Café Castro
2811 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87507
Café Castro Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Santa Fe for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Santa Fe for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Santa Fe for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2811 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM, 87507 - Phone (505) 473-5800
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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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Tiffany A.
Awesome restaurant. Great prices chile is always great, fast service and it is very clean. I am a local Santa Fean and its like what I would expect to go eat at my grandma's house plus your not paying downtown prices.
(5)Fantastique J.
Excellent New Mexican food in a homey atmosphere. Red and green chile are fantastic and great prices. Excellent service and friendly staff. A required stop when in town.
(5)Molly J.
We stayed at a hotel just up the street and were in need of a quick and tasty dinner after a long day on the road. This little gem didn't disappoint! Very good food, fast service, and the wait staff was attentive and pleasant. Our waitress worked with me to make the dish just right for my overly-picky daughter, who loved the cheese enchilada and mild posole. The sopapillas were warm and inviting. The tamales with green chili were quite good. The ambiance was a little crowded but comfortable. We will definitely be back!
(4)Dale L.
We ate here twice when we were in Santa Fe in March 2013. We are headed there this evening. Everything about this place is great. Can't wait to get there.
(5)Sophia K.
Pretty darn good! I got the daily special, the flautas, fried chicken tacos with a side of refried beans and rice. I opted out of the beans and got a 2 sides of rice. The special also comes with the sopapillas for dessert. The entire meal was good. Definitely not salty or overly oily. The only thing I didn't like about this place was that we had to pay for chips and salsa. Service was good. The server was super nice and informative when I asked what flautas were. I call them taquitos. Either way, the flautas/taquitos were delicious.
(4)Ryno C.
We heard about this place from Yelp and thought we'd give it a shot. Even though their parking lot is always full, I've never really noticed them on Cerrillos but I'm glad I finally did. Parking was hard to find, but once we got in, we were seated immediately. The restaurant is clean, cozy and small, but well-decorated and well lit. Tables are packed close together but not too close so that it's uncomfortable. The price alone for the food makes it all worth it. Just $8 for a plate jam packed with quality food? And good food too? Definitely worth it. I ordered the enchilada + taco plate which came with beans and rice and puffed corn. And warning, the food here is 100% authentic Tex Mex, which sounds like an oxymoron since what the heck is Tex Mex anyway? But it's GOOD Tex Mex, which is hard to come by in Santa Fe where most of what you can find is totally stomach-destroying. My plate was drenched in green chile of course, but for the first time, the chile didn't overpower the flavors of the actual meal and it was just the right amount of kick to it. Also, the service was perfect. My meal came out so fast, the thought of complaining the service was too quick actually crossed my mind. Brilliant staff. And lastly, the sopapillas are the best I've ever had, and that's coming from a guy who never was much of a fan--these are the real deal. They're massive and have just the right amount of fluff and crunch and crisp you could ask for and the taste is like butter cream. PS: there's different specials on different days of the week. I can't wait to go back on a Thursday for their Carne Adovada.
(5)Anthony P.
Great food and warm service makes Cafe Castro a nice dinner option. While driving from Phx to Denver we stopped for dinner, based on Yelp reviews. Service was fast and warm, and the food was good. I had fajitas which were pretty good, the meat wasn't the highest quality, but it was still tasty. Overall a good option, if they had real margaritas they would be close to five stars.
(4)Shawn P.
YUM!!!
(4)Johnny A.
This was probably our biggest surprise of our whole trip. Everything we ate (and we ate a ton) was really authentic and amazing. The service was amazing and the prices were so reasonable. I can't wait to go back to Santa Fe just to come here again
(5)Dominic S.
This place is pretty solid. It offers the typical northern NM fare food wise and the service is generally fine. Not a place I lose sleep over missing out on but if you're close and hungry it's absolutely worth eating. I've had just about everything on the menu over the years, no complaints.
(3)Debby A.
Good food, great service. Nice place and a great price. Love the Sangria.
(3)Happy Mama M.
Good prices. Good food. Nice people.
(4)Michelle N.
The food was OK but not great. Not much flavor. The service was good, and prices were good. I don't think I'd return though.
(3)Ophelia M.
Came to Café Castro for a late lunch and was not wowed. I ordered the chicken fajitas, which were the special of the day, and was not only not delighted but, really, kind of disappointed. The chicken was blah, the veggies bland and soggy, and the sauce ho-hum. It tasted like the majority of Mexican food that can be found in Boise (this is NOT a compliment). Plus, my dining companion received a sopapilla with his meal, but I did not. Not really sure why that was, but, a bit of a bummer. I did order some sangria, which was almost good (sooo close to good, yet not quite there). Oh, and they serve beer and wine only, no hard liquor, which is fine (sorta). But, I guess trying to throw a bone to the 'rita lovers among us, they offer white wine margaritas (wtf? No! Absolutely not!). The interior is cute and the service was splendid (so much so, it almost tempted me to add a 3rd star). Oh, and the prices were super low. Overall, it was just ok. So many reviewers seem to love this place; I'm wondering if it was what I ordered? Although, my dining companion ordered the enchiladas and wasn't delighted either. Hmph.
(2)David W.
The food was great! Authentic, homemade and great portions. Atmosphere was wonderful and the service friendly. There are many options in the area - this place seems to be a reliable and pleasurable choice!
(4)Josh E.
Great New Mexican food at a very reasonable price. I order here regularly since the food is consistent . The red chili is very good and has bite to it. The sopapillas are very good too.
(4)J D S.
First, there is a great divide between restaurants that know how to make sopapillas and those that don't. Luckily Café Castro makes great ones. Their menu fails to mention that most entrées, 'cept burgers, come with one. What a great treat to start out a meal. Truly a "little pillow" that comes out hot and keeps its shape. Both green and red sauces are tasty and exemplify Northern NM food. The decor is nothing exceptional, but is more comfortable and warm than many comparably-priced joints. The staff is friendly and helpful without being either phony or fawning, and everyone seems to be working really hard from the moment you come in until you leave to make sure your experience is a positive one. The dishes are not particularly inventive, but are really solid interpretations of most of your favorites (except they don't make carne adovada.) When it comes to value, this is about the pinnacle I've experienced in Santa Fe - - very reasonable prices and generous portions of satisfying victuals.
(5)Lee P.
Place isn't bad. I'm not a huge fan of their green and red chile. I tried the chile con queso as an app and it wasn't too great. Cheese reminded me of velvetta, might of been. I had the smothered burrito and it was good. The chile wasn't great but the beans and beef were very good. The green chile in Denver is more "orange" in color and much tastier, but it considered a different type of food than New Mexican. Sopapia was great and I had two "Monks' Ales" to drink. They were bomb! It was nice to see a local craft beer offered. Wish it had a bar because I ate alone.
(3)A C.
I'm not the biggest mexican food fan, but since we are in New Mexico, of course we have to try the New Mexico Mexican food, it's everywhere. Cafe Castro was probably among the few we tried and liked the most on our vacation. I had special of the day, beef fajita, it was very nice. the onion and pepper are just caramelized enough to give a nice sweet flavor without looking too withered. The beef was nice and tender. One thing I found more unique than the usual is the salsa. It was the chopped up once, in fact I could hardly see what's in it. The salsa is very finely milled and taste nice and spicy and sweet. The Service was nice..... I would've given it 4 stars, except when we got the bill, we realized that every little side dish refill (ie the salsa) all cost a dollar, refill of ice tea was a charge... it really adds up. I say the food is decent but didn't feel worth all the little refill charges... it was good but not heavenly....
(3)Mrs M.
Café Castro in Santa Fe is exactly what it promises to be: the best in New Mexican cuisine. The service is fantastic, the menu is rife with perfectly prepared traditional dishes, the sauces are exemplary, and the atmosphere charming--in my opinion, this place deserves five stars for fulfilling all expectations according to its category. Café Castro makes excellent sopaipillas (the correct spelling)--eaten as dessert with honey, they are heavenly--the perfect way to end a New Mexican meal in the City of Holy Faith.
