Some Beloved Culinary Differences

Whether you’re sitting down for breakfast, lunch, or a happy hour cocktail in The City Different, delight in Santa Fe’s unique takes.

Why have plain old eggs, when you can have Huevos Rancheros!? Served on a platter—the only conveyance that could tame this feast—the Huevos Rancheros (Spanish for rancher’s eggs) is fit for a ravenous sightseer. Generally built on the foundation of fried corn tortillas, an egg is prepared to your wishes and doused in red or green chile (or “Christmas”) amid a healthy dose of refried or whole black or pinto beans, and topped with salty, crumbly cotija cheese. Garnish can be diced tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, or avocado slices. Although Huevos Rancheros’ roots are in rural Mexico, this hearty meal appears everywhere!

Why have a plain old margarita, when you can have a Red Chile Rimmed Margarita!? The City Different has long been a margarita hotspot, but this spicy addition to the classic salted rim releases your endorphins before quenching the fire with delicious lime and tequila goodness. (Passionate about margaritas of all types? Get yourself on the Santa Fe Margarita Trail, a self-guided tour of 40+ of the best margs at the most popular restaurants in Santa Fe. Download the app or purchase a Passport at one of TOURISM Santa Fe’s Visitors Centers.)

Why have a plain old burger, when you can have a Green Chile Cheeseburger!? We all have our preferred burger toppings— bacon and blue cheese or classic lettuce, onion, and tomato—but in Santa Fe nothing tops off a perfectly cooked cheeseburger like green chile, so much so that The City Different has an annual competition known as the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown to determine which local eatery will reign supreme. In 2021, The Inn & Spa at Loretto’s Luminaria won the Peoples’ Choice Award!