CuisineMiddle Eastern
Price$$
Neighborhooduniversity
HoursMon-Sat 10:00-21:00; Sun 11:00-19:00
Last verified

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.

Book food experiences in Albuquerque

See all 13 bookable experiences in Albuquerque

Location

Address: 1600 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Google Maps → Apple Maps → Waze →

More hidden gems in Albuquerque

Pueblo Harvest Cafe ★ 4.1

Indian$$downtownTue-Sun 09:00-16:00; closed Mon

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.

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

Golden Crown Panaderia ★ 4.8

Bakery$$downtownWed-Sat 07:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-20:00; closed Mon-Tue

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.

1103 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Casa Rondena Winery ★ 4.6

Spanish$$north-valleyDaily 12:00-19:00

Casa Rondena Winery on Chavez Road in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is the Spanish style estate winery since 1995, open daily for tasting from midday.

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.

733 Chavez Rd NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107

Tacos Los Piolines Truck ★ 4.3

Mexican$$northeast-heights

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.

9211 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123

Bristol Doughnut Co ★ 4.2

Bakery$$northeast-heightsDaily 07:00-15:00

Bristol Doughnut Co on Comanche Road NE in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights is the brioche doughnut bakery with maple bacon, open daily until 15:00.

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.

10301 Comanche Rd NE, Unit 7, Albuquerque, NM 87111

Java Joe's ★ 4.0

Brunch$$downtownDaily 06:30-15:30

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.

906 Park Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

See every hidden gems pick in Albuquerque →

← Back to Hidden Gems in Albuquerque ← Albuquerque food guide