(5)Jessica T.
My favorite place to get New Mexican food, PERIOD. I fantasize about the green chile they serve here. It's somehow always the best, it's the perfect slow burn in your mouth every time. It hurts so good. Their sopaipillas are amazing, and no matter how stuffed full of green chile cheese enchiladas I am, I always have room for a sopailpilla + honey or three. I also highly recommend getting a plate of green chile cheese fries as an appetizer. Gotta start that green chile fix from the get go, people. Every time I come home to NM to visit my parents, I insist on hitting up Castro's. I don't really feel like I'm home until I am sweating from eating green chile. Non-New Mexicans just don't get it, when I talk about green chile out here in California, people look at me like I'm crazy. And I am, I'm crazy for green chile. I've only eaten at this Cerillos location a couple times, but it's proven to be just as good as the old Rodeo location that I loved. I'm going home for Christmas break in a couple weeks, and I'm already anticipating eating here. I can't wait! Bottom line: Nothing fancy here folks, just amazing food, efficient service, and the best green chile high around.
(5)Sasha B.
This restaurant was super yummy. NYC has very little good Mexican food so I couldn't wait to dig in. The guacamole was one of the best I've EVER had. We couldn't get enough and I just wish Cafe Castro was located downstairs of my apartment building. Everything else was yummy and def heavy in true Mexican food style. It is extremely cheap. One recommendation - get the green chile and not the red.
(4)Paul L.
I loved this place. An unexpected surprise on our visit. Green chile was nice and soapapillas were well done. It appeared that locals liked the place too, much more than the places near the plaza.
(5)Cara S.
This was another tasty meal! We both had enchiladas - christmas style. I loved the red, but thought the green was a little lack luster. But I mixed the two together and the delightful spiciness of the red took over. They had good sangria and the sopapillas were delicious! Fast, friendly service. Would definitely return.
(4)Hannah E.
Downtown's options for Mexican food looked to solely consist of places that charged $13 for guacamole, so we hit up Yelp's one-dollar-sign category for some recommended green and red chile spots. Café Castro smelled like window cleaner, but served up some of the best, and cheapest, red chile I've ever tasted. I had it smothered on my chicken tacos, and almost blew my own head off by pouring it way too liberally my first bite. Note to self: despite your liberal use of wasabi on sushi, you are not a spice champion. Head-exploding aside, once I learned to moderate my chile-pouring, the tacos were wonderful, with tender meat and fresh veggies. The tamales with green chile were the clear winner across the table on my dad's plate. I wish all tamales were prepared like these: soft, sauce-drenched meat surrounded with pillowy corn, crispy around the edges. Both plates were liberally filled with beans, rice, and some wondrous puffed-corn things that I've never seen before, but would definitely like to again. No great shakes about the sweet things, though. Horchata was a sugary tooth-aching nightmare and the tres leches cake was dull.
(4)Alan B.
Excellent food for the price. Enormous sized plates of good quality food at very reasonable prices. Excellent sopapillas, green chile tamales, chicken enchiladas. Ran into this place on a fluke after we discovered our intended place was OOB. Glad we came here!
(4)Mark N.
This is the best NEW MEXICAN place I tried in my 4 years in Santa Fe.. (Understand that New Mexican food is kinda greasy, involves refried beans and lots of cheese, and sopapillas with honey for dessert - radically different from what is popular south of the current US-Mexico border; which tends to be healthier and which I generally tend to prefer) This place is very cheap by Santa Fe standards.. Drink beer. Eat sopapillas. be happy. Avoid the New Mexican tourist traps near the plaza.. Eat here. The setting, nondescript Cerrillos Road in a nondescript stream of strip malls, is not at all romantic. However, once you are inside, it has the cozy, friendly feel of an authentically New Mexican restaurant. If you are a tourist visiting Santa Fe, you should eat here to find out what New Mexican food is all about!
(4)Joey L.
Go for the no nonsense service, the off the beaten path ambiance, and the low prices but most of all go for the sopaipillas that they give you like bread with honey on the table. This restaurant is busy for a reason. Great Carne Adovada which is the special on Thursday. Tamales were disappointing but over all the food is good and the prices are low. We went to Cafe Castro twice during our trip to Santa Fe just because we liked it so much. Too bad they don't have margaritas but everything else is worth the trip.
(4)Alberto L.
The service was fast and friendly, the prices are inexpensive, and most importantly the food was good. The food is a great combination of quality and quantity. We'll be back.
(4)Dee B.
Asked at the hotel since there seems to be 4000 mexican/southwest/tex-mex places here in town. The young lady pointed us towards this place on the south part of town and I'm glad she did. She also gave a handwritten card to give to the owner for free salsa and chips. Ordered the chicken enchilada platter covered in green chile. When the plate came out there was soooooo much green chili I had a hard time finding the enchilada's which was just fine with me cause I was in heaven. No more Midwest red junk, just chunks and chunks of green chile. Well need to stop here, keyboard getting wet.......
(4)Deborah H.
Our first meal in Santa Fe was at Cafe Castro, and we were excited and hoonngrryyy for it. There was a bit of a wait around 7:30PM on Friday, but we just entertained ourselves by taking pictures of the strip club sign (Cheeks) next door. After getting seated, we were floored by the prices. I don't think anything was over $7.50. We ordered the chips and guac to start with, and I had the stuffed sopapialla. The guac was super garlicky and super amazing. Best guac ever (maybe tied with Cafe Barrio in Phoenix). My sopapialla, however, was on the eh side. Too many conflicting flavors, soggy fried dough due to the dousing with chile, and meh rice + beans. I tried a few of the other dishes (huevos, tacos, enchiladas) and was similarly impressed (or, not impressed). I liked the fresh sopapiallas with honey though, and the service was great. Despite these (and the delish guac), I probably wouldn't come back if I find myself in Santa Fe again.
(3)Bonnie P.
Think Mexican "Indian" the food in New Mexico has a twist on it and it is quite delicious. My first trip (not my last-been several times) I was introduced to sopapillas...that delicious little basket of fried and puffed tortillas, sprinkled with powdered sugar with honey on the side---OMG-ambrosia....not chips and salsa--sopapillas!!!
(4)Lauren E.
Very well run place, and it is so popular! The woman running the front (I believe she is the owner), handled the very busy Sunday lunch crowd extremely well! She knew the names of the regulars and remembered the names of the others who put their name in for a table. She also had to handle all of the customers paying their bills. Our food (nachos and triple enchiladas) was really good and came out very fast! There was a great selection on the menu, and the prices were super cheap! Our server was really sweet, and the busboys were great as well. All in all, we spent only $15 on great food, tax, and tip. Perfect!!
(4)Andrew K.
OH ME OH MY. This is a cozy, family restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. My whole family was psyched to stuff our faces silly with honey laden sopapillas, meaty quesadillas, and the BEST CHILE RELLENO I have had in life. I want more. The server was great, as were the sangrias. Wow. And we ordered to our hearts' content and couldn't spend more than $30 no matter how badly we wanted to.
(5)JacqueLin O.
