New Mexican Cuisine
Albuquerque is best known for a unique local cuisine that blends
Native American and Spanish ingredients and preparations with our signature ingredients: red and green chiles. The smoke-kissed flavor of freshly roasted green chiles and the earthy fruitiness of red chile sauce are the backbone of New Mexican cooking, and you will find chiles in and on everything from eggs to pizza and even sushi. You'll quickly learn to answer your server's question, "Red or green?" with authority. (Say "Christmas" if you want both red and green chile.) Unless you like surprises, be sure to ask which chile is hotter that day. And don't worry, it is acceptable to ask for chile on the side; even some locals do.