Sadie’s Of New Mexico
6230 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Sadie’s Of New Mexico Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6230 4th St NW
Albuquerque, NM, 87107 - Phone (505) 345-5339
- Website https://www.sadiesofnewmexico.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
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 : Free
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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Jeremy S.
How to cope with Sadie's at 6:00 on a Saturday night: 1. Waiters. Send in your waiters around 5:20. (No not the kind that wait tables, I mean your boyfriend or spouse.) The waiters go in and get on the waiting list, order margaritas from the bar, and call you to tell you when the table will be ready. What they sacrifice is 45-60 minutes in a waiting room. What they gain are the free margaritas you are going to pay for when you arrive. 2. Vintage Table-Pac Man. After a couple Silver Coins I'm usually feeling pretty competitive for Pac Man. One of the machines is fast but glitchy so you might lose your quarter, the other machine with Galaga is slow so you'll lose your buzz. 2. Margaritas. The phenomenon that is Sadie's isn't so much about the food as the experience. Part of that experience is the margaritas. Coping requires either a pitcher split 4 ways or a couple Silver Coins. I usually get a pitcher just because it's fun to do so and you can force all your modest friends to have a margarita. Caution, you will need a driver after only 2 silver coins. 3. Salsa. Sadie's salsa is extremely hot and for some strange reason, eating more postpones the inevitable pain. The incentive is to keep shoveling the salsa down without stopping. I suggest you let the pain kick-in and heal about 3 minutes before your food shows up or you won't be able to taste your meal. Also, Sadie's portions are huge so you do not want to fill up on chips. 4. Budget. If you're simple folk like me, you'll have noticed the prices rising. This has forced me onto page 3 of the menu. I never even knew they had a 3rd page! This is where you find the burgers for $7.99. Also, splitting plates makes a lot of sense as the two will neither feel hungry nor over-stuffed. 5. Exit Strategy. Your waiter will be slammed. (Both the guy who was waiting around drinking margs for an hour and the guy with about 526 tables waiting for their check). I thank yelper Flozilla B. for this one, but last night when we had finished eating and the kids were running around chasing the mariachis and playing in the fire place, I was trying to tackle our waiter. Flo pointed out there is a cashier at the front. So instead of watching this poor man try to separate checks for a thousands customers, you can take your own check to the front and there was no line!
(4)Melinda P.
I've had their combo plates as well as their huevos rancheros. It's all good, people! However, my biggest surprise was when I ordered the huevos rancheros "to go" one cold and blustery night recently. Not only was it prepared fresh to order, but they really went the extra mile to improve the experience, sent me home w/ freshly made tortilla chips (a big bag full) and 2 fresh and hot sopapillas and a pint of their homemade salsa - all of this for like $9 - I was really impressed.
(5)Cathy K.
Restaurant is clean. Atmosphere is nice, old school tables. The service was excellent. Brian was very attentive and gave us excellent recommendations for foods to eat and didn't try to up sell us on anything, but I got the added extras anyway. Food was delicious and there was PLENTY of it. The soppapillas were the best we have had!!
(5)Aaron W.
This place is a mainstay for us, mainly for the prices and the portion sizes. My lady and I can order and share a single bean stuffed sopapilla plate (ask for the whole beans if you're concerned about vegetarianism ... we do) and often still have leftovers. : ) They have a special vegetarian green chile you can ask for, apparently their regular green chile isn't. Unlimited and prompt refills on fountain drinks, and they have Diet Dr. Pepper, which I have a particular weakness for. You'll need it if you go for the unlimited chips and salsa, because their salsa is almost always VERY hot ... in fact that's one of my complaints. I'd love to be able to have a milder salsa so I could actually enjoy it instead of just frantically trying to cool my mouth down. : ) But oh well. I'd rate the New Mexican food here as medium on my overall quality scale ... it's good, decent, passable, but not the best, in my opinion. On the other hand, I love their new lunch/dinner salad ... huge plate of spring mix with feta cheese, pinon, and a red chile vinaigrette dressing. It's pretty awesome. Love the buildings at the 4th St. and the Academy at San Mateo locations, especially the Academy one. It's the old Garduno's and is a beautiful building with many sweet private booths. I usually end up at the one on Eubank and I-40 though, as it's close to my house. It's decently nice inside, but nothing like the other two. On the other hand, it's much less crowded than the 4th St. location tends to get. : )
(3)Ashley C.
Lots of food! Ordered the chicken stuffed sopapilla (a la carte) and could only finish about 1/4 of it. We also ordered chicken tacos and the shell tasted really stale. Cheap and great service!
(4)Ouroboros B.
Huge portions. If I could do it over, I'd stick with an a la carte and skip dinner plate with the potatoes- although the beans were good, it was somewhat pricey. I would also not get cheese on everything- the amount of melted cheddar on my plate was a bit much. Chile Relleno was excellent. Like, seriously excellent. Veg red chile was yummy. Good service- server was able to and successful at catering to the four of us and our various food restrictions (dairy allergy, vegan, and gluten-free).
(3)Robert P.
When I came to Sadie's and saw a long line, I knew I came to the right place. A hearty restaurant full of good laughs, great smiles, and delicious food, I found myself a part of New Mexico history. Gilbert, the manager, was the one to seat my date and I. As we walked to our table, we mentioned that we had just moved from California and that it was our first time to Sadie's. At this information, a huge spark of joy came across him and he was quick to offer us suggestions for food. What came next was a bunch of samples of chili and food that left me feeling at home. For the food: I was astonished at the food portions, as some others have mentioned, they're HUGE. However, it was perfect for us since we shared the dishes we got. Their cheese enchiladas and carne adovada enchiladas were to die for. I would have preferred less cheese, but man was the meat juicy and delicious. At the end of our meal, we were given free sopapillas to indulge in, and the ones at Sadie's were soft, fluffy, and delicious. Service: As I mentioned earlier, Gilbert took the role of being our server for the night. Although he had a huge restaurant to run, he took special care of us and we definitely felt the passion for his job. We appreciated him greatly and we will be coming back again. Atmosphere: This place feels warm. It may be chilly if the air conditioning is on high, but the environment is warm. I loved seeing Sadie's and New Mexico's history in the restaurant. It could have been brighter where we were seated, but I'm willing to let that slide. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5
(5)Megan A.
Best service we've ever had. If you can, ask for Caprice. She was truly the most thoughtful and helpful server we've ever had at a restaurant. After a long day driving from Denver to Albuquerque, we were very hungry and wanted some Mexican food. Our kids were tired and needed naps but our hotel didn't have room service, so we chanced it and went to Sadie's, hoping the baby and toddler would behave. As soon as our food arrived, the 2-year-old started to have a melt-down. We were then going to box our food up and take it to go, but Caprice said that because of the late hour, she didn't have any other customers. She offered to show our 2-year-old the fountain, within our view, while we ate dinner. They never left the restaurant, so we weren't scared for our child, but we were able to eat our dinner in peace. That was above and beyond what we had hoped for. The food was also fantastic, after all that.
(5)Felicia K.
Here's why I like Sadie's: 1. Their specialty margaritas are yummy and they come in a huge glass. 2. One dish is enough for 2 people. 3. The atmosphere. Yes, it's crowded, but I love that gigantic families all go there on the weekends. Call ahead and make a reservation if you don't want to wait!
(4)Richard S.
Worst service ever - unbelievable really. We had a party of six from work. Some out-of town and a couple local. Place was not terribly busy and we were seated in 10 minutes. It took nearly 2 hours from start to finish. The room we were seated in was dumpy and the table next to us was covered with dirty plates from an earlier table and was never cleaned up - so we got to see those during the entire dining experience. We waited at least 15 minutes until a surly waitress walked up with a scowl and asked if we were ready to order. Did not ask if we wanted drinks so we ordered drinks with our meals. She demanded ID from each of us, age 40 to 60. The ID on the 60-year old gentleman was expired by 2 days and she refused to serve him. He offered non-expired military ID and she refused to accept that. The $10.50 margarita was so-so. Nice it wasn't a mix but was watered down. Food was very slow coming and just ok, typical mass-produced mexican with overpiled "plate o brown-grey slop" presentation. Waitress never checked backed to see how the food was, or to ask if we wanted more drinks. At this point were pretty turned off and when she asked about the bill we asked for separate checks. She seemed very annoyed and said she needed to see if she could do that and disappeared for another 15 minutes. She then came back with the separate checks and vanished for good. Another 20 minutes later we wrote her off and brought our checks up to the front and paid. She then showed up by the front register and hung close to the people paying, since no doubt she figured zero tip was on the way. The three in our car all left zero tip. I tip 20% almost always and round up from there if service was exceptional. I left zero tip - first time in probably 20 years, but that's what this server deserved. With good or excellent service I would have rated this a three star. Our experience was a solid one star and that's being generous.
(1)Rob V.
Went to Sadie's to celebrate Father's Day this year. My entire family was present. My wife, three daughter's, son, their significant others and three grandchildren. The food was just OK. There are a dozen places in Albuquerque that serve better Mexican. The service was lousy. Orders were not all brought at once, and when it came time to pay the bill, the server took nearly an hour to try and split the tab. I won't say he was on some controlled substance, however he acted very, very weird. If you want quality food accompanied with excellent service, go to Cocina Azul or a number of different Mexican places in Albuquerque. DO NOT GO TO SADIE'S!!! Sadie's is over-rated for the quality of it's food and the service stinks. Did I mention the service is just plain lousy!!! I wrote to them expressing my thoughts about our experience at their place of business (?), however they did not even offer a replay or apology. Very disappointing.
(1)Rose A.
I had dinner here and had a Chile Relleno, a brisket taco & also a bowl full of guacamole - delicious!!! Albuquerque ranks as one of the best places to have Mexican food. I am originally from Los Angeles, so I know what good Mexican food is!
(4)Natilee M.
Meh. Huge place that was super packed when my big group arrived. Drinks: I ordered the blue margarita frozen and it came with all the liquid on the bottom where it had obviously been sitting at the bar a while but the other margaritas at my table looked good. I got the blue on a suggestion that it was strong and delicious but wished I'd gotten the midori instead because it was neither. The salsa: not much to say by flavor/consistency. Yes it was hot because they left all the seeds from the pepper in but besides the pleasant heat I was left feeling disapointed. Food: Huge portions with most entrees accompanied by papitas (huge mound of little fried diced potatoes) and pinto beans. I ordered the pork chop which was grilled and delicious. Tasted some of the more traditional fare at my table and was unimpressed. Pros: HUGE portions, grilled porkchops Cons: Most things were one step up from taco bell, my drink was pretty weak Again: Meh.
(2)Emily B.
Expect a large, open space with many tables in Sadie's Dining Room. The environment is family-friendly, with a very personable staff. Three stars on the rating, because I was expecting great Mexican food, and I would have preferred higher quality food in a smaller portion. Sadie's provides the environment and the food for large,c casual meals with a group, or family. There are chips already on the table, with a squirt bottle of honey, and spicy salsa to come with the water. The waters are refilled often, and this is necessary as the food is spicy. I recommend ordering chili on the side to avoid a meal that is too spicy. A note about chili, the green is vegetarian and the red has meat. The bean burrito was a large portion, with potatoes on the side, and a lot of cheese on top. I recommend asking for cheese on the side, or light on the cheese, to avoid a very heavy meal. Sopapillas were brought for dessert, and tasted good, although I had never had one before.
(3)Pamela S.
Now, I have to preface my 5 star review with this: we have had better food, but... To start, we each had a massive margarita which were well made, and very strong. Very good start. I had: the red chile enchiladas since I made it my mission while back in NM to find the best enchiladas I could, and these were damn good. We also had a tamale each, they were sweet, spicy, moist, perfect. He had the carne adovada, which was heavenly. The sopapillas, beans, everything was fantastic. We ate WAY too much, had to take a nap afterwards due to the food coma, and had a fantastic time. As good as it gets in Albuquerque...
(5)Meredith M.
Favorite Mexican food restaurant anywhere. Dining room isn't very fancy, but the food is fabulous and the prices are amazing. Hubby and I regularly split the spicy beef burrito and we both walk away stuffed. Huge portion sizes for most entree items. If you don't like spicy food, stay away from the salsa. If you do, get ready to be impressed. Yum.
(5)Dolores G.
I enjoy a good meal at Sadies now and again. Maybe I just go for the Salsa. I avoid going on the typical Thurs, Fri or Sat nights or I go early. The food quality is spot on about 65% of the time. I find anything with chicken you order there to be a bit bland. Their portions are large, the papitas are one of my favorite sides there. While it maybe worthy of 4 stars on occasion I am only giving it 3 becasue like El Pinto (nice ambiance) and Gardunos (nice happy hour but I don't take friends there) they are over hyped.
(3)Tough C.
I'll make this as short and to the point as I can-This place is the Denny's of Mexican (or New Mexican, even), food. It's the worst I' ve ever had, anywhere. Really. I've had better frozen dinners. I grew up eating Mexican food. This place is insulting, in every way. Let's begin: The service? Terrible. Patronizing, rushed (when they bother to show up), absent mostly. Didn't manage to bring two items I asked for (even after she repeated the order back to me). She was obviously tweaking. Is it that difficult to get good, sober servers in ABQ? The food: Lousy. Nothing special. BORING. Forgettable. Not worth the price-AT ALL. A step up from Taco Bell. I asked for a side of corn tortillas. I got some, unwrapped, on a plate, and they were store bought-NOT FRESHLY MADE. My server insisted that they were. They were cold, too. OMFG! Really!?! When I told her they definitely were not freshly made, she recanted and apologized. Oh, come on already! There's nothing that I hate more than paying for a crappy, overpriced meal and then having to school the waitress. Save your money. Go to Garcias. I can only imagine the good reviews for this restaurant were written by its owners and their friends/workers to save their jobs.
(1)Eliza M.
I read in a tour book that Sadie's is where locals go to eat New Mexican food. I think it meant to say "is where local families go to eat New Mexican food." Lots of families & kids here. You get a lot of food for your money. I literally popped a belt loop after eating here. Literally. We noshed on a lot of chips and salsa before our meal because no server acknowledged us for at least 10 minutes. When our waitress finally did appear, she apologized which was all she had to do to appease us. I ordered a traditional margarita. It was the strongest drink I've had in a restaurant, oh I don't know....... EVER. I ate a ton of food and still left tanked. We ordered a burrito with spicy beef and beef enchiladas, both covered in red & green chile (we never did figure out if we like green or red chile better). My burrito was a foot long and I devoured a good portion of it, thus the ripped belt loop. All portions here are large. It was amazing to see waitstaff walk by, seeing the mounds of food they had to be able to lift. Our meals came with sopaipillas. I had read about these and finally had a chance to try them. There are basically pillows of dough that you put honey on. They were alright but nothing special. We rolled out of there.
(3)Virgo M.
Before Yelp, I used Rachel Ray's approach of "asking the locals" where to eat. To be honest, I still rely on that approach from time to time, Many locals agreed that "Sadie's" was the place to eat for New Mexican food. And yes, there is a difference between Mexican and New Mexican, I quickly learned. I love how everything in New Mexico is served with hot sopapillas and honey (OMG) and unless otherwise specified, your food will be smothered with red chile sauce aka southwestern gravy. Just look at the pics people have uploaded if you don't believe me :) Sadie's food and service was top notch. This joint is jumping...full of local people and wide spread out. If I ever get the chance to visit again, I'd for sure come back.
(4)Patt F.
Sadie's was marginal at best! Kind of like Taco Bell on steroids. Had Sadie's Enchilada's, one a spicy beef and the other chicken and both meats were ground to a fine pulp. Ordered them Christmas and couldn't tell the red from the green! Sopaipillas were cold and greasy! So much for famous Sadie's! On the plus side, the chips and salsa were great! Should have stopped there!
(1)John H.
In response to my less-than-favorable review dated 8/3/2010, I was contacted promptly by Sadie's management. They sent me a sincere apology for our experience and have assured me that they will do their best to correct the situation. Cheers for Sadie's!
(5)John D.
Ginormous portions of goopy, gloppy Mexican in a big, Applebee's-decorated room. Locals will claim that this is special. It's not. But it's cheap and filling and could be worse.
(2)Matthew W.
Really good Carne Adovada Rib. Free appetizers (meat quesadillas and taquitos) during UNM games (at least today). The gives potatoes instead of rice. The chips and salsa has a good flavor. Chile Relleno was good, not great. Chile tasted good - the green chile was a little different but still good. No green chile stew. Good flavor in everything overall.
(5)Christopher B.
When i first walked in, i was a little worried when told my party if 2 might not be seated for an hour and a half. We stayed the course because of the many positive Yelp reviews and it paid off. After my experience at other eateries in town, Sadie's was by far, the best experience and best tasting restaurant here. The wait staff was very attentive and even gave a complementary Patron Margaretta which I would recommend over the house. The dishes are plentiful and can serve two. I highly recommend stopping by here for a nice experience.
(5)Leslie W.
Every time I go home to visit my parents, I try to go to Sadie's. I don't usually get to eat there, though. The wait is entirely too long for the quality of the food they offer. Despite the size of the restaurant, wait time is generally 20 minutes or longer. ( I have a strict policy of not waiting for more than 20 minutes for a restaurant. No one's food is worth that. I'd rather try something new than wait. But, I digress...) They have the typical New Mexican stuff like carne adovada and green chile stew. All of that stuff is good. Portions are HUGE. My sisters and mother generally all share something. People really like the salsa. I think it is fine, but I don't like their jarred version of it. They used to have a Betty Rangel's special (or something along those lines) that was hamburger patty with cheese sauce over it. It is like a deconstructed cheeseburger. 50,000,000 calories, but oh-so-tasty. Save room for sopaipillas! Service is decent. Iced tea is good.
(3)Dan W.
I wish we had listened to recommendations earlier. The food was excellent. My son ordered the burger, my wife enchiladas, and I had the stuffed sopapilla carne adovada. As mentioned in other reviews, the portions are huge. We all brought home more than half our dinners. Five stars if it wasn't so noisy, I couldn't hear half what my son was talking about. Worth the noise if you want good food, but I wouldn't bring company I wanted to talk with here.
(4)Rebekah L.
Delicious blue corn enchiladas, best chile relleno I've ever had, spicy salsa, great food new mexican style!
(5)Jamie B.
While in Albuquerque on business I was told that I need to go to Sadie's. Of course i had to go there since that is the name of my sweet little girl. This was my first real experience with New Mexican food. WOW! I loved it! The food was so fresh and flavorful, and had a great kick to it as well. Also the staff was very friendly, and very helpful. I will defiantly be making a few more visits to Sadie's while I am in town.
(5)Finnegan M.
Mexican food here is exceptional, though my Dad is not a big fan of New Mexican Mexican food because it is so spicy--My Mom loves this place and we always eat here when in Albuquerque several times a year. The last time we ate here was in January 2011. My Mom always gets the combo dinner.
(5)Melissa G.
We had the BEST team dinner for 60 people at Sadie's!!!!! I lived in New Mexico about 13 years ago and was back in town for a regional dive meet at UNM. I asked our coach if I could arrange our team dinner and of course he obliged. Everyone from our team decided to come and everyone was thrilled! The patio was the most amazing, spacious location and the food was delicious. The sopapillas and the green chili chicken enchiladas were favorites...not to mention the margaritas!!! The silver coin margarita, which is not on the menu, was spectacular! I would highly recommend Sadie's for any large function. The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Thanks to Steven, Bree, Zach and Penny. After our party was over, Zach even offered to take our extra food to a downtown homeless shelter. The hosts created our best team dinner in years! Thanks Sadie's for showing us a good time in Albuquerque!
(5)Katie H.
If I'd had better company ( I was alone) this may have been 5 stars. As it was, I had a great, huge and filling meal (and I only ate about 1/4 of it!) with excellent friendly service. I had a margarita, tasty guac and chips and a combo plate of a tamale anda cheese enchilada "Christmas style". The tamale was fantastic and on top of all that it came with a heaping side of potatos and beans that I barely made a dent in. The spopapilla was doughy and definately helped quench my fire mouth. I not the one to judge "authentic" new mex cuisine but I can say it was damn tasty!
(4)Christine J.
My husband and I decided to eat at Sadie's while we were in ABQ . We saw such great reviews so we decided, why not ? We got there around 7:45 and were told it was going to be a 25 minute wait so we decided to head to the bar , grab a drink and wait til we got a table. Not even 10 minutes later we got seated. The food was beyond delicious and the chips and salsa were amazing. Read on some reviews that there would be leftovers but nothing compares to any leftovers you have ever had! I had mine for 2 meals after our dinner! Great quality of food and also pretty great service. We can't wait to head back to ABQ to eat at Sadie's agan!
(4)Kim N.
I found myself in the Albuquerque area once again for snow skiing, and we had one night that we decided to go out to eat. After discovering that Garduno's (the place my Dad wanted to eat) closed at 7:30pm (on a Saturday evening I night add- wtf?), I started looking on Yelp for other options. Sadie's looked like a solid option. After a fairly lengthy drive from the Cedar Crest area (with a few complaints from my parents), we found Sadie's. The reviews are true, from the road the entranace is dark and eerie, and almost looks as though the place might be closed. We pressed on though, and as we entered the parking lot the mass amounts of cars were a very good sign that this place was pretty popular. There was a 25-minute wait, which is a good sign to me. Not so long that we're starving by the time we get a table, but just enough that you know it's gotta be good. We got comfortable in the bar and ordered some guacamole and queso to have with the complimentary chips & salsa that was offered. I was immediately impressed. The guac was tastey and the queso was very fresh. Not just like they melted some cheese and threw some rotel in there, but truely home-made. I had a hard time staying away from it. For dinner, my sister and I thought we would share the Carne Adovada with the Red Chile. Unlike what I'm used to in Texas, this dish came with beans (similar to charro, but less soupy and with cheese) and potatoes. It sure was good. It was huge, lean pieces of pork marinated in spicey red chile and then baked. The meat was perfectly cooked and had excellent flavor. Get ready for some spice though... I thought that coming from Texas that I would have no problem with the heat level, but this dish had my nose running and me gulping down water. I just couldn't stop eating it though... Too good. mmm... Another dish that I tried was the Chile Relleno and in my opinion, was just too damn hot. I don't consider myself to be wussy when it comes to spice, but I just couldn't handle it. We finished off our dinner with sopapillas and honey. Darn good. Great prices and great food. Definitely recommended.
(4)Scott C.
So I went to this New Mexico institution looking for authentic New Mexican cuisine. I was a little disappointed in the spiciness. I ordered the Sadie's Burrito with red chili. The menu warned about how hot the food was, and I did not find it very spicy at all. The salsa was by far the spiciest thing I ate. My wife ordered the combo plate with a taco and enchilada. She got the green chili, as a friend told her it was the less spicy of the two. I tried a few bites of her green chili and immediately wished I had ordered that. While still not that spicy I liked the flavor better than the red. While I'm stating the food was not that spicy, my wife was clearly in disagreement. She looked like she was going to need medical attention.So if you are not used to spicy food then is probably pretty spicy. If I return I think I would order the carne adovado. I did not this time because i expected the chili to carry the flavor and temp and it didn't quite happen. Overall not bad, and I might change after ordering different menu items. The salsa was exceptional as were the sopapillas.
(3)Joshua C.
Oh my goodness! What a great time! When I think New Mexican food, Sadie's is it. The only complaint I have is the wait. If you don't time it or call ahead plan on sitting for at least 45 minutes to 3 hours on Friday and Sat night. That's gotta tell you something about the food. If people are willing to wait that long... Hold on to your taste buds Albuquerque! This place rocks my world and it will rock yours too!
(5)Brian H.
When you talk about New Mexican cuisine, this is the epitome of the best of the Southwestern flavors and spices. Green chiles, soapapillas, potatoes, it's all here. I've never eaten anywhere else in New Mexico that has matched this restaurant. Be forewarned, it is really, really spicy b/c the green chiles are the staple of any New Mexican cuisine. But they are different then jalapenos as they add both flavor and heat to any entree. The menu isn't very expansive but it doesn't need to be as they do what they offer really well.
(5)Peggy R.
Love it, Love it, Love it!! Hot and spicy, great papitas (little fried chunks of potatoes smothered with green chili and cheese). Always busy so go at off times if you don't want to wait.
(5)Virginia G.
Chile rellenos that aren't soggy, warm sopapillas with honey, margaritas made with lime not premade mix, homemade salsa, I wish there was one of these in FLorida so my hubby could get a taste of real mexican. YEs, it gets very crowded at times and yes it can be over run with us out-of-towners and yes the servers can snip, but hey , go early, have a maragarita, relax and graze
(4)Heather M.
Awwwe...warm sopapilas with honey dripping down your fingers...I hadn't been there in 8 years and came back to find that they have actually remained to same. Margarita's are excellent. My hubby and I split a burrito and that was plenty! I forgot they put potato in the burritos..I was in burrito heaven...LORD DON'T take me yet...give me Sadies a few more times. BUT BEWARE of the chili because it will get you the next day :]
(4)Joan S.
Major caveat--my first time in New Mexico, in the Southwest even. Originally from NYC and living in the upper midwest for the past two decades. So what do I know from New Mexican? However, this place was reasonable, service was fast, and the food was OK. Absolutely HUGE portions, I felt like I stuffed my face but had over half of the meal left when I couldn't go any further. Except for the soapaillas, never had them before but managed to fit one in, must try again. Chips and salsa--very good, a little honey on the chips was even better. Carne adovada was fantastic, the papitas even better. Frijoles okay. Sweetie had enchilladas, one chicken and one beef, almost licked the plate afterwards so I guess he liked them. Definitely worth a try.
(3)Charlee W.
The stuffed sopapilla, pork enchiladas, and house salsa were delicious. The fact that they roast their chiles right out front shows how fresh their stuff is. The place was huge, packed, and had great service. I'd definitely return if I was back in the area.
(4)James S.
I have been eating at Sadie's since it was in the bowling alley next door. I still love the food, the service, and now the atmosphere has improved immensely. Every trip to Albuquerque I eat at Sadie's. Stacked enchiladas are always awesome.
(5)Gil G.
Been enjoying hot spicy foods around the world for more years than I can remember (more than 50). We discovered Sadie's a number of years ago and when traveling through ABQ we schedule an overnight stay to go there and enjoy good NM cooking. Until tonight, we have always had a 5 star experience. Tonight was not so good. The good: The carne adovada was excellent! The bad: We were warned by both the waitress and the buss boy the salsa was hotter than they could ever remember. When we tried it, the flavors were completely hidden by the acid. We asked for a different salsa and were told they had bottles of milder salsa but we would have to purchase it at the counter. Additionally, the chips were not fresh and the chili relleno was very small. Most of the plate was covered with the beans and potatoes. The sopapillas were old, cold and they were served with the meal instead of hot after the meal as usual. On the whole, we were disappointed with the quality of food and the lack of good service. We will try it again sometime but suspect the real Sadie has left the building.
(2)Sarah E.
This place is AWESOME if you love spicy flavorful food. If spice isn't your thing this probably isn't the place for you, though they probably have something on the menu you could eat. I think the salsa has some secret addictive ingredient in it. We went through four bowls of it and probably would have just stayed there scarfing down chips and salsa if the food hadn't come. The carne adovada is truly spectacular. Be warned that portion sizes are relatively large and this is not exactly health food (though they'd probably serve you up beans without so much cheese if you asked). But seriously, worry about your diet tomorrow and head to Sadie's today. Now I just need a good excuse to head back to Albuquerque soon.
(4)consuelo w.
This is one of those places you come for classic New Mexican dining. (There is a difference between Mexican and New Mexican, promise!) I mean the state's question is Red or Green? I used to come here quite a bit before I moved. It's a fairly big popular spot. Sometimes it's so popular it starts to get a little noisy, but never too loud. They give you salsa and chips like most New/Mexican places, and the salsa is always tasty. They've even began to sell it in local stores. I only really ever get 2 things here: Chicken taquitos and cheesy papitas. The chicken taquitos are bigger than your average taquitos. They are freshly rolled every time and greasy. I love them. They are stuffed with the signature shredded chicken and cheese. You do have to order guacamole on the side, but it's very worth it. My favorite parts are always the extra crunchy ends. They make you pause and say "One more?" as you can order them in sets of 4 or 7. We usually go for 7 then share with the family. I also get a side of papitas with cheese melted on top. Honestly there is just something so warm and happy about cheesy potatoes. Even better when they are fried. Very simple, very delicious. You get a whole plate of them so be prepared to share or order them on their own. Recently I've noticed they also have papitas with chile con queso, so be careful when ordering if you want one or the other. Even though I always get the same things, my family always order from the entire menu. I don't think they've ever gotten something they don't like. The service is fair. The prices are fair. But the food has always been good. I recommend it if you want some good New Mexican food.
(4)Brenna M.
Great food! Generous portions! Try the nachos!
(4)Abq D.
Went to Sadi's recently, and feel compelled to rate the venerable North Valley establishment. And yes, I did used to eat there when it was part of the bowling alley. Unfortunately, as they say, "it ain't what it use to be." First, the good: The service is the best in Albuquerque, hands down. They float their bussers around so it's like you have 2 waiters for each table. And they're all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The salsa is hot and terrific; Good, strong margaritas, decent guac and chile con queso; average green chile, serviceable chicken enchiladas, and very good carne adovada. And with the portions, you'll never go away hungry (though possibly nauseous). The bad: in general, except what I mentioned above, the food is pretty awful. The red chile is completely tasteless, my chile relleno was mainly batter and tasted like it was fried in old oil. Any my "spicey taco meat" burrito tasted like dog food. The ubiquitous papas came with everything (even though I ordered a la carte because I specifically didn't want them), and a layer of melted cheese blanketed all dishes. Normally, I'm in favor of the cheese blanket, but their cheese is entirely flavorless. In fact, my table also had the nachos, but between the meat and the cheese, they were inedible. I love New Mexico slop food, but Sadi's has gotten too sloppy for me. It's as though they've severely compromised on the quality of their ingredients. So in spite of my allegiance to an ABQ tradition, I'm afraid I just have to recommend another place... unless you're only looking for any of those "goods" I mentioned above.
(2)K B.
If there was a way to give less than 1 star, I would. First of all let me say this is by far the WORST place I have ever eaten in my life. Lets start at the beginning. We are first seated by the wait staff's station. So, 5 minutes into it, I am smacked on the head by a water pitcher and my chair is ran into twice. It took 10 minutes to get a drink order. Then, when we did the pours sucked. While we are waiting for the waiter to come back and take our order, there is a band playing. They are so loud, we have to scream to hear each other. They went table to table and for one they were not that good. They were loud and the lady sounded like a strangled cat. WE FINALLY get our food and it was disgusting. No, disgusting would be an upgrade. It was covered in so much cheese and beans and potatoes. Horrible. My enchilada's were freezing cold and the cheese was congealed by the time it got to me. My husband had the famous "stuffed sopapilla" and it resembled dog food. HOW this place was every featured on a TV show, or how several celebrates whose pictures on the wall ever got good food. It surely was not from here. Never saw the waiter again, till he brought the check. WILL NEVER EVER EVER EAT here again.
(1)Jason A.
Among the best New Mexican food in NM. Chips and salsa are amazing. Salsa is spicy though, but ask for the "not so hot" if mild is your thing. Margaritas are also amazing and strong. Get yours "coined" for an extra kick. Had the Carne Adovada. My absolute favorite at Sadies! Ive been to Sadie's half a dozen times and the food is always high quality and authentic. The sopapillas are a great way to end the evening. Also some of the best in New Mexico. Service was great and this meal deserves 5 stars!
(5)Olivia A.
The Best! We take our family and friends from out of town all the time! We walk out happy!
(5)Public B.
Salsa brought tears to my eyes, its a good thing, also liked the chili sauce. Meal was fresh and tasty.
(4)Regina P.
We've been visiting Sadie's and enjoying their salsa for years but this most recent visit was unfortunate. Our food came out late and luke warm. The manager and staff were clearly unsympathetic to our situation. This is no longer the Sadie's of old.
(1)Shelby P.
Okay, I rank things pretty high when I get good service. This place is no exception. As soon as we were seated they took our drink orders (really, it doesn't take a lot to please us!) and when our chips were brought, the manager came over to make sure we got our drinks ordered and to see if the little munchkin wanted a plate. They were really attentive here. I could use less green chili (I think most places could use less green chili) but I liked it! Will definitely revisit this little New Mexico gem!
(5)Lily A.
One statement describes Sadie's: A small is a large! We ordered the small nachos and it was HUGE! We ordered the Roberto's Special and it was HUGE! We ordered the regular Sopapilla and it was 1.5lb of HUGE! Yes, Sadie's is known for the 7lb sopapilla food challenge that was highlighted on the Travel Channel...and I believe it lives up to all the hype. The portions are incredibly huge. The food was good, great flavors and the green chili which wasn't green that evening was pretty damn good. Which was a good thing because they sure do smother it on everything. The prices are reasonable. And the service was absolutely amazing! They are so sweet and kind and super attentive here. Hugs were exchanged with the staff when we left. I would have given 5 stars but we waited for about 2 hours for a table. No bueno, it gets super duper crowded here! Especially during dinner time during the balloon festival! I would definitely come back when the crowd dies down.
(4)Daryl C.
Fantastico Started off with chips and salsa. It is very spicy as other Yelpers have described, but also very flavorful. I just had to buy some extra to take home too... Had the 3 meat combination: Carne Adobada, Shreaded Brisket tacos & chili relleno. Each was good, but the relleno, was by far the best I have ever had. First off, they used a Hatch Chili instead of the more common Poblano. The layer of egg was a lot thinner than everyone else's and didn't get mushy like I'm use to. I was only able to clean 1/2 my plate, just couldn't eat all the potatoes that they gave me. I would drive from LA to Albuquerque to eat here again. I would also stop at the local grocery store and buy a sack of the chilies.
(4)M M.
Food's alright.. don't know what the hype is about
(3)Cara S.
Went to Sadie's at 9:05 tonight, confident we would be able to enjoy dinner and margaritas before their advertised 10pm closure. Here's how our jolting interaction went: Us, politely: "Table for two for dinner, please." Hostess, with no remorse: "Sorry, we're closed." Us, confused: "We thought you were open til ten?" Hostess, sort of enjoying this: "Nope, we closed at nine tonight." Dazed, we left. In the car driving away, disappointed, we checked their yelp profile. Says closes at 10. We checked their WEBSITE. Says closes at ten. We couldn't exactly cruise in and insist they serve us - it was past that point. So we called: "Hi, are you open? We saw you're open til ten online but wanted to check." "No, sorry, closed at nine tonight." "Oh. Why?" "It's summer hours. I mean winter hours." Sounds to me like somebody made the game time decision to just close an hour early and turn away people who were ready to come in and enjoy a full meal and margaritas. Heckuva way to run a business. If you're going to change your hours, post it online so folks know. Otherwise you get nasty yelp reviews and angry customers who won't visit your restaurant because they were hungry and thirsty when they got there and were heartlessly turned away. Too bad I can't review their food, just their crummy service.
(1)Courtney L.
Wow! What a welcome to Albuquerque. We had just come from that horrible tram and I was kind of in a funk, so when the Holiday Inn recommended Sadie's, I was skeptical of all things New Mexico and determined to hate this state. Sadie's totally saved that. I'll admit the service was only so-so. Kinda slow, not very attentive and my meal was wrong. They went to get it corrected with zero hassle, but it was a little annoying that I had to wait and stare awkwardly at the husband while he pretended to eat, but tried to remain polite while I insisted over and over that he "just go ahead and eat", but he was reluctant to do so.. and yeah, you might know that dance.... Finally my food came and HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF BABY JEBUS. It was amazing. I ordered the Roberto Special and frankly I had no idea what it was when I ordered. Basically I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy. I asked her if the Carne Adovada was spicy and I get a big ol' duh face. I then asked about like 3 or 4 other dishes and yes, they were all spicy. Finally I asked her what would be good and she pointed to the Roberto special... so fine, I'll take that. BEST DECISION EVER. It was amazing. It is basically a hamburger on top of a pile of rice and beans covered in cheese. It sounds... stupid.. but it was AMAZING. I was SO full after like a third of my meal and I just sat there and stared at it feeling sad because I knew I would never get to eat this again. I mean, really.. what are the chances of me coming to Albuquerque again? The husband did order the Carne Adobada and I tried a bite, but it was lava to me so I can't speak to it. He absolutely loved it, but this story is about me so basically get the Roberto Special (chile on the side if you are a wimp and proud). I was also terrified that I would be able to eat nothing on our whole New Mexico excursion, but that was not the case. To the husband's disappointment, we ate a TON of awesome food, but nothing as spicy as this restaurant was. So basically, you have to try Sadie's. Unfortunately the service isn't awesome, but I wouldn't classify it as BAD, but the food is stupid good so it is worth any hassle!
(4)Andrew K.
Lots of food on your plate. Excellent chips. Food is okay but not spectacular. Decent place to go.
(3)Denise H.
Uhm yea, hot salsa? they got it...actually too hot for me & I thought I enjoyed hot; I love a good Wasabi but this is the kinda fire hot salsa that has you banging your fists on the table hot, knocking over anything in your way to the water hot... Anyhow, the staff is always real nice & this is an original dyed-in-the-wool NM thing...so if you are still a carpet-bagger, new in town, visiting or just wanna treat yourself to a little torture...dont forget to come here! I highly recommend the chile rellenos or cheese enchiladas just dont forget to try either ala Christmas style...half red & half green (In case you dont know) because you never can trust the wait-staff to honestly depict between which is hotter when you ask, they're taste buds are fried from the salsa Im sure of it. So just split it up & decide for yourself, or else ask for it on the side since either or can be VERY hot. Its a good hot/burn though...addicting no less :)
(4)Verene M.
After all our traveling, we are finishing with SADIE'S. Nothing on this planet is as yummy as the food at Sadie's. Everything here is so good, the decision on what to eat is the tough part of eating here. New Mexico chili is the best. Red...green....Christmas? The chili ribs are over the roof...the tacos... Oh My Gosh where to I even began I want everything on the menu. The service is very attentive here.
(5)Adam M.
Best New Mexican food in ABQ. Huge portions. I frequent the stuffed sopapilla, so much food, so worth it. Margaritas are also pretty swell.
(4)Cassandra D.
Way to spicy, my mom and both love spicy but this was not enjoyable it burned your lips and tongue so much you didn't taste anything. The salsa didn't taste fresh but it was still okay. I had a taco and enchilada with green sauce and could not eat anything that had the sauce on it because my moth was on fire. The chicken taco was ok it was plain shredded chicken no flavor. I love red and green chile but I would not come back to here for theirs. Way to spicy!
(2)Mark M.
I did exactly like I was supposed to: -Sopaipilla with honey? Check! -Carne Adovada? Check! -Red AND Green salsa? Check (I think???? They looked similar, so I'll just assume I had both.)! I LOVE being told what to do. Just ask me to tell you the story about the ball, the gag, and the "ranch dressing." The amount of food provided was absolutely comical. And I don't mean like Jim Belushi comical...I mean like actually funny comical; I think I got about 1/4 of the way through my MOUND of food. I *almost* felt like I was given a trough, which would be SO cool. I read some other reviews that said the service sucked. I totally disagree. My "drink master" never let my ice tea runneth dry...and it was unsweetened and brown and delicious, unlike the slop at Barrio Star. BOOOOOOOOO Barrio Star. Never, EVER, go to Barrio Star ( yelp.com/biz/barrio-star… ). I don't think you would ever have to wait to eat here. Sadie's appeared to be bigger than The Tardis***, and the restaurant also appears to travel though time, too! It clearly had just gotten back from the 80's! Zing! I think I liked The Frontier better...but I definitely feel like I got a full New Mexican experience at Sadie's minus being given any blue meth...allegedly. ***(Note: if you don't get this joke, you are much, much cooler than I am).
(4)Maresa T.
Best New Mexican food that is vegetarian-friendly. You will always have a long wait but can sometimes get into the bar and they will serve you dinner in the bar if you get a seat. It is a good place to take people who want real authentic NM food experience and has hot salsa and chile so beware if you can't handle it. Be warned, even if you call ahead they will still put you on a wait list when you walk up and it doesn't really save you time.
(4)min j.
Share the plate. The portion is unnecessarily enormous. When quantity becomes the priority, then quality have to give. There are better places to go to if you want New Mexico food.
(2)Roy S.
I spent three days on business in Albuquerque and my nightly goal was to find the best New Mexican food in the city. Well, I found it here. The chips and salsa were perfect but wwhat stole the show was the Chilie Relleno with red sauce. I'm a chilie fanatic and have had Chilie Rellenos from at leat 40 resturants and OMG, this was it. Dont pass this place up.
(5)Nancy P.
Be prepared to wait, even at the table. This place is huge and extremely busy. I had the chili relleno and chicken enchilada combo with green sauce. It warns of being HOT but it wasn't. I wanted the burn but only got it from the salsa, which was crazy HOT but too salty. The plates are huge and completely covered heavily in cheese. Our dinner was still really good and we enjoyed our dinner.
(4)Phil K.
If America is suffering from an obesity epidemic, this place is probably the single greatest offender in NM. The food was pretty good, though a little too hot for my taste. But the portions are preposterous and not in a good way. Mountains of food, which I suppose gives patrons a sense of value for money, but the sheer volume was almost nauseating. Additionally, there was not a single thing on the menu that could be considered healthy by any stretch of the imagination. I know this is an Albuquerque institution, blah blah blah, but talk about wretched excess.
(2)Peter V.
Quintessential New Mexican. First ate here 20 years ago and the joint has not changed a bit. This past summer I took my daughter there and she became a fan. Don't forget to have a sopapilla with honey.
(4)Paul H.
Great New Mexican food! Enchiladas, chile rellenos, anything, whatever you want, it's delicious. Huge dining space, very delicious salsa. Large portions, I mean very large. Wait staff was friendly and quick. Be warned, this is hot for a New Mexican restaurant. Any veteran will handle this easily, but the food is spicy and the salsa spicier. A rookie could end up burnt. The salsa is also great on eggs made at home. Not terribly expensive at all. It's loud when it gets crowded, though, and there is a wait - but that's for a reason. The place is great. You visiting New Mexico? This place is probably the best to try New Mexican food, if you can handle the spice. For New Mexican who haven't tried it - get your butts over there immediately. The place is wonderful.
(5)Daniel C.
Wow. Great New Mexican dining. HUGE portions, great chile (both red and green) and cooked close to perfection. I like the salsa too. Can't believe how many large people eat here. Guess they like the food and the portions too. Anyhow, I was impressed with the service and the wait wasn't too long considering the crowds. Good job on the Huevos Rancheros.
(5)Thomas A.
Having eaten here several times now, I think I have a solid perspective as a non-ABQ resident. This is simply THE place to go if you come to Albuquerque and want to eat REAL New Mexican food without a hint of pretension. I have been to just about every main/recommended restaurant in the city over my almost 16 years of visiting often. MUST GO. There are so many great restaurants in ABQ it's hard to say "best", but this comes close. Chips and salsa (BEST): both are homemade and the salsa is the spiciest I've had in a restaurant.... Enchiladas (get the Blue Corn for an added touch)..simply perfect in taste and spice. Keep aware that the Green Chile is SPICY here, like the salsa. They do NOT cool things down for the tourists here, another reason to love this place. Margaritas (Hands down the strongest I have ever had in a restaurant, period)...and delicious Some negative points (which prove I'm not a simple fanboy) I found it odd that they serve the sopapillas during the meal, so they are coldish when you finally eat them. They should be served as dessert and HOT (they are free, though). Also, they are not the best I've had, like the other things. They DO NOT serve sour cream with their dishes(!)...It has to be ordered separately, but one side is plenty for 2-3 people so keep that in mind. Why are you reading this...get your a$$ to Sadie's!!!
(5)Jeff R.
Not sure what all the fuss is about. Three of us went for lunch on Friday at 11:30, the place was packed. It took 45 min to get served. Sadie's burger was pretty good, the homemade potato chips were good too. Service was a little slow, but I'll write it off that they were busy.
(3)Al M.
Rich flavor. Huge portions. Great prices. Love the new Mex food.
(4)Reviewit O.
I have lived in Albuquerque roughly 10 years. I know Sadie's is a favorite among many, but I wasn't really too impressed. My stuffed sopapilla was very bland. It may have been what I ordered, but I simply did not want to go back. The prices were fair though.
(3)Nancy L.
I despise Sadie's, and I won't ever be going back. I've given Sadie's several chances in the 17 years I've been in the area, and every time, they have disappointed me. Even lunches are either blah or "chili-ed." I still haven't begun to understand why all of these "New Mexican" restaurants around insist upon dousing everything in the hottest chile they can find--even the mild is usually so hot it burns. One can NOT taste the food when trying to keep your tongue from burning out of your mouth. I've had lunches and dinners here, and I just can't see the attraction. I used to eat at Rancho de Corrales before it closed, and it was wonderful, with the best carne adovada ever. Sadie's carne adovada was only passable, with several chunks of fatty pork that should have been removed as soon as they were noticed. The service here is adequate, particularly for large parties; they will put two waitpersons on the group, which helps immensely. The atmosphere is almost utilitarian. El Pinto has the atmosphere; most of the Little Anita's are in previously occupied restaurant locales, like a JB's. This this one is just passable. Overall, I've had better food at Little Anita's!!
(2)Philip C.
A winner for lunch. The "small" lunch specials aren't small and aren't overpriced. The salsa is amongst my most favorite. Service is solid - not great. Dinner is overpriced, in my opinion. Try for lunch seating in the bar area instead of the main dining room.
(4)Matt V.
I have been eating at Sadies since it was in a Bowling Alley on 4th street. There were incredible lines to get in but it was worth it. Everytime anyone comes to visit from out of town my wife and I bring them to Sadies.I love their Salsa, (we always have a jar of it at home), their carne adovada ribs are amazing.
(5)Jarrod M.
First off... A lot of food so share a plate. In my last visit I had a carne adovada and Sadie's salad (split both with my girlfriend). Came with sopapillas (with honey, yum!!!) and chips and salsa. We felt like rolling out and didn't even finish half our plates (we're from California so not sure if we just are whips). Overall it was pretty awesome. Food is good, not the best EVER but I left happy and believe it's an Albuquerque institution... I know this because i work here part time and we love to come here for work dinners.
(4)Katy M.
Nothing wrong with the food at all, but I think my expectations for New Mexican have been set unrealistically high by Santa Fe experiences at Shed, Maria's and the like. Stopped here for lunch on the way up to the City Different - enjoyed decent chips and salsa, huevos rancheros were totally uninspired, although Mr. F's adovada ribs were a revelation. Also notable were the ginormous portions and complimentary sopaipilllas. Compared to other New Mexican meals we've enjoyed, things seemed just a bit bland and heavy overall. Not a bad place to dine if you find yourself spending time in Albuquerque or if you arrive at ABQ too late to make lunch in Santa Fe. Just don't calibrate to any of the stand-out New Mexican places and you'll be fine.
(3)Miriam A.
I was visiting my good friend in the ABQ in February. (I haven't written reviews in a while, give me a break.) We headed over to Sadie's for a late dinner after she picked me up from the airport. I was very happy with the service and the food. Being a Los Angeles native, I made the mistake of assuming they served straight up Mexican food. My friend had to explain to me it's New Mexican food which is slightly different from Mexican. I asked the waiter for an "horchata" and that's when my friend told me, "They don't serve that here." In any case, their food was delicious. I tried sopapillas (not sure if I spelled it right) for the first time and had lots of chile verde in my entree. I would definitely come here again, when I'm in Albuquerque.
(4)T P.
Wtf? Seriously people? This place is horrid. Its a sit down taco bell. Service was slow, fellow diners are weird, the food is terrible, and its in the ghetto! Stay away. Never again!
(1)Chase D.
I'm sorry, but this place didn't do anything for me. The only seasoning the food had was the anticipation that built up watching the hundreds of others eat their food. I had convinced myself that if this many people love it, it must be good. Once the bland kicked in, that delusion disappeared quickly. Oh, and if you think my food was bland because I didn't eat any green chile, back off. I love green chile. Actually, I love hot food and often don't find the best of green chile hot enough. So, it was definitely just how they made it.
(2)JAMES C.
Fantastic food! Generous portions! Silver coins best in town! Impeccable Service!
(5)Lori B.
Really 4.5 Stars, just so you know. Anything you order is going to be scrumptious, trust me. Salsa & Margaritas. Nuff said. Now go! Just make sure you have a designated driver because 1 margarita will pack a punch.
(4)Matt B.
Good place if your in the area! You get a massive amount of food so a lot of people can share if they choose not to be overly full to the point they hate themselves. Red chili is hot so that's a plus. Salsa is spicy and they have awesome service. Was very happy
(4)Robert L.
Amazing salsa, the carne adovada was pretty good (and was an absolutely huge portion size). The sopapillas were disappointing.
(4)Marcial R.
Sadies, lived up to the hype. The food was good and the serving size was decent. The server was awesome!
(3)Stephan H.
Sadie's is a great NM restaurant. If you want good hot (usually) chili (red or green), this is the place to go. Their chips and salsa, free to every table, could fill you up if you're not careful and finish them off before your meal arrives. Their daily specials are inexpensive and huge by most standards. You can add or subtract items to your liking and the wait staff are always accommodating. The huevos rancheros and enchiladas (cheese) are the best in town. They also have taquitos on their starters menu (4 or 7) chicken or beef which can be a meal on their own - don't forget to add some guacamole. The red chili with or without beans will remind you of grandma's cooking. And if your lucky enough to drop in during the Christmas holidays, you can also order a bowl of their home made pozole - WOW! Be warned that you get very very big portions on their specials and off the regular menu too, so come with an appetite and be prepared to leave room for their delicious sopaipillas - you'll think you died and went to heaven. And unless you plan on feeding a large family of 5-7, do not order the Nachos because you will literally get a mountain of food. Great service, great food, great place to have lunch with friends. Bar drinks are available too.
(5)Brenda H.
my fiance and i had dinner here as we stopped in albuquerque during our cross country treck from indianapolis to the bay area. I had the two item entree and selected a chalupa with bean and a guacomole taco doused in veggie green chile. unfortunately i didn't realize the entire dish was also doused with cheese and melted. it was kinda overwhelming and was too heavy to eat. *i would have ordered it without cheese* i ate as much as i can, and when we were done... my fiance and i realized we should have shared a dinner. we also had the house margarita which was yummy and loaded up on veggie green chile, salsa, and chips. and their sopapillas are the bomb.. drizzled with honey of course.
(4)Christina H.
Highly, highly, highly overrated. I went to this place expecting to eat some hearty delicious New Mexican food. Instead I just got behemoth portions of equal parts grease and red chili that was tasteless beyond the general heart-burn inducing "chiliness". I ordered the carne adovada enchiladas and only ate about a forth of it, not because I wasn't hungry but because I didn't want to punish my stomach while on vacation. The service was quick and very friendly and the sopapillas were pretty tasty. I thought I had ordered the suggested plate from everybody's recommendations but I have to defer from the consensus. Also, my boyfriend had a huge chicken burrito which he described as, "Meh." Salsa, sopapillas=good. Food=not so much. Maybe this restaurants quality has gone down in direct correspondence to the rising hype? Higher prices...grosser food....happens all the time.
(2)April J.
Absolutely delish! Went to the new location at the Santa Ana Casino. Didn't need to wait either. Service was great and the food...omg...its amazing!
(5)Christina C.
We were rolling through Albuquerque and decided to grab dinner here. We turned to Yelp to find a restaurant that had local [mexican] food and ended up at Sadie's. They have a nice menu selection as well as margarita menu. We got the chili con queso appetizer. It was ok, had a little kick to it. I ended up just getting 1 chicken enchilada with both the red and green chili sauce for it. The enchilada was big and tasted good. The red and green were tasty, but not really spicy or anything. The salsa and chips were good. The salsa had a really nice KICK to it. We also got the sopapilla which was nice and soft. Being an out-of-towner, it was a little hard to find the restaurant. The restaurant is towards the back of a lot and the sign is hard to see until you pass it. The restaurant itself is pretty big. The tables/seating is very *informal* - think long tables you see in cafeterias w/chairs. They also have a separate full bar area. OK Service OK food, nothing spectacular OK ambiance. 07/22/08
(3)lesiel l.
Comidas para Gringos...large and spicy yet tasteless mostly everything is just buried under sauce and cheese. The free chips are just bagged run of the mill, the margarita had as much alcohol as a fountain drink from a Circe K ! Yes, it is crowded and it follows the axiom of, "if you pile it on they will come." but why subject yourself to this? Go and eat where Mexicanos comen!
(1)Just Call Me Brain V.
My sister knows that I love this place. Everytime I come into town and she asks me what I want to eat and I say "how about some Mexi?" and she says "Sadies?" Bingo. Its great New Mex (as opposed to Tex Mex) food and good portions for the price. I get anything with green chile. This kind of green chile is hot and not like these tomatillo type sauce like you get at some place like Chipotle's. Not the greatest New Mex but it is my fav in ABQ.
(5)Alexandria C.
Overpriced!!! for what it is..okay.
(2)Tom L.
Everything is drowned in chili, save your cash and drink a bottle of chili extract.
(1)Jocelyn L.
Wow, the best Mexican/ New Mexican cuisine this side of the border! I could not believe how Cheap it was...and tasty! Had the "Brian's Spicy Carne Ribs", rubbed in red chili. It was so tender; fell right off the bone. The dish was HUGE....the whole dinner was $15! Also had the sopapillas; yummy with honey Definitely recommend if you're in the city!
(4)matt h.
The salsa was delicious, much spicier than most places. The breakfast burrito was an absolute steal for under eight bucks. The service was truly tremendous, and the place, though huge, was packed even past the normal lunch rush time. This is a great place .
(5)K F.
Best nachos EVER! Beware, we ordered the small and left with a huge to-go box. Food comes in epic portions.
(4)Colin G.
When we come through Albuquerque, we typically stop at Sadie's for fantastic f'in New Mexican food. This main location is the only one I've been to, but I would be too concerned that the other locations would disappoint to even try them, honestly. It's just that good. This is a restaurant where you come for the food and not the atmosphere. You are not going to have an intimate and/or romantic dinner at Sadie's. It is loud, crowded, fast, furious and fervent. However, they make up for this lack of atmosphere in other ways. First, the food, of course. Everything is just fantastic. And it's really reasonable. Most of the items are at or under $10 and, for weekday lunches, they have several items all around $8. They also have weekend specials, including "huevos rancheros," which I put it quotation marks because it is so, so much more than just huevos rancheros. Think egg + pepitas + beans + chile of your choice, all on top of a huge corn tortilla. And, of course, all meal items include free sopapillas for the end. Service is stupendous to say the least. Your water glass never gets below half full unless you can chug a full glass of water in under a minute. Food is quick, but not to the point that you think "this couldn't have been freshly made." Everything is very methodical: chips are on the table, drink orders taken, food orders taken, drinks are refilled obsessively, food is brought out, drinks are refilled obsessively, you're checked on, bill is brought out. It's such a big place that there's an admirable rhythm to the whole thing, almost like a symphony. Detractors: again, atmosphere. You can get good New Mexican food at other places and have a better overall experience, but the food won't be quite the same. Also, $2.50 for soda and ice tea. Granted, refills are free, but holy crap, $2.50? That's where they make their real money, I guess. I always order water unless I'm drinking alcohol. If you like real New Mexican food and don't come in here like some jackass Texan expecting fajitas and overly cheesed enchiladas (I'm sure they get this), then you'll find some of the best New Mexican food available anywhere.