Amazing food! Lovely, cozy ambiance - authentic GREAT prices! Excellent customer service! Before deciding on this place. I did extensive research on yelp and even sent a facebook bulletin to all of my Albuquerque locals to give me suggestions to which restaurant in Santa Fe I must try on my visit. I was determined to have Blue Corn enchiladas and introduce my California native BF to New Mexican cuisine. It was a tough decision. I kept going back and forth between La Choza, Tecolote, Tia Sophia, Maria's, etc. My parents recommended Cafe Castro and Moms even called to confirm they had Blue Corn menu options. We took the drive to Santa Fe on Friday around noon time. It was a nice sleepy drive and we got to Cafe Castro hungry with anticipation. The place is quaint, built like someones house and decorated very homestyle-ish. It's very comforting and warm, not like those high end cold restaurants. Julia, the owner, greeted us as we walked in. She took us to our table and asked if it was the BF's first time eating there, she was excited and told him he'd have nothing like it. She took our drink orders, I ordered water, moms ordered iced tea, dad and BF ordered beers. The waitress suggested the local beer brewed in Pecos, NM. I can't recall the name of it. They quickly brought us out a basket of chips and salsa. The ware wolf in me took over. I could NOT get enough. The chips were fresh and perfectly salted and the salsa was INCREDIBLE. It was spicy and had the perfect blend of flavors, onion tomato and jalapenos. Then a HUGE pot of guacamole was brought out, and I thought "wow it gets BETTER?!" The guacamole was fresh and let me tell you, it's not that guacamole that is subdued with sour cream. It's ALL avocado, lots of garlic and seasonings. Absolutely delicious. We slowed down because we KNEW we didn't want to ruin our appetite before our meals came. I ordered the blue corn chicken enchiladas WITHOUT sour cream. My dad ordered a bowl of posole, moms ordered blue corn enchiladas with red and green (apparently it's called "christmas" to the locals, but that's a fairly new term for me), and BF ordered the chicharon burrito smothered with red and green. Chicharon is fried pork parts. It's VERY rich and fried in its own fat. We didn't wait long for our food to come out. It was steamy and smelled amazing. The enchiladas were OUT OF THIS WORLD. The red chile was spicy and flavorful. I'm a native to New Mexico, so restaurant eating has to meet the standards of my mother's kitchen and this place gives moms a run for her money. It was DELICIOUS. The cheese was gooey and melty, and the spice of the chile was offset by the saltiness of the beans and cheese. The rice was cooked to perfection and had the perfect hint of tomato. It was not overpowering and the texture was fluffy. The sopapillas, which are basically tortillas with more baking soda added to the dough but DEEP fried, so they puff up like pillows, were so amazingly soft and chewy. The flaky outer portion was awesome. My BF compared them to a croissant. I'd never thought of that before. I didn't get a chance to taste my BF's burrito. It was GONE before I could ask. I would say that is a pretty good sign that it was equally as amazing as mine. My parents BOTH could not say enough about how good their dishes were also. BF and dads also said the local beer was amazing. My BF even gave his puckered "oh wow" face when he said "this beer is REALLY good." I knew he meant business. If you are making your way to Santa Fe, THIS is the place to go. There are MANY choices, but Cafe Castro should make your list. I cannot say ONE single bad thing about this place If you are looking for authentic food, Cafe Castro is it AND it's NOT overpriced.
(5)Kristen W.
We were craving an authentic down home lunch and wanted to try the green chili! The place was packed with locals and tourists alike. The atmosphere is strip mall, next to a strip joint chic :-). Nevertheless, the place is cheerful and clean. The salsa was wonderful and the menu extensive. I tried a combo so I could try a few things and my husband had a burrito. Both our meals were fresh and filing. I thought the green chili was good but not fabulous. I prefer a little more heat and intense flavor but I realize everyone has their own opinion on green. Clearly, Cafe Castro has a loyal following and great prices. I will continue my search for the best green chili in Santa Fe but Cafe Castro was a pleasant experience.
(3)Carly B.
Love to give this place 4 1/2 stars. Agreed with other yelpers..friendly and fast service. I had the pulled pork taco salad. The spring lettuce assortment and juicy sweet tomatoes and chopped cucumbers were a pleasant surprise. This salad screamed freshness. Great value under $8. Highly recommend. Also very clean restaurant and bathroom. I hope the owners read this review and note that I appreciated the fresh green salad. Sometimes it hard to find a quality salad in a Mexican restaurant.
(4)Tim H.
Really fantastic place to eat. This restaurant is deceiving, since it doesn't look like much. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. However, the real treat is when the food starts coming out. Every bite of food served was fresh and vibrant with both color and flavor. Just simple New Mexican dishes, but prepared so well. Everything is appropriately seasoned and served piping hot.
(5)Al And Diane R.
After driving cross-country for days, we landed in Santa Fe completely wiped, and ready for some rest. The great ladies that run the (funky-cool) Silver Saddle Motel (across the street) recommended Castro's as a convenient, reasonably priced place to experience "real" New Mexican cuisine without the hassles of heading downtown. We were not disappointed!! Diane ordered the taco plate, and Al went for the Grande Sampler, both ordered "Christmas style" (with BOTH green chile sauce, and red), and both were very good. We found some significant differences between "New Mexican" food,and the traditional (Baja) Mexican we get back in San Diego... Most obvious is that everything is served with roasted chile sauce, instead of salsa, and forget the obligatory "free chips and salsa." Here, you pay for that, but the desert is free?! - Expect some wonderfully warm & tasty free Sopaipillas instead, at many Santa Fe eateries. Back to Castro's... All the food was so good that we went back on our second night. We can understand how people in the "Land of Enchantment" can become addicted to that chili sauce!
(4)Peter C.
Current Yelp rating of 4.5 stars is over rated by at least 1 star. Yet another example of how Yelp can sometimes be deceiving because there are people that give high or low ratings based largely on prices. It's not that Cafe Castro is bad, it is pretty decent food at great prices. In my view it's a mixed bag, for instance, their chile is good but the posole is bland and boring. Just decent. Not 4.5 stars worth. And not the best example of NM cuisine in Santa Fe, as other reviewers claim, far from it. Just decent.
(3)Claudius R.
Santa Fe has two kinds of New Mexican food: chi-chi, high end New Mexicanesque food that will cost you a lot and which will be delicious but doesn't reflect the home cooking of the region, and the honest, rib-sticking fare that reminds me of the food at PTA potlucks back in my public school days. Castro's serves up the latter. Which makes me really happy that they're now on Cerrillos and I don't have to trek to the far edge of town just to get my green chile fix all taken care of. This is a family friendly place run by an actual family. There are no 3-ring binders in the back explaining how to turn 10lb cans of orange goo into nachos. They don't even have nachos. Sure that garnish is shredded iceberg. I'm certain that slice of tomato tastes and feels like cardboard. YOU'RE NOT HERE FOR THE SALAD. Get the enchiladas, they're amazing. Or get a burrito smothered in some of the best green chile you'll ever have in your mouth. Live dangerously and order your chile "christmas" (red & green, get it?). If you really have to have the salad, get it, but you're missing out on the good stuff. Any by all means, save a little room for that sopapilla with the honey.
(4)Jocelyn A.
Best Sopes I had on my trip to Santa Fe. They are cooked to a golden brown, but are still light and chewy. I preferred their green sauce, as the red was a little smokey for my liking. From the beans to the chips, everything tastes homemade. Very good prices too!!!
(4)Sam A.
So THIS is where all the local families have been eating dinner lately! To tell the truth, since Little Anita's closed a couple years ago and Cafe Castro moved to Cerrillos Road, it had pretty much fallen off my radar. Which is too bad because the food is quite decent. The sopailla was perfect (and quickly replaced when the waited spilled a little iced tea on the final remaining one, Oops!) My huevos rancheros were pretty tastey and definately on the 3.5 out of 5 level for huevos in Santa Fe. But aside from the food, the price was super-inexpensive compared to some of the other restaurants closer to downtown, like have as expensive as some place like The Shed or so. Really, I'd say this place is pretty family -friendly too, judging from the families sitting at some of the larger tables. Yea... I'll be back.
(4)Walker S.
