El Bruno’s
8806 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87114
El Bruno’s Menu
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Aperitivos
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Ensaladas
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Platos De Pollo
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De la Parilla y el Mar
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Fajitas y Carnitas
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Enchiladas
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Tacos
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Antojitos Mexicanos
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Platos de Combinacion
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Burritos y Chimichangas
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Los Burgers
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Para Los Ninos
Healthy Meal suggestions for El Bruno’s
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Aperitivos
-
Ensaladas
-
Platos De Pollo
-
De la Parilla y el Mar
-
Fajitas y Carnitas
-
Enchiladas
-
Tacos
-
Antojitos Mexicanos
-
Platos de Combinacion
-
Burritos y Chimichangas
-
Los Burgers
-
Para Los Ninos
Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8806 4th St NW
Albuquerque, NM, 87114 - Phone (505) 897-0444
- Website https://www.elbrunosabq.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Marqui R.
This place is yummy. I've been to this location twice for happy hour and they have the most amazing deals here. They offer draft beers as well as import beer specials. Their appetizers are really cheap and big enough to share. We all tried the nachos, tacitos, and sliders which were more of fajitas. I have also eaten at the location in Cuba on the way to Durango. Both restaurants have a cozy inviting atmosphere and great friendly service. Would definitely recommend for both happy hour and lunch/dinner.
(4)Tania S.
Robust, impressive, familiar: These are some of the words that come to mind when I think about the food I ate at El Bruno's. Having been my first dinner here, I was marvelously impressed with the tastes and the experience overall. For starters, the staff was so awesome and friendly. I love the classic feel of a Mexican restaurant, dimly lit, great music, perfect for a family, or a party of two. What makes it familiar to me is that it isn't a far stretch from all the great [New] Mexican restaurants I've been to all over the Southwest. Of course, grandma's makings will trump this place anyday, but in respect to El Bruno's: I am a big fan. This red chili... Let's talk about that! Robust, flavorful, delicious! I am still a chili newbie, but my goodness, this chili spread over what were my shredded beef enchiladas, made it to be an amazing dinner. The beef itself was seasoned exactly as I hoped. Rice and beans are a standard, but there's this unique flow to the meal, everything tastes so well - together. Also a first were trying sopapillas. I can't say very much except that I loved them and that yes, they did warrant a few extra miles on the treadmill. I valiantly thought it was worth the sacrifice. ;-) Fluffy, light, and drizzled with some honey... wow. Speechless. I need to get back here soon.
(5)Jimmy T.
Breakfast on Sunday - hash browns with bacon & cheese & eggs sunny side up - smothered with green chile. The chile con queso is some of the best I've ever eaten.
(5)Marie M.
We just flew into Albuquerque & we were staving. We saw online that someone had recommended this restaurant . We loved it! I had the best chicken enchilada with green & red sauce. I highly recommend :) We will be coming back & will sit outside under the crabapple tree.
(4)Brian B.
Very good New Mexican food place. They make good enchiladas with a good amount of "kick." I wasn't blown away by the sopapias at the end of the meal, but overall it was a delicious dinner and I'd go back again.
(4)Bella B.
This is always the best choice for authentic local New Mexican food in the most cozy and inviting atmosphere especially during the Christmas season, really enjoy the rich warm colors and the old world charm of El Bruno's. Attentive service is always exceptional especially having lovely conversations with "Hazel" who is such a down to earth elegant lady who has passion and love for her business and it shows in every way, she is always inviting to all her guest, a true unique "Diamond" in the restaurant industry! The food is delicious, fresh and absolutely delightful that you leave very full but "you'll go away loving every bite" and always will look forward to your return! BTW the prices are incredible also!
(5)Anita B.
We were invited to El Bruno's for a friend's birthday dinner. We had never been so I decided to check out the reviews on Yelp. A few of the reviews spoke highly of the red chile and the tableside guacamole. I love red chile AND guacamole so I was very encouraged by what I read. We were seated at a large table in main dining area. The area was very dark so a few of us at the table had to use the flashlight function on our phones to read the menu. We ordered the tableside guacamole to share and I decided on the stuffed sopapilla with shredded beef and red chile on the side. I like to order my chile on the side for 2 reasons, what if I don't like it and I don't like my food being drenched in it. Our guacamole was made at our table and other than too many onions in it, it was pretty good. Very fresh! My entrée arrived exactly as I ordered it. I put a little bit of the red chile on my sopapilla and I have to say I was not impressed. The shredded beef in my sopapilla on the other hand was delicious! The shredded beef had a ton of flavor and did not need any chile to compliment it. I pretty much ate all of my food which is not normal for me, that should tell you how much I enjoyed it. Overall the service was good, the prices were reasonable and my friend enjoyed her birthday dinner.
(3)Tony R.
I'm giving El Bruno three stars since I have had a decent experience here before. If this review was only focused on today i'd give it one star. The hostess had a sour attitude and was curt and obviously annoyed to be dealing with customers. Our waiter seemed super new and disappeared for most of the time we were here. Our drinks were pretty empty until a waiter from another section gave us a refill. Our fajitas were the saddest example I have ever seen. Nothing was really cooked and it was 60% green bell pepper. I may not come again.
(3)Brian O.
I had the Chile Rellenos dinner. The batter they use is lighter than many places. It went really well with the Green and Red chile. I'd order it again. My wife had the Sonora Salad. She said that it was a very good Salad also.
(5)Isaac R.