(5)Michael S.
Best New Mexican food in Albuquerque. Flew down from Portland, OR for the balloon fiesta but ate here twice in 3 days. It was the same as 20 yrs ago when we lived here. Enchiladas were great as were stuffed sopapillas. I had a breakfast burrito and it was awesome. We're taking salsa, queso, and sopapilla mix back. You can't go wrong here.
(5)Jim D.
Sadie's is an immense restaurant that seems to attract half the population of Albuquerque and the majority of tourists for lunch and dinner. Armed with a menu in direct proportion to its floor space, there is undoubtedly something for everyone and then some. I am sure I am not the only one who is trying to decipher exactly what differentiates New Mexican cuisine from Mexican cuisine. If it's the chile, then allow me to clarify that the New Mexican chiles (both red and green varieties) are mild tasting - very mild. Perhaps it's my endless love for fiery foods, but the chile Sadie's serves is far from spicy or hot. Maybe it's a New Mexican thing? By the way, their "hot" salsa is anything but hot. We ordered the carne adovada (pork steak marinated in chile sauce) and the house burrito with Billy's Spicy Ground Beef. The adovada (which seems like it's available at virtually every restaurant in the state) was satisfactorily good. My burrito was huge but far from being spicy. The best tasting thing of the evening was easily my blue margarita. Leave it to booze to soothe all culinary bummers. Service was quick but our waiter seemed like he was a on some serious speed. Prices were very reasonable. This was a mediocre stepping stone into the New Mexican cuisine scene. Be sure to come with an empty belly and no expectations.
(2)Pat Z.
I go here for several reasons: the great food, superior service, hot chile, relaxing ambiance and kick-ass margaritas. What more could you want? Sadies is such a staple in ABQ and has earned a stellar reputation. Sadies on 4th Street is my go-to location. I always get outstanding recommendations from the knowledgeable servers who are there fulfilling all my wishes. On the suggestion of Erika, I ordered a Silver Margarita made with El Patron tequila. This not-so-little gem definitely put a wobble in my step, but I managed to maintain. The rellano came crispy, fat and full of cheese. I always try to finish, but the portions are huge and I have to walk away leaving some lonely beans & papas. So enjoyable. I feel appreciated and satisfied each time I patronize this establishment.
(5)Ally H.
I read and was warned about the heat of their salsa ... and boy, did it live up to my expectations!! When we were seated, we were provided with complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were very fresh and gave me that nice crunch after each bite. The salsa, was delicious! It was hot and I didn't wan to ruin my stomach so I ate it sparingly as I also need to eat my food. I ordered the entree order of Carne Adobada enchilada in red and green chili sauce which came with beans. Portion size, the thing was pretty big. I would have been happy sharing it with another person. When the plate arrived, it was smothered in sauce, cheese, and topped with tomatoes and lettuce. It was delicious. The green chili was on point with it's heat. The slow cooked carne adobada was fall apart tender and cooked in a delicious red sauce. Service was on point and, although \they were busy for a Sunday afternoon, our waitress checked up on us and made sure we were happy throughout our meals. I liked the salsa so much, I bought a jar to take home. I can't wait to open it up and enjoy some spicy salsa. Will definitely visit again.
(4)Minny R.
Holy cow! The green chile on my cheeseburger had some KICK to it. The french bread for a "bun" was a nice touch. This is an excellent New Mexican establishment. I'll be back. :)
(5)Ling Tzu W.
This is one of the places we take our out of town guest( for the novelty) or work gatherings (because it is nice and convenient from work). Over the years, I feel like the food quality have stagnated but it is still cool to visit the original location and the service is always decent and attentive. Taking an out of town guests here, so you can explain to them that this is one of hte oldest New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque and it started in a bowling alley will peek their interest. But the food is just bleh. Come here for the convenience and the novelty, don't come here because you think the food is spectacular. It is average.
(3)M S.
I love Sadies we come ALL the time. However we recently learned if Val or Matt aren't here, and Cody is working the bar. Leave. Not worth it. Run. Don't look back. Cody forgot about us ( sitting 18" front him), wouldn't take not only our orders, but the gentlemen next to us at the bar. Ten minutes later acted like he was doing the us a favor gracing us with his presence. Our drinks suck, we know his entire sex life as well as the other bartender (both of which are not a telenovela you Would Tivo), and frankly I'm really disappointed in my sweet sweet Sadies spot. Calling ahead next time. Missing the A Team.
(1)Daniel L.
During my stay in Albuquerque, my good friend asked if I was ready to try New Mexican cuisine. He then clarified and said the cuisine is distinctive from those of Mexico. Before long, four of us met at Sadie's, the go-to spot for local cuisine. The mural-filled interior was humongous and crowded with people of all ages at every turn. It took us some time to finally get seated. We started off with a basket of complimentary chips and salsa that were addictive and refilled several times. Then, my friends insisted that they treat me to the world's largest stuffed Sopapilla ($12.95). Once it arrived, the entire plate was filled the brim, as the golden fried Sopapilla came with a thick exterior that was filled and smothered with carne adovada, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, cubed potatoes, and spicy green chile. Startled initially, I started to slowly peel off the Sopapilla and counted each layer before diving into this monster. I must say, the Sopapilla was fried with good flavor that nicely complemented the potatoes, refried beans, carne adovada, cheese and more cheese. The lettuce and tomato also helped to break into the sharpness of the green chile. Together, it was a 7-pound meal with lots of deep fried ingredients converged into mouthfuls of spicy goodness. My friends brought me here to provoke a reaction, but the joke was on them as I managed to finish everything on the plate. Service was friendly and attentive. I find Sadie's a solid place for large groups and family gatherings. I would be interested in returning to try the other menu items.
(3)Emily S.
My family has an obsession with Sadie's salsa...it only comes in one variation, EXTREMELY (make you cry) spicy. Just how we like it! Stopped in here for lunch, and it was great. I had the stuffed sopapilla sliders with shredded chicken and a Latin version of pulled pork. My dad had a quesadilla from the appetizer menu...and it was HUGE and delicious. Also, great margaritas!! The restaurant seemed rather large with many options for seating. It's also located on its own road, named after the place. A good indication of a locally loved eatery!!
(5)Linh N.
BF and I found this place online as we were on our way to Arizona. We love tex mex but New Mexican tex mex is a lot different from Texas tex mex. You won't find any rice here, everything is smoothered with red or green chile, and don't expect fajitas on the menu. Servings are HUGE... and I absolutely hate sharing my food but I am thanking myself because I couldn't even finish a fourth of a plate. SHARE SHARE SHARE. We came here twice going to Arizona and coming back. But the main thing that brought me back is the salsa! Their salsa is the perfect level of spicy. But for most people it will probably be too spicy. You can ask to see if they offer a mild version. (I bought 2 jars of their spicy salsa and they offer a mild version in a jar) We ordered the stuffed chicken sopapilla the first time and then a combination lunch special the second time. Very heavy dishes and everything is smoothened with chile and cheese. All orders come with an order of sopapilla. You can eat these with your meal or save them for dessert and drizzle honey over them. You can ask for more if needed! The sopapilla. are delicious and fluffy. I highly advise you share... whether it's a lunch special or a dinner entree. Your waistline will thank you later!
(4)Robert H.
I asked the folks at the hotel and a couple of strangers the same question, "where can I get authentic food, preferably a hole in the wall place where all the locals eat?" It was the same answer from all of them, Sadie's (the original one). The next recommendation was to get both chilis on the side..."it is spicy". And finally get the carne adovado. So, there I was...waiting for a server, maybe three to four minutes. It seemed a little dark in there (Wednesday around 630ish) and the place was packed. Out came the chips and salsa, a menu, drink options and a very attentive server. I followed the recommendations and got the house IPA, it was ok. The salsa was spicier than typical salsas, not enough to burn your mouth or anything. Next was dinner, it was a lot of food! I highly recommend the carne adovado. Having the chilis on the side was probably the best advice. I had the sweats for about 15 minutes after finishing the meal and felt a nap was coming on! Excellent service, no regrets!
(4)Alicia S.
Excellent spicy hot food . Carne Adovada is amazing and so are the stacked cheese enchiladas. That's the meaning of enchiladas , hot and spicy. Delicious food and the margaritas are amazingly strong, yum ! But don't forget the sopapillas with honey , to die for . Overall great food fresh and hot and the salsa and chips are the best ever. Found out you can actually order their famous hot salsa online. Will definitely return next time we are in this area . Two Texans happy with our meal from Sadie's.
(4)Quinn A.
I wanted to like it. I went here with some guests from out of town for authentic New Mexican food. The place is huge, busy, noisy. The kind of place I was expecting, honestly. We were five and we got seated fast. I was optimistic, but then it all went wrong. The waiter came to take a drink order. I asked for a paloma. What's that, he asked? Sigh. Then he said he really wanted to know because he also works as a bartender and he had never heard of a paloma. Sigh. cocktails.about.com/od/t… "For a refreshing, thirst quenching tequila cocktail, the Paloma is definitely at the top of the list and it's a favorite in Mexico. It's a light, fruity drink with a great fizz and one of the smoothest tequila drinks out there." Okay, whatever, just bring me a margarita. We all ordered different dishes. The waiter got almost everyone's order wrong. He actually set plates down and then asked us to check under the sauce to see if it was what we ordered because some of the servers were taking the wrong plates. My out of town friends ordered green on the side and it never came. Oh, yes it did - right as we were boxing up the leftovers. The sopapillas, we were told, were being cooked right this minute. Then I sat and watched all the tables around us get sopapillas. I had to ask two more times before we got any. Boxed those up, too. Service was terrible overall, the food was mediocre at best, the margarita tasted like it came out of a can. I gave my box of leftovers to a homeless guy at Coors and Montano. He got better service from me than we did in the restaurant. Avoid this place. There are better choices for out of town guests, and no local should ever eat here.
(2)Jodi H.
My family heard about Sadie's in a NM brochure, but I honestly have no idea why this place is such a big deal. For my fellow Californians out there, this is JUST like a larger Chili's or other big-named chain restaurant with Mexican status food. The only jaw-dropping thing about this place is that the portions are LARGE bombs of food! EVERY plate that came out was met with our clear signs of disbelief. We all had a box to take our dinners home. I swear it was the bottomless complimentary tortilla chips and chile that quickly filled us up. While you're waiting, you can get free chips and salsa from the bar area and munch while you wait for a table to open up. THAT'S THE DANGEROUS PART. So watch out, especially if you're hungry. While we waited in the waiting room, our family shared a margaritas flight (3) for $12.00. It was pretty pricey for watered down margaritas in the flight glasses, but I'd say go for the ORIGINAL and the. The watermelon one wasn't too popular with any of us--too much like jolly rancher. I feel like whatever entree you order, just expect HUGE portions. I don't have anything particular to say about the food just because it was exactly that--not particular. Service is polite and warm, even though the food takes LONG minutes to come out because of the large flow of orders the poor kitchen has to deal with. We definitely waited over 20 minutes even once we sat and had our table. Looking around the place, it's definitely good for BIG families and parties, so expect a wait once you step in that door. I'd say skip Sadie's and try local favorites in ABQ--and this is coming from a tourist.
(2)Henry D.
The food is great, the portions are huge! The prices are too high, but once in awhile why not ?
(4)Danielle S.
I love the hot salsa and the brisket quesadilla! You could order just about anything here and enjoy it. No, it's not the most authentic Mexican place in Albuquerque... haha, not by far. But it's very consistent New Mexican. Things can get a little pricey, but hey, you're paying more for the history and popularity of Sadie's, so you pay whatcha gotta pay. Especially if you want a margarita :o
(4)Stephen M.
Always super busy yet provide great service and delicious food! Worth the wait if you go during a peak time. Guacamole tacos with chips and salsa are the best!
(5)Seth S.
The Bartenders (Cody and Andrea) rocked our night! Food and drinks were awesome! We plan on finding out when they work next to come back.
(5)Kevin N.
Love this place. Sometimes it's too dark and the decor is a bit shabby, but darn it if their food doesn't rock my world. I could eat their chips and salsa until I explode.
(5)Amy R.
A friend from ABQ recommended only one restaurant for our trip and it was Sadie's. Happy she did! The parking lot was packed but there was no wait. We decided to sit at the bar and to share one entree. We ordered the cheese enchiladas with veggie red chili and sour cream on the side. Michael was the bartender and took our order...he was a knowledgeable and friendly guy. I'm a bit of a baby with spicy food and told Michael that the salsa was over my threshold. Heat that builds up. He said it's made with a habanero chile oil. Ah, no wonder. Still, couldn't stop eating it. Our dinner was devoured and we were happy with our order. I cannot imagine us getting 2 entrees... Portions are big!
(4)Berlinda A.
Just had Sunday lunch had the brisket stuffed sopapilla totally loved it. Our waiter was very friendly. We always come back here
(5)Ken P.
Not only the best New Mexican food in Albuquerque, but the best mexican food anywhere... Stuffed sopaipillas with carne adovada and papitas = heaven. Huge portions, you are better off sharing. The salsa is so hot and good I have ordered it delivered out of state at a high cost. Just an all out winner. Big parking lot, reasonable proces and top notch service. An all time favorite.
(5)Oscar C.
First time here. My brother and his wife live in Albuquerque and I came down to visit. I will say the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. The food was amazing I had the sloppy Jose and it changed my life for the better. The portions were really big and affordable. I would say that room in there is tight and loud
(4)Sebastian B.
The overall opinion of this place based on hundreds of yelp review is the place is great. I popped in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon and found a full parking lot, not 1 available spot even the handicapped spots were all taken. There was a 20 minuet wait for a table. I say this is a sign of a popular joint. I'm here to fulfill my TV food find habit since this place was featured in Man vs Food (and I've run out of DDD places). Everyone else is here because the food is pretty good. I had the Sopapilla slider lunch special. 3 small Sopapilla with red and green for $12. I tried the Carne Acevado, the shredded beef, and the ground beef. Really excellent. They remind me of a lighter version of an Arepa. I Sat at the bar and was told the chips and salsa was self serve and all you can eat. I refrained from sampling them to have room to finish my meal. Good thing too because the 3 sliders was enough for this FoodDude! The Bartender was as friendly as she was beautiful. And she was cool and under control while the place was rockin' like a Rolling stones show. It's my humble opinion that this is a must visit Albuquerque landmark eatery.
(4)Jan F.
Sadie's was recommended to us by a local. We are traveling cross country and wanted to eat some regional southwestern food. The salsa was really tasty. The food was good, a little too much cheddar cheese melted on top of everything for me - but if you love cheese you'll love it. The green sauce was was delicious. The real stars were the staff! They were hopping! They kept water glasses, chip baskets and salsa bowls filled. They were friendly and gave good recommendations. They worked as a team to make sure we had what we needed in a timely manner. Also... The portions are muy grande, so don't fill up on chips.
(4)old d.
I love Sadies but I love Spanish rice and they only serve potatoes. I understand the tradition and am but one lowly consumer but that is almost a deal breaker in a town with many great places for Mexican food. If you don't mind that then yes come and enjoy. Good Salsa and everything else!
(3)Sophia R.
The portions are huge. You've been warned. We shared the carne adovada with both red and green sauce (aka Christmas). Since we wanted to try both the carne adovada and the beef brisket, we also got ONE beef brisket enchilada smothered in Christmas also. In retrospect, we should have had one sauce on each plate. The red sauce overpowered the green sauce, but both very good. The plates look the same until you start digging into; not the most appetizing but still works for me. The entree comes with beans and papitas; also good but my preference is rice over fried potatoes. Chips and salsa served while we waited for our food. I have to say, they're salsa lives up to the hype. So does their margarita; got the half carafe of the presidente margarita. Overall, left with a full stomach, a good buzz, AND leftovers! (FYI: the leftovers did well as leftovers)
(4)Kelly K.
For the price I expected something better. The portions are huge. The price would be better if you shared a meal. Half of my plate ended up in the garbage as there was way too much for one person. I got the stuffed sopapilla with carne adovada and when the plate came it just looked like a big pile of food. I trusted that underneath existed a sopapilla. It was there. Flavors were all melded together and were okay though nothing special. I have had better for cheaper of this type of "throw it all on the plate". The free chips were better than average though I didn't care for the salsa. Average food. Good service though.
(2)Mickey C.
Excellent prices for HUGE portions!
(5)Leigh M.
Sadie's has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl growing up in Albuquerque when it was above the bowling alley. Of course back then I primarily liked it for the amazing sopapillas and cheesy papitas! I moved away as a teen but have always loved coming back to enjoy food like you can find nowhere else but Northern NM. I shared Sadie's with my husband a few years back and he immediately fell in love, especially with the carne adovada burrito (my favorite as well). We've been known to purchase literally a dozen to bring back to Phoenix, much to the delight of friends and family! I was recently diagnosed with celiacs and was truly a bit devastated upon remembering most chile is thickened with flour. We came to ABQ for the Balloon Fiesta and of course still had to visit Sadie's. Much to my delight, our server was not only very knowledgeable about the food in regards to what I could safely eat but he informed me that they have both gluten free red AND green chile! Needless to say I was ecstatic and had the best Huevos rancheros! Sadie's is not only my favorite restaurant but is truly close to the hearts of me and my family.
(5)Charles M.
Hello yelp viewers where to start the food was great I orders a stuffed soapilla with carna and the girlfriend had a stuffed soapilla with beef both were great tasting as I like mine on the spicy side which I hit and then some but the service was lacking our waitress talking like a valley girl from the 90's only thing she was missing was chewing gum. We finished our meals got some to-go boxes as it was too much for us to eat (extra large portions ) we asked for check as we did we over hear our waitress speaking disrespectful about us and how we talk. Guess she wouldn't act to surprised at her 1.34$ tip and a nice note that says "always smile" I will return but if I get here as my waitress I will ask for another.
(4)Bunny G.
The hotel recommended this friendly Mexican food eatery that boasts some famous faces on the walls with generous accolades and praise. But I didn't get it? Maybe I was here on an off day? Service was super friendly and the place was crowded with lunch time patrons. I ordered the Chili Relleno and a taco to share with my little one but I have to say, I was disappointed when I bit into my Chili Relleno. It was full of seeds! Sadly every bite I took was spit out. Yuk! No seeds should EVER be found in a Chili Relleno! Quality control Chef. The waitress was very apologetic and discounted our check. The taco sadly was also a loser. It was bland and the chicken was dry and flavorless. My lunch was terrible:( The salsa was fire engine hot! So beware. Too spicy for me and the kids to enjoy. My sons hamburger however was delicious! Wow! Super yummy juicy burger. Some Sopapillas are a nice treat that you'll be given on the house after your meal. These little fried pillows of dough were fresh warm and fluffy. Honey to drizzle included. But overall, not the five-star rating I was hoping for. I don't think I'll be back.
(3)Liv M.
Great place! Very accommodating I have my travel buddy (my dog) and they served us outside on the patio even though the patio is seasonal. They still opened it up to us and never forgot we were out there. THANK YOU
(5)Kayne S.
Delicious food, sopapillas with your meal, generous portions and the price is right! What's not to love about Sadie's?
(5)Sarah S.
"Meh" is a pretty accurate description of Sadie's. We came while visiting town because my friend's mom had seen it featured on the food channel or something like that. My friend wanted to go. Service was good. A high point of the visit. Sopapillas with honey were SO good! I wish I could have just eaten them. Chips and salsa were free. Salsa was really spicy. Too much for me (I'm a wimp). Margaritas were ok. I had one that was with melon liquor and it was neon green. My friend and I each ordered combination platters. I had an enchilada and a chalupa. Everything was COVERED in cheese. Wow. I love cheese but... it was too much. Lots of beans and cheese. I liked the papitas fritas (cubed potatoes). But everything else was pretty flavorless. I couldn't eat much because it was just bland. I'd go back for sopapillas but it just wasn't my thing.
(2)M T.
Wonderful customer service - consistently good food. Mariachis played Happy Birthday for out 13 yr old Cousin. What a wonderful Sunday afternoon!
(4)Sanda S.
One of my favorite New Mexican restaurants. The guaco tacos are one of my favorites and the salsa is made fresh daily which adds to its spice and flavor. I would recommend the original venue on 4th street, it's my favorite and consistently has wonderful service and great food quality
(5)Jessica M.
We tried this place for the first time and really enjoyed it. Great atmosphere. Good service. Amazing food. The stuffed sopapillas were fantastic, although enough to feed a small army! We loved the little potatoes smothered in red or green. The chicken tacos were also good. A table next to us ordered a small mountain of nachos that looked amazing. Go ahead and disregard any reviewers who are comparing this (or any New Mexican restaurant) to "tex mex" or Californian Mexican food.
(5)Brian W.
Not much to add to all the other reviews but I freaking love this place. Unfortunately I don't get to Albuquerque much these days, but when I do Sadie's is a non-negotiable stop. Personally I love the cheese enchiladas with red chili. And potatoes and beans on the side. You won't be sorry. Not a fan of the margaritas. But that's not the important part here.
(5)Justin W.
Carne adavada sopapilla with green chile is all I can say. Unbelievable taste and just the right amount of heat. The portion was incredibly large. I could have ate all of it and been miserable full but I saved a bit and took it home for later. I also had a house margarita which was excellent as well. This place is going to be a regular joint for me when I am in town.
(5)Solomon W.
Sadie's has long stood as a staple of Albuquerque, and a friend recommended we meet at this New Mexican institution for lunch. Nothing in terms of decor, grub offerings, nor environment stand above the local joints in town that offer much more of the desired vibe. Per usual, at least at large-scale Tex-Mex/New-Mex restaurants, you will find banquet style seating and servers whose only job is to make sure that chips and salsa are superfluous, flying out of the kitchen by the basket-full. Darker lighting and bright colored tables play into the assumed vibe. Dishes are to be expected, with enchiladas and meat-centric plates as the focus. The real winning aspects are the sauces and accompanying flavor profiles. Specifically, the carne adovada, pork swimming in red chile wins my vote here. No one aspect of a meal here sticks out, but when execution and consistency take precedent, it is hard to find anything wrong in these large-scale eateries. Good job, Sadie's; you successfully won my favor, in light of all the of the other tiny establishments around town.
(4)Stephanie G.
I ordered a green chili smothered chicken burrito to go. It was good until I chomped down on a chicken bone. A very sharp, fairly big chicken bone. I couldn't eat anymore after that and my husband tried it. He took about 2 bites and found another big chicken bone, and one more after that. It was gross and actually quite dangerous. I don't think we'll be eating there again.
(2)Mike M.
Sadie's was recommended by a couple friends, so we were anxious to give it a try. I'm not implying that it's "bad", but it's not my my style of Mexican food. I prefer to know what I'm eating. I had the stuffed sopapilla. It came with beans and papas, but everything was covered in red chili, cheese and lettuce - it all looked and tasted the same. As I said, I know some love it, but it's not my favorite at all. If you're from Texas or you like Tex-Mex, just skip this place completely. The service was quick and friendly and you do get a ton of food, so the three stars are based on that. Sorry Sophie's, there are too many great places to eat within just a short distance.
(3)Barry F.
Went with my uncle and his friends (and children) for my abbreviated trip to New Mexico. Final meal, and it was totally worth it. Had tacos over papitas. Uncle had enchiladas. Uncle's friend had some sort of amazing thing involving a beef patty, potatoes, and queso sauce. The kids had something they weren't willing to share. 45 minute wait turned into just 30 minutes while we enjoyed some margaritas. Service was prompt -- we had two (!) servers -- and the food was delicious, hot, and on point. I wish I had ordered something other than the tacos. They were delicious, but, when the other plates came to the table, I knew there were hundreds of other options that I had never tried before. The green chili was great, probably the best I had while I was in town (and I had four meals with green chili involved). Thank you, Sadie's, for the great experience. Very busy location, lots of activity, lots of families with children... we got lucky to hang out in the back corner.
(5)Rochelle H.
This may sound unenlightened, but I didn't know that there was that big of a difference between Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. Papitas(potatoes) vs Rice; Dishes served "Christmas" (Red and green chile sauce) vs one sauce and the list goes on. Anywho, my daughter and I recently went to Sadie's of New Mexico with friends of mine during a recent visit to Albuquerque, NM. I'm from Pittsburgh and we don't really have a lot of authentic Mexican restaurants around here, let alone New Mexican restaurants. We're lucky to have complimentary chips and salsa served to us. That was not the problem here. Not only did we receive complimentary chips and salsa, we received complimentary sopapillas...deep fried dough pockets that were served with honey. Fried + Dough = Fabulosity! I like to mix things up, especially if I know that I may not be back at a place too often. So I ordered a combination plate with a chicken enchilada and Carne Adovada. Scrumptious pork simmered in a green chile sauce that was wonderful. My chicken enchilada was also delicious and could have fed a family of four. (It seemed to grow with each bite that I took.) My daughter also ordered the chicken enchilada and she LOVED it. My friends ordered the pork tamales and the ground beef steak in chile sauce. Both were excellent and I don't usually like tamales because the corn masa is usually flavorless and doesn't contain enough filling. This was different...flavorful and tasty! Ahhhhh! I also want to give a special shout-out to our servers. They were the best. My fourteen year-old even noticed how fantastic they were and that's saying something. (You know teenagers... If it's not on an Apple device or isn't one of their favorite shows, they could care less.) So if you like a LOT of flavorful food and enjoy paying reasonable prices, this is your place.
(4)Rusty B.
Be warned. If you have a delicate stomach, this place isn't for you. My wife and I stopped here on a Sunday evening. She had beef enchiladas and I had their sloppy joe. It's not your typical sloppy joe in that it is beef, onions, green chilies and cheese on top of a bun. All that is topped with chili that is good but spicy. Green chilies are a feature on most of the menu items, so keep that in mind. Both dishes were good but looking back we should of just split one of the entrees. For a fairly busy night, the service was decent and we were in and out in about an hour. Things of note is this location is in the middle of town, so the GPS will be handy. The menu is a lot bigger than shown on the website, keep that in mind when planning a visit.
(4)Mona M.
A complete rip-off and one can't decipher what's on their plate. Our combination plates looked like slop on a plate covered in chile and I melted cheese. For the price, this was inexcusable. We won't be back.
(1)Lillian M.
My favorite restaurant in ABQ. Every time I visit this town it's a must have. Adovada ribs are the best!! X
(5)Curt S.
This place is a must while in Albuquerque. Huge portions great atmosphere. Great selection of Mexican food there is not a bad dish in the place.
(5)Denise H.
Until now, this has been a secret. We moved here two weeks ago and have been here three times. The servings are plentiful, the offerings are solid, it's affordable, complimentary sopa's with entrees, and the atmosphere is beautiful and open. I have noticed both well trained and not-so-well trained staff, but they never seem to be short staffed, so one way or another, service is always efficient and often stellar. I think it's good to see that they must hire both experienced and non - so they make sure to serve the working community while also making sure they serve their clientele. This will be, or should I say already is!, a family favorite!
(4)Paul L.
Big portions, excellent salsa, friendly, prompt waitstaff. Sopapilla is very tasty and available a variety of ways. Great place to go for a company lunch.
(3)John D.
Two different friends from Albuquerque recommended that my friends and I check out Sadie's for some excellent food during our trip. Judging from the fact that there were a bunch of people waiting to be seated in the humongous restaurant, we felt optimistic about our choice. After being told that our wait would be 35 minutes, we were seated after only about 5-10 minutes. Unfortunately, that was the end of the good points. We were seated at a dirty table, we weren't given menus for quite some time, and the margaritas were too sugary and tasted like the bartender had never made a real one before. We waited forever to place our orders, we asked for chips and salsa only to be told that there was a chips and salsa bar where we could serve ourselves (could've told us that 30 minutes ago...), we waited forever to get the food, and then had to ask for silverware so that we could actually eat our delicious food. Oh yeah, the food was actually pretty awful. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with blue corn tortillas. The chicken was bland and by the time you dug down enough to get to a tortilla, you couldn't taste if it was blue corn, white corn, or even corn at all. One of my friends ordered the huevos rancheros, and she was about as impressed as I was. I can't remember what our other friends ordered, but none of us were all that happy with our picks. Now, I've had subpar Mexican food before. But I usually get it in a bag at a drive thru; I don't throw $15 away on a plate of it. Couple that with service from a group of people who act like we're idiots for not knowing we serve our own chips and like we're high maintenance for needing forks, and you can see why I'm a bit irritated with my friends for recommending Sadie's to us, and why we have no plans to come back.
(1)Amy K.
On our 2nd night in Albuquerque we had to go to Sadie's, as per several recommendations. It's quite the gourmand experience! I started with a house margarita, on the rocks, salt. Threw me for a loop, as tequila tends to, after a few good sips. Watered down pretty quickly, though. Hubby had an Alien Amber Ale; very good! Chips and salsa complimentary, and really tasty. The salsa has a good kick! I ordered chicken enchiladas; I was surprised by the waiter's question, "Rolled or stacked?" Never heard that one in NY! Ordered rolled, which is the way I've always had enchiladas. I must say, the shredded chicken was high quality white meat, and I love corn tortillas. You get a choice of chili, red or green and atop or on the side. They do offer meatless versions of both. I had the veggie green, on the side. It is HOT and really de-lish! The enchiladas came smothered, really smothered, in melted cheese and chopped tomatoes. The amount of cheese was really overkill (not that I didn't manage to eat it all...probably the margarita dulled my brakes). My husband had the chicken tacos, good but also smothered. It was just too much cheese. They were served with "patitas," diced fries really, that were very good, not a bit greasy, but again, just too much. He had the red meatless; it has a smoky flavor, not one of our preferences. Highlight was the basket with these 2 puffy squares of bread, which we'd not seen before and were tearing up and using to scoop up our chili. When the waiter came over, I asked what they're called; they were the famous, all over the menu, sopaipillas. OMG, seriously good! But while we were eating the chili with them, that was not right. They apparently are meant to be eaten with honey, & there's a squeeze bottle of honey on the table. Tried that, and it's yummy. The sweetness is a good foil to the spiciest of the chili and the salsa. Up my rating to 3 1/2. Prices are very reasonable for the quantity, but there's just way too much. It's apparently a New Mexican "experience," but not a place I'd suggest a repeat visit.
(3)Rena T.
O M G !!!! Amazing isn't a grand enough word to describe the lunch we had at Sadie's today. We were traveling through Albuquerque on a cross country trip, and got the recommendation to eat at Sadie's from a barrista at our favorite coffee/tea house in Flagstaff yesterday. (BTW, that place is really awesome too. Next time you're in Flagstaff, go to "Late for the Train" ... you're welcome!) The food was phenomenal. All of it. The chips and salsa (spicy and yummy), the chile relleno, huevos rancheros, and sopapillas all were plate licking good. The portions were giant (not complaining at all) and we felt the prices were reasonable considering the quality and portion size. The service was great. Our server was super nice and really knew the menu. We'll be back the next time we go through Albuquerque!
(5)Rich C.
We had dinner here in May. Everything was great. Portions are large and delicious.
(5)Michelle B.
Had supper here Sunday evening. The chips and salsa were delicious, but the salsa was definitely a picture of things to come. It had a definite spicy kick. I ordered beef enchiladas and my husband enjoyed a sloppy joe. The enchiladas were stacked and covered in cheese, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. The enchiladas were delicious, but once again, they had a definite spicy kick. The service and atmosphere were both good, plus the sopapillas were a sweet and tasty ending to the meal.
(4)Allyson M.
Let me begin by saying this place came highly recommended by two different people from Albuquerque so we went in with the highest of hopes. Needless to say, those hopes were quickly thrown out the window with our experience here. We put our name in at the front. Then as we're waiting, some random worker who looked like a bus boy (definitely not the hostess) came up to us to ask if there were four of us which there were. So this worker then sat us at a dirty four-top without any menus or silverware. We were sitting there a good 5-10 minutes before the waitress got our drink orders and because we didn't have menus, we didn't know what was offered. When we relayed this to our waitress she acted like we were the dumb ones for not having drink menus then made it seem like a chore to get some for us. So we ordered four basic margaritas which came out with way too much sweet and sour and not enough tequila. Finally, she brings the menus and we decide on dinner. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which came out thick and bland for being authentic New Mexican cuisine. No one I was with at the table was too pleased with their meals either. Couple this with charging $4 for a dollop of guacamole and not telling us there was a DIY chips and salsa bar where we could serve ourselves. The waitress was careless and didn't bother to help us unless forced. We felt the need to order multiple things at once for fear she would not be back to help us. We were not impressed. Unfortunately, we will have to go back to our two friends and tell them how disappointed we were with the overall experience at Sadie's when we were so looking forward to a stellar meal.
(1)Cheryl J.
The food is good...you get large portions. I usually feel weighted down after eating there so I don't go more than a few times each year. Try the guacamole!
(4)J S.
Sadies is our "taco Tuesday" hangout. The service in the bar area is usually pretty quick and there is no wait to be seated. The food shows up fast. The only downside is that the salsa is sooooo hot that the glass of water stays empty a little too long.
(4)Pietra L.
bartender Laura was awesome! great food... great company... best enchiladas with green chili. highly recommended from New Jersey
(5)Kristin H.
We were passing through for the night on our way to Los Angeles and stopped at Sadie's. We had a great waiter, incredibly personable and generous. But the food was mediocre and way overpriced. Our margaritas were all Patron and $10 for a small one. Our meal cost $50, and was NOT worth $50. Won't be returning.
(2)Bill M.
Our waiter was great... Everything else was sub par. The food felt very phoned in and the environment was the only thing cheesier. Felt more like a tourist trap than a quality restaurant.
(2)Timothy A.
I imagine that when you get to heaven, your first meal would be a Roberto Special with extra queso.
(5)Pete T.
My GF and I had a carafe of margarita, sopapilla and green chile (in abundance). The stuffed sopapilla blew my shoes off! Great food. I would have given 5 stars but my GF insists that sopapilla is always good anywhere in new mexico so she was not thoroughly impressed. The salsa, however, was scrumptious and tasty (even she agrees).
(4)Jon M.
It's SADIE'S! That being said I have never had a bad meal here. Excellent food, great portions, and attentive service. When I have reps intown I take them here. A wonderful example of New Mexican food. I first ate at Sadie's when it was still in the bowling alley. I prefer the enchiladas, ground beef. When you ask for chile, don't expect a little bit, it is smothered and smothered well. The sides are smothered too, so expect a full plate. Complimentary chips and salsa are very good. It is nice to good New Mexican and not have to ask for chips and salsa. Margaritas are excellent, I prefer the top shelf ones, the house is fine but comes out of the hose. Pay a couple of dollars more and get a drink to remember. At times it is crowded, that's because it is good, and anything good is worth waiting for. Very popular with the locals, not a tourist trap.
(5)Lou T.
Recommended by hotel. Terrible. Cold food. Services was so so. Would not recommend.
(2)Alex G.
It is huge, it is popular with both locals and visitors, it is pleasant, the service is friendly. Prices are moderate, and the food is quite good, and not as bland as other places in ABQ, even without chile. Stuffed sopapilla with beef and chicken, and beef enchiladas were flavorful, and tasty, large portions too. Guacamole was much better than in other standard places.
(4)Ashley M.
The food is really just okay. I know this is an ABQ staple but one thing I noticed while there was that no matter what dish you ordered, they all look exactly the same. Smothered in toppings. They pretty much taste the same too. It happens that they all taste pretty good, I just expect a variety of flavors for different dishes. Also, there is always a very long wait. Pro: they have excellent margaritas on tap which makes everything better :)
(3)Denise P.
The food here is delicious. The staff was very helpful and friendly. I had the carne abodovoda (I have no idea how to spell that). It was excellent. The salsa is hot just the way I like it. And this time there was no wait!! Awesome. Good job guys.
(5)A J.
Sadie's has the best Mexican food in the world!!! Each time I visit I always come to Sadies!! I love ordering the enchalidas with blue tortilla and the sopapias. The food can be very spicy though, so be careful. Sadie's was once a bowling alley and my mother and grandparents would come here all the time before it became a restaurant. It's such a great place.
(5)Ben C.
Great service. Red salsa is too hot for many people. Food was about average. Casa de benavidez still has an advantage on the food.
(3)Marko C.
Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Marko vs Food! So there I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I wanted to find the most memorable place to have authentic SouthWestern Food. Again, I go to my trusty Yelp pages and everything directed me towards Sadie's Dining Room. I ask 5+ locals where the best food in town was - I get pointed to Sadie's Dining Room. When I learned that this restaurant was featured on Man vs Food, THE CHALLENGE WAS ON!!! For my beverage of the night, I had a Presidential Margarita, which was an awesome margarita that consisted of three types of tequilla. Okay - I don't drink, but I needed to try this tasty beast out because everyone raved about it. It *WAS* delicious! This drink is a must-order. (I only drank 1/4 of the beverage and asked for the rest to take with me in a to-go cup. The wait staff laughed at me and politely declined!). Grade: A- Complimentary Chips and Home-Made salsa arrived at the table. To compliement this, I ordered a side of fresh guacamole. The chips were freshly made - hot and crispy. Together, the duo was the perfect compliment to my margarita! Delicious! Grade: A! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… For my main meal, I decided to go for the Sadie's Stuffed Sopaipilla Dinner. If Adam Richman could have done it, so could I! (NOT REALLY). You should have seen all the "oohs" and "aah" that came from the surrounding tables when this big boy was delivered to my table. It was GARGANTUAN!!! The dish was a large freshly made golden brown Sopaipilla filled with Shredded Chicken (you get your choice of Grilled Hamburger Patty, Billy's Spicy Ground Beef* or Shredded Chicken). The sopaipilla was surrounded with Frijoles and Papitas. This dish was served with refried beans and carne adovada. (Get the green chile on the side, because you *won't* eat the entire meal, so you don't want to put the green chile on your dish to make it soggy) I can eat a LOT, but I only ate less than 1/4 of this dish! Unfortunately, FOOD WON! It was DELICIOUS!!!! The dish was served with a bottle of honey, which you eat with the Spoaipillas (fried bread). I drizzled it all over and was in heaven! Grade: A! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… The best part of the meal was the customer service. I was a visitor in town, but felt like part of Sadie's family. The servers and waitresses were very friendly and happy! As I finished my meal, they brought me a to-go box. The super cool waiter noticed that I wanted to take some chips with me, so he brought over a complimentary side of red home-made salsa for me to take. THAT was super cool! Get this! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… Food Grade: A- Service Grade: A+ Worth The Money Grade: A- Overall Impression: A!
(5)Cristina C.
Sadie's has the feel of a Red Lobster set in the early 80s, which is totally appropriate given that they serve Mexican food. Still, the food was awesome. The salsa, like everything else in New Mexico, was too damn spicy and I was forced to counteract this pain with a delicious Margarita. Mmm, booze. I ordered chicken enchiladas and they honored my request to put the killer sauces on the side (I did put a little red sauce on my tongue and it really hurt). The chicken was tender and the enchiladas were covered in an assortment of the usual toppings. I thoroughly enjoyed it to the point where I'm pretty sure I was smiling goofball-style while eating. I also enjoyed the absence of a mariachi band so there was no awkwardness of having to avoid eye contact. I left here buzzed and stuffed over capacity. Mission accomplished.
(4)Angela M.
Ok, I only had a few days in town visiting my cousin so I was on the fence in going to this place...then I saw that this place was featured on an episode of Man vs Food so I said I have to go there to at least say that I tried it, yep like one of those people. Anyways, my cousin did go there once and said the portions were huge...so keeping that in mind we didn't get any appetizers. It was pretty crowded on a Sunday night, but they were able to seat three of us + 1 baby with no wait. The service was very good and friendly. They even had a little sling contraption for the baby to stay in her car seat carrier. The waiter recommended a silver coin margarita, which had patron silver, lime juice and Cointreau for $10.50....it was very very smooth, went down too easy actually so I opted to get a house margarita after that. You could definitely taste the difference with the sugary sweet and sour mix and the cheaper tequila. I tried the regular stuffed sopapilla dinner with the carne in it at the recommendation of the waiter and also got green and red chiles on the side. I am not sure how people can even try to tackle the 7lb sopapilla food challenge, I barely got through half of the normal one! It was yummy, the fried sopapillas they brought out with dinner went great with the honey and the home made salsa and nachos were addictive. I preferred the green chiles hands down, the red was OK as well but the flavor was better in the green for me. I don't enjoy overly spicy food anymore, my age might be catching up with me but it doesn't agree with me later and I like to enjoy the flavor of the food without having a mouth on fire and tears in my eyes. All in all, I recommend if you are in town...it was a local spot before the tourists started flocking here and the food is good for the prices. And there is really more than enough with the portion sizes to take home for leftovers.
(4)P B.
Damn good authentic New Mexican cuisine. I give four stars because the food has always been great. The service can be lacking sometimes, but they are always busy!! They sell there salsa in grocery stores...even here in the Austin Texas area and it is outstanding!!
(4)Jenna B.
So I heard a lot about this place so I decided to give it a try. I was warned that the portions are HUGE and the salsa was muy caliente-both are an understatement. The entrees come with beans, sopapilas, and every dish seemed to be topped with tons of cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. (And we wonder why Americans are so fat!) Oh and don't forget about the overflowing bowl of chips and salsa. The enchilada dish was not what I expected, it was on a corn tortilla with again, too much cheese. I expected more on the menu- no fajitas and no seafood options (only chicken, pork, or beef). It was a bit disappointing, I was expecting more.
(2)Andy M.
This is one of the more popular Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque. I have eaten here in the past and waited up to an hour to get a table. Food here is good - not great. We got two small bowls of Salsa - Hot and HOT. Queso dip was some of the best I had. Entree's are huge portions so don't eat anything for a week prior to ordering. Just not impressed with the entree's we ordered. Service was great and never had to ask for refills on our drinks. . . . which brings me to the drinks. Some really good Margaritas here.
(3)t s.
The food was a bit too spicy for me. I could barely stomach a quarter of my plate before I tapped out. I thought I would be able to handle the Carne Adovado rib but after a couple bites I had to eat the Sopaipilla drenched in honey to counter the heat. I didn't expect my entire meal to be so spicy. The beans and potatoes were covered in the spicy chili too. I don't think I'd recommend this place. Maybe if you really liked the spicy food but I don't think it was worth the wait on a Sunday night.
(3)Scott M.
Green Chili dining at it's best. Copious amounts of foor. FLAVOR EVERYWHERE. The Salsa is nothing short of the temperature of the sun. Recommend eveyone should go at least once.
(5)Louise O.
HUGE portions. We ordered only 3 dishes for 5 of us and we could only eat half of the food. The salsa is spicy!! I had the carne advovada with green chile on the potatoes. My brother had the adovada ribs and sis had the lunch combo. After 3 bites of my food, I was stuffed. Granted, I did pig out on the chips and salsa before the food arrived.
(4)Tom C.
The words "quintessential New Mexican" come to mind whenever I think of Sadie's. They are so totally my favorite place to take out-of-towners when they are up for some New Mexican food...or to head whenever I get the hankering for some good spicy salsa and a bellyful of YUM. Their food is excellent, their portions are generous, and their value is SPECTACULAR. It's not an accident at all that this place will be hopping just about any time you choose to visit, and will be stacked up for an hour's wait or more on busy evenings. It's a big place with lots of parking, but it will be busy. It's worth the wait, though. The decor feels a lot like Albuquerque, too. A little quirky, and lot kitschy, just there waiting and hoping for you to love it. The service has always been attentive, though; they really do take good care of you--once you can get seated.
(5)Nicole H.
You can find Sadie's salsa at the grocery store (Fry's)!! I've got Hubs hooked on it too :)
(5)foxy b.
Update~4/12/07~ Had to visit once again!! The portions here are HUGE! The stuffed sopapilla with carne adovada is more than enough to share... YUM! I visited some family last month and they took me here. Boy was I HAPPY! I told them I wanted some real New Mexican food, since both of my grandmothers can no longer cook. This place is huge and still we had an hour and a half wait. NO problem with the nice bar, STRONG margaritas and yummy chips and salsa. You can kind of gauge the restaraunt by the salsa and this was good, spicy but flavorful. Huge portions, yummy chicken quesadilla, chile rellenos spicy and not too much egg batter, sopapillas with honey, almost as good as Grandma's! I'll find any excuse to make another trip to NM and come back here!
(5)Elmo G.
Very good food, service was good, maybe a little quick on the food coming out, did not have time to enjoy my beer before the food arrived. Over all great place...
(4)Nicole B.
Sadie's came highly recommended by every local we asked, but it was only okay. I suspect I don't really love New Mexican food...it seemed like a bland, americanized Mexican. Not very spicy, giant portions, lots of cheese and fried stuff. The atmosphere is meh...lots of kids running around a cavernous space. The food was fine, but don't expect anything gourmet (I don't think they make their tortillas on site). If you're looking for cheap and filling, you could do a lot worse, but I'm hoping there are better places in Albuquerque.
(2)J T.
Sadie's is great for good, inexpensive new mexican food. A good primer for out-of-towners to come for their first tase of chile (it's hot here). They tend to be very crowded during dinner hours, so be prepared to wait.
(4)Clint U.
I am sorry New Mexico. I am sorry Albuquerque. I am sorry Sadie's. And most importantly.. I am sorry Bob. (RIP and I can tell you put your heart and soul into that place and was well loved by the people there.) Most of the reviews were great. My expectations were high. Where did I go wrong? Did I look so much like a tourist that they figured they could serve me anything with taco sauce and I would be happy? If you read my past reviews you know I am a tamale freak and will go nearly anywhere to find a good one. So I ordered there "super" combination which included a tamale, guaco taco, sopapilla, chips, salso and sides. All for $11. So tell me if I am off base...... 1. The tamale was a big disappointment. It was small, about the third of the size of a El Modelo tamale with proportionally much less meat. The masa seemed more like flour than meal. It was very doughy, bland, untextured. Good tamale masa needs to be coarse ground for texture and to allow the tamale to breathe as it steams in the corn husks. This masa was very dense and wheat flour tasting. Seems like they used corn flour or masa that was ground too much and added wheat flour. The meat filling was bland. There was adobo sauce on it to give it some flavor and heat (not much though), but the meat itself didnt have flavor. It was like the pork was boiled not roasted. 1.5 stars 2. Beef guacamole taco. The meat was finely ground beef and was worse tasting than Taco Bell. The meat was almost like a paste. With such a high reputation of Sadie's and the relatively high cost of the taco ($4 a la carte) I would have expected something much more higher quality like shredded beef. The guacamole tasted good however....but the awful ground beef ruined this dish. 1 star 3. Refried beans: Like you get in a can. 2 stars 4. Bean and potato hash?. This was the most interesting aspect of the whole meal. They cubed and fried potatoes and mixed in beans with it. It was the only item in the whole meal that had any taste of its own without sauces on top of it. 4 stars 5. Sopapillas: They had this grey brown color, like they didnt cook it long enough to brown the dough. Smothered with honey, it tasted ok. 2 stars. 6. Chips. Obviously cooked on the premises. Slightly greasy which tells me the cooking oil wasn't quite hot enough. 3 stars 7. Salsa. They forgot to include salsa with the chips even though they assured me it was in the bag when I left. 0 stars for bad customer relations. 8. Presentation. The tamale, refried beans, bean hash, lettuce and tomatoes and cheese were all slopped together in an aluminum foil container. Seemed like they just didnt care when they filled the container on what they were doing or paying attention. No effort was made (like a three section stryofoam container) to keep the items separate. 1 star for this mess. 9. They won't take takeout orders over the phone. They told me if I wanted takeout, I would have to show up there, order it, and wait. The person answering the phone sounded annoyed that I even called. Again. Sorry to trash an Albuquerque institution. Maybe I ordered all the wrong things here. This isn't about New Mexican vs. Mexican food. It's just about good food. Then again, thinking about how I was treated....maybe they need a wake up call.....
(2)Chris G.
Didn't like it. The presentation was very poor. The margaritas are served in the same glasses as the water! Just salted the rim. Way to go Sadie's! Can't spring for decent margarita glasses. The waiter was abrupt and uncouth. The interior was bland and unimpressive. The good was pretty good; at least my plate was. However, my sister-in-law barely touched her salad; didn't like it. Sadies was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. Last time I'll ever go there! Esp. when there are so many nicer places.
(1)Steve P.
This place was recommended to me by a waitress at Poppadeaux when I asked for a "couple Mexican food places in Albuquerque". She said "It's good, but really, really spicy". So... I had to go. The food was good, not spicy (at least for me) and I would return.... However,I had one of the worst waitresses I've ever had in my life, and one of the best backup waiters (runner?) I've ever seen. I saw my waitress about 10 minutes after I was seated, again when she put the food on my table (actually didn't bother to put it in front of me, but on the corner of the table) and again when it was time to pay the bill. The young woman who was a runner for my entire section was at my table at least every 5 minutes (as well as every other table) refilling tea, asking how things were, etc. This was noticeable at other tables managed by the same waitress. The waitress got a 10% tip. I found the manager and gave her $20 to give to the runner, explaining that service like that was to be commended, as I'm sure that the waitress wasn't sharing her tips... So, overall, it was great food, and great service once I got rid of my waitress (which she had no problems accomodating me on, she was already gone.) ;)
(4)Amanda P.
The best new mexican spot in Albuquerque in my opinion. I loooooved the food there. I always get the stuffed sopapilla and am never able to finish.
(5)Leo B.
Very good time here. Good tasting Mexican and the could handle a group as large as ours. the chicken tacos were loved and the portions were huge. We loved the hot fresh fried bread sopapillas !
(4)Mike S.
Fantastic Tex Mex. I was taken here by a local. It seemed off the beaten path but was packed inside and after eating there I know why. The food was packed with spice and required a carafe of margarita to wash it down with. Everything was great.
(4)The Vegetarian Foodie N.
Really good salsa and sauces with flavor - not the best we've had - but good solid traditional mexican
(4)Wanugee N.
This place is good, cheap and can feed a small army! It is frequented by a lot of families for that reason. The only main dish that costs more than $10 is the Sopaipilla with Carne Adovada, which is a dough shell stuffed with a shovel full of pork cubes smothered in red and/or green chili seasoning and served with beans and papitas ($12.95). This dish can only be completely finished by 2 people because of its sheer volume! The other dishes are all $10 or less. The chips and salsa are free. (The bar salsa is milder than the dinner table salsa, which has a little more green chilis in it). Margueritas ($6.30) are served in a 22 oz tall beer type glass, whether rocks or frozen. Our group of 3 had 3 main dishes and 4 margueritas and the total was only $56, and half of that was booze. We were all stuffed and the flavors left us satisfied. This place is huge, seating maybe several hundred people in the many rooms including the main dining room, large side/party rooms, lounge/bar and patio, but it is still crowded with a wait! So you know this is a good value with good food. Sadie who lived from 1945 to 1986, has a portrait photo on the wall near the hostess table, and a picture of her family and owners is nearby to offer a welcome to you from Billy, Bobby, Brian and Betty Joe.
(5)Kristen M.
Having moved from Albuquerque many years ago, I treasure every chance I get back and can visit my favorite places. We just were there for the Utah/UNM game (I'm a Ute but love NM) and Friday night I dragged my hubby and one year old to Sadies. We had a reasonable wait, during which I indulged in way too many yummy free chips and salsa! Once we were seated, I had a delicious green chile blue corn beef enchiladas that almost made me cry with happiness that I was back in NM!! My husband had the Carne Adovado, which he found very spicy (he was raised on Tex Mex ya know) but delicious (as did I after raiding his plate). The service was wonderful and friendly, I always find this to be the case in NM! My only regret? I ate so many chips, I didn't have room to finish my complimentary sopapilla!!! In TX you don't get sopapillas complimentary with meals (at least at most the places in Austin), so I love returning to NM and indulging!
(4)Deb H.
Well worth the $10+ one-way cab fare plus the 30+ min. Friday night wait!!! Thanks to local Robert for the recommendation! The spicy beef sopapilla was GIGANTIC and DELICIOUS!!! Best food at most reasonable price of the whole business trip!
(5)Tiffany S.
Yummy! Try the carne adovada with green sauce. Beware, though, it's all fairly heavy. Get the sopapilla too. And wash it down with a carbonated soda. Then get some salsa to go.
(4)Tony G.
Top on my list of restaurants when I visit Albuquerque. Great green chile chicken enchiladas and a salsa so spicy that it's worth mail ordering to get my fiery fix. The salsa, that is. You didn't think I'd actually mail order an enchilada, did you?! . . . hmmmm.
(4)Rhonda G.
if you want to try authentic new mexican food here you go. they have the best sopia"s and the honey is on the table. big portions and minium prices. a real value. staff not the best but pleasant. slow some days and fast other hit ands miss with servers
(3)Pixel I.
I love this place and have been eating here since 1997. The food is the best for New Mexican food. Forget about Garduno's, El Pinto or the other generic restaurants out there claiming to make authentic NM food. Their carne adovada is the best. So are the enchiladas, chicken tacos and papitas.
(5)Jetgirl ..
So yummy! Best green chile in town. Best sopapillas in town. Incredible salsa. Great service. This was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to Albuqueerque and I loved it from the start. When I can't make it down to the restaurant to get my Sadie's fix, I buy the salsa at the grocery store, but beware the hot...it's really freaken' hot!
(5)Ron J.
What can you say about Sadie's. The salsa makes your face burn in all the right ways. The portions are so large even a salad is as large as your head and stuffed full of goodness. If only I lived closer, they'd see me in at Sadie's more often.
(5)David W.
I grew up on 39th and Kedzie and have at times been called a Mexican food snob by my friends. When you grow up around La Taqueria Los Gallos, Los Comales, and Zaca Tacos you can get a bit spoiled. Having said that, I have always been skeptical of the New Mexican cuisine of the South West. However, on my last trip to Albuquerque I visited Sadie's and let me tell you Sadie can cook! Begrudgingly I opened the menu and made my way through "Green Chile" this and "Red Chile" that. Mike and I ended up both ordering the Sadie's Carne Adovada Enchilada Dinner. It's basically two corn tortillas filled with cheese topped with red chile and slow cooked pork. Are you excited yet? I was. However, our waiter wasn't surfing the same wave and delivered two orders of the Sadie's Carne Adovada Dinner. Basically the same dish minus the enchiladas. After tasting a bite of this New Mexican goodness I forgot all about the mistake and went into "I'm gunna house this shit" mode. The pork was tender, moist, and basically fell apart the moment your fork touched it. The red chile was plenty flavorful and the spice was just enough to have your forehead sweating toward the end of the meal. The dish was served with some yummy papitas and frijoles. Like Ms. Cedillo, Sadie isn't shy with her portions. Both Mike and I had to tap out after finishing three quarters of our meal. The space I is an old bowling alley converted into a New Mexican restaurant. Out of all the bowling alleys turned into New Mexican restaurant I have been to, I'd have to say that Sadie's was the best. Outside of the ole dish swap-a-roo the service as attentive and knowledgeable. I thought the staff did an excellent job of making sure our waters and sodas were constantly full. I feel that the water and drink refills are one of those overlooked areas that add value to dining experience. Even though my true Mexican love lives in Chicago, when in Albuquerque I will definitely be looking Sadie up. I mean it's not cheating if she lives over 1000 miles away. Right? 2 Carne Adovada Dinners 1 Root Beer --------------------------------------- $28
(4)M J.