Excellent NM food, cold beer and priced right for a "highly recommended" choice spot to eat. We started with chili con caso, chips and two ice cold Corono Extras, very good especially with the glass just out of the freezer. I had the pork chop special ($8) which came with refried beans, rice and a small portion of salad on an appropriate sized plate. Dona had the vegi enchilada ($7) that came with pintos and rice. She said the pintos were "perfect"; I tried them and totally agree. We both thought everything was terrific. Two fluffy sppapillas came with the meal with a squeeze bottle of honey on the table; delicious. This food at Cafe Castro is very NM mexican. I grew up eating TexMex food around San Antonio and lived for many years in San Diego. I think this NM is maybe a little better than both, really good, highly recommended. The four star rating instead of 5 reflects the possibility that Santa Fe may have something better, but believe me, Cafe Castro will do you right.
(4)Moonridge P.
Sweet mother of sopapillas - you are too good to me. Best place in Santa Fe, love it. Beware, tho, there are signs all over the parking lot warning against parking at the T and A bar next door. Do Not Park at Cheeks!! You will get towed!!
(5)Patrick C.
Excellent service and a superb meal at a very fair price. I enjoyed the Enchiladas and Green chile.
(5)Adam J.
Always good. The new location looks good too. I know I will not be disappointed when it is lunchtime at Castro.
(4)Andy D.
This place is a great eatery. Best prices and great customer service. Try the plato grande great choice. Everything is cooked to order and fast service...
(5)Zoe L.
great, flavorful new mexican food, but NO SOPES! i'm on a constant quest for sopes, which is mexican food, but another reviewer had mentioned it, so i came w/high hopes, which were crushed, but their new mexican food is good. lots of families, great service.
(4)Shelley B.
Took the yelpers at their word and tried it out. I think it's good food and inexpensive. But the menu is like every other restaurant of its type in Santa Fe -- and nothing was really outstanding. For a hearty meal at a good price, this place is worth trying.
(3)Jon A.
After reading all the reviews, I was really expecting this to be much much better- Don't get me wrong, this place wasn't bad, but it surely was not EPIC. I make better red chile sauce myself. I was really hoping to step into more of a authentic eatery. If you want decent, inexpensive food--this will do in a pinch. But to be honest the guy selling the fajitas on the plaza, served up a better meal. I really wanted to love this place- if you are a gringo and don't know better, you'll love it.
(2)Amanda B.
If and when I move to Santa Fe, Castro's is the reason. It is heaven on a plate to my Tex-Mex palate.
(5)Leonard A.
I am a person born and raised in San Antonio and living in Austin for over 25 years. I know Mexican food. I know Tex-Mex. This place is hands down the best bargain in Santa Fe for food, regardless of the ethnic origins. The owners and staff were extremely attentive, thoughtful, friendly, courteous, and professional. It's authentic, man! It's real. The people are real. Es la comida de mi tia, mi abuela, y mi madre (if I was of hispanic origin, I guess)!! My wife and her sister are both from Brazil, and they loved it. It was the PERFECT memory to take away from a memorable trip to Santa Fe in a cold January. The food is very reasonable, nice sized portions, and delectable. GOSTOSO!!!! I'm in love with the other woman in my life now. Her name is Posole!! Thank you, Mrs (wish I had the card!!). You're familia ahorra!!
(5)Gina L.
Red chile was perfect. Best in Albuquerque and Sana Fe.
(5)Steven M.
The food was great. I was really impressed. Also, I enjoyed the fact that our meal came with complimentary sopapillas which were amazing. On a side note, the bathroom smelled surprisingly good.
(5)Denise D.
We were on vacation in Santa Fe and a friend recommended Cafe Castro to us and we couldn't wait to eat there. Well, it was just as Allen said it would be! I had the tamales (one pork and one veg) & if I would have written this review sooner I could remember what the rest of the group had. I just know we all liked our meals and the sopapillas were huge! Their prices are VERY reasonable, especially with all the food you get! When in Santa Fe again, I would go back to Cafe Castro's!
(5)Rodney H.
Excellent inexpensive New Mexican cuisine I can highly recommend Enchilladas with salsa verde Good service, friendly atmosphere & a good & varied menu.If i lived in Santa Fe i would be a regular
(5)Tracy A.
Great for when you're craving traditional New Mexican food. I really enjoyed the red chili on my enchiladas. The green chili-chicken enchilada combo was also very tasty. Although their tortilla chips were a let-down, the guacamole was good (I prefer mine a little chunkier than theirs). Apparently they always bring sopapillas with the meal -- these were quite tasty. Almost every meal is priced at only $7, which is very reasonable for what you get. Castro is in a standalone building with a parking lot -- it has a good vibe, and the atmosphere is what you'd expect from a casual New Mexican restaurant. The staff is attentive and very friendly. They offer a good selection of cold cerveza. I will definitely return to this place.
(4)Joe N.
Oh boy. We just arrived in Santa Fe after driving for days on a wonderful road trip. This was our first and only stop at a hotel. I was exhausted so my wife decided that she would get some take out. We looked up this place and off she went. My only request was enchiladas with green chilli. So, my wife comes back with a big bag full of food. First, there were the wonderful chips, salsa and REAL guacamole. So good! Then I open up my container and am greeted with a tamali, chili relleno and enchilada. They were topped with delicious green chili. Everything was great. They gave us free sopapillas which were pretty good. I am definately glad we consulted yelp and got take out here. My wife says they were very nice as well. A delicious place to eat!
(5)Michael W.
Great breakfast spot. Slipped in just in time Sunday morning. Had wonderful special, pork chops w/ red chili sauce. Started and ended it all with delicious horchata. Beyond the food, I liked the atmosphere of this local spot. It didn't feel like a tourist trap yet open to folks like me travel through to the wide open West.
(5)Michelle P.
Yelp, YOU TOTALLY LET ME DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This place was awful!!! I don't understand how it's gotten such high stars. I initially wrote an angry, scathing review, belittling anyone who could think this food was good. But I've decided that it was too mean, and that I was probably just irritable due to bad guacamole and the WINE Margarita I drank there. Yeah, this place is cheap. But it's suuuuper generic Mexican food. I've had better tamales in LA. I've also had this exact same generic Mexican food in LA. If you're in town visiting, and you're looking for quality, DO NOT come here. Instead, go to La Chosa, or Tecolote Cafe, both of which were EXCELLENT. Even Blue Corn Cafe had better guacamole. If you live here & are lookin for a super-cheap meal, fine, give it 5 stars & eat here every night. But I sincerely hope you realize this is not good food. P.S. I understand that the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license, but NOBODY wants a Wine Margarita. NOBODY.
(1)Chris C.
Cafe Castro doesn't play. Game, Set and Match. If there ever was a knockout combination of real, quality, inexpensive Mexican food in Santa Fe, this is definitely it. The staff is attentive and courteous. The specials (ours were fajitas) were spectacular - chicken cooked to perfection and nothing prefab to be found. The prices were dirt cheap. We almost felt like we were getting away with something. All the accompaniments (rice, beans etc) were outstanding. I am so happy I found Cafe Castro.
(5)Danny Q.
Good food, excellent prices, and a unique family run atmosphere make this place a safe bet. I really like their Plato Grande, which is Spanish for "delicious pile of goodness". What really makes it work is the unpretentious chile relleno. A relleno can be ruined by the wrong type of chile. Some heathens insist on using anaheim chiles, which is just unacceptable. Castro's uses real New Mexican chile and that's correct. Their salsa is nice and spicy. You can really tell whether or not a restaurant is worth eating at after the first chip. It is flavorful and delicious and nicely wakes up the palette. The staff does get a bit worried when you pick the bowl up and drink the salsa. Some restaurants give you the impression that they are a Sysco Food Distributor microwaver, but Castro's is not one of them. There is love poured into the food, and it shows.
(4)James C.
Basic Mexican fare, enjoyed the sopaipillas but I think it would be better if they were brought out after the meal. The basket came out with our entre, so by the time we were ready to chow them down they'll cooled off. Still good, though. The Plato Grande was a good mix, came with one of the better chiles rellenos I've eaten. Fried nice & crispy before the red & green chile sauce (Christmas). First stop in Santa Fe, surprised we didn't get chips and salsa with the meal. After hitting a couple more places I guess it's normal around here. Get there early, by the time we left there was a line running past the register all the way across the covered front porch.
