Es Que Market

This place is fabulous. The chef is inspired using simple locally sourced ingredients to create complex flavors. The food is wholesome and nutritious and tastes GREAT.How often do you get to say "the coleslaw is to die for"?The slab of brisket in my sandwich was tender and tasty!

It had been a minute, but I was really craving an El Hongo sandwich so today was a perfect day to stop in. As the owner David would say, there's nothing else like it.Es Que is such a gem when it comes to the downtown lunch scene. Everything is super local when it comes to their ingredients and just the overall flavor.I've had a variety of dishes, but my absolute favorite is El Hongo which is basically a mushroom barbecue sandwich. The taste is so unique and I love mushrooms.

Unique sandwich bistro, good wholesome food. Well done! Patio and inside seating, casual dining. Locally sourced ingredients, NM True!

When I come to Albuquerque I ALWAYS make sure I stop into this incredible spot. The food is a unique blend of NM traditional cuisine with an artistic use of bold flavors and ingredients. You won't find options like this anywhere else, especially for the reasonable cost. The atmosphere is warm, cultured and vibrant. I love the environment cultivated here. The love for NM isn't just seen it's felt. What initially brought me in? The owners. They are knowledgeable, they are hospitable, they are inspiring and they are for the people. They work with local farmers and outside of their establishment they are on the forefront of ensuring children in NM have access to quality nutrition, especially inside the school system. They are also advocates at the legislative level for local farmers. I love Es Que Market!

The shop is lovely and bright. The service was excellent. But the food! Wow! I have had: chamaco sandwich (all the cheese!) el hongo (shrooms), el hongo taco, & chilaquiles and they were all outstanding. But my favorite was my beloved atole with almond milk and piñon on top, felt like home!

Artisanal food - that sounds shi-shi, doesn't it? Well, it's not at Es Que . . . very delicious, reasonably priced, served in a calm space by a fellow who's an artist in the kitchen and a kind, caring person as well. House made bread, pickles, meats, atole . . . wow, and done differently than you've had before: you'll order something familiar but be able to enjoy it as something new. Downside is the parking, but what are you gonna do? You can pay by credit card online or you can walk a block and park for free. But Es Que is good enough that you don't care: you'll want to return soon - and to bring new folks who've yet to eat here.

On rare occasions we've all come across that one place where a 5-star rating is not good enough. This is one of those places. It's not always about the finished product - its ingredients, and attitude. I'm not inclined to look for places downtown during the week, parking sux - this was no exception. You have basically 2 choices pay lot or pay street. But 25 5-star reviews could make it worth the trip. We walked into an art covered aged building - refreshing considering the abundance of modern bldgs in the area. Hit the counter to place our order, the Carnal (trans: brother, pal, friend) sandwich & Pajarito Verde. Add a Apple-Mint tea - plenty of mint in this one. The Carnal is a brisket sandwich with slaw & pressed panini style. The brisket is thin sliced and spends a little time in the grill before being added to the sandwich. It was delicious! The little green bird was a chicken salad served along side a green salad with a little vinaigrette. Plenty of tender chicken and great taste. After our meal we were able to have a nice conversation with David S, the owner, cashier, cook, dishwasher and busboy. He has a background in food from a very young age - hanging at his family's restaurants since he was 4. He has an extensive background in food service. All of his food is locally sourced, and organic where possible. His relationship with these sources means David knows how the food supplying his restaurant is raised. Does it make a difference? Yes - in taste. He gives back to the community too. David was instrumental in starting a healthy meal project in APS - balanced & healthy meals replaced junk food common in many school lunches. The food was great but that's just one reason for a return trip. You owe it to yourself to try a meal here. This is the real deal and worthy of a 5+ stars. If you're not interested in downtown during the week they're open weekends.

I don't make it to restaurants downtown very frequently but this cute place with its yummy food made from scratch gives me a good reason to come back more often!I ordered the Pajarito sandwich which was shredded chicken, local greens, and garlic-lemon aioli. I liked it! The potato salad on the side was excellent. It had a few slivers of pickled onions and green chile on top. A nice touch. Be warned that the green chile had a bite to it! And speaking of pickles, the ones on the side were very fresh. David, the owner makes the pickles, grows mushrooms, and has a hand in about everything in between- so you're in for a treat! The bread the sandwiches came on was very good with a nice texture. My lunch companion had the Iced Dirty Chai and he said it was good. It had coffee in it and a choice of oat, almond, or cow milk. I had the apple ginger herb tea. Also good but I'm more of a black and unsweetened tea person. The atmosphere was very pleasant. Lots of room, which I like. There were t-shirts for sale and interesting people to watch walking by. I liked the time we spent there. Unfortunately, parking was metered but you expect that downtown. David was great and happy to fill us in about his business and background. We even got a very interesting peek at how he grows mushrooms. He has been in the food business a very long time and he clearly has a passion for it.

I charge my electric car at their solar-powered charger and get drinks and sandwiches inside. Those sandwiches are tasty and reasonably priced. Fast and friendly service, often by the owner himself!

Fresh, super yummy homemade food. Beautiful location, lots of light. Food is made to order and can take a few minutes, but it is worth it. Call ahead or order online if you are in a hurry.Many ingredients are locally sourced. The menu includes classics like breakfast burritos, but also mushroom tacos and an excellent chicken salad.