An amazing meal. Had the combination plate and everything was so tasty. Great drinks as well.
(5)Hammer F.
Solid food and good margaritas. This would be a 5 star place in any town but ABQ. Service was prompt and friendly. Ambiance is above average. Good place for kids. I had enchiladas con pollo. Pretty good, but par for ABQ. My margarita was above par; however I usually opt for the Presidente / Cadillac / or whatever top shelf version avail. Will return.
(4)Jenn W.
This place has one of my most favorite dishes - carnitas con Papitas. Tasty and tender steak bites + well seasoned potatoes + red chile sauce = deliciousness. I don't really get much else here (it is on the pricer side at $15) because I love this so much. The service is spotty and if you come here when it's busy your odds of good service sink big time. It's also a little out of the way location wise. However, it's the perfect spot to feed my craving!
(3)Jacob M.
Bomb margaritas! Awesome salsa, Hot! Loved it, had the chicken enchiladas with red chile and an egg on top! Very awesome! Loved it. Brought family that came from San Francisco and they loved it as well, they wanted some good New Mexican Food! Yum---
(5)Rich B.
I had dinner here last night. This is the old Gardunos. The service was good and everyone was nice. I had the brisket enchiladas. The brisket itself was flavored very well. The corn tortillas were a little mushy, probably from soaking up the red chile. I've been to other places that do nothing but cook their brisket without spices. My wife had the stuffed sopapilla, which she raved about. The red chile was okay. I will more than likely go back.
(3)Dave D.
Great atmosphere, slightly above average food and a so-so margharita. Service was quick and attentive, something I always look for. The place was very crowded, but we were seated quickly and served promptly. The food was hot, the beer was cold, what more could you ask for? I had the carnitas, which were cooked to perfection and tasted great. The rice on the other hand was a bit too wet for me and the beans were sloppy and not enough lard. The tortillas, chips, salsa and sopapillas were excellent!
(4)Maria G.
True New Mexican food. We take our out of town guests here all the time. The flavors are always well developed and the service is consistent. The player for two is the best deal on the menu!
(5)MG M.
I am super surprised to see the mixed reviews here, but my review is based on having a drink at the bar with chips & salsa. And then we decided to get an appetizer. So on to the details: the beau and I went to El Bruno last night for a quick little drink date. We both got a margarita (duh), made by Dave, the friendly bartender; it wasn't on the menu, but it was fresh lime juice, silver patron, and grand marnier on the rocks, salt for him, none for me. Delicious, and it was $8.95. $8.95, y'all. That is completely reasonable. The chips were solid, and the salsa was fresh with lots of kick--fresh jalapeño & tiny chunks of tomato. We decided to go for the nachos, without meat, and they were incredibly delicious--flavorful green chile, pinto beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream & guac on the side so you can eat it as needed. Those were $8. $8, kids. I didn't check out the actual menu or order actual dinner, so I can't comment on the price, quality, or flavor, but when we left, both of us felt like we had just eaten Thanksgiving dinner we were so ridiculously full. Everyone was friendly, everything I put in my mouth was incredible, and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Devin B.
A great place to get some good NM flavor! All in all it was great, you can't really go wrong with what you get. Tacos, burritos, etc, etc. But it was the NM flavor that really made this place good. One thing we really enjoyed is ordering guacamole with our chips. They come to your table with the ingredients and make the guacamole in front of you. That was fun and the guacamole was very good and creamy. The atmosphere was really cozy and authentic. We went soon after Christmas and enjoyed the decor as it made it that much nicer.
(4)Jesse W.
The pollo adovo was amazing. The fried spinach and potatoes were excellent as well. A local colleague recommended this place, and I was very thankful!
(5)Brandon R.
Not worth the price. Service was the slowest I have ever had. I understand the service though...they get you super hungry so you can eat the food. I think there would have been better flavor in a can of cat food. The best part of the visit is when asked how everything was and I said alright the manager/ owner/ whoever asked why I told her and she says, "you know in the restaurant business you can't make excuses but, here's one, we had a party of 25 walk in and we only have one server, it will be better next time." THERE WONT BE A NEXT TIME.
(1)Ken P.
Really nice place, great people and fantastic green chile enchiladas! I'll do this place again and again.
(4)Howie K.
I heard about this place from my Manhattan momma, who'd visited the original in Cuba and absolutely raved about the food. She said the owner up north was saddened by the prospect of possibly closing shop up there, but was looking forward to a new birth in ABQ. Considering I've never had a solid plate of native eats in Cuba I'll certainly put the original on my To Chow list, but here in the 505 I'm debating another visit. I loved sitting alone at my table scrolling through the reviews of the joint while my waiter patiently pretended like he didn't care that my gaze was preoccupied by a digital device. The service was terrific, an experienced guy, loved him, he kept my iced tea full and was very attentive. But the reviews were rather captivating, written by people I personally knew, raves and boos across the board. El Bruno's has an especially reasonably priced lunch menu and I chose a ground beef burrito with red chile, because everyone raved about the red. So yo, our collective traditional tastes are really subjective. I wasn't thrilled with the red. It wasn't the earthy stuff my spoiled taste buds have devoured from places like Tia Betty Blues or Monica's El Portal, but hey, that's simply my thang. And I didn't find the salsa to be extraordinary, but it says a lot that this place won Best Of, apparently it's a crowd pleaser. Didn't have a margarita, can't comment. I added a side salad because I do think lunch should include greens, quite tasty. Ultimately, lunch was just fine. And dinner, well, those price points are tough to justify a visit. But what do I know of the plates? Nothing. Overall, a truly local establishment and oh Hey-soos, the ambiance here, it's worth the inflated cost. Absolutely gorgeous inside. Kissable.
