El Charrito Mexican Restaurant

All you have to do at this and any restaurant is look at the parking lot. It there are a lot of cars or if there is a line to be seated, then they’re doing something right. The majority of the haters here are from California, Arizona or another state. They are expecting «Mexican» food. This is NOT Mexican. It is traditional «New Mexican». There is difference. Yummy food, huge portions (always leftovers and I’m a big eater), very clean.

I rad Pamela F, s review, then looked at the rest of her reviews. She can’t be pleased. Everybody is sub-​par, according to her standards. Read her reviews.
Now…So I walked in and there are people waiting for seating, but nobody at the register. The older lady at the register was busy in conversation with a lady customer, oblivious that I or anybody else was there. Then she turned around and was getting ready to help someone who just walked up, when I got her attention. She took my order, then set it aside and helped everybody who had subsequently lined up to pay, and then took my order to the kitchen. It was rude and unprofessional, and if the food wasn’t so good, I’d just leave and stick them with the to go order. A good five minutes of my to-​go order sitting on the counter. Unbelievable. Let the daughter run the joint… she seems to care about service.

I love this place and can only say, a little slow, why cause it is all freaking home made, so if you want fast go to macdonalds if you want a true local example of not good but great New Mexican Food you got the right place, enjoy and be happy.

I love this place is my second time here. Every time I am in Albuquerque craving authentic New Mexican food this is a must place. The service is great people are so nice love it. !!!

El Charrito is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant! The staff & food is amazing.

Love this place. Food is awesome, waiters are friendly, know their craft, super clean and amazing food. for all you out of town, visitors, or traveling by. If you really want true NM homemade food stop going to those over rated restaurants such as sadies, gardunos or any other that only caters to out of town and lost their ways with the locals. You all need to try this place. Love it!!!

Delicious red chile like my dad used to make. Giant portions. Friendly service. Clean. We did not try the green chile.

I’m from CA and I thought they had good Mexican food there… But if u want the beat food this is the place wow wow wow… Soooo good really enjoyed my tacos… kids loved there dishes… And the chilli was amazing…

Came back for lunch. I shared a side of carne adovada and a tamale. Both were excellent — moist, flavorful, yum! The restaurant was busy, but once we were seated the service was quick and the staff very friendly and helpful. I’m putting this place in my contact list so I can return whenever I’m in town!

OK so a friend and I were in Old Town Albuquerque this morning and stopped in at Steve’s Ice Cream (a definite must stop too) and asked Steve where the best sopaipillas were in town. Steve directed us to El Charritos. The sopaipillas are light and airy, not too greasy and absolutely wonderful! We opened them up and poured honey in the middle. Service was great and with a smile always. We will be back tomorrow for lunch.

We came in here after a get together and had a pretty big party of 8 people and were welcomed and accommodated in about 15 minutes. It was a busy Sunday morning and I really enjoyed the food.
I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, Chrismas (Red and Green Chile). It was a smothered plate with sopapillas to go around.
The service was superb and they were very attentive to us throughout the meal. The plate was sooo large and I could not eat it one sitting (Leftovers!)
Enjoy and you will probably be back.

We went in for dinner tonight and the restaurant was quite busy as the Balloon Fiesta is in town. The service was good overall. The food was great. To bad they don’t offer free chips and salsa like many other New Mexican restaurants do. They give you plenty of food and the sopas are wonderful. They have REAL honey NOT that fake honey flavored syrup. So definitely give them a try… you’ll be back.

Excellent New Mexican food! I had the Chile Rellenos and my wife had Tacos. Both very tasty and flavorful. The chips were of a unique texture and flavor and we found them very enjoyable. More food on the plate than you could possible eat. The salsa served with the chips is a bit aggressive, so just know that a little bit of it goes a long way. Wait staff very attentive to our needs.

Walking into El Charrito feels like a visit to a New Mexican grandmother’s home. Once you get past the somewhat overwhelming collection of religious artwork near the entrance, the dining room is very tastefully decorated in paintings of New Mexican landscapes and chile ristras. Lovely pieces, not overdone like many New Mexican restaurants tend to be. Overall, the restaurant is bright, clean, and inviting.
The servers and owners are very friendly and attentive. I’ve never had to flag someone down or wait on a refill. The menu is standard New Mexican and the portions are very generous. Chips and salsa aren’t complimentary, but if you’re a fan of hot, hot salsa, order some. I have a very high tolerance for the spicy stuff and that of El Charrito did a good job of clearing up my sinuses! I ordered a Chicken Stuffed Sopaipilla, my New Mexican go-​to. It’s technically not on the menu (only other meat versions and bean), but they made it with no hassle. Misprint on the menu? Loaded with juicy white-​meat chicken and smothered in green chile that matched the heat of the salsa. Wished it came with sides of beans and rice like other entrees, but, then again, I was only able to conquer half of that giant sopaipilla so maybe it was for the best!
Solid true New Mexican food!

Oh mmmm geeee! If I lived closed to El Charrito, I would eat there everyday! The button buster is my all time favorite meal!!! The steak fingers are amazing! By far have the best sopapillas in Albuquerque!!! If I am ever on this side of town, I only eat here! When I am totally craving new mexican food, I drive across town to my fav spot. I’ve been going here since I was teenager and El Charritos was in a little house before the remodel. My favorites are the steak fingers, refried beans, potatoes, rellenos and sopapillas!!! nom, nom, nom…

First of all, can we ban Californians from reviewing what they can’t possibly understand is what we KNOW is NEW Mexican food. I live downtown and this is the closest and certainly one of my favorite New Mexican restaurants in the state. Always fresh, delicious, and enough for two meals. So what if they charge for chips/salsa.?Try to find that free in Santa Fe. Sops are divine because they are hot and fresh. I support local restaurants and this one is on the list. On my last visit our server and cashier was doing double duty… please get her some help on a busy Friday night. She gets many kudos for keeping her cool and SMILE. Please stay open past 7:45pm and I will patronize more often.

I have been coming here for 12 years now, food has stayed solidly consistent and place is always clean and orderly. Love the button buster!

We liked the food and the friendly service. However, I am giving the low rating because both my partner and myself got sick after eating here.

I stand by my original review. I have loved Mexican food all of my life and was taught how to cook authentic Mexican by several Mexican friends.
Many people who have never tasted really good Mexican food do not know what they are missing and settle for what they get.
I to am sorry that I could not give your restaurant a better rating but I couldn’t eat the food and I left your restaurant still hungry.

Adequate but forgettable New Mexican food. No beer. Hard tacos. Lots of cheese on everything. Menu is small and not many healthy choices.
Sopapillas were incredibly greasy.