Serves meat, vegan options available. Has vegetarian options that can be made vegan. The chiles and beans are vegan. Try the spinach enchiladas. Open Mon-Sun 11:00am-9:00pm.
Category: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Ovo, Beer/Wine, Mexican, Non-veg
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Reviews (17)
First Review by Retro Housewife
Contributions +16
Crowded, loud... meh - Edit
First visit tonight and not sure I will be back. This is a restaurant that appears to be inside an old house and the tables are so close together we were literally bumped throughout our entire meal by the people seated on either side of us.
The restaurant is clean but has NO sound deadening material, so it is loud like a bar. We had to raise our voices to the point of yelling just to hear simple phrases.
Service was very fast. Like, we thought server was bringing chips and salsa but it was our food. They don't bring chips and salsa... what? We ordered some but it was nothing special.
I had the vegetarian blue corn enchiladas without cheese. Server was not helpful when I asked if it could be made vegan. He just nodded yes and looked at the other person at my table for their order. I had to confirm that he was removing cheese, etc. Given the positive reviews here, I assumed it would be easier.
When the food came, the potatoes were fabulous. Beans were not great. The enchiladas were very one dimensional and the spice level of the filling was much hotter than expected - I didn't even taste the green choke sauce on the outside.
Overall, the ambiance was loud and uncomfortable, the service was nothing special, the food was not memorable, and I was just glad to pay the bill and leave.
Maybe I was having a bad night and they were, too? My dining companion had similar thoughts to share when I asked. I'm generously giving 3-stars.
Pros: 2 vegetarian options
Cons: loud, crowded, not flavorful; just spicy
Contributions +28
Delicious but hot! - Edit
The vegan enchiladas and sopapillas are awesome but I get the chile on the side because it's too hot for me. Be careful once you go you'll get hooked.
Contributions +45
Great Vegan-friendly New Mexican food - Edit
El Patio is our favorite restaurant for veg-friendly New Mexican Food. Item number 0, the veggie enchiladas, is fantastic. Not sure if it is vegan by default (might have cheese?), but the waiters know what vegan means and can modify many dishes to be vegan upon request. The staff and owner are super friendly.
Pros: vegan-friendly, nice staff
Contributions +11
One of best New Mexican vegan cuisines - Edit
I live in Albuquerque and as a vegan this is, I think, the very best for sampling New Mexico's state specific cuisine. The chile is divine and if you order number 0 (that is what it is on the menu) you will be quite pleased. You do need to remember to order it without cheese. I order it smothered in Red Chile (divine!). The tortillas are blue corn. The potatoes are not fried and really good. Beans are great too!
Contributions +273
Bad service - Edit
Okay, I had to do a total update today. Last time I went there the food was good, nice patio seating, plenty of vegan options, no issues.
I tried to go today, but we were ignored for 15 minutes (as other tables around us who were seated after us were served) so we gave up and left. That was annoying, but I guess the servers were overworked or distracted or something. However, as we quietly stood up to leave, the man who should have been our server smiled at us as we left. It felt VERY unwelcoming. I don't know what the issue was, but I won't be back. It was very disappointing.
Updated from previous review on Friday April 17, 2015
Pros: Vegan options, Nice patio
Cons: Service, Parking can be a hassle downtown
Contributions +9
Abuse - Edit
The food is actually pretty good, as are the employees. However the owner is very abusive to his employees. If he happens to be in a bad mood or someone makes a minor mistake, he is verbally and emotionally abusive, screaming at you over the phone. I attribute this to personality and alcoholism. His son, who comes in to work occasionally, drinks on the job and drives away drunk. I am an avid supporter of local businesses, but I will never be a patron of this place knowing that the owner takes advantage of his position of "power" by mistreating his employees who are just trying to make a living.