(3)Boom F.
Honestly your best bet for nm food is moms or grandmas house. But if you're a gringo or have gringo friends. Take them here. Order beef tacos, side of green chile and a tecate. Salsa is right heat for gringos and even though I ordered tacos Ala carte they still brought sopapillas! This all for about 10 bucks. Love this spot!
(4)Ally G.
Okay food. However for happy hour specials you MUST sit in the BAR... They do Not advertise this its a little surprise once you get your ticket! Owners are unapologetic to the fact they mislead on specials and prices. It's not about the money it's the principal of the situation.
(2)Kendall A.
Tequila lime chicken!!!! I don't think I have ever ordered any other dish at Bruno's, though I have tasted others from plates of folks at my table. Pretty much everything they make is darn tasty, but that tequila lime chicken is just ambrosia! It's a big enough plate you really need to either share or be prepared to take half home. Everything about it is wonderful - the side is flash-fried spinach. SO DELICIOUS!!!!! A little greasier than I would prefer, but it's seriously tasty. I've had the table side guacamole, and it's extremely yummy. The last time we went it was a little flavorless, but just that one out of five times, I'll take my chances. They add whatever amounts of various things you request, and it's just darn good. The chips are wonderful as well, and the salsa can be quite hot - but also quite good. My man gets different stuff each time, and it's one of his favorites in ABQ, so the rest of the menu must be good as well. He often takes business dinner folks there - much better way to represent our town than some upscale chain in Uptown. The food is delicious, the margaritas are pretty darn good, and it's just a great place to have a meal. Thumbs up, ABQ!!!
(4)Trevor R.
Not sure what has happened to this place, but it went from a solid, reliable spot to a clumsy, disorganized mess. My previous 4 or 5 visits were great, so I'm really confused. Tonight was like walking into a completely different restaurant altogether. The first clue, which I foolishly ignored, was other patrons trying to get even the most basic service. We were sat fairly quickly, got drinks within about 10 minutes, ordered, then waited 45 minutes for food which never came. When we finally got the attention of a manager or other server, we were told that our waiter forgot to turn or order in. While this was bad enough, the insult to injury was when we asked to pay for our drinks so we could just get out of there and try to salvage the night. The response, which should have been an apology and an automatic comp, was just your basic rude indifference. Lots of better places for New Mex around town.
(1)Valerie A.
I will not write a NOVEL on HOW PERFECT the Food is at EL BRUNO'S Growing up in CUBA NM and being able to eat this almost my whole entire life I would have to say there is nothing like it! I Will recommend it to everybody and will scream from the rooftops that it is the BEST FOOD out there!!!
(5)J V.
Probably the best New Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque. I have had several things off the menu and it is always a great experience. You can tell that everything is made fresh from scratch. Everything is always made perfectly and the chile and salsa always has the prefect amount of heat. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Abq D.
We've been to El Bruno's in Cuba many times, and always enjoyed it. So were excited when this place opened. We first ate there not long after it had opened, and had vowed not to come back. Slow service, overpriced and moderate fare. But we came back about a week ago and are glad we did. First of all, the place is tastefully decorated, although I wish they would turn the lights up. It's so dark, I needed my cellphone flashlight to read the menu. The service was friendly, but slow ... took 15-20 mins to get water and chips and to take our drink order, and another 15-20 mins for the drinks to arrive and for the waiter to take our food order. After that it picked up. The food was better than average. Their chips were warm and fresh, and their salsa was tasty with a good bite. The chile con queso was a little too weak on the chile and too strong on the velveeta. Both red and green chiles are far better than average. They use fresh oil for frying as the chile rellenos and sopaipillas were lightly fried and delicious. The chimichangas and burritos were a little disappointing in that they were too meaty, and the meat was kind of flavorless. The huevos rancheros were the best choice, since they rely so heavily on the quality of the chile, which is so good. Even with the service, this will probably be our go-to New Mex restaurant going forward. Doesn't hurt that it's also the closest to where we live.
(4)Shirley S.
Excellent service and the enchiladas de Herrera were fantastic...lots of delicious tender pork sprinkled throughout the spicy red chile. A win for sure.
(4)John P.
First off you're wasting your time if you don't get the queso appetizer. Liquid gold in its own mini cast iron pot, not with common chips either, oh-no sir you get actual deep fried flour tortillas for you to enjoy with your queso. Tell me if you can find something better than that? Oh wait! All that and a nice cold beer too, that's what's better! I can't even remember what my main course was because I'm still loving up on the queso. I'm sure it was wonderful because I sent back an empty plate when I was done. After lunch I entered a queso coma and have just now awoken to yelp about Albuquerque's finest queso shrine! Did I mention try the queso?
(4)Fred K.
One huge complaint: The restaurant was too dark. If you dislike eating at places where you can barely see the food, this isn't for you. Eating in dim light isn't romantic--it's a crap shoot. It was accidental no doubt but we were seated at a table that also had the light of the late afternoon sun pouring through, blinding us even more. It sounds like a contradiction, but it had too much glare and too little light to see both the food and the faces of of fellow diners at the same time. The food *was* good, but the experience left something to be desired.
