Last year, we listed our favorite green chile cheeseburgers in Albuquerque, Belen, Las Vegas, Los Lunas, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe, and it was one of our most popular posts. This isn’t at all surprising because, well, GREEN CHILE CHEESEBURGERS. It’s rare to find a New Mexican who doesn’t salivate at the mere thought. So, here to make your mouth water once again, are our 2015 picks for the best green chile cheeseburgers around New Mexico:
ALBUQUERQUE
Admittedly, there are so many restaurants in Albuquerque that serve up delicious green chile cheeseburgers that it was hard to pick just one. But, after some tough choices, we decided on Bob’s Burgers, a no-frills joint that offers one of the cheesiest, spiciest and juiciest burgers in town. Their chile has a reputation for being scorching hot—like, it’ll make a local’s nose run—so order it on the side if you want to play it safe.
BELEN/LOS LUNAS
It might seem funny to nominate a locally-owned chain, but if you’ve ever had “a Blake’s,” you understand. Their green chile cheeseburger is so good it wakes you up in the middle of the night with a serious craving. Plus, their burgers are easy to hold, don’t fall apart or get mushy, and the ingredients are always fresh. The green chile is super hot, so it’s a good thing they don’t douse them with it—but don’t worry, they still give a hearty helping.
LAS VEGAS
Landmark Grill (inside the Historic Plaza Hotel)
It’s doubtful the green chile cheeseburger existed when the Historic Plaza Hotel, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was first built in 1882. But that doesn’t stop their version of our state’s greatest sandwich from tasting like years of New Mexico flavor and tradition. It’s juicy, cheesy and ever so spicy. It’s so hot in fact, that you’ll be raring to go if someone challenges you to a gunfight…
RIO RANCHO
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company
There’s no better way to enjoy a green chile cheeseburger than with a nice, cold, locally-brewed beer—especially when the chile packs some heat, like Turtle Mountain’s. They aptly call their green chile cheeseburger, “Sun Mountain,” as it comes piled sky high with turkey, ham, green chile, provolone, cheddar, tomato, onion and garlic mayo on a hoagie roll.
SANTA FE
This one is kind of a cheat, but not really. Tune-Up Café, a funky little bistro where the locals go, does not have “green chile cheeseburger” on their menu explicitly. You can, however, order the necessary ingredients à la carte for a minor upcharge. It’s the brioche bun and locally-raised beef that make this burger a winner. It’s sturdy but soft when you bite into it, and the beef is so fresh it makes your mouth water.
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So, we’ve told you our picks, now we want to know yours. Where is your go-to spot for a green chile cheeseburger? (If you don’t get our newsletter, subscribe here).
A New Mexican Perspective