The waiter was super friendly and helpful. As for the food, since I am not a big fan of spicey, I cannot give it a good or bad rating. We got the chili on the side ,and man, it burns going down. If you like SPICEY Mexican or New Mexican food, then this is your place. (Not me though, so sorry).
(4)Jenny K.
A friend who grew up in Albuquerque recommended Sadie's, so my husband and I stopped here while we were visiting NM. First of all, the restaurant is enormous. Second, the portions match the setting - soooooo much food. I highly recommend anything with the carne adovado. The pork is marinated in red chile sauce and then slow cooked so it turns out so moist and tender and flavorful. Fantastic food and friendly service. This is a must for anyone visiting ABQ.
(5)Jeff K.
I was told this was THE place to go for authentic New Mexican food. Now I know I really don't like New Mexican food. Period. However, the salsa seemed unusually fresh.
(2)Andie S.
yum! try the potato thing with cheese...and a top shelf margarita.
(4)Morgan G.
Sadie's has great salsa and flaming hot red chile. The portions are huge! All in all a good local new mexican eatery.
(3)Bob R.
Sadies is sort of hidden behind Lotaburger as you are driving N on 4th St, so eyes right or you might pass it. Our TeleNav took us right to the spot from ABQ. We got there for a late Sunday lunch, and fortunately the crowd was decreasing. It is always good to find a crowd of locals to confirm your choice. We got a reservation and a pager, but found a table for two in the bar area within 5 minutes circumventing the queue. We served ourselves some tortilla chips, but were surprised that there was only a single variety of salsa available. We ordered the Carne Adovada and a Chile Relleno, and waited. Each eventually came, smoothered with a mixture of frijoles, and frijoles and potatoes, but no rice. As is usually the case in NM, we each got two sopaipillas, but had to ask for some honey. Both dishes were just OK. Compared to Lupe's in Gridley, CA; Sadies has a way to go on its preparation of pork. We expected cubes of pork about 1 inch on a side, but got larger chunks that were not well seasoned, and were not uniformly cooked. Similarly, compared to Dona Esther's in Hollister, CA; Sadies has a way to go in its preparation of Chile Rellenos. I chose not to finish eating mine; those in Hollister are superior. Each Sadies dish was generously more than we could consume. Note to Seniors, dieters or those on a budget; split an entrée. As an example, Sadies offers a main dish with your choice of two enchiladas with the bean concoction as described above. Get a 2nd plate and split the order up. If you think two enchilladas is not going to be enough, add more to the first entree order, and then split it. It will save you about $5 when compared to ordering a second identical entree, plus the portions are so large that this minimizes waste. While I am not sure how busy the servers in the dining room were, those in the bar were swamped. If Sadies added one more server in the bar area, we would appreciate it.
(3)Kay C.
I gave this place 4 stars for the food. However, very long wait, and didn't like the server. My bf and I were traveling in NM and the last day we had an easy day and decided to have 'early dinner'. We found Sadie's because it was recommended in my Fodor's travel book. We got there at 5:30 PM and was told we had to wait for 45 minutes. 45!! But it was still early so we decided to wait and took the pager. It was 6:50 PM when we were seated. 1 hr and 20 minutes wait... After such a long wait, we were very hungry and a little grumpy already. And our server didn't see us, at least he claimed so, and started to serve another couple that were seated after us. That was after we sat at the table waiting for 10 minutes already. The bus gal was very friendly trying to get us nachos and drinks to make us less unhappy. It's good our orders came very fast. I ordered spicy beef burrito, it was spicy but not as much I expected it to be. The potatoes and beans on regular the side were spicy and so good! My bf ordered a combo of beef Enchilada and chicken Taco. His beef enchilada was just as spicy as my burrito so I suspected that mine was made with "spicy beef", but it was still good. He liked his order and said the potatoes and beans were good, too. If you're a big meat eater, and like spicy food, this is the place to eat. My burrito was stuffed with nothing else but ground beef. And the portion is BIG. But make sure you have a reservation or come very early or you'll starve and get upset before you get seated.
(4)Justin B.
ok atmosphere. it was packed! chips and salsa = good. margaritas - ok had the adovada on blue corn tortilla with red sauce - good flavors - a little too much sauce...good tender pork.
(3)Mihir P.
Awesome! Best Mexican hands down
(5)Carl P.
When we first moved to ABQ, everybody raved about this place. After one visit, I'm not exactly sure why. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, and with most Mexican restaurants, the portions more than plentiful. But it just didn't seem like anything special. The carne adovoda was very good, and as mentioned, the plates were massive. I wasn't disappointed, I just wouldn't make a special trip to visit.
(3)John K.
I took my whole family to Sadie's for lunch (twenty of us) so they could get their Mexican food fix. I am dissapointed, to put it nicely, at the service we received. The food was usual Sadie's, though the service was MUCH worse than it normally is - it's normally poor service, but not this bad. Our waitress spilled a bowl of salsa on my mom's jacket and didn't have the decency to say sorry or or to help clean it up. We had to ask for our food and sopapillas and when our waitress finally brought them she brought only 4 (did she expect 20 people to share???) and literally just dropped them on the table. I have never had a worse dining experience. The management team was equally bad today. Her response was "Sorry, I wish there is something I could do." She didn't even over to help clean off the jacket so my mom could wear it out into the cold. I suppose because there was a 45 minute wait to be seated, they feel that they can treat customers poorly. IF you haven't experienced Sadie's, the food is good, but please don't expect good or even decent service.
(1)Toshi T.
Upon recommendation from one of my co-workers who attended school here and played for the Lobos back in the day, I decided to check out this place for dinner. Arriving solo on a Tuesday night just before 8 pm, I did have to wait a minute or two for them to clear a spot for me as the bar area was totally full as was the rest of the place. For my dinner selection, I opted for the Carne Adovada dinner. Impatiently waiting for my food, I munched on the chips and salsa. The salsa was excellent with just the right amount of heat for me. When the dinner arrived, it was absolutely delicious. As I was finishing my meal, my server bought me two, fresh and hot Sopaipillas in a basket. Biting off a little piece, as full as I was (on the verge of exploding), I poured honey into the newly created opening and stuffed these sweet, doughy delectables into my mouth. Yummy! The one, top shelf margarita I ordered was a bit weak, but I really came for the food anyway. All-in-all, I had a wonderful experience for just over $30 with tip. The service, from start to finish, was amazing, and if I end up visiting Albuquerque again, this place is definitely on my list.
(4)Amy S.
three words: carne adovado ribs It was an amazing dinner. Can't recommend the ribs enough. House margaritas are fantastic (and strong!) as well
(4)Sara D.
On a business trip, was taken here by my host. I wanted local joint. There is a tortilla chip bar self-service. We had guac & melted cheese x apptzr. Tequilas, chicken sopaipilla, the other dish was like a chicken quesadilla. Huge portions, delicious. Plenty to take home.
(4)Carl P.
if i could give 6 stars for the service, i would...i've been to 5 star restaurants and not received as good of service as i have here. attentive wait staff, but not annoyingly so. the food is delicious...the green chile salsa is the best in the world. two people could just about share a plate because the servings are so plentiful. if not, be sure to ask for a take-home box and enjoy some leftovers!
(5)Kelly K.
Sadie's Dining room is probably my favorite (New) Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere is nice and the food is stupendous! I especially enjoy Sadie's Carne Adovada. The portions are generous and there's usually enough for at least a snack later if you take it with you. A must for any occasion!
(5)Ashley T.
In town for a cousin's wedding and wanted to try some local fare. The salsa and chips are delicious enough to make a meal out of. But then there's the tacos, burritos, and chili rellenos...the beans and potatoes under everything are perfection. And then the sopapillas wrap it...mmm. I'd get fat eating here if I was in New Mexico.
(5)H M.
OK. Sadies is New Mexican food Sadies is New Mexican food Sadies is New Mexican food. Here are some other facts: - New Mexican food is only done right in New Mexico. - Don't come to New Mexico for Mexican food. - Properly done, New Mexican food is served in strangely cafeteria-ish settings. Not glossy, shiny, or with high ceilings. Once you sit down, everything falls into place. - Sadies serves margaritas in PINTS....PINTS! - Sadies is delicious. - Sadies overfeeds you, they want you to be happy. - There are other good New Mexican places but Sadies is one of the very good ones and this review is about Sadies.
(5)Alasdair M.
Huge portions at reasonable prices. At some places this might be a recipe for poor food, but we were very impressed by the quality. Deliciously spicy beans, and very tender ribs. Would happily eat here again.
(4)Trenton T.
My favorite new Mexico restaurant. Can have a crazy wait which sometimes can be avoided by sitting in bar (there are tables) amazing food. I myself am working my way down the menu everytime I go. I am yet to be disappointed. The papa fritos are my favorite.
(5)Chris J.
It's been over 2 years but I'm back in town and decided to revisit sadie's. Once again, the food was fantastic! I got the chicken enchiladas once again and was surprised because I had forgotten how spicy New Mexico food can be. Also surprised/delighted to have the sopaipillas and honey again. Great food, good service, definitely should be on your list when visiting Albuquerque!
(5)Sujan P.
Stuffed Soapapilla- Chicken Flautas- chicken (I think I got these?) Chips and salsa I love sadies! I dunno what else to say. I'm salivating thinking about it. Everytime I visit my parents I go to this place. We've been going since the restaurant was located in the bowling alley not too far down the street. Unlike most places that grow, Sadies hasn't comprimised quality, taste or portion (only the price). Bravo! Stuffed sopa- if you're not a voracious eater, I'd suggest having them hold on the garnish so when you take it home you're not picking out cooked lettuce. I'd vote for the green chile with this dish. the only con: The wait. The wait!
(5)Rick G.
Great service, great food, I love the lunch specials which were reasonable. The chile relleno was hot, just like I like it. One of my favorites in ABQ
(4)Tarra D.
This used to be a standby favorite! The service was horrible.. our waiter was basically absent... our busboy was efficient and present... my margarita came just about the time we were finishing our meal... the enchilada was horrible... one corn tortilla with shredded chicken on top smothered with cheese and bland green chili. Would never go back since there are much better mexican food places in town.
(1)Dana H.
We were passing through and only in Albuquerque for one night and Sadie's was recommended to us. I'd read great reviews on Yelp so we decided to go for it. I was blown away by how delicious everything was. I'm going to dream about my enchilada with spicy ground beef for years to come and also wanted to smuggle their salsa out somehow. The bf got a carne adovado burrito and loved his. The portions were humongous for a great price, our server Phil was fantastic, and the Fat Tires were tasty as well. Make a reservation though, they're busy.
(5)Kurt A.
Arrived for dinner on a Monday night and faced a 45 minute wait. Fortunately we found a seat at a table in the bar and were into the Chips & Salsa 5 minutes after we arrived. Their regular Chile was not gluten-free but the meatless green was. Our server told us we could call ahead and request gluten-free next time we were in town. The service was outstanding and the Traditional Margaritas are not to be missed. Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)Michael L.
It's no surprise that Sadie's is always busy. Greatest New Mexican food anywhere.
(5)Tom L.
Craving red chile beef enchiladas (w/ blue corn tortillas) so we stopped by Sadie's. We were seated immediately & served chips & their GREAT salsa. Unfortunately they no longer give you warm, fresh chips - but have them waiting on all the tables as they're set. The server took a little while to take our order but when they finally did the service was good & the food was very good. Would have given 4 stars if service was quicker. Good overall, though.
(3)Laura I.
As Elvis once sang "But I can't help, coming to Sadie's." Oh he didn't? Well I can't help it because it's reliable mexican food close to my house. It's not the best mexican food I've ever had, but it's good for a fix. They have some of the best salsa in town. Everything on the menu is good, drenched in chile and cheese. They serve papas instead of rice unlike most mexican restaurants. House margaritas are stong and can be ordered by the pitcher. A must try for out of towners!
(4)Ashley F.
The portions here are huge! I really liked the value of the lunch special. The chilli relleno was good and so was the enchilada. Wasn't wild about the taco but for 7 bucks you can't complain about a pound of New Mexican food covered in enchilada sauce. It's good for larger groups of people too.
(4)Enrique S.
This place is nothing less than amazing! The brisket I had was one of the best. Even though restaurant was packed. We were sat pretty fast and our food came out on time. Great food and service!!!!
(5)T R.
Take it from me - DISGUSTING. Sadies is as bottom-rung, run of the mill as it gets. I only gave it one star is for it's attentive and friendly staff, otherwise if it were even possible Sadies would have gotten a ZERO. The staff actually deserves about four stars, but I just can't rate this sh*thole any higher than a one. In a town with some amazing food choices, this is the absolute worst choice I've made while visiting ABQ. When Sadie's was mentioned to a local, he made an audible puking sound and said it was terrible. Why I didn't believe him, I have no idea... I decided to give it a shot because Sadie is my dogs name. I'm an idiot. As if the wretch from a local wasn't enough, I should have known this place would be bad when I realized there are multiple locations, as often that's a sign of a dip in quality, but after eating at Flying Star I had some hope - because that local chain is absolutely delicious (albeit not New Mex cuisine but so SO good!). My hope is dead, filled now by the sad and depressing reality of horrible. The food - poor POOR quality. This is NOT traditional New Mexican, maybe like gringo-Mex, or better yet let's dumb it down to Old Ortega from the box mixes (although those are actually much better). There are barely any vegetarian choices here. Not very vegetarian friendly. I did have a relleno which was halfway decent (?) but not good and I literally feel disgusting after eating it. If I didn't hate vomiting so much I'd purge right now. I also tried the cheese enchilada - So let me just put this straight...orange is not a natural cheese color, and that's all this enchilada had in it. AWFUL. I couldn't even eat it. The over processed orange gelatinous crap was smothered over EVERYTHING and it was unedible. My beau had a chicken taco plate. He has never EVER said a bad word about tacos before - but after eating half of one taco he said it is not good and can't continue. He said the chicken does not taste fresh at all, and feels equally as disgusting as I do. He is now chanting 'I want to throw up'. This is the first time at a restaurant that he actually wants to complain, but our server is so sweet we just don't have the heart. The amount of food that they give you is completely obnoxious. This is a perfect example of quantity over quality. If you want to eat a lot of food cheaply I guess this is your place, however you'll be filling your gut with total garbage and would do better at McDonalds. Please do yourself a favor. TRUST ME! Skip this place and never look back. Go to El Patio instead, or any of the number of delicious New Mexican traditional food joints - cuz this ain't it - and any review stating otherwise is completely either lying or maybe they just have totally dead taste buds.
(1)Al S.
I know I will be crucified for this because I've learned that in New Mexico, your choice of Mexican restaurant is tantamount to declaring your religion. When I told my friends I loved El Pinto, they said "Have you tried Sadies?" I had not so I said let's go. In short, I find it highly over-rated. The place was crowded but our server seemed extra special slow. The first test for me was the queso. If the place doesn't have good queso then I can't even consider it. I will say that the queso is very good here. Different from El Pinto but very good. But the chips were very, very greasy. This makes the great queso a moot point. The food here is hot as in spicy - and I have come to learn that most people here like their food spicy. So my review should be taken in context. Knowing I don't like super hot - super spicy food you may like this place better than I do if you're into that. Add a star to my review if that's your thing. For me it's a negative. As far as the rest goes. The food was good not great. The ambiance didn't come close to that of El Pinto. The little fried potatoes that they included in my dish were nasty. In short, if I were hungry and this place was all that was close I might go back but I am not interested in going out of my way to get there. Sorry Sadies fans. It just didn't work for me.
(2)Ashley E.
Not sure how I haven't written a review for Sadie's yet...I really like the food! If you order a margarita, you've got to make sure to ask for fresh ingredients and good tequila, otherwise it's straight mix from the tap and you're just asking for a mean hangover. Anyway, our bartenders were sooooo friendly and quick, and the food was very good as always.
(4)Paul G.
I've eaten here many times. This time, the staff was overly nice...I mean they smiled like they were in a beauty pageant.......but hey, they kept chips coming with fresh bowls of salsa, our water glasses never emptied, etc. The food was good....although not temperature hot but I made two meals out of it.
(4)Funnyfox C.
i found that its all incredibly misleading. It was basically all of my groups first time in this place. We went in with the expectations of it being really cheesy New Mexican, ya know what I mean? And it was, but when they seated us in the "could be a lot better with nicer seating windowed blue chair room" we kind of had to complain. The waiter graciously and wonderfully seated us in the main dining area and it felt a lot better. We ordered, and my friend really reallllyy wanted tamales, but couldn't justify paying over 6 dollars for one so she got the 13 dollar plate. When the food finally came around the tamales measured 4-5inches and % of main to sides was 30-70 beans and taters winning. She was pretty upset and had a right to be. All she wanted was tamales and at 13 dollars you can buy a bag of a dozen from the old lady at any Walmart. She had them just take it back. My 15 dollar stuffed sopa with hamburger meat was burnt, but i ate it. I realize I could have taken it back, but I really was hungry and when you're that hungry you'll think 15 is ok for something you could have gotten at lil Anitas for half the price. Overall its the same stuff but overpriced, which was sad. I'm going to stick to Modelos thanks.
(2)Lorraine G.
LOVE this place, I refuse to go out and eat New Mexican food since it's something I can easily whip out at hope, but the exception is Sadie's! Their salsa is hot and the food portions are huge you can easily share a plate with someone and be more than satisfied! Usually there is a wait, but well worth the wait and they have so much waitstaff that I've never had a bad experience with the service.
(5)Ashley P.
If you're hungry, and you want something delicious and covered in chile, Sadie's is the place to go! I've never had anything here that I didn't love, and everything is always delicious. I love their fries and queso- their fries are really sliced, fried potatoes. Their queso is magically delicious, and is good on everything. I often order things a la carte, because the plates are so much food I can never eat it all. Their appetizers are huge as well, and we often get nachos to share between the two of us as a meal. The price is awesome for all of the food you get, and this is definitely a place I would call ahead to if you don't want to wait for a table- it's always packed!
(4)Jason A.
This is a local favorite. Service is usually good, but we have been there at times when we had long waits and then received bungled orders. It's a mixed bag. Presentations suffer from frequently ending up all looking the same. Many dishes come out simply topped with a sea of green chile, then lettuce and tomato. The food is good, but needs less of that soup platter look. Wait staff is always courteous and responsive, if sometimes slow. Green chili is hot, but not excessive by NM standards.
(3)Larr G.
Please remember that on any given night the service and food can be the best you ever had or it can go wrong. Judging a place on a single experience, particularly if it is a bad experience, might be informative but it may also be unfair. We had a group of 15. We had a reservation, but I suspect that the person who made the reservation did not make it until later in the day and maybe within an hour of our projected arrival. That being said, we did have to wait for about 20 minutes before being seated. I really don't think that is too long. The place is big! It was very crowded, but that does not mean that it was so crowded as to be uncomfortable. After all, is was a Saturday night. This was good solid Mexican food. Not the best and certainly not the worst I have ever had. A lot of the dishes are smoothered in sauce, which is a little different for me. I cannot say that I liked or disliked it, it was just different. The taste was good, the portion size was large. I had the beef, chicken and cheese enchiladas plate. The rice and beans were great and the enchiladas were above average. The chips and salsa just kept arriving. We did not have to ask, the waitress just brought them out. Again, this was a larger group which can, at times, slow down the ordering and delivery of food. That was not the case. The orders were taken quickly and arrived quickly. I have only eaten here once, so please understand that I could have been there on a good night.
(4)James B.
Sadie's food is always good ( if you know what to get ) service can be hit or miss Get the red chile ribs ( Brians' spicy ribs ) You will be a fan
(4)Cody M.
This place was great! The salsa has a little spicy kick to it and I loved it. The atmosphere is fun and inviting and the food comes out hot and fresh. Everything tastes wonderful in this place!
(5)Roz K.
Very disappointing. Atmosphere: extremely loud -- large place - crowded, and I don't know why, because there was no good reason to be there. Food: yuck. Everything is fried and unhealthily. The guacamole tasted like it was 90% sour cream and 10% avocado = just terrible. The chips were of course fried and extremely unhealthy, and the salsa was so hot, that I could not eat it. Even our waitress said she did not like the salsa. I am vegetarian and there were no good choices.... none of the burritos or enchiladas were made with black beans instead of meat. Service: ok, but nothing could make up for the poor menu and lousy food. THIS PLACE IS A SAD EXCUSE FOR MEXICAN FOOD. It is just a lot of fried up unhealthy versions of Mexican food. Bottom Line..,....YUCK.
(1)Chris S.
Hands down some of the best Carne Adovada on the planet. This place succeeds when it comes to flavor, portions, quality and service. There's a reason why there's often a wait, even in a large restaurant like this: it's good.
(5)Zachery M.
Fantastic New Mexican food. Sadie's is one of the places I visit every time I come to New Mexico and in many different visits I've never been disappointed. The service is good and the prices are fine but the food is the real star. The green chile has just the right amount of heat and has a great flavor to it.
(5)Michael Z.
I've been here a number of times, and have always had wonderful service and the food is consistently great. The portions are huge (really, one entrée is enough for 2 people), the chile is tasty, and the salsa is hot and since there is a salsa/chip station in the bar, it's unlimited serve yourself. You really can't go wrong coming here.
(4)William C.
Hi fellow Yelpers! First, my lips are on FIRE! Which brings me to this salient point. Why have salsa without some heat? My salsa experiences locally mostly resemble a spicy ketchup experience of sorts. Sadie's, though, serves a salsa that is vibrant, flavorful, bold, and hot. Sometimes restaurants get it bad in both directions, either no spice and bland, or so hot it does not matter how the rest of the meal tastes. As I sit her, lips aflame, with an aftertaste of cilantro and tomato along with corn chips, I am reminded of the actual meal, which was great! It was lunch time, and I ordered the "small lunch" combination and added a chicken taco ala carte. The food came hot and not small. The taco was good! It had a generous amount of chicken which you could actually taste, and was accompanied by a generous amount of lettuce, tomato, and cheese. The chicken enchilada was great. The corn tortilla was light, and not tough. Again, through the sauce and cheese, you could still tell there was chicken in there. Finally, a chile relleno, which was well executed. The relleno was not over breaded; however, it was light, balanced, and flavorful. The space left on the plate had both potatoes and beans. On top of it all was a tasty green chile sauce that enhanced all of the flavors. Next, our wait staff was great. I do not remember the names, but the waitress and bus person were timely, friendly, and thorough. I have been here many times, and have to say I have been consistently satisfied and impressed. That said, my lips are starting to cool down, so in thinking of getting into my leftover stash of salsa....
(4)Daniel S.
I live in Austin and go to New Mexico about once a year (been maybe 10 times) and I am a huge chile fan and have eaten ALL over Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I went to the 4th street location while I was in town w/a friend who is a local. Both of us were a little let down by the food and service. Nothing terrible, but out of the 15/20 or so places I have tried in the "505" it's my least favorite. I had the stacked enchiladas with red chile. Was not hot at all when it came (probably sat there for a while). Our service was a little blow average. I honestly though of the taco bell "tostada" while I was eating my dish because of the way the red chile was bland and had lettuce all over everything. The sopapillas were smaller than other places in town but not bad. My friend (NM native) didn't like the red either. I think they just use their jarred salsa too when they serve you chips/salsa (didn't seem fresh and had tomato puree in it). I like hot but the salsa didn't have a ton of flavor...just heat. Their chips I LOVED though. I would say not bad but not good enough to compete w/the other places I tried. I'll stick with El Modelo, Frontier, El Patio, Garcia's, Barella's, etc etc...
(2)Maggie N.
Outstanding! My brother took us here while we were visiting from Texas and it was amazing. The chicken enchiladas were oh so good, the best I've ever had in fact. They weren't stingy with portions either! Everyone's plate was piled high! The SALSA was PHENOMENAL! It was full of flavor and super spicy, just the way I like it! I just NEED to find a way to get me some now that I'm back here in Texas! I wish we had a Sadies here because it was probably the best Mexican food I've ever had. My brother was right about this place and I'm so glad he insisted on taking us here! Lastly, the service was great! Thank you for such a wonderful experience. We will be sure to visit again!
(5)Erin G.
A year and a half later I am sitting here looking at pictures of the BEST MEAL I EVER ATE!!! The sopapilla was amazing....but the salsa was so good I got extra and drove it back 3 days to CA for other people to try. I am seriously thinking of driving back just to eat here again that's how amazing it was. Get the green sauce!
(5)Van D.
Food here really is excellent but despite that, I can only give it 3 stars because atmosphere is quite bland and service can be spotty at times. Food is smothered in chile and portions are good size. Prices are also reasonable.
(3)Drew B.
Wish you weren't so North Drive to get my carne fix Big hot red meat chunk (Sadie's is a little out of the way for me to get to, but it's one of the three best restaurants when I get a carne adovada craving. Man, that is one large hunk of meat! Mmmmm...)
(5)mike c.
Updated: I've eaten here for 35 years so the quality has been through ups and downs. Lately, it has been much better at this location. The service and food has significantly improved although I miss the self serve chips and salsa bar.The location near Eubank should be avoided as the food tastes microwaved. I've eaten there many times over the last 30 years and the service has definitely gone downhill the past year. The last 5 times I ate here this year the service was horrible. Each time the table hadn't been cleaned and I had to ask the waiter to clean it. Each time they messed up my order. Sometimes I ordered a 3 item combo and they only brought two or the other times they forgot the sopapillas and I had to bring the waiter back to get them. The beer I ordered usually arrived as I was finishing my dinner. Usually I was dying of thirst from lack of water and beer before they noticed me. They need to improve the service to where it was years ago.
(4)Benjamin R.
Some of the best carne adovada in the city. That's all I ever get. Comes with the papitas smothered in red chile and cheese. Very good. The salsa is addictive. Fire hot, but worth the pain. The one big downside is the wait. There is always a wait to be seated no matter the time of day. The dining room could be empty, but it won't matter. Never been able to just walk in and sit down. 10-15 minutes every time.
(3)Jaquelina L.
The BEST mexican food I ever had. First of all, I noticed that the mexican food in New Mexico tastes very different compare to the one in SF bay area. Mexican food in NM is MUCH better. I went to Sadie 3 years ago on a biz trip, oh boy, till this day, I still remember how good it was. Their portion is huge and it's cheap too. I ordered the Carne Adovada burrito, it was SOOOO good.
(5)Travis D.
I went to Sadies with a group while i was in Albuquerque on business last week. Being a Texan recently transplanted to Northern California, and someone who's pretty well traveled, i've seen many permutations of Mexican food, but our 30 hour foray into New Mexican food caught me a bit off guard. What am i talking about? 1.) You guys sure do like your green chili. 2.) Sopapillas are different from what im used to in Texas, but i like that they are bigger, softer, more doughy, and not as sweet. Plus, you've got to love that so many places give them away for free. However, they were brought out with our food and i saw many people in the restaurant taking a break from their food to indulge in a bite of sopapilla with honey. What's up with that? How about keeping dinner and dessert separate? I've also never seen them on a menu stuffed with something savory (ground beef). I didn't ever order a savory sopapilla (mostly because i was interested in other things) but im definitely curious. 3.) I realize that there is nothing Mexican about frozen margaritas (they were invented in Dallas, I hate Dallas), and i love magaritas of all shapes and sizes (on the rocks, frozen, well, premium, mango, blue, etc..). But when i think about the perfect margarita, one characteristic is that it has to be frozen, they are just that much better. The guy that took us to Sadie's said they had kick @ss magaritas, but only later did i find out they don't make them frozen. It was good, but it would have been great if it were frozen. 4.) I ordered enchiladas, but what arrived in front of me were two tortillas laid flat on a plate, then covered with filling and gravy ladled on until it reached the brim of the plate. What happened to rolling enchiladas? 5.) Pork Adovada. Good god, this stuff is incredible. Its hot enough to sting, but tastes so good that you just can't stop. The sweet with the spicy, mixed with the tangy. Where have you been all my life? After i got back home i searched the internet for a recipe and found one that spent sunday afternoon sitting on the stove on low heat, reducing into magic. I think its going into heavy rotation with my other favorite recipes. After my boss informed me that Albuquerque was low on good places to eat (i hadn't been there in 10 years, and back then i couldn't have cared less about food) i was pleasantly surprised with Sadie's. The sopapillas were good, the pork adovada was incredible, everything else was okay. It was a bit loud for my taste and they overdid things on the cheese, but thats getting a little bit nit picky.
(4)Kimmy V.
Go for the margaritas but don't stay for the food. Always jammed packed with customers. I've been here twice and have been highly disappointed, the food basically taste like mush and is disguised with lots of cheese and sauce to mask the mush like consistency of their main entrees.
(1)Cory C.
we had really high expectations for this place and I have to say my review might be a little bias. Being from CA we were expecting more traditional Mexican food, but sadies is actually New Mexican food. The portions are really big and the food has a lot of flavor. I LOVE hot and spicy foods and even the mild seemed to have a kick to it. This definitely is not a place for people who do not like trying new things
(4)Nicole O.
I hate to say it, but I just didn't "get" this place. The dining room was half full and there was a 20 min wait (which I expected after reading the yelp reviews). We went to the bar & got some margaritas, and the bartender told us that we could order food there (they said we couldn't when we put our name in). Anyway, I think this place is just SUPER understaffed, but the people working there are working their asses off! If you haven't eaten there please read this review: ALL THE FOOD IS EXTREMELY SPICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you love spicy food, this is your place! For real. The food seemed like it would have been good, but I couldn't get over the spiciness of it. I drank about 5 glasses of water and barely got through one chilli rellano. The bartender then told me that they cook EVERYTHING in chili because they grow them there and that's like, their thing. My friend & I split a combo plate and by the end of it, it didn't even look like we had touched it. It looks like a plate of slop and you can't even tell what's what. I'm sure that this is the "New Mexican way" and I'm not putting it down, I'm just saying that's how it comes so you won't be shocked. Also, the green sauce is red. Please note that the green sauce is the only VEGETARIAN sauce (the red has meat in it!) Prices are reasonable, and now I'm wondering if you can ask for the sauce on the side so it won't ruin your experience like it did mine. Just a suggestion. I'd say give it a try for authentic New Mexican food, just be ready to take the heat.
(3)Lucien S.
Sadie's has a reputation is just simply doesn't deserve as THE place to go for New Mexican. The salsa is all about heat but without much flavor, and the food is average at best. This place is not worth the long wait for a table. Don't bother.
(2)Chris W.
Sadies of New Mexico; hats off to you. Okay, I get that Sadies of New Mexico does not offer up authentic Mexican food, but who cares? The point is, Sadies serves up some of the most tasty, wonderful, and often hot food you will find! The portions are phenomenal, the food is worthy of its own fan club, and the service is good. Oh, did I forget to tell you about the margaritas? Make sure you save a little room (and have a designated driver)! Truly, Sadies of New Mexico is on my list of places to stop in at during my trip around the globe.
(5)Craig E.
As a kid in the 1970's, I got my intro to green chile enchiladas at Sadies when it was located at the bowling alley. It was great. Since they moved to the big space next door, the food has been inconsistant. Most of the luke-warm reviews on Yelp are by locals and we would know. It is also really heavy food when compared to Durans, Padillas or Pereas Tijuana bar. I think their meats can be too fatty. It all boils down to preference. Sadies isn't bad. Super strong Margaritas, salsa hotter than the sun, but alas, not my first choice for an enchilada or carne adovada.
(3)Chris F.
Reading reviews for this place does not actually give the experience justice. It was a little surreal. Atmosphere- Nice Mexican kitsch on the walls, a mariachi (gringo, but he was good!) and nice tame lighting. Service- Very friendly , took time to talk to us about our road trip, was helpful about the menu. Food- They really need to focus on smaller quantities of higher quality food. The serving sizes were.... absurd. There was no way any normal person could ever eat that much food. With us staying in a hotel, and not able to take any home, it's a complete and utter waste of food. I got a guacamole taco and a cheese enchilada. The guac was... ok. Not anything special. The taco was soggy with the sauce underneath, and fell apart. The enchilada sauce was tasty, but again, nothing special. The enchilada itself was, eh. Whatever. They were resting on about 1.5-2 pounds of rice, beans, and vegetarian green chili sauce, which I did not find until the end of the meal, as it was really obscured. The rice and beans were... just sort of there, not too much flavor, really. I ate more than normal, mainly because I felt like I had to at least try and make a dent. The most impactful aspect of the meal was how I felt about 5 minutes after we finished eating. I felt.... drunk. And I don't drink, so I am only surmising, but I felt like someone had taken away my ability to think clearly. I was giggly, and the most sensible thing to do, it seemed, was to take my index finger, and flap my lips up and down while humming, like a silly little kid. I had to contemplate the idea of walking, and I felt like I was working on 2 hours of sleep. I guess that food was just sitting in the bottom of my belly, sucking all of the blood from my body, just to process all that food. My stomach hurt the rest of the night. My girlfriend got the chili relleno and the carne adovada rib. Her rib was dry, and a little hard to chew. The chili relleno was ok, not that great. She felt the same way about the beans and rice, not that great. She got a margarita, and was totally unimpressed. I would not go so far as Matthew C. in his review, but I would say he is more on the money than those who are on here praising the place to the heavens. If i was ever there, I might try it again to see if it was just an off night. We got much better New Mexican food the next day (see my review of Carlsbad in Scottsdale AZ.)
(3)Chrissy K.
The food was pretty good although the service could've been better. The waitress seemed to rush us throughout our meal and she even forgot the trainee's name. She was a little rude and had a bit of an attitude and I'm not sure why, maybe she just was in a hurry to get off of work as it was near closing. Even so I felt as though we weren't treated very well.
(3)Jackie R.
We first became fans of Sadie's back in the bowling alley days. We went to Sadie's so often, the lady at the register who always seemed to be there knew who we were and actually gave us a Christmas stocking every year. They did the same for their many steady customers, and it was a super-friendly touch. The Christmas stockings are long gone, but Sadie's remains my favorite restaurant in the entire city. We go to both remaining locations of Sadie's even yet, and it is a favorite spot of both my immediate and my extended family for both everyday meals and for celebrations. They have great New Mexican food, and their signature house margarita can't be beat. If you haven't been to Sadie's, give it a try. The salsa is hot, and the people are cool.
(5)Emily D.
I still dream about this place and it's been a month since I have eaten there. -This place is huge and on a week night, all the tables were FULL! I'd plan on a wait during the weekends for sure. -Our server was wonderful and clearly had worked at Sadie's for many years. I trusted her from the start and decided to ask her what I should order as I was new to newmexican food. Without hesitation she recommended the carne adovada. Carne ado-whata? I had no idea what it was but once I tasted it, I knew I would never forget it. Before I go too into details about my amazing meal, I should also mention the chips and salsa. The chips are clearly made in the house along with their 2 types of salsa. I couldn't tell you which one I liked better as both were outstanding. My meal was ridiculous-aparently the pork is marinated for 24 hours before being prepared. It is served along side diced potatoes and re fried beans which seemed to seep up the flavors from the carne adovada. Sadly I couldn't finish the meal but my boyfriend came through to clear out the meat. To top off the meal, you are served warm sopapias with honey which were the perfect end to an extremely delicious meal. Honestly, if I could give this place more stars I totally would. I have eaten all over the country and this was by far my absolute favorite meal. If tomorrow were my last day, I would be on the next plane to Albuquerque for one last meal at Sadie's Dining Room with the hope that my heaven is filled with warm, soft sopapias and drizzled with honey. Amen
(5)John S.
So this is the mecca of New Mexican food in Albuquerque. This place gets absolutely packed, so be aware and ready. The first night we went the wait was a bit too long, so we came back the next day. We were all pretty hungry and just wanted to eat. I have to say the food is not really overly amazing and certainly isn't memorable. But what you come here for is the experience of New Mexico. If in town, why not?
(4)David A.
Sadie's is one of the most popular New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque. Their Sopaipilla's are the best in the city according to the 2011 Albuquerque magazine "Best of the City" listings. I ate solo, so they placed me at the bar. The bar features a small enclosure that highlights individuals who would like to take on the challenge of eating a 6.5 lb. stuffed Sopaipilla. The waitress caught me taking a picture of the cover of the menu. I get embarrassed by things like that, and I speculated that it would cause her to treat me as if I was a food critic or avid Yelper. She was extremely attentive and nice, but I think it was just her style. I ordered a gigantic plate of Sopaipilla stuffed with Carne Adovada and BOTH red and green chili. The plate was pretty good, but I think I might prefer a little less than "everything slopped on top". I couldn't make out the sweetness of the Sopaipilla with everything mixed in but she provided a few "virgin" or "unstuffed" ones that I topped with Honey. They were the best I have tasted so far.
(4)Heather S.
Sadies was fantastic! We stumbled upon it via a recommendation from a friend, and I'd definitely go back again. Massive portions of really good New Mexico-style food. Lots and lots of sauce, and the salsa is really hot but SO flavorful. The margaritas are super-strong, and the sopapillas are something to remember. Mmm. There's nothing I would change about my experience except perhaps not eating for a few days prior. So, so good, and very inexpensive.
(5)Jonathan P.
On a recent trip down to Albuquerque, we stumbled upon this gem. We took a chance and followed one of those tour book recommendations... For the life of me, I can't remember which one. Sadies, located in a converted bowling alley, had the look and feel of a true local hang out. The place was packed, and a lot of the people seemed to know each other. The service was fast and courteous. And the food... The food was great! True spicy New Mexican flavour. Everything we ordered was spicy and flavourful. The stuffed carne adovada sopaipilla was delicious; but, the carne adovada dinner was much more tender. My only disappoint was the kind of flat bread texture of the sopaipillas, not really fluffy. Be warned, the portions are immense!
(4)Bruce K.
Wife & daughter in Albuquerque on a special trip. After reading reviews and travel books I suggested Sadies for dinner. What a mistake! The drinks were fair to poor but the food was absolutely awful. So bad they couldn't finish. They both felt ill after the meal. I have emailed Brian Stafford the owner twice since then and can't even be shown the courtesy of a response. Never again, Bruce Kroll
(1)Louie B.
Muy bueno! I love New Mexican food, and Sadies although they have gone somewhat commercial is one of N.M's staples.. I have been there numerous times and they still don't disappoint. They have however over the years lost a little bit of their flair which is why I took away a star. My last visit I ordered the Carne Adovada Enchiladas with Blue Corn Tortillas, and they were superb! They bring the plate to your table piping hot with the bubbling cheese crusting over the edge of your plate with a side of refried beans and rice and sopapillas on the side. I was almost full from eating the chips and salsa they brought to the table before my meal, but managed to still scarf down at least half of my meal. By the way they bring you chips and salsa but I asked for hotter salsa and they brought me two variations, one with green chile and their red hot salsa... Ouch!! It burns you twice!! Good food, friendly service. On my good list!
(4)Mr. I.
So needless to say Ive been here every time Ive been to this area.. one thing you will notice is that its always filled with travelers from all around the nation. So all these people cant be wrong.. Not to mention I love the area but this is a great place to go and get red or green chili food from a great Mexican place. The plates are huge, the plates are SUPER HOT and you cant go wrong with the magaritas. I leave this place with a extra stomach every time I go. So if you are in the area, go check it out!
(5)D A P.
SO GOOD! I have to eat here every time I'm in ABQ. The decor is nothing to look at. I suggest the patio. And the plates are huge. You will be taking home leftovers. Sadie's makes a great salsa. And you can buy 3 kinds of it here for only $3.99 a jar.
(5)Chris K.
Based on lots of local input, this is the face of New Mexican cuisine - the quintessential New Mexican restaurant in ABQ. The atmosphere is sub-par, the service is average, the food quality is average, and the portions are...RIDICULOUSLY LARGE. An a la carte carne adovada stuffed sopapilla literally fills an entire dinner plate (enough for three hungry adults to share easily). I have been several times with colleagues and locals, mostly for the novelty of the New Mexican food and chile.
(3)Stan L.
Great restaurant. If they would let me I would give it a 10. Everything is excellent, and service even better. Food is spicy and Hugh servings. You should plan on sharing or taking another meal hoe with you. They even have to go boxes with ther name on them. DON'T go to Albuquerque with out going to Sadie's. May 31, Sarah and I ate our first meal of our weeklong 50th celebration at one our favorite places to eat. We shared a meal and still had food left over. Our blessing was being serenaded by a south of the border group. Both in Spanish and English. A great start
(5)Jeff M.
I do not for the life of me understand what people see in this joint. There are so many better NM places in ABQ. Last time we ate there there were four of us. We all ordered different dishes, and all four of them came out looking the same. I ordered tamales, and if there were tamales down in there they were indistinguishable from the stuff they were smothered with. My table mates had the same experience. Maybe we got each other's dishes. Who knows? Our waitron was very friendly, but a while ago we walked out because a waiter was remarkably rude. Needless to say Sadie's is off our list.
(1)Jeremy W.
Food was excellent. Service was great as well. Our server gave great suggestions and I was so thankful I chose one she had suggested.
(5)Nikke A.
Yesterday, University of Washington law students were visiting from Seattle, so classmates and I invited them to lunch at Sadie's. We sat in the lounge section of the restaurant. We waiting about ten minutes before going to the bar on our own to get a drink. When we went to the bar area, we were scolded by the waiter. He told us to order our drinks at the table. Ten minutes later, we were finally given menus. The waiter took our order. The food arrived and our orders were wrong. One girl ordered a taco dinner, and only received one taco. I ordered enchiladas with blue corn tortillas without onions. I received yellow corn tortillas with onions. I returned my plate, and received the same yellow corn tortillas with onions. I at that point did not want to eat. I was tired of returning my meal. The out-of-state visitors requested the chile on the side of their dishes, and all of them had chile on their dishes. The manager agreed to take off some of the meals, but my meal was the only one taken off. The rest of the group 6 people were forced to pay for meals they didn't order. I was so disgusted by the service. After we ate, we immediately left, and everyone left in a bad mood.
(2)Johnathan B.
There are three places I make sure to stop by when I'm in Albuquerque. Sadie's is one of them. Whatever you order will be excellent, the wait staff is usually quick and always happy, and the prices are very reasonable. There's a reason Sadie's is a staple of the city. The green chile cheeseburger is my top pick, but the new taco salad comes in a close second. The mix of chicken and avocado is great (especially with a little salsa mixed in).
(5)Austin C.
Went here based on the recommendation of staff at our hotel. The price was great for the portions that we received. It wasn't the greatest Mexican food I've ever had, but it was still delicious nonetheless. The staff was very friendly and able to accommodate any requests. If in Albuquerque and looking for a solid meal that won't break the bank, I will definitely come back here.
(4)Steve T.
We had a bit of a wait when we arrived but it didn't take too long. Plenty of parking in their huge lot. We had tried one of the other Sadie's previously which didn't hold a candle to this one. The food was surprisingly good considering the prices are very reasonable. This restaurant was recommended to us by native Albuquerque folks who we met on the plane. Great for New Mexican cuisine.
(4)Colin B.
Been driving for so long through the South feasting on BBQ, catfish, fried oysters, hush puppies. I enjoyed it all but since I'm from Los Angeles tonight's dinner of Mexican food was a huge comfort and delight. Amazing food!
(5)Jaci B.
Great service and very friendly waitress. Salsa was hot and delicious. Stacked enchiladas were very good, portion was big. Sopapillas were some of the best I've ever had...very flaky and warm.
(4)David S.
Great food and service. Had the papitas fritas con frijoles (fried potatoes and beans smothered) Every time I've been here have never been disappointed.
(4)Colin C.
Best Mexican food on the planet. Get the enchiladas - awesome. They tend to be a little more "soupy" than you're likely used to, but I love em that way. You get much more than you pay for. Large dining room, attentive staff, killer food. Bury the chips. Order a margarita. Go for the enchiladas and make sure you have plenty of water and sopies to cool the burn. An institution and my favorite thing about Albuquerque.
(5)Thomas J.
Oh Sadie's, you stole my heart.. . . . . . I miss Sadie's, bad. I miss it SO badly that I have the salsa shipped to me here in Washington Dc. I once lived and worked at Sadie's of New Mexico. My opinion may seem biased but it's from the source. A few items from the menu I dream about, often. . . . 1. Blue Corn Guaco/Chicken Taco. 2. Salsa 3. Chili Rellenos 4. Salsa 5. House Salad with homemade lemon vinaigrette. 6. Silver Coin Margarita, on the rocks. 7. Salsa 8. Rolled cheese enchiladas with their vegetarian green chili. 9. Carne Adovada 10. Salsa 11. Huevos Rancheros w/ HUGE corn tortilla. Eggs over medium, hold the onions with veggie green chili... please! I could list the entire menu but, these are what I miss the most. I would like to share a few tips that an out-of-towner may appreciate when visiting Sadie's. *Check out lunchtime. Killer specials. *It gets busy, REALLY busy and stays that way until closing. I recommend going during the middle of the day oh say, 3:30-4pm. You will be happy you did. After 5pm, forget it. You will easily be on a wait. *Your waitress, waiter, bartender and bussers are working hard, tip em good! *Save room for your free dessert, warm sopapillas with honey. If you want REAL honey, ask your server. The stuff on the table is just sugar that is colored the color of honey. *They have old school sit down style arcade games near the restrooms! Pac-man and Gallica. Keeps the kids busy and the 80's kid inside you! Bring quarters; your server does not have any! The first thing I will be doing when I visit home is stopping in at Sadie's to get my "fix". And, that day will not come fast enough. Sadie's, I love you.
(5)Marjorie N.
We passed through ABQ on our way to Texas. We wanted to experience some New Mexican cuisine and found this place on yelp. Upon arrival we were greeted by friendly hosts who seated us immediately. The place is huge!!! Our drink orders were taken by (what looked like) a 12 year old. Not relevant but I thought it was pretty damn funny at first. Turns out he's the waitress's b*tch. He kept our drinks and napkins fully stocked. But it made me think of NM's child labor laws....hhhhmmm...lol. So really quick here's what I liked: The plain sopaipillas and their chips and salsa. The salsa had a nice spicy kick to it. I think I ate a whole serving of chips to myself. Plain sopaipillas come with your meal. Don't know if its a dessert?....there's a bottle of honey at your table to use with it. Delicious!!! Other than that I can't really say I loved the food. I wonder if people here have ever had Taco Bell? Coz that's exactly what I paid $13 for. I had a stuffed chicken sopaipilla with their red sauce on top. Its also topped with chopped lettuce and tomatoes. The shredded chicken had no flavor to it. Soooo reminiscent of Taco Bell, you would never catch me at this place again. A huge star for their margaritas though. For $7 I got a huge glass of their midori margarita and that thing was mindblowingly strong!!!!
(2)Randell N.
Good stuff. Food and service was good. Little pricey, but easy to share. Lots of food. Homemade chips and the sauces are excellent.
(4)Martin S.
This is the third time we've been here. Food has always great. Service has always been marginal. Blue Corn anything is good.
(4)S K.
Delicious New Mexican food and margaritas. I love the stuffed sopapillas.
(4)David K.
This place tends to be hit or miss. Lunch today was pretty good. I had the small lunch combination. Beef taco, beef enchilada, and chili relleno. The beef tasted a little bit burned. Awesome hot sauce! Prompt refills on the ice tea. Lots of chips. Very friendly service.
(3)Ali C.
The food is always fast and the service is always friendly. The plates are also huge. The only complaint is that the food can be a little greasy otherwise its delicious.
(4)Aubrey J.
Ate here a few times. Always SALTY! Last time I went, everyone got food poisoning. I called to try and let them know what we'd had off the menu so they could pull it/check it and they were very rude. I will never eat there again.
(1)Jackie B.
Did not live up to reviews! Margaritas were overpriced and weak. Beef enchilada was not spicy, no flavor. Just beef, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. No mole sauce? Shredded chicken taco, meat dry. Husband had brisket burrito. It was super sized! Meat a little dry, but he enjoyed it. Sopapilas were great that came with meal. Will not return, not recommend. Service was great however! :)
(2)Cydnie M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and the chili is to die for. Servers are always friendly & the food is always fresh! You can't go wrong when you eat here... One of the best places in Albuquerque, I probably eat here a couple times a month... Love it!
(5)Alli F.
Incredible New Mexican food! Salsa is fresh, and very spicy, with a lot of smokey flavor. Recommend the pork tamale with green chile sauce- you just can't get any better than that! Also recommend ordering a couple of items a la carte versus the meals, portions are large and this allows you to try a variety. Make the drive to this location over the others, we had a great dinner experience and will absolutely be returning the next time we are in Albuquerque.
(4)Amanda T.
If I could give 0 stars, I would. Between the Taco Burger, an a la carte chicken sopapilla and my daughter's niño enchilada, there was probably 2 lbs. of flavorless "cheddar" cheese on everything. My chicken sopapilla was exactly that...a chewy pastry filled with what tasted like boiled and shredded chicken. No spices, seasoning, sauce, nothing except probably 3/4 of a pound of that awful cheese. It was served with the choice of red or green chili that were nearly inedible, they were so spicy. So I added sour cream, and it was better (nearly $2 for the side, though.) My husband's taco burger was two beef patties in a disgusting, greasy and chewy taco shell with more cheese. The niño enchilada is merely a ton of cheese wrapped in a tortilla and topped with cheese. It was dry, hard and greasy. The salsa was ok, but a bit spicy. It's either all or nothing here, which is sad. It would be SO easy to make this place better. Add some seasonings, cut the cheese by 75%, and trim the portions. We for sure won't be back...
(1)Nancy B.
Everyone kept telling me that I have to try this place when I pass through town and I am so glad that I did! Their green chili is the perfect medium spice and adds a great kick to your meal. The red chili was also good for those that can tolerate more heat. And...who doesn't love crafts of margaritas??
(4)Donna S.
If you want excellent salsa buy Sadies. I buy thier salsa by the quart and the entire family loves it! Sadies food is mouth watering good and of course their margaritas are always a hit. This is New Mexico cooking at its best. I bring all of my out of town business visitors to Sadies and it is always a hit. If you don't want your food smothered the staff is very accommodating about putting it on the side in a separate bowl.
(4)Debbie S.
My son found his perfect dish here, the Carne Adovada plate! He now asks to come here often and I still enjoy the Huevos Rancheros. Sadies fed our salsa need while we were in Tucson for years. Glad to be back to ABQ!
(5)Lisa C.
I was pretty skeptical of Sadie's when we first walked in because it felt like a total chain, but we had a pretty nice experience for dinner. We were a little on the late side because we were driving in from Denver, but our wait staff was friendly and super helpful. For dinner, we shared a brisket sopapilla with both red and green chile and a side salad. You get a ridiculous amount of food with each entree- between the two of us, we have eaten about half of our food. The chiles were both really good- I think I preferred the green, but both of them were pretty delicious. The brisket was ok...I felt like it was a little dry, but it was definitely flavorful and a pretty good cut of meat. I'd come back here for sure.
(3)Stanley S.
If you ever find yourself in Alburquque, New Mexico never, never ever done at Sadie's. While some of the staff may be be gracious, the food is terrible. I specifically went to Sadie's for Chili Verde upon a recommendation, and an Internet review, it sucked. I've had better chili verde from a can. The worst homemade chili verde is far better than their chili verde. It's New Mexico for crying out loud, if you can't provide a decent green chili, don't offer it. We're I able to find the person who recommended Sadie's, I'd choke them. Seriously, it sucks.
(1)Michael G.
I'll start off by saying that I'm a Texan so I naturally prefer Tex Mex over New Mex food. With that said, we checked out Sadie's after several locals raved about it. The place looked a little outdated and the men's room was filthy, but the service was really good. I order the adovada enchiladas and I think my wife ordered an adovada burrito. The meat was wayyy too salty and my enchiladas were a pile of mush. The salsa was pretty hot, but didn't have much flavor at all. Sopapillas were a nice surprise and were actually pretty tasty. I think the biggest disappointment was when we got our check. $40 bucks for two mediocre lunches and one beer. I really doubt that we'll go back there.
(2)Molly H.
Sadie, Sadie lovely lady. Sadie's is a sprawling, gargantuan restaurant with tables crowded together in a boisterous setting. I love the history of the place and at least four walls are covered with newspaper clippings, glowing reviews, and local praise. Does it live up to the hype? Well, my brisket enchiladas were super flavorful but buried in a sea of cheese and beans. The sopapillas were delicious and the salsa was spicy and addicting! The Man wanted to try their super crazy burrito. However, on asking the server about it, she answered "the one at Frontier is better." Lucikly, The Man just ate the one at Frontier for lunch! Still, there wasn't too much too complain about, it just did not rise to the level of amazingness that I was expecting.
(3)Paige G.
Stopped on our way through Albuquerque. Great choice! The salsa kept flowing and was good and spicy! Got the enchiladas, chile relleno, carne avado, and sopapillas. Everything was delicious! The green chile was great and spicy!!!
(5)Ana S.
Sadies IS Albuquerque. Great food.
(5)Jane V.
We went on a Friday night and it was super busy. Luckily we found a spot in the bar to wait and enjoy some of their chips and salsa. We should have just stayed at that table. We moved for dinner because the bar was a little noisy. Once we were seated we were basically ignored by our server. My father in law wanted another beer, but only the bus boy stopped by our tables so he had to settle for water. The food was ok. We were more frustrated with our lack of service.
(3)Julie W.
Worlds best queso!! I had my grad party there recently and was treated very well. All the guests had a blast and the food was great. The service is great and the prices are fair. The margaritas are exceptional. I love the location and the patio is lovely.
(5)Heather C.
Tables are way too close together. You can't hear a thing while you're eating there. The food is pretty good, but really average for N.M. food.
(3)Arleen S.
Gross!! When Sadie's was at the bowling alley on north 4th St. (years ago) it was great. Ever since they moved to the nice fancy restaurant further north on 4th, they went downhill. I've tried it a few times, even the new location on Academy, and it's just not good. I will admit to being a Mexican/New Mexican food snob (ya got to come to my house for good NM food! LOL!). However, I like to be able to distinguish what is what on my plate. At Sadies, you can't tell what's what. It just looks all thrown together in a sloppy mess. In my opinion, if you want good New Mexican food try Cocina Azul, Padilla's, or Duran's (the latter being the best but closes early - around 2pm). For good authentic Mexican food try La Taqueria on Lomas or Taco Tote on Coors & Central.
(1)Kathy G.
Love the chicken guaco taco, green chili on the side. Add papitas with cheese sooo good.
(5)Victoria M.
We have been to Sadie's several times, both at the original 4th St. location and at the Santa Ana Star location. It's known for giant portions and old school New Mexican favorites of red and green chile dishes. We have had poor experiences the last three times that were all similar. Subpar food, mediocre service, and an overall disappointing dining experience. We ordered different plates each time and there was a common problem with all of them - the plates are covered in too much gooey, gelatinous cheese-so much so that you cant tell the difference between the entree, potatoes, and beans. The second problem was too little chile which used to be "smothered" on their dishes. The last visit, we also had one order - the sopapilla burger come out all wrong to what was ordered and the sopapilla itself was cold and greasy. We're just not going here anymore. Sorry to say that an old favorite from childhood is in the doghouse indefinitely...just because your well-known and established doesn't mean you can let quality slip! The only thing I would still recommend is happy hour with chips and salsa and a margarita! At least we can drown our sorrows about the bad food and service....