(2)Shane H.
Best green Chile I have ever had. Hazel and daughters & granddaughters know what they are doing. Try the Chaco Burger and Fajitas!
(5)Kelsey D.
This place was great! Food was delicious and staff was accommodating when I asked for a spicy margarita. They didn't give us a hard time even though we were last table of the night. I would definitely go back on my next visit
(4)Andrew M.
My best friend and I ate here on a whim one fine Sunday morning (04/06/2014) when Murphy's Mule Barn was too full. From the part of the restaurant we could see from the street, we thought it was a dive (in a good way) at first. We were quite surprised once we stepped in, however. It is a large, beautiful restaurant with great ambiance. Score +1 for that! Score another for the complimentary chips and salsa at breakfast. We ordered from the breakfast menu, which was about half the cost of the lunch and dinner items ($10-ish). He got a steaming pile of potatoes, chile, and eggs while I picked the carne adovada with eggs. He enjoyed his plate and it had too much food for him to finish. I'll preface mine by saying that I am a carne adovada snob, having grown up in northern New Mexico. That said, El Bruno's was absolutely delicious. The red chile permeated all the way through the cubed pork, which was damn-near melt-in-your-mouth. My only gripe is that it is too mild for my tastes. The service was on par for a restaurant this pretty. Our coffee, iced tea, and water were never empty and our food arrived quickly. I'll be back.
(4)Jason A.
I like to take guests here. It is not the nicest appointed dining, but the service is good, friendly, and food is always as promised. Drinks are done well too. It is the only restaurant I frequent that also has a ladies attire booth inside, probably a product of the owner's handiwork, not sure. There are tops and such with hand-applied spangles. Kinda kitch for a restaurant, but I like the family touch. Enjoy the tableside guacamole.
(4)M T.
Love this place! We enjoy sitting in the bar area. Maria Elena is the friendliest, efficient and happiest waitress. The food is delicious! Restaurant in the bar area is clean and cozy. I love the dim lighting - TVs are visible but not loud and blaring. We never have to wait a lengthy amount of time. Staff is friendly and accommodating. This place is a Gem!
(5)clodagh s.
No! first the plus... the service was excellent. BUT there was no cheese in my enchiladas de quesos. none! there was red sauce and some barely melted shredded cheese on top of tortillas that I could swear were paper and not tortillas. I have never had anything like this. the ceviche is not ceviche. it is cooked shrimp cut in pieces with avocado swimming in a cocktail glass of tomato juice. presented with crackers and a Chinese restaurant porcelain spoon. what??? I mean please! abandon hope all ye who enter here (Dante's Inferno)
(1)Peggy R.
We had the queso appetizer and it was yummy! Enjoyed great service and our dinner was very good. The margaritas were very good and our evening was fun. I wouldn't say this was the best Mexican food in town but we would go back.
(3)Michael O.
You really want a tip? DO NOT EAT AT THIS FLIPPING RESTAURANT! Okay, as per my parents & my upbringing, I'm obliged to say something positive before I say something negative. So, about the guacamole appetizer, it's made table side & was very good. The beer was pretty cold as well. HOWEVER, we both ordered the Chicken Fajitas. I'm in my early 40's folks & NEVER have I eaten chicken in a fajita that was BOILED! No char, no grill, no seasonings, nothing. Just boiled. Not just that, but the veggies that came along with it were TOTALLY RAW!? RAW people RAW! Onions, green peppers, all raw!? If it weren't for the sizzling platter they arrived on they would have seen NO heat WHATSOEVER! Which begs to ask, "What the freggin' hell took our orders so long to make it to the freaking table?" It's like they just walked it through a warm freaking room & declared them cooked!? Also, our orders arrived with no re-fried beans, pico, sour cream or salsa! Nothing? We were SO confused! Okay, I'm a trooper so I sucked all of that up. That is until I UNFORTUNATELY sucked something else up. People, I KID you not when I say I pulled a 6" grey/pale hair out of my mouth & throat that was wrapped around my BOILED chicken! OMG! Not wanting to make a scene I quietly asked our waiter if there was a pretty blonde girl [hopefully. dear god i begged hopefully] OR, a grey haired old man that worked in the kitchen & I showed him the hair. A few moments later a man [who we assumed was a manager] asked if we wanted another entree. "Ummm, no thank you!" we replied, then he asked us if we wanted desert. Again, we politely declined. Now, in all fairness this manager did [VERY RELUCTANTLY] offer us 50% off our bill but again we declined. By accepting his offer we felt that it would diminish or even discredit our initial complaint. We just wanted to be believed. Anyway, a long story short, what manager in their RIGHT FREAKING MIND would allow their patrons who requested a to-go box ONLY FOR THEIR FREAKING DOGS TO FEED UPON to leave without INSISTING on offering ANY concession whatsoever to get them back?! No manager EVER, that's who! Lastly I'll say, if you DO decide to eat at this vile culinary freaking train wreck, [god i wished i could curse in this freaking site!] take a look at the [large] typed note management has taped to the counter by the bar phone that reads in short, "EMPLOYEES! IF WE CATCH YOU USING THIS PHONE FOR PERSONAL REASONS WE WILL WRITE YOU UP!" Ya, seriously classy you dolts. It appears you treat us as well as you do your employees so I guess we shouldn't be offended. Yep, GO TEAM EL BRUNO MANAGEMENT! You people seriously suck. Choke on our 60 bucks!
