Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

Padilla's Mexican Kitchen Restaurant Review:

Padilla's is a family-run New Mexican restaurant that has been serving up tostadas, tamales, tacos and more to the generations of Albuquerqueans who gladly wait in line for a table in the plain but sunny pair of dining rooms. Once you’re seated among the hordes, your server automatically brings a bowl of medium-hot salsa and a basket of toasted tortilla chips. Munch on those while you narrow your choices down to a couple of favorites, including huevos rancheros served with beans and rice. Another traditional dish consists of plain cheese enchiladas swimming in red chile and topped with a basted egg. Come on a Thursday for carnitas with papas (fried potatoes) and quelites (sautéed greens much like spinach. Perhaps best of all, you can wash down your feast with beer or wine (which isn’t always the case in the city’s homier local favorites). But what you don’t want to do is come here on the weekend or without cash --- in either case you’ll be out of luck. Forget dessert --- just squeeze a bit of honey into one of the sopaipillas that accompany every meal and you won’t miss it one bit.