(2)Victor C.
Dry over cooked food. This place has been going down hill for years but after this last time I will never go back.
(1)Isaac C.
The food is greasy, dry and tasteless. The servings are grossly large and they do the awful topping of the gross yellow cheese. This is something I would be ashamed to serve to a tourist claiming it to be New Mexican food. DO NOT COME HERE
(1)Eric J.
I was in Albuquerque only for the day and yet so glad I got a chance to dine at Sadie's Dining Room. It's tucked back behind a Blake's Lotta Burger so keep an eye out. Once inside, you'll be greeted by a smiling staff and walked to one of several spacious dining areas, to include an indoor patio. The wait staff is prompt and chips and Sadie's salsa are delivered to the table without delay. If you cringe at the slightest hint of heat, wait until you have a drink before you do the salsa. It's not that hot to me, but some palettes are more delicate than others for sure. I did the slow roasted brisket dinner with green chile on the side on this turn. I was immediately impressed by the portion sizes and the taste was nothing short of magnificent. The entire middle of the plate was covered with an amass of tender brisket flanked by papitos and beans. I didn't even know what color the plates was until the 3rd bite. I only finished 3/4 of the dish before surrendering, but wonder if I could've laid down, if I'd been able to finish the remaining. Definitely got my money's worth. I had a flight to catch so I didn't get to indulge myself with one of their superb margaritas, but I'll double up on the next trip. If you're looking for authentic New Mexican food done right, Sadie's is well worth the trip.
(5)Chupacabra X.
Best salsa. I swear some days it's like they put crack in it. Great "lunch specials" that are cheaper yet still somehow just as gigantic as the dinner portions. If you're smart you'll take 1/2 of it back to the office and eat that for lunch tomorrow. But it's too delicious and you can't stop eating it you gluttonous piggie.
(4)NHoff H.
I live in Los Angeles which probably has the best Mexican food outside of Texas, or Mexico itself. I traveled to New Mexico for the Hot Air Balloon Festival (its actually called "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, but that just doesn't roll off the tongue) and all I wanted was a chicken taco and an entire basket of sopapillas, which the festival did not have. Although there were LOTS of foods to choose from, it was mostly fair food. There were a lot of repeat foods, (alot of different vendors with the same types of food) and when I am in a new town the last thing I want to eat is the common corn dog. In asking around and consulting the almighty Google, Sadie's seemed to look promising. We piled in the car and headed out there. The fact that it was packed inside the restaurant and in the waiting area at 9p at night, was a good sign. We chose not to wait as we were starving, so takeout was the best bet. The menu was stuffed with goodies!! Burritos, enchiladas, cane adovada, burritos, tacos chlie rellenos, etc. You name it, it was on there. Even though I wanted to eat it all, ESPECIALLY since I could see most of it coming out of the kitchen, I decided to stick to my cravings. Chicken w guac and an entire basket of soapapillas. My guest had chili ribs. Our tab only came to about $27. Which, I didn't pay attention to at the time. Sitting and waiting I noticed the ambiance, the space is big, but packed. It had a nice family style dining feel. There was a mariachi band serenading the guests. This seemed like a very fun experience, had I been dining in. (NOT a good place for a date, it was very loud! Plus this cultures food isn't easy on your breath.) When our food came out I realized how far my $27 went. I got my basket of soapapillas, my taco, chili ribs, a huge side of beans, a huge side of papitas and an additional side of sopapillas. SO MUCH FOOD!! Let me tell you, every piece of food I ate was delicious. I still dream of it, it was that good. If you are passing through, or staying for awhile, eat here. It will be worth it!!!
(5)Terry A.
Plates are expensive but well worth the price. They are HUGE. You can share one burritto or stuffed sopapilla with two people.
(4)Ryan K.
Being from Texas, I have high expectations for "Mexican" food... I had high hopes for Sadie's based on the previous reviews that it would be a decent place to get some good "authentic" mexican/southwestern style food. My experience was pretty poor, to start with, the chips were greasy, cold Tostada's and the salsa tasted like Hot Pace Picante. I always say, you can judge a good mexican est by their chips and salsa, which Sadie's failed that test, strike 1. The margarita which is touted to be the best Margarita in Albuquerque, was Jose Cuervo margarita mix with some kind of tequila.... Strike 2. Finally I got the Sadie's Taco, ground beef with the added guac, beans and potatoes. The taco was basically a beef taco with guac, nothing special, the beans were the best thing on my plate. Also, I ordered a dos Equis Amber which seemed to be somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees.... Strike 3, you're out Sadie's.
(1)Philip W.
This to me is one of the best New Mexican food places anywhere. Great atmosphere! Great food! They say the hottest menu item is the salsa they bring out with the chips. While this may be true I found the Carne Adovada to be quite hot. Hotter than the salsa - which is nothing short of spectacular by the way.
(5)Anna T.
I have been craving your food- unfortunately I don't live there. Please consider opening a restaurant in Tucson, AZ!
(5)Zachary J.
Good food, but you can get better, more authentic Mexican food in ABQ. WAY overpriced from the last time I visited years ago - I think it's because it's become a nice tourist attraction since they started selling the retail products (salsa, etc.) years ago .
(2)Susan S.
great sopapillas , great service, whenever we visit Albuquerque we stop by.
(4)Kimber S.
Largest, undressed nachos I've ever encountered. I always have a hard time eating here mainly because they douse the food in chili so that you can't taste the food.
(3)Cruz K.
Good food..Been at this location forever..Nuff said.
(4)Jenna E.
The salsa is to die for (but it might burn your mouth off!). This place is the greasy spoon of Mexican food and it's AMAZING. My biggest complaint is sometimes the portions are so large, they're overwhelming (in a bad way). I realize that's sort of a stupid thing to mention. However, you get what you pay for and even though the prices on the menu may seem high you get a TON of food. Leftovers will easily last you days...no exaggeration. I normally get a combination plate and it barely looks like I put a dent in it when I ask for a take home box (which ends up weighing close to 5 pounds lol)...that might be a exaggerating a bit but I've never had left overs be so heavy (literally). I think the best part of Sadie's IS the leftovers though. I normally have them for breakfast the next day with an egg over easy (ask for extra no meat green chili to take home!)- yum! Then there's still enough for lunch and/or dinner. I easily get 3-4 meals off of one Sadie's plate which is ridiculous and awesome at the same time. The salsa is the best in town. They sell it at Smith's so if you're from out of town- LOAD UP. However, the stuff they serve at the restaurant is slightly different than the jars at the store- I think they mix the red chili and green chili salsa but I'm not 100% on that. Either way- they're all good. You won't be able to stop with the chips & salsa they give you either- it burns so good. If you can't tolerate spicy food or are not used to the NM chili burn, WATCH OUT. You can't go wrong with Sadie's, especially if you want some awesome leftovers the next day after too many of their margaritas. Haha
(4)Nicole T.
The ambiance is not the greatest but that is not why you come to sadies... you come to sadies for green chili marinated pork..mmm the pork still makes my mouth water, it melts in your mouth and is just the right amount of spice. be warned, if you have a normal appetite or are on a road trip and just passing through for the delicious food, SHARE A PLATE!! portions are huge, especially if you get the world famous humongous sopapilla, trust me.
(4)Jim L.
Entering Sadie's is similar to the boat ride in Willy Wonka, at first its appearance is promising and exciting but it soon changes and you can't wait to get off. I'm a pretty easy guy to please and I usually don't even complain even about some of the sub par restaurants I've eaten at. Sadie's has actually motivated me to create a Yelp account for the sheer fact that it would be a disservice not to warn people! The decor is not bad until you spot the large mural that looks like a 8th grade class collaborated then got lazy and didn't want to finish it. Between that and the slightly exposed noisy kitchen we should have turned and ran. Chips and salsa came out, not bad followed by a margarita in a pint class. I'm still hopeful at this point and I will say the staff was friendly and moving quickly. I had a chicken taco, this is where the ride takes a turn. This dish, and from what I can see, all the dishes are prepared with NO LOVE! It was literally a plate that looked liked hog feed excessively slopped on with a sad taco plopped on top. The chicken taco had a faint smell that resembled my dogs in the first moments of bathing them. I won't even get into my girl's dish but all I can say is that as she poked thru her plate of slop, it' was the first time she wasn't smiling all vacation! I ordered another margarita simply cuz " some people drink to forget" That drink was watered down! Sadie's is the epidimy of quantity over quality. I left feeling sad for the family that started the restaruant and at one time may had been the place to get good New Mexican cuisine. I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to find some sweets to replace the bad taste in my mouth both figuratively and literally!
(1)Ken G.
Tried a new item - Beef Brisket Enchiladas - these were absolutely amazing! Rich tender and very flavorful, this dish left me very satisfied. It would be crazy to visit Sadie's and not have these for a meal...
(5)Sadie E.
Crazy good. Green chile stew and pozole are a big treat and a must have at the holidays. The salsa is delicious and you have to be careful to not eat too much before your meal arrives. Do yourself a favor and get a couple of jars of salsa and green chile on the way out.
(5)Bryan L.
OMG... That's a TON of food for not much money. Stopped in here while driving from San Fran to Nashville with my best friend. We LOVE food. Both of us. So when we only ordered 3 things and the guy tried to stop us, we wondered what the deal was. Turns out 3 things off this menu weigh in at about 100 pounds. We couldn't eat HALF of the 3. Two apps and one entree completely wrecked us. Good news, we didn't have to stop for food the rest of the way home!
(4)Steve R.
A must-go whenever we visit Albuquerque. The food is just amazing New Mexican comfort food without any frills. The Chille Relleno is my favorite dish. The restaurant is large and can accommodate groups. The portions are huge and the prices are good. Be prepared for a food coma after your meal...
(4)Mike F.
GREAT food with great service. We stumbled upon this place and we're so happy that we did. We loved it!
(5)Debbie A.
If you want real New Mexican food this is the place to go! The portions are large, food New Mexican spicy and delicious. Loved that sopapillas came as standard with your meal. Great atmosphere and service too. We'll be back whenever we're in Albuquerque!
(5)Chris E.
A what Bondo Burger? A Billie Bondo Burger. Sadie's is a local institution - of the best kind. I was sure it was chips salsa, burrito or relleno time for me. Until I saw the mural on the east wall depicting burgers 5/$1.00 - in 1955. Burgers must be a major part of the Sadie's story. Then I saw the burger selection on the menu. Get it with bread or a regular bun, guacamole, green or red chile. Lots of choices. I asked our excellent server Claire, " Which one's best ?" "The Billie Bondo." Maybe Billie is James' brother, but for me, Bondo's what makes bad car bodies look good again. Claire said the Billie was best, so I got one. Claire was right. It may be the best burger I've ever eaten. Giant slices of thick bread, a gaint patty, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, green chile, cheese. A swarm of flavors landing on a beach of textures. Delicious. Plus a very generous serving of home made potato chips. The other half awaits me in the fridge. I may have to stampede to the kitchen before I finish my
(4)John M.
I THREW AWAY OVER HALF OF THIS HIGHLY OVERPRICED MEAL. PLEASE READ!!! Let me start off by saying I'm highly unbiased with this review. I love Mexican food, I am the opposite of picky, and I have worked in numerous restaurants in the past. I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. With that being said, I wish I could give this place negative stars. I had a pick up order, which I had to wait 20-25 minutes for. I ordered a Sadie's Burrito, shredded beef, with queso on the side. Upon my arrival home, I realized that I had made a BIG MISTAKE by going here, and wished I had just gone to Taco Bell, because that would have been better in many ways (price AND quality, believe it or not). The "shredded" beef in the burrito is in big chunks (about 1"-2" cubes), along with there being quite a bit of fat; NOT QUALITY. On top of that, the queso I ordered (which was OVER FOUR DOLLARS) was literally only about 1/2 cup of it; along the same issue, it was obviously Velveeta-based, as it hardened to a solid within minutes. Regardless, it tastes like a generic brand of cheese sauce that no real work or talent went into. I was VERY angry about that, because they charge for it as if it were some high quality stuff! On a final note, I had paid TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS for this trash! ONE BURRITO! I could have easily gotten a much better meal anywhere else, at any given time. PLEASE DON'T GO HERE! THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE AND DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN. IT IS A SCAM OF "RESTAURANTS"! I didn't believe any of the other poor reviews on this place before I tried it, I wish I had, and now I hope you do! It is the McDonalds of Mexican food.
(1)Riley J.
Ah, Sadies. I wish I could say that Sadie's is still the sparkling gem that it once was, but I can't. The service is meh, the food is meh, and you leave feeling like you've spent too much money to fill up on chips and queso and then get half heartedly cooked cold food.
(2)P. S.
Portions, even for lunch "small combos" were over the top huge. Ground beef and shredded beef were both really dry. Shredded chicken was bland. The overload of cheddar cheese was unnecessary if the rest of the meal had a note worth singing about. I thought the chili Verde was decent. Bar drinks were fine. I loved the salsa as well as the red and green chili sauces. Service was very friendly and timing was spot on for a busy Friday lunch crowd. There are other options for quality Mexican food in the area. I would recommend those first before Sadie's.
(2)Edwina M.
I have to give this place a 5 star. Is one of the most spectacular of the nake Mexican food and all of Albuquerque. The atmosphere is wonderful the flavor is scrumptious. You can take your children there whole family sometimes you have to wait in line but its not long. If you're ever in New Mexico and in Albuquerque stop over at Sadies won't treat you to an authentic time and show you how Mexican food is really a place for you to feel your belly
(5)Nadine L.
Really solid New Mexican food! I wouldn't call it mind-blowing but it was really good and solid. The salsa is quite spicy and they give you a lot of chips and salsa and also free sopapillas at each meal. I had the spicy ground beef taco and the green chili soup. My husband had a giant sopapilla filled with pork. Delicious!
(4)Jennifer G.
I know that people rave about this place, but quite frankly: I just don't get it. I've only eaten here twice, and the second time someone had to twist my arm. The "New Mexican" food here veers way too close to Tex Mex. The chile is watery, with meaty chunks in it. This is just not acceptable for a red chile, although the green was slightly better. The bonus is that you get a huge heap of food, although I'm not sure that's a plus if it doesn't taste great. The atmosphere is a bit like the plate: A cheap pile of nothing special. It feels a bit like being in a cattle barn, or like you're a member of the herd pulling up a seat at the slop trough. (Yes, I might have made some audible mooing and oinking sounds while I was there. I'm sorry. Kind of.) We had to wait for seating both times I visited, and this only added to the feeling of having been cheated for me. Service was awful, too, and we had to wait there, feeling trapped in the barnyard, for the check to come for about half an hour after eating.
(1)Jay S.
Best Mexican I have ever had. Ever! The service the food the ambiance. Incredible!
(5)Emily M.
Sadie's is a staple of Albuquerque - one that I was first introduced to when I lived at the Sage Canyon Apartments next door and have gone back to plenty of times since. The food is always served hot and quickly. The portions are HUGE (which is a huge plus for me, as I always love leftovers) and the prices are extremely affordable. Even an a la carte burrito renders me leftovers. The staff is remarkably friendly, even with the hustle and bustle of working in such a well-known, large establishment. And never skip the sopapillas.
(5)William F.
Uniquely New Mexico, and the food is as great as ever. Go two days - one for the stacked chicken enchiladas (both red and green chili is great) - and for day two, the Roberto Special. Chili cheese and papists with more great chili over a large hamburger family. Sadie's is what New Mexican food is all about.
(5)Jane E.
Carne Adovada to die for. Excellent, polite, quick service. Too spicy for a full 5 stars, though.
(4)Adam D.
This is a hard review to write. Sadie's is clearly an Albuquerque classic that deserves respect. When I first came to NM, I thought this place was the bomb. Since then, I've found more reliably good New Mexican food, places with better service, and places that are less crowded. Expect a wait. I don't get the "no rice" thing. They have potatoes, which I find to be greasy and reminiscent of breakfast. They act as a gut bomb and are generally kind of shitty. The ribs aren't bad and will ensure a healthy case of "sting ring" the next morning. I actually respect that. The prices are high for the quality of the food. The portions are very big, so perhaps you can share. You do have to eat here if you live in Albuquerque, if only because people will ask you to meet there occasionally. For my taste, we're better off at Monica's El Portal in Old Town, or Monroe's on Lomas.
(3)Chris S.
Although Sadie's is probably the most traditional new mexican food around, I'm not that much of a fan. The food quality seems to be hit or miss, with the level of spice changing from mild to hot. Its still a great place to take non-local and visitors.
(3)Corey N.
Everything is average. Nothing is above and beyond. Nothing is super amazing. I ate there from the time I could walk until about 8 months ago. I finally realized that I can find better more authentic and tastier food elsewhere. But if you're constipated this will be your best friend!
(3)Edward S.
Great service and great food! The manager (Gail) is very nice. You don't have to worry about being under fed. Their plates are huge! I had the Rib Eye steak with beans and potatoes smothered with chile. If you don't like spicy food, then don't add the chile sauce.
(5)Michael V.
In Albuquerque to get married. Stopped at Sadie's for lunch 11/03/2013 @ approximately 3 p.m. for a late lunch. The place looks really nice. The decorations seem to be a mix between New Mexican and Native American which make for a wonderful and inviting ambiance. And the live music [mariachis playing] only added to this authentic New Mexican feel. Someone immediate took our drink orders and another person brought out chips. Oh my goodness, I was having a good old time and the salsa had just the right amount of heat. It took me a few minutes to decide what to have and finally we decided on a medium rare Rib Eye with Chili Relleno ( we were sharing a plate since we heard about large servings), a side of guacamole, two tortillas. After several minutes the steak plate came out on a bed of diced fried potatoes and beans and a salad. The house dressing was awful, I could make out what it was and settled on ranch dressing which is also served with a salad. I was greatly disappointed to find our steak charred and way over cooked. At which time I notified another waited about not being happy with my steak. About 15 minutes pass and our waitress finally makes it to our table to see if everything is alright and I advise here about making a complaint and telling her it should be out about now. She checks for us and sends a manager over to "officially" take our complaint and by now we have finished the rest of our meal. We sit and wait another 15 minutes for a rare steak this time. I'm told a manager cooked it but it came out a warm red. A manager took 10% off our ticket but all I really wanted was a medium rare steak and they just couldn't do it. Tips: If you are looking for a large side of guacamole, do not order the almost 5 dollar size it is puny order the 8$ guacamole salad. I would not recommend ordering steak here. The New Mexican foods plates around us looked great but our 27$ Rib Eye and Chile Relleno was far from perfection. The Chile Relleno had a thick chewy crust on it. Yuck! The sopapillas were really good. My last complaint - the service could have been much better. I actually could have enjoyed my steak with my meal if our waitress had been more alert and focused with her tables. It's a shame that this visit was such a dud I believe it could have been outstanding and could have showcased the kind of service Sadie's if famous for. I'll be back but next visit will try New Mexican.
(2)Justin V.
Ordered the legendary Carne Avadando enchilada with red and green sauce, awesome food. House guacamole was great and chips and salsa are great.
(5)Lesley B.
The food is good for the most part......not as good as it use to be.....we ordered a salad for my son and the lettuce was gross and brown......it is always a hit or miss.....sometimes the papitas as are great ......sometimes they are under cooked.....or burnt. The main dinning room needs a very good cleaning.....the plants above are filthy and we have watched dust fall onto tables. We always request to sit with nothing above the table. The servers are lazy and rude. The busers are better and more reliable. The food just is not consistent. It's gone down hill. One last tip......get your chile on the side or they will drown your food and it will get soggy. The prices are not worth the quality. The green chile is good......and the beef brisket is as well. But they just put it in the burrito in chunks.......lazy kitchen.....not to shred it properly. I would recommend Hot Tamales in Rio Rancho.
(2)Flozilla B.
As a "local" I feel obligated to review Sadies. I (along with many friends and family) have been coming here for years. Salsa. SO excellent! They really do get this right...every time. We usually dine at peak hours and can not do the 40+minute wait for a dining table...so, hello bar! You can usually get a table pretty quick in there, and if you don't mind some sports TV, the salsa and chips are at a DIY station in the NE corner of the room...even if you are waiting for a table you can help yourself. My go-to ordering preference is the Huevos Rancheros...RED, with a side of carne adobada. Trust me. (also, be sure to order the carne as the $2.99 side or you will be charge $9+ for it, the menu has it as an option for the huevos) Corn tortilla as big...or bigger than your plate...and I like my eggs over hard...but you can decide that. Oh, and a side of sour cream. Trust me! SOOOOO good. The house margaritas are OK...but SILVER COIN is the way to go! But no more than two!
(4)Matthew C.
So what is New Mexican food? If Sadie's is an authentic representation, here is a recipe: 1) Take a traditional Mexican dish (e.g. braised pork with chiles) 2) make it poorly (e.g. dry out the pork) 3) make a ton of it 4) drown it in cheddar cheese so it resembles a post-apocalyptic orange glowing lake of cheese 5) cover it in iceberg lettuce and unripe tomatoes 6) serve it with hot sauce so that no one can tell that it stinks. 7) make sure that your customers (if they are loyal, they are completely obese by now) are completely liquored up on margaritas. 8) charge a lot of money. This reminds me of the putrid Mexican food that we used to get in Westchester County when I was a kid. Mexico should sue this place for serving dishes and using names like enchiladas. And the scary thing is that this place is absolutely packed. Man - in my next life, I am going to be a cardiologist in Albuquerque and set up shop right next door to this place. Obama should include a mandatory shutdown of this place in his 2,000 page health care bill - it would be the most effective thing he has done to improve the nation's health. If you haven't figured it out by now, I think that this place absolutely sucks. If you are in Albuquerque, eat at a small Mexican restaurant or gorge yourself on barbeque (unless you are from Texas in which case, I'd advise you to pack some food from home and nuke it in the microwave).
(1)Leighton P.
Back in the day, this was probably a great place, with Sadie in the kitchen and a family recipe for salsa. This incarnation: Meh. Salsa and chips are the only real reason to come here. I can't even recommend the margs. Much of the food (i.e. the rellenos) are prepared by the Albuquerque Tortilla Company, shipped here frozen, then flash fried in the kitchen. Food is presented as a gloppy mess on a plate, and not a "good" gloppy. This place is a machine invented to insert lard and salt into unsuspecting diners while extracting too much money from the other end. You can do waaaay better for New Mexican cuisine. While it's on the other end of town, I'd recommend Cervantes on Gibson way over this for a once-small cafe/bar gone commercial.
(2)Jeanne Z.
This was amazing, by far the place that resonates the most in the memory of my taste buds of my trip to the Southwest. Sadie's stands out as different from the other places I went. We went here on a whim, after drinking a few beers, we saw that it was recommended by Adam Richman from the travel channel so we went and checked it out, and I'm so glad that we did!!
(5)Kristine M.
Very disappointed. On road trip and place looked great for lunch, but restaurant refused to allow lunch orders to-go. Only the large, expensive dinners. We explained that we wanted to eat in the car because our puppy got sick on the trip, but they refused. Seemed pretty cheap to me.
(1)Shane S.
Awesome but make sure and visit the original location. The food is not the same in the locations not on 4th street. Veggie red chili is awesome!
(5)J. Christopher E.
I've eaten at Sadie's since the 1980s, when Sadie's was in the bowling alley. At that time, I and my friends in high school used to wait on the steps leading up to the small restaurant, sometimes for up to 2 hours. The food was great, but one other reason we used to go is that at that time (30 years ago) they would sometimes not card and we could get margaritas. In the 1990s, I very often frequented Sadie's - I lived just a few streets away and was there at least once a week. Usually I would order the papitas and frijoles dinner, smothered in red and green chile and with an extra tortilla. And then I moved away and didn't come back until more than 10 years later. Happy to say that it is just as I remember it - same fantastic food, same excellent chips and salsa, same great margaritas. Wish I could visit more often.
(4)Lauren G.
I love Sadie's! They have HUGE portions of some of Albuquerque's best New Mexican food. I think that Sadie's chips and salsa are the best I've ever had. They're so addicting!! The stuffed sopapillas are fantastic, and they're what Sadie's is known for. I love mine filled with beef and beans or with carne adovada, and I always get everything smothered in both red and green chile. They also have a fantastic combination plate for lunch. It includes a green chile relleno, a taco, an enchilada, beans, and papitas smothered in chile and cheese, and a sopapilla with honey for dessert! It's only $8 and it's 3 meals for me! But maybe that's because I always fill up on the chips and salsa...??
(5)Kristopher And Jessica K.
ADVICE: SHARE A PLATE! We ordered: 1) Stuffed Sopas w/ Chicken - This was a smorgasbord of cheese, chiles, and chicken. 2) Combination Platter - Again, a smorgasbord of your typical Mexican ingredients. The husband didn't like anything in his combination platter and settled with sharing my stuffed sopas. I had a few bites of my dish and couldn't even continue because I felt too heavy. We left with our plates 3/4 full. Besides the value, I honestly don't see why people rave about this place. There is nothing stellar or special about their food. Our meal came with complimentary chip & salsa and Sopas, which were the only dishes that I can say were worth coming back for. They have the best salsa and I love the honey and sopa dessert. Total for our meal came out to be $20. Cheap, but we could've left spending only $10.
(2)John C.
Much better than I expected. Took my family there and we all enjoyed it.
(4)Christina H.
Back again, as usual. I will likely never stop eating at Sadie's. We had to wait about an hour and a half but this tI e it was legit. They were packed and tables were all full. Luckily they still have kick ass margaritas to help make the wait more bearable ;-)
(5)Andy P.
The service was excellent, the portions were very large. A great family friendly atmosphere. We especially recommend the shredded beef and the sopapillas. A MUST when visiting Albuquerque!
(5)Nick L.
Incredible. Worth the stomach ulcers.
(5)Aleasa W.
Very good. We're from San Diego and traveling across country. We asked the guy at the hotel to share the local flavor and he suggested this place over the one we were going to try. My husband loved the salsa (Sadie's won an award for their salsa and, it seems, rightfully so) and the adovada. We had never heard of adovada so our waitress offered to let us try it. She brought out a small bowl of it and their brisket (a newer item) for us to try and as far as I can tell the adovada was good (i'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy). I don't have anything to compare it to, but hubby liked it and ordered a burrito with it. I had a sopaipilla with the brisket. Kind of an odd combo but I thought it was good. The portions are huge--actually a little too huge. If you can stop my husband halfway through his meal, you've really done something. The food is pretty flavorful and the meat tender. The service was great, our waitress and at least one manager, maybe two, came by check on us. The busboy was even great... we never had to wait on a refill. And this was a Saturday nght, with a table of 20 next to us and a table of 12 that came in after them -- surely they were busy.\ We will come back if we're in the area again. We want to try more New Mexican food and maybe I'll have another opinion, but we were pleased.
(4)L H.
We're in town for the 2011 Balloon Fest and this place was recommended to us by someone at the hotel. It was a good call! Their friendly service was good to very good. Water glasses were re-filled almost compulsively. Our waitress patiently explained some of the dishes to us. Food quality was also very good. I had the Carne Adovada Sopapilla which I couldn't finish due to its sheer volume. I'd recommend not filling up on the tasty appetizer chips (as I did) so that you have a prayer of finishing these large portions. The place has been described as "loud," and it is -- but only because it appears to be very popular. If we're ever back in ABQ, we're coming back to Sadie's!
(4)James Y.
Food was nearly tasteless...once it arrived, but there was A LOT of it. Much sitting staring into space without waitress interaction. A fly died from sampling the hot sauce, fell on table. 5 waitpeople walked by and saw it and did nothing. In fact, the check was placed atop it. Most of the staff seemed very preoccupied with themselves, not the customers. I will not return.
(1)George N.
I was in Albuquerque on business from New Hampshire. I wanted to try some authentic Mexican food and was told to try Sadie's. What a great place!!! We started out with chips and salsa. The salsa was great. Spicy and hit the spot. I ordered the carne adovada burrito. What a plate! Come with an empty stomach because these plates are BIG!!!! The meat was perfectly cooked and had quite the spicy kick to it which I don't mind. I had all I could do to finish. The meal ended with sopapiilas, which for northeastern folks is the equivalent of fried dough. Your table has a honey bottle on ot that you can squeeze on these tasty treats to end your night!
(5)Amanda J.
pretty good! great chips and salsa!
(4)Mike E.
Sadie's was featured on Man vs. Food. Sadie's is home to the world's largest sopapilla. Although I was hungry, I wasn't ready to tangle with this monster dish. I did however order the Carne Adovada Stuffed Sopapilla and it didn't disappoint. This is one of the best Mexican dishes that I've ever had. The Sopapilla was amazing, the meat was tender, and it was on a plate and covered by refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, and the surprising highlight was diced potatoes in the mix. The portion was very large and came with a couple of warm sopapillas on the side, along with a bottle of honey. I had to wait about a half hour to get a seat, but it was well worth the wait. Sadie's gets five stars for serving up one of the best plates I've ever had.
(5)Brad P.
this place is always packed, and everyone that we have sent here has the same opinion as we do: one of the best meals in NM! The carne adovada is the best I have ever had. They give you enough food for three people, crazy portions.
(5)David D.
One of my favorite spots for New Mexican food. The Roberto Special is my go to dish and is always excellent. Recently tried the new Beef Brisket Burrito and was pleasantly surprised. I learned the lunch portions are the same exact size as the dinner but cost much less. Also, the al la carte items are the same size as the full dinner platters but also much cheaper. The new location on Academy in the heights rarely has a wait compared to the Fourth Street location.
(4)Kendall B.
My wife and I have been to the Sadie's on Academy, Eubank and 4th more than a few times. Every time we have had great service and good food. The temp of the salsa for chips and salsa varies and we love it plus its Free!!!! Free Chips and Salsa!!! We like the stuffed sopapilla with the beef patty. We are never able to eat the whole order because the portions are amazingly huge! After the meal you get free regular sopapillas which are very good with honey! We are going to continue to go to Sadie's for our New Mexican food fix! :) All we can say is we have had good experiences at Sadie's. kb
(5)Shanda H.
I ate here in 2007 and just figured I'd post pictures because I came across some and had forgotten about this place. Is that to say the food is forgettable? I am not sure! But, the pictures of my food look good and I miss New Mexico style Mexican food, so I will have to say it was probably good, as most Mexican food in NM, IS. Everyone in CA uses shredded beef for Mexican food, instead of ground beef, and NO sopapillas! Closest thing here is a place called Anita's New Mexican Style Mexican food and they try to use ground beef but make everything way too salty, and they try to make sopapillas but they come out not puffy and totally like crap! This place had good sopapillas - you CAN tell that much just from the photos! Come to CA and open one up! :(
(4)Sarah K.
After an 8-hour drive from Scottsdale, I was craving something fresh and nutritionally well-balanced for dinner. Maybe New Mexican was a bad decision... I wasn't a fan of the decor; I just didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the outdated cafeteria chairs, fake plants and weak attempt at southwestern decorations. The waitress wasn't exactly welcoming, but I'll give her points for going out of the way to fulfill my request for a healthier entree. Her words: "Nothing on this menu is remotely healthy...when I'm forced to eat here and I don't want to, I get a salad with chicken." So a salad it was... On the plus side, our drinks were always filled and the chips were frequently replenished. The salsa was good but it was overly garlicky and something seemed to be missing...cilantro? Our eyes widened as our entrees came out...The portions are disgustingly massive; it's funny, because that's how I felt after I stuffed myself beyond oblivion. While the food is visually overwhelming, the flavor is underwhelming. Red chili was a tad bit too spicy and wasn't anything to write home about. The bean burrito was overwhelmingly oniony. Sadie's chef salad is a Costco-sized portion of lettuce topped with four servings of shredded chicken and fresh tomatoes. I enjoyed the crisp lettuce, but the chicken was really bland. The best part of the meal were the sopapillas. Who can resist a cloud of fried deliciousness? For the undiscerning, calorie-ignorant diner, Sadie's is a home-run.
(2)HeatherLynn H.
My husband and I are traveling cross country to Beaufort, SC. We had a very nice couple at a winery tell us we had to eat here. With only staying one night in New Mexico we picked here. It was a Saturday at 7pm and this place was beyond packed!! We got lucky and snagged seats at the bar instead of waiting the hour we got quoted. Food was BEYOND AMAZING!!! Such a hidden gem of NM!! The Silver Coin Margaritas were phenomenal!!! Female bartender had NO Personality what so ever!!! Everything else was great and I def recommend it!
(4)Steve L.
Very happy here, When I arrived in ABQ, lots of people were telling me about it. Good food, but the speed was what I noticed. I was seated, drinks& food and out the door (I didnt realize what a hurry I was in ) in 20 minutes. A little heavy on the beans.
(4)Heather H.
Oversized portions that lean towards greasy and leave a heaviness in your stomach that does not inspire a feeling of satisfaction as much as bulging discomfort. Flavor was mediocre to good and sopapillas were cool and dry-ish. Tried the Carne Adovada and enjoyed the large chunks of meat, but probably would have preferred them to be more "pulled" than huge chunks. The beans re tastey but had far too much cheddar cheese slathered on top. The peptitas were glorified tiny soggy French fries and the meatless green chile left something to be desired. The endless chips and salsa was awesome. Service was spectacular. Our server was Brian. Wonderful character. Our water was never empty. Would go to Mary and Tito's little establishment any day over here, but it wasn't by any means a bad experience.
(3)Jennifer W.
I'm so excited that the locals we were visiting suggested this place! What a treasure in Albuquerque! I should have reviewed this right after I got back but all I can remember is how amazing the chips tasted, and how good the food was. Probably one of the best chile rellenos I've ever had and I wished I'd ordered more than one. I -highly- recommend their chile rellenos to you! The portions are huge though and when I was done eating I looked down and it didn't even look like I had TOUCHED my plate. It was hilarious and my friend who I ate with kept picking at her food even though she was stuffed because it was THAT good. I heard amazing things about their salsa
(5)John G.
Sadie's is a circus. After the inevitable half-hour wait, they seat you in a massive room crammed with tables and diners. It's hot and loud in there, and you can forget about privacy or having an intimate conversation. The entire time we were there we had to put up with screaming babies, seemingly calling to each other like demented Howler monkeys. This was Sunday at about 1:15, so it might have been the after-church crowd, I don't know. Service was prompt and well-organized. They got our orders correct, kept our drinks refilled, and removed dishes quickly. About all you could ask for. I ordered the huevos rancheros (but not with their Spanish omelet option) with a side of carne adovada. These were damn good, among the best in town. Two perfectly cooked eggs, spicy red chili, deliciously tender carne, and some decent papas. It ended up being two meals for me, and that has never happened with huevos rancheros. On the downside, getting meat with your huevos is at least 2 bucks extra and only tortilla that comes with the meal is underneath all the food. It comes with a tasty sopapilla as well. My wife got the large nachos, which are undeniably enormous. The problem is that it's mostly chips with nothing on them. The quality of the toppings was great, but really, there wasn't enough cheese and stuff to go around. And, like all nachos, these didn't fare so well the next day. Tasty, but not as great a deal as they first seem.
(3)Darren S.
The sopapilla with carne avodova and red chile was amazing.
(4)Todd K.
When you go the bar area is the place to enjoy a great meal. The restaurant section is like a huge cafeteria with no ambience. Luckily the food is well worth the drive. The salsa is way too hot so ask for the mild.
(4)Amanda E.
Always get the stuffed chicken sopaipilla with green chile. It's big enough for 2 meals even if you get it a la carte! Mariachis live at the 4th Street and Solar location.
(4)Sarah R.
Being from southern New Mexico my standard of New Mexico cuisine is high and biased! I've always heard how great Sadie's is. I think if you are not a New Mexico native, especially one from the southern part of the state, you might agree. My sister-in-law warned my husband and I that Sadies' is "hit or miss". I think my experience was a miss. We went on a Friday night, and as my husband says."'eating with the old people" because we got there before 6. In my opinion that was a great thing because our wait was only 15 minutes or so. As we were leaving I heard the hostess saying the wait was an hour plus. We were seated in the open dining area (very crowded). There was a live band in the bar and it was so loud that we could not hear the waitress or enjoy a conversation. I thought the kids cup with crayons and wikki sticks was awesome and the kids selection was good. We gobbled up the complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered a margarita (nothing special) and the chile relleno. Had I not been starving, and the restaurant had not been so busy, I would have complained about my food. The relleno was burned to a crisp. My sister-in -law and brother both enjoyed their meals. The portions were big. I did like that they serve the meals with potatoes versus rice. Would I come here again? yes, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)Kyra K.
After the hype on Yelp, a 45 minute wait for seating, and another wait long for food, we were sorely disappointed. Although the service was friendly, quick, and attentive, it just couldn't make up for the lack of redeeming taste. This was overly spicy, pedestrian Mexican food with dry meat, and topped with mounds of plain shredded cheddar, iceberg lettuce, and tomato - maybe this is just what the NM natives like... It was hard to tell if I liked the frijoles because they were good in themselves, or because they added a sauce-y texture to the dryness of the dishes. Although the salsa and chili were flavorful, they were too spicy for us two visitors. The sopaipillas were interesting, but I would prefer them more crisp. Everything else we tried was dull, heavy, and not worth the even low price. It would've been a better investment to spend the money on groceries and make my own meal
(2)Sherry W.
At Sadie's, good things come in big portions. Entree plates are about the size of the menu. If you are in possession of a bottomless stomach or Kobayashi-like superpowers, you'll be able to handle an entree on your own. The stuffed sopaipilla entree probably weighs 2-3 pounds, not including the plate. Mere mortals like myself will be able to finish only a portion of their food and have enough chile and carne adovada to last you for days (which is not a bad problem to have). Two tips: - Skip the chile relleno - it's not outstanding and just fills your stomach with unnecessary batter and cheese. Fill up instead on the delicious and flavorful chile, brilliantly cooked shredded chicken, or savory/spicy adovada. - This may be difficult, but save room at the end of your meal to enjoy some sopaipillas with honey! There's hardly anything better than flaky, warm sopaipilla crust drizzled with sweet honey. You're almost certainly going to need a to-go box. Sadie's will throw some fresh sopaipillas in there for you too, just to make sure you don't forget how good they are.
(5)Don N.
We've been eating adovada all over NM for a week now and Sadie's is outstanding. So are the brisket burritos and the salsa. Sadly, the house margaritas and chips are lousy. Thus only 3 stars from me.
(3)Martin T.
First time to Sadies. To our surprise there were no seafood options! We can't eat meat so we had to leave. I don't think I have ever been to a restaurant that did not have seafood options?
(1)Preston C.
Every time I visit NM I always have to stop by Sadie's. I grew up in ABQ and Sadie's was just always a part of my family. I will not mind the wait at all, which I'm sure a lot of people don't mind, seeing as how everything on the menu is yumzo! Sadie's salsa is deeeeeelish! My mouth is watering as I write this review... And it's 1:47... In the morning! The last time I visited Sadie's was in February and I took a friend from Maryland, and he loved the food, the building, and the chips and salsa. Sadie's is truly New Mexican cuisine at its finest
(5)Britt D.
I stayed the night in Albuquerque and asked around for a joint where the locals eat. This is definitely a local's place - and it's huge! The place was pretty packed on a Friday night (even though it was 9pm), so it took a while for our server to get around. We were immediately brought chips & salsa and sopapillas (yum!) before our meal. Everyone at my table ordered different meals with different sauces, but every single plate looked the same - some sort of brownish heap covered in lettuce and tomatoes. I had the chile relleno with the veggie green chili (props for that), with fried potatoes and beans. I only made it halfway through the plate and my companions barely made a dent in theirs. The food was pretty good, though a little monotone in flavor. I'm giving three stars because it took way too long for our server to take our orders, the dishes were a bit monotone, but also for the presentation...I'm just saying, we eat with the eyes first and I have no idea how the food runner could tell our plates apart.
(3)Ima G.
Dined at Sadie's on 4th St NW in Alb, NM. All I can say is go and see! I ordered the Carne Adovada stuffed sopapilla, with papitas (little taters), and beans. Rice was offered as a swap. Carne was fork tender and smothered in some of the most flavorful red chili I have ever had. Meal was complimented by the papitas and beans Chips and salsa are awesome, be careful as the salsa is very spicy hot- keep the honey handy! Ice tea for my drink, which is fresh brewed and was a great addition to my meal. LOVED the FLAN. Give it a try. I don't give fives out very often but will do so in this case!
(5)Cheri P.
Ask to sit on the patio if the weather is nice. We had full shade, two water features and the whole place to ourselves. Portions are large, one entreé burrito fed all three of my kids. Chile is not very hot but makes up for it in delicious. We loved the huevos rancheros and stuffed sopapilla.
(4)Chris P.
This restaurant was by far one oxygen best I've ever been to. The staff was above and beyond wonderful. The best service I've ever had at a restaurant. I ordered the special carne burrito which was one of the best Mexican dishes I've ever had. All the food was great. I could see myself coming out to Albuquerque again just to go here.
(5)Patrick M.
Some of the best Southwestern food ever!
(5)Kimberley L.
Really good Mexican food and green chili sauce was perfect! Really great Mexican food and the waiter was very attentive! The only complaint I have is trying to move the bar stools to sit at the bar Yummy Yummy Yumny!!!!
(5)Lena L.
Sadie's has long been one of the my favorites. The 4th street location is the most popular and therefore can be very, very loud with a long wait. If possible, try the Eubank location. The food is comparable and it's not nearly as crowed. Avoid the one in the casino- the food is poor. The margaritas at Sadie's are wonderful, but be warned, they are large and powerful. They have multiple to chose from. The Presidential and the House are likely the best in flavor. They have a happy hour during the early afternoon. The glasses for happy hour are considerably smaller, but the margaritas are still just as strong as always. They will bring you homemade chips and salsa, which are both very good. Be warned, if you are not used to spice, the salsa will be hot. If you are not a New Mexican, you may think it's spicy. I have seen many out-of-towners turn a brilliant shade of red and shed a tear. You will get a sopapilla for dessert and they are always delicious. I have had much of their fare over the years. Their Taco salad is great. You can chose the sort of meat and chile you would like. The shell is lovely and light, while packing a lot of great flavor. Their Chile Rellenos is lovely. It's full of flavor and fried perfectly. Their tacos, burritos and tamales are above average for a restaurant and options like the Roberto's Special (smothered beef) are a nice option to stray from the norm. They also have burgers and a large selection of tasty appetizers. Chile, chile, chile. It's good chile. Be warned, if you do not get the A La Carte menu, you will be presented with a giant plate of beans, papitas and cheese. The A La Carte offers you a lighter option than the cheese smothered dinner options (there are many reviews complaining about the beans, cheese and chile smothered dishes, but apparently, these diners did not read the menu. It does specify how your food will be in both sections of the menu). They also have a large kid's menu, as well, with less spicy and smaller options. It is not a place to eat if you are watching your waistline, but it is a wonderful option for those who want well done comfort food. It's very reasonably priced, especially for how large the servings are (I got the Sadie's salad once and it lasted me for four meals).
(4)Jamie R.
Awesome and good priced Mexican food. Since they've added brisket to any item (tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc) I enjoy the food here even more because its different than what others offer. Excellent red chile and salsa. Biggest negative, and it's big enough to keep us from going there sometimes, is the amount of people who let their children run around, yelling and crying, as though we're at a children's playground; this is at times overwhelmingly frustrating, especially when management allows it to go own for an entire meal.
(4)Jason S.
5 STARS... whenever I'm in Albuquerque I WILL visit Sadie's. This I vow to you, world. Thank you.
(5)Reyz A.
A business trip to our design center brings me to Albuquerque a couple of times a year. One of the great things to look forward to is a visit to Sadie's. Seems like the place is always packed when I'm here. To get right down to it, I look forward to something I can't seem to find in the Bay Area-- sopaipilllas. It's Mexican food that's New Mexican. But they tell me there are versions of this in Argentina, Bolivia,Chile, northern Mexico, Peru, and Texas. If it tastes good, it will be loaded with calorias. This is a richly fried pastry, high on calories, pero muy delicioso. They say it's generally, but not always, served as a dessert, with honey poured between its two layers through a hole made by biting off one corner. Here in New Mexico, it is normally served as a side with your meal like bread. They say, outside NM, it is also occasionally topped with powdered sugar, and ice cream. Who cares, give me a loaf of this, and I'll do a 10K tomorrow. OK, I jumped ahead by talking about a dessert in the desert. But I just love sopaipillas. I'm sure the New Mexicans will say that there are better versions of sopaipillas elsewhere, like in Santa Fe or in Madrid (get this, this is pronounced Maaadrid, not Mudrid, here in New Mexico) I'm not a food history expert but there seems to be some differences between 'Mexican' food in California and New Mexico. Some say it dates back to the early early days of California (people from Northern Mexico) versus the early early days of New Mexico (people from Spain). What ever, both places have outstanding food. A transplanted Canadian like me will see generalizations though: traditional New Mexico cuisine blends cooking styles of northern Mexico and Pueblo Indians;i.e. it will be black beans instead of pinto beans; and I seem to see a lot of avocados and jalapenos in California or for that matter Tex-Mex, and seem to be less in NM. OK, enough pontificating from a guy from the Great White North. The salsa I had at Sadie's was very spicy which I really enjoyed. Burgers I had were smeared in chili con queso and green chili sauce. Lots of Sadie's papitas (diced potatoes), and more smothering of green chili, or was that red chili. Others in our party had chili relleno which came along with papitas as well. I can't remember much because there were plenty of margaritas a la carafe(s) to go around. Or was that cervesa Negra Modelo or was that Corona? As always, I seem to enjoy a meal, then get plastered by getting liquored up. Oh well, there's only that TSA pat-down the next day to look forward to, so I thought I may as well get smashed.
(4)Claude K.
Excellent food, large portions, friendly staff, can be noisy. Parking lot was full but they seated us immediately. Had our food in about 15 minutes. Staff was very friendly. Even the busboy checked with us frequently. My wife had the stuffed sopaipilla with shredded beef. It was very large, the beef was tender and she said it tasted great. I had a bean burrito with vegetarian green chili and a side of guacamole. Everything was delicious. We will go back the next time we are in Albuquerque but hope a different room is quieter so I don't lose my voice trying to have a conversation.
(4)Tony D.
Had a big group and the took great care of us. Food was awesome! Might of been too much heat for the couple of Montana guys with us. They liked it, they just got a little shiny.
(4)Susie D.
What I like: unlimited free chips and salsa. Ambiance. The full menu offered in the bar area because there is always a wait. The closeness to my home, the tradition, and the memories. Oh yeah, and the really strong and delicious and wonderful silvercoin margaritas. What's not good: That the "discounted" beers (one for each day of the week) are discounted 50 cents. (But maybe I just need to get out of college/New Orleans cheap drinking mode...no wait, Tecate should never cost 4.25. never.) The service nearly always sucks pretty bad (I swear some of the bussers are tweaking occasionally). Stuff is expensive for what it is but I guess you are paying for an experience. On that note and to reiterate, the beer should be cheaper. That is all. On this rare occasion, for this single restaurant, now is the only time I will say: I would not recommend this restaurant, especially not to an out-of-towner (unless they were with me). But I will be back. Probably sometime this week.
(3)Rachel C.
Hot! HOT! HOT! Literally . . . . this place has the hottest Southwestern - Mexican dishes! Huge portions of delicious SW fare - all of it served with sopapillas and honey . . . best for cutting the heat so you can keep eating. After getting up at 4:30am to head to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta no one wanted to cook, so we all headed to Sadie's for dinner. We were from New Mexico, Colorado & Texas. All the Mexican food is "unique" in each of these states, so each of us had our own base of experience. A NM enchilada is not a CO enchilada is not a TX enchilada. Yet Sadie's manages to combine the dishes to please each of its visitors. We all were F*U*L*L beyond what any living mammal should be when we left the patio. Moaning FULL! Belt loosening FULL! Each one with a smile on his/her face. Sadie's is our new GO-TO spot for large family dinners. All 10 of us agreed that Balloon dinners will always be at Sadie's. A perfect ending to a perfect Opening Day!
(4)Michael R.
Sadie's is very good but not my favorite NM restaurant. One of the down sides to going there is the place is always packed with the parking lot overflowing and generally a long wait time. However, the food is pretty frickin' good and if you've never been it's definitely worth the wait, we've been going for many years now. The salsa is very spicy which we really enjoy. Last night I had the hamburger steak special which comes smothered in chili con queso (nacho cheese dip) and green chili sauce. Along with that came Sadie's papitas (diced potatoes), smothered in green chili and cheese, which are absolutely yummmmmy!!! The wifey had the chili relleno which she really enjoyed along with papitas as well. What's up with only being able to order margaritas in a carafe?!?! Something about not being able to order pitchers of margaritas in ABQ anymore?!?! Whoever got that law passed should be kicked in the nuts, repeatedly!!!
(4)Lorelei S.
What wonderful food except the papitas. They tasted like they were old cut up french fries. I like rice better w/mexican food. Otherwise it was worth it. I had the Sadie's stacked enchiladas & my bf had Sadie's stuffed sopapailla. We ended up bring most back because it was too much food. Will be going back!
(4)Jenn W.
Sadie's is one of those restaurants that (while growing up in a small town 3 hours east of here) I heard about. So naturally it was a place that I had to check out for myself and at first I was enamored but this has changed. After experiencing Albuquerque's other dining options I have found that Sadie's is simply OK. The first problem I have is that it is always busy -- like can't find parking - wait for a seat - wait for service kind of busy. The next problem is that the portions are grossly large. Finally, the food is average to me. My husband really likes this place however the food portioning has finally gotten to him to. We both try to clean off our plates and feel guilty if we leave stuff behind but here you simply cannot clean off your plate. The service here over the years waxes and wanes -- overall it is not great and when we eat here it usually takes too long and with 2 small children that is a recipe for disaster. We make it to Sadie's about 1-2 times a year but it's not some place that I'm sad we don't frequent.
(2)Kevin U.
Well, we ate here a few years ago and while the food was OK..It was not spectacular. What I remember the most was constantly waiving flies away from our plates. Just ate here again last week with my wife's family (abq locals) and those same pesky flies never left from 5 years ago! My wife's stuffed sopapillas were bland, the chicken boiled then shredded with no flavor. I don't know what the magic is here..no enchantment for me.
(2)Judy P.
They kept the drinks full but other than that they didn't bring us more salsa or napkins. We dealt with it but when you ask 3 timea it does get annoying.
(3)Ed C.
We had a friend visiting a few weeks ago and she was insistent the we go to eat at Sadie's. Well, I'm glad we did. Judging by the shear size of the establishment, I wasn't expecting much. But everything was very good. I had a reasonably priced margarita, that had AT LEAST 3 shots of tequila in it. That thing was STRONG!....and really good. The salsa: super spicy, flavorful, delicious. The Brisket Tacos: awesome! These were very tender and almost perfectly seasoned! Way better than what I was expecting. The Chile Relleno: pretty good. Decent crispy breading, not too thick, but just enough to coat the pepper. The pepper itself, had some nice heat (like -spicy, not-warm....well, it was warm too...so, maybe heat can be used in both ways on that one) and the cheese inside was pretty good as well. I got both the red and green chile (with meat) on the side, and both were awesome! Probably the best red or green I've had since my time in NM! The place is a little pricey, but the portions are huge. The staff is super attentive - I don't think my water every dropped below half full. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a decent New Mexican meal in ABQ.
(4)Ruben S.
Sadie's IS NOT MEXICAN FOOD. It is New Mexican cuisine, which is very different from Mexican fare. The food is definitely good, the atmosphere is loud, especially during their peak hours. And the four times I've been there the portions were massive. Definitely a good value! :O) However, as far as New Mexican food goes, there are more quaint, less expensive, and tastier options. There are some very good reviews here on Yelp for other New Mexican restaurants. But Not Mexican in the least.... Case in point.... Nachos, Sopaipillas, Margaritas, Chimichangas and everything drowned in red or green is Not Mexican.
(3)Simone F.
The decor seems firmly stuck in the 80's, and you will have to navigate gigantic families with multiple offspring, but it's worth it for ferociously delicious, family-style New Mexican cuisine in portions so large and economical *doggie bags are a foregone conclusion. Great service, good drinks, green & red chile to make you wish you lived here and could drop in every week. *No joke: the white-meat chicken stuffed sopapilla will feed a healthy, hungry adult female human for 3 days.
(5)Mark M.
OMG yummy. If you love delicious local/regional fare where everything is covered in cheese and majorly fat-free...then this is your place. I was in on business and my co-worker took me here after a long day. - Great service - Super crowded but the wait isn't long - Pretty decent margaritas - Great prices - Tons of food - Great salsa!! and amazingly thin/crisp chips - SO. MUCH. CHEESE (all you need in life) - Lots to choose from -- all will be pleased - Good for big groups! Yum.
(4)Ernesto S.
This is a mandatory stop every time I'm in Albuquerque. I've tried several things, all have been delicious: the taco burger, the adobado ribs, enchiladas. The portions are huge, staff is friendly, but it can get crowded.
(5)George D.
My family and I had dinner here Tuesday July 31, 2012. Sadie's has good food, decent service and a fair value. I'm on my quest for the perfect red chile chicken enchiladas and while I didn't find them at Sadie's they were pretty good. I had a beer while I was there and it could have been colder. Because the beer was a little warm I had a margarita that was a little too sweet.
(4)Kelly O.
Would definitely go back if I am in Albuquerque!! I totally recommend the Sopapilla Dinner!! The wait staff was friendly and it had a great atmosphere!
(4)Robert C.
The worst Mexican food I've ever eaten. This is not Mexican food. I've eaten Mexican food from border town Mexican restaurants. This place really SUCKS!
(1)Tracy V.
Love Sadie's! Really love their Guaco Chicken Taco with a side of green, and their papitas. Mmmmm..... I've been to Sadie's on Academy, in the Valley, and at Santa Ana Casino. All good.
(5)Amy T.
My bf took me here when he lived here and I was visiting from Texas. he said that everyone @ his work place told him about this and he took them on his word since he had just moved here and a few months prior. We came right after church so we were starving and there was a 30 min. wait time which was more like 40. I wouldnt have minded much but I had a plane to catch and still had to pack up to head home. Not too bad b/c lets face it if its packed it means its good food. you wont wait for crappy food! We both ordered the obvious, the famous enchiladas and she asked me the coveted NM question... "green or red?" damn... i couldnt decide. I asked for Christmas. (both). and boy did I. It was soo good. I couldnt finish it but darn it I tried! Myjean fit a lot better before I got there than when I left. Its a must try if you are in the area. NOTE: I ate here May 2007. Two weeks ago while going to my local bank here in Las Vegas, NV I met a bank employee that mentioned she lived in ABQ "querque" years ago and often craves Sadie's. What are the odds that the both of us would think of ABQ and instantly think of Sadie's. Now that's a place worth your hard earned money. Honeslty I could care less what famous people have eaten here, I care how good the food is, and its good...
(4)Ann K.
