First time in New Mexico and wanted to try out a local restaurant. This place left me speechless. Every single thing I ate was so delicious. The server Fred helped me order and I'm so happy he did. Definitely will be here again. Not only that, the ambiance was perfect. Get comfortable eating by myself.

Enjoyed all aspects of the meal! I liked how I got 6 fish tacos in addition to two sides (rice and papas, for me), which made me very full. It made for a great variety of food that you can share with others. The service was fast (10-15 min wait during full dinner service), and the bathrooms were clean. Plenty of parking as well. Would love to come back.

First time in Albuquerque and we were craving some Mexican food. Landed on this place because of the good reviews. We came in one hour before closing and all of the tables were occupied. Good sign. We were promptly greeted and told they would clean off a table where a group had just gotten up. Friendly staff with a sense of urgency in a buzzing family-friendly atmosphere. These were THE best tortilla chips I've ever eaten. Something about the crunch and the ensuing soft crumble in your mouth made these so addictive. The red and green salsas were both spicier than expected which was a nice change from a typical Mexican restaurant in the states. We shared the combo platter with red and green sauce on our enchiladas and tamales. The green sauce... incredible. So much flavor without a ton of heat. The red sauce was smokey, tangy, and spicy. Didn't enjoy this as much, but to each their own. The rice and beans were fantastic. The rice tasted savory like it was made with chicken stock. Lots of flavor. The pinto beans were left whole and not topped with cheese like a lot of other places do. This was right up my alley. The sopapillas at the end were fresh, warm, and paired perfectly with the local honey on the table. I would eat here every day of my life if I could!

Cocina Azul is worth the trip a few blocks over if you're in Old Town. Delicious food and fantastic service. This was our favorite dining experience on our vacation. Food is homemade and fresh. Servings are generous. --You have to try the queso! It's the best we have ever had. It is a family-friendly restaurant approved by my teenage son. They also have a good selection of beers and cocktails, so it's still a good option if you're looking for dinner and drinks with friends.

What went well? *EVERYTHING The *food* was fantastic. New Mexico cuisine at its best! Between those at my table we ordered adobada Enchiladas Christmas style, chicken burrito, and ribeye burrito Christmas style. Our sides were pozole, rice, & papas between all of us. The pozole was fantastic. I'd love to enjoy a cup on a cold day! The meats were all so tender and great flavor. The sopapilllas that come at the end of the meal were so fresh, steaming and soft inside yet perfect fry outside. Thats my first sopapilla in NM. So good. *Service* was great. Our server kept refilling our water with a smile. He answered questions and gave recommendations. He was awesome! *Ambiance* was good. I didn't know what to expect but it was a nice place for families or a casual date. Small bar inside which was full. I'd HIGHLY recommend this dining option. I hope to be lucky enough to stop here again next time I visit Albuquerque.

It was Mother's Day and pretty busy with a wait. Visiting from San Diego and I thought the food was okay (but I am use to Mexican food that has more flavor). The salsa verde they serve with the chips was excellent. I ordered Avery's Sopapilla Pizza and was not expecting the dough to be soft and more like sopes. However, once I got over it the dish itself was good. My friends ordered a Street Taco and Combo (tamale, enchilada, relleno, taco) Plates. They thought their tacos lack taste. Overall, I would say it borders between okay and good. But will give it four stars for their salsa verde (which gave a boost to our entrees) and for their service (once seated). I also think the chips and salsa should be complimentary. If it wasn't for Yelp checkin for these freebies I may not have been able to try the salsa verde.

Best food and service you could possibly ask for this restaurant encapsulates the ambience of what NM is supposed to be. This location is the best don't got to the other one on Montgomery Blvd. Don't even bother this is the original and having the best food and the best service in all of Albuquerque NM. Shout out to our waiter Alfredo. And thank you! Will come again soon!

My friend and I drove from Gallup to Albuquerque and decided to stop in here for lunch. I got the pozole because it was a cool day and I had been dreaming of soup, and boy was it delicious and gigantic! It was so gigantic a portion that I took half of it home and finished it for dinner. My friend got the shrimp tacos and really liked them. We also got the fried bread (I'm blanking on the name), which was delicious for dipping in sauce and drizzled with honey. This place was lovely! Amazing food, good service!