(4)Jimmy J.
This traveling, vegetarian, Mexican-food-loving, hard-researching, "only having one meal in Santa Fe and I want to make it count" dude is leaving Cafe Castro with a full tummy and lived-up to expectations. I had the Plato grande: veg enchilada, tamale, and chile relleno in green chile. I forgot to ask for the whole beans they offer for vegetarians, but I'm happy I did. These were the best refried beans I've had in a long time. Sopapilla was new to me. You drizzle it with honey. How nice.
(4)Dirk R.
Santa Fe is blessed with an abnormal amount of fine eateries. For such a small town, in such a remote location, it is nothing short of astounding. Part of this is easily explained. There's a good deal of 'second home' money, mostly from NY, TX, and CA. That explains the unusual amount of high end joints, some excellent, most mediocre. The primary reason for Santa Fe's culinary standing has nothing to do with high-end this or high-end that. It's ALL about the basics, and the basics in northern New Mexico are red, and green, chiles. You can fancy it up like they do at Coyote Cafe, but all that architectural plate posturing is nothing more than a travesty. If you're smart, you just make it like mom did. No frills, just the true and tried dishes, prepared as they have been for generations. There are a bunch of fantastic mom and pop shops. Tia Maria's, The Shed, La Choza, Tecolote, Diego's, etc., but, after years and years of research, Castro's has become our clear favorite. Formerly out on Rodeo, now only on Cerrillos, Castro's Cafe is perfect. Simple, good, and oh so tasty. They have all the normal dishes, the prices are right, the service very friendly, and the chile is as good as you'll ever find it. The only sad part is that I don't live in Santa Fe anymore, so it's harder to get my chile fix. Castro's has thought of that too. Thankfully, you can buy their green chile sauce to go. Which is a good thing, cause otherwise living in California would be unbearable.
(5)Barbara S.
If you are looking for down home good Mexican food this is the place. Nothing pretentious or fancy but attentive and fast service with tasty food. Green chile enchiladas were delish as was the posole...and fresh soapapillas! Yum!! Will be back the next time we're in Santa Fe.
(4)Cristobal A.
A stop we have to make anytime we're in town. Very tasty new-mexican style food. Very reasonably priced too. Staff is always friendly.
(5)Eating T.
I found this place on the recommendation of a few locals. This is one of the surefire ways to a good meal...assuming you hear it more than once, and randomly. I was told they had excellent chile and that their sopapillas were fantastic. Now I can attest to that as well. Both their chiles (red & green, "Christmas") were awesome and the sopapilla with honey was fantastic. Melt in your mouth, fluffy and delicious. This was actually my first taste of a sopapilla and now I'm hooked...if only these were more readily available outside of the Southwest. If anyone is unfamiliar a sopapilla is basically a flour tortilla that is deep-fried that produces a light puffy but crisp pastry. It has a large air pocket in the middle and can be stuffed with sweet or savory ingredients or eaten as is. I got the combination plate of Chile Rellenos, chicken tamale & a veggie tamale. It came with a good amount of beans, hominy and rice which were all tasty. I find that frequently refried beans can be overly salty but these were not. You could sense that they made this fresh and it wasn't canned...another rarity. The Chile Rellenos was superb. All of the ingredients melded perfectly and none overpowered one another. This was the highlight of the meal. The tamales were both good but nothing spectacular. They were certainly good to eat but I've found some exceptional tamales elsewhere. There was a small amount of shredded lettuce and tomatoes that also came on the plate but this tiny addition added a lot to the dish. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the freshness of everything that came out of the kitchen. The food quality was of the utmost and I got the sense that they have a very small amount, if any, of cans in the back. I didn't inquire but my guess is that most everything is cooked on premise. I know this shouldn't be a glaringly plus-point but sadly nowadays it is. The staff was very attentive and friendly. There were several families there and I would say for good reason. The prices are extremely low considering the quality and portions. I highly recommend anyone that is looking for a good Southwestern meal and at a very reasonable price make it a point to stop into Cafe Castro. It sure as hell beats any Chili's or Chevy's. I have photos and a more in depth review on my personal blog.
(3)Michael G.
Highly recommended for good tasting, inexpensive New Mexican food. My friend is a sopapilla fan and this place has good ones - he ordered the sopapilla stuffed with beef and slathered in red chile sauce. I'm a fan of green chiles and ordered the chile rellenos. These are much better than what I've eaten back home in CA as they are made with the local green hatch chiles (not Anaheim chiles) and cooked with a crispier batter (not eggy like at home). The location is on busy Cerrillos Avenue which might be a turn-off for some, but get over it and enjoy the food.
(4)Donna A.
This was a great find, thank you Yelp. It appears that lots of locals come here and I'm sure often. It's clean, great service, prices are cheap. I had the veg. ench. it was wonderful, the green chile sauce was nice and hot. Refried beans appeared to be homemade and all the entrees came with sopapilla's. The sangria was homemade and yummy!!!
(4)Victor R.
Café Castro was incredible! This was first time that I've tried "New Mexican" food, but I was not disappointed. The food was fresh and filled with flavor. The best part of the restaurant was the customer service. All of the staff was friendly and extremely attentive to detail. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone interested in trying food that could only be found in New Mexico.
(5)J. L.
The food is very inexpensive, and the red chile has heat, but neither my husband nor I found our meals particularly flavorful. Meh.
(3)Andrew R.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for some good New Mexican cuisine - found this place via Yelp - and the reviews were SPOT on... the food was very tasty and delicious - the servers were responsive and quick and the food is priced very reasonably!! Only slight negative - it is a smaller restaurant and parking is a little bit challenging - but do NOT let that one thing make you NOT go to this restaurant. I highly recommend it!
(5)Ivan B.
I have to say this is probably the best bang-for-your-buck New Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe. The atmosphere is nice. The food is delicious, and very reasonably priced (about $7-$9 per plate). The staff is always on point, and the location is nice. The only downside is the parking. You may have to park at the strip club next door if there's not any parking. No, that's not a joke. Yes, it's very limited. Not so bad if you don't go during the lunch or dinner rush, other than that, you might have to fight someone for a parking space (literally... jk). I give Café Castro 5 stars!
(5)Ross S.
The food here was amazing! We were looking for an authentic local eatery for New Mexican food and the Castro delivered. Excellent red and green chile on my blue corn chicken enchilladas, and my wife's stuffed sopapila was great too. They warned us that the chile was hot and suggested it on the side (white boy with blonde hair gave me away??), but I got it on top and loved the heat. Cheap- total dinner with soft drinks was under $20. Can't recommend it enough!
(5)Thighmaster M.
One of our favorite spots in SF, especially the sopapillas.
(4)Samantha L.
Loved our "real" food-- taquitos and tostadas-- but the BEST thing I had that day were the fried sopapillas with honey!!! MMMMMMMMMM
(5)Steve A.
I just had dinner with my mom (who lives in Santa Fe) when I visited her over the Labor Day weekend. What a great authentic New Mexican meal at a great price. That's hard to find in Santa Fe!
(5)Benjamin W.