My colleague and I visited Sadie's on a Tuesday night - when we arrived it was pretty empty but by the time we finished, the dining room we were in was packed and very noisy! Portions are Sadie's are HUGE so be sure to come hungry. I had the Carne Adovada - I've never had it before so it's hard to compare but I thought it was pretty good. The red chilie sauce was spicy but no where near as hot as I expected. We ordered a "large" guacamole on the side - when it arrived it looked huge but in reality, it was lettuce on the bottom with a big scoop of guac on the top. It was tasty but pricey - I'd skip it next time. Except for the guac, I didn't think prices were high as other Yelper's have indicated but maybe I'm biased by East Coast prices.
(3)Jon C.
Want to experience a classic variety of super hot New Mexican food? Order the carne adovada. Get it with red and green sauce so you can experience each. Best heat in Albuquerque. Really satisfying.
(5)Monica M.
I had just arrived in Albuquerque around lunchtime so my friend decided that Sadie's should be my first authentic New Mexican cuisine experience. I had the small combination plate which included a chile relleno, a taco, and enchiladas. There was nothing small about this plate and it was only $8! The chips and salsa were fantastic. Everything was hot and spicy just the way I like it! I got a taste of my first sopapilla and drizzled honey all over it. Yummy!
(4)Nicolae Frederick Z.
Sadie's Dining Room was a fairly great experience. From the Large portions to the fast service and great drinks. We enjoyed our visit.
(4)Eileen O.
We have been residents and visitors of ABQ for the last 19 years and throughout that time Sadie's has been a sort of culinary touchstone for our family. If we're at Sadie's, we know we are truly in New Mexico. Tonight, we introduced 27 of our friends to Sadie's unequaled New Mexican cuisine. After a long day of competition (the NM Irish Step Dancing Championships), Sadie's was the perfect wrap up. I can't say enough good things about the manager, Gail Sandoval, or our server, Angela. They had our party seated quickly and the wait staff was very attentive throughout our time, despite the fact that Sadie's was at capacity with the live music (another outstanding treat) and typical Saturday night crowds. Angela did an especially excellent job keeping all the orders straight and making sure everyone got their meal quickly. Gail came around several times to ask how the meal was...not an easy task given the size of Sadie's and the number of tables and was great to talk to. The beef brisket enchiladas came out perfect and the red & green chilis made a good match to their taste. I always recommend getting both with a Sadie's meal, otherwise you're missing out on a key ingredient of the meal. Portions at Sadie's are always big, so bring an appetite. Despite their size, the cost is far lower than you'd expect. We paid $40 for two adults and a pre-teen with drinks and one dessert. Come hungry and plan to leave with a box of leftovers. You'll want to save some room for the honey and sopapillas that are part of the Sadie's tradition. We made our reservations three weeks early because of the size of the party. Gloria was very helpful in making the reservation. Call during daytime hours to ensure they can handle your party. We saw three other parties in the banquet room while we were there and all seemed to go smoothly. One last piece of advice: If you come to Sadie's for your birthday, tell the staff so you can get an ice-cream-filled sopapilla with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. One of a kind.
(5)Jim W.
This review is dedicated to: yelp.com/user_details?us… because she said I had to go here or she was going to kick my ass. She was frustrated over my several trips over to Albuquerque where I dined at mediocre restaurants (some of them even chains) even though I had inside info on good places to eat, and then wrote possibly mediocre reviews about them: Muy caliente. I brought some folks from work here for dinner. This place is busy! Despite the bustle the service was outstanding. Right from the get-go I knew we were in for heat. One of the folks I brought is from Sonora and he commented right away that the salsa had real heat. I ordered the avodoba enchiladas. Huge portion, lots of food. The pork was delicious and filling...and hot. Everyone enjoyed their food and we shared around a little to sample other items. I also got an explanation on how carne avodoba is made. I don't know if this is authentic New Mexico cuisine but it is very good. Thanks Chrissy!
(4)Amy L.
Was only in Albuquerque for a brunch & had only one chance to pick a restaurant that represented the regional cuisine. Luckily, this place didn't disappoint. Chips & salsa came 1st w/ their famous spicy hatch chilli, then the sopaipillas....they were hot, fluffy & melt in your mouth with honey. Kiddies didn't eat their meals b/c all they ate were sopaipillas. We all ordered the Sadie's Super Combo Plates: Chile Relleno w/ beef chalupa, papitas & red chili - 3.5 stars Carne Ribs w/ beef rolled enchilada, papitas & red chili - 4 stars The good: service was good, plates were huge, many choices for sides (a good change from rice & beans), good place for a tourist too The bad: couldn't take any leftovers home (had to drive back to Phx), hubby couldn't stop buying the jar salsas for souvenirs
(4)Orlando L.
Service is never great here but today took the cake. Sat entirely unattended for ten minutes before I walked out. You can't just rely on the food.
(1)Chelle R.
i need billy burrito!! i live on the east coast, and no one knows real mexican food out here.
(4)Sandra N.
I really love Sadie's. They always have huge portions, the food is spicy, and I'm a local New Mexican so that's how I like it! To tourists order your chile on the side. The tamales are really good too, I got an ala cart one. Moist, full of red chile, and so delicious!
(5)Christy O.
While visiting a new city for the first time, I had to see what my fellow Yelpers recommended for some authentic New Mexican fare, and once again, I wasn't disappointed. Red or green is the only question you need to answer, and I might I suggest both- but on the side if you are a newbie like me. I ordered "Christmas" which is both and I got it on top of my stacked enchiladas and it was a bit much but still good. I just wasn't prepared for the flurry of taste emotions my buds were about to experience! My stacked burrito was good and the hubs had a burrito which actually had a hamburger patty inside. Yumm! We went for lunch and had to wait about 5 minutes because the place was packed. The lunch specials are on the table and please note that the portions are not smaller, just the prices are. The only is issue I had is that the sopapillas were delivered with the meal and I prefer to eat them as a dessert, so once I was ready for them, they were cold.
(4)A.J. S.
I was in town, and wanted to try some local cusine. Day 1 I tried sadies. Ambiance - It was really loud, we waited about 20 minutes for a table. The decor was nice, very typical touristy blankets on hvangers type things. The tables were situated well. Service - I ordered a beer, and it took like 10 minutes to bring out to be. the waiter was nice enough, maybe they are just understaffed. food - I thought it was ok, but it wasn't really great. I have had a bit of exposure to Mexican food. I don't know the difference between new Mexican cuisine and Mexican food is. The green chili was ok, the enchilada was decent. In total, it didn't seem like anything special to me.
(3)Meghan C.
Alright. Here's the deal. You can't go to Albuquerque, without dining at Sadie's. Red or Green? Make your decision. The plates are enormous, so come with your appetite. WARNING: The chili is not for the faint of heart. If you aren't used to very hot chili, then ask the server to go easy on you. I personally like the stuffed sopapilla's with ground spiced beef with green chili. The chicken enchilada's are also very good.
(5)Alex Z.
The food was really good. The salsa that came with the chips was burn-your-mouth-off spicy. The stuffed sopapiila is amazing - very flavorful (I had the carne adovada) and a tremendous portion. I think I got 3 full dinners out of it including when we went. The fresh baked sopapillas at the end were also awesome and came with honey and other fix-ins as a dessert. The service was pretty spotty, but that was likely in part our own fault for sitting in the bar/lounge area at peak time on a saturday night. Regardless, we would definitely come here again!
(4)Sandy S.
A friend brought us here, we had a great dinner. The chips and salsa were very good. We all tried both the red and green sauce - both were good. I had an enchilada and ate it all. Didn't like the tamale as well but it was still good.
(5)Jackie P.
Agreed. Sadie's does every thing to the max. including A+ service. I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the staff is, and how fresh my chips and salsa tasted. They had them ready on the table when we sat down! You can't find service like that in California (where I'm from). My family visits New Mexico once a year, they suggest that I eat here for authentic New Mexican food during my trip. Sooo glad I did, not only was it affordable but the quality and quantity did not disappoint. I even got a jar of salsa to go : ) I'll definitely be returning when passing through... (OH! AND they had table Ms. PacMan and Gallega!!! Like what?!)
(5)T N.
Good service, but slow in bringing out the order...appetizer took approximately 15 minutes and main course took over 30 minutes. An appetizer, 2 entrees, and two beers, winded up to be over 50 bucks...a bit overpriced for okay tasting food. There are better places out there with same size portions and better tasting.
(2)Savannah B.
I come to Albuquerque about once a year for a conference and have made a habit of stopping at Sadie's while I'm in town. Everyone I've brought there has been very impressed. It does get very busy, so be prepared to wait for a table, but the bar is nice and the margaritas are a tasty treat while you wait. My only complaint is that the servings are entirely too big, especially for out-of-towners who don't have a way to store leftovers.
(4)Lhm M.
The flavors explode at this rocky busy place. Every family visit includes a delicious meal at Sadies. The most memorable part of the meal is the amazing tortillas made right there in front of you at the counter. We even order a dozen to take home.
(5)JoAnna G.
Gotta love Sadies! Usually busy for dinner, especially during the weekends but worth the wait. The salsa is pretty great and I always buy it in the grocery stores! Has a great flavor and kick to it! The stuffed sopapillas, burritos-especially the carne adovada burrito!-, burgers, and enchiladas are delicious!
(4)Darcy K.
After being voted the best New Mexican restaurant in 2009 by the Alibi, I finally figured I'd better check this place out. The only reason I can figure out people might fuss about the place would be the very large portions and the sopapillas. Yes, the sopapillas are really great. However, the rest of the food was far from the 'best' New Mexican food in Albuquerque. I went with 4 friends and we each had different dishes. I had the chile relleno. It was fine, but I was so disappointed in the potatoes! They were bland and the worst I've had with New Mexican food. Just small fried, boring bites. The potatoes can be so great at other places (like El Patio!). One of my friends had the chicken quesadilla (the half size was huge) and she seemed to like it alright. My other friends had enchiladas, burritos, and other New Mexican fare I cannot recall. They complained about the greasiness and the general tastelessness of it all. Here you get quantity but not quality.
(2)mike c.
stopped there on are way to texas. best chips and salsa i have ever had. not a fan of tex mex but this the best i have tried.
(5)Erin M.
I honestly think I have dreamed of this place every day since I visited Albuquerque last summer. It was THAT delicious. My friend and I got there around dinner time so there was a bit of a wait but there was space both inside and outside to do so. Overall, service was extremely prompt but not in an obnoxious, hovering-to-get-you-out-the-door kind of way. Our waiter was attentive to any questions I had about the cuisine, having not been to New Mexico at all before, and did not get impatient with me perusing the menu for a really long time. Multiple staff members throughout the night filled our water, made sure we had enough chips and salsa, checked to see how our meal was, etc. There was never a wait for anything. And the food...was spectacular. I am not one for salsa since I always find it too chunky, tomato-y, watery, bland, or SOMETHING. My friend insisted I try this salsa and it was PERFECT. It was spicy but did not burn my mouth and did not appear to be just chunks of stuff thrown together. It looked like care was actually taken to create it. I can't even remember what I ordered (I could if I read the menu I'm sure) but it was definitely inexpensive considering the huge portion I received (I took a photo of it!). There was no lettuce involved with the meal either. I loathe lettuce so I was absolutely relieved that I could order something from Sadie's without having to say "I want 'this' but without XYZ" like I have to at so many places. I could order off the menu because they keep it simple with just chili (I went with red and green) and cheese smothered all over. Fantastic! Oh, and sopapillas are unforgettable...and pretty much impossible to find in the northeast. Granted, I fear finding them here because I know they will be inferior to ones Sadie's served at the end of the meal to be smothered in honey. Heaven in a lovely little pastry. Anyway, I will definitely be back! Eat up!
(5)Brad H.
The chili and food are good overall. Piss-poor beverage refill performance by staff members. Bussers like to re-use watered down ice instead of providing a fresh and crisp beverage to patrons. Yet another restaurant that makes kick butt food but is able to screw up a diet coke. Staff doesn't seem to work together as much as they should.
(2)L Z.
We had the opportunity to visit one restaurant in Santa Fe and one in Albuquerque. I ordered the tamale and chili relleno plate at the restaurant. You could order an option of green or red chili and then you have an option of beans and potatoes on the side. This restaurant is more of a fast food style food in a family style restaurant. I thought the food was okay. It was heavy with the beans/potatoes were lathered in cheese. On the positive end, I thought the sopapillas were ready good and the drinks were good. Overall, I thought it was okay.
(3)Shane A.
Great food. Large portions. Pulled and parking lot was full. Always a good sign. Didn't take long to be seated and service was fast.
(5)Linda U.
big cheap food. If that's what you like then you'll love it!
(1)Cari S.
Clearly an institution-6:00 on a Tuesday and the parking lot was full as was the large main room of the restaurant. Felt the menu was limited-meat choices were chicken or ground beef. Only pork was in the tamales, and no shredded beef. Margaritas are served in water glasses! Flavor was good, the sauces (either red or green) are very spicy (yum). Chicken also had good flavor, and husband really like the tamales-with pork. Service was excellent, water glasses were never empty, and a take-home box was offered without asking. Just wish they had more interesting food choices.
(3)Nuri G.
I wrote a haiku about Sadie's. I hope you enjoy. Red and Green Chile All over my body please Cheap Delicious Lunch
(5)Sasha P.
Don't let the dark entrance and seemingly hidden location fool you - Sadie's is excellent! Everybody seems to call it quintessential New Mexican so who am I to disagree. The chile con queso is so good you'll be tempted to just eat that for dinner - save room! I had the Sadie' special that let's you choose up to 5 things - I only had 4 and it was plenty. Chile Relleno was superb - flavorful, not too breaded and just outstanding. My beef taco was delicious, but didn't stand out like some of the other stuff. But the Carne Adovada Rib not only deserves special mention, but even it's own paragraph. This was something special. Meat totally fell off the bone and the spice rub was had just enough heat so you know you are eating New Mexican food, but not so much you wanted to cry. My only complaint was the chicken enchilada. I found the chicken both dry and lacking in flavor - but there was so much other stuff on the plate it was easy to cover up this miss! My other note of warning is beware of the Nachos - they are HUGE. We ordered two for the table (of 10) and it was borderline obscene how much food we had. In the end though we left happy, satisfied and well fed. Go to Sadie's if you are in Albuqurque.....
(4)Catherine K.
4 stars: Good chips, salsa, and sopapillas (Yum! Sopapillas! Yum!) Good service. Long menu. Good value. Minus one star, or maybe even one and a half: I donno, it just didn't quite jump that final hurdle of "memorable." Three of us got three different dishes, but they all looked...the same. Not necessarily a bad thing, but sort of uninspired. The dining room is big and although there are plenty of New Mexican decorations, it wasn't exactly cozy. Part of me wants to go "meh," but the experience was definitely more than "meh." While we enjoyed our meal (and our leftovers!) I don't think I'd recommend this if you were in town for one night and looking for a Really Truly New Mexican Experience In One Night. It's a little too bland for that. But it seems reliable: you could do far worse, and the quality and amount of food you get for the price is good. Also: sopapillas.
(4)Mimi R.
The meal I had here was horrible: the shredded pork in the dry tamale was also overcooked and very dry, the beans and rice were covered with what the server called "a garnish" of tomatoes, lettuce and cheese, and it cost me $20! After having spent a week in NM, I can recommend many other restaurants that far exceeded Sadies in quality. Unless you like huge quantities of inferior food, don't waste your time at Sadies.
(1)Jamie Q.
I don't have much of reference for New Mexican cuisine. The only other encounter I have had with it was a visit earlier in the trip to Mary and Tito's. But if I had to compare the two, the latter takes it by a mile. Sadie's is a much more popular place and its huge. We showed up for lunch on a Monday and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. As soon as I sat down, the busboy came by and asked us for our drink orders. Throughout the meal, he also made sure that our drinks were always filled to the brim. So kudos to him for that. Our waiter Scott was also good. He made sure to check on us periodically to see if we need anything. I ordered the carne adovada enchiladas topped with the red chile. I inhaled them but I was still a bit disappointed. I love spicy food and so I was expecting to get a lot of it from the dish. Unfortunately, there was barely a tinge. The red chile at Mary and Tito's had waaay more of a kick to it. My friend ordered the carne adovada burrito topped with green chile and he ate about 20% of it. It wasn't that it wasn't good. It was because he couldn't handle the spice. I took a bite of it and it was good to me. I think it's because he is a baby. Overall, I would return to this place but not go out of my way to go. I would rather try a different place. Also a note on the sopapillas. They were well made; fluffy and soft. But I don't like honey, so it was a bit plain. Completely my fault though really. Cost: $24 for a burrito, an enchilada plate, a soda, and a coffee
(4)Eliot L.
Awesome food! Big proportions! Awesome chile sauce. Too much drama around the bar. Screw those "Housewives of Whatever" shows! Come here for your drama feed. CGM!
(3)Julie B.
This was another great find thanks to Yelp. The food was absolutely fantastic. Quite a bit spicier than a lot of Mexican places- but I love spicy so that didn't bother me at all. The portions were huge- my husband and I could easily have shared an entree. One con- we were seated in the main dining room at the back, and the bleach smell coming from somewhere near the kitchen was pretty overpowering.
(4)Matt A.
Slop in a pile, Greasy and gross. Stay at the bar and have the Margarita's.
(2)Andrew R.
One of the best New Mexican restaurant in the South West. Sadie's is so good that you'll lick your plates!! The Salsa is very popular and sold in stores. They don't scrimp on the food and give you healthy portions. Green Chilies are awesome here and the food is a joy to eat. The place is very big inside and still you may have to wait for a table. Honestly, don't order appetizers or you'll be taking your main course home. Simply Delicious !!
(5)Lindsay C.
Some of the best New Mexican food ABQ has to offer. Famous for hot salsa...i always take some back to Cali with me. I love the blue corn enchiladas with beef!
(4)Tim F.
Frickin awesome!! Love love love Sadi's! Lived here all my life and that place is legit.
(5)Tracey J.
I'm sticking with my 3 stars....and this visit was a different ball of wax. I want to start by saying that my husband would give Sadies 4 stars. He had the carne adovada burrito both times and loved it (and paid a big price for it the next morning, if you get my meaning...ha ha). We went on Feb 13th...the wait was around 20 minutes....even though I spied many empty tables. Maybe they just didn't have the staff to service them all? Instead of the massive cafeteria-style dining area, we were led to the very back room, which was like an enclosed sunroom. There was a large (extremely loud) party in this room....we had a terrible time trying to hear each other. It was also pretty chilly in this room....I kept my heavy jacket on for most of the time. Also, the floor was slanted....which was just a weird feeling. The salsa....it's really good. Really. And.... the chips weren't stale this time (yeah!). Our busboy was pretty good....nice, quick with refills on chips and drinks. Sadly, the same can't be said of our waitress. She had this air about her like she couldn't give a crap. I asked about the taco....she said it was bigger than a normal taco. Okay then, I ordered a "spicy ground beef guac" w/no chile. I don't eat a lot of spicy food because if I have too much, my rosacea flares up....the salsa was PLENTY hot...I don't need a mega dose of spice so I skip the chile on my entrees. My non-mexican food-eating child ordered 2 scrambled eggs and bacon. This time, our food didn't arrive too fast. It seemed we waited the proper amount of time for our food to be made for us...just the right amount of time for sure. A waitress we had never seen before delivered the food. Our waitress came by, asked if we had everything we needed and we didn't see her again till she dropped off the check. My taco was MAYBE 1/2 inch taller than a "normal" taco...not longer in the least and the top was curving outward. It was packed chock-a-bock full so when you bit into it, everything spilled out the other end. And you get 1 taco. They could've EASILY given me 2 tacos for the amount of stuff that was in the 1 taco...and it would've been a lot easier and more pleasant to eat. The small amount of beans on my plate were very nice and flavorful. 3/4 of my plate was fried potatoes. 3/4!! What a disappointment. So, I ate my messy taco, which was just okay....not a whole lot of flavor, and I ate my beans (yum!). It was soooooooo not worth the money (which was around $9). HOWEVER...............the bacon for my son's meal was AMAZING!! Honest, the BEST bacon I have EVER had! It was cooked fresh...not reheated. It tasted like it was made on a campfire....nice, smokey flavor. The right amount of crispness and not overly fatty. I would have GLADLY spent $9 on that bacon! When we come back (and we will...you didn't lose us yet Sadies!) I will try something else. My hubby will have the carne adovada....again. The overall food is flavorful. Service is spotty though. I really wish there was a choice of potatoes or rice. I think it's "A-OK"...a 3 star rating. Definately doesn't knock my socks off.....but it's NOT BAD. I am sure that I will find something that will blow me away (besides the bacon....oh sweet baby Jesus that was some good bacon!).
(3)Jamie M.
This is the place that finally converted my husband to loving spicy food! We only had a few days in Albuquerque and wanted to make sure we had some authentic New Mexican food. Sadie's seemed to fit the bill, based on our hotel location and Yelp reviews. Parking was a bit of a pain-limited spots and tons of cars circling like sharks waiting for someone to pull out. We finally got lucky and headed inside. It was a Friday and we waited a good 35 minutes to be seated. The wait was made more bearable by the margaritas and beer we ordered from the bar. They have a pretty good sized area for waiting as well. After we were seated, we proceeded to enjoy some super hot salsa. My husband was a little put off by how hot it was, but he persevered and was glad he did. Nice heat, chunky tomatoes and just bursting with flavor. The crispy chips were warm and tasty as well. Obviously being in New Mexico green and red chile played a huge part on the menu. My husband ordered a burrito with a grilled patty inside (more on that later) and I got the carne adovada enchiladas with green chile. We also ordered a chile relleno to share. I have never had carne adovada before and I was not disappointed. Huge chunks of tender pork and whole beans all covered in the most perfect green chile I have ever tasted. It was cheesy and hot and tremendous. The relleno was hands down the best I have ever had. Crisp and hot and not soggy in the least (a major downfall of rellenos much of the time) this was the highlight of the meal for me. My husband's burrito had a grilled patty inside-basically a hamburger patty. It was covered with cheese and red chile. When he described it to me I thought it sounded a bit icky-a hamburger burrito?-but it was fantastic! The meat was really flavorful and melded with the flavors of the chile and the burrito perfectly. I was so impressed that he ate it (normally he is not a fan of spicy food). He said it was so good he just had to power through. We both ate until we were about to pop-and still had two huge takeout containers to take home with us. The meal ended with two warm sopapillas and honey. They looked delicious, but we both only managed a couple bites due to extreme, disgusting fullness :) The service here is nothing special; they were all a bit distracted and not overly friendly, but it was insanely busy. A busboy did an awesome job keeping our drinks and chips refilled. This is a solid choice for anyone wanting tasty and reasonably priced authentic New Mexican cuisine.
(5)Ami T.
Food was good. Got Huevos' rancheros. Love the Red and Green Chile Sauces. The offer Vegetarian Green Chile Sauce. Went to this place because it was recommended by the locals as one of the best places to eat New Mexican cuisine. Their sapodillas are really good, and with the honey drizzled on it is yummy. They give them to you fresh and puffy. The staff is very friendly and the chile is yummy. They have a huge restaurant with plenty of space, and a large parking lot. The decor is airy, bright, and fun. They serve chips and salsa chile with every meal.
(4)Brandon M.
Colleague brought me here for lunch last week. First visit to New Mexico and I just got off the plane when I entered the dining room. The skylights flooded the room with natural light . The friendly server was more than helpful in pointing out some of the specialties. Ordered a standard combo plate with stuffed pepper, enchilada and taco. The plate was mounded with food. Definitely, did not leave hungry. The flavors were very good. I liked the sweetness of the sauce with the spiciness of the peppers. Will definitely visit again.
(4)D D.
We went to Sadie's during a recent roadtrip to the Southwest. Overall, the experience was so-so. We went on a weeknight but it was packed, with people over-flowing the waiting areas. While we were waiting for our waitress, we were given tortilla chips and salsa- this salsa is just loaded with jalapeno flavor- one little dip goes a long way! So we ended up ordering a stuffed sopapilla (with spicy ground beef), and also a combination plate (with chile relleno, pork tamale and beef enchilada.) The dishes both came with red and green chile on the side. The plates were huge, but I disliked how the majority of the food was made up of potatoes and beans. The chile sauces were very spicy- the red one had a dry intense heat, while the green one had an acidic undertone and was more pleasant for my taste. Now for the main entrees: my number one observation was that everything looked pretty much the same, especially when you first get your food, since everything is covered with a layer of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes on top. While none of the dishes were bad, the flavor profile was very monotone. The enchilada and sopapilla tasted very similar, while the chile relleno's chile pepper taste was completely hidden by the massive amounts of cheese filling and topping. The tamale was good, but rather standard tasting- there seemed to be nothing special to the seasoning of the pork or masa. By the next morning, the leftovers from the meal tasted like one giant mass of chile covered mush. Overall, Sadie's is a great place to stuff an empty stomach, but unfortunately isn't terrific at delivering the range or depth of flavor/texture to please the discerning palate.
(3)Jaime Patricio M.
The salsita is sold at some grocery outlets. Buy it but be ware it is muy caliente! the flavour is solid as it is a green chile salsa. The margaritas are strong but is there any other way to enjoy them. Great traditional Nuevo Mexicano cuisine. Buen Provecho!
(5)Stephen T.
An awful experience during my most recent visit to Albuquerque, My friend and I went to the bar to wait for a table. The wait was 1 hour and the joint was mobbed! We ordered two margaritas and they carded us. That's OK you think but we are both in our forties. My colleague only had a Canadian drivers license so they would not serve him. We left and had a better meal elsewhere with out the wait! I will not return during my next visit to Albuquerque. This place used to be great when it was above the bowling alley!
(1)Jodi N.
We ate here for a late lunch on a Saturday. It seemed busy, yet we were seated right away. We ordered a variety of things- all were great. I was concerned with the spiciness of the burritos, the waiter assured me it was not bad and had the sauce put on the side just in case. The waiter and the man refilling our drinks were amazing! We could not have asked for better service. We will be coming back again soon.
(5)Yvonne L.
Great Mexican food. We just drove through ABQ a few years ago on our way to Scottsdale, and have also lived in Albuquerque back in the 90's! However, it is overcrowded and noisy, so, we have not stopped by the past few years. If you don't mind a wait and crowds, you will enjoy the food...but it is not the simple place it was in the early 90's...
(3)Andrew J.
So many people have reviewed this place, and most of the people are from out-of-state. Is this just where the tourists go when the come to the lovely town of Albuquerque? And what I have noticed is people always say that it is such great Mexican food, these people are wrong! It is NOT Mexican food, it is NEW Mexican food, not "Southwestern", New Mexican. All three are, though similar, very different from each-other. So the fact that any New Mexican restaurant would be compared to some taqueria 1000 miles away is ridiculous, it's like comparing Italian cuisine to French cuisine... similar, but very very different. Now that we have that out of the way, about Sadie's.... Like I said before, it is a place for tourists and out-of-towners... the chile is mild, the atmosphere is big and loud and you can get the salsa shipped anywhere is the United States. (the salsa is actually really good) I do like the place, if I am in the valley and would like some decent NEW Mexican food, it is usually my first choice. But, there are much better places to get your red/green chile fix. So if you are visiting the Duke City and would like to get some real good New Mexican food, go to Old Town and visit Church Street and La Placita.... OR even better, make good friends with a New Mexican whose family has been here for generations, and get invited to their grandmothers house... you will never be the same again.... and you will DEFINITELY know the difference between Mexican and New Mexican food....
(3)Celia J.
Delicious, HOT salsa and very attentive water/bus boy service, the waitress....well, meh. I love green chile and I appreciate that they have a vegetarian version, but as far as being veggie friendly...not so much. They have cheese enchiladas or cheese rellenos as options...just because I don't eat meat doesn't mean that I only want to eat cheese. I was very excited to come here and most New Mexican places offer some type of vegetable enchiladas, even if its just a bunch of spinach..and cheese, just something to offset the cheese. I got the flat cheese enchiladas and the plate was a mess of beans, rice, cheese, a couple tortillas and green chile topped with some iceberg and a few tomatoes--there's my veggies. Their sopapillas were slightly less greasy than some from other places, and they were generous with them giving us a couple more to take with our meals home as the servings were huge! Probably just not my thing, though clearly popular. I'll seek out their salsa in the grocery store for sure.
(3)Steve M.
Just go there and you will understand. We live in San Diego and Sadie's has food worth going to NM for. There is nothing like it outside of NM. People that have never heard the phrase "red or green" when ordering food just don't understand. There is nothing like NM mexican food anywhere, and Sadies is one of the best. Everytime we are in NM we go there. We have been known to show up early and sit in the parking lot until they open. Especially when we NEED lunch at Sadies before flying back to CA. I grew up in NM but have been gone for over 25 years. There are things that I miss and the food is at the top of the list. Sadies delivers that food time and time again. Dont read a bunch of reviews just go there. Book the flight for the food alone. Nothing like it, anywhere.
(5)Pebbles And Bam Bam A.
Great stuffed sopapillas! Nice decor inside, and friendly, attentive staff. Great selection of food. Only downside is that the Margheritas weren't great; not bad, but too sweet.
(5)Ricky M.
You really can't go wrong with this place its one of the best New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque I am usually really picky when it comes to New Mexican food but this place rocks there chips and salsa are to die for but be careful cause its spicy! There Chicken Enchiladas with papitas are some of amazing and there silver coin margaritas are not only strong but delicious!
(5)J T.
Sadie's is great for good, inexpensive new mexican food. A good primer for out-of-towners to come for their first tase of chile (it's hot here). They tend to be very crowded during dinner hours, so be prepared to wait.
(4)Clint U.
I am sorry New Mexico. I am sorry Albuquerque. I am sorry Sadie's. And most importantly.. I am sorry Bob. (RIP and I can tell you put your heart and soul into that place and was well loved by the people there.) Most of the reviews were great. My expectations were high. Where did I go wrong? Did I look so much like a tourist that they figured they could serve me anything with taco sauce and I would be happy? If you read my past reviews you know I am a tamale freak and will go nearly anywhere to find a good one. So I ordered there "super" combination which included a tamale, guaco taco, sopapilla, chips, salso and sides. All for $11. So tell me if I am off base...... 1. The tamale was a big disappointment. It was small, about the third of the size of a El Modelo tamale with proportionally much less meat. The masa seemed more like flour than meal. It was very doughy, bland, untextured. Good tamale masa needs to be coarse ground for texture and to allow the tamale to breathe as it steams in the corn husks. This masa was very dense and wheat flour tasting. Seems like they used corn flour or masa that was ground too much and added wheat flour. The meat filling was bland. There was adobo sauce on it to give it some flavor and heat (not much though), but the meat itself didnt have flavor. It was like the pork was boiled not roasted. 1.5 stars 2. Beef guacamole taco. The meat was finely ground beef and was worse tasting than Taco Bell. The meat was almost like a paste. With such a high reputation of Sadie's and the relatively high cost of the taco ($4 a la carte) I would have expected something much more higher quality like shredded beef. The guacamole tasted good however....but the awful ground beef ruined this dish. 1 star 3. Refried beans: Like you get in a can. 2 stars 4. Bean and potato hash?. This was the most interesting aspect of the whole meal. They cubed and fried potatoes and mixed in beans with it. It was the only item in the whole meal that had any taste of its own without sauces on top of it. 4 stars 5. Sopapillas: They had this grey brown color, like they didnt cook it long enough to brown the dough. Smothered with honey, it tasted ok. 2 stars. 6. Chips. Obviously cooked on the premises. Slightly greasy which tells me the cooking oil wasn't quite hot enough. 3 stars 7. Salsa. They forgot to include salsa with the chips even though they assured me it was in the bag when I left. 0 stars for bad customer relations. 8. Presentation. The tamale, refried beans, bean hash, lettuce and tomatoes and cheese were all slopped together in an aluminum foil container. Seemed like they just didnt care when they filled the container on what they were doing or paying attention. No effort was made (like a three section stryofoam container) to keep the items separate. 1 star for this mess. 9. They won't take takeout orders over the phone. They told me if I wanted takeout, I would have to show up there, order it, and wait. The person answering the phone sounded annoyed that I even called. Again. Sorry to trash an Albuquerque institution. Maybe I ordered all the wrong things here. This isn't about New Mexican vs. Mexican food. It's just about good food. Then again, thinking about how I was treated....maybe they need a wake up call.....
(2)Chris G.
Didn't like it. The presentation was very poor. The margaritas are served in the same glasses as the water! Just salted the rim. Way to go Sadie's! Can't spring for decent margarita glasses. The waiter was abrupt and uncouth. The interior was bland and unimpressive. The good was pretty good; at least my plate was. However, my sister-in-law barely touched her salad; didn't like it. Sadies was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. Last time I'll ever go there! Esp. when there are so many nicer places.
(1)Steve P.
This place was recommended to me by a waitress at Poppadeaux when I asked for a "couple Mexican food places in Albuquerque". She said "It's good, but really, really spicy". So... I had to go. The food was good, not spicy (at least for me) and I would return.... However,I had one of the worst waitresses I've ever had in my life, and one of the best backup waiters (runner?) I've ever seen. I saw my waitress about 10 minutes after I was seated, again when she put the food on my table (actually didn't bother to put it in front of me, but on the corner of the table) and again when it was time to pay the bill. The young woman who was a runner for my entire section was at my table at least every 5 minutes (as well as every other table) refilling tea, asking how things were, etc. This was noticeable at other tables managed by the same waitress. The waitress got a 10% tip. I found the manager and gave her $20 to give to the runner, explaining that service like that was to be commended, as I'm sure that the waitress wasn't sharing her tips... So, overall, it was great food, and great service once I got rid of my waitress (which she had no problems accomodating me on, she was already gone.) ;)
(4)Amanda P.
The best new mexican spot in Albuquerque in my opinion. I loooooved the food there. I always get the stuffed sopapilla and am never able to finish.
(5)Leo B.
Very good time here. Good tasting Mexican and the could handle a group as large as ours. the chicken tacos were loved and the portions were huge. We loved the hot fresh fried bread sopapillas !
(4)Mike S.
Fantastic Tex Mex. I was taken here by a local. It seemed off the beaten path but was packed inside and after eating there I know why. The food was packed with spice and required a carafe of margarita to wash it down with. Everything was great.
(4)The Vegetarian Foodie N.
Really good salsa and sauces with flavor - not the best we've had - but good solid traditional mexican
(4)Wanugee N.
This place is good, cheap and can feed a small army! It is frequented by a lot of families for that reason. The only main dish that costs more than $10 is the Sopaipilla with Carne Adovada, which is a dough shell stuffed with a shovel full of pork cubes smothered in red and/or green chili seasoning and served with beans and papitas ($12.95). This dish can only be completely finished by 2 people because of its sheer volume! The other dishes are all $10 or less. The chips and salsa are free. (The bar salsa is milder than the dinner table salsa, which has a little more green chilis in it). Margueritas ($6.30) are served in a 22 oz tall beer type glass, whether rocks or frozen. Our group of 3 had 3 main dishes and 4 margueritas and the total was only $56, and half of that was booze. We were all stuffed and the flavors left us satisfied. This place is huge, seating maybe several hundred people in the many rooms including the main dining room, large side/party rooms, lounge/bar and patio, but it is still crowded with a wait! So you know this is a good value with good food. Sadie who lived from 1945 to 1986, has a portrait photo on the wall near the hostess table, and a picture of her family and owners is nearby to offer a welcome to you from Billy, Bobby, Brian and Betty Joe.
(5)Kristen M.
Having moved from Albuquerque many years ago, I treasure every chance I get back and can visit my favorite places. We just were there for the Utah/UNM game (I'm a Ute but love NM) and Friday night I dragged my hubby and one year old to Sadies. We had a reasonable wait, during which I indulged in way too many yummy free chips and salsa! Once we were seated, I had a delicious green chile blue corn beef enchiladas that almost made me cry with happiness that I was back in NM!! My husband had the Carne Adovado, which he found very spicy (he was raised on Tex Mex ya know) but delicious (as did I after raiding his plate). The service was wonderful and friendly, I always find this to be the case in NM! My only regret? I ate so many chips, I didn't have room to finish my complimentary sopapilla!!! In TX you don't get sopapillas complimentary with meals (at least at most the places in Austin), so I love returning to NM and indulging!
(4)Deb H.
Well worth the $10+ one-way cab fare plus the 30+ min. Friday night wait!!! Thanks to local Robert for the recommendation! The spicy beef sopapilla was GIGANTIC and DELICIOUS!!! Best food at most reasonable price of the whole business trip!
(5)Tiffany S.
Yummy! Try the carne adovada with green sauce. Beware, though, it's all fairly heavy. Get the sopapilla too. And wash it down with a carbonated soda. Then get some salsa to go.
(4)Tony G.
Top on my list of restaurants when I visit Albuquerque. Great green chile chicken enchiladas and a salsa so spicy that it's worth mail ordering to get my fiery fix. The salsa, that is. You didn't think I'd actually mail order an enchilada, did you?! . . . hmmmm.
(4)Rhonda G.
if you want to try authentic new mexican food here you go. they have the best sopia"s and the honey is on the table. big portions and minium prices. a real value. staff not the best but pleasant. slow some days and fast other hit ands miss with servers
(3)Pixel I.
I love this place and have been eating here since 1997. The food is the best for New Mexican food. Forget about Garduno's, El Pinto or the other generic restaurants out there claiming to make authentic NM food. Their carne adovada is the best. So are the enchiladas, chicken tacos and papitas.
(5)David W.
I grew up on 39th and Kedzie and have at times been called a Mexican food snob by my friends. When you grow up around La Taqueria Los Gallos, Los Comales, and Zaca Tacos you can get a bit spoiled. Having said that, I have always been skeptical of the New Mexican cuisine of the South West. However, on my last trip to Albuquerque I visited Sadie's and let me tell you Sadie can cook! Begrudgingly I opened the menu and made my way through "Green Chile" this and "Red Chile" that. Mike and I ended up both ordering the Sadie's Carne Adovada Enchilada Dinner. It's basically two corn tortillas filled with cheese topped with red chile and slow cooked pork. Are you excited yet? I was. However, our waiter wasn't surfing the same wave and delivered two orders of the Sadie's Carne Adovada Dinner. Basically the same dish minus the enchiladas. After tasting a bite of this New Mexican goodness I forgot all about the mistake and went into "I'm gunna house this shit" mode. The pork was tender, moist, and basically fell apart the moment your fork touched it. The red chile was plenty flavorful and the spice was just enough to have your forehead sweating toward the end of the meal. The dish was served with some yummy papitas and frijoles. Like Ms. Cedillo, Sadie isn't shy with her portions. Both Mike and I had to tap out after finishing three quarters of our meal. The space I is an old bowling alley converted into a New Mexican restaurant. Out of all the bowling alleys turned into New Mexican restaurant I have been to, I'd have to say that Sadie's was the best. Outside of the ole dish swap-a-roo the service as attentive and knowledgeable. I thought the staff did an excellent job of making sure our waters and sodas were constantly full. I feel that the water and drink refills are one of those overlooked areas that add value to dining experience. Even though my true Mexican love lives in Chicago, when in Albuquerque I will definitely be looking Sadie up. I mean it's not cheating if she lives over 1000 miles away. Right? 2 Carne Adovada Dinners 1 Root Beer --------------------------------------- $28
(4)Bob R.
Sadies is sort of hidden behind Lotaburger as you are driving N on 4th St, so eyes right or you might pass it. Our TeleNav took us right to the spot from ABQ. We got there for a late Sunday lunch, and fortunately the crowd was decreasing. It is always good to find a crowd of locals to confirm your choice. We got a reservation and a pager, but found a table for two in the bar area within 5 minutes circumventing the queue. We served ourselves some tortilla chips, but were surprised that there was only a single variety of salsa available. We ordered the Carne Adovada and a Chile Relleno, and waited. Each eventually came, smoothered with a mixture of frijoles, and frijoles and potatoes, but no rice. As is usually the case in NM, we each got two sopaipillas, but had to ask for some honey. Both dishes were just OK. Compared to Lupe's in Gridley, CA; Sadies has a way to go on its preparation of pork. We expected cubes of pork about 1 inch on a side, but got larger chunks that were not well seasoned, and were not uniformly cooked. Similarly, compared to Dona Esther's in Hollister, CA; Sadies has a way to go in its preparation of Chile Rellenos. I chose not to finish eating mine; those in Hollister are superior. Each Sadies dish was generously more than we could consume. Note to Seniors, dieters or those on a budget; split an entrée. As an example, Sadies offers a main dish with your choice of two enchiladas with the bean concoction as described above. Get a 2nd plate and split the order up. If you think two enchilladas is not going to be enough, add more to the first entree order, and then split it. It will save you about $5 when compared to ordering a second identical entree, plus the portions are so large that this minimizes waste. While I am not sure how busy the servers in the dining room were, those in the bar were swamped. If Sadies added one more server in the bar area, we would appreciate it.
(3)Kay C.
I gave this place 4 stars for the food. However, very long wait, and didn't like the server. My bf and I were traveling in NM and the last day we had an easy day and decided to have 'early dinner'. We found Sadie's because it was recommended in my Fodor's travel book. We got there at 5:30 PM and was told we had to wait for 45 minutes. 45!! But it was still early so we decided to wait and took the pager. It was 6:50 PM when we were seated. 1 hr and 20 minutes wait... After such a long wait, we were very hungry and a little grumpy already. And our server didn't see us, at least he claimed so, and started to serve another couple that were seated after us. That was after we sat at the table waiting for 10 minutes already. The bus gal was very friendly trying to get us nachos and drinks to make us less unhappy. It's good our orders came very fast. I ordered spicy beef burrito, it was spicy but not as much I expected it to be. The potatoes and beans on regular the side were spicy and so good! My bf ordered a combo of beef Enchilada and chicken Taco. His beef enchilada was just as spicy as my burrito so I suspected that mine was made with "spicy beef", but it was still good. He liked his order and said the potatoes and beans were good, too. If you're a big meat eater, and like spicy food, this is the place to eat. My burrito was stuffed with nothing else but ground beef. And the portion is BIG. But make sure you have a reservation or come very early or you'll starve and get upset before you get seated.
(4)M J.
The waiter was super friendly and helpful. As for the food, since I am not a big fan of spicey, I cannot give it a good or bad rating. We got the chili on the side ,and man, it burns going down. If you like SPICEY Mexican or New Mexican food, then this is your place. (Not me though, so sorry).
(4)Jenny K.
A friend who grew up in Albuquerque recommended Sadie's, so my husband and I stopped here while we were visiting NM. First of all, the restaurant is enormous. Second, the portions match the setting - soooooo much food. I highly recommend anything with the carne adovado. The pork is marinated in red chile sauce and then slow cooked so it turns out so moist and tender and flavorful. Fantastic food and friendly service. This is a must for anyone visiting ABQ.
(5)Jeff K.
I was told this was THE place to go for authentic New Mexican food. Now I know I really don't like New Mexican food. Period. However, the salsa seemed unusually fresh.
(2)Andie S.
yum! try the potato thing with cheese...and a top shelf margarita.
(4)Morgan G.
Sadie's has great salsa and flaming hot red chile. The portions are huge! All in all a good local new mexican eatery.
(3)Jetgirl ..
So yummy! Best green chile in town. Best sopapillas in town. Incredible salsa. Great service. This was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to Albuqueerque and I loved it from the start. When I can't make it down to the restaurant to get my Sadie's fix, I buy the salsa at the grocery store, but beware the hot...it's really freaken' hot!
(5)Ron J.
What can you say about Sadie's. The salsa makes your face burn in all the right ways. The portions are so large even a salad is as large as your head and stuffed full of goodness. If only I lived closer, they'd see me in at Sadie's more often.
(5)Justin B.
ok atmosphere. it was packed! chips and salsa = good. margaritas - ok had the adovada on blue corn tortilla with red sauce - good flavors - a little too much sauce...good tender pork.
(3)Mihir P.
Awesome! Best Mexican hands down
(5)Carl P.
When we first moved to ABQ, everybody raved about this place. After one visit, I'm not exactly sure why. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, and with most Mexican restaurants, the portions more than plentiful. But it just didn't seem like anything special. The carne adovoda was very good, and as mentioned, the plates were massive. I wasn't disappointed, I just wouldn't make a special trip to visit.
(3)John K.
I took my whole family to Sadie's for lunch (twenty of us) so they could get their Mexican food fix. I am dissapointed, to put it nicely, at the service we received. The food was usual Sadie's, though the service was MUCH worse than it normally is - it's normally poor service, but not this bad. Our waitress spilled a bowl of salsa on my mom's jacket and didn't have the decency to say sorry or or to help clean it up. We had to ask for our food and sopapillas and when our waitress finally brought them she brought only 4 (did she expect 20 people to share???) and literally just dropped them on the table. I have never had a worse dining experience. The management team was equally bad today. Her response was "Sorry, I wish there is something I could do." She didn't even over to help clean off the jacket so my mom could wear it out into the cold. I suppose because there was a 45 minute wait to be seated, they feel that they can treat customers poorly. IF you haven't experienced Sadie's, the food is good, but please don't expect good or even decent service.
(1)Toshi T.
Upon recommendation from one of my co-workers who attended school here and played for the Lobos back in the day, I decided to check out this place for dinner. Arriving solo on a Tuesday night just before 8 pm, I did have to wait a minute or two for them to clear a spot for me as the bar area was totally full as was the rest of the place. For my dinner selection, I opted for the Carne Adovada dinner. Impatiently waiting for my food, I munched on the chips and salsa. The salsa was excellent with just the right amount of heat for me. When the dinner arrived, it was absolutely delicious. As I was finishing my meal, my server bought me two, fresh and hot Sopaipillas in a basket. Biting off a little piece, as full as I was (on the verge of exploding), I poured honey into the newly created opening and stuffed these sweet, doughy delectables into my mouth. Yummy! The one, top shelf margarita I ordered was a bit weak, but I really came for the food anyway. All-in-all, I had a wonderful experience for just over $30 with tip. The service, from start to finish, was amazing, and if I end up visiting Albuquerque again, this place is definitely on my list.
(4)Amy S.
three words: carne adovado ribs It was an amazing dinner. Can't recommend the ribs enough. House margaritas are fantastic (and strong!) as well
(4)Sara D.
On a business trip, was taken here by my host. I wanted local joint. There is a tortilla chip bar self-service. We had guac & melted cheese x apptzr. Tequilas, chicken sopaipilla, the other dish was like a chicken quesadilla. Huge portions, delicious. Plenty to take home.
(4)Carl P.
if i could give 6 stars for the service, i would...i've been to 5 star restaurants and not received as good of service as i have here. attentive wait staff, but not annoyingly so. the food is delicious...the green chile salsa is the best in the world. two people could just about share a plate because the servings are so plentiful. if not, be sure to ask for a take-home box and enjoy some leftovers!
(5)Kelly K.
Sadie's Dining room is probably my favorite (New) Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere is nice and the food is stupendous! I especially enjoy Sadie's Carne Adovada. The portions are generous and there's usually enough for at least a snack later if you take it with you. A must for any occasion!
(5)Ashley T.
In town for a cousin's wedding and wanted to try some local fare. The salsa and chips are delicious enough to make a meal out of. But then there's the tacos, burritos, and chili rellenos...the beans and potatoes under everything are perfection. And then the sopapillas wrap it...mmm. I'd get fat eating here if I was in New Mexico.
(5)H M.
OK. Sadies is New Mexican food Sadies is New Mexican food Sadies is New Mexican food. Here are some other facts: - New Mexican food is only done right in New Mexico. - Don't come to New Mexico for Mexican food. - Properly done, New Mexican food is served in strangely cafeteria-ish settings. Not glossy, shiny, or with high ceilings. Once you sit down, everything falls into place. - Sadies serves margaritas in PINTS....PINTS! - Sadies is delicious. - Sadies overfeeds you, they want you to be happy. - There are other good New Mexican places but Sadies is one of the very good ones and this review is about Sadies.
(5)Alasdair M.
Huge portions at reasonable prices. At some places this might be a recipe for poor food, but we were very impressed by the quality. Deliciously spicy beans, and very tender ribs. Would happily eat here again.
(4)Trenton T.
My favorite new Mexico restaurant. Can have a crazy wait which sometimes can be avoided by sitting in bar (there are tables) amazing food. I myself am working my way down the menu everytime I go. I am yet to be disappointed. The papa fritos are my favorite.
(5)Chris J.
It's been over 2 years but I'm back in town and decided to revisit sadie's. Once again, the food was fantastic! I got the chicken enchiladas once again and was surprised because I had forgotten how spicy New Mexico food can be. Also surprised/delighted to have the sopaipillas and honey again. Great food, good service, definitely should be on your list when visiting Albuquerque!
(5)Sujan P.
Stuffed Soapapilla- Chicken Flautas- chicken (I think I got these?) Chips and salsa I love sadies! I dunno what else to say. I'm salivating thinking about it. Everytime I visit my parents I go to this place. We've been going since the restaurant was located in the bowling alley not too far down the street. Unlike most places that grow, Sadies hasn't comprimised quality, taste or portion (only the price). Bravo! Stuffed sopa- if you're not a voracious eater, I'd suggest having them hold on the garnish so when you take it home you're not picking out cooked lettuce. I'd vote for the green chile with this dish. the only con: The wait. The wait!
(5)Rick G.
Great service, great food, I love the lunch specials which were reasonable. The chile relleno was hot, just like I like it. One of my favorites in ABQ
(4)Tarra D.
This used to be a standby favorite! The service was horrible.. our waiter was basically absent... our busboy was efficient and present... my margarita came just about the time we were finishing our meal... the enchilada was horrible... one corn tortilla with shredded chicken on top smothered with cheese and bland green chili. Would never go back since there are much better mexican food places in town.
(1)Dana H.
We were passing through and only in Albuquerque for one night and Sadie's was recommended to us. I'd read great reviews on Yelp so we decided to go for it. I was blown away by how delicious everything was. I'm going to dream about my enchilada with spicy ground beef for years to come and also wanted to smuggle their salsa out somehow. The bf got a carne adovado burrito and loved his. The portions were humongous for a great price, our server Phil was fantastic, and the Fat Tires were tasty as well. Make a reservation though, they're busy.
(5)Kurt A.
Arrived for dinner on a Monday night and faced a 45 minute wait. Fortunately we found a seat at a table in the bar and were into the Chips & Salsa 5 minutes after we arrived. Their regular Chile was not gluten-free but the meatless green was. Our server told us we could call ahead and request gluten-free next time we were in town. The service was outstanding and the Traditional Margaritas are not to be missed. Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)Michael L.
It's no surprise that Sadie's is always busy. Greatest New Mexican food anywhere.
(5)Tom L.
Craving red chile beef enchiladas (w/ blue corn tortillas) so we stopped by Sadie's. We were seated immediately & served chips & their GREAT salsa. Unfortunately they no longer give you warm, fresh chips - but have them waiting on all the tables as they're set. The server took a little while to take our order but when they finally did the service was good & the food was very good. Would have given 4 stars if service was quicker. Good overall, though.
(3)Thomas J.
Oh Sadie's, you stole my heart.. . . . . . I miss Sadie's, bad. I miss it SO badly that I have the salsa shipped to me here in Washington Dc. I once lived and worked at Sadie's of New Mexico. My opinion may seem biased but it's from the source. A few items from the menu I dream about, often. . . . 1. Blue Corn Guaco/Chicken Taco. 2. Salsa 3. Chili Rellenos 4. Salsa 5. House Salad with homemade lemon vinaigrette. 6. Silver Coin Margarita, on the rocks. 7. Salsa 8. Rolled cheese enchiladas with their vegetarian green chili. 9. Carne Adovada 10. Salsa 11. Huevos Rancheros w/ HUGE corn tortilla. Eggs over medium, hold the onions with veggie green chili... please! I could list the entire menu but, these are what I miss the most. I would like to share a few tips that an out-of-towner may appreciate when visiting Sadie's. *Check out lunchtime. Killer specials. *It gets busy, REALLY busy and stays that way until closing. I recommend going during the middle of the day oh say, 3:30-4pm. You will be happy you did. After 5pm, forget it. You will easily be on a wait. *Your waitress, waiter, bartender and bussers are working hard, tip em good! *Save room for your free dessert, warm sopapillas with honey. If you want REAL honey, ask your server. The stuff on the table is just sugar that is colored the color of honey. *They have old school sit down style arcade games near the restrooms! Pac-man and Gallica. Keeps the kids busy and the 80's kid inside you! Bring quarters; your server does not have any! The first thing I will be doing when I visit home is stopping in at Sadie's to get my "fix". And, that day will not come fast enough. Sadie's, I love you.
(5)Marjorie N.
We passed through ABQ on our way to Texas. We wanted to experience some New Mexican cuisine and found this place on yelp. Upon arrival we were greeted by friendly hosts who seated us immediately. The place is huge!!! Our drink orders were taken by (what looked like) a 12 year old. Not relevant but I thought it was pretty damn funny at first. Turns out he's the waitress's b*tch. He kept our drinks and napkins fully stocked. But it made me think of NM's child labor laws....hhhhmmm...lol. So really quick here's what I liked: The plain sopaipillas and their chips and salsa. The salsa had a nice spicy kick to it. I think I ate a whole serving of chips to myself. Plain sopaipillas come with your meal. Don't know if its a dessert?....there's a bottle of honey at your table to use with it. Delicious!!! Other than that I can't really say I loved the food. I wonder if people here have ever had Taco Bell? Coz that's exactly what I paid $13 for. I had a stuffed chicken sopaipilla with their red sauce on top. Its also topped with chopped lettuce and tomatoes. The shredded chicken had no flavor to it. Soooo reminiscent of Taco Bell, you would never catch me at this place again. A huge star for their margaritas though. For $7 I got a huge glass of their midori margarita and that thing was mindblowingly strong!!!!
(2)Randell N.
Good stuff. Food and service was good. Little pricey, but easy to share. Lots of food. Homemade chips and the sauces are excellent.
(4)Megan A.
Best service we've ever had. If you can, ask for Caprice. She was truly the most thoughtful and helpful server we've ever had at a restaurant. After a long day driving from Denver to Albuquerque, we were very hungry and wanted some Mexican food. Our kids were tired and needed naps but our hotel didn't have room service, so we chanced it and went to Sadie's, hoping the baby and toddler would behave. As soon as our food arrived, the 2-year-old started to have a melt-down. We were then going to box our food up and take it to go, but Caprice said that because of the late hour, she didn't have any other customers. She offered to show our 2-year-old the fountain, within our view, while we ate dinner. They never left the restaurant, so we weren't scared for our child, but we were able to eat our dinner in peace. That was above and beyond what we had hoped for. The food was also fantastic, after all that.
(5)Felicia K.
Here's why I like Sadie's: 1. Their specialty margaritas are yummy and they come in a huge glass. 2. One dish is enough for 2 people. 3. The atmosphere. Yes, it's crowded, but I love that gigantic families all go there on the weekends. Call ahead and make a reservation if you don't want to wait!
(4)Richard S.
