VOTING BEGINS MAY 1ST

MONICA’S EL PORTAL RESTAURANT $

321 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, (505) 247-9625

Traditional New Mexican favorites make up the menu at this Old Town staple that has been around for 34 years. Monica’s roasts its own green chile, makes biscochitos from scratch and offers red chile straight from the pod.

MONROE’S RESTAURANT $

6051 Osuna Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 881-4224, monroeschile.com

More than 50 years after opening its doors south of Old Town, Monroe’s continues to serve reliable New Mexican favorites to a local fan base, and service around here is a team effort, so no glass goes unfilled.

MONTE CARLO STEAKHOUSE $$$

3916 Central Ave. SW, (505) 836-9886

The iconic steakhouse meets liquor store has been featured on the Food Network and boasts some of the best steaks in the city. Since 1971, locals always come back for hand-cut steaks, house-made Greek salad dressing, freshly cut fries, and a mean green chile cheeseburger.

MONTE VISTA FIRE STATION $

3201 Central Ave. NE, (505) 255-2424

Once an actual working fire station, this second-floor restaurant now offers traditional bar food, wings, and nightly specials. Choose from tasty chicken wings and burgers, or order from the restaurant downstairs—they’ll bring your steak to you.

MR. TOKYO $$

11200 Montgomery Blvd. NE, (505) 292-4728

Soak up the cool Zen-like atmosphere while enjoying six versions of fried rice, sushi, sashimi, tempura, hibachi, grilled udon, soups, and teriyaki spiced with fiery Thai chili peppers.

MUSTANG CAFÉ $

8601 Lomas Blvd. NE, (505) 275-4477

Perfect for anyone shopping at the Rich Ford car dealership—or anyone at all—is this auto-themed restaurant, which serves up homemade breakfast burritos, papitas, enchiladas, rellenos, tamales, and the Dennis Snyder Favorite: a 16-oz. sirloin patty with cheese and chile.

NAGOMI RESTAURANT $

2400 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, (505) 298-3081 nagomirestaurantabq.com

The Nagomi menu is virtually overrun with Japanese culinary classics. Nagomi is also one of the few places in Albuquerque where you can go to indulge in shabu-shabu, a Japanese-style hot pot.

NAMASTE $

1580 Deborah Rd. SE plus 1 other metro location (505) 896-3126, namastenm.net

Offering authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes—including chicken tikka masala and lamb curry—Namaste also serves traditional food with a New Mexico twist, such as the green chile chicken curry.

NAPOLI COFFEE $

3035 Menaul Blvd NE (505) 884-5454, napolicoffee.com

A diversified menu of caffeinated companions means something for everyone at Napoli Coffee. Currently located on Menaul, Napoli aims to please and cater to guest requests, so the possibilities and drink combinations are seemingly endless. In addition to coffee, they also offer a variety of freshly made sandwiches, wraps, and breakfast burritos.

NARUTO $

2110 Central Ave. SE

(505) 369-1039, narutonoodle.com

Who knew Ramen noodles could be so creative, so diverse, and so darn good. Naruto is reinventing the Ramen noodle with specialized dishes that can’t be found anywhere else in the city.

NEXUS BREWERY $$

4730 Pan American Fwy NE, Ste D plus 1 other metro location (505) 242-4100, nexusbrewery.com

If the made-to-order fried chicken and waffles and mac and cheese has you drooling, reach for one of Nexus’ brewed in-house beers.

NEXUS BLUE SMOKEHOUSE $$

1511 Broadway Blvd SE

(505) 445-1545, smokehouse.nexusbrewery. com

Tender and mouthwatering meat, Nexus uses the blue smoke method. With favorites like burnt ends and pulled pork sandwiches, tangy sides, and perfectly paired brews, Nexus Blue Smokehouse achieves top of the line status.

OAK TREE CAFÉ $$$

4545 Alameda Blvd. NE (505) 830-2233, cafeoaktree.com

This hometown café has served a lot of locals over the past 30 years, and the current venue on Alameda is great at the basics, including burgers, sandwiches, and salads, made fresh, in-house every day.

OHANA HUT $

5740 Night Whisper Rd. NW

(505) 508-4439, ohanahut.com

Family owned and operated Ohana Hut means “Family Hut.” It specializes in Hawaiian, Japanese, and Korean flavors to create an Asian fusion menu with a New Mexican twist.

OLD TOWN PIZZA PARLOR $$

108 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (505) 999-1949, oldtownpizzaabq.com

This comfy, funky, family-owned restaurant serves tasty pies, huge calzones, and portions of pasta that won’t ever leave you hungry.

OLO DESSERT STUDIO $

3339 Central Ave. NE, Ste C-3 (505) 750-4656, olodessertstudio.com

Nothing is as sweet as a guilt-free treat. In the same building as Staples in Nob Hill, Olo features a Candylandesque interior, complete with 10 flavor choices and a saladbar-sized toppings bar.

O’HARE’S GRILLE & PUB $$

4100 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho (505) 896-0123, oharesgrillepub.com

With a menu that is centered around the idea that variety is the key to success, O’Hare’s offers pub fare in a familyfriendly atmosphere. Try the Corned Beef and Cabbage special, O’Hare’s Double Decker Reuben, or the staple Fish and Chips, for a truly Irish experience.

O’NIELL’S PUB $$

4310 Central Ave. SE plus 1 other metro location (505) 255-6782, oniells.com

O’Niell’s boasts the same neighborhood feeling, many of the same staffers, and virtually the same menu (including the “weird sandwich,” the “burger in paradise,” and homemade fish and chips). Added: an outdoor patio and more beer choices.

O RAMEN $ 2114 Central Ave. SE, (505) 508-1897

Yes, the Duke City has the real thing. O Ramen’s Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) spends 18 hours on the stovetop before it blesses your bowl; expect plenty of options for vegetarians and Japanese curry lovers, to boot.

ORCHID THAI CUISINE $ 4300 Central Ave. SE (505) 265-4047, orchidabq.com

Orchid Thai has been serving hungry Albuquerqueans traditional dishes like Pad Thai at its Nob Hill location for more than a decade. But this award-winning eatery goes beyond the traditional with unique dishes like deep-fried sesame duck, green tea curry, and Szechwan eggplant, all made from scratch.

THE OWL CAFÉ $$ 800 Eubank Blvd. NE (505) 291-4900, owlcafealbuquerque.com

World-famous green chile cheeseburgers, milkshakes, fajitas, quesadillas, meatloaf, burritos, fries… the list of great drool-worthy dishes goes on and on.

PACIFIC PARADISE TROPICAL GRILL AND SUSHI BAR $$ 3000 San Pedro Dr. NE, (505) 881-0999 pacific-paradise-restaurant-abq.com

Faux palms and tiki huts frame a menu filled with more than 100 options: salads, soups, stir-fry, seafood, fried rice, noodles, sushi, and dessert menu. Try the Seafood Rice Pizza or Rock ‘n’ Roll Sushi.

PADILLA’S MEXICAN KITCHEN $ 1510 Girard Blvd. NE, (505) 262-0115

It might not get any more New Mexican than it does at Padilla’s—from huevos rancheros and tamales to chile rellenos and egg-topped blue corn enchiladas. You may have to shake your head after a taste of the chile just to remind yourself you’re not in your grandmother’s kitchen. A sopaipilla dripping with honey will seal the deal for your traditional meal.