At El Pinto Restaurant, our Southwestern Restaurant (Us) menu brings a fresh Southwestern touch to Albuquerque, NM with every dish. Guests love our location, accessible facilities, and consistent service, reflected in our 4.20 rating across 8278 reviews.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at El Pinto Restaurant
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Our signature baby back ribs were named by the Food Network as the #3 Ribs in America. The ribs are marinated in Hatch red chile and slow baked to fall off the bone. This is an El Pinto original recipe and favorite. (Full Rack Serves 3-4)
Famous Red Chile Ribs, chile con queso, fresh guacamole, and chips. (Serves Four)
Featured on the White House menu to celebrate "Cinco de Mayo." Our creamy blend of cheeses, fresh chopped green chile, and 50 years of perfection creates this "authentic" flavor of New Mexico.
We use only the best Hass avocados. Voted "Best Guacamole" by the people in Albuquerque in Albuquerque The Magazine five years in a row.
A healthy mix of fresh greens with tomatoes, topped with sliced avocado and homemade red chile croutons. Traditional dressings are available, but try low calorie El Pinto salsa.
This is a classic New Mexican tradition. Chicharróns from humanely raised Kyzer Farms heritage pork served with roasted Hatch Green Chile and fresh butter. Served with tortillas.
Unique to El Pinto. Flash fried Hatch green chile strips served with red chile ranch dressing. (Full Order serves 4)
Wall Street Journal, January 2006 Tortilla chips topped and double stacked with cheddar and monterey jack cheese, dryland pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream, El Pinto's famous green chile, and fresh jalapeños (Full Order Serves Four)
Grilled flour tortillas with cheddar and monterey jack cheese topped with guacamole, garnished with lettuce and tomato, and sour cream. (Serves Four)
Authentic New Mexican recipe with pork, hominy, and El Pinto's Hatch red chile, served with a flour tortilla.
Authentic fire roasted Hatch green chile with chicken, potatoes, and corn served with a flour tortilla.
Our USDA Prime tomahawk ribeye is dry aged at El Pinto for 30+ days, cut on site, and cooked to perfection. Dry aging naturally tenderizes and concentrates flavor. Served with a cheese enchilada, a baked potato, and side salad.
The Ribeye has the most marbling of any cut, has a very flavorful taste, and is extremely tender.
New York Strip wet aged for 21 days and then charbroiled to perfection. This cut comes from the most tender section of beef.
Our exclusive baby back ribs were named by the Food Network as the #3 Ribs in America. The ribs are marinated in Hatch red chile and slow baked to fall off the bone.
Humanely raised heritage pork from the South Valley of Albuqerque. Hormone and antibiotic free. Never frozen. Cut at El Pinto by hand. Served with an enchilada and a baked potato or salad.
Humanely raised heritage pork from the South Valley of Albuqerque. Hormone and antibiotic free. Never frozen. Served with two enchiladas and beans.
8 oz. patty, from pasture raised cattle that are source verified (no hormones, antibotics or feedlots), charbroiled, and smothered with our special blended queso, green chile, sweet onion pickle relish, bibb lettuce, and tomato. Fries and guacamole on the side.
8 oz. patty, from pasture raised cattle that are source verified (no hormones, antibotics or feedlots), charbroiled, and served with a side of El Pinto fresh guacamole and fries. Garnished with lettuce, tomato, red onion and a pickle slice.
Rolled beef or chicken taco, tamale, red chile cheese enchilada, chile con carne and pinto beans.
Two rolled beef or chicken tacos, tamale, green chile cheese enchilada and pinto beans.
Rolled taco, red chile cheese enchilada, chile con carne, chile relleno and pinto beans.
Two cheese enchiladas served with red or green chile, a chile relleno, dryland pinto beans and rice.
Marinated lean pork with pinto beans in flour tortilla. Garnished with lettuce and tomato with rice on the side.
"A House Specialty" made with flat or rolled corn tortillas, filled with pork marinated in El Pinto's fresh Hatch red chile.
Three flat or rolled corn tortillas filled with green chile and pork.
Three rolled corn tortilla enchiladas: Chile con carne, red chile cheese, and green chile cheese.
Flour tortilla topped with deliciously hot and spicy lean pork marinated in red chile served with pinto beans and rice.
Flour tortilla with El Pinto organic fed and pasture-raised eggs topped with your choice of chile and cheddar cheese served with papitas and pinto beans.