Worst service ever - unbelievable really. We had a party of six from work. Some out-of town and a couple local. Place was not terribly busy and we were seated in 10 minutes. It took nearly 2 hours from start to finish. The room we were seated in was dumpy and the table next to us was covered with dirty plates from an earlier table and was never cleaned up - so we got to see those during the entire dining experience. We waited at least 15 minutes until a surly waitress walked up with a scowl and asked if we were ready to order. Did not ask if we wanted drinks so we ordered drinks with our meals. She demanded ID from each of us, age 40 to 60. The ID on the 60-year old gentleman was expired by 2 days and she refused to serve him. He offered non-expired military ID and she refused to accept that. The $10.50 margarita was so-so. Nice it wasn't a mix but was watered down. Food was very slow coming and just ok, typical mass-produced mexican with overpiled "plate o brown-grey slop" presentation. Waitress never checked backed to see how the food was, or to ask if we wanted more drinks. At this point were pretty turned off and when she asked about the bill we asked for separate checks. She seemed very annoyed and said she needed to see if she could do that and disappeared for another 15 minutes. She then came back with the separate checks and vanished for good. Another 20 minutes later we wrote her off and brought our checks up to the front and paid. She then showed up by the front register and hung close to the people paying, since no doubt she figured zero tip was on the way. The three in our car all left zero tip. I tip 20% almost always and round up from there if service was exceptional. I left zero tip - first time in probably 20 years, but that's what this server deserved. With good or excellent service I would have rated this a three star. Our experience was a solid one star and that's being generous.
(1)Rob V.
Went to Sadie's to celebrate Father's Day this year. My entire family was present. My wife, three daughter's, son, their significant others and three grandchildren. The food was just OK. There are a dozen places in Albuquerque that serve better Mexican. The service was lousy. Orders were not all brought at once, and when it came time to pay the bill, the server took nearly an hour to try and split the tab. I won't say he was on some controlled substance, however he acted very, very weird. If you want quality food accompanied with excellent service, go to Cocina Azul or a number of different Mexican places in Albuquerque. DO NOT GO TO SADIE'S!!! Sadie's is over-rated for the quality of it's food and the service stinks. Did I mention the service is just plain lousy!!! I wrote to them expressing my thoughts about our experience at their place of business (?), however they did not even offer a replay or apology. Very disappointing.
(1)Rose A.
I had dinner here and had a Chile Relleno, a brisket taco & also a bowl full of guacamole - delicious!!! Albuquerque ranks as one of the best places to have Mexican food. I am originally from Los Angeles, so I know what good Mexican food is!
(4)Natilee M.
Meh. Huge place that was super packed when my big group arrived. Drinks: I ordered the blue margarita frozen and it came with all the liquid on the bottom where it had obviously been sitting at the bar a while but the other margaritas at my table looked good. I got the blue on a suggestion that it was strong and delicious but wished I'd gotten the midori instead because it was neither. The salsa: not much to say by flavor/consistency. Yes it was hot because they left all the seeds from the pepper in but besides the pleasant heat I was left feeling disapointed. Food: Huge portions with most entrees accompanied by papitas (huge mound of little fried diced potatoes) and pinto beans. I ordered the pork chop which was grilled and delicious. Tasted some of the more traditional fare at my table and was unimpressed. Pros: HUGE portions, grilled porkchops Cons: Most things were one step up from taco bell, my drink was pretty weak Again: Meh.
(2)Emily B.
Expect a large, open space with many tables in Sadie's Dining Room. The environment is family-friendly, with a very personable staff. Three stars on the rating, because I was expecting great Mexican food, and I would have preferred higher quality food in a smaller portion. Sadie's provides the environment and the food for large,c casual meals with a group, or family. There are chips already on the table, with a squirt bottle of honey, and spicy salsa to come with the water. The waters are refilled often, and this is necessary as the food is spicy. I recommend ordering chili on the side to avoid a meal that is too spicy. A note about chili, the green is vegetarian and the red has meat. The bean burrito was a large portion, with potatoes on the side, and a lot of cheese on top. I recommend asking for cheese on the side, or light on the cheese, to avoid a very heavy meal. Sopapillas were brought for dessert, and tasted good, although I had never had one before.
(3)Laura I.
As Elvis once sang "But I can't help, coming to Sadie's." Oh he didn't? Well I can't help it because it's reliable mexican food close to my house. It's not the best mexican food I've ever had, but it's good for a fix. They have some of the best salsa in town. Everything on the menu is good, drenched in chile and cheese. They serve papas instead of rice unlike most mexican restaurants. House margaritas are stong and can be ordered by the pitcher. A must try for out of towners!
(4)David S.
Great food and service. Had the papitas fritas con frijoles (fried potatoes and beans smothered) Every time I've been here have never been disappointed.
(4)Colin C.
Best Mexican food on the planet. Get the enchiladas - awesome. They tend to be a little more "soupy" than you're likely used to, but I love em that way. You get much more than you pay for. Large dining room, attentive staff, killer food. Bury the chips. Order a margarita. Go for the enchiladas and make sure you have plenty of water and sopies to cool the burn. An institution and my favorite thing about Albuquerque.
(5)Pamela S.
Now, I have to preface my 5 star review with this: we have had better food, but... To start, we each had a massive margarita which were well made, and very strong. Very good start. I had: the red chile enchiladas since I made it my mission while back in NM to find the best enchiladas I could, and these were damn good. We also had a tamale each, they were sweet, spicy, moist, perfect. He had the carne adovada, which was heavenly. The sopapillas, beans, everything was fantastic. We ate WAY too much, had to take a nap afterwards due to the food coma, and had a fantastic time. As good as it gets in Albuquerque...
(5)Meredith M.
Favorite Mexican food restaurant anywhere. Dining room isn't very fancy, but the food is fabulous and the prices are amazing. Hubby and I regularly split the spicy beef burrito and we both walk away stuffed. Huge portion sizes for most entree items. If you don't like spicy food, stay away from the salsa. If you do, get ready to be impressed. Yum.
(5)Dolores G.
I enjoy a good meal at Sadies now and again. Maybe I just go for the Salsa. I avoid going on the typical Thurs, Fri or Sat nights or I go early. The food quality is spot on about 65% of the time. I find anything with chicken you order there to be a bit bland. Their portions are large, the papitas are one of my favorite sides there. While it maybe worthy of 4 stars on occasion I am only giving it 3 becasue like El Pinto (nice ambiance) and Gardunos (nice happy hour but I don't take friends there) they are over hyped.
(3)Tough C.
I'll make this as short and to the point as I can-This place is the Denny's of Mexican (or New Mexican, even), food. It's the worst I' ve ever had, anywhere. Really. I've had better frozen dinners. I grew up eating Mexican food. This place is insulting, in every way. Let's begin: The service? Terrible. Patronizing, rushed (when they bother to show up), absent mostly. Didn't manage to bring two items I asked for (even after she repeated the order back to me). She was obviously tweaking. Is it that difficult to get good, sober servers in ABQ? The food: Lousy. Nothing special. BORING. Forgettable. Not worth the price-AT ALL. A step up from Taco Bell. I asked for a side of corn tortillas. I got some, unwrapped, on a plate, and they were store bought-NOT FRESHLY MADE. My server insisted that they were. They were cold, too. OMFG! Really!?! When I told her they definitely were not freshly made, she recanted and apologized. Oh, come on already! There's nothing that I hate more than paying for a crappy, overpriced meal and then having to school the waitress. Save your money. Go to Garcias. I can only imagine the good reviews for this restaurant were written by its owners and their friends/workers to save their jobs.
(1)Eliza M.
I read in a tour book that Sadie's is where locals go to eat New Mexican food. I think it meant to say "is where local families go to eat New Mexican food." Lots of families & kids here. You get a lot of food for your money. I literally popped a belt loop after eating here. Literally. We noshed on a lot of chips and salsa before our meal because no server acknowledged us for at least 10 minutes. When our waitress finally did appear, she apologized which was all she had to do to appease us. I ordered a traditional margarita. It was the strongest drink I've had in a restaurant, oh I don't know....... EVER. I ate a ton of food and still left tanked. We ordered a burrito with spicy beef and beef enchiladas, both covered in red & green chile (we never did figure out if we like green or red chile better). My burrito was a foot long and I devoured a good portion of it, thus the ripped belt loop. All portions here are large. It was amazing to see waitstaff walk by, seeing the mounds of food they had to be able to lift. Our meals came with sopaipillas. I had read about these and finally had a chance to try them. There are basically pillows of dough that you put honey on. They were alright but nothing special. We rolled out of there.
(3)Virgo M.
Before Yelp, I used Rachel Ray's approach of "asking the locals" where to eat. To be honest, I still rely on that approach from time to time, Many locals agreed that "Sadie's" was the place to eat for New Mexican food. And yes, there is a difference between Mexican and New Mexican, I quickly learned. I love how everything in New Mexico is served with hot sopapillas and honey (OMG) and unless otherwise specified, your food will be smothered with red chile sauce aka southwestern gravy. Just look at the pics people have uploaded if you don't believe me :) Sadie's food and service was top notch. This joint is jumping...full of local people and wide spread out. If I ever get the chance to visit again, I'd for sure come back.
(4)Patt F.
Sadie's was marginal at best! Kind of like Taco Bell on steroids. Had Sadie's Enchilada's, one a spicy beef and the other chicken and both meats were ground to a fine pulp. Ordered them Christmas and couldn't tell the red from the green! Sopaipillas were cold and greasy! So much for famous Sadie's! On the plus side, the chips and salsa were great! Should have stopped there!
(1)Daryl C.
Fantastico Started off with chips and salsa. It is very spicy as other Yelpers have described, but also very flavorful. I just had to buy some extra to take home too... Had the 3 meat combination: Carne Adobada, Shreaded Brisket tacos & chili relleno. Each was good, but the relleno, was by far the best I have ever had. First off, they used a Hatch Chili instead of the more common Poblano. The layer of egg was a lot thinner than everyone else's and didn't get mushy like I'm use to. I was only able to clean 1/2 my plate, just couldn't eat all the potatoes that they gave me. I would drive from LA to Albuquerque to eat here again. I would also stop at the local grocery store and buy a sack of the chilies.
(4)M M.
Food's alright.. don't know what the hype is about
(3)Cara S.
Went to Sadie's at 9:05 tonight, confident we would be able to enjoy dinner and margaritas before their advertised 10pm closure. Here's how our jolting interaction went: Us, politely: "Table for two for dinner, please." Hostess, with no remorse: "Sorry, we're closed." Us, confused: "We thought you were open til ten?" Hostess, sort of enjoying this: "Nope, we closed at nine tonight." Dazed, we left. In the car driving away, disappointed, we checked their yelp profile. Says closes at 10. We checked their WEBSITE. Says closes at ten. We couldn't exactly cruise in and insist they serve us - it was past that point. So we called: "Hi, are you open? We saw you're open til ten online but wanted to check." "No, sorry, closed at nine tonight." "Oh. Why?" "It's summer hours. I mean winter hours." Sounds to me like somebody made the game time decision to just close an hour early and turn away people who were ready to come in and enjoy a full meal and margaritas. Heckuva way to run a business. If you're going to change your hours, post it online so folks know. Otherwise you get nasty yelp reviews and angry customers who won't visit your restaurant because they were hungry and thirsty when they got there and were heartlessly turned away. Too bad I can't review their food, just their crummy service.
(1)Courtney L.
Wow! What a welcome to Albuquerque. We had just come from that horrible tram and I was kind of in a funk, so when the Holiday Inn recommended Sadie's, I was skeptical of all things New Mexico and determined to hate this state. Sadie's totally saved that. I'll admit the service was only so-so. Kinda slow, not very attentive and my meal was wrong. They went to get it corrected with zero hassle, but it was a little annoying that I had to wait and stare awkwardly at the husband while he pretended to eat, but tried to remain polite while I insisted over and over that he "just go ahead and eat", but he was reluctant to do so.. and yeah, you might know that dance.... Finally my food came and HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF BABY JEBUS. It was amazing. I ordered the Roberto Special and frankly I had no idea what it was when I ordered. Basically I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy. I asked her if the Carne Adovada was spicy and I get a big ol' duh face. I then asked about like 3 or 4 other dishes and yes, they were all spicy. Finally I asked her what would be good and she pointed to the Roberto special... so fine, I'll take that. BEST DECISION EVER. It was amazing. It is basically a hamburger on top of a pile of rice and beans covered in cheese. It sounds... stupid.. but it was AMAZING. I was SO full after like a third of my meal and I just sat there and stared at it feeling sad because I knew I would never get to eat this again. I mean, really.. what are the chances of me coming to Albuquerque again? The husband did order the Carne Adobada and I tried a bite, but it was lava to me so I can't speak to it. He absolutely loved it, but this story is about me so basically get the Roberto Special (chile on the side if you are a wimp and proud). I was also terrified that I would be able to eat nothing on our whole New Mexico excursion, but that was not the case. To the husband's disappointment, we ate a TON of awesome food, but nothing as spicy as this restaurant was. So basically, you have to try Sadie's. Unfortunately the service isn't awesome, but I wouldn't classify it as BAD, but the food is stupid good so it is worth any hassle!
(4)Andrew K.
Lots of food on your plate. Excellent chips. Food is okay but not spectacular. Decent place to go.
(3)Denise H.
Uhm yea, hot salsa? they got it...actually too hot for me & I thought I enjoyed hot; I love a good Wasabi but this is the kinda fire hot salsa that has you banging your fists on the table hot, knocking over anything in your way to the water hot... Anyhow, the staff is always real nice & this is an original dyed-in-the-wool NM thing...so if you are still a carpet-bagger, new in town, visiting or just wanna treat yourself to a little torture...dont forget to come here! I highly recommend the chile rellenos or cheese enchiladas just dont forget to try either ala Christmas style...half red & half green (In case you dont know) because you never can trust the wait-staff to honestly depict between which is hotter when you ask, they're taste buds are fried from the salsa Im sure of it. So just split it up & decide for yourself, or else ask for it on the side since either or can be VERY hot. Its a good hot/burn though...addicting no less :)
(4)Verene M.
After all our traveling, we are finishing with SADIE'S. Nothing on this planet is as yummy as the food at Sadie's. Everything here is so good, the decision on what to eat is the tough part of eating here. New Mexico chili is the best. Red...green....Christmas? The chili ribs are over the roof...the tacos... Oh My Gosh where to I even began I want everything on the menu. The service is very attentive here.
(5)Adam M.
Best New Mexican food in ABQ. Huge portions. I frequent the stuffed sopapilla, so much food, so worth it. Margaritas are also pretty swell.
(4)Cassandra D.
Way to spicy, my mom and both love spicy but this was not enjoyable it burned your lips and tongue so much you didn't taste anything. The salsa didn't taste fresh but it was still okay. I had a taco and enchilada with green sauce and could not eat anything that had the sauce on it because my moth was on fire. The chicken taco was ok it was plain shredded chicken no flavor. I love red and green chile but I would not come back to here for theirs. Way to spicy!
(2)Mark M.
I did exactly like I was supposed to: -Sopaipilla with honey? Check! -Carne Adovada? Check! -Red AND Green salsa? Check (I think???? They looked similar, so I'll just assume I had both.)! I LOVE being told what to do. Just ask me to tell you the story about the ball, the gag, and the "ranch dressing." The amount of food provided was absolutely comical. And I don't mean like Jim Belushi comical...I mean like actually funny comical; I think I got about 1/4 of the way through my MOUND of food. I *almost* felt like I was given a trough, which would be SO cool. I read some other reviews that said the service sucked. I totally disagree. My "drink master" never let my ice tea runneth dry...and it was unsweetened and brown and delicious, unlike the slop at Barrio Star. BOOOOOOOOO Barrio Star. Never, EVER, go to Barrio Star ( yelp.com/biz/barrio-star… ). I don't think you would ever have to wait to eat here. Sadie's appeared to be bigger than The Tardis***, and the restaurant also appears to travel though time, too! It clearly had just gotten back from the 80's! Zing! I think I liked The Frontier better...but I definitely feel like I got a full New Mexican experience at Sadie's minus being given any blue meth...allegedly. ***(Note: if you don't get this joke, you are much, much cooler than I am).
(4)Martin S.
This is the third time we've been here. Food has always great. Service has always been marginal. Blue Corn anything is good.
(4)S K.
Delicious New Mexican food and margaritas. I love the stuffed sopapillas.
(4)David K.
This place tends to be hit or miss. Lunch today was pretty good. I had the small lunch combination. Beef taco, beef enchilada, and chili relleno. The beef tasted a little bit burned. Awesome hot sauce! Prompt refills on the ice tea. Lots of chips. Very friendly service.
(3)Ali C.
The food is always fast and the service is always friendly. The plates are also huge. The only complaint is that the food can be a little greasy otherwise its delicious.
(4)Aubrey J.
Ate here a few times. Always SALTY! Last time I went, everyone got food poisoning. I called to try and let them know what we'd had off the menu so they could pull it/check it and they were very rude. I will never eat there again.
(1)Jackie B.
Did not live up to reviews! Margaritas were overpriced and weak. Beef enchilada was not spicy, no flavor. Just beef, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. No mole sauce? Shredded chicken taco, meat dry. Husband had brisket burrito. It was super sized! Meat a little dry, but he enjoyed it. Sopapilas were great that came with meal. Will not return, not recommend. Service was great however! :)
(2)Cydnie M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and the chili is to die for. Servers are always friendly & the food is always fresh! You can't go wrong when you eat here... One of the best places in Albuquerque, I probably eat here a couple times a month... Love it!
(5)Alli F.
Incredible New Mexican food! Salsa is fresh, and very spicy, with a lot of smokey flavor. Recommend the pork tamale with green chile sauce- you just can't get any better than that! Also recommend ordering a couple of items a la carte versus the meals, portions are large and this allows you to try a variety. Make the drive to this location over the others, we had a great dinner experience and will absolutely be returning the next time we are in Albuquerque.
(4)Amanda T.
If I could give 0 stars, I would. Between the Taco Burger, an a la carte chicken sopapilla and my daughter's niño enchilada, there was probably 2 lbs. of flavorless "cheddar" cheese on everything. My chicken sopapilla was exactly that...a chewy pastry filled with what tasted like boiled and shredded chicken. No spices, seasoning, sauce, nothing except probably 3/4 of a pound of that awful cheese. It was served with the choice of red or green chili that were nearly inedible, they were so spicy. So I added sour cream, and it was better (nearly $2 for the side, though.) My husband's taco burger was two beef patties in a disgusting, greasy and chewy taco shell with more cheese. The niño enchilada is merely a ton of cheese wrapped in a tortilla and topped with cheese. It was dry, hard and greasy. The salsa was ok, but a bit spicy. It's either all or nothing here, which is sad. It would be SO easy to make this place better. Add some seasonings, cut the cheese by 75%, and trim the portions. We for sure won't be back...
(1)Nancy B.
Everyone kept telling me that I have to try this place when I pass through town and I am so glad that I did! Their green chili is the perfect medium spice and adds a great kick to your meal. The red chili was also good for those that can tolerate more heat. And...who doesn't love crafts of margaritas??
(4)Donna S.
If you want excellent salsa buy Sadies. I buy thier salsa by the quart and the entire family loves it! Sadies food is mouth watering good and of course their margaritas are always a hit. This is New Mexico cooking at its best. I bring all of my out of town business visitors to Sadies and it is always a hit. If you don't want your food smothered the staff is very accommodating about putting it on the side in a separate bowl.
(4)Debbie S.
My son found his perfect dish here, the Carne Adovada plate! He now asks to come here often and I still enjoy the Huevos Rancheros. Sadies fed our salsa need while we were in Tucson for years. Glad to be back to ABQ!
(5)Lisa C.
I was pretty skeptical of Sadie's when we first walked in because it felt like a total chain, but we had a pretty nice experience for dinner. We were a little on the late side because we were driving in from Denver, but our wait staff was friendly and super helpful. For dinner, we shared a brisket sopapilla with both red and green chile and a side salad. You get a ridiculous amount of food with each entree- between the two of us, we have eaten about half of our food. The chiles were both really good- I think I preferred the green, but both of them were pretty delicious. The brisket was ok...I felt like it was a little dry, but it was definitely flavorful and a pretty good cut of meat. I'd come back here for sure.
(3)Stanley S.
If you ever find yourself in Alburquque, New Mexico never, never ever done at Sadie's. While some of the staff may be be gracious, the food is terrible. I specifically went to Sadie's for Chili Verde upon a recommendation, and an Internet review, it sucked. I've had better chili verde from a can. The worst homemade chili verde is far better than their chili verde. It's New Mexico for crying out loud, if you can't provide a decent green chili, don't offer it. We're I able to find the person who recommended Sadie's, I'd choke them. Seriously, it sucks.
(1)Michael G.
I'll start off by saying that I'm a Texan so I naturally prefer Tex Mex over New Mex food. With that said, we checked out Sadie's after several locals raved about it. The place looked a little outdated and the men's room was filthy, but the service was really good. I order the adovada enchiladas and I think my wife ordered an adovada burrito. The meat was wayyy too salty and my enchiladas were a pile of mush. The salsa was pretty hot, but didn't have much flavor at all. Sopapillas were a nice surprise and were actually pretty tasty. I think the biggest disappointment was when we got our check. $40 bucks for two mediocre lunches and one beer. I really doubt that we'll go back there.
(2)Molly H.
Sadie, Sadie lovely lady. Sadie's is a sprawling, gargantuan restaurant with tables crowded together in a boisterous setting. I love the history of the place and at least four walls are covered with newspaper clippings, glowing reviews, and local praise. Does it live up to the hype? Well, my brisket enchiladas were super flavorful but buried in a sea of cheese and beans. The sopapillas were delicious and the salsa was spicy and addicting! The Man wanted to try their super crazy burrito. However, on asking the server about it, she answered "the one at Frontier is better." Lucikly, The Man just ate the one at Frontier for lunch! Still, there wasn't too much too complain about, it just did not rise to the level of amazingness that I was expecting.
(3)Paige G.
Stopped on our way through Albuquerque. Great choice! The salsa kept flowing and was good and spicy! Got the enchiladas, chile relleno, carne avado, and sopapillas. Everything was delicious! The green chile was great and spicy!!!
(5)Ana S.
Sadies IS Albuquerque. Great food.
(5)Jane V.
We went on a Friday night and it was super busy. Luckily we found a spot in the bar to wait and enjoy some of their chips and salsa. We should have just stayed at that table. We moved for dinner because the bar was a little noisy. Once we were seated we were basically ignored by our server. My father in law wanted another beer, but only the bus boy stopped by our tables so he had to settle for water. The food was ok. We were more frustrated with our lack of service.
(3)Julie W.
Worlds best queso!! I had my grad party there recently and was treated very well. All the guests had a blast and the food was great. The service is great and the prices are fair. The margaritas are exceptional. I love the location and the patio is lovely.
(5)Heather C.
Tables are way too close together. You can't hear a thing while you're eating there. The food is pretty good, but really average for N.M. food.
(3)Arleen S.
Gross!! When Sadie's was at the bowling alley on north 4th St. (years ago) it was great. Ever since they moved to the nice fancy restaurant further north on 4th, they went downhill. I've tried it a few times, even the new location on Academy, and it's just not good. I will admit to being a Mexican/New Mexican food snob (ya got to come to my house for good NM food! LOL!). However, I like to be able to distinguish what is what on my plate. At Sadies, you can't tell what's what. It just looks all thrown together in a sloppy mess. In my opinion, if you want good New Mexican food try Cocina Azul, Padilla's, or Duran's (the latter being the best but closes early - around 2pm). For good authentic Mexican food try La Taqueria on Lomas or Taco Tote on Coors & Central.
(1)Kathy G.
Love the chicken guaco taco, green chili on the side. Add papitas with cheese sooo good.
(5)Victoria M.
We have been to Sadie's several times, both at the original 4th St. location and at the Santa Ana Star location. It's known for giant portions and old school New Mexican favorites of red and green chile dishes. We have had poor experiences the last three times that were all similar. Subpar food, mediocre service, and an overall disappointing dining experience. We ordered different plates each time and there was a common problem with all of them - the plates are covered in too much gooey, gelatinous cheese-so much so that you cant tell the difference between the entree, potatoes, and beans. The second problem was too little chile which used to be "smothered" on their dishes. The last visit, we also had one order - the sopapilla burger come out all wrong to what was ordered and the sopapilla itself was cold and greasy. We're just not going here anymore. Sorry to say that an old favorite from childhood is in the doghouse indefinitely...just because your well-known and established doesn't mean you can let quality slip! The only thing I would still recommend is happy hour with chips and salsa and a margarita! At least we can drown our sorrows about the bad food and service....
(2)Victor C.
Dry over cooked food. This place has been going down hill for years but after this last time I will never go back.
(1)Isaac C.
The food is greasy, dry and tasteless. The servings are grossly large and they do the awful topping of the gross yellow cheese. This is something I would be ashamed to serve to a tourist claiming it to be New Mexican food. DO NOT COME HERE
(1)NHoff H.
I live in Los Angeles which probably has the best Mexican food outside of Texas, or Mexico itself. I traveled to New Mexico for the Hot Air Balloon Festival (its actually called "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, but that just doesn't roll off the tongue) and all I wanted was a chicken taco and an entire basket of sopapillas, which the festival did not have. Although there were LOTS of foods to choose from, it was mostly fair food. There were a lot of repeat foods, (alot of different vendors with the same types of food) and when I am in a new town the last thing I want to eat is the common corn dog. In asking around and consulting the almighty Google, Sadie's seemed to look promising. We piled in the car and headed out there. The fact that it was packed inside the restaurant and in the waiting area at 9p at night, was a good sign. We chose not to wait as we were starving, so takeout was the best bet. The menu was stuffed with goodies!! Burritos, enchiladas, cane adovada, burritos, tacos chlie rellenos, etc. You name it, it was on there. Even though I wanted to eat it all, ESPECIALLY since I could see most of it coming out of the kitchen, I decided to stick to my cravings. Chicken w guac and an entire basket of soapapillas. My guest had chili ribs. Our tab only came to about $27. Which, I didn't pay attention to at the time. Sitting and waiting I noticed the ambiance, the space is big, but packed. It had a nice family style dining feel. There was a mariachi band serenading the guests. This seemed like a very fun experience, had I been dining in. (NOT a good place for a date, it was very loud! Plus this cultures food isn't easy on your breath.) When our food came out I realized how far my $27 went. I got my basket of soapapillas, my taco, chili ribs, a huge side of beans, a huge side of papitas and an additional side of sopapillas. SO MUCH FOOD!! Let me tell you, every piece of food I ate was delicious. I still dream of it, it was that good. If you are passing through, or staying for awhile, eat here. It will be worth it!!!
(5)Terry A.
Plates are expensive but well worth the price. They are HUGE. You can share one burritto or stuffed sopapilla with two people.
(4)Ryan K.
Being from Texas, I have high expectations for "Mexican" food... I had high hopes for Sadie's based on the previous reviews that it would be a decent place to get some good "authentic" mexican/southwestern style food. My experience was pretty poor, to start with, the chips were greasy, cold Tostada's and the salsa tasted like Hot Pace Picante. I always say, you can judge a good mexican est by their chips and salsa, which Sadie's failed that test, strike 1. The margarita which is touted to be the best Margarita in Albuquerque, was Jose Cuervo margarita mix with some kind of tequila.... Strike 2. Finally I got the Sadie's Taco, ground beef with the added guac, beans and potatoes. The taco was basically a beef taco with guac, nothing special, the beans were the best thing on my plate. Also, I ordered a dos Equis Amber which seemed to be somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees.... Strike 3, you're out Sadie's.
(1)Philip W.
This to me is one of the best New Mexican food places anywhere. Great atmosphere! Great food! They say the hottest menu item is the salsa they bring out with the chips. While this may be true I found the Carne Adovada to be quite hot. Hotter than the salsa - which is nothing short of spectacular by the way.
(5)Eric J.
I was in Albuquerque only for the day and yet so glad I got a chance to dine at Sadie's Dining Room. It's tucked back behind a Blake's Lotta Burger so keep an eye out. Once inside, you'll be greeted by a smiling staff and walked to one of several spacious dining areas, to include an indoor patio. The wait staff is prompt and chips and Sadie's salsa are delivered to the table without delay. If you cringe at the slightest hint of heat, wait until you have a drink before you do the salsa. It's not that hot to me, but some palettes are more delicate than others for sure. I did the slow roasted brisket dinner with green chile on the side on this turn. I was immediately impressed by the portion sizes and the taste was nothing short of magnificent. The entire middle of the plate was covered with an amass of tender brisket flanked by papitos and beans. I didn't even know what color the plates was until the 3rd bite. I only finished 3/4 of the dish before surrendering, but wonder if I could've laid down, if I'd been able to finish the remaining. Definitely got my money's worth. I had a flight to catch so I didn't get to indulge myself with one of their superb margaritas, but I'll double up on the next trip. If you're looking for authentic New Mexican food done right, Sadie's is well worth the trip.
(5)Chupacabra X.
Best salsa. I swear some days it's like they put crack in it. Great "lunch specials" that are cheaper yet still somehow just as gigantic as the dinner portions. If you're smart you'll take 1/2 of it back to the office and eat that for lunch tomorrow. But it's too delicious and you can't stop eating it you gluttonous piggie.
(4)Anna T.
I have been craving your food- unfortunately I don't live there. Please consider opening a restaurant in Tucson, AZ!
(5)Zachary J.
Good food, but you can get better, more authentic Mexican food in ABQ. WAY overpriced from the last time I visited years ago - I think it's because it's become a nice tourist attraction since they started selling the retail products (salsa, etc.) years ago .
(2)Susan S.
great sopapillas , great service, whenever we visit Albuquerque we stop by.
(4)Kimber S.
Largest, undressed nachos I've ever encountered. I always have a hard time eating here mainly because they douse the food in chili so that you can't taste the food.
(3)Cruz K.
Good food..Been at this location forever..Nuff said.
(4)Jenna E.
The salsa is to die for (but it might burn your mouth off!). This place is the greasy spoon of Mexican food and it's AMAZING. My biggest complaint is sometimes the portions are so large, they're overwhelming (in a bad way). I realize that's sort of a stupid thing to mention. However, you get what you pay for and even though the prices on the menu may seem high you get a TON of food. Leftovers will easily last you days...no exaggeration. I normally get a combination plate and it barely looks like I put a dent in it when I ask for a take home box (which ends up weighing close to 5 pounds lol)...that might be a exaggerating a bit but I've never had left overs be so heavy (literally). I think the best part of Sadie's IS the leftovers though. I normally have them for breakfast the next day with an egg over easy (ask for extra no meat green chili to take home!)- yum! Then there's still enough for lunch and/or dinner. I easily get 3-4 meals off of one Sadie's plate which is ridiculous and awesome at the same time. The salsa is the best in town. They sell it at Smith's so if you're from out of town- LOAD UP. However, the stuff they serve at the restaurant is slightly different than the jars at the store- I think they mix the red chili and green chili salsa but I'm not 100% on that. Either way- they're all good. You won't be able to stop with the chips & salsa they give you either- it burns so good. If you can't tolerate spicy food or are not used to the NM chili burn, WATCH OUT. You can't go wrong with Sadie's, especially if you want some awesome leftovers the next day after too many of their margaritas. Haha
(4)Nicole T.
The ambiance is not the greatest but that is not why you come to sadies... you come to sadies for green chili marinated pork..mmm the pork still makes my mouth water, it melts in your mouth and is just the right amount of spice. be warned, if you have a normal appetite or are on a road trip and just passing through for the delicious food, SHARE A PLATE!! portions are huge, especially if you get the world famous humongous sopapilla, trust me.
(4)Jim L.
Entering Sadie's is similar to the boat ride in Willy Wonka, at first its appearance is promising and exciting but it soon changes and you can't wait to get off. I'm a pretty easy guy to please and I usually don't even complain even about some of the sub par restaurants I've eaten at. Sadie's has actually motivated me to create a Yelp account for the sheer fact that it would be a disservice not to warn people! The decor is not bad until you spot the large mural that looks like a 8th grade class collaborated then got lazy and didn't want to finish it. Between that and the slightly exposed noisy kitchen we should have turned and ran. Chips and salsa came out, not bad followed by a margarita in a pint class. I'm still hopeful at this point and I will say the staff was friendly and moving quickly. I had a chicken taco, this is where the ride takes a turn. This dish, and from what I can see, all the dishes are prepared with NO LOVE! It was literally a plate that looked liked hog feed excessively slopped on with a sad taco plopped on top. The chicken taco had a faint smell that resembled my dogs in the first moments of bathing them. I won't even get into my girl's dish but all I can say is that as she poked thru her plate of slop, it' was the first time she wasn't smiling all vacation! I ordered another margarita simply cuz " some people drink to forget" That drink was watered down! Sadie's is the epidimy of quantity over quality. I left feeling sad for the family that started the restaruant and at one time may had been the place to get good New Mexican cuisine. I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to find some sweets to replace the bad taste in my mouth both figuratively and literally!
(1)William F.
Uniquely New Mexico, and the food is as great as ever. Go two days - one for the stacked chicken enchiladas (both red and green chili is great) - and for day two, the Roberto Special. Chili cheese and papists with more great chili over a large hamburger family. Sadie's is what New Mexican food is all about.
(5)Michael V.
In Albuquerque to get married. Stopped at Sadie's for lunch 11/03/2013 @ approximately 3 p.m. for a late lunch. The place looks really nice. The decorations seem to be a mix between New Mexican and Native American which make for a wonderful and inviting ambiance. And the live music [mariachis playing] only added to this authentic New Mexican feel. Someone immediate took our drink orders and another person brought out chips. Oh my goodness, I was having a good old time and the salsa had just the right amount of heat. It took me a few minutes to decide what to have and finally we decided on a medium rare Rib Eye with Chili Relleno ( we were sharing a plate since we heard about large servings), a side of guacamole, two tortillas. After several minutes the steak plate came out on a bed of diced fried potatoes and beans and a salad. The house dressing was awful, I could make out what it was and settled on ranch dressing which is also served with a salad. I was greatly disappointed to find our steak charred and way over cooked. At which time I notified another waited about not being happy with my steak. About 15 minutes pass and our waitress finally makes it to our table to see if everything is alright and I advise here about making a complaint and telling her it should be out about now. She checks for us and sends a manager over to "officially" take our complaint and by now we have finished the rest of our meal. We sit and wait another 15 minutes for a rare steak this time. I'm told a manager cooked it but it came out a warm red. A manager took 10% off our ticket but all I really wanted was a medium rare steak and they just couldn't do it. Tips: If you are looking for a large side of guacamole, do not order the almost 5 dollar size it is puny order the 8$ guacamole salad. I would not recommend ordering steak here. The New Mexican foods plates around us looked great but our 27$ Rib Eye and Chile Relleno was far from perfection. The Chile Relleno had a thick chewy crust on it. Yuck! The sopapillas were really good. My last complaint - the service could have been much better. I actually could have enjoyed my steak with my meal if our waitress had been more alert and focused with her tables. It's a shame that this visit was such a dud I believe it could have been outstanding and could have showcased the kind of service Sadie's if famous for. I'll be back but next visit will try New Mexican.
(2)Lesley B.
The food is good for the most part......not as good as it use to be.....we ordered a salad for my son and the lettuce was gross and brown......it is always a hit or miss.....sometimes the papitas as are great ......sometimes they are under cooked.....or burnt. The main dinning room needs a very good cleaning.....the plants above are filthy and we have watched dust fall onto tables. We always request to sit with nothing above the table. The servers are lazy and rude. The busers are better and more reliable. The food just is not consistent. It's gone down hill. One last tip......get your chile on the side or they will drown your food and it will get soggy. The prices are not worth the quality. The green chile is good......and the beef brisket is as well. But they just put it in the burrito in chunks.......lazy kitchen.....not to shred it properly. I would recommend Hot Tamales in Rio Rancho.
(2)Adam D.
This is a hard review to write. Sadie's is clearly an Albuquerque classic that deserves respect. When I first came to NM, I thought this place was the bomb. Since then, I've found more reliably good New Mexican food, places with better service, and places that are less crowded. Expect a wait. I don't get the "no rice" thing. They have potatoes, which I find to be greasy and reminiscent of breakfast. They act as a gut bomb and are generally kind of shitty. The ribs aren't bad and will ensure a healthy case of "sting ring" the next morning. I actually respect that. The prices are high for the quality of the food. The portions are very big, so perhaps you can share. You do have to eat here if you live in Albuquerque, if only because people will ask you to meet there occasionally. For my taste, we're better off at Monica's El Portal in Old Town, or Monroe's on Lomas.
(3)Matthew C.
So what is New Mexican food? If Sadie's is an authentic representation, here is a recipe: 1) Take a traditional Mexican dish (e.g. braised pork with chiles) 2) make it poorly (e.g. dry out the pork) 3) make a ton of it 4) drown it in cheddar cheese so it resembles a post-apocalyptic orange glowing lake of cheese 5) cover it in iceberg lettuce and unripe tomatoes 6) serve it with hot sauce so that no one can tell that it stinks. 7) make sure that your customers (if they are loyal, they are completely obese by now) are completely liquored up on margaritas. 8) charge a lot of money. This reminds me of the putrid Mexican food that we used to get in Westchester County when I was a kid. Mexico should sue this place for serving dishes and using names like enchiladas. And the scary thing is that this place is absolutely packed. Man - in my next life, I am going to be a cardiologist in Albuquerque and set up shop right next door to this place. Obama should include a mandatory shutdown of this place in his 2,000 page health care bill - it would be the most effective thing he has done to improve the nation's health. If you haven't figured it out by now, I think that this place absolutely sucks. If you are in Albuquerque, eat at a small Mexican restaurant or gorge yourself on barbeque (unless you are from Texas in which case, I'd advise you to pack some food from home and nuke it in the microwave).
(1)Leighton P.
Back in the day, this was probably a great place, with Sadie in the kitchen and a family recipe for salsa. This incarnation: Meh. Salsa and chips are the only real reason to come here. I can't even recommend the margs. Much of the food (i.e. the rellenos) are prepared by the Albuquerque Tortilla Company, shipped here frozen, then flash fried in the kitchen. Food is presented as a gloppy mess on a plate, and not a "good" gloppy. This place is a machine invented to insert lard and salt into unsuspecting diners while extracting too much money from the other end. You can do waaaay better for New Mexican cuisine. While it's on the other end of town, I'd recommend Cervantes on Gibson way over this for a once-small cafe/bar gone commercial.
(2)Jeanne Z.
This was amazing, by far the place that resonates the most in the memory of my taste buds of my trip to the Southwest. Sadie's stands out as different from the other places I went. We went here on a whim, after drinking a few beers, we saw that it was recommended by Adam Richman from the travel channel so we went and checked it out, and I'm so glad that we did!!
(5)Kristine M.
Very disappointed. On road trip and place looked great for lunch, but restaurant refused to allow lunch orders to-go. Only the large, expensive dinners. We explained that we wanted to eat in the car because our puppy got sick on the trip, but they refused. Seemed pretty cheap to me.
(1)Shane S.
Awesome but make sure and visit the original location. The food is not the same in the locations not on 4th street. Veggie red chili is awesome!
(5)Corey N.
Everything is average. Nothing is above and beyond. Nothing is super amazing. I ate there from the time I could walk until about 8 months ago. I finally realized that I can find better more authentic and tastier food elsewhere. But if you're constipated this will be your best friend!
(3)J. Christopher E.
I've eaten at Sadie's since the 1980s, when Sadie's was in the bowling alley. At that time, I and my friends in high school used to wait on the steps leading up to the small restaurant, sometimes for up to 2 hours. The food was great, but one other reason we used to go is that at that time (30 years ago) they would sometimes not card and we could get margaritas. In the 1990s, I very often frequented Sadie's - I lived just a few streets away and was there at least once a week. Usually I would order the papitas and frijoles dinner, smothered in red and green chile and with an extra tortilla. And then I moved away and didn't come back until more than 10 years later. Happy to say that it is just as I remember it - same fantastic food, same excellent chips and salsa, same great margaritas. Wish I could visit more often.
(4)Lauren G.
I love Sadie's! They have HUGE portions of some of Albuquerque's best New Mexican food. I think that Sadie's chips and salsa are the best I've ever had. They're so addicting!! The stuffed sopapillas are fantastic, and they're what Sadie's is known for. I love mine filled with beef and beans or with carne adovada, and I always get everything smothered in both red and green chile. They also have a fantastic combination plate for lunch. It includes a green chile relleno, a taco, an enchilada, beans, and papitas smothered in chile and cheese, and a sopapilla with honey for dessert! It's only $8 and it's 3 meals for me! But maybe that's because I always fill up on the chips and salsa...??
(5)Kristopher And Jessica K.
ADVICE: SHARE A PLATE! We ordered: 1) Stuffed Sopas w/ Chicken - This was a smorgasbord of cheese, chiles, and chicken. 2) Combination Platter - Again, a smorgasbord of your typical Mexican ingredients. The husband didn't like anything in his combination platter and settled with sharing my stuffed sopas. I had a few bites of my dish and couldn't even continue because I felt too heavy. We left with our plates 3/4 full. Besides the value, I honestly don't see why people rave about this place. There is nothing stellar or special about their food. Our meal came with complimentary chip & salsa and Sopas, which were the only dishes that I can say were worth coming back for. They have the best salsa and I love the honey and sopa dessert. Total for our meal came out to be $20. Cheap, but we could've left spending only $10.
(2)Pat Z.
I go here for several reasons: the great food, superior service, hot chile, relaxing ambiance and kick-ass margaritas. What more could you want? Sadies is such a staple in ABQ and has earned a stellar reputation. Sadies on 4th Street is my go-to location. I always get outstanding recommendations from the knowledgeable servers who are there fulfilling all my wishes. On the suggestion of Erika, I ordered a Silver Margarita made with El Patron tequila. This not-so-little gem definitely put a wobble in my step, but I managed to maintain. The rellano came crispy, fat and full of cheese. I always try to finish, but the portions are huge and I have to walk away leaving some lonely beans & papas. So enjoyable. I feel appreciated and satisfied each time I patronize this establishment.
(5)Ally H.
I read and was warned about the heat of their salsa ... and boy, did it live up to my expectations!! When we were seated, we were provided with complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were very fresh and gave me that nice crunch after each bite. The salsa, was delicious! It was hot and I didn't wan to ruin my stomach so I ate it sparingly as I also need to eat my food. I ordered the entree order of Carne Adobada enchilada in red and green chili sauce which came with beans. Portion size, the thing was pretty big. I would have been happy sharing it with another person. When the plate arrived, it was smothered in sauce, cheese, and topped with tomatoes and lettuce. It was delicious. The green chili was on point with it's heat. The slow cooked carne adobada was fall apart tender and cooked in a delicious red sauce. Service was on point and, although \they were busy for a Sunday afternoon, our waitress checked up on us and made sure we were happy throughout our meals. I liked the salsa so much, I bought a jar to take home. I can't wait to open it up and enjoy some spicy salsa. Will definitely visit again.
(4)Minny R.
Holy cow! The green chile on my cheeseburger had some KICK to it. The french bread for a "bun" was a nice touch. This is an excellent New Mexican establishment. I'll be back. :)
(5)Daniel L.
During my stay in Albuquerque, my good friend asked if I was ready to try New Mexican cuisine. He then clarified and said the cuisine is distinctive from those of Mexico. Before long, four of us met at Sadie's, the go-to spot for local cuisine. The mural-filled interior was humongous and crowded with people of all ages at every turn. It took us some time to finally get seated. We started off with a basket of complimentary chips and salsa that were addictive and refilled several times. Then, my friends insisted that they treat me to the world's largest stuffed Sopapilla ($12.95). Once it arrived, the entire plate was filled the brim, as the golden fried Sopapilla came with a thick exterior that was filled and smothered with carne adovada, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, cubed potatoes, and spicy green chile. Startled initially, I started to slowly peel off the Sopapilla and counted each layer before diving into this monster. I must say, the Sopapilla was fried with good flavor that nicely complemented the potatoes, refried beans, carne adovada, cheese and more cheese. The lettuce and tomato also helped to break into the sharpness of the green chile. Together, it was a 7-pound meal with lots of deep fried ingredients converged into mouthfuls of spicy goodness. My friends brought me here to provoke a reaction, but the joke was on them as I managed to finish everything on the plate. Service was friendly and attentive. I find Sadie's a solid place for large groups and family gatherings. I would be interested in returning to try the other menu items.
(3)Emily S.
My family has an obsession with Sadie's salsa...it only comes in one variation, EXTREMELY (make you cry) spicy. Just how we like it! Stopped in here for lunch, and it was great. I had the stuffed sopapilla sliders with shredded chicken and a Latin version of pulled pork. My dad had a quesadilla from the appetizer menu...and it was HUGE and delicious. Also, great margaritas!! The restaurant seemed rather large with many options for seating. It's also located on its own road, named after the place. A good indication of a locally loved eatery!!
(5)Linh N.
BF and I found this place online as we were on our way to Arizona. We love tex mex but New Mexican tex mex is a lot different from Texas tex mex. You won't find any rice here, everything is smoothered with red or green chile, and don't expect fajitas on the menu. Servings are HUGE... and I absolutely hate sharing my food but I am thanking myself because I couldn't even finish a fourth of a plate. SHARE SHARE SHARE. We came here twice going to Arizona and coming back. But the main thing that brought me back is the salsa! Their salsa is the perfect level of spicy. But for most people it will probably be too spicy. You can ask to see if they offer a mild version. (I bought 2 jars of their spicy salsa and they offer a mild version in a jar) We ordered the stuffed chicken sopapilla the first time and then a combination lunch special the second time. Very heavy dishes and everything is smoothened with chile and cheese. All orders come with an order of sopapilla. You can eat these with your meal or save them for dessert and drizzle honey over them. You can ask for more if needed! The sopapilla. are delicious and fluffy. I highly advise you share... whether it's a lunch special or a dinner entree. Your waistline will thank you later!
(4)Robert H.
I asked the folks at the hotel and a couple of strangers the same question, "where can I get authentic food, preferably a hole in the wall place where all the locals eat?" It was the same answer from all of them, Sadie's (the original one). The next recommendation was to get both chilis on the side..."it is spicy". And finally get the carne adovado. So, there I was...waiting for a server, maybe three to four minutes. It seemed a little dark in there (Wednesday around 630ish) and the place was packed. Out came the chips and salsa, a menu, drink options and a very attentive server. I followed the recommendations and got the house IPA, it was ok. The salsa was spicier than typical salsas, not enough to burn your mouth or anything. Next was dinner, it was a lot of food! I highly recommend the carne adovado. Having the chilis on the side was probably the best advice. I had the sweats for about 15 minutes after finishing the meal and felt a nap was coming on! Excellent service, no regrets!
(4)Alicia S.
Excellent spicy hot food . Carne Adovada is amazing and so are the stacked cheese enchiladas. That's the meaning of enchiladas , hot and spicy. Delicious food and the margaritas are amazingly strong, yum ! But don't forget the sopapillas with honey , to die for . Overall great food fresh and hot and the salsa and chips are the best ever. Found out you can actually order their famous hot salsa online. Will definitely return next time we are in this area . Two Texans happy with our meal from Sadie's.
(4)Quinn A.
I wanted to like it. I went here with some guests from out of town for authentic New Mexican food. The place is huge, busy, noisy. The kind of place I was expecting, honestly. We were five and we got seated fast. I was optimistic, but then it all went wrong. The waiter came to take a drink order. I asked for a paloma. What's that, he asked? Sigh. Then he said he really wanted to know because he also works as a bartender and he had never heard of a paloma. Sigh. cocktails.about.com/od/t… "For a refreshing, thirst quenching tequila cocktail, the Paloma is definitely at the top of the list and it's a favorite in Mexico. It's a light, fruity drink with a great fizz and one of the smoothest tequila drinks out there." Okay, whatever, just bring me a margarita. We all ordered different dishes. The waiter got almost everyone's order wrong. He actually set plates down and then asked us to check under the sauce to see if it was what we ordered because some of the servers were taking the wrong plates. My out of town friends ordered green on the side and it never came. Oh, yes it did - right as we were boxing up the leftovers. The sopapillas, we were told, were being cooked right this minute. Then I sat and watched all the tables around us get sopapillas. I had to ask two more times before we got any. Boxed those up, too. Service was terrible overall, the food was mediocre at best, the margarita tasted like it came out of a can. I gave my box of leftovers to a homeless guy at Coors and Montano. He got better service from me than we did in the restaurant. Avoid this place. There are better choices for out of town guests, and no local should ever eat here.
(2)Jodi H.
My family heard about Sadie's in a NM brochure, but I honestly have no idea why this place is such a big deal. For my fellow Californians out there, this is JUST like a larger Chili's or other big-named chain restaurant with Mexican status food. The only jaw-dropping thing about this place is that the portions are LARGE bombs of food! EVERY plate that came out was met with our clear signs of disbelief. We all had a box to take our dinners home. I swear it was the bottomless complimentary tortilla chips and chile that quickly filled us up. While you're waiting, you can get free chips and salsa from the bar area and munch while you wait for a table to open up. THAT'S THE DANGEROUS PART. So watch out, especially if you're hungry. While we waited in the waiting room, our family shared a margaritas flight (3) for $12.00. It was pretty pricey for watered down margaritas in the flight glasses, but I'd say go for the ORIGINAL and the. The watermelon one wasn't too popular with any of us--too much like jolly rancher. I feel like whatever entree you order, just expect HUGE portions. I don't have anything particular to say about the food just because it was exactly that--not particular. Service is polite and warm, even though the food takes LONG minutes to come out because of the large flow of orders the poor kitchen has to deal with. We definitely waited over 20 minutes even once we sat and had our table. Looking around the place, it's definitely good for BIG families and parties, so expect a wait once you step in that door. I'd say skip Sadie's and try local favorites in ABQ--and this is coming from a tourist.
(2)Henry D.
The food is great, the portions are huge! The prices are too high, but once in awhile why not ?
(4)Danielle S.
I love the hot salsa and the brisket quesadilla! You could order just about anything here and enjoy it. No, it's not the most authentic Mexican place in Albuquerque... haha, not by far. But it's very consistent New Mexican. Things can get a little pricey, but hey, you're paying more for the history and popularity of Sadie's, so you pay whatcha gotta pay. Especially if you want a margarita :o
(4)Stephen M.
Always super busy yet provide great service and delicious food! Worth the wait if you go during a peak time. Guacamole tacos with chips and salsa are the best!
(5)Seth S.
The Bartenders (Cody and Andrea) rocked our night! Food and drinks were awesome! We plan on finding out when they work next to come back.
(5)Kevin N.
Love this place. Sometimes it's too dark and the decor is a bit shabby, but darn it if their food doesn't rock my world. I could eat their chips and salsa until I explode.
(5)Amy R.
A friend from ABQ recommended only one restaurant for our trip and it was Sadie's. Happy she did! The parking lot was packed but there was no wait. We decided to sit at the bar and to share one entree. We ordered the cheese enchiladas with veggie red chili and sour cream on the side. Michael was the bartender and took our order...he was a knowledgeable and friendly guy. I'm a bit of a baby with spicy food and told Michael that the salsa was over my threshold. Heat that builds up. He said it's made with a habanero chile oil. Ah, no wonder. Still, couldn't stop eating it. Our dinner was devoured and we were happy with our order. I cannot imagine us getting 2 entrees... Portions are big!
(4)Berlinda A.
Just had Sunday lunch had the brisket stuffed sopapilla totally loved it. Our waiter was very friendly. We always come back here
(5)Ken P.
Not only the best New Mexican food in Albuquerque, but the best mexican food anywhere... Stuffed sopaipillas with carne adovada and papitas = heaven. Huge portions, you are better off sharing. The salsa is so hot and good I have ordered it delivered out of state at a high cost. Just an all out winner. Big parking lot, reasonable proces and top notch service. An all time favorite.
(5)Oscar C.
First time here. My brother and his wife live in Albuquerque and I came down to visit. I will say the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. The food was amazing I had the sloppy Jose and it changed my life for the better. The portions were really big and affordable. I would say that room in there is tight and loud
(4)Sebastian B.
The overall opinion of this place based on hundreds of yelp review is the place is great. I popped in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon and found a full parking lot, not 1 available spot even the handicapped spots were all taken. There was a 20 minuet wait for a table. I say this is a sign of a popular joint. I'm here to fulfill my TV food find habit since this place was featured in Man vs Food (and I've run out of DDD places). Everyone else is here because the food is pretty good. I had the Sopapilla slider lunch special. 3 small Sopapilla with red and green for $12. I tried the Carne Acevado, the shredded beef, and the ground beef. Really excellent. They remind me of a lighter version of an Arepa. I Sat at the bar and was told the chips and salsa was self serve and all you can eat. I refrained from sampling them to have room to finish my meal. Good thing too because the 3 sliders was enough for this FoodDude! The Bartender was as friendly as she was beautiful. And she was cool and under control while the place was rockin' like a Rolling stones show. It's my humble opinion that this is a must visit Albuquerque landmark eatery.
(4)Ling Tzu W.
This is one of the places we take our out of town guest( for the novelty) or work gatherings (because it is nice and convenient from work). Over the years, I feel like the food quality have stagnated but it is still cool to visit the original location and the service is always decent and attentive. Taking an out of town guests here, so you can explain to them that this is one of hte oldest New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque and it started in a bowling alley will peek their interest. But the food is just bleh. Come here for the convenience and the novelty, don't come here because you think the food is spectacular. It is average.
(3)M S.
I love Sadies we come ALL the time. However we recently learned if Val or Matt aren't here, and Cody is working the bar. Leave. Not worth it. Run. Don't look back. Cody forgot about us ( sitting 18" front him), wouldn't take not only our orders, but the gentlemen next to us at the bar. Ten minutes later acted like he was doing the us a favor gracing us with his presence. Our drinks suck, we know his entire sex life as well as the other bartender (both of which are not a telenovela you Would Tivo), and frankly I'm really disappointed in my sweet sweet Sadies spot. Calling ahead next time. Missing the A Team.
(1)Jan F.
Sadie's was recommended to us by a local. We are traveling cross country and wanted to eat some regional southwestern food. The salsa was really tasty. The food was good, a little too much cheddar cheese melted on top of everything for me - but if you love cheese you'll love it. The green sauce was was delicious. The real stars were the staff! They were hopping! They kept water glasses, chip baskets and salsa bowls filled. They were friendly and gave good recommendations. They worked as a team to make sure we had what we needed in a timely manner. Also... The portions are muy grande, so don't fill up on chips.
(4)old d.
I love Sadies but I love Spanish rice and they only serve potatoes. I understand the tradition and am but one lowly consumer but that is almost a deal breaker in a town with many great places for Mexican food. If you don't mind that then yes come and enjoy. Good Salsa and everything else!
(3)Sophia R.
The portions are huge. You've been warned. We shared the carne adovada with both red and green sauce (aka Christmas). Since we wanted to try both the carne adovada and the beef brisket, we also got ONE beef brisket enchilada smothered in Christmas also. In retrospect, we should have had one sauce on each plate. The red sauce overpowered the green sauce, but both very good. The plates look the same until you start digging into; not the most appetizing but still works for me. The entree comes with beans and papitas; also good but my preference is rice over fried potatoes. Chips and salsa served while we waited for our food. I have to say, they're salsa lives up to the hype. So does their margarita; got the half carafe of the presidente margarita. Overall, left with a full stomach, a good buzz, AND leftovers! (FYI: the leftovers did well as leftovers)
(4)Kelly K.
