Welcome to El Charrito Mexican Restaurant
**OUR STORY: El Charrito Mexican Restaurant**
Nestled in Albuquerque's vibrant Central Avenue, El Charrito Mexican Restaurant is a beloved gem specializing in authentic New Mexican cuisine. With a commitment to flavorful dishes, diners revel in the spicy allure of their renowned salsa and green chile, elevating traditional favorites like stuffed sopapillas and huevos rancheros. The restaurant’s inviting ambiance features southwestern decor that enhances its homey vibe. Known for its friendly service and reasonable prices, El Charrito welcomes families, groups, and food enthusiasts alike. Whether enjoying a lively lunch or a casual dinner, this culinary haven promises a delightful experience that keeps customers returning for more.
- 4703 Central Ave NW Albuquerque, NM 87105 United States Hotline: (505) 836-2464
Welcome to El Charrito Mexican Restaurant, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This charming establishment is celebrated for its authentic New Mexican cuisine and vibrant atmosphere. Located at 4703 Central Ave NW, this eatery offers a delightful culinary experience that takes you on a flavorful journey through the rich traditions of New Mexican food.
Upon entering El Charrito, one is greeted with an inviting ambiance filled with southwestern decor and colorful paintings, setting the stage for an enjoyable dining experience. The restaurant's friendly staff is eager to assist you, ensuring that every visit feels personal and welcoming. While the ordering system requires you to place your order at the counter before taking a seat, this method allows for efficiency, especially during the bustling breakfast and lunch hours.
- Menu Highlights:
- El Charrito Super Combination: For those eager to sample a bit of everything, this dish is a must-try!
- Huevos Rancheros: A classic that customers rave about, served with a delicious green chile sauce.
- Sopaipillas: Light and fluffy, they are the perfect sweet ending to your meal.
- Tamales: While some find the masa a bit overwhelming, the flavors are truly authentic and well-seasoned.
- Chips and Salsa: A great starter, with salsa that carries just the right amount of heat!
- Dining Options: El Charrito offers outdoor seating for those who prefer dining al fresco, plus delivery and takeout options for enjoying their meals on the go. The restaurant caters to groups and families, making it an excellent choice for any occasion.
- Accessibility: While parking can be a challenge, the on-site options and casual atmosphere make it worthwhile. It's advisable to arrive early, especially during peak hours when the restaurant buzzes with energy.
Guest reviews consistently highlight the flavorful dishes and attentive service. Many rave about the heat of the salsa and the generous portions, indicating that sharing a plate is a wise choice for those with hearty appetites. From traditional dishes to the friendly faces behind the counter, El Charrito embraces an authentic New Mexican dining experience like no other.
Whether you are a local or just passing through, El Charrito Mexican Restaurant welcomes you to join them for a meal that promises to tantalize your taste buds. Don't walk, but instead run to this culinary haven—your palate will thank you!

Came to eat here on a Sunday morning before my aunt had to head to the airport. I have never been here but have been told that the food is really good. I would have given 5 stars instead of 4 but there were 2 downfalls. First the parking lot is extremely tiny. Good luck finding a parking spot. Second, the doorway gets so congested. You have to order and pay before you can even look to see if there are tables open. That is a pain for someone not familiar with the menu. I felt rushed to pick something as there were people behind us. It is also a pain to leave since there is only one way in and out so you have to weave through people to get out the door. Now for the food. Our meals came out promptly. The waitress was very friendly. The chips and salsa were good. The salsa and the red chile both had a bit of a bite and really good flavor. I enjoyed my stuffed sopapilla and my husband liked his huevos rancheros. All in all everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. If I was in the area I probably would go back but it is a little too far away for it to be a regular visit. Definitely recommend.

We've been here a couple of times but always too late. Today it is early enough. Order at the counter before sitting - done. It's busy, most seating is taken. But we found a booth and waited. Chips & salsa arrived - salsa is hot. You might want to try it before dunking your whole chip. Food took awhile - but it was busy. The taco meat was excellent. They did a great job on spices. The tamale meat was also excellent. The tamale had way too much masa. I peeled off enough to make another tamale. Food was good, a lot - another place where we could have shared an entree and still have something to take home. Next time we'll get there early enough to try breakfast.

Food is always on point, delicious! Service is always good, friendly and fast Ambiance is beautiful paintings, relaxed & homey atmosphere!

One of best places to eat good food and nice people thank God for that and One the clean places

This is one of our all time favorites for great food. The New Mexican plates, green chile, steak fingers and their cheeses burger is the best!

They say Heaven is a place on Earth and this is it. This place is flavor heaven. A little off of the beaten path and very unassuming from the outside but my goodness - it truly doesn't get any better than this. First greeted by all of the crosses and the lovely woman at the counter, we looked at the menu to decide what to eat (you order and pay first, then sit down and wait). I told the woman behind the counter that I cannot have cilantro and she gladly shared with me that New Mexican cuisine is not like regular Mexican cuisine in that they don't typically use cilantro. I was in absolute heaven! I ordered the El Charrito Super Combination (ya know, one of everything) and my husband ordered the Carne Adovada - both of which were INCREDIBLE! I am absolutely serious when I say that I will be going back home to Philadelphia and try to recreate this cuisine. I am a green chile sauce convert and want it on everything from now on. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. They shared that the food is made in-house and very authentic. Also, the sopaipillas were to die for. Add that to my list of things to learn to cook at home. Oof - if you are reading this review and have gotten this far, it's already too late. Don't walk - RUN to El Charrito!

I was in Albuquerque and decided to go to my old stomping grounds. I used to live in that area. The restaurant looks the same as it did almost 20 years ago. It's decorated with different paintings and the furniture is southwest style. I loved it! When you arrive, you place your order and pay at the counter. They give you a number and you find a place to sit. Simple! The server promptly arrived almost as soon as I sat down. I had coffee and water right away. A few minutes later, I got my food. I ordered a very traditional huevos rancheros. 'Christmas' with eggs over easy. The owner was there and I had a conversation with him. Very nice

This was my first time here and I was impressed and will be back! Upon entry into the foyer, there's a sign that says to order with the cashier first before being seated. It was a Saturday morning and was quite busy so that foyer gets pretty packed with folks going thru the menu to place their order. I ordered the combination plate x-Mas. I enjoyed a pork tamale, cheese enchilada, and a beef taco. Everything was delicious. The beef taco was filled to the top with beef. The plate came with beans and rice and sopaipillas. Everything was so tasty and satisfying. The service was amazing, not only did we get checked on several times by multiple staff, but they were genuinely friendly and gave smiles and eye contact. I felt try genuine connection with them being attentive to their customers it was very much appreciated.