Pros: friendly and efficient staff, real honey, Good sopapillas
Cons: abusive owner, use hands to serve chips and lettuce
Contributions +26
Delicious!! - Edit
This was my first visit to Albuquerque and I'm thrilled to have found El Patio! I love spicy flavorful food and this green sauce was AMAZING! I had the blue corn enchiladas. I was in need of a hearty protein meal and there were plenty of beans & potatoes to fill me up and clean up all the extra green sauce. Thanks for the friendly service too! :-) Oh, I had take out since it was getting late and I wanted to enjoy in the peace of my hotel room. Unlike what many have said - they do accept credit cards. :-)
Pros: tasty food, quick service, vegan options
Contributions +16
Love it - Edit
El Patio is one of my fav restaurants in ABQ. Not the hottest chile in town, but great flavor. Great vegetarian adaptations of NM classics.
Pros: Staff, Food
Cons: Can get crowded, as its not big.
Contributions +20
Love it! - Edit
I love El Patio! Not only is rare to find New Mexican chili in a restaurant that has no meat products in it, but it's also some of the best NM food in town. I love taking visitors there who have only been to Sadie's or the other tourist traps. They all say El Patio is so much better! Great vegan options, and I have been told on multiple occasions that the sopapillas are vegan, so maybe the other reviewer just got a new waiter that day. They also accept Credit Cards now.
Pros: Good food, hole in the wall atmosphere, live guitar some evening
Contributions +39
The Best in Albuquerque! - Edit
I first went to El Patio when I was visiting here trying to decide to move. It was my first experience of New Mexican food and I was sold. The burrito with green and red chile sauce is amazingly good, but definitely not for someone who doesn't like spice. I'd recommend this place to anyone. My Husband gets the stuffed sopapilla with red sauce and loves it. Now that
we live here we try to eat here about twice a month.
*Update - they take credit/debit cards now!
Updated from previous review on Monday May 03, 2010
Pros: Great Chile Sauce, Live Music, Good Value
Cons: Small , Crowded
Contributions +4
Mediocre food in a dishonest atmosphere! - Edit
EL Patio has Mediocre New Mexican food and they only take cash! Cash only isn't posted anywhere. At the end of the meal you are told to use the fee charging ATM in the back of the restaurant. ONE WORD! SCAM! My food was overcooked, the cheese was hard, like it had been microwaved to long. I will not be returning.
Pros: Location, clean bathroom, patio
Cons: bad service, cash only, mediocre food
1 Response
sporkna 01 Jul 2016 - El Patio takes credit cards.
Contributions +148
Great food but no vegan sopapillas(?) - Edit
I was excited to try the vegan sopapillas that everyone here raved about, but our waitress told us that they are not vegan. So I ordered a veggie combo and the bean taco and avocado burrito were the superstars of this platter. Nice outdoor patio. Overall a good experience
Pros: bean taco, avocado burrito, patio
Cons: are sopapillas vegan?
Contributions +4
Fantastic - Edit
By far,One of the best places to eat in Albuquerque.Wonderful tasteing food,YOU WILL WANT TO GO BACK!!!!!
Pros: Every thing is good
Cons: None
Contributions +30
Very New Mexican - Edit
I love this place. About half the menu is vegetarian with some vegan options. The green chili rocks- if you are not used to some heat, get it on the side. The Vegetarian Burrito with avocado is my favorite, much lighter than the other dishes. This is a local favorite with it's own unique atmoshere.
Pros: great food, good value, genuine New Mexican
Contributions +163
good meal - Edit
Had a decent vegan meal here. Felt really healthy since there was no dairy. Sopapillos were really good - warm and light.
Contributions +11
Killer New Mexican Food! - Edit
As a native New Mexican, there are few places I recommend as the real deal. For over 15 years El Patio is one of them and absolutely the most veg-friendly restaurant in ABQ for NM cuisine. My carnivorous friends love it too! The place is a landmark and always busy due to their consistently good food.
Pros: Delicious meatless Red a Green chile, Consistent, Mexican beer!
Contributions +16
Vegan al Fresco - Edit
Great food, great patio, wonderful vegan options. Their chile sauces are amazing as is there house made salsa and sopapillas. Delicious!
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