For the price I expected something better. The portions are huge. The price would be better if you shared a meal. Half of my plate ended up in the garbage as there was way too much for one person. I got the stuffed sopapilla with carne adovada and when the plate came it just looked like a big pile of food. I trusted that underneath existed a sopapilla. It was there. Flavors were all melded together and were okay though nothing special. I have had better for cheaper of this type of "throw it all on the plate". The free chips were better than average though I didn't care for the salsa. Average food. Good service though.
(2)Mickey C.
Excellent prices for HUGE portions!
(5)Leigh M.
Sadie's has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl growing up in Albuquerque when it was above the bowling alley. Of course back then I primarily liked it for the amazing sopapillas and cheesy papitas! I moved away as a teen but have always loved coming back to enjoy food like you can find nowhere else but Northern NM. I shared Sadie's with my husband a few years back and he immediately fell in love, especially with the carne adovada burrito (my favorite as well). We've been known to purchase literally a dozen to bring back to Phoenix, much to the delight of friends and family! I was recently diagnosed with celiacs and was truly a bit devastated upon remembering most chile is thickened with flour. We came to ABQ for the Balloon Fiesta and of course still had to visit Sadie's. Much to my delight, our server was not only very knowledgeable about the food in regards to what I could safely eat but he informed me that they have both gluten free red AND green chile! Needless to say I was ecstatic and had the best Huevos rancheros! Sadie's is not only my favorite restaurant but is truly close to the hearts of me and my family.
(5)Charles M.
Hello yelp viewers where to start the food was great I orders a stuffed soapilla with carna and the girlfriend had a stuffed soapilla with beef both were great tasting as I like mine on the spicy side which I hit and then some but the service was lacking our waitress talking like a valley girl from the 90's only thing she was missing was chewing gum. We finished our meals got some to-go boxes as it was too much for us to eat (extra large portions ) we asked for check as we did we over hear our waitress speaking disrespectful about us and how we talk. Guess she wouldn't act to surprised at her 1.34$ tip and a nice note that says "always smile" I will return but if I get here as my waitress I will ask for another.
(4)Bunny G.
The hotel recommended this friendly Mexican food eatery that boasts some famous faces on the walls with generous accolades and praise. But I didn't get it? Maybe I was here on an off day? Service was super friendly and the place was crowded with lunch time patrons. I ordered the Chili Relleno and a taco to share with my little one but I have to say, I was disappointed when I bit into my Chili Relleno. It was full of seeds! Sadly every bite I took was spit out. Yuk! No seeds should EVER be found in a Chili Relleno! Quality control Chef. The waitress was very apologetic and discounted our check. The taco sadly was also a loser. It was bland and the chicken was dry and flavorless. My lunch was terrible:( The salsa was fire engine hot! So beware. Too spicy for me and the kids to enjoy. My sons hamburger however was delicious! Wow! Super yummy juicy burger. Some Sopapillas are a nice treat that you'll be given on the house after your meal. These little fried pillows of dough were fresh warm and fluffy. Honey to drizzle included. But overall, not the five-star rating I was hoping for. I don't think I'll be back.
(3)Liv M.
Great place! Very accommodating I have my travel buddy (my dog) and they served us outside on the patio even though the patio is seasonal. They still opened it up to us and never forgot we were out there. THANK YOU
(5)Kayne S.
Delicious food, sopapillas with your meal, generous portions and the price is right! What's not to love about Sadie's?
(5)Sarah S.
"Meh" is a pretty accurate description of Sadie's. We came while visiting town because my friend's mom had seen it featured on the food channel or something like that. My friend wanted to go. Service was good. A high point of the visit. Sopapillas with honey were SO good! I wish I could have just eaten them. Chips and salsa were free. Salsa was really spicy. Too much for me (I'm a wimp). Margaritas were ok. I had one that was with melon liquor and it was neon green. My friend and I each ordered combination platters. I had an enchilada and a chalupa. Everything was COVERED in cheese. Wow. I love cheese but... it was too much. Lots of beans and cheese. I liked the papitas fritas (cubed potatoes). But everything else was pretty flavorless. I couldn't eat much because it was just bland. I'd go back for sopapillas but it just wasn't my thing.
(2)M T.
Wonderful customer service - consistently good food. Mariachis played Happy Birthday for out 13 yr old Cousin. What a wonderful Sunday afternoon!
(4)Sanda S.
One of my favorite New Mexican restaurants. The guaco tacos are one of my favorites and the salsa is made fresh daily which adds to its spice and flavor. I would recommend the original venue on 4th street, it's my favorite and consistently has wonderful service and great food quality
(5)Jessica M.
We tried this place for the first time and really enjoyed it. Great atmosphere. Good service. Amazing food. The stuffed sopapillas were fantastic, although enough to feed a small army! We loved the little potatoes smothered in red or green. The chicken tacos were also good. A table next to us ordered a small mountain of nachos that looked amazing. Go ahead and disregard any reviewers who are comparing this (or any New Mexican restaurant) to "tex mex" or Californian Mexican food.
(5)Brian W.
Not much to add to all the other reviews but I freaking love this place. Unfortunately I don't get to Albuquerque much these days, but when I do Sadie's is a non-negotiable stop. Personally I love the cheese enchiladas with red chili. And potatoes and beans on the side. You won't be sorry. Not a fan of the margaritas. But that's not the important part here.
(5)Justin W.
Carne adavada sopapilla with green chile is all I can say. Unbelievable taste and just the right amount of heat. The portion was incredibly large. I could have ate all of it and been miserable full but I saved a bit and took it home for later. I also had a house margarita which was excellent as well. This place is going to be a regular joint for me when I am in town.
(5)Solomon W.
Sadie's has long stood as a staple of Albuquerque, and a friend recommended we meet at this New Mexican institution for lunch. Nothing in terms of decor, grub offerings, nor environment stand above the local joints in town that offer much more of the desired vibe. Per usual, at least at large-scale Tex-Mex/New-Mex restaurants, you will find banquet style seating and servers whose only job is to make sure that chips and salsa are superfluous, flying out of the kitchen by the basket-full. Darker lighting and bright colored tables play into the assumed vibe. Dishes are to be expected, with enchiladas and meat-centric plates as the focus. The real winning aspects are the sauces and accompanying flavor profiles. Specifically, the carne adovada, pork swimming in red chile wins my vote here. No one aspect of a meal here sticks out, but when execution and consistency take precedent, it is hard to find anything wrong in these large-scale eateries. Good job, Sadie's; you successfully won my favor, in light of all the of the other tiny establishments around town.
(4)Stephanie G.
I ordered a green chili smothered chicken burrito to go. It was good until I chomped down on a chicken bone. A very sharp, fairly big chicken bone. I couldn't eat anymore after that and my husband tried it. He took about 2 bites and found another big chicken bone, and one more after that. It was gross and actually quite dangerous. I don't think we'll be eating there again.
(2)Mike M.
Sadie's was recommended by a couple friends, so we were anxious to give it a try. I'm not implying that it's "bad", but it's not my my style of Mexican food. I prefer to know what I'm eating. I had the stuffed sopapilla. It came with beans and papas, but everything was covered in red chili, cheese and lettuce - it all looked and tasted the same. As I said, I know some love it, but it's not my favorite at all. If you're from Texas or you like Tex-Mex, just skip this place completely. The service was quick and friendly and you do get a ton of food, so the three stars are based on that. Sorry Sophie's, there are too many great places to eat within just a short distance.
(3)Barry F.
Went with my uncle and his friends (and children) for my abbreviated trip to New Mexico. Final meal, and it was totally worth it. Had tacos over papitas. Uncle had enchiladas. Uncle's friend had some sort of amazing thing involving a beef patty, potatoes, and queso sauce. The kids had something they weren't willing to share. 45 minute wait turned into just 30 minutes while we enjoyed some margaritas. Service was prompt -- we had two (!) servers -- and the food was delicious, hot, and on point. I wish I had ordered something other than the tacos. They were delicious, but, when the other plates came to the table, I knew there were hundreds of other options that I had never tried before. The green chili was great, probably the best I had while I was in town (and I had four meals with green chili involved). Thank you, Sadie's, for the great experience. Very busy location, lots of activity, lots of families with children... we got lucky to hang out in the back corner.
(5)Rochelle H.
This may sound unenlightened, but I didn't know that there was that big of a difference between Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. Papitas(potatoes) vs Rice; Dishes served "Christmas" (Red and green chile sauce) vs one sauce and the list goes on. Anywho, my daughter and I recently went to Sadie's of New Mexico with friends of mine during a recent visit to Albuquerque, NM. I'm from Pittsburgh and we don't really have a lot of authentic Mexican restaurants around here, let alone New Mexican restaurants. We're lucky to have complimentary chips and salsa served to us. That was not the problem here. Not only did we receive complimentary chips and salsa, we received complimentary sopapillas...deep fried dough pockets that were served with honey. Fried + Dough = Fabulosity! I like to mix things up, especially if I know that I may not be back at a place too often. So I ordered a combination plate with a chicken enchilada and Carne Adovada. Scrumptious pork simmered in a green chile sauce that was wonderful. My chicken enchilada was also delicious and could have fed a family of four. (It seemed to grow with each bite that I took.) My daughter also ordered the chicken enchilada and she LOVED it. My friends ordered the pork tamales and the ground beef steak in chile sauce. Both were excellent and I don't usually like tamales because the corn masa is usually flavorless and doesn't contain enough filling. This was different...flavorful and tasty! Ahhhhh! I also want to give a special shout-out to our servers. They were the best. My fourteen year-old even noticed how fantastic they were and that's saying something. (You know teenagers... If it's not on an Apple device or isn't one of their favorite shows, they could care less.) So if you like a LOT of flavorful food and enjoy paying reasonable prices, this is your place.
(4)Rusty B.
Be warned. If you have a delicate stomach, this place isn't for you. My wife and I stopped here on a Sunday evening. She had beef enchiladas and I had their sloppy joe. It's not your typical sloppy joe in that it is beef, onions, green chilies and cheese on top of a bun. All that is topped with chili that is good but spicy. Green chilies are a feature on most of the menu items, so keep that in mind. Both dishes were good but looking back we should of just split one of the entrees. For a fairly busy night, the service was decent and we were in and out in about an hour. Things of note is this location is in the middle of town, so the GPS will be handy. The menu is a lot bigger than shown on the website, keep that in mind when planning a visit.
(4)Mona M.
A complete rip-off and one can't decipher what's on their plate. Our combination plates looked like slop on a plate covered in chile and I melted cheese. For the price, this was inexcusable. We won't be back.
(1)Lillian M.
My favorite restaurant in ABQ. Every time I visit this town it's a must have. Adovada ribs are the best!! X
(5)Curt S.
This place is a must while in Albuquerque. Huge portions great atmosphere. Great selection of Mexican food there is not a bad dish in the place.
(5)Denise H.
Until now, this has been a secret. We moved here two weeks ago and have been here three times. The servings are plentiful, the offerings are solid, it's affordable, complimentary sopa's with entrees, and the atmosphere is beautiful and open. I have noticed both well trained and not-so-well trained staff, but they never seem to be short staffed, so one way or another, service is always efficient and often stellar. I think it's good to see that they must hire both experienced and non - so they make sure to serve the working community while also making sure they serve their clientele. This will be, or should I say already is!, a family favorite!
(4)Paul L.
Big portions, excellent salsa, friendly, prompt waitstaff. Sopapilla is very tasty and available a variety of ways. Great place to go for a company lunch.
(3)John D.
Two different friends from Albuquerque recommended that my friends and I check out Sadie's for some excellent food during our trip. Judging from the fact that there were a bunch of people waiting to be seated in the humongous restaurant, we felt optimistic about our choice. After being told that our wait would be 35 minutes, we were seated after only about 5-10 minutes. Unfortunately, that was the end of the good points. We were seated at a dirty table, we weren't given menus for quite some time, and the margaritas were too sugary and tasted like the bartender had never made a real one before. We waited forever to place our orders, we asked for chips and salsa only to be told that there was a chips and salsa bar where we could serve ourselves (could've told us that 30 minutes ago...), we waited forever to get the food, and then had to ask for silverware so that we could actually eat our delicious food. Oh yeah, the food was actually pretty awful. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with blue corn tortillas. The chicken was bland and by the time you dug down enough to get to a tortilla, you couldn't taste if it was blue corn, white corn, or even corn at all. One of my friends ordered the huevos rancheros, and she was about as impressed as I was. I can't remember what our other friends ordered, but none of us were all that happy with our picks. Now, I've had subpar Mexican food before. But I usually get it in a bag at a drive thru; I don't throw $15 away on a plate of it. Couple that with service from a group of people who act like we're idiots for not knowing we serve our own chips and like we're high maintenance for needing forks, and you can see why I'm a bit irritated with my friends for recommending Sadie's to us, and why we have no plans to come back.
(1)Amy K.
On our 2nd night in Albuquerque we had to go to Sadie's, as per several recommendations. It's quite the gourmand experience! I started with a house margarita, on the rocks, salt. Threw me for a loop, as tequila tends to, after a few good sips. Watered down pretty quickly, though. Hubby had an Alien Amber Ale; very good! Chips and salsa complimentary, and really tasty. The salsa has a good kick! I ordered chicken enchiladas; I was surprised by the waiter's question, "Rolled or stacked?" Never heard that one in NY! Ordered rolled, which is the way I've always had enchiladas. I must say, the shredded chicken was high quality white meat, and I love corn tortillas. You get a choice of chili, red or green and atop or on the side. They do offer meatless versions of both. I had the veggie green, on the side. It is HOT and really de-lish! The enchiladas came smothered, really smothered, in melted cheese and chopped tomatoes. The amount of cheese was really overkill (not that I didn't manage to eat it all...probably the margarita dulled my brakes). My husband had the chicken tacos, good but also smothered. It was just too much cheese. They were served with "patitas," diced fries really, that were very good, not a bit greasy, but again, just too much. He had the red meatless; it has a smoky flavor, not one of our preferences. Highlight was the basket with these 2 puffy squares of bread, which we'd not seen before and were tearing up and using to scoop up our chili. When the waiter came over, I asked what they're called; they were the famous, all over the menu, sopaipillas. OMG, seriously good! But while we were eating the chili with them, that was not right. They apparently are meant to be eaten with honey, & there's a squeeze bottle of honey on the table. Tried that, and it's yummy. The sweetness is a good foil to the spiciest of the chili and the salsa. Up my rating to 3 1/2. Prices are very reasonable for the quantity, but there's just way too much. It's apparently a New Mexican "experience," but not a place I'd suggest a repeat visit.
(3)Rena T.
O M G !!!! Amazing isn't a grand enough word to describe the lunch we had at Sadie's today. We were traveling through Albuquerque on a cross country trip, and got the recommendation to eat at Sadie's from a barrista at our favorite coffee/tea house in Flagstaff yesterday. (BTW, that place is really awesome too. Next time you're in Flagstaff, go to "Late for the Train" ... you're welcome!) The food was phenomenal. All of it. The chips and salsa (spicy and yummy), the chile relleno, huevos rancheros, and sopapillas all were plate licking good. The portions were giant (not complaining at all) and we felt the prices were reasonable considering the quality and portion size. The service was great. Our server was super nice and really knew the menu. We'll be back the next time we go through Albuquerque!
(5)Rich C.
We had dinner here in May. Everything was great. Portions are large and delicious.
(5)Michelle B.
Had supper here Sunday evening. The chips and salsa were delicious, but the salsa was definitely a picture of things to come. It had a definite spicy kick. I ordered beef enchiladas and my husband enjoyed a sloppy joe. The enchiladas were stacked and covered in cheese, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. The enchiladas were delicious, but once again, they had a definite spicy kick. The service and atmosphere were both good, plus the sopapillas were a sweet and tasty ending to the meal.
(4)Allyson M.
Let me begin by saying this place came highly recommended by two different people from Albuquerque so we went in with the highest of hopes. Needless to say, those hopes were quickly thrown out the window with our experience here. We put our name in at the front. Then as we're waiting, some random worker who looked like a bus boy (definitely not the hostess) came up to us to ask if there were four of us which there were. So this worker then sat us at a dirty four-top without any menus or silverware. We were sitting there a good 5-10 minutes before the waitress got our drink orders and because we didn't have menus, we didn't know what was offered. When we relayed this to our waitress she acted like we were the dumb ones for not having drink menus then made it seem like a chore to get some for us. So we ordered four basic margaritas which came out with way too much sweet and sour and not enough tequila. Finally, she brings the menus and we decide on dinner. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which came out thick and bland for being authentic New Mexican cuisine. No one I was with at the table was too pleased with their meals either. Couple this with charging $4 for a dollop of guacamole and not telling us there was a DIY chips and salsa bar where we could serve ourselves. The waitress was careless and didn't bother to help us unless forced. We felt the need to order multiple things at once for fear she would not be back to help us. We were not impressed. Unfortunately, we will have to go back to our two friends and tell them how disappointed we were with the overall experience at Sadie's when we were so looking forward to a stellar meal.
(1)Cheryl J.
The food is good...you get large portions. I usually feel weighted down after eating there so I don't go more than a few times each year. Try the guacamole!
(4)J S.
Sadies is our "taco Tuesday" hangout. The service in the bar area is usually pretty quick and there is no wait to be seated. The food shows up fast. The only downside is that the salsa is sooooo hot that the glass of water stays empty a little too long.
(4)Pietra L.
bartender Laura was awesome! great food... great company... best enchiladas with green chili. highly recommended from New Jersey
(5)Kristin H.
We were passing through for the night on our way to Los Angeles and stopped at Sadie's. We had a great waiter, incredibly personable and generous. But the food was mediocre and way overpriced. Our margaritas were all Patron and $10 for a small one. Our meal cost $50, and was NOT worth $50. Won't be returning.
(2)Bill M.
Our waiter was great... Everything else was sub par. The food felt very phoned in and the environment was the only thing cheesier. Felt more like a tourist trap than a quality restaurant.
(2)Timothy A.
I imagine that when you get to heaven, your first meal would be a Roberto Special with extra queso.
(5)Pete T.
My GF and I had a carafe of margarita, sopapilla and green chile (in abundance). The stuffed sopapilla blew my shoes off! Great food. I would have given 5 stars but my GF insists that sopapilla is always good anywhere in new mexico so she was not thoroughly impressed. The salsa, however, was scrumptious and tasty (even she agrees).
(4)Jon M.
It's SADIE'S! That being said I have never had a bad meal here. Excellent food, great portions, and attentive service. When I have reps intown I take them here. A wonderful example of New Mexican food. I first ate at Sadie's when it was still in the bowling alley. I prefer the enchiladas, ground beef. When you ask for chile, don't expect a little bit, it is smothered and smothered well. The sides are smothered too, so expect a full plate. Complimentary chips and salsa are very good. It is nice to good New Mexican and not have to ask for chips and salsa. Margaritas are excellent, I prefer the top shelf ones, the house is fine but comes out of the hose. Pay a couple of dollars more and get a drink to remember. At times it is crowded, that's because it is good, and anything good is worth waiting for. Very popular with the locals, not a tourist trap.
(5)John C.
Much better than I expected. Took my family there and we all enjoyed it.
(4)Aleasa W.
Very good. We're from San Diego and traveling across country. We asked the guy at the hotel to share the local flavor and he suggested this place over the one we were going to try. My husband loved the salsa (Sadie's won an award for their salsa and, it seems, rightfully so) and the adovada. We had never heard of adovada so our waitress offered to let us try it. She brought out a small bowl of it and their brisket (a newer item) for us to try and as far as I can tell the adovada was good (i'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy). I don't have anything to compare it to, but hubby liked it and ordered a burrito with it. I had a sopaipilla with the brisket. Kind of an odd combo but I thought it was good. The portions are huge--actually a little too huge. If you can stop my husband halfway through his meal, you've really done something. The food is pretty flavorful and the meat tender. The service was great, our waitress and at least one manager, maybe two, came by check on us. The busboy was even great... we never had to wait on a refill. And this was a Saturday nght, with a table of 20 next to us and a table of 12 that came in after them -- surely they were busy.\ We will come back if we're in the area again. We want to try more New Mexican food and maybe I'll have another opinion, but we were pleased.
(4)L H.
We're in town for the 2011 Balloon Fest and this place was recommended to us by someone at the hotel. It was a good call! Their friendly service was good to very good. Water glasses were re-filled almost compulsively. Our waitress patiently explained some of the dishes to us. Food quality was also very good. I had the Carne Adovada Sopapilla which I couldn't finish due to its sheer volume. I'd recommend not filling up on the tasty appetizer chips (as I did) so that you have a prayer of finishing these large portions. The place has been described as "loud," and it is -- but only because it appears to be very popular. If we're ever back in ABQ, we're coming back to Sadie's!
(4)James Y.
Food was nearly tasteless...once it arrived, but there was A LOT of it. Much sitting staring into space without waitress interaction. A fly died from sampling the hot sauce, fell on table. 5 waitpeople walked by and saw it and did nothing. In fact, the check was placed atop it. Most of the staff seemed very preoccupied with themselves, not the customers. I will not return.
(1)George N.
I was in Albuquerque on business from New Hampshire. I wanted to try some authentic Mexican food and was told to try Sadie's. What a great place!!! We started out with chips and salsa. The salsa was great. Spicy and hit the spot. I ordered the carne adovada burrito. What a plate! Come with an empty stomach because these plates are BIG!!!! The meat was perfectly cooked and had quite the spicy kick to it which I don't mind. I had all I could do to finish. The meal ended with sopapiilas, which for northeastern folks is the equivalent of fried dough. Your table has a honey bottle on ot that you can squeeze on these tasty treats to end your night!
(5)Amanda J.
pretty good! great chips and salsa!
(4)Christina H.
Back again, as usual. I will likely never stop eating at Sadie's. We had to wait about an hour and a half but this tI e it was legit. They were packed and tables were all full. Luckily they still have kick ass margaritas to help make the wait more bearable ;-)
(5)Andy P.
The service was excellent, the portions were very large. A great family friendly atmosphere. We especially recommend the shredded beef and the sopapillas. A MUST when visiting Albuquerque!
(5)Nick L.
Incredible. Worth the stomach ulcers.
(5)Mike E.
Sadie's was featured on Man vs. Food. Sadie's is home to the world's largest sopapilla. Although I was hungry, I wasn't ready to tangle with this monster dish. I did however order the Carne Adovada Stuffed Sopapilla and it didn't disappoint. This is one of the best Mexican dishes that I've ever had. The Sopapilla was amazing, the meat was tender, and it was on a plate and covered by refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, and the surprising highlight was diced potatoes in the mix. The portion was very large and came with a couple of warm sopapillas on the side, along with a bottle of honey. I had to wait about a half hour to get a seat, but it was well worth the wait. Sadie's gets five stars for serving up one of the best plates I've ever had.
(5)Brad P.
this place is always packed, and everyone that we have sent here has the same opinion as we do: one of the best meals in NM! The carne adovada is the best I have ever had. They give you enough food for three people, crazy portions.
(5)David D.
One of my favorite spots for New Mexican food. The Roberto Special is my go to dish and is always excellent. Recently tried the new Beef Brisket Burrito and was pleasantly surprised. I learned the lunch portions are the same exact size as the dinner but cost much less. Also, the al la carte items are the same size as the full dinner platters but also much cheaper. The new location on Academy in the heights rarely has a wait compared to the Fourth Street location.
(4)Kendall B.
My wife and I have been to the Sadie's on Academy, Eubank and 4th more than a few times. Every time we have had great service and good food. The temp of the salsa for chips and salsa varies and we love it plus its Free!!!! Free Chips and Salsa!!! We like the stuffed sopapilla with the beef patty. We are never able to eat the whole order because the portions are amazingly huge! After the meal you get free regular sopapillas which are very good with honey! We are going to continue to go to Sadie's for our New Mexican food fix! :) All we can say is we have had good experiences at Sadie's. kb
(5)Shanda H.
I ate here in 2007 and just figured I'd post pictures because I came across some and had forgotten about this place. Is that to say the food is forgettable? I am not sure! But, the pictures of my food look good and I miss New Mexico style Mexican food, so I will have to say it was probably good, as most Mexican food in NM, IS. Everyone in CA uses shredded beef for Mexican food, instead of ground beef, and NO sopapillas! Closest thing here is a place called Anita's New Mexican Style Mexican food and they try to use ground beef but make everything way too salty, and they try to make sopapillas but they come out not puffy and totally like crap! This place had good sopapillas - you CAN tell that much just from the photos! Come to CA and open one up! :(
(4)Sarah K.
After an 8-hour drive from Scottsdale, I was craving something fresh and nutritionally well-balanced for dinner. Maybe New Mexican was a bad decision... I wasn't a fan of the decor; I just didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the outdated cafeteria chairs, fake plants and weak attempt at southwestern decorations. The waitress wasn't exactly welcoming, but I'll give her points for going out of the way to fulfill my request for a healthier entree. Her words: "Nothing on this menu is remotely healthy...when I'm forced to eat here and I don't want to, I get a salad with chicken." So a salad it was... On the plus side, our drinks were always filled and the chips were frequently replenished. The salsa was good but it was overly garlicky and something seemed to be missing...cilantro? Our eyes widened as our entrees came out...The portions are disgustingly massive; it's funny, because that's how I felt after I stuffed myself beyond oblivion. While the food is visually overwhelming, the flavor is underwhelming. Red chili was a tad bit too spicy and wasn't anything to write home about. The bean burrito was overwhelmingly oniony. Sadie's chef salad is a Costco-sized portion of lettuce topped with four servings of shredded chicken and fresh tomatoes. I enjoyed the crisp lettuce, but the chicken was really bland. The best part of the meal were the sopapillas. Who can resist a cloud of fried deliciousness? For the undiscerning, calorie-ignorant diner, Sadie's is a home-run.
(2)HeatherLynn H.
My husband and I are traveling cross country to Beaufort, SC. We had a very nice couple at a winery tell us we had to eat here. With only staying one night in New Mexico we picked here. It was a Saturday at 7pm and this place was beyond packed!! We got lucky and snagged seats at the bar instead of waiting the hour we got quoted. Food was BEYOND AMAZING!!! Such a hidden gem of NM!! The Silver Coin Margaritas were phenomenal!!! Female bartender had NO Personality what so ever!!! Everything else was great and I def recommend it!
(4)Steve L.
Very happy here, When I arrived in ABQ, lots of people were telling me about it. Good food, but the speed was what I noticed. I was seated, drinks& food and out the door (I didnt realize what a hurry I was in ) in 20 minutes. A little heavy on the beans.
(4)Heather H.
Oversized portions that lean towards greasy and leave a heaviness in your stomach that does not inspire a feeling of satisfaction as much as bulging discomfort. Flavor was mediocre to good and sopapillas were cool and dry-ish. Tried the Carne Adovada and enjoyed the large chunks of meat, but probably would have preferred them to be more "pulled" than huge chunks. The beans re tastey but had far too much cheddar cheese slathered on top. The peptitas were glorified tiny soggy French fries and the meatless green chile left something to be desired. The endless chips and salsa was awesome. Service was spectacular. Our server was Brian. Wonderful character. Our water was never empty. Would go to Mary and Tito's little establishment any day over here, but it wasn't by any means a bad experience.
(3)Jennifer W.
I'm so excited that the locals we were visiting suggested this place! What a treasure in Albuquerque! I should have reviewed this right after I got back but all I can remember is how amazing the chips tasted, and how good the food was. Probably one of the best chile rellenos I've ever had and I wished I'd ordered more than one. I -highly- recommend their chile rellenos to you! The portions are huge though and when I was done eating I looked down and it didn't even look like I had TOUCHED my plate. It was hilarious and my friend who I ate with kept picking at her food even though she was stuffed because it was THAT good. I heard amazing things about their salsa
(5)John G.
Sadie's is a circus. After the inevitable half-hour wait, they seat you in a massive room crammed with tables and diners. It's hot and loud in there, and you can forget about privacy or having an intimate conversation. The entire time we were there we had to put up with screaming babies, seemingly calling to each other like demented Howler monkeys. This was Sunday at about 1:15, so it might have been the after-church crowd, I don't know. Service was prompt and well-organized. They got our orders correct, kept our drinks refilled, and removed dishes quickly. About all you could ask for. I ordered the huevos rancheros (but not with their Spanish omelet option) with a side of carne adovada. These were damn good, among the best in town. Two perfectly cooked eggs, spicy red chili, deliciously tender carne, and some decent papas. It ended up being two meals for me, and that has never happened with huevos rancheros. On the downside, getting meat with your huevos is at least 2 bucks extra and only tortilla that comes with the meal is underneath all the food. It comes with a tasty sopapilla as well. My wife got the large nachos, which are undeniably enormous. The problem is that it's mostly chips with nothing on them. The quality of the toppings was great, but really, there wasn't enough cheese and stuff to go around. And, like all nachos, these didn't fare so well the next day. Tasty, but not as great a deal as they first seem.
(3)Darren S.
The sopapilla with carne avodova and red chile was amazing.
(4)Todd K.
When you go the bar area is the place to enjoy a great meal. The restaurant section is like a huge cafeteria with no ambience. Luckily the food is well worth the drive. The salsa is way too hot so ask for the mild.
(4)Amanda E.
Always get the stuffed chicken sopaipilla with green chile. It's big enough for 2 meals even if you get it a la carte! Mariachis live at the 4th Street and Solar location.
(4)Sarah R.
Being from southern New Mexico my standard of New Mexico cuisine is high and biased! I've always heard how great Sadie's is. I think if you are not a New Mexico native, especially one from the southern part of the state, you might agree. My sister-in-law warned my husband and I that Sadies' is "hit or miss". I think my experience was a miss. We went on a Friday night, and as my husband says."'eating with the old people" because we got there before 6. In my opinion that was a great thing because our wait was only 15 minutes or so. As we were leaving I heard the hostess saying the wait was an hour plus. We were seated in the open dining area (very crowded). There was a live band in the bar and it was so loud that we could not hear the waitress or enjoy a conversation. I thought the kids cup with crayons and wikki sticks was awesome and the kids selection was good. We gobbled up the complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered a margarita (nothing special) and the chile relleno. Had I not been starving, and the restaurant had not been so busy, I would have complained about my food. The relleno was burned to a crisp. My sister-in -law and brother both enjoyed their meals. The portions were big. I did like that they serve the meals with potatoes versus rice. Would I come here again? yes, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
(3)Kyra K.
After the hype on Yelp, a 45 minute wait for seating, and another wait long for food, we were sorely disappointed. Although the service was friendly, quick, and attentive, it just couldn't make up for the lack of redeeming taste. This was overly spicy, pedestrian Mexican food with dry meat, and topped with mounds of plain shredded cheddar, iceberg lettuce, and tomato - maybe this is just what the NM natives like... It was hard to tell if I liked the frijoles because they were good in themselves, or because they added a sauce-y texture to the dryness of the dishes. Although the salsa and chili were flavorful, they were too spicy for us two visitors. The sopaipillas were interesting, but I would prefer them more crisp. Everything else we tried was dull, heavy, and not worth the even low price. It would've been a better investment to spend the money on groceries and make my own meal
(2)Don N.
We've been eating adovada all over NM for a week now and Sadie's is outstanding. So are the brisket burritos and the salsa. Sadly, the house margaritas and chips are lousy. Thus only 3 stars from me.
(3)Ricky M.
You really can't go wrong with this place its one of the best New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque I am usually really picky when it comes to New Mexican food but this place rocks there chips and salsa are to die for but be careful cause its spicy! There Chicken Enchiladas with papitas are some of amazing and there silver coin margaritas are not only strong but delicious!
(5)Andy M.
This is one of the more popular Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque. I have eaten here in the past and waited up to an hour to get a table. Food here is good - not great. We got two small bowls of Salsa - Hot and HOT. Queso dip was some of the best I had. Entree's are huge portions so don't eat anything for a week prior to ordering. Just not impressed with the entree's we ordered. Service was great and never had to ask for refills on our drinks. . . . which brings me to the drinks. Some really good Margaritas here.
(3)t s.
The food was a bit too spicy for me. I could barely stomach a quarter of my plate before I tapped out. I thought I would be able to handle the Carne Adovado rib but after a couple bites I had to eat the Sopaipilla drenched in honey to counter the heat. I didn't expect my entire meal to be so spicy. The beans and potatoes were covered in the spicy chili too. I don't think I'd recommend this place. Maybe if you really liked the spicy food but I don't think it was worth the wait on a Sunday night.
(3)Scott M.
Green Chili dining at it's best. Copious amounts of foor. FLAVOR EVERYWHERE. The Salsa is nothing short of the temperature of the sun. Recommend eveyone should go at least once.
(5)Louise O.
HUGE portions. We ordered only 3 dishes for 5 of us and we could only eat half of the food. The salsa is spicy!! I had the carne advovada with green chile on the potatoes. My brother had the adovada ribs and sis had the lunch combo. After 3 bites of my food, I was stuffed. Granted, I did pig out on the chips and salsa before the food arrived.
(4)Jenna B.
So I heard a lot about this place so I decided to give it a try. I was warned that the portions are HUGE and the salsa was muy caliente-both are an understatement. The entrees come with beans, sopapilas, and every dish seemed to be topped with tons of cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. (And we wonder why Americans are so fat!) Oh and don't forget about the overflowing bowl of chips and salsa. The enchilada dish was not what I expected, it was on a corn tortilla with again, too much cheese. I expected more on the menu- no fajitas and no seafood options (only chicken, pork, or beef). It was a bit disappointing, I was expecting more.
(2)Tom C.
The words "quintessential New Mexican" come to mind whenever I think of Sadie's. They are so totally my favorite place to take out-of-towners when they are up for some New Mexican food...or to head whenever I get the hankering for some good spicy salsa and a bellyful of YUM. Their food is excellent, their portions are generous, and their value is SPECTACULAR. It's not an accident at all that this place will be hopping just about any time you choose to visit, and will be stacked up for an hour's wait or more on busy evenings. It's a big place with lots of parking, but it will be busy. It's worth the wait, though. The decor feels a lot like Albuquerque, too. A little quirky, and lot kitschy, just there waiting and hoping for you to love it. The service has always been attentive, though; they really do take good care of you--once you can get seated.
(5)Nicole H.
You can find Sadie's salsa at the grocery store (Fry's)!! I've got Hubs hooked on it too :)
(5)foxy b.
Update~4/12/07~ Had to visit once again!! The portions here are HUGE! The stuffed sopapilla with carne adovada is more than enough to share... YUM! I visited some family last month and they took me here. Boy was I HAPPY! I told them I wanted some real New Mexican food, since both of my grandmothers can no longer cook. This place is huge and still we had an hour and a half wait. NO problem with the nice bar, STRONG margaritas and yummy chips and salsa. You can kind of gauge the restaraunt by the salsa and this was good, spicy but flavorful. Huge portions, yummy chicken quesadilla, chile rellenos spicy and not too much egg batter, sopapillas with honey, almost as good as Grandma's! I'll find any excuse to make another trip to NM and come back here!
(5)Elmo G.
Very good food, service was good, maybe a little quick on the food coming out, did not have time to enjoy my beer before the food arrived. Over all great place...
(4)Nicole B.
Sadie's came highly recommended by every local we asked, but it was only okay. I suspect I don't really love New Mexican food...it seemed like a bland, americanized Mexican. Not very spicy, giant portions, lots of cheese and fried stuff. The atmosphere is meh...lots of kids running around a cavernous space. The food was fine, but don't expect anything gourmet (I don't think they make their tortillas on site). If you're looking for cheap and filling, you could do a lot worse, but I'm hoping there are better places in Albuquerque.
(2)Marko C.
Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Man vs Food! Marko vs Food! So there I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I wanted to find the most memorable place to have authentic SouthWestern Food. Again, I go to my trusty Yelp pages and everything directed me towards Sadie's Dining Room. I ask 5+ locals where the best food in town was - I get pointed to Sadie's Dining Room. When I learned that this restaurant was featured on Man vs Food, THE CHALLENGE WAS ON!!! For my beverage of the night, I had a Presidential Margarita, which was an awesome margarita that consisted of three types of tequilla. Okay - I don't drink, but I needed to try this tasty beast out because everyone raved about it. It *WAS* delicious! This drink is a must-order. (I only drank 1/4 of the beverage and asked for the rest to take with me in a to-go cup. The wait staff laughed at me and politely declined!). Grade: A- Complimentary Chips and Home-Made salsa arrived at the table. To compliement this, I ordered a side of fresh guacamole. The chips were freshly made - hot and crispy. Together, the duo was the perfect compliment to my margarita! Delicious! Grade: A! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… For my main meal, I decided to go for the Sadie's Stuffed Sopaipilla Dinner. If Adam Richman could have done it, so could I! (NOT REALLY). You should have seen all the "oohs" and "aah" that came from the surrounding tables when this big boy was delivered to my table. It was GARGANTUAN!!! The dish was a large freshly made golden brown Sopaipilla filled with Shredded Chicken (you get your choice of Grilled Hamburger Patty, Billy's Spicy Ground Beef* or Shredded Chicken). The sopaipilla was surrounded with Frijoles and Papitas. This dish was served with refried beans and carne adovada. (Get the green chile on the side, because you *won't* eat the entire meal, so you don't want to put the green chile on your dish to make it soggy) I can eat a LOT, but I only ate less than 1/4 of this dish! Unfortunately, FOOD WON! It was DELICIOUS!!!! The dish was served with a bottle of honey, which you eat with the Spoaipillas (fried bread). I drizzled it all over and was in heaven! Grade: A! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… The best part of the meal was the customer service. I was a visitor in town, but felt like part of Sadie's family. The servers and waitresses were very friendly and happy! As I finished my meal, they brought me a to-go box. The super cool waiter noticed that I wanted to take some chips with me, so he brought over a complimentary side of red home-made salsa for me to take. THAT was super cool! Get this! yelp.com/biz_photos/sadi… Food Grade: A- Service Grade: A+ Worth The Money Grade: A- Overall Impression: A!
(5)Cristina C.
Sadie's has the feel of a Red Lobster set in the early 80s, which is totally appropriate given that they serve Mexican food. Still, the food was awesome. The salsa, like everything else in New Mexico, was too damn spicy and I was forced to counteract this pain with a delicious Margarita. Mmm, booze. I ordered chicken enchiladas and they honored my request to put the killer sauces on the side (I did put a little red sauce on my tongue and it really hurt). The chicken was tender and the enchiladas were covered in an assortment of the usual toppings. I thoroughly enjoyed it to the point where I'm pretty sure I was smiling goofball-style while eating. I also enjoyed the absence of a mariachi band so there was no awkwardness of having to avoid eye contact. I left here buzzed and stuffed over capacity. Mission accomplished.
(4)Lou T.
Recommended by hotel. Terrible. Cold food. Services was so so. Would not recommend.
(2)Alex G.
It is huge, it is popular with both locals and visitors, it is pleasant, the service is friendly. Prices are moderate, and the food is quite good, and not as bland as other places in ABQ, even without chile. Stuffed sopapilla with beef and chicken, and beef enchiladas were flavorful, and tasty, large portions too. Guacamole was much better than in other standard places.
(4)Ashley M.
The food is really just okay. I know this is an ABQ staple but one thing I noticed while there was that no matter what dish you ordered, they all look exactly the same. Smothered in toppings. They pretty much taste the same too. It happens that they all taste pretty good, I just expect a variety of flavors for different dishes. Also, there is always a very long wait. Pro: they have excellent margaritas on tap which makes everything better :)
(3)Denise P.
The food here is delicious. The staff was very helpful and friendly. I had the carne abodovoda (I have no idea how to spell that). It was excellent. The salsa is hot just the way I like it. And this time there was no wait!! Awesome. Good job guys.
(5)A J.
Sadie's has the best Mexican food in the world!!! Each time I visit I always come to Sadies!! I love ordering the enchalidas with blue tortilla and the sopapias. The food can be very spicy though, so be careful. Sadie's was once a bowling alley and my mother and grandparents would come here all the time before it became a restaurant. It's such a great place.
(5)Ben C.
Great service. Red salsa is too hot for many people. Food was about average. Casa de benavidez still has an advantage on the food.
(3)Angela M.
Ok, I only had a few days in town visiting my cousin so I was on the fence in going to this place...then I saw that this place was featured on an episode of Man vs Food so I said I have to go there to at least say that I tried it, yep like one of those people. Anyways, my cousin did go there once and said the portions were huge...so keeping that in mind we didn't get any appetizers. It was pretty crowded on a Sunday night, but they were able to seat three of us + 1 baby with no wait. The service was very good and friendly. They even had a little sling contraption for the baby to stay in her car seat carrier. The waiter recommended a silver coin margarita, which had patron silver, lime juice and Cointreau for $10.50....it was very very smooth, went down too easy actually so I opted to get a house margarita after that. You could definitely taste the difference with the sugary sweet and sour mix and the cheaper tequila. I tried the regular stuffed sopapilla dinner with the carne in it at the recommendation of the waiter and also got green and red chiles on the side. I am not sure how people can even try to tackle the 7lb sopapilla food challenge, I barely got through half of the normal one! It was yummy, the fried sopapillas they brought out with dinner went great with the honey and the home made salsa and nachos were addictive. I preferred the green chiles hands down, the red was OK as well but the flavor was better in the green for me. I don't enjoy overly spicy food anymore, my age might be catching up with me but it doesn't agree with me later and I like to enjoy the flavor of the food without having a mouth on fire and tears in my eyes. All in all, I recommend if you are in town...it was a local spot before the tourists started flocking here and the food is good for the prices. And there is really more than enough with the portion sizes to take home for leftovers.
(4)P B.
Damn good authentic New Mexican cuisine. I give four stars because the food has always been great. The service can be lacking sometimes, but they are always busy!! They sell there salsa in grocery stores...even here in the Austin Texas area and it is outstanding!!
(4)Jeremy S.
How to cope with Sadie's at 6:00 on a Saturday night: 1. Waiters. Send in your waiters around 5:20. (No not the kind that wait tables, I mean your boyfriend or spouse.) The waiters go in and get on the waiting list, order margaritas from the bar, and call you to tell you when the table will be ready. What they sacrifice is 45-60 minutes in a waiting room. What they gain are the free margaritas you are going to pay for when you arrive. 2. Vintage Table-Pac Man. After a couple Silver Coins I'm usually feeling pretty competitive for Pac Man. One of the machines is fast but glitchy so you might lose your quarter, the other machine with Galaga is slow so you'll lose your buzz. 2. Margaritas. The phenomenon that is Sadie's isn't so much about the food as the experience. Part of that experience is the margaritas. Coping requires either a pitcher split 4 ways or a couple Silver Coins. I usually get a pitcher just because it's fun to do so and you can force all your modest friends to have a margarita. Caution, you will need a driver after only 2 silver coins. 3. Salsa. Sadie's salsa is extremely hot and for some strange reason, eating more postpones the inevitable pain. The incentive is to keep shoveling the salsa down without stopping. I suggest you let the pain kick-in and heal about 3 minutes before your food shows up or you won't be able to taste your meal. Also, Sadie's portions are huge so you do not want to fill up on chips. 4. Budget. If you're simple folk like me, you'll have noticed the prices rising. This has forced me onto page 3 of the menu. I never even knew they had a 3rd page! This is where you find the burgers for $7.99. Also, splitting plates makes a lot of sense as the two will neither feel hungry nor over-stuffed. 5. Exit Strategy. Your waiter will be slammed. (Both the guy who was waiting around drinking margs for an hour and the guy with about 526 tables waiting for their check). I thank yelper Flozilla B. for this one, but last night when we had finished eating and the kids were running around chasing the mariachis and playing in the fire place, I was trying to tackle our waiter. Flo pointed out there is a cashier at the front. So instead of watching this poor man try to separate checks for a thousands customers, you can take your own check to the front and there was no line!
(4)Melinda P.
I've had their combo plates as well as their huevos rancheros. It's all good, people! However, my biggest surprise was when I ordered the huevos rancheros "to go" one cold and blustery night recently. Not only was it prepared fresh to order, but they really went the extra mile to improve the experience, sent me home w/ freshly made tortilla chips (a big bag full) and 2 fresh and hot sopapillas and a pint of their homemade salsa - all of this for like $9 - I was really impressed.
(5)Cathy K.
Restaurant is clean. Atmosphere is nice, old school tables. The service was excellent. Brian was very attentive and gave us excellent recommendations for foods to eat and didn't try to up sell us on anything, but I got the added extras anyway. Food was delicious and there was PLENTY of it. The soppapillas were the best we have had!!
(5)Aaron W.
This place is a mainstay for us, mainly for the prices and the portion sizes. My lady and I can order and share a single bean stuffed sopapilla plate (ask for the whole beans if you're concerned about vegetarianism ... we do) and often still have leftovers. : ) They have a special vegetarian green chile you can ask for, apparently their regular green chile isn't. Unlimited and prompt refills on fountain drinks, and they have Diet Dr. Pepper, which I have a particular weakness for. You'll need it if you go for the unlimited chips and salsa, because their salsa is almost always VERY hot ... in fact that's one of my complaints. I'd love to be able to have a milder salsa so I could actually enjoy it instead of just frantically trying to cool my mouth down. : ) But oh well. I'd rate the New Mexican food here as medium on my overall quality scale ... it's good, decent, passable, but not the best, in my opinion. On the other hand, I love their new lunch/dinner salad ... huge plate of spring mix with feta cheese, pinon, and a red chile vinaigrette dressing. It's pretty awesome. Love the buildings at the 4th St. and the Academy at San Mateo locations, especially the Academy one. It's the old Garduno's and is a beautiful building with many sweet private booths. I usually end up at the one on Eubank and I-40 though, as it's close to my house. It's decently nice inside, but nothing like the other two. On the other hand, it's much less crowded than the 4th St. location tends to get. : )
(3)Ashley C.
Lots of food! Ordered the chicken stuffed sopapilla (a la carte) and could only finish about 1/4 of it. We also ordered chicken tacos and the shell tasted really stale. Cheap and great service!
(4)Ouroboros B.
Huge portions. If I could do it over, I'd stick with an a la carte and skip dinner plate with the potatoes- although the beans were good, it was somewhat pricey. I would also not get cheese on everything- the amount of melted cheddar on my plate was a bit much. Chile Relleno was excellent. Like, seriously excellent. Veg red chile was yummy. Good service- server was able to and successful at catering to the four of us and our various food restrictions (dairy allergy, vegan, and gluten-free).
(3)Robert P.
When I came to Sadie's and saw a long line, I knew I came to the right place. A hearty restaurant full of good laughs, great smiles, and delicious food, I found myself a part of New Mexico history. Gilbert, the manager, was the one to seat my date and I. As we walked to our table, we mentioned that we had just moved from California and that it was our first time to Sadie's. At this information, a huge spark of joy came across him and he was quick to offer us suggestions for food. What came next was a bunch of samples of chili and food that left me feeling at home. For the food: I was astonished at the food portions, as some others have mentioned, they're HUGE. However, it was perfect for us since we shared the dishes we got. Their cheese enchiladas and carne adovada enchiladas were to die for. I would have preferred less cheese, but man was the meat juicy and delicious. At the end of our meal, we were given free sopapillas to indulge in, and the ones at Sadie's were soft, fluffy, and delicious. Service: As I mentioned earlier, Gilbert took the role of being our server for the night. Although he had a huge restaurant to run, he took special care of us and we definitely felt the passion for his job. We appreciated him greatly and we will be coming back again. Atmosphere: This place feels warm. It may be chilly if the air conditioning is on high, but the environment is warm. I loved seeing Sadie's and New Mexico's history in the restaurant. It could have been brighter where we were seated, but I'm willing to let that slide. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5
(5)Steve R.
A must-go whenever we visit Albuquerque. The food is just amazing New Mexican comfort food without any frills. The Chille Relleno is my favorite dish. The restaurant is large and can accommodate groups. The portions are huge and the prices are good. Be prepared for a food coma after your meal...
(4)Mike F.
GREAT food with great service. We stumbled upon this place and we're so happy that we did. We loved it!
(5)John M.
I THREW AWAY OVER HALF OF THIS HIGHLY OVERPRICED MEAL. PLEASE READ!!! Let me start off by saying I'm highly unbiased with this review. I love Mexican food, I am the opposite of picky, and I have worked in numerous restaurants in the past. I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. With that being said, I wish I could give this place negative stars. I had a pick up order, which I had to wait 20-25 minutes for. I ordered a Sadie's Burrito, shredded beef, with queso on the side. Upon my arrival home, I realized that I had made a BIG MISTAKE by going here, and wished I had just gone to Taco Bell, because that would have been better in many ways (price AND quality, believe it or not). The "shredded" beef in the burrito is in big chunks (about 1"-2" cubes), along with there being quite a bit of fat; NOT QUALITY. On top of that, the queso I ordered (which was OVER FOUR DOLLARS) was literally only about 1/2 cup of it; along the same issue, it was obviously Velveeta-based, as it hardened to a solid within minutes. Regardless, it tastes like a generic brand of cheese sauce that no real work or talent went into. I was VERY angry about that, because they charge for it as if it were some high quality stuff! On a final note, I had paid TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS for this trash! ONE BURRITO! I could have easily gotten a much better meal anywhere else, at any given time. PLEASE DON'T GO HERE! THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE AND DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN. IT IS A SCAM OF "RESTAURANTS"! I didn't believe any of the other poor reviews on this place before I tried it, I wish I had, and now I hope you do! It is the McDonalds of Mexican food.
(1)Riley J.
Ah, Sadies. I wish I could say that Sadie's is still the sparkling gem that it once was, but I can't. The service is meh, the food is meh, and you leave feeling like you've spent too much money to fill up on chips and queso and then get half heartedly cooked cold food.
(2)P. S.
Portions, even for lunch "small combos" were over the top huge. Ground beef and shredded beef were both really dry. Shredded chicken was bland. The overload of cheddar cheese was unnecessary if the rest of the meal had a note worth singing about. I thought the chili Verde was decent. Bar drinks were fine. I loved the salsa as well as the red and green chili sauces. Service was very friendly and timing was spot on for a busy Friday lunch crowd. There are other options for quality Mexican food in the area. I would recommend those first before Sadie's.
(2)Edwina M.
I have to give this place a 5 star. Is one of the most spectacular of the nake Mexican food and all of Albuquerque. The atmosphere is wonderful the flavor is scrumptious. You can take your children there whole family sometimes you have to wait in line but its not long. If you're ever in New Mexico and in Albuquerque stop over at Sadies won't treat you to an authentic time and show you how Mexican food is really a place for you to feel your belly
(5)Nadine L.
Really solid New Mexican food! I wouldn't call it mind-blowing but it was really good and solid. The salsa is quite spicy and they give you a lot of chips and salsa and also free sopapillas at each meal. I had the spicy ground beef taco and the green chili soup. My husband had a giant sopapilla filled with pork. Delicious!
(4)Jennifer G.
I know that people rave about this place, but quite frankly: I just don't get it. I've only eaten here twice, and the second time someone had to twist my arm. The "New Mexican" food here veers way too close to Tex Mex. The chile is watery, with meaty chunks in it. This is just not acceptable for a red chile, although the green was slightly better. The bonus is that you get a huge heap of food, although I'm not sure that's a plus if it doesn't taste great. The atmosphere is a bit like the plate: A cheap pile of nothing special. It feels a bit like being in a cattle barn, or like you're a member of the herd pulling up a seat at the slop trough. (Yes, I might have made some audible mooing and oinking sounds while I was there. I'm sorry. Kind of.) We had to wait for seating both times I visited, and this only added to the feeling of having been cheated for me. Service was awful, too, and we had to wait there, feeling trapped in the barnyard, for the check to come for about half an hour after eating.
(1)Jay S.
Best Mexican I have ever had. Ever! The service the food the ambiance. Incredible!
(5)Emily M.
Sadie's is a staple of Albuquerque - one that I was first introduced to when I lived at the Sage Canyon Apartments next door and have gone back to plenty of times since. The food is always served hot and quickly. The portions are HUGE (which is a huge plus for me, as I always love leftovers) and the prices are extremely affordable. Even an a la carte burrito renders me leftovers. The staff is remarkably friendly, even with the hustle and bustle of working in such a well-known, large establishment. And never skip the sopapillas.
(5)Jane E.
Carne Adovada to die for. Excellent, polite, quick service. Too spicy for a full 5 stars, though.
(4)Chris S.
Although Sadie's is probably the most traditional new mexican food around, I'm not that much of a fan. The food quality seems to be hit or miss, with the level of spice changing from mild to hot. Its still a great place to take non-local and visitors.
(3)Edward S.
Great service and great food! The manager (Gail) is very nice. You don't have to worry about being under fed. Their plates are huge! I had the Rib Eye steak with beans and potatoes smothered with chile. If you don't like spicy food, then don't add the chile sauce.
(5)Justin V.
Ordered the legendary Carne Avadando enchilada with red and green sauce, awesome food. House guacamole was great and chips and salsa are great.
(5)Flozilla B.
As a "local" I feel obligated to review Sadies. I (along with many friends and family) have been coming here for years. Salsa. SO excellent! They really do get this right...every time. We usually dine at peak hours and can not do the 40+minute wait for a dining table...so, hello bar! You can usually get a table pretty quick in there, and if you don't mind some sports TV, the salsa and chips are at a DIY station in the NE corner of the room...even if you are waiting for a table you can help yourself. My go-to ordering preference is the Huevos Rancheros...RED, with a side of carne adobada. Trust me. (also, be sure to order the carne as the $2.99 side or you will be charge $9+ for it, the menu has it as an option for the huevos) Corn tortilla as big...or bigger than your plate...and I like my eggs over hard...but you can decide that. Oh, and a side of sour cream. Trust me! SOOOOO good. The house margaritas are OK...but SILVER COIN is the way to go! But no more than two!
(4)T R.
Take it from me - DISGUSTING. Sadies is as bottom-rung, run of the mill as it gets. I only gave it one star is for it's attentive and friendly staff, otherwise if it were even possible Sadies would have gotten a ZERO. The staff actually deserves about four stars, but I just can't rate this sh*thole any higher than a one. In a town with some amazing food choices, this is the absolute worst choice I've made while visiting ABQ. When Sadie's was mentioned to a local, he made an audible puking sound and said it was terrible. Why I didn't believe him, I have no idea... I decided to give it a shot because Sadie is my dogs name. I'm an idiot. As if the wretch from a local wasn't enough, I should have known this place would be bad when I realized there are multiple locations, as often that's a sign of a dip in quality, but after eating at Flying Star I had some hope - because that local chain is absolutely delicious (albeit not New Mex cuisine but so SO good!). My hope is dead, filled now by the sad and depressing reality of horrible. The food - poor POOR quality. This is NOT traditional New Mexican, maybe like gringo-Mex, or better yet let's dumb it down to Old Ortega from the box mixes (although those are actually much better). There are barely any vegetarian choices here. Not very vegetarian friendly. I did have a relleno which was halfway decent (?) but not good and I literally feel disgusting after eating it. If I didn't hate vomiting so much I'd purge right now. I also tried the cheese enchilada - So let me just put this straight...orange is not a natural cheese color, and that's all this enchilada had in it. AWFUL. I couldn't even eat it. The over processed orange gelatinous crap was smothered over EVERYTHING and it was unedible. My beau had a chicken taco plate. He has never EVER said a bad word about tacos before - but after eating half of one taco he said it is not good and can't continue. He said the chicken does not taste fresh at all, and feels equally as disgusting as I do. He is now chanting 'I want to throw up'. This is the first time at a restaurant that he actually wants to complain, but our server is so sweet we just don't have the heart. The amount of food that they give you is completely obnoxious. This is a perfect example of quantity over quality. If you want to eat a lot of food cheaply I guess this is your place, however you'll be filling your gut with total garbage and would do better at McDonalds. Please do yourself a favor. TRUST ME! Skip this place and never look back. Go to El Patio instead, or any of the number of delicious New Mexican traditional food joints - cuz this ain't it - and any review stating otherwise is completely either lying or maybe they just have totally dead taste buds.