I was nice here...I wanted to give them a 3.5 but the Sangria was excellent so I rounded up... First of all, the flavors are all on point, and I ordered something I make very well to compare it to what I would describe as my ideal preparation. I started with a Sangria and was very impressed, whatever wine they used was perfect for the mix. I ordered Beef tacos (comes with rice and beans and hominy which they call posole-which it was not). I also ordered a Chile relleno (Green). The atmosphere was very Santa Fe dive bar...but fit perfectly, nice people too. There is honey on the table as a condiment in a big bottle. I didn't realize the novelty they include with every order-the sopiapilla...a flour tortilla with some yeast in it made to work like an airy donut. Word of advice cover the sopiapilla while its hot, it will let the honey cover a lot more of the dough and wont be as viscous when you eat it. I grew up eating these things..they are wonderful. it was a pleasant surprise. The real issue for me...was the prefab taco shells like something you would get in your grocer's freezer isle or in a del monte box at the smiths/albertson's down the street. For a place that touts its authenticity...that is unacceptable. There are plenty of other alternatives to provide a low fat hard shell taco, besides, with all the other oil used I doubt the reason was the health concern. The other issue was with the "posole", which it was not (hominy is not posole, even if you add some spices), but the hominy was pretty good. The star of the show was the chile rellano and the red chile sauce, both excellent. The rellano was crispy, not overly greasy and full of the right consistency of cheese. The chile was very mild but still had a chile flavor-one of the best restaurant rellano I have ever had. The chile sauce was mild but seasoned well, and bright red, fresh and just spicy enough to work for almost any palate. I was truly impressed by the two chile items. Now to the tacos...aside from the flavor being excellent..about everything else didnt perform like it could have. The beef was soft and the consistency didnt have any "tooth" to it (think the difference betweeen al dente pasta, and pasta that is left in the water for three hours). It was smashed up into strands so small that the texture just wasnt reminiscent of beef, more of something you would get in a frozen box at the grocery store, or inside of a frozen burrito from 7-11. Again...flavor excellent; texture and execution not as much. The other issue was the forgettable rice and refried beans. they weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't memorable. the sopiapilla was awesome, but how bad could that be? I paid 20 with a very genrous tip (the bill was $13.50) for a sangria and the entrees. I would go again, but probably not until my next trip to NM...I need to try a few other places for comparison purposes. I parked next door (because I didnt go far enough to reach the u-turn to get into the Castro's lot) in the "cheeks" strip club parking lot, and was too lazy to move my car when i saw the big red sign saying not to park there...I didnt get towed. All in all a pleasant experience.
(4)Ryan H.
Delicious! Stopped through on the way home (to Fort Collins, CO) for lunch. On a Thursday afternoon we sat right down and were helped right away. I had 2 chicken enchiladas, christmas style (red and green), and a chili relleno, one of my party had the beef enchiladas with red (in my eyes a crime in NM but he isn't a Mexican food fan), the vegetarian enchiladas and chicken tacos. The enchiladas were GREAT! The green was very spicy, however, it lacked a bit of taste. The red was AMAZING!! I have come to love New Mexican green chili but the red chili blew my socks off. The serving sizes were incredible for the price. Also, all the meals came with beans, rice, a sopapilla and, most surprisingly of all, pesole. The pesole was really good! I was happy it came with the meal as I was a bit worried that I was going to have to leave New Mexico without having my pesole fix. I wish I didn't have to drive after lunch or else I would have tried their sangria in a heartbeat!
(4)Michelle M.
I was in town on business & try to eat locally, when I travel. This place was a little hard to find because it's off a pretty congested major road with many other shops & restaurants. I got the blue corn enchilada special. It was fabulous. I'm not a big pastry fan, so I only ate half of the sopapilla and it was not that crispy since I got it take out and ate it later at my hotel. Overall I highly recommend this place. Also seeing Hispanic families and not just Taos Anglos and skiers was very encouraging.
(4)Khaleelah J.
Our first stop in Santa Fe and we were not disappointed. Excellent sopapillas, excellent green chile, AMAZING sangria and great service. I left satisfied and lookin' for a place to one-up Cafe Castro...didn't find one all weekend.
(5)leigh p.
My friend and I were visiting the area and decided to visit High Country Gardens outside town for xeriscaping ideas. After that we looked up a place to eat and came up with the highly rated Cafe Castro. By coincidence we were completely surprised that it was right outside town right BY the nursery. Anyway... delicious, authentic food. Full of locals at 5:30 pm. Packed with them at 6:30 pm. I got the combo platter smothered with green chili. They accomodated my vegetarian wishes without a blink of the eye. Super cheap, super delicious. Yummy homemade sangria. Local, diner-style ambience on a major road so if you're looking for romantic on the Plaza this isn't it. Would definitely come back and recommend it!
(4)Pureum K.
Best Mexican food in Santa Fe. Price is cheap. There is private lot for parking. It's really great Mexican food :)
(5)Linda S.
We found this place on yelp as out of towners we were not disappointed. The chile reannos were tops. The tamales were excelent. Thier posole as tasty. The beans arge good to. Spoapillas are enormous and good. A fabulous find for tourists and locals alike
(5)Doug C.
Another letdown in Santa Fe for us. Chips and Salsa (which was fiery for sure), Con Queso, and Guac were decent, but the Enchiladas and Quesadillas were mediocre at best.
(2)Bunny T.
Wonderful food,good prices.friendly staff goes out of their way for you. Excellent choice for gluten free. They made up the queso w green chili special gluten free. Tortilla soup is excellent w corn strips. My husband had a bean burro w red chili huge. The sopapillas were hot and lite. Perfect,to die for. A dont miss. we will for sure go back
(5)Brian R.
Old school place loved by the locals. Sopapillas, the puffed fry bread staple of New Mexico are excellent. The service is good but the food? Make me a Castro's carper, but sliced processed roast beef sandwich meat in your roast beef burrito? Just whip out the can of Spam and be done with it. I never get a good meal here. Ever. I try. Call it cockeyed optimism or maybe it's just that my daughters have fond memories of the place. I always leave feeling like the foodie Charlie Brown, with Castros as my nemsis Lucy, pulling the quality food football out of reach as my meal hits the table. ARRRGGH! It tastes to me like the meats are very cheap product drowned in sauce and cheese with the hope that no one will notice. The sides are also really pretty uninspiring. Beans are mush and the posole is flavorless. Sorry, but it's more rough than diamond. This middle section of Cerrillos Road is full of these New Mexy joints with food that is just not good. People eat at them out of habit, or fond memories of uncles spilling red chili on their Sunday best reaching for the honey to go with the sopapillas. Tourists, keep driving North until you hit either Marias or Tomasitas if you're looking for real-deal New Mexican that's at least made with meat that doesn't taste like rubber flavored beef.
(2)Mika Z.
This place was kind of really disgusting. I always hate eating food that makes me catch myself sitting there wondering what that random stringy thing in my beans is or the puddle underneath my chicken is or what the source of the bubbly corner in my soda is. I know it could be all in my head, but this place is pretty disgusting. The tables have this sticky feeling to them and the food is incredibly greasy and salty. I felt pretty miserable inside after eating my fajitas. I got heartburn which I haven't ever had in my life before. This is easily the most disgusting place I have eaten in a long time. I think Santa Fe is full of these nasty "4 star" restaurants that the locals love. This is the kind of place that people who don't know good food eat at so they don't have to eat fast food again. I have said it before and I will say it one more time. I weep for the people of Santa Fe.
(1)Marc M.
My family and I have eaten here for 15+ years. Never gets old! The green chile queso is perfect! Menu is full of great meals! Breakfast is also very good here! Gets very busy as it should. Great service and owner is very appreciative of our business. Good to see a local restaurant be so successful!
(5)Diana O.
The service was excellent, the food was delicious and spicy. Also got the chips and salsa. Chips were great! The sopapillas are included with dinner, how awesome is that. Free dessert! Loved this place!
(5)Jo L.
