Wow what a value. Everything we had was very good, but their red sauce can be overpowering. Next time I'll request lite on the red sauce. Their current way to do business is strictly through phone ordering so it can be a little awkward for first timers but manageable. Only a few places for outdoor seating, so it's either that or take home which a lot of people do.
yummy tamales. great service. authentic food.
Each time we travel to Albuquerque, we plan to eat at the picnic tables outside El Modelo. During the pandemic, as of April this year, you have to use your phone to order by phone or online and the food is delivered to you in the parking lot...not a big problem. Food we had on two visits in April was great! Best Chio rellenos we have ever had, large and perfectly cooked. Stuffed sopapillas, burritos., and platters were all large and exceptionally good. Wish we lived nearby (we are in Missouri), so could come here frequently. We saw food at Mexican restaurants elsewhere in New Mexico that cost much more and was not nearly as good.
Always a place to pick up tamales for the holiday, but El Modelo is without doubt one of the finest New Mexican restaurants in town. Doesn't have the greatest number of seats, but has a covered patio for the summertime. Their chile (green and red) is liberally used in all their dishes from stuffed sopaipillas to their enchiladas. Not to be missed, and open for breakfast, too!
It's always a great time eating at the El Modelo restaurant. This cuisine has been served since 1929 with this new upgraded future building towering over the old traditional style Adobe restaurant that started this great classic traditional Mexican food.
Really liked it. As a matter of fact, me and my two adult sons went back a week later on our way to the airport. Bought a bag of their frozen tamales to go...excellent tamales. This is not a fancy place, but if you like authentic Mexican food, try it out. BTW, I have no idea if the neighborhood is ok at night...we we there for lunch.
The girl who answers the phone is so rude. It'd a good thing their food is good otherwise I wouldn't go back. Now, maybe not as often because of how rude they are.
Great food! Recommend the Mexican Plate if you have trouble to decide. Big portion can easily feed two people, stop by every time if you pass Albuquerque!The desert comes with honey, which also tasty just eat it along ! The ribs and enchiladas are also great!Phone in to order make sure you tell them your parking spot number, then they deliver to your car. Super easy!
Good food, great prices!! Highly recommend the stuffed sopapillas and Mexican plate!! I've been eating food from this place since I was a kid, and honestly miss it since leaving Albuquerque. The reason for only giving it 2 stars is due to the ordering system, they don't take call in orders. I was told to call from my car when in the parking lot and the waiting time was roughly 45 minutes. No thanks!!!! I miss it, but not that bad!!
A Mexican plate and stuffed sopapilla was plenty to overfill two hungry adult eaters. The taste was fantastic... The taco meat was a different animal altogether, and the stuffed sopapilla rewrote the book on stuffed sopapillas for me--it doesn't come smothered, and somehow that actually makes it better as the sopapilla has a great chew that makes it somewhere between a stuffed sopapilla and a torta. Come here with an open mind (unlike previous reviewers who are unhappy because the dish was different than they expect from other restaurants) and leave stuffed and happy.