Padilla's Mexican Kitchen

I've been coming here for over 20 years and my favorite thing is it's consistency! 20 years later and the food is the same, service is always great and the prices are still extremely reasonable. We got the beef taco plate and the cheese enchilada plate. Each plate typically comes with rice, beans, and two sopapillas. The chili is great if you can handle spice and the sopapillas are some of the best I've ever had. It's a very casual neighborhood spot where locals are known by name. It's also a cash only restaurant so make sure you stop by an ATM first!

What a great find!! This mom & pop place was packed with regulars and travelers. The parking lot was filled. The people kept coming in so we knew this place must have been great. We were seated in one of the last tables. Service was really fast with beverages and free chips and salsa before our order. We saw the size of the plate dishes. They were huge. We went a la carte ordering one beef and one chicken enchilada no onions. Both dishes come with Sopaipillas. The orders came super quick. Both were smothered with cheese and a special homemade green sauce e came with it. The sauce was delicious as were the enchiladas. Loved the Sopaipillas too! Our new favorite place in Albuquerque! They open Monday thru Friday 11am-7pm. With all the business they get, there is no need for them to be open on the weekends.

Finally made it here. Super good red chile, love a place that can actually make rice. Sopapillas were wonderful. Only downside is cash only. I would go way more often if I could pay electronically.

The real deal. And really good. Located in a small strip center, Padilla's may not look like much--but looks can be so misleading. Best place in the city.Real deal northern New Mexican cooking. The carne adovada is beyond tender and the red chile sauce is even better. Love that spicy potatoes are aside rather than run of the mill Spanish rice. The pintos are cooked or so perfect--family recipes rule!As do the sopapillas--just the best around, not just in ABQ but Santa Fe too. Light, crunchy not chewy.And the beer rules--because it is COLD.And the service rules too. This place can get very busy but the staff keeps it humming, some how.It is cash only--keeps the riff raff out.

Updated: It's not my favorite New Mexican in Albuquerque, but it's not bad; actually, it's very good. I've been going here for well over 30 years (started going while attending law school nearby) and it's certainly been line-out-the-door popular the whole time. Small, fairly crowded rooms, but it's friendly like family and neighbors and they will find room for you pretty quick. Major downside is that it's still cash ONLY (or check - but no credit/debit). Giant PITA that generally keeps me from visiting and keeps Padilla's from the fifth star on this review. Not very large portions, but we could all use a little less, right? Beer and (awful) wine only. Prices are up, as they are everywhere: an additional hassle with the cash-only nonsense. They appear to once again be making their red from pods and the quality of the red is once-again top-notch. I know Norteños in their nineties who still come often; Padilla's is solid enough to attract clientele who know chile. Flat-out FANTASTIC service. And their sopaipillas are the most consistently best in town. Get in early to beat the lines.

We don't get here as often as I'd like. But here we are today. They're busy the parking lot is crazy and almost full. One recent addition to parking lot is an ATM. Great for those who forget to bring cash. Fortunately the restaurant wasn't as busy and seats were available. Our service was excellent, I ordered the bean & meat burrito. Came loaded with meat and fresh refried beans. The tamale plate came with 2 tamales, well seasoned meat without being being covered in too much masa. The food was delicious and keeps us coming back for more.

Padilla's has been around for decades. Off the beaten path on Girard south of Indian School this place has a devoted following. Open at 1100 hours we arrived at 1110 and there were only 3 tables still available. By 1130 there was a wait line forming outside. The Juevos were cooked perfectly but the Chile was absolutely the focal point of the meal. But the green and the red had this unmistakable 'just got roasted' taste that's hard to describe. Suffice it to say Padilla's chile is the BOMB! And what a nice touch each meal came with 2 hot fresh Sopapillas. No question we'll be back sooner than later, that's for sure.

I found this spot good enough to visit twice on this trip. The red chile is very good. The sopapillas are outstanding and I was so happy that they made a Carne Adovado sopapilla with red on the side. Then I tossed in a relleno and a cup of Green Chile posole to round out my meal. My first bowl of posole was devine but the second visit it was mediocre, not consistent. The carnitas were very good on Thursday. The service is quick and the ladies may be a tad forgetful but are so darn cute they get a pass. Tables are full at 5 pm so be ready to wait. CASH ONLY! Average table is $20 per person.

First time here yesterday for lunch. Quite a popular place, as it was packed and we waited about 20 minutes for our food. I ordered the red chile bowl with beans and sopapilla. Delicious, spicy and hot but good! Will return to try their enchiladas. This place is legit!

Staff made you feel like family. I walked in 5 minutes before they closed and they were so nice about serving me. The food was wonderful! It's in a strip mall but it's worth stopping in.