El Pinto Restaurant
American · Latin Spanish · Albuquerque, NM
About
You might expect a sprawling restaurant serving the same food as dozens of places, but El Pinto is different. It's the largest restaurant in New Mexico, yet maintains a small-room feel across its patios and dining areas. Owned by twin brothers John and Jim Thomas, known as the Salsa Twins, their grandmother's traditional New Mexican recipes have been the foundation since 1962. The salsas and chiles sold here are distributed in grocery stores nationwide, and the restaurant was voted Best New Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque by locals.
Set in the North Valley under old cottonwood trees, the outdoor patios are the place to be when the weather cooperates. Prices are reasonable, and the full bar serves handmade margaritas. Reservations are accepted, so plan ahead. It's a quick drive into the countryside, near Sandia Pueblo.
El Pinto is located in the North Valley, a rural area just north of Albuquerque near Sandia Pueblo.
Features
- ✓Full bar with handmade margaritas
- ✓Reservations accepted for groups
- ✓Free wifi available on-site
- ✓Good-for-groups atmosphere
Cuisine
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 1,885 reviews. 21 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Great food and ambiance”
El Pinto sits in the North Valley of Albuquerque, near Sandia Pueblo and their casino/hotel. It serves classic New Mexican cuisine based on red and green chile. The atmosphere is lovely, resembling a large estate, and on nice days it's great to dine outside under the big old cottonwood trees. Prices are fair, the food is quite good, and the location is beautiful, requiring a short drive out into the countryside. They also sell their famous house-made fresh salsa, which is known worldwide.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Pinto have outdoor seating? +
Yes, it has beautiful patios under old cottonwood trees.
Does El Pinto take reservations? +
Yes, reservations are accepted.
Is there a full bar? +
Yes, El Pinto has a full bar with handmade margaritas.
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