Having only patronized Café Castro once, my rating is "A-ok". Service is quick and accommodating. My kid refuses to eat the majority of vegetables. This includes tomatoes and lettuce. He requested both of these accoutrements to be excluded from his kids taco meal. . . and they were. He loved the rice which came with his meal. He requested a double order. He proclaimed his meal to be delicious but refused to eat the beans. On to my meal. I ordered the enchilada dinner. It came with two enchiladas, posole, beans and rice. The beans were ok and to be truthful, I'm not a refried bean fan. The rice was pretty good and the enchiladas were pretty good as well. Everything was just "pretty good". The flavor of the chicken was good but I was a bit disappointed that it was not flavored up more than it was. Of course, this is my personal preference, and may not be "Santa Fe Style", but I love some cumin and chili seasoning (preferably ancho chili) in my chicken. I went with green chili over my meal. The chili was a bit spicy but not so much so that I could not hang. I also ordered a glass of sangria which was adequate. I actually liked it more than that. It was good. Something that I really enjoyed was the huge sopapillas that came with the meal. These fried, puffy pillows of dough were very good with honey drizzled over them. The price was pretty good. For both my son's and my meal, it was $17.00 and some change. . . .not including the tip.
(3)Marqui R.
I really used to enjoy this spot and was a regular here. However I hadn't been to eat here in a while. I happened to be in Santa Fe a few weekends ago and stopped here for breakfast. I was a bit disappointed to find that they didn't offer a breakfast menu. Their menu had two breakfast things and that didn't even include a breakfast burrito. I had to ask if they actually served breakfast burritos since it wasn't on the menu. Also they didn't have ham which is what I usually get in my breakfast burrito so I just had a meatless breakfast burrito. I ordered christmas as usual and the food is the same quality as I remember. The red chile is always spicier than the green chile. Also their green chile is more of a chopped consistency than a gravy. Awesome sopaipillas! I like that you can order whole beans here as well as I prefer them to refried beans. Good place to get your NM fix for a reasonable price. Just a bit disappointed on the breakfast menu offerings.
(3)Mike N.
Great food for sure. But I will never go there again. Terrible wait staff and very very unfriendly people. Got overcharged and argued with me over the bill.
(1)Terrance E.
Great small restaurant that serves great New Mexican food. The red chile has a very dark almost smoky flavor that you can't find anywhere else. I usually order the combo or enchilada plate. Never been disappointed here.
(5)Isabella L.
Close to all the hotels on Cerrillos. They have their own parking lot. The staff is very attentive, nice, and happy. I came in by myself on a Sunday night and didn't get any pity looks from anyone. Prices are awesome. Hole in the wall feel but not a tiny restaurant. Last the food is damn good. Had the green chile chicken enchiladas plate. First, the posole (hominy) was delicious but the beans and rice were not. I've learned to not expect good beans and rice in New Mexico. As for the enchiladas, they were excellent but I took a star off for using regular corn tortillas over blue corn. The blue corn not only gives it a unique earthy flavor but they stand up to the chile sauce so much better.
(4)Shay O.
Our group of six each ordered different antres and all enjoyed our meals. The service was great also. You MUST ORDER DESSERT SOPAPILLAS! They are very yummy!
(5)Chad N.
When we first landed and got to Santa Fe I was craving New Mexican food. This place was on our way and we decided to stop . The queso was not that great, but the enchilladas with red/green chili were. All dishes come with sopapilla, which is sweet. The service was a bit slow. Keep in mind that they will be closed the entire month of January. It seemed to be a hot spot for locals - lunch was packed.
(3)Bridget B.
Excellent real New Mexico food at beyond excellent prices! They are wonderful to the whole family with a great kids menu and kind warm hearted service. If your at Jackalope just cross the street and you won't regret it!
(4)Mike O.
This may be my favorite restaurant in New Mexico. I knew something right was going on here when at 6pm I showed up in the parking lot and it was PACKED. The rest was not disappointing. The service was good, attentive. For instance, you can pay at the counter, but my server went ahead and took my information and got the payment processed for me. But back to the food, which is the real reason this place is spectacular. They don't offer free tortilla chips, which was probably okay, because I eat WAY too many of those anyway, and end up full by the time my meal arrives. I ordered the chile relleno plate, Christmas, and I was blown away. It was deep fried, some of the thickest batter I've had on a relleno, and came with rice, beans and hominy. The chiles were even seeded well. The red and green chile were also some of the best I've had in New Mexico, and they were both SPICY! I'll try to max out all the New Mexican eating I can in Santa Fe, but I will definitely come back to Cafe Castro at least once per visit, again and again and again. Well done!
(5)Xander C.
I had some grande plato or something like that. it was a giant plate of a little of everything. i ordered it christmas and both the red and green sauces were pretty good. the chile relleno was a bit soggy, and not quite enough chile taste. the other two items on my plate were about average compared to CA, just with red and green chile sauce on top (which did make it above average).
(3)Josh C.
Real good food. Was able to taste the chili too before the meal to make sure it wasn't too hot, which was a plus. Big sopapillas! Decent prices and fast service.
(5)Jennifer D.
We traveled to Taos on our final day in New Mexico and were looking for a place to stop on the drive back to Albuquerque. This unassuming restaurant off the tourist path of Sante Fe totally hit the spot! Excellent guacamole, delicious sopapilla, and tasty green chile all made for an excellent, stomach expanding meal much needed after a day of heavy sight seeing. The service was quick and attentive. We ordered and our food was out within five minutes. The inside feels more like a bar than a restaurant. But don't let that or the additional parking in the next door strip club lot drive you away from an excellent gem of a restaurant in Sante Fe.
(4)Soledad R.
I love this place! The best sopapillas I have ever had. The service is excellent and the food is not only excellent but really well priced. They have beer and due to New Mexico's antiqued laws they don't have a liquor license ( those cost over $1million). They make due with wine margaritas that are good.
(5)Kimberly H.
To me this is everything I want in a restaurant. Sure I can enjoy a fancy, delicate meal as much as the rest of them. However what I'm really about is an open-faced enchilada smothered in green & red chili (Christmas-style), with a side of posole. Wash it all down with some Horchata and go home happy and sleep.
(5)LaTonia W.
I have nothing but good things to say about this little gem. Our waiter was super nice and took good care of us. The food was AWESOME!!! The horchata is the best I've ever had and I'm originally from Los Angeles where Mexican food restaurants abound. It was reasonably priced and the sopapillas were a very tasty added bonus. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Santa Fe!
(5)Greg B.
I can see why this casual cafe is so popular with the locals. The food is tasty, the service is friendly and attentive, and the prices are very modest. I enjoyed the tamale 'dinner' today for lunch ($8). My choice of chicken and pork tamales came with home-made green chili (also your choice), together with white hominy, re-fried beans and savory Spanish rice. Everything was perfectly seasoned and prepared. Lunches are served with delicious sopapillas, which was an unexpected and appreciated treat. The place was pretty busy when I came at 11:30am today. It's easy to understand why. Nice selection of traditional Mexican/New Mexican dishes and daily specials.
(4)Ben S.
Anyone leaving less than a five star review must be thinking of the wrong restaurant. Beginning with the wait staff, they were all extremely nice and very patient with my crew of white people pronouncing everything wrong. Then came the most delicious guacamole I have ever eaten in my life -- so good that we ordered a second round just to take home. All of our dishes were extraordinarily well cooked and prepared, delicious and also aesthetically arranged very pleasingly. Highly recommended, there is nothing on the menu that won't completely floor you. 10/10
(5)Stefanie D.
It was right across the street from our motel and the front desk recommended it. They were able to accommodate my gluten and dairy intolerance. We thought the food was some of the best Mexican we'd ever had. Service was good.
(5)Arlette M.