(1)J B.
This place is wonderful!! We always make a point to stop and eat here every weekend. Everything I have tried has been delicious, but the Fish tacos plate is my favorite. Would recommend to anyone!!!!
(5)Derek T.
Great salsa and good service, but food wasn't that flavorful. The atmosphere is inviting and artistic with private booths including curtains. I wouldn't go back for the food, too pricey for the blandness. Would only go back for the chips and salsa and drinks at the bar.
(3)Kristin B.
A treat we had been accustomed to only enjoying while en route to Durango, El Brunos now has an ABQ location. The food is fantastic- we enjoyed Hazel's Green Chili with pork. Just the right heat plus flavor. Fantastic with a side of beans and papitas! But what makes this place great is the service- from bartender to buser- employees who pride themselves in building a relationship with every customer. Highly recommended for locals and tourists.
(4)Andy B.
I have been here three times now, and each time I have left thinking I wish I had gone to Sadie's or El Pinto instead. This time we decided to give it another chance as our first visit had been the week it opened (and there are always issues to iron out) the second we sat in the bar and tried a couple of appetizers which were decent) and so we felt we should give it another try to see once and for all what we think of this place. I read in ABQ the Mag that their chips & salsa were voted best in ABQ - I didn't recall them being that great, but this was a chance to try them again. So we sat in the bar; the chips & salsa arrived - their chips are good, not too greasy, not too thick and a decent amount of salt. Their salsa is very "bright" tasting, very fresh, but it is a little thin and just not spicy enough for me - you can taste jalapeno, but maybe it needs some green chile or even some hot chipotle to give it a roasted/smoked flavor and also some more heat. The three of us ordered "light/skinny" margaritas along with the shredded beef tacos, fish tacos and finally an appetizer/combo plate. My shredded beef tacos were okay; no spice to speak of at all and they don't come with a choice of chile. The fish tacos were fried fish (which isn't spelled out on the menu and so trying to order healthily did not go too well) - they also had huge slices of jalapeno on them which I thought would be a good thing - but they may have well of been bell peppers. The appetizer entree looked decent enough, but they forgot one item and so my friend, who has been there more than me knew they had missed something and asked where it was and the kitchen then sent it out - but if you didn't know to ask you would have not got something you ordered. We then ordered 2 more margaritas. The bill for three of us was almost $100 (with tip) and I left a little hungry, not satisfied on a "spice" level and feeling no effect from $18 of margaritas. This really was the last chance for El Bruno's - it is pricey (certainly compared to Sadie's) and the atmosphere is nowhere near as good as El Pinto. We will not be back.
(2)Shannon M.
Hands down, no questions asked, the BEST queso in Albuquerque. The chips aren't corn tortilla chips, they are deep fried flour tortilla chips. It's a mouth full of INSANE goodness.
(5)Jason G.
My hosts in the ABQ really wanted to bring me here for real New Mexican food. i was a bit disappointed. My tacos were soggy and not too tasteful. Prices were a little more than I expected in ABQ. The chips and salsa and queso were above average. My co-worker that was with me from North Carolina that was really looking forward to some mexican food was underwhelmed too. it was a big place and packed so maybe I will give it another shot when I go back but not really sure....
(3)Ricky M.
I think I might have just found my new favorite restaurant this place was amazing. When you walk in you right away notice the decor is nice and classy and looks like a place you would find in downtown Santa Fe. The food was also really good I started off with the chips and salsa which was spicy and hot but good. I ordered the Chicken Adoba which was a recommendation from the waiter and ohh.. was he right the chicken was tender and spicy, the papitas were perfect and also the plate came with deep fried spinach which melted in your mouth. I would recommend this plate to anyone. I also had there Silver Coin margaritas which were tasty and you can tell they were made from scratch.
(5)Angela R.
Good food beautiful atmosphere. I loved their rellenos. Never had them like they do them they are my fav. The salsa was delish.
(3)Jennifer M.
Came in the other night with a guest for dinner. The location is tucked away and nice when you get tired of crappy restaurants packed into old strip malls. The decor inside is tasteful and nice. We ordered the combination appetizer in order to get a decent sampling of what is offered. It had taquitos, guac, sour cream, beans, carne adovada roll-ups, green chile cheese quesadillas, and these strange but delicious ground beef and chile fried balls. The combination appetizer was good, so we eagerly awaited the rest of the meal. We ordered the chicken enchiladas and the beef enchiladas as our entrees. This was the point where the trip became a little sour. My guest was unhappy because his enchiladas were extremely greasy so he ate a few bites and called it quits. As for myself, the chicken had a strange taste and at first I was unsure if it was chicken or pork. After my guest asked our server, he said it was, but eh, I still pass on it. I took 2-3 bites and was ready to go. When your guests finish their meals with full plates, this should be an indication that we didn't like it, but hey, that might just be me. Even when we asked our server what type of meat the mystery chicken was, he didn't seem all that concerned and said "Oh, yeah sometimes people think it's pork" and then he walked off. Hmm. Overall though, the food itself was beautiful, colorful and looked far fresher and more delicately prepared than the cafeteria-style crap that gets regurgitated onto plates at other mexican joints. With this said, perhaps next time I'm on that side of town, I'll give it another try.. maybe the rellenos, but absolutely no mystery chicken for me.
(3)Ania A.
