UNM in Albuquerque is the Middle Eastern halal counter with shawarma plates.
Why locals love it: Tiny Central Avenue Middle Eastern counter near UNM with a long student regulars line that tourists never join.
Tip: Order the shawarma plate with extra garlic sauce, sit at the counter, watch the chef wrap the wraps in real time.
Pueblo Harvest Cafe at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on 12th Street in Albuquerque is the only modern Pueblo Indian restaurant, missed by museum skippers.
Why locals love it: Inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center museum, missed by most visitors but the only modern Pueblo Indian restaurant in the city.
Tip: Visit at lunch when the Pueblo dancing performances run on the courtyard, then order the buffalo posole and Indian taco.
Golden Crown Panaderia on Mountain Road in Albuquerque is the heritage panaderia since 1972, baking green chile bread and biscochitos in a wood fired oven.
Why locals love it: Mountain Road heritage panaderia bakes biscochitos and green chile bread in a wood fired oven, with a back patio few find.
Tip: Buy a green chile bread loaf to go, then take the biscochitos to the back garden patio for coffee under the cottonwoods.
Casa Rondena Winery on Chavez Road in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is the Spanish style estate winery since 1995.
Why locals love it: Spanish style estate winery on a North Valley road few tourists drive, with a courtyard tasting room and Rio Grande Valley vines.
Tip: Visit during summer concert season for the courtyard music, taste the Cabernet Sauvignon and stay for the sunset over the cottonwoods.
Tacos Los Piolines truck on Central Avenue east of San Pedro in Albuquerque is the late night Mexican taco truck with al pastor on a spit and a salsa bar.
Why locals love it: Late night taco truck on Central Avenue east of San Pedro, with tacos al pastor on a spit that tourists never find.
Tip: Arrive after 21:00 for the dinner spit pastor cut, order the lengua taco for the heritage Mexican counter experience.
Bristol Doughnut Co on Comanche Road NE in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights is the brioche doughnut bakery with maple bacon.
Why locals love it: Comanche Road NE bakery in the Heights with brioche doughnuts and a maple bacon glaze, often sold out by 11:00.
Tip: Arrive by 09:00 on Saturday, the brown butter glaze sells out first, then ask for the rotating weekly special at the counter.
Java Joe's on Park Avenue SW in downtown Albuquerque is the Breaking Bad Tuco Salamanca filming cafe, with chai and breakfast burritos tourists often miss.
Why locals love it: Downtown Park Avenue cafe where Breaking Bad's Tuco Salamanca scene was shot, missed by tourists chasing the Walter White house.
Tip: Order the chai and breakfast burrito, ask the staff to point out the Tuco scene location in the front room before you sit down.