Three tamales served with pinto beans, rice and choice of chile.
Three tostada cups filled with chile con carne and dryland pinto beans topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.
Lean pork in red chile with pinto beans. Served with a tortilla
Two flame roasted New Mexican Hatch green chiles stuffed with cheese and served with pinto beans and rice.
An 8 oz. grilled chicken breast served on a white or wheat bun with a side of El Pinto fresh guacamole and fries. Garnished with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle slice.
A full meal using a healthy mix of fresh greens with fresh broccoli, fresh tomatoes, carrots, and topped with fresh salsa, fresh roasted green chile, and guacamole.
Bowl of rice, dryland pinto beans and choice of chicken, beef or pork with chile and a tortilla on side.
Three steamed corn tortillas, low-fat cheese, red or green chile, served with rice, pinto beans, and garnished with lettuce and tomato
Mixed greens, red onions, bacon, tomatoes, pasture-raised eggs and topped with grilled chicken breast, avocado slices homemade red chile croutons and bleu cheese crumbles.
8 oz. Alaskan Sockeye Salmon fillet grilled to order. The Salmon is ruby-red from the krill they feed on. Choose two sides
Dryland pinto beans and rice in a flour tortilla, smothered with your choice of red or green chile and topped with cheese.
Calabacitas and dryland pinto beans in a flour tortilla, smothered in your choice of red or green chile and topped with Monterey Jack cheese with rice on the side.
Two cheese enchiladas served with red or green chile, chile relleno and pinto beans and rice.
An 8 oz. grilled chicken breast served with your choice of two sides
An 8 oz. chicken filet marinated in red chile, grilled, and served with calabacitas, pinto beans and rice.
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A full meal using a healthy mix of fresh greens with fresh broccoli, fresh tomatoes, carrots, and topped with fresh salsa, fresh roasted green chile, and guacamole
8 oz. Alaskan Sockeye Salmon fillet grilled to order. The Salmon is ruby-red from the krill they feed on. Choose two sides
Our USDA Prime tomahawk ribeye is dry aged at El Pinto for 30+ days, cut on site, and cooked to perfection. Dry aging naturally tenderizes and concentrates flavor. Served with an enchilada, a baked potato, and side salad
The Ribeye has the most marbling of any cut, has a very flavorful taste, and is extremely tender. Served with a side salad and baked potato or substitute one for your choice of two sides
The New York Strip is wet aged for 21 days and then charbroiled to perfection. This cut comes from the most tender section of beef. Served with a side salad and baked potato or substitute one for your choice of two sides.
Humanely raised heritage pork from the South Valley of Albuqerque. Hormone and antibiotic free. Never frozen. Cut at El Pinto by hand. Served with an enchilada and a baked potato or salad
Humanely raised local heritage pork. Hormone and antibiotic free. Never frozen. Served with two enchiladas and beans.
Our signature baby back ribs were named by the Food Network as the #3 Ribs in America. They are grilled, then marinated in red chile overnight, and slow baked until they fall off the bone. An El Pinto original recipe and favorite. Served with a side salad and baked potato or substitute one for your choice of two sides.
An 8 oz. grilled chicken breast with green chile served with a choice of two of the following sides
Three steamed corn tortillas, low-fat cheese, red or green chile, served with rice pinto beans and garnished with lettuce and tomato.
Mixed greens, red onions, bacon, tomatoes, eggs and topped with grilled chicken breast, avocado slices and bleu cheese crumbles
Corn tortilla with two El Pinto Hen Hotel pasuture rasied eggs topped with your choice of chile (ask for gluten free red chile) and cheddar cheese served with papitas and pinto beans.
8 oz. patty, from pasture raised cattle that are source verified (no hormones, antibotics or feedlots), charbroiled, and served with a side of El Pinto fresh guacamole and fries. Garnished with lettuce, tomato, red onion and a pickle slice.
Authentic New Mexican recipe with pork, hominy, and El Pinto’s hand processed red chile, served with a corn tortilla.
Hear from our valued guests
El Pinto completely exceeded my expectations. The chili-smothered ribs tasted nothing like I imagined — they were even better. The flavor was bold, smoky, and unforgettable. It left such a strong impression that I’m already looking forward to ordering them again the next time I visit Albuquerque. Beyond the food, the atmosphere at El Pinto was top-notch — lively yet relaxed, with a warm Southwestern charm. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back and try everything on the menu. Whether you’re with friends or enjoying a night out with your partner, it’s an ideal spot to soak in the local flavor. Highly recommended!