El Bruno's has picked up some of the slack that Gardunos has left behind, and it's given us a great Mexican place to visit in the North Valley. If you're in search of authentic Mexican and New Mexican dishes with a great south-of-the-border atmosphere, you definitely need to pay this place a visit. A lifetime Albuquerque resident and friend claims that El Bruno's has the best chips and salsa in the city. Do yourself a favor: skip Sadie's (which swims all its food in a lake of red chili) and El Pinto (which is as spicy as its namesake). If you want spice and authenticity in the Valley, El Bruno's is where it's at.
(4)Marie M.
We are so happy we discovered this place! The salsa is outstanding! The green chili and carne adovada are great too. We were pleasantly surprised that we liked it better than Sadies or El Pinto. The atmosphere doesn't match El Pintos but it certainly surpasses Sadies' non-personal echo chamber-huge room theme. The several times I've been here I've had the enchiladas with green chili sauce and smothered burritos. The queso was good but I'm not sure about the flour (non corn) chips they serve with the queso. I prefer the corn chips (they serve with the salsa) but other members of my party liked them. And other members of my party really enjoyed the carne adovada too. It looked good from across the table. We had the shrimp ceviche appetizer which was ok. It was almost perfect except I think they used V8 juice or something like that in it. But it was fresh. Now that we've found El Bruno's it's our number 1 go-to Mexican eatery.
(4)Mary C.
We stumbled across this little spot quite by accident. We fell in love. This is our go-to spot for out of town guests! Everything we try has been delicious! The food is fresh and colorful. The service is always great! The prices are excellent! It has never been very crowded, however the other night it was packed. I wonder how the service is on a busy night?! As some of the other reviewers complain about service. Guess it's a good thing we have children and therefore usually hard to restaurants early in the evening! El Brunos, you are our favorite!
(5)Kristine S.
We had such high hopes for Bruno's. Before we went we looked at the menu and knew the prices were a little high, but were optimistic that the food would be excellent. We were wrong. My order was wrong. Had to send it back only to receive another wrong plate. Was surprised that with only 3 other tables in the room that the order was wrong twice. What would happen during peak times? Enchiladas. When I tasted the meal, the enchiladas were watery, rice was watery and was surprised for the price that the plate was so small. $12. My husband's combo plate was $15 and the food was mediocre and cold. The only positive to this place was that the staff was very kind. Beautiful decor and good location. Hopefully Bruno's will make changes. For now we will stick to La Salita and El Pinto.
(2)Rand R.
Very good New Mexican food. I particularly love the flavor of their red chile. I've been twice. On first visit I enjoyed the Indian Taco, Christmas style with both red and green chile. It was a smallish portion, which I actually prefer. The chile had great flavor but the green was too hot for my taste. The fry bread base was tasty and tender. On my second visit I had the enchiladas with carne adovada, which were superb. Beans and rice, of course, accompany the dish and the beans were remarkably tasty, which you can't say about many other places. The sopapillas were decent, but a bit dry. The prices are on the higher end for New Mexican food and the portions are good, but not overly generous. They obviously spent a great deal of effort and money on the decor, making this a nice place to take visitors.
(4)J A.
We wanted to try this place, my daughter said they had eaten at their Cuba restaurant and it had been very good. We arrived and were promptly seated. We were served chips and salsa. Salsa was hot, but very tasty. I had the shredded beef green chile enchiladas. Very good. Staff was very courteous and attentive. It's my new favorite place in Albuquerque. Rating is at four, but really should be 4 1/2. We will be back.
(4)Gregory R.
More like 3.5 but I have to admit I only went for happy hour. Located where the old Gardunos was on 4th street, El Bruno's is a good replacement. I went there to meet friends for happy hour (drinks & apps). The happy hour apps were pretty good but of moderate size and a few dollars each. Nice ambiance. My friends who eat out often claim it's a step up from Gardunos for New Mexicans and not too red and green Chile centric for visitors. Will give dinner a chance and update review sometime soon.
(4)Jess S.
Don't waste your money coming here. The food is not good by any means and the management is in desperate need of shaping up their customer service skills. We were less than impressed with el Bruno's and would never recommend it
(1)Katrina T.
I can't believe that as a native New Mexican I had never been to El Buenos charming hacienda like atmosphere. I was treated to a wonderful surprise birthday party that didn't disappoint. We started with an outstanding Chile Con Queso, devoured with the quick fried flour tortilla chips, and fresh made tableside Guacamole. I enjoyed a house margarita (or two?) the perfect complement! With 8 people you can order and share a wide variety of dishes, I was happy 3 of us decided to share a Fiesta Platter (For 2) affording us the taste of several favorites including Carne Adovada, taco, tamale, enchilada, chile relleno, guacamole & sour cream, accompanied by beans and rice. I couldn't help myself after enjoying the tortillas, I had to try a flakey Chimichanga the perfectly deep fried flour tortilla, generously filled with carne adovada (my favorite) served with beans & a side of red or green chile, we ordered Christmas! I almost had to order the Rib Eye topped with red or green chile & melted cheese, served with homemade papitas; a friend did thankfully so we could watch him enjoy a mouthwatering dinner. We were served a Pan seared, Pinon Crusted Rainbow Trout topped with mango salsa & served with fried spinach, (not a fan of fish myself) the crusty offering was heartly finished off by another friend, although the airy fried spinach (which we all tried) was difficult to eat and wasn't a table favorite. Our server was very friendly but distracted, forgetting drink orders (a beer ordered to come with the main course never materialized), and opportunities for another round of margaritas were not offered once we were plated with dinner. The green part of Christmas on the side for the Chimichunga, was forgotten, later requested but only produced so we could take it home with what we could not eat. Efforts to spot our server were unsuccessful until we were ready for to go containers. That aside, the food was outstanding and outweighed any feeling of neglect that we felt. Thank you for a wonderful experience, and I am sure the 5 of us who had never eaten there before will return, and those who suggested the site were congratulated on an excellent choice!
