Green chile cheeseburger is a signature dish of United States; we have verified places to eat it in Albuquerque, Oklahoma City and Santa Fe. Smashed beef patty, melted American cheese, and roasted Hatch green chile on a soft bun.

Green chile cheeseburger · Albuquerque

Smashed beef patty, melted American cheese, and roasted Hatch green chile on a soft bun. The New Mexico Tourism Department codified the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail.

The green chile cheeseburger emerged in the 1950s when Hatch green chile became commercially available statewide. The Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio NM is credited with the early canonical version. The state Tourism Department launched the official New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail in 2009 to recognize the dish as a state signature.

Where to eat in Albuquerque:

Where to eat Green chile cheeseburger in Albuquerque: the editor picks

Green chile cheeseburger · Oklahoma City

A beef patty topped with roasted Hatch green chiles and melted cheese at Oklahoma City burger joints, reflecting Southwestern influence along Route 66.

The green chile cheeseburger is most strongly associated with New Mexico's Hatch Valley, which produces a celebrated crop of long green chiles roasted each August. Oklahoma City's connection to that tradition runs through Route 66, a corridor of Southwestern and Midwestern exchange that passes through OKC. In the late 20th century, green chiles appeared on OKC menus as chefs recognized how well the smoky, mildly spicy pepper complemented ground beef. The tradition grew as OKC's Hispanic population expanded, bringing knowledge of Hatch chile preparation. Fresh Hatch chiles now arrive at OKC grocers each August, and several burger restaurants carry dedicated green chile burgers year-round.

Where to eat in Oklahoma City:

Where to eat Green chile cheeseburger in Oklahoma City: the editor picks

Green chile cheeseburger · Santa Fe

A New Mexico standard: beef patty, melted cheese, fresh roasted green chile and bun. The state runs an official Green Chile Cheese Burger Trail; Santa Fe's flagship is at Santa Fe Bite.

The green chile cheeseburger emerged across roadside diners in 1950s and 60s New Mexico; Bobcat Bite, established 1953 just outside Santa Fe, made the canonical version, and former owners Bonnie and John Eckre carried the lineage into Santa Fe Bite when they opened in 2013. The state's official Green Chile Cheese Burger Trail launched in 2009 to formalise the road-trip pilgrimage.

Where to eat in Santa Fe:

Where to eat Green chile cheeseburger in Santa Fe: the editor picks