14 Best Restaurants in Southeastern New Mexico, New Mexico

You'll catch a whiff of Big Daddy's tasty food as you turn off U.S. 82 into Cloudcroft. There's something for everyone at this homey joint, where the staff seems to know darned near everyone by first name. Don't expect anything fancy—just solid American favorites like burgers and barbecue, and some Mexican staples, too, like enchiladas and huevos rancheros. Though the menu leans heavily on meat, these folks happily accommodate vegetarian requests.

Rural restaurants in southern New Mexico have a long-standing rivalry over who makes the best green-chile hamburgers in the region. Many fans will tell you that the winner is right here—and many will tell you this is the best one found anywhere. Besides cooking awesome burgers and killer homemade fries, this bar and grill has a wacky hunting-lodge decor full of animal heads, snakeskins, and painted cow skulls. The massive antique wooden bar is the centerpiece of the establishment.

A long-time local favorite for lunch (they're only open from 10:30 until 2:30), the Buttery serves savory soups, creative sandwiches, daily-changing quiches, and delectable desserts. Soups, like the tomato basil or the chunky cream of broccoli, are main-course worthy—add a fresh salad and a slice of buttermilk pie, and you're good to go. If you can find a table, eat on the patio in warm weather.

This bustling restaurant is on the short list of locals and visitors in the know for tasty, and big, breakfasts and early lunches (they close at 1). Aside from fluffy waffles and pancakes (which can come loaded with all sorts of toppings), they serve very good Mexican breakfasts and lunches—the chile verde plate for breakfast is great, as are the chicken enchiladas for lunch. Standard American fare, like eggs and bacon, and sandwiches round out the menu.

This Portales steak house in the heart of cattle country was the founding establishment for the popular chain that now extends into Roswell, Ruidoso, and Las Cruces. Prime rib is the specialty, and the trademark salad bar doesn't disappoint with its fresh greens, crisp veggies, and homemade soups. The interior is decorated with plenty of wooden accents and skylights.

You'll find the standard array of grilled meats and seafood at this centrally located restaurant, which is part of a regional chain. While the food and service is merely adequate, the extensive and fresh salad bar is a relief if you're hankering for a big plate of fresh veggies with lots of toppings and tasty dressings. The dark-wood furnishings here are offset by big windows and a skylight.

The huge fiberglass bull perched on the sign makes this landmark easy to find. Del's has been serving Route 66 travelers since 1956 with American and Mexican food. Eggs, pancakes, and bacon fill the breakfast menu, and the spicy chiles rellenos and hand-cut steaks keep customers returning. This is good, reliable food and one of the only places open until relatively late. Windows all around make for great nighttime neon viewing.

Next to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, this Mexican restaurant achieves a kitschy flair with matador paintings, piñatas, and wrought-iron wall lamps. The kitchen uses family recipes in the preparation of ethnic favorites such as fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. Cold beer and wine help cool the delicious fire of the spicy dishes.

This little cabinlike place on a hill is known for quick service and good inexpensive food. Step up to the counter to order hearty Texas chili, old-fashioned hamburgers, or the local favorite green-chile chicken-fried steak. At breakfast you can grab eggs served with fluffy, homemade biscuits. New Mexican food, like huevos rancheros, and enchiladas, are also on the menu. Vinyl-covered tables are decorated with old coffee-, tea-, and tobacco-tin images. This is a great stop for families in a hurry and on a budget.

Tasty breakfast omelets, steaks, and sandwiches attract the hungry college crowd from nearby Eastern New Mexico University. Try the house specialty, a chicken-fried steak dinner. This diner-style hangout has a fun atmosphere. The tables are inlaid with tile, the chairs are covered with brightly colored vinyl, and there are a few exotic parrot decorations. Their house-made salsa is tasty!

From breakfast to dinner, what you'll get at this friendly, bustling little joint is a good square meal. Huevos rancheros in the morning come with fresh green lettuce, tomatoes, and some of the tastiest panfried potatoes around. Eggs are cooked exactly the way you ask. The red chile is rich—loaded with beef—and not spicy. Burritos, burgers, and a basic BLT are also available. They close at 7 pm weekdays, and at 4 pm on Saturday.

Sacred Grounds Coffee & Tea House is a locally owned place with great organic coffee, an impressive variety of exotic teas, plus homemade pastries, muffins, and cookies, a variety of quiches (try the green-chile-chicken), and tasty sandwiches. The space is cozy, but the patio out front is a great spot to enjoy the mountain air. Enjoy free Wi-Fi while you rejuvenate.

Just 2 miles east of the U.S. 70 turnoff to Ruidoso is the little town of Tinnie and this real find of a restaurant. With a menu of traditional favorites like chicken-fried steak, rib eye steaks, and salmon meuniere, the food at the Silver Dollar is more than worth the drive, and if you're in need of a place to stay, they have two well-appointed guest suites ($100 per night and up).

Locals jokingly refer to the regular morning gatherings here as "the old men's club," where all the latest happenings in Cloudcroft are discussed at great length, and sometimes with great passion. Come in as you are (this place is casual personified) and get ready for great big helpings of local favorites such as chicken-fried steak. Don't expect pepper-encrusted ahi here: this is basic, rib-sticking Western food served in a simple, no-frills room where the wood tables and chairs and paneled walls may remind you of your grandparents' living room. The bar next door is great if you require more than water and sodas or one of the number of good microbrews.