(4)Robert B.
I don't know if this is the "best" New Mexican food in town or not, but I think it's damn good. I bring a lot of friends, relatives and clients here. The food is good, the margaritas are good, the patio is nice, and the chile is hot. Most people I go with think the tequila lime chicken is the best thing, but I love the burritos especial, and the pollo adovada, though the carne adovada is amazing as well.
(4)Steve W.
My wife, daughter and I were here in town to visit my son at Kirtland AFB. Had stopped by Dawg Gone Good ( a store specializing in things for your Fido ) on Central where the gal recommended El Brunos. So glad she did as we had a great experience eating dinner here. Starting with service, I'd have to say it was some of the best service I've had in any restaurant. Our waiter was very attentive, as were all the other employees who were taking care of our water and chips. At least two different managers/owners? stopped by to check on things as well. My wife and I had a drink, a margarita for myself and a cosmo for my wife, both were very good. We had a question as to what carne adovada was, the waiter immediately brought out a small sample for us to try.I ordered a preparation that was made up up stacked blue corn tortillas with tons of the carne adovada, cheese and half green and half red sauce. It was great. My daughter had shrimp tacos and my son had the carne adovada plate. Great meal, real nice atmosphere and would definitely recommend it.
(5)Geoff N.
Located in the original Garduños on North 4th, this import from Cuba (the town to the Northwest, not the island) is as good as the reviews from their old location said. It is the best food in Cuba... Unfortunately, they're not in Cuba any longer. The food is good if you're in Los Ranchos, if you've got to drive more than five miles, you've probably passed another New Mexican Restaurant which is comparable. Don't get me wrong, the place isn't bad by any stretch. It's just not remarkable and is inconveniently located outside of the far North Valley
(3)James B.
only had chips and salsa, which were ok $1.99 tecate's during happy hour, woot..................
(3)Ken L.
Great salsa! Our server , Val was excellent. There were 12 of us and we were all needy. Great job! The food was excellent! Look forward to going back one day!
(4)James S.
I don't understand how this place's star rating is less than El Pinto ! I was greeted immediately upon walking through the door, brought chips and salsa a minute after I was seated, and continued to get the best service throughout my dinner. The staff was very attentive, professional, and friendly! The food is VERY tasty, and they have some amazing green chile! I ordered the nachos (highly recommend) and had some queso as well. The salsa is perfectly spicy and not too thick nor too thin. Probably some of the best salsa I've had in Albuquerque! The queso was also tasty and perfectly spicy with green chile. AND, their house margarita is the best tasting one I've had here as well. Their beans are cooked to perfection, which I normally don't eat elsewhere, and I was impressed to see a variety of vegetarian selections. I definitely recommend this place! Great food and awesome service!! Thank you El Bruno's! I'll be returning!
(5)Julie T.
My favorite New Mexican restaurant. Great chips, salsa and sopaipillas - all required to be excellent. The green chile has a deep flavor without being too hot. Red is good. Nice ambiance, it can be loud. Just went back recently and had the carnitas y papitas. Holy a la modies it was awesome!!! But truthfully the green chile lacked any bite at all. Still very flavorful, but no heat.
(5)Marcy M.
I visited this restaurant for the first time this evening. We got there around 4:30 pm, so it was not crowded. It's located in the old Garduno's restaurant on 4th and Paseo. But it is nothing like Garduno's. The first thing I noticed was something on the floor under my chair as I sat down--it looked like wet napkins mixed with food. I called it to the attention of the server, who cleaned it right up, but I wondered why no one working there had noticed it. When I looked around, I saw plenty of food trash on the floor. When I visited the restrooms, the passageway stunk like sewage. I noticed they had a candle burning. I wondered if that was an attempt to cover up the odor. Our waiter was nice and solicitous, but poorly trained. The menu didn't give much information about the flautas--all it said was "beef" or "chicken". I asked if the chicken was white meat. He said no, it was mixed white and dark. I asked about the beef. Was it shredded or ground? He said "ground beef'". My step-father ordered his chile on the side, as did my mother. My mother's arrived without chile; my step-father's in a bowl to the side, but we had no spoon with which to access it. There were plenty of young people moving around, talking, eating, but I had trouble getting anyone's attention. When I did, the young lady didn't go get the spoon--she said she'd tell our waiter. We told our waiter, when he came, and he apologized and said he'd bring it out. But he was busy and it was awhile. I wondered why the first young lady couldn't have brought a spoon? Or why the young lady who brought out the food didn't figure out she should bring a spoon? There were other problems, such as the waiter asking if we wanted guacamole and sour cream with the flautas (I pointed out to him how on the menu, it came with them). My flautas were NOT ground beef, as ordered, but shredded beef. We all agreed the beans were dry and tasteless. In fact, the whole meal was tasteless. Except the salsa served at the beginning of the meal, which was too hot for any of us--and we've all lived in NM over 50 years. In general, a negative experience. All the dinners were over $10.00 and none of us finished ours. My prediction is that this business isn't going to last very long. You can get a much better meal at the remaining Garduno's (Winrock) or El Pinto.
