Check out this Best Diners Along New Mexico’s Route 66 trip by Steller on Steller!

Best Diners Along New Mexico’s Route 66Move over Guy Fieri, these iconic diners on Route 66 are serving up the perfect blend of classic American food with a New Mexico twist! Save these spots to get your fill of flavors like green chile cheeseburgers and huevos rancheros. It’s not just a meal on this road trip—it’s a taste of history! AuthorsSteller
DestinationsNew MexicoItinerary

Along Route 66

Owl Cafe
Reminiscent of the 1950s with its neon lights and vintage decor, this iconic diner is famous for its green chile cheeseburgers—a spicy twist on the American classic.
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66 Diner
Neon signs, classic diner fare like burgers and shakes, as well as fusion dishes like burritos covered with red or green chile, eating here will transport you back to the '50s, the golden era of New Mexico's Route 66. This spot is complete with an old-fashioned soda fountain and a working jukebox! 🍔🎶🛼
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Frontier
Stopping for a meal here requires an order of the famous green chile stew paired with a mega-cinnamon roll! A little bit sweet, a little bit salty and spicy. Located near the University of New Mexico, it is a favorite among students and locals alike.
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Duran Central Pharmacy
Famous for their authentic red and green chile, hand-rolled-to-order flour tortillas, and from-scratch tamales, enchiladas, and tacos, the New Mexican diner inside Duran's opened in the late 1960s and is still going strong!
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Laguna Burger
Laguna Burger is considered to have the best green chile cheeseburger in the world! The famous New Mexico chain prides itself on making its burgers with fresh, never frozen, half-pound ground beef and topping them with locally sourced produce and homegrown Hatch green chile. They also have soups, salads, sandwiches, onion ringsand hot dogs—try the Rio Puerco dog with queso blanco, and grilled jalapeños and onions. Cool off with a shake, lemonade, or a float!
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Rubee's Diner
Located in Tucumcari on Route 66, Rubee's is a quintessential diner that serves breakfast and lunch, and sources its food locally. People love their huevos rancheros and the chorizo burrito.
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Del's Restaurant
Feauturing an iconic neon sign complete with a Hereford bull on top and one-of-a-kind Route 66 memorobilia inside, Del's has been serving customers in Tucumcari since 1956. You can find authentic New Mexican food here alongside classic American diner food...and fusion recipes like the popular Mexican Chicken Fried Steak.
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La Cita Restaurant
Famous for the large colorful sombrero that sits atop the restaurant, this family-owned restaurant in Tucumcari serves authentic Mexican cuisine. Among its customers, the enchiladas, tamales, and chile rellenos served "Christmas style," with both red and green chile sauces, are highlights. 🌶️
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All Roads Cafe
Find All Roads Cafe along Route 66 just outside of Albuquerque in Edgewood for a delicious, and unique, lunch or dinner. You can order everything from a Caprese salad to a Hawaiian sandwich to the Cajun alfredo. People love their sandwiches, especially the Reuben. They also serve breakfast on Sundays. Tip: The churro cheesecake for dessert should not be skipped.
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Jerry's Cafe
If you're in Gallup, you'll instantly recognize Jerry's with its iconic and colorful neon sign out front. This classic family-owned and operated cafe was voted by locals to have the best green chile. The menu is focused on authentic New Mexican dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Popular choices include the Jerry's Special, featuring a ground beef patty smothered in chile sauce, or one of their stuffed sopaipillas.
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Cafe Pasqual's
This charming cafe is a Santa Fe classic! They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner using fresh organic fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, and homemade (daily!) baked goods. They also make their own organic ice creams. Customers rave about the chile relleno and their margaritas. Note that wait times can be long here, but it is in a great area for exploring, so put your name in and go walk around!
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The Pantry
Since 1948, this family-owned The Pantry has been a staple breakfast restaurant in Santa Fe...and they serve it all day long, alongside their lunch and dinner menus. You can try American, New Mexican, and fusion dishes—popular ones include the blue corn cinnamon pancakes and the huevos rancheros. Tip: Check out the mural of New Mexico inside The Pantry painted by French artist and illustrator, Jacques Liozu, who spent time in Santa Fe in the mid-20th century.
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Harry's Roadhouse
Thanks to an appearance on the Food Network TV show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," this spot has become popular, but it's not overhyped. Try the homemade pork butt scrapple with polenta just like Guy Fieri or opt for some true New Mexican flavors in their blue cornmeal waffles or Southwestern Migas with pickled jalapeños. The cinnamon rolls and Bloody Marys here are also legendary!
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Off of Route 66

Foxy's Drive In
If you're up for a little bit of a detour, this retro drive-in located about an hour and a half south of Tucumcari in Clovis doesn't look much different from when it first opened in 1956! And you still order right from your car. If you're feeling nostalgic, enjoy one of their American classics like the Ranchburger. But if you're looking for some fusion fare, try their jalapeño cheeseballs. 🎙️Fun fact: Rumor has it, this is where Buddy Holly and the Crickets used to eat when recording in Clovis at Norman Petty Recording Studios in the '50s and '60s.
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Legacy Café
If you're up for the hour-and-a-half drive to Taos, you'll find this charming cafe inside an adobe building replica adorned with fine art and vintage signs from the area. The specialty here is Taoseño comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—try the Casa Benavides baked eggs, Frito pie (get it "Christmas" style), and yogurt with fresh fruit and homemade granola.
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Charlie's Spic & Span Bakery & Café
Craving some authentic homestyle Mexican and New Mexican cooking? This bakery and cafe with fun retro decor in Las Vegas is worth the trip—about an hour from Santa Fe. They serve up huge portions, too, so arrive hungry. Try the carne adovada (New Mexico-style pork with red chile) or the green chile stew burrito, and handmade tortillas and tamales. From the bakery, why not order an "obscenely large" pastry like the maple donut.
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Sparky's Burgers, BBQ & Espresso
This fun and funky Hatch diner is known for its vintage, quirky decor and famous Hatch green chile cheeseburgers (and amazing shakes). Yes, it may be out of the way (about 2.5 hours south of Albuquerque), but it also might just be worth the drive as this spot truly captures the essence of New Mexico's chile culture. They also serve up house-smoked chopped brisket and pulled pork. Top it all off with a spicy strawberry and red chile lemonade!
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Lucy’s
As long as you're in Hatch, Lucy's is another spot that might be worth the drive. Located another 45 minutes south in Las Cruces, Lucy's is a classic diner known for their authentic New Mexican flavors. Popular dishes at this family-run cafe include their enchiladas, tamales, and chile rellenos.
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