So, Castro's gets three stars, but it needs to come with an explanation. Here is what the three stars are for: Price. The most expensive item on the menu is $8.50. In Santa Fe this is almost unheard of. Service. The service here was better than many of the fine dining establishments in town. The staff was attentive, unobtrusive and smooth. And, they were open on a Sunday night in Santa Fe. Now here is the reason for the two empty stars. The food. I am sorry, fellow yelpers. Maybe it's because I gave my heart to Horseman's Haven so many years ago, but I just wasn't that impressed with the food here. Perhaps it is a matter of preference, so I will explain what I didn't care for and maybe it will help the decision making process. We found the green chile to be bland. Just one step up from out of a can. The red chile was interesting: very dark and thick and astringent, bordering on burned. This may just be a matter of taste. I prefer the bright red, rich chile of Horseman's, maybe because that's how I make it at home. Lighter chile is a sign of sun-drying rather than heated, mechanical drying, which, in my experience, can make red chile taste bitter. They serve posole rather than potatoes and I have tried so hard to like posole, but I just don't. It's a texture thing. To me huevos rancheros just aren't right without potatoes. The posole lover at the table gives it an: 'eh'. The beans are only served refried. Which is ok, I just prefer whole beans. Again, just preference. My chile relleno was decent and this is one of my tests of New Mexican food. It was moderately crispy with good cheese and the chile itself was pretty good. Teofilos (in Los Lunas, please see other review) still holds the crown on this one. The sopapillias were tasty, and if they had been slightly fresher they might have been outstanding. Teofilos still holds this crown as well. All in all, it comes down to preference. If you are looking for decent food at a good price, this place is a win. If you want fantastic food at a good price, go to Horseman's Haven. Just don't try to go on a Sunday night.
(3)H R.
Tamales were great. Red & green chile smothered is the way to go. Needed a bit of salt, but delicious. Chalupas were perfect: not too heavy nor too light, not too much food, and the salsa was very authentic. Negro Modelos were cold. 12 year old liked the tacos. Sopapias came with the main meals--very nice. 13 year old approved of the hamburger :-/.
(5)Heather T.
No frills local place off the beaten path. Near El Rey Inn, so a convenient late lunch for us, before hitting Canyon Road galleries back in town. Perfectly cooked med rare Carne Asada for hubby. Christmas chiles (red & green) of course! Blue Corn chicken Enchiladas with hominy & Christmas chiles for me. Sopaipillas to DIE for, served with the meal. Agave wine margarita ( no hard liquor here?) Was too sweet for me but still great. Loved the bill! $24.32 for two + tip. Yayyyyyyy. Go. Go now. Great on a cold snowy day, just the perfect happy comfort food we needed!
(5)Trevor C.
This is easily THE BEST Mexican food I've ever had. This is a required stop every time I'm anywhere near Santa Fe, say in Las Cruces or Albuquerque. This place is worth the 8 hour drive from Phoenix and is quite frankly the reason I took my family on vacation here. I would go on about the food, but anything I could say wouldn't do it justice. I would seriously consider moving to Santa Fe just because of this place. I wish they'd open a spot in Phoenix... hint hint. ;)
(5)Ashley D.
I almost don't want to write this review in fear of sharing one of the best kept secrets in Santa Fe! Cafe Castro is off the beaten path. It isn't fancy. It isn't expensive. But boy, is it good! I have been to the other more popular New Mexican restaurants in town, but they just don't compare, especially for $5 per plate higher prices! We have never had to wait for a table in the past, but on our recent vacation we went on a Friday night and waited 30 min. I watched the staff immediatly clean tables and seat waiting patrons, they did a great job on getting through the wait list quickly. The service at Cafe Castro is always 5 star, and you can tell that they take pride in their work. They like people to like their food and be happy, which makes it an enjoyable experience. Their menu has tamales, enchilada, chili rellenos, burritos, and tacos. They also offer stuffed sopipillas, which I haven't tried but they sound yummy! Also on the menu is heuvo rancheros and a few other traditional items. They offer a daily special as well, which features a dish not typically on the menu for a reasonable price. On my recent visit, I couldn't decide what I wanted, so I got the Plato Grande platter. It had 1 tamale, 1 chili rellenos, and 1 cheese enchilada with rice, beans, posole, and a pillowy sopipilla. It is a great sampling of all they offer. Everything was so good! I was impressed that the food quality was as good with them being as busy as they were, and everything was served piping hot. The tamale had plenty of meat filling and the rellenos was perfectly crisp (not at all gummy) and spicy. Their sides are good too! The rice is al dente and more like rice with seasoning than the soft, starchy Spanish rice sometimes served at restaurants. The beans are refried in house instead of from a can; I ordered mine traditional but my husband asked for the whole refried beans instead of smashing them. And their posole is so fluffy, but could use a bit more seasoning. They serve each meal with a huge sopipilla, which is like traditional fry bread (not covered in cinnamon and sugar like at Tex-Mex restaurants). It is served with your meal and you can use it to cut the heat of the chili or have it with honey. It is so pillowy, light, and very fresh. Yum! All meals come with their chili; I always order Christmas style. I love both chilis equally, but they both pack some heat! Especially the red chili. It has so many complex flavors, almost like a mole, but is so spicy! But addictive. Venture over to Cafe Castro and give them a try. It's New Mexican food at its finest from a humble, family owned restaurant. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Ada S.
THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD! I have had my fair share of Mexican food and have lived in the SW and this is by FAR the best Mexican food I have ever had. I got the El Plato Grande. Their green chili is to die for as is the horchata. It's such a little hole in the wall, it's fantastic and reasonably priced. I could not understand giving this place anything less than 5 stars and infinite praise. Highly recommended, don't miss out on this next level culinary experience.
(5)Paul S.
Still the best...consistently excellent food, unbeatable service, diverse menu, good location, clean and neat, cozy atmosphere. Late breakfast, lunch, dinner, all good. Closed Monday's but open and busy the other six days. As a long time diner here, I've never had reason to be anything but happy with the food, service and accommodations...sometimes the parking can be a challenge but usually not...there's more next door. Of particular note are the generous portions, fabulous sopapillas and all freshly cooked food items. I've seen them repeatedly accommodate parties of ten and more with no advance warning. They just get down and get it done. The service team is as good as it gets in Santa Fe and would be the envy of any restaurant owner.
(5)David T.
Café Castro is a real diamond in the rough - a rare down home humble little place to enjoy Northern New Mexican cuisine without all of the attitude and sky high prices you are likely to encounter elsewhere in Santa Fe. For this reason they are very popular with locals and tourists alike who value good food at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is more homey than showy but anything they lack in flash they make for in friendly service and terrific versions of the New Mexican classics. They'd be perfect but only beer and wine. Sad face - because nobody loves a good margarita more than I do. And, the location is a little off the beaten path out on Cerrillos - maybe that's a good thing because it cuts down on tourist foot traffic you encounter around the Plaza. And, did a I mention a good value - they will feed you very, very well for under $10. Maybe the best sopaipillas in Santa Fe. I really have to watch it with those because now that I live in Denver, where I have yet to have a decent sopaipilla, I tend to over do it here. If they have the carne adovada the day you go (Thursday's special as I recall) - get it, I'm not kidding. Go give them a try - you'll be glad you did.
(4)Jeanne J.
Best bang for your buck in Santa Fe! We loved this place!! Went here for dinner and I loved the green chili! The chili rellenos were YUMMY with nice bold favors :) Also your meal come with sopapillas which we did not know when we ordered so it was just a little surprise for us! So for great food for two it was only $21:) If your in town eating your way around you should make this one of your stops for sure :)
(4)Elliot G.
Fantastic food with a local atmosphere, and not the crazy prices you would find for lower quality near the downtown plaza. Had a good relleno, great tamale and an enchilada, plus rice, beans and pozolè PLUS a sopapilla for $10. Can't wait to come back on my next trip to Santa Fe.
(5)Brian H.
I have eaten amzing food in quite a few countries and the new mexican food at this place is amongst my favorite things I have ever tasted. The green and red chili sauces were juat right, The flavor if the enchilada and skiet steak were amazing and I even ate every last bite of hominy. I dont even like hominy, or didnt think I did. Reasonable prices too and a friendly waitstaff.
(5)Bill D.
Very good authentic food. If your kids don't like it, you know it's authentic Mexican! Lol! Prices were low, quality good
(4)