(2)Keira M.
Cute and yum!!! Oh did I say yum?
(4)Sandra N.
I like this place because it is conveniently located, and the food isn't bad. I usually get a margarita, which is pretty good, and some tacos. I tried the tamales once, they were so-so. GREAT GUAC!! They do make their guacamole in front of you, which is cool and tastes great!
(3)Jeff R.
Food was good. Sopas were a little tough. The chic chimichanga was good but a little plain. Service was attentive and friendly. Hostess could have been a little more welcoming.
(4)Anne S.
First visit shortly after they opened I was pleasantly surprised to see the Garduno's gawdiness subdued, the atmosphere is nice, bartenders a little aloof. I ordered the fish tacos without questioning the type of fish, being in NM it's a challenge, but at least go the distance and purchase it from someone like Morey's seafood locally and prepare it instead of a corporate pre-packaged tempura style frozen fish. On my secondvisit I decided to order something more like the "house" special which is the Herrera enchiladas, red chili is grainy, and I was surprised to learn it is a popular dish. I don't think the chili is worth bragging about, maybe the green, will have to try it again. Margaritas are 10.00 and up, table side guacamole is awesome.
(2)Sam W.
Overpriced and some rude service...we walked in and sat down at a table since there were no seats in the bar...waitress walked over and said "this is not the bar" and basically told us to leave...so we did. I had heard this placed was overpriced.
(1)Jim M.
I really would categorize this at 4.5 stars, but I am pushing it to five to help make up for the one star review. Went there for a business lunch, no service concerns they even brought out a small cup of dried chili flakes to go with my enchiladas herrera red. Plenty of refills on the chips and salsa (awesome salsa, with did have good spice and flavor), along with the drinks and the sopapillos. Everyone was happy with their meals (as a hint, get eggs over easy with the enchiladas, they really take them over the top). Some of the best red chili I have had, even if out could use more spice for my taste.
(5)Samantha W.
I wasn't at all impressed. Probably won't go back.
(2)Charles P.
Today's visit to El Brunos provided an excellent meal. The salsa was tasty without being excessively hot. The chimichanga was excellent. Not over fried like so many other restaurants. However at almost every turn the sever made mistakes. She was unclear of what I ordered and had to return to verify. My wife ordered the trout dinner and was instead served the Hazel special. When the trout did arrive the potato was cold. Probably the same one from the Hazel dish. When the bill was adjusted the wrong item was removed and was billed for the more expensive Hazel dish. I will return but do hope I get a more competent server.
(3)Larry S.
Had a good time here. It's a little on the loud side which is okay if you're out with friends. I really like the menu because it had some good options other than the usual burrito, taco, enchilada, tamale offerring. Not that I don't like those. Service was exceptional and the food very good. We'll be back!
(4)Jacqueline L.
We went on a Sunday morning hoping to find breakfast. I'm pleased to tell you Breakfast was found! Service was slow, so the free chips and salsa that tasted awesome was definitely a plus! There was 7 of us so 18% gratuity was added which is fine. 6 of the 7 people ordered Huevos Rancheros, with both red & green chile. The vote was that the red is the better of the 2. $8.00. I had the carne adovada and eggs. It came with 2 eggs, a generous serving of carne, beans and papitas. The Carne was awesome! Great flavor and the eggs were cooked perfectly over medium. The beans were canned and the papitas tasted funky like old grease was used. Again, the table agreed with this. $9. The decor is super cool and very rustic looking. It seemed to be very clean and the slow servers were very friendly. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Michele A.
Fairly good northern NM restaurant. Service was very attentive but mistakes still happened. Three adults for dinner with 1 beer & 1 wine was $52.84. A little expensive for NM. Not very hot or spicy for local taste. Good place to take the Midwest family for a dinner, but not good for locals to enjoy NM food.
(3)Lucas L.
Some of the best red chile I have ever consumed. Typically I don't like red chile but their signature enchiladas de Herrera blew me away.
(5)Marlene R.
The only reason we ate here was because my mom had a gift certificate. Will not go back, if you are a local and enjoy hot, flavorful green and red chile, this is not the place. My enchiladas were watery too. I don't think the margarita had any booze in it. And the acoustics in this place suck too. Don't waste your money. I have been a Casa Benevidez fan for as long as I can remember. Love their food, they still need work on their margies though.............come on people, put some booze in these drinks!
(1)Steph C.
I have always heard good things about El Bruno's of Cuba, NM so when I heard there was a location here in town I had to try it out. We had the shrimp tacos and enchiladas. Everything was very fresh and tasty! I often do not like to eat Mexican food as it can be rather greasy and loaded with salt. I did not find that to be the case with El Bruno; bonus, no heartburn. El Bruno's is a little more expensive than the other Mexican restaurants but having fresh ingredients is worth it. Enjoy!
(4)Jackie R.
We ate lunch at El Bruno's today. We were very impressed with the remodel on the business that formerly occupied the spot. El Bruno's is really beautiful. It has a kind of Spanish/Moorish look to it and different rooms have different feels to them. The room we ate in was sunny and golden. Other rooms had understated lighting. Our meals were very good, with the pork in red chile being especially flavorful. Margaritas were very good as well, served in tall glasses with blue rims. Lunch for two came to about $40, which we thought was very reasonable for the good food, great service, and enjoyable visit.
(4)