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The defining choice on every New Mexican menu: red or green chile, or both, Christmas. Red is dried, smoky and often deeper; green is bright, vegetal and hotter when young.
Spanish colonists brought the chile pepper north from Mexico in 1598, and the long-pod cultivars stabilised in the Rio Grande Valley around Hatch (south) and Chimayo (north). By the early 20th century, the red-or-green question had become the state's edible identity; New Mexico made it the official state question in 1996. Christmas, ordering both, dates from the late 1980s as restaurants tracked tourist indecision.
5 editor picks for Red and green chile (Christmas) in Santa Fe, ranked by editorial score. All Santa Fe signature dishes · Red and green chile (Christmas) across every city.
La Choza ★ 4.8
railyard · 905 Alarid Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505
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.
The Shed ★ 4.7
downtown · 113 1/2 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
The Shed's red chile, grown out at the family farm and ground in-house, has anchored a Santa Fe lunch line since 1953. Sister room of La Choza.
Horseman's Haven Cafe ★ 4.7
cerrillos · 4354 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Horseman's Haven has poured Santa Fe's hottest green chile (Levels 1-5) from a Cerrillos Road gas-station building since 1981; Bourdain filmed Parts.
Tomasita's ★ 4.6
railyard · 500 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tomasita's has poured Santa Fe's stuffed sopaipillas and chile combo plates next to the Railyard since 1974; the line moves and the kitchen is steady.
Atrisco Cafe & Bar ★ 4.3
downtown · 193 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501
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.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Red and green chile (Christmas) makes more sense with someone from Santa Fe explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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