Patio Dining & Indoor Dining is Open
Summer is winding down so lets make the most of what remains!
(Update Sept, 2020) The Patios and indoor dining are open, but still constrained, following the Governor's mandates which change by the week. Our full capacity, when not limited by the Governor, is over 1,200 seats on eight beautiful covered patios and five indoor dining rooms. As the largest restaurant in the Southwest, there is still a seat for you! There is free music while you dine on Sandia Patio Tuesday and Thursday nights. Patios are covered for the occasional monsoon storm and protection from the afternoon sunshine. At this time, only service animals are allowed, and our Puppy Patio cannot accept animals, as required by the Governor. Additionally, mandates limit seating to six guests at any one table. Groups larger than six are required by the State to sit at different tables.
Reservations are highly recommended, and most likely required for seating in the evening, so we can properly manage the flow of guests and maintain COVID distancing standards.
Make a reservation now.
El Pinto is the spot to be during the 2018 Balloon Fiesta.
Iconic El Pinto Restaurant & Cantina is a must visit during Balloon Fiesta. Located 1.5 miles from Balloon Fiesta Field it is where pilots, spectators and VIP guests come to enjoy the camaraderie and spirit of Fiesta.
(From Balloon Fiesta Field go north on I-25 and exit Tramway/Roy heading west or take Alameda west to 4th St. and turn right heading North)
The smell of green chile roasting is in the air with nightly roasting of organically grown green chile from Hatch, New Mexico. Enjoy free samples to get a taste of New Mexico.
Mariachis will be performing nightly throughout Fiesta from 6-8 p.m.
The first Friday and Saturday night of Fiesta, the restored 1942 Don Julio Chevrolet will be on display commemorating when Don Julio Tequila was founded. Specials on 1942 Don Julio tequila will be available throughout Fiesta and the hand shaken "Fiesta Fresh" Margarita is featuring Don Julio tequila with Grand Marnier.
Reservations are available at ElPinto.com. Don't worry if a reservation is not available, over 60% of the seating is held for walk in guests which is an El Pinto tradition. Come experience the tastes and sounds of New Mexico while a seat is prepared for your party.
El Pinto is the Only Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant in the Nation
with a Laying Hen program on restaurant property
See the Video: https://youtu.be/y3gpsNtK8ME
El Pinto Restaurant in Albuquerque New Mexico is now using 100% pasture-raised eggs for all entrees. To accomplish this unprecedented feat, El Pinto is caring for 200 laying hens to produce the required pasture-raised eggs on a daily basis for restaurant use. The restaurant’s “Hen Hotel” is located on the property of El Pinto in the North Valley of Albuquerque. This commitment makes El Pinto Restaurant one of the few, and the definitely the largest restaurant in America with a pasture-raised egg commitment.
“Our passion is clean and nutritious food for all of our guests,” explains Jim Thomas, co-owner of El Pinto. He continues, “Healthy happy hens produce eggs of amazing nutritional value and outstanding taste.”
There is extensive lack of understanding in egg production standards which confuses the consumer. “Pasture-raised” is the only standard that is significant to ensure nutritional benefits of the eggs as well as the animal security of the hens. Terms like “cage-free,” “farm-raised,” and even “free-range,” do not ensure the happiness of the hens or high nutritional value of the eggs.
The health benefits of pasture raised eggs are extensive. Eggs from happy hens who live their lives normally in an unconfined environment lay eggs that are multiple times higher in Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Omega-3s than eggs from mass production conventionally raised hens. Pasture-raised eggs naturally have half the cholesterol and are significantly lower in saturated fat as well.
El Pinto hens naturally roam the land for worms, grubs and insects. Their diet is supplemented with high protein organic feed. Additionally, some unique things like wheatgrass, red chile sprouts, jalapenos, and other nutritious kitchen scraps from the restaurant are used to supplement their natural diet. The eggs are collected daily, washed, graded according to USDA requirements, and then used in the restaurant for guest entrees.
It is estimated in 2016 that 94% of egg laying hens in the United States live their lives in less than 76 square inches of space in a cage. By comparison, a sheet of paper is 94 square inches. Cage-free hens live outside a cage but inside a cramped barn and likely do not see the light of day. There are no space requirements for cage-free laying hens. El Pinto laying hens live their lives under the pasture-raised standard which requires them to live naturally without their beaks cut, wings clipped, and they enjoy a happy life in over 50 square feet (not inches) of outdoor pasture space per hen. All hens have free will access to safe laying areas as well as expansive outdoor pasture space.
Over the 53 year tradition of El Pinto, the restaurant has helped to put New Mexican cuisine on the map as it has prepared green chile based cuisine within the White House presidential kitchen and provided “take-out” direct to Air Force One on the tarmac in Albuquerque. In addition to serving presidents, cabinet secretaries and military generals, local residents continue to independently voted El Pinto Restaurant the Best New Mexican Restaurant for multiple years running as well as its patios as the Best in the City in the annual Albuquerque The Magazine readers poll. El Pinto's Red Chile Ribs were named in Food Network's Top 5 Restaurants as the #3 ribs in the nation.
About El Pinto Restaurant & Salsa Co:
Established 53 years ago, El Pinto is a quintessential icon for New Mexican cuisine. Conveniently located in the North Valley of Albuquerque just off I-25, the serene patios located under beautiful cottonwood trees provide an iconic experience. El Pinto is known nationally for its fire-roasted green chile and fresh flavorful salsa distributed across the nation in local grocery stores. The salsa and green chile factory is located on the same grounds as the restaurant. For an authentic taste of New Mexico, visit El Pinto for its fresh iconic food, traditional margaritas, and award winning chile. www.elpinto.com
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