10500 4th St NWAlbuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 898-1771
http://www.elpinto.com
Parking: in parking lot
Last Visited: Summer 2005
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$
Established in 1962, El Pinto's is the place to go to try out New Mexican flavor, especially if you are new to the Anaheim chile. It's like going to Chevy's with a more New Mexican twist, so if you're comfortable with large restaurants, you'll feel comfortable here. And the best part of it all was being able to bring home some El Pinto's salsa - you can enjoy mild, medium, or hot.
The restaurant is a little dated in its setup with the Christmas lights hanging in the area during summer. While one could say it brings a romantic feel, I think that it might not be as modern as it could be. Nevertheless, the food is solid and probably would be a great backup for when you don't want to cook.
- Taco Salad - Seasoned meat (choice of pork, chicken, or beef) topped with lettuce, sour cream, pinto beans, rice, guacamole, tomato, and your choice of chile. It's what you would expect of a good taco salad and is definitely filling.
- Taco Plate - Two tacos with your choice of beef, chicken, or cheese and machaca. We chose one with chicken and one with beef. Served with rice, beans, and a basket of sopapillas (which is common with lots of restaurants in this area), you're very likely to be full. They also have a number of plates with three tacos. Good.
While this was a dinner visit, it's good to know that lunch specials are very reasonable - you'll find a number of them for around $10. The staff is abundant and they're efficient, and the food portions are large. You definitely get good value when you come here. I would be happy to come back or order some more of their salsa.
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