We had a great experience sitting at the bar for dinner and drinks, thanks in large part to Natalia. She was attentive, friendly, and really made the evening enjoyable. We tried the margaritas, sampled a few beers, and had dinner. I’m giving a 5-star review based on our overall experience, especially because of Natalia’s excellent service. That said, I do want to note that the food and drinks felt overpriced. While everything tasted good, the quality didn’t quite match the cost, particularly with the margaritas and steak I had. Still, we had a great time and would definitely return if we were locals. It’s a nice spot with a welcoming vibe and outstanding service.
Our server Samantha was everything you want in a server as she made the experience so much more enjoyable. Food was out to the table within 5 minutes of ordering i kid you not (full disclosure the restaurant was very slow.) Only downfall i would say is it can be pricy depending on when you go but there is a Monday-Friday lunch menu.
The food here is amazing! The staff is amazing! The atmosphere is amazing! The food is so fresh and bright. It is cooked perfectly. The margaritas are top tier. All of the food is organic. This was my first time here and when I'm in Albuquerque, this will be my first stop always. This is authentic New Mexican cuisine.
Our group of 35 ate dinner here with a 7:00 reservation. Because it was booked by the travel agent, it was a big buffet. It had 2 kinds of chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, southwestern corn, salad. Also chips and yummy salsa on tables. Everything was very good! The restaurant itself was beautiful. Although huge, it was divided into numerous dining rooms for a comfortable dining experience. Servers were attentive and friendly.
Sooooo good. We sat outside. It was a little chilly, but they turned the heater on. This place was beautiful. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was, let's put it this way, you want to take someone on a first date? Take them here. It was big, open and very well maintained. There is a kitty that stopped by and said hi to me. Pop tart was the kitties name. And Pop Tart was sooooooo sweet. Our waiter was a little "distracted" but I'm not one to know what the duties of a waiter are and I do not hold that against them. He was attentive enough. The food was very tasty and a great choice for our trip back from Santa Fe. This was a bit farther from our Airbnb but sooooo worth the drive. You could hear what I think was a wedding party in another section of the restaurant (this place was big!) there was nothing disturbing about it. You could hear it but it wasn't "loud". I really liked this place and would highly recommend it.
El Toro Pinto in Albuquerque, NM is an absolute must-visit! The food, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. Every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. From the appetizers to the main courses, everything tasted fresh and authentic. The staff was warm, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The restaurant itself has a charming vibe — perfect for a relaxing meal or special night out. El Toro Pinto is a true gem that delivers an unforgettable dining experience.
The restaurant is as beautiful as it is historic. It opened in 1972 and you can tell it’s a landmark. There’s a huge wall of fame as you enter the door with pictures of everyone from Mick Jagger to Lil Wayne. It was a great day so we sat outside and it was fantastic, even with the honey bees circling for a shot at some of that delicious honey. The food was great and the beans were well flavored. I mean the beans have to be great at a restaurant called El Pinto right? I had the combo plate #1 and my girl had the ribs. Both were delicious. Even the chips and salsa at the beginning was on point and the salsa had a nice kick. The staff was super friendly and explained what I didn’t understand which was what’s the difference between mild and hot 🔥
This place is a must visit! The red chili ribs were delicious, and I loved that the drinks came in chilled mugs. The service was amazing, but the real standout is the vibe. The restaurant is stunningly beautiful to walk through—the atmosphere alone is worth the trip. Total 5-star experience!
Had a great experience at El Pinto! The staff was genuinely friendly and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Our food came out quickly, which was awesome, and everything tasted fresh and flavorful. The environment is vibrant and inviting, perfect for a relaxed meal with family or friends. Definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to again soon!
Common questions about El Pinto Restaurant
El Pinto Restaurant is located at 10500 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, United States, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
You can reach El Pinto Restaurant by calling +1 505-898-1771.
El Pinto Restaurant has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 8278 customer reviews.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following service options: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following highlights: Fast service, Fireplace, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great wine list, Live music, Serves local specialty.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Historic, Romantic, Trending, Trendy, Upmarket.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, On-site parking, Paid parking lot, Plenty of parking.
El Pinto Restaurant features the following pets: Dogs allowed, Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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