(1)Ashley F.
The portions here are huge! I really liked the value of the lunch special. The chilli relleno was good and so was the enchilada. Wasn't wild about the taco but for 7 bucks you can't complain about a pound of New Mexican food covered in enchilada sauce. It's good for larger groups of people too.
(4)Enrique S.
This place is nothing less than amazing! The brisket I had was one of the best. Even though restaurant was packed. We were sat pretty fast and our food came out on time. Great food and service!!!!
(5)Debbie A.
If you want real New Mexican food this is the place to go! The portions are large, food New Mexican spicy and delicious. Loved that sopapillas came as standard with your meal. Great atmosphere and service too. We'll be back whenever we're in Albuquerque!
(5)Chris E.
A what Bondo Burger? A Billie Bondo Burger. Sadie's is a local institution - of the best kind. I was sure it was chips salsa, burrito or relleno time for me. Until I saw the mural on the east wall depicting burgers 5/$1.00 - in 1955. Burgers must be a major part of the Sadie's story. Then I saw the burger selection on the menu. Get it with bread or a regular bun, guacamole, green or red chile. Lots of choices. I asked our excellent server Claire, " Which one's best ?" "The Billie Bondo." Maybe Billie is James' brother, but for me, Bondo's what makes bad car bodies look good again. Claire said the Billie was best, so I got one. Claire was right. It may be the best burger I've ever eaten. Giant slices of thick bread, a gaint patty, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, green chile, cheese. A swarm of flavors landing on a beach of textures. Delicious. Plus a very generous serving of home made potato chips. The other half awaits me in the fridge. I may have to stampede to the kitchen before I finish my
(4)Ken G.
Tried a new item - Beef Brisket Enchiladas - these were absolutely amazing! Rich tender and very flavorful, this dish left me very satisfied. It would be crazy to visit Sadie's and not have these for a meal...
(5)Sadie E.
Crazy good. Green chile stew and pozole are a big treat and a must have at the holidays. The salsa is delicious and you have to be careful to not eat too much before your meal arrives. Do yourself a favor and get a couple of jars of salsa and green chile on the way out.
(5)Al S.
I know I will be crucified for this because I've learned that in New Mexico, your choice of Mexican restaurant is tantamount to declaring your religion. When I told my friends I loved El Pinto, they said "Have you tried Sadies?" I had not so I said let's go. In short, I find it highly over-rated. The place was crowded but our server seemed extra special slow. The first test for me was the queso. If the place doesn't have good queso then I can't even consider it. I will say that the queso is very good here. Different from El Pinto but very good. But the chips were very, very greasy. This makes the great queso a moot point. The food here is hot as in spicy - and I have come to learn that most people here like their food spicy. So my review should be taken in context. Knowing I don't like super hot - super spicy food you may like this place better than I do if you're into that. Add a star to my review if that's your thing. For me it's a negative. As far as the rest goes. The food was good not great. The ambiance didn't come close to that of El Pinto. The little fried potatoes that they included in my dish were nasty. In short, if I were hungry and this place was all that was close I might go back but I am not interested in going out of my way to get there. Sorry Sadies fans. It just didn't work for me.
(2)Ashley E.
Not sure how I haven't written a review for Sadie's yet...I really like the food! If you order a margarita, you've got to make sure to ask for fresh ingredients and good tequila, otherwise it's straight mix from the tap and you're just asking for a mean hangover. Anyway, our bartenders were sooooo friendly and quick, and the food was very good as always.
(4)Paul G.
I've eaten here many times. This time, the staff was overly nice...I mean they smiled like they were in a beauty pageant.......but hey, they kept chips coming with fresh bowls of salsa, our water glasses never emptied, etc. The food was good....although not temperature hot but I made two meals out of it.
(4)Funnyfox C.
i found that its all incredibly misleading. It was basically all of my groups first time in this place. We went in with the expectations of it being really cheesy New Mexican, ya know what I mean? And it was, but when they seated us in the "could be a lot better with nicer seating windowed blue chair room" we kind of had to complain. The waiter graciously and wonderfully seated us in the main dining area and it felt a lot better. We ordered, and my friend really reallllyy wanted tamales, but couldn't justify paying over 6 dollars for one so she got the 13 dollar plate. When the food finally came around the tamales measured 4-5inches and % of main to sides was 30-70 beans and taters winning. She was pretty upset and had a right to be. All she wanted was tamales and at 13 dollars you can buy a bag of a dozen from the old lady at any Walmart. She had them just take it back. My 15 dollar stuffed sopa with hamburger meat was burnt, but i ate it. I realize I could have taken it back, but I really was hungry and when you're that hungry you'll think 15 is ok for something you could have gotten at lil Anitas for half the price. Overall its the same stuff but overpriced, which was sad. I'm going to stick to Modelos thanks.
(2)Bryan L.
OMG... That's a TON of food for not much money. Stopped in here while driving from San Fran to Nashville with my best friend. We LOVE food. Both of us. So when we only ordered 3 things and the guy tried to stop us, we wondered what the deal was. Turns out 3 things off this menu weigh in at about 100 pounds. We couldn't eat HALF of the 3. Two apps and one entree completely wrecked us. Good news, we didn't have to stop for food the rest of the way home!
(4)Lorraine G.
LOVE this place, I refuse to go out and eat New Mexican food since it's something I can easily whip out at hope, but the exception is Sadie's! Their salsa is hot and the food portions are huge you can easily share a plate with someone and be more than satisfied! Usually there is a wait, but well worth the wait and they have so much waitstaff that I've never had a bad experience with the service.
(5)Ashley P.
If you're hungry, and you want something delicious and covered in chile, Sadie's is the place to go! I've never had anything here that I didn't love, and everything is always delicious. I love their fries and queso- their fries are really sliced, fried potatoes. Their queso is magically delicious, and is good on everything. I often order things a la carte, because the plates are so much food I can never eat it all. Their appetizers are huge as well, and we often get nachos to share between the two of us as a meal. The price is awesome for all of the food you get, and this is definitely a place I would call ahead to if you don't want to wait for a table- it's always packed!
(4)Jason A.
This is a local favorite. Service is usually good, but we have been there at times when we had long waits and then received bungled orders. It's a mixed bag. Presentations suffer from frequently ending up all looking the same. Many dishes come out simply topped with a sea of green chile, then lettuce and tomato. The food is good, but needs less of that soup platter look. Wait staff is always courteous and responsive, if sometimes slow. Green chili is hot, but not excessive by NM standards.
(3)Larr G.
Please remember that on any given night the service and food can be the best you ever had or it can go wrong. Judging a place on a single experience, particularly if it is a bad experience, might be informative but it may also be unfair. We had a group of 15. We had a reservation, but I suspect that the person who made the reservation did not make it until later in the day and maybe within an hour of our projected arrival. That being said, we did have to wait for about 20 minutes before being seated. I really don't think that is too long. The place is big! It was very crowded, but that does not mean that it was so crowded as to be uncomfortable. After all, is was a Saturday night. This was good solid Mexican food. Not the best and certainly not the worst I have ever had. A lot of the dishes are smoothered in sauce, which is a little different for me. I cannot say that I liked or disliked it, it was just different. The taste was good, the portion size was large. I had the beef, chicken and cheese enchiladas plate. The rice and beans were great and the enchiladas were above average. The chips and salsa just kept arriving. We did not have to ask, the waitress just brought them out. Again, this was a larger group which can, at times, slow down the ordering and delivery of food. That was not the case. The orders were taken quickly and arrived quickly. I have only eaten here once, so please understand that I could have been there on a good night.
(4)James B.
Sadie's food is always good ( if you know what to get ) service can be hit or miss Get the red chile ribs ( Brians' spicy ribs ) You will be a fan
(4)Cody M.
This place was great! The salsa has a little spicy kick to it and I loved it. The atmosphere is fun and inviting and the food comes out hot and fresh. Everything tastes wonderful in this place!
(5)Roz K.
Very disappointing. Atmosphere: extremely loud -- large place - crowded, and I don't know why, because there was no good reason to be there. Food: yuck. Everything is fried and unhealthily. The guacamole tasted like it was 90% sour cream and 10% avocado = just terrible. The chips were of course fried and extremely unhealthy, and the salsa was so hot, that I could not eat it. Even our waitress said she did not like the salsa. I am vegetarian and there were no good choices.... none of the burritos or enchiladas were made with black beans instead of meat. Service: ok, but nothing could make up for the poor menu and lousy food. THIS PLACE IS A SAD EXCUSE FOR MEXICAN FOOD. It is just a lot of fried up unhealthy versions of Mexican food. Bottom Line..,....YUCK.
(1)Chris S.
Hands down some of the best Carne Adovada on the planet. This place succeeds when it comes to flavor, portions, quality and service. There's a reason why there's often a wait, even in a large restaurant like this: it's good.
(5)Zachery M.
Fantastic New Mexican food. Sadie's is one of the places I visit every time I come to New Mexico and in many different visits I've never been disappointed. The service is good and the prices are fine but the food is the real star. The green chile has just the right amount of heat and has a great flavor to it.
(5)Michael Z.
I've been here a number of times, and have always had wonderful service and the food is consistently great. The portions are huge (really, one entrée is enough for 2 people), the chile is tasty, and the salsa is hot and since there is a salsa/chip station in the bar, it's unlimited serve yourself. You really can't go wrong coming here.
(4)William C.
Hi fellow Yelpers! First, my lips are on FIRE! Which brings me to this salient point. Why have salsa without some heat? My salsa experiences locally mostly resemble a spicy ketchup experience of sorts. Sadie's, though, serves a salsa that is vibrant, flavorful, bold, and hot. Sometimes restaurants get it bad in both directions, either no spice and bland, or so hot it does not matter how the rest of the meal tastes. As I sit her, lips aflame, with an aftertaste of cilantro and tomato along with corn chips, I am reminded of the actual meal, which was great! It was lunch time, and I ordered the "small lunch" combination and added a chicken taco ala carte. The food came hot and not small. The taco was good! It had a generous amount of chicken which you could actually taste, and was accompanied by a generous amount of lettuce, tomato, and cheese. The chicken enchilada was great. The corn tortilla was light, and not tough. Again, through the sauce and cheese, you could still tell there was chicken in there. Finally, a chile relleno, which was well executed. The relleno was not over breaded; however, it was light, balanced, and flavorful. The space left on the plate had both potatoes and beans. On top of it all was a tasty green chile sauce that enhanced all of the flavors. Next, our wait staff was great. I do not remember the names, but the waitress and bus person were timely, friendly, and thorough. I have been here many times, and have to say I have been consistently satisfied and impressed. That said, my lips are starting to cool down, so in thinking of getting into my leftover stash of salsa....
(4)Daniel S.
I live in Austin and go to New Mexico about once a year (been maybe 10 times) and I am a huge chile fan and have eaten ALL over Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I went to the 4th street location while I was in town w/a friend who is a local. Both of us were a little let down by the food and service. Nothing terrible, but out of the 15/20 or so places I have tried in the "505" it's my least favorite. I had the stacked enchiladas with red chile. Was not hot at all when it came (probably sat there for a while). Our service was a little blow average. I honestly though of the taco bell "tostada" while I was eating my dish because of the way the red chile was bland and had lettuce all over everything. The sopapillas were smaller than other places in town but not bad. My friend (NM native) didn't like the red either. I think they just use their jarred salsa too when they serve you chips/salsa (didn't seem fresh and had tomato puree in it). I like hot but the salsa didn't have a ton of flavor...just heat. Their chips I LOVED though. I would say not bad but not good enough to compete w/the other places I tried. I'll stick with El Modelo, Frontier, El Patio, Garcia's, Barella's, etc etc...
(2)Maggie N.
Outstanding! My brother took us here while we were visiting from Texas and it was amazing. The chicken enchiladas were oh so good, the best I've ever had in fact. They weren't stingy with portions either! Everyone's plate was piled high! The SALSA was PHENOMENAL! It was full of flavor and super spicy, just the way I like it! I just NEED to find a way to get me some now that I'm back here in Texas! I wish we had a Sadies here because it was probably the best Mexican food I've ever had. My brother was right about this place and I'm so glad he insisted on taking us here! Lastly, the service was great! Thank you for such a wonderful experience. We will be sure to visit again!
(5)Sherry W.
At Sadie's, good things come in big portions. Entree plates are about the size of the menu. If you are in possession of a bottomless stomach or Kobayashi-like superpowers, you'll be able to handle an entree on your own. The stuffed sopaipilla entree probably weighs 2-3 pounds, not including the plate. Mere mortals like myself will be able to finish only a portion of their food and have enough chile and carne adovada to last you for days (which is not a bad problem to have). Two tips: - Skip the chile relleno - it's not outstanding and just fills your stomach with unnecessary batter and cheese. Fill up instead on the delicious and flavorful chile, brilliantly cooked shredded chicken, or savory/spicy adovada. - This may be difficult, but save room at the end of your meal to enjoy some sopaipillas with honey! There's hardly anything better than flaky, warm sopaipilla crust drizzled with sweet honey. You're almost certainly going to need a to-go box. Sadie's will throw some fresh sopaipillas in there for you too, just to make sure you don't forget how good they are.
(5)Martin T.
First time to Sadies. To our surprise there were no seafood options! We can't eat meat so we had to leave. I don't think I have ever been to a restaurant that did not have seafood options?
(1)Preston C.
Every time I visit NM I always have to stop by Sadie's. I grew up in ABQ and Sadie's was just always a part of my family. I will not mind the wait at all, which I'm sure a lot of people don't mind, seeing as how everything on the menu is yumzo! Sadie's salsa is deeeeeelish! My mouth is watering as I write this review... And it's 1:47... In the morning! The last time I visited Sadie's was in February and I took a friend from Maryland, and he loved the food, the building, and the chips and salsa. Sadie's is truly New Mexican cuisine at its finest
(5)Britt D.
I stayed the night in Albuquerque and asked around for a joint where the locals eat. This is definitely a local's place - and it's huge! The place was pretty packed on a Friday night (even though it was 9pm), so it took a while for our server to get around. We were immediately brought chips & salsa and sopapillas (yum!) before our meal. Everyone at my table ordered different meals with different sauces, but every single plate looked the same - some sort of brownish heap covered in lettuce and tomatoes. I had the chile relleno with the veggie green chili (props for that), with fried potatoes and beans. I only made it halfway through the plate and my companions barely made a dent in theirs. The food was pretty good, though a little monotone in flavor. I'm giving three stars because it took way too long for our server to take our orders, the dishes were a bit monotone, but also for the presentation...I'm just saying, we eat with the eyes first and I have no idea how the food runner could tell our plates apart.
(3)Ima G.
Dined at Sadie's on 4th St NW in Alb, NM. All I can say is go and see! I ordered the Carne Adovada stuffed sopapilla, with papitas (little taters), and beans. Rice was offered as a swap. Carne was fork tender and smothered in some of the most flavorful red chili I have ever had. Meal was complimented by the papitas and beans Chips and salsa are awesome, be careful as the salsa is very spicy hot- keep the honey handy! Ice tea for my drink, which is fresh brewed and was a great addition to my meal. LOVED the FLAN. Give it a try. I don't give fives out very often but will do so in this case!
(5)Cheri P.
Ask to sit on the patio if the weather is nice. We had full shade, two water features and the whole place to ourselves. Portions are large, one entreé burrito fed all three of my kids. Chile is not very hot but makes up for it in delicious. We loved the huevos rancheros and stuffed sopapilla.
(4)Chris P.
This restaurant was by far one oxygen best I've ever been to. The staff was above and beyond wonderful. The best service I've ever had at a restaurant. I ordered the special carne burrito which was one of the best Mexican dishes I've ever had. All the food was great. I could see myself coming out to Albuquerque again just to go here.
(5)Patrick M.
Some of the best Southwestern food ever!
(5)Kimberley L.
Really good Mexican food and green chili sauce was perfect! Really great Mexican food and the waiter was very attentive! The only complaint I have is trying to move the bar stools to sit at the bar Yummy Yummy Yumny!!!!
(5)Lena L.
Sadie's has long been one of the my favorites. The 4th street location is the most popular and therefore can be very, very loud with a long wait. If possible, try the Eubank location. The food is comparable and it's not nearly as crowed. Avoid the one in the casino- the food is poor. The margaritas at Sadie's are wonderful, but be warned, they are large and powerful. They have multiple to chose from. The Presidential and the House are likely the best in flavor. They have a happy hour during the early afternoon. The glasses for happy hour are considerably smaller, but the margaritas are still just as strong as always. They will bring you homemade chips and salsa, which are both very good. Be warned, if you are not used to spice, the salsa will be hot. If you are not a New Mexican, you may think it's spicy. I have seen many out-of-towners turn a brilliant shade of red and shed a tear. You will get a sopapilla for dessert and they are always delicious. I have had much of their fare over the years. Their Taco salad is great. You can chose the sort of meat and chile you would like. The shell is lovely and light, while packing a lot of great flavor. Their Chile Rellenos is lovely. It's full of flavor and fried perfectly. Their tacos, burritos and tamales are above average for a restaurant and options like the Roberto's Special (smothered beef) are a nice option to stray from the norm. They also have burgers and a large selection of tasty appetizers. Chile, chile, chile. It's good chile. Be warned, if you do not get the A La Carte menu, you will be presented with a giant plate of beans, papitas and cheese. The A La Carte offers you a lighter option than the cheese smothered dinner options (there are many reviews complaining about the beans, cheese and chile smothered dishes, but apparently, these diners did not read the menu. It does specify how your food will be in both sections of the menu). They also have a large kid's menu, as well, with less spicy and smaller options. It is not a place to eat if you are watching your waistline, but it is a wonderful option for those who want well done comfort food. It's very reasonably priced, especially for how large the servings are (I got the Sadie's salad once and it lasted me for four meals).
(4)Reyz A.
A business trip to our design center brings me to Albuquerque a couple of times a year. One of the great things to look forward to is a visit to Sadie's. Seems like the place is always packed when I'm here. To get right down to it, I look forward to something I can't seem to find in the Bay Area-- sopaipilllas. It's Mexican food that's New Mexican. But they tell me there are versions of this in Argentina, Bolivia,Chile, northern Mexico, Peru, and Texas. If it tastes good, it will be loaded with calorias. This is a richly fried pastry, high on calories, pero muy delicioso. They say it's generally, but not always, served as a dessert, with honey poured between its two layers through a hole made by biting off one corner. Here in New Mexico, it is normally served as a side with your meal like bread. They say, outside NM, it is also occasionally topped with powdered sugar, and ice cream. Who cares, give me a loaf of this, and I'll do a 10K tomorrow. OK, I jumped ahead by talking about a dessert in the desert. But I just love sopaipillas. I'm sure the New Mexicans will say that there are better versions of sopaipillas elsewhere, like in Santa Fe or in Madrid (get this, this is pronounced Maaadrid, not Mudrid, here in New Mexico) I'm not a food history expert but there seems to be some differences between 'Mexican' food in California and New Mexico. Some say it dates back to the early early days of California (people from Northern Mexico) versus the early early days of New Mexico (people from Spain). What ever, both places have outstanding food. A transplanted Canadian like me will see generalizations though: traditional New Mexico cuisine blends cooking styles of northern Mexico and Pueblo Indians;i.e. it will be black beans instead of pinto beans; and I seem to see a lot of avocados and jalapenos in California or for that matter Tex-Mex, and seem to be less in NM. OK, enough pontificating from a guy from the Great White North. The salsa I had at Sadie's was very spicy which I really enjoyed. Burgers I had were smeared in chili con queso and green chili sauce. Lots of Sadie's papitas (diced potatoes), and more smothering of green chili, or was that red chili. Others in our party had chili relleno which came along with papitas as well. I can't remember much because there were plenty of margaritas a la carafe(s) to go around. Or was that cervesa Negra Modelo or was that Corona? As always, I seem to enjoy a meal, then get plastered by getting liquored up. Oh well, there's only that TSA pat-down the next day to look forward to, so I thought I may as well get smashed.
(4)Claude K.
Excellent food, large portions, friendly staff, can be noisy. Parking lot was full but they seated us immediately. Had our food in about 15 minutes. Staff was very friendly. Even the busboy checked with us frequently. My wife had the stuffed sopaipilla with shredded beef. It was very large, the beef was tender and she said it tasted great. I had a bean burrito with vegetarian green chili and a side of guacamole. Everything was delicious. We will go back the next time we are in Albuquerque but hope a different room is quieter so I don't lose my voice trying to have a conversation.
(4)Jamie R.
Awesome and good priced Mexican food. Since they've added brisket to any item (tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc) I enjoy the food here even more because its different than what others offer. Excellent red chile and salsa. Biggest negative, and it's big enough to keep us from going there sometimes, is the amount of people who let their children run around, yelling and crying, as though we're at a children's playground; this is at times overwhelmingly frustrating, especially when management allows it to go own for an entire meal.
(4)Jason S.
5 STARS... whenever I'm in Albuquerque I WILL visit Sadie's. This I vow to you, world. Thank you.
(5)Tony D.
Had a big group and the took great care of us. Food was awesome! Might of been too much heat for the couple of Montana guys with us. They liked it, they just got a little shiny.
(4)Susie D.
What I like: unlimited free chips and salsa. Ambiance. The full menu offered in the bar area because there is always a wait. The closeness to my home, the tradition, and the memories. Oh yeah, and the really strong and delicious and wonderful silvercoin margaritas. What's not good: That the "discounted" beers (one for each day of the week) are discounted 50 cents. (But maybe I just need to get out of college/New Orleans cheap drinking mode...no wait, Tecate should never cost 4.25. never.) The service nearly always sucks pretty bad (I swear some of the bussers are tweaking occasionally). Stuff is expensive for what it is but I guess you are paying for an experience. On that note and to reiterate, the beer should be cheaper. That is all. On this rare occasion, for this single restaurant, now is the only time I will say: I would not recommend this restaurant, especially not to an out-of-towner (unless they were with me). But I will be back. Probably sometime this week.
(3)Rachel C.
Hot! HOT! HOT! Literally . . . . this place has the hottest Southwestern - Mexican dishes! Huge portions of delicious SW fare - all of it served with sopapillas and honey . . . best for cutting the heat so you can keep eating. After getting up at 4:30am to head to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta no one wanted to cook, so we all headed to Sadie's for dinner. We were from New Mexico, Colorado & Texas. All the Mexican food is "unique" in each of these states, so each of us had our own base of experience. A NM enchilada is not a CO enchilada is not a TX enchilada. Yet Sadie's manages to combine the dishes to please each of its visitors. We all were F*U*L*L beyond what any living mammal should be when we left the patio. Moaning FULL! Belt loosening FULL! Each one with a smile on his/her face. Sadie's is our new GO-TO spot for large family dinners. All 10 of us agreed that Balloon dinners will always be at Sadie's. A perfect ending to a perfect Opening Day!
(4)Michael R.
Sadie's is very good but not my favorite NM restaurant. One of the down sides to going there is the place is always packed with the parking lot overflowing and generally a long wait time. However, the food is pretty frickin' good and if you've never been it's definitely worth the wait, we've been going for many years now. The salsa is very spicy which we really enjoy. Last night I had the hamburger steak special which comes smothered in chili con queso (nacho cheese dip) and green chili sauce. Along with that came Sadie's papitas (diced potatoes), smothered in green chili and cheese, which are absolutely yummmmmy!!! The wifey had the chili relleno which she really enjoyed along with papitas as well. What's up with only being able to order margaritas in a carafe?!?! Something about not being able to order pitchers of margaritas in ABQ anymore?!?! Whoever got that law passed should be kicked in the nuts, repeatedly!!!
(4)Lorelei S.
What wonderful food except the papitas. They tasted like they were old cut up french fries. I like rice better w/mexican food. Otherwise it was worth it. I had the Sadie's stacked enchiladas & my bf had Sadie's stuffed sopapailla. We ended up bring most back because it was too much food. Will be going back!
(4)Jenn W.
Sadie's is one of those restaurants that (while growing up in a small town 3 hours east of here) I heard about. So naturally it was a place that I had to check out for myself and at first I was enamored but this has changed. After experiencing Albuquerque's other dining options I have found that Sadie's is simply OK. The first problem I have is that it is always busy -- like can't find parking - wait for a seat - wait for service kind of busy. The next problem is that the portions are grossly large. Finally, the food is average to me. My husband really likes this place however the food portioning has finally gotten to him to. We both try to clean off our plates and feel guilty if we leave stuff behind but here you simply cannot clean off your plate. The service here over the years waxes and wanes -- overall it is not great and when we eat here it usually takes too long and with 2 small children that is a recipe for disaster. We make it to Sadie's about 1-2 times a year but it's not some place that I'm sad we don't frequent.
(2)Kevin U.
Well, we ate here a few years ago and while the food was OK..It was not spectacular. What I remember the most was constantly waiving flies away from our plates. Just ate here again last week with my wife's family (abq locals) and those same pesky flies never left from 5 years ago! My wife's stuffed sopapillas were bland, the chicken boiled then shredded with no flavor. I don't know what the magic is here..no enchantment for me.
(2)Judy P.
They kept the drinks full but other than that they didn't bring us more salsa or napkins. We dealt with it but when you ask 3 timea it does get annoying.
(3)Ed C.
We had a friend visiting a few weeks ago and she was insistent the we go to eat at Sadie's. Well, I'm glad we did. Judging by the shear size of the establishment, I wasn't expecting much. But everything was very good. I had a reasonably priced margarita, that had AT LEAST 3 shots of tequila in it. That thing was STRONG!....and really good. The salsa: super spicy, flavorful, delicious. The Brisket Tacos: awesome! These were very tender and almost perfectly seasoned! Way better than what I was expecting. The Chile Relleno: pretty good. Decent crispy breading, not too thick, but just enough to coat the pepper. The pepper itself, had some nice heat (like -spicy, not-warm....well, it was warm too...so, maybe heat can be used in both ways on that one) and the cheese inside was pretty good as well. I got both the red and green chile (with meat) on the side, and both were awesome! Probably the best red or green I've had since my time in NM! The place is a little pricey, but the portions are huge. The staff is super attentive - I don't think my water every dropped below half full. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a decent New Mexican meal in ABQ.
(4)Ruben S.
Sadie's IS NOT MEXICAN FOOD. It is New Mexican cuisine, which is very different from Mexican fare. The food is definitely good, the atmosphere is loud, especially during their peak hours. And the four times I've been there the portions were massive. Definitely a good value! :O) However, as far as New Mexican food goes, there are more quaint, less expensive, and tastier options. There are some very good reviews here on Yelp for other New Mexican restaurants. But Not Mexican in the least.... Case in point.... Nachos, Sopaipillas, Margaritas, Chimichangas and everything drowned in red or green is Not Mexican.
(3)Simone F.
The decor seems firmly stuck in the 80's, and you will have to navigate gigantic families with multiple offspring, but it's worth it for ferociously delicious, family-style New Mexican cuisine in portions so large and economical *doggie bags are a foregone conclusion. Great service, good drinks, green & red chile to make you wish you lived here and could drop in every week. *No joke: the white-meat chicken stuffed sopapilla will feed a healthy, hungry adult female human for 3 days.
(5)Mark M.
OMG yummy. If you love delicious local/regional fare where everything is covered in cheese and majorly fat-free...then this is your place. I was in on business and my co-worker took me here after a long day. - Great service - Super crowded but the wait isn't long - Pretty decent margaritas - Great prices - Tons of food - Great salsa!! and amazingly thin/crisp chips - SO. MUCH. CHEESE (all you need in life) - Lots to choose from -- all will be pleased - Good for big groups! Yum.
(4)Ernesto S.
This is a mandatory stop every time I'm in Albuquerque. I've tried several things, all have been delicious: the taco burger, the adobado ribs, enchiladas. The portions are huge, staff is friendly, but it can get crowded.
(5)George D.
My family and I had dinner here Tuesday July 31, 2012. Sadie's has good food, decent service and a fair value. I'm on my quest for the perfect red chile chicken enchiladas and while I didn't find them at Sadie's they were pretty good. I had a beer while I was there and it could have been colder. Because the beer was a little warm I had a margarita that was a little too sweet.
(4)Kelly O.
Would definitely go back if I am in Albuquerque!! I totally recommend the Sopapilla Dinner!! The wait staff was friendly and it had a great atmosphere!
(4)Robert C.
The worst Mexican food I've ever eaten. This is not Mexican food. I've eaten Mexican food from border town Mexican restaurants. This place really SUCKS!
(1)Tracy V.
Love Sadie's! Really love their Guaco Chicken Taco with a side of green, and their papitas. Mmmmm..... I've been to Sadie's on Academy, in the Valley, and at Santa Ana Casino. All good.
(5)Amy T.
My bf took me here when he lived here and I was visiting from Texas. he said that everyone @ his work place told him about this and he took them on his word since he had just moved here and a few months prior. We came right after church so we were starving and there was a 30 min. wait time which was more like 40. I wouldnt have minded much but I had a plane to catch and still had to pack up to head home. Not too bad b/c lets face it if its packed it means its good food. you wont wait for crappy food! We both ordered the obvious, the famous enchiladas and she asked me the coveted NM question... "green or red?" damn... i couldnt decide. I asked for Christmas. (both). and boy did I. It was soo good. I couldnt finish it but darn it I tried! Myjean fit a lot better before I got there than when I left. Its a must try if you are in the area. NOTE: I ate here May 2007. Two weeks ago while going to my local bank here in Las Vegas, NV I met a bank employee that mentioned she lived in ABQ "querque" years ago and often craves Sadie's. What are the odds that the both of us would think of ABQ and instantly think of Sadie's. Now that's a place worth your hard earned money. Honeslty I could care less what famous people have eaten here, I care how good the food is, and its good...
(4)Ann K.
My colleague and I visited Sadie's on a Tuesday night - when we arrived it was pretty empty but by the time we finished, the dining room we were in was packed and very noisy! Portions are Sadie's are HUGE so be sure to come hungry. I had the Carne Adovada - I've never had it before so it's hard to compare but I thought it was pretty good. The red chilie sauce was spicy but no where near as hot as I expected. We ordered a "large" guacamole on the side - when it arrived it looked huge but in reality, it was lettuce on the bottom with a big scoop of guac on the top. It was tasty but pricey - I'd skip it next time. Except for the guac, I didn't think prices were high as other Yelper's have indicated but maybe I'm biased by East Coast prices.
(3)Jon C.
Want to experience a classic variety of super hot New Mexican food? Order the carne adovada. Get it with red and green sauce so you can experience each. Best heat in Albuquerque. Really satisfying.
(5)Monica M.
I had just arrived in Albuquerque around lunchtime so my friend decided that Sadie's should be my first authentic New Mexican cuisine experience. I had the small combination plate which included a chile relleno, a taco, and enchiladas. There was nothing small about this plate and it was only $8! The chips and salsa were fantastic. Everything was hot and spicy just the way I like it! I got a taste of my first sopapilla and drizzled honey all over it. Yummy!
(4)Nicolae Frederick Z.
Sadie's Dining Room was a fairly great experience. From the Large portions to the fast service and great drinks. We enjoyed our visit.
(4)Eileen O.
We have been residents and visitors of ABQ for the last 19 years and throughout that time Sadie's has been a sort of culinary touchstone for our family. If we're at Sadie's, we know we are truly in New Mexico. Tonight, we introduced 27 of our friends to Sadie's unequaled New Mexican cuisine. After a long day of competition (the NM Irish Step Dancing Championships), Sadie's was the perfect wrap up. I can't say enough good things about the manager, Gail Sandoval, or our server, Angela. They had our party seated quickly and the wait staff was very attentive throughout our time, despite the fact that Sadie's was at capacity with the live music (another outstanding treat) and typical Saturday night crowds. Angela did an especially excellent job keeping all the orders straight and making sure everyone got their meal quickly. Gail came around several times to ask how the meal was...not an easy task given the size of Sadie's and the number of tables and was great to talk to. The beef brisket enchiladas came out perfect and the red & green chilis made a good match to their taste. I always recommend getting both with a Sadie's meal, otherwise you're missing out on a key ingredient of the meal. Portions at Sadie's are always big, so bring an appetite. Despite their size, the cost is far lower than you'd expect. We paid $40 for two adults and a pre-teen with drinks and one dessert. Come hungry and plan to leave with a box of leftovers. You'll want to save some room for the honey and sopapillas that are part of the Sadie's tradition. We made our reservations three weeks early because of the size of the party. Gloria was very helpful in making the reservation. Call during daytime hours to ensure they can handle your party. We saw three other parties in the banquet room while we were there and all seemed to go smoothly. One last piece of advice: If you come to Sadie's for your birthday, tell the staff so you can get an ice-cream-filled sopapilla with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. One of a kind.
(5)Jim W.
This review is dedicated to: yelp.com/user_details?us… because she said I had to go here or she was going to kick my ass. She was frustrated over my several trips over to Albuquerque where I dined at mediocre restaurants (some of them even chains) even though I had inside info on good places to eat, and then wrote possibly mediocre reviews about them: Muy caliente. I brought some folks from work here for dinner. This place is busy! Despite the bustle the service was outstanding. Right from the get-go I knew we were in for heat. One of the folks I brought is from Sonora and he commented right away that the salsa had real heat. I ordered the avodoba enchiladas. Huge portion, lots of food. The pork was delicious and filling...and hot. Everyone enjoyed their food and we shared around a little to sample other items. I also got an explanation on how carne avodoba is made. I don't know if this is authentic New Mexico cuisine but it is very good. Thanks Chrissy!
(4)Amy L.
Was only in Albuquerque for a brunch & had only one chance to pick a restaurant that represented the regional cuisine. Luckily, this place didn't disappoint. Chips & salsa came 1st w/ their famous spicy hatch chilli, then the sopaipillas....they were hot, fluffy & melt in your mouth with honey. Kiddies didn't eat their meals b/c all they ate were sopaipillas. We all ordered the Sadie's Super Combo Plates: Chile Relleno w/ beef chalupa, papitas & red chili - 3.5 stars Carne Ribs w/ beef rolled enchilada, papitas & red chili - 4 stars The good: service was good, plates were huge, many choices for sides (a good change from rice & beans), good place for a tourist too The bad: couldn't take any leftovers home (had to drive back to Phx), hubby couldn't stop buying the jar salsas for souvenirs
(4)Orlando L.
Service is never great here but today took the cake. Sat entirely unattended for ten minutes before I walked out. You can't just rely on the food.
(1)Chelle R.
i need billy burrito!! i live on the east coast, and no one knows real mexican food out here.
(4)Sandra N.
I really love Sadie's. They always have huge portions, the food is spicy, and I'm a local New Mexican so that's how I like it! To tourists order your chile on the side. The tamales are really good too, I got an ala cart one. Moist, full of red chile, and so delicious!
(5)Christy O.
While visiting a new city for the first time, I had to see what my fellow Yelpers recommended for some authentic New Mexican fare, and once again, I wasn't disappointed. Red or green is the only question you need to answer, and I might I suggest both- but on the side if you are a newbie like me. I ordered "Christmas" which is both and I got it on top of my stacked enchiladas and it was a bit much but still good. I just wasn't prepared for the flurry of taste emotions my buds were about to experience! My stacked burrito was good and the hubs had a burrito which actually had a hamburger patty inside. Yumm! We went for lunch and had to wait about 5 minutes because the place was packed. The lunch specials are on the table and please note that the portions are not smaller, just the prices are. The only is issue I had is that the sopapillas were delivered with the meal and I prefer to eat them as a dessert, so once I was ready for them, they were cold.
(4)A.J. S.
I was in town, and wanted to try some local cusine. Day 1 I tried sadies. Ambiance - It was really loud, we waited about 20 minutes for a table. The decor was nice, very typical touristy blankets on hvangers type things. The tables were situated well. Service - I ordered a beer, and it took like 10 minutes to bring out to be. the waiter was nice enough, maybe they are just understaffed. food - I thought it was ok, but it wasn't really great. I have had a bit of exposure to Mexican food. I don't know the difference between new Mexican cuisine and Mexican food is. The green chili was ok, the enchilada was decent. In total, it didn't seem like anything special to me.
(3)Meghan C.
Alright. Here's the deal. You can't go to Albuquerque, without dining at Sadie's. Red or Green? Make your decision. The plates are enormous, so come with your appetite. WARNING: The chili is not for the faint of heart. If you aren't used to very hot chili, then ask the server to go easy on you. I personally like the stuffed sopapilla's with ground spiced beef with green chili. The chicken enchilada's are also very good.
(5)Alex Z.
The food was really good. The salsa that came with the chips was burn-your-mouth-off spicy. The stuffed sopapiila is amazing - very flavorful (I had the carne adovada) and a tremendous portion. I think I got 3 full dinners out of it including when we went. The fresh baked sopapillas at the end were also awesome and came with honey and other fix-ins as a dessert. The service was pretty spotty, but that was likely in part our own fault for sitting in the bar/lounge area at peak time on a saturday night. Regardless, we would definitely come here again!
(4)Sandy S.
A friend brought us here, we had a great dinner. The chips and salsa were very good. We all tried both the red and green sauce - both were good. I had an enchilada and ate it all. Didn't like the tamale as well but it was still good.
(5)Jackie P.
Agreed. Sadie's does every thing to the max. including A+ service. I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the staff is, and how fresh my chips and salsa tasted. They had them ready on the table when we sat down! You can't find service like that in California (where I'm from). My family visits New Mexico once a year, they suggest that I eat here for authentic New Mexican food during my trip. Sooo glad I did, not only was it affordable but the quality and quantity did not disappoint. I even got a jar of salsa to go : ) I'll definitely be returning when passing through... (OH! AND they had table Ms. PacMan and Gallega!!! Like what?!)
(5)T N.
Good service, but slow in bringing out the order...appetizer took approximately 15 minutes and main course took over 30 minutes. An appetizer, 2 entrees, and two beers, winded up to be over 50 bucks...a bit overpriced for okay tasting food. There are better places out there with same size portions and better tasting.
(2)Savannah B.
I come to Albuquerque about once a year for a conference and have made a habit of stopping at Sadie's while I'm in town. Everyone I've brought there has been very impressed. It does get very busy, so be prepared to wait for a table, but the bar is nice and the margaritas are a tasty treat while you wait. My only complaint is that the servings are entirely too big, especially for out-of-towners who don't have a way to store leftovers.
(4)Roy S.
I spent three days on business in Albuquerque and my nightly goal was to find the best New Mexican food in the city. Well, I found it here. The chips and salsa were perfect but wwhat stole the show was the Chilie Relleno with red sauce. I'm a chilie fanatic and have had Chilie Rellenos from at leat 40 resturants and OMG, this was it. Dont pass this place up.
(5)Nancy P.
Be prepared to wait, even at the table. This place is huge and extremely busy. I had the chili relleno and chicken enchilada combo with green sauce. It warns of being HOT but it wasn't. I wanted the burn but only got it from the salsa, which was crazy HOT but too salty. The plates are huge and completely covered heavily in cheese. Our dinner was still really good and we enjoyed our dinner.
(4)Phil K.
If America is suffering from an obesity epidemic, this place is probably the single greatest offender in NM. The food was pretty good, though a little too hot for my taste. But the portions are preposterous and not in a good way. Mountains of food, which I suppose gives patrons a sense of value for money, but the sheer volume was almost nauseating. Additionally, there was not a single thing on the menu that could be considered healthy by any stretch of the imagination. I know this is an Albuquerque institution, blah blah blah, but talk about wretched excess.
(2)Peter V.
Quintessential New Mexican. First ate here 20 years ago and the joint has not changed a bit. This past summer I took my daughter there and she became a fan. Don't forget to have a sopapilla with honey.
(4)Paul H.
Great New Mexican food! Enchiladas, chile rellenos, anything, whatever you want, it's delicious. Huge dining space, very delicious salsa. Large portions, I mean very large. Wait staff was friendly and quick. Be warned, this is hot for a New Mexican restaurant. Any veteran will handle this easily, but the food is spicy and the salsa spicier. A rookie could end up burnt. The salsa is also great on eggs made at home. Not terribly expensive at all. It's loud when it gets crowded, though, and there is a wait - but that's for a reason. The place is great. You visiting New Mexico? This place is probably the best to try New Mexican food, if you can handle the spice. For New Mexican who haven't tried it - get your butts over there immediately. The place is wonderful.
(5)Daniel C.
Wow. Great New Mexican dining. HUGE portions, great chile (both red and green) and cooked close to perfection. I like the salsa too. Can't believe how many large people eat here. Guess they like the food and the portions too. Anyhow, I was impressed with the service and the wait wasn't too long considering the crowds. Good job on the Huevos Rancheros.
(5)Thomas A.
Having eaten here several times now, I think I have a solid perspective as a non-ABQ resident. This is simply THE place to go if you come to Albuquerque and want to eat REAL New Mexican food without a hint of pretension. I have been to just about every main/recommended restaurant in the city over my almost 16 years of visiting often. MUST GO. There are so many great restaurants in ABQ it's hard to say "best", but this comes close. Chips and salsa (BEST): both are homemade and the salsa is the spiciest I've had in a restaurant.... Enchiladas (get the Blue Corn for an added touch)..simply perfect in taste and spice. Keep aware that the Green Chile is SPICY here, like the salsa. They do NOT cool things down for the tourists here, another reason to love this place. Margaritas (Hands down the strongest I have ever had in a restaurant, period)...and delicious Some negative points (which prove I'm not a simple fanboy) I found it odd that they serve the sopapillas during the meal, so they are coldish when you finally eat them. They should be served as dessert and HOT (they are free, though). Also, they are not the best I've had, like the other things. They DO NOT serve sour cream with their dishes(!)...It has to be ordered separately, but one side is plenty for 2-3 people so keep that in mind. Why are you reading this...get your a$$ to Sadie's!!!
(5)Jeff R.
Not sure what all the fuss is about. Three of us went for lunch on Friday at 11:30, the place was packed. It took 45 min to get served. Sadie's burger was pretty good, the homemade potato chips were good too. Service was a little slow, but I'll write it off that they were busy.
(3)Al M.
Rich flavor. Huge portions. Great prices. Love the new Mex food.
(4)Reviewit O.
I have lived in Albuquerque roughly 10 years. I know Sadie's is a favorite among many, but I wasn't really too impressed. My stuffed sopapilla was very bland. It may have been what I ordered, but I simply did not want to go back. The prices were fair though.
(3)Nancy L.
I despise Sadie's, and I won't ever be going back. I've given Sadie's several chances in the 17 years I've been in the area, and every time, they have disappointed me. Even lunches are either blah or "chili-ed." I still haven't begun to understand why all of these "New Mexican" restaurants around insist upon dousing everything in the hottest chile they can find--even the mild is usually so hot it burns. One can NOT taste the food when trying to keep your tongue from burning out of your mouth. I've had lunches and dinners here, and I just can't see the attraction. I used to eat at Rancho de Corrales before it closed, and it was wonderful, with the best carne adovada ever. Sadie's carne adovada was only passable, with several chunks of fatty pork that should have been removed as soon as they were noticed. The service here is adequate, particularly for large parties; they will put two waitpersons on the group, which helps immensely. The atmosphere is almost utilitarian. El Pinto has the atmosphere; most of the Little Anita's are in previously occupied restaurant locales, like a JB's. This this one is just passable. Overall, I've had better food at Little Anita's!!
(2)Philip C.
A winner for lunch. The "small" lunch specials aren't small and aren't overpriced. The salsa is amongst my most favorite. Service is solid - not great. Dinner is overpriced, in my opinion. Try for lunch seating in the bar area instead of the main dining room.
(4)Matt V.
I have been eating at Sadies since it was in a Bowling Alley on 4th street. There were incredible lines to get in but it was worth it. Everytime anyone comes to visit from out of town my wife and I bring them to Sadies.I love their Salsa, (we always have a jar of it at home), their carne adovada ribs are amazing.
(5)Jarrod M.
First off... A lot of food so share a plate. In my last visit I had a carne adovada and Sadie's salad (split both with my girlfriend). Came with sopapillas (with honey, yum!!!) and chips and salsa. We felt like rolling out and didn't even finish half our plates (we're from California so not sure if we just are whips). Overall it was pretty awesome. Food is good, not the best EVER but I left happy and believe it's an Albuquerque institution... I know this because i work here part time and we love to come here for work dinners.
(4)Katy M.
Nothing wrong with the food at all, but I think my expectations for New Mexican have been set unrealistically high by Santa Fe experiences at Shed, Maria's and the like. Stopped here for lunch on the way up to the City Different - enjoyed decent chips and salsa, huevos rancheros were totally uninspired, although Mr. F's adovada ribs were a revelation. Also notable were the ginormous portions and complimentary sopaipilllas. Compared to other New Mexican meals we've enjoyed, things seemed just a bit bland and heavy overall. Not a bad place to dine if you find yourself spending time in Albuquerque or if you arrive at ABQ too late to make lunch in Santa Fe. Just don't calibrate to any of the stand-out New Mexican places and you'll be fine.
(3)Miriam A.
I was visiting my good friend in the ABQ in February. (I haven't written reviews in a while, give me a break.) We headed over to Sadie's for a late dinner after she picked me up from the airport. I was very happy with the service and the food. Being a Los Angeles native, I made the mistake of assuming they served straight up Mexican food. My friend had to explain to me it's New Mexican food which is slightly different from Mexican. I asked the waiter for an "horchata" and that's when my friend told me, "They don't serve that here." In any case, their food was delicious. I tried sopapillas (not sure if I spelled it right) for the first time and had lots of chile verde in my entree. I would definitely come here again, when I'm in Albuquerque.
(4)T P.
Wtf? Seriously people? This place is horrid. Its a sit down taco bell. Service was slow, fellow diners are weird, the food is terrible, and its in the ghetto! Stay away. Never again!
(1)Chase D.
I'm sorry, but this place didn't do anything for me. The only seasoning the food had was the anticipation that built up watching the hundreds of others eat their food. I had convinced myself that if this many people love it, it must be good. Once the bland kicked in, that delusion disappeared quickly. Oh, and if you think my food was bland because I didn't eat any green chile, back off. I love green chile. Actually, I love hot food and often don't find the best of green chile hot enough. So, it was definitely just how they made it.
(2)JAMES C.
Fantastic food! Generous portions! Silver coins best in town! Impeccable Service!
(5)Lori B.
Really 4.5 Stars, just so you know. Anything you order is going to be scrumptious, trust me. Salsa & Margaritas. Nuff said. Now go! Just make sure you have a designated driver because 1 margarita will pack a punch.
(4)Matt B.
Good place if your in the area! You get a massive amount of food so a lot of people can share if they choose not to be overly full to the point they hate themselves. Red chili is hot so that's a plus. Salsa is spicy and they have awesome service. Was very happy
(4)Robert L.
Amazing salsa, the carne adovada was pretty good (and was an absolutely huge portion size). The sopapillas were disappointing.
(4)Marcial R.
Sadies, lived up to the hype. The food was good and the serving size was decent. The server was awesome!
(3)Stephan H.
Sadie's is a great NM restaurant. If you want good hot (usually) chili (red or green), this is the place to go. Their chips and salsa, free to every table, could fill you up if you're not careful and finish them off before your meal arrives. Their daily specials are inexpensive and huge by most standards. You can add or subtract items to your liking and the wait staff are always accommodating. The huevos rancheros and enchiladas (cheese) are the best in town. They also have taquitos on their starters menu (4 or 7) chicken or beef which can be a meal on their own - don't forget to add some guacamole. The red chili with or without beans will remind you of grandma's cooking. And if your lucky enough to drop in during the Christmas holidays, you can also order a bowl of their home made pozole - WOW! Be warned that you get very very big portions on their specials and off the regular menu too, so come with an appetite and be prepared to leave room for their delicious sopaipillas - you'll think you died and went to heaven. And unless you plan on feeding a large family of 5-7, do not order the Nachos because you will literally get a mountain of food. Great service, great food, great place to have lunch with friends. Bar drinks are available too.
(5)Brenda H.
my fiance and i had dinner here as we stopped in albuquerque during our cross country treck from indianapolis to the bay area. I had the two item entree and selected a chalupa with bean and a guacomole taco doused in veggie green chile. unfortunately i didn't realize the entire dish was also doused with cheese and melted. it was kinda overwhelming and was too heavy to eat. *i would have ordered it without cheese* i ate as much as i can, and when we were done... my fiance and i realized we should have shared a dinner. we also had the house margarita which was yummy and loaded up on veggie green chile, salsa, and chips. and their sopapillas are the bomb.. drizzled with honey of course.
(4)Christina H.
Highly, highly, highly overrated. I went to this place expecting to eat some hearty delicious New Mexican food. Instead I just got behemoth portions of equal parts grease and red chili that was tasteless beyond the general heart-burn inducing "chiliness". I ordered the carne adovada enchiladas and only ate about a forth of it, not because I wasn't hungry but because I didn't want to punish my stomach while on vacation. The service was quick and very friendly and the sopapillas were pretty tasty. I thought I had ordered the suggested plate from everybody's recommendations but I have to defer from the consensus. Also, my boyfriend had a huge chicken burrito which he described as, "Meh." Salsa, sopapillas=good. Food=not so much. Maybe this restaurants quality has gone down in direct correspondence to the rising hype? Higher prices...grosser food....happens all the time.
(2)Christina C.
We were rolling through Albuquerque and decided to grab dinner here. We turned to Yelp to find a restaurant that had local [mexican] food and ended up at Sadie's. They have a nice menu selection as well as margarita menu. We got the chili con queso appetizer. It was ok, had a little kick to it. I ended up just getting 1 chicken enchilada with both the red and green chili sauce for it. The enchilada was big and tasted good. The red and green were tasty, but not really spicy or anything. The salsa and chips were good. The salsa had a really nice KICK to it. We also got the sopapilla which was nice and soft. Being an out-of-towner, it was a little hard to find the restaurant. The restaurant is towards the back of a lot and the sign is hard to see until you pass it. The restaurant itself is pretty big. The tables/seating is very *informal* - think long tables you see in cafeterias w/chairs. They also have a separate full bar area. OK Service OK food, nothing spectacular OK ambiance. 07/22/08
(3)lesiel l.
Comidas para Gringos...large and spicy yet tasteless mostly everything is just buried under sauce and cheese. The free chips are just bagged run of the mill, the margarita had as much alcohol as a fountain drink from a Circe K ! Yes, it is crowded and it follows the axiom of, "if you pile it on they will come." but why subject yourself to this? Go and eat where Mexicanos comen!
(1)Just Call Me Brain V.
My sister knows that I love this place. Everytime I come into town and she asks me what I want to eat and I say "how about some Mexi?" and she says "Sadies?" Bingo. Its great New Mex (as opposed to Tex Mex) food and good portions for the price. I get anything with green chile. This kind of green chile is hot and not like these tomatillo type sauce like you get at some place like Chipotle's. Not the greatest New Mex but it is my fav in ABQ.
(5)Alexandria C.
Overpriced!!! for what it is..okay.
(2)Tom L.
Everything is drowned in chili, save your cash and drink a bottle of chili extract.
(1)Jocelyn L.
Wow, the best Mexican/ New Mexican cuisine this side of the border! I could not believe how Cheap it was...and tasty! Had the "Brian's Spicy Carne Ribs", rubbed in red chili. It was so tender; fell right off the bone. The dish was HUGE....the whole dinner was $15! Also had the sopapillas; yummy with honey Definitely recommend if you're in the city!
(4)matt h.
The salsa was delicious, much spicier than most places. The breakfast burrito was an absolute steal for under eight bucks. The service was truly tremendous, and the place, though huge, was packed even past the normal lunch rush time. This is a great place .
(5)K F.
Best nachos EVER! Beware, we ordered the small and left with a huge to-go box. Food comes in epic portions.
(4)Maresa T.
Best New Mexican food that is vegetarian-friendly. You will always have a long wait but can sometimes get into the bar and they will serve you dinner in the bar if you get a seat. It is a good place to take people who want real authentic NM food experience and has hot salsa and chile so beware if you can't handle it. Be warned, even if you call ahead they will still put you on a wait list when you walk up and it doesn't really save you time.
(4)min j.
Share the plate. The portion is unnecessarily enormous. When quantity becomes the priority, then quality have to give. There are better places to go to if you want New Mexico food.
(2)April J.
Absolutely delish! Went to the new location at the Santa Ana Casino. Didn't need to wait either. Service was great and the food...omg...its amazing!
(5)Colin G.
When we come through Albuquerque, we typically stop at Sadie's for fantastic f'in New Mexican food. This main location is the only one I've been to, but I would be too concerned that the other locations would disappoint to even try them, honestly. It's just that good. This is a restaurant where you come for the food and not the atmosphere. You are not going to have an intimate and/or romantic dinner at Sadie's. It is loud, crowded, fast, furious and fervent. However, they make up for this lack of atmosphere in other ways. First, the food, of course. Everything is just fantastic. And it's really reasonable. Most of the items are at or under $10 and, for weekday lunches, they have several items all around $8. They also have weekend specials, including "huevos rancheros," which I put it quotation marks because it is so, so much more than just huevos rancheros. Think egg + pepitas + beans + chile of your choice, all on top of a huge corn tortilla. And, of course, all meal items include free sopapillas for the end. Service is stupendous to say the least. Your water glass never gets below half full unless you can chug a full glass of water in under a minute. Food is quick, but not to the point that you think "this couldn't have been freshly made." Everything is very methodical: chips are on the table, drink orders taken, food orders taken, drinks are refilled obsessively, food is brought out, drinks are refilled obsessively, you're checked on, bill is brought out. It's such a big place that there's an admirable rhythm to the whole thing, almost like a symphony. Detractors: again, atmosphere. You can get good New Mexican food at other places and have a better overall experience, but the food won't be quite the same. Also, $2.50 for soda and ice tea. Granted, refills are free, but holy crap, $2.50? That's where they make their real money, I guess. I always order water unless I'm drinking alcohol. If you like real New Mexican food and don't come in here like some jackass Texan expecting fajitas and overly cheesed enchiladas (I'm sure they get this), then you'll find some of the best New Mexican food available anywhere.
(5)Michael S.
Best New Mexican food in Albuquerque. Flew down from Portland, OR for the balloon fiesta but ate here twice in 3 days. It was the same as 20 yrs ago when we lived here. Enchiladas were great as were stuffed sopapillas. I had a breakfast burrito and it was awesome. We're taking salsa, queso, and sopapilla mix back. You can't go wrong here.
(5)Jim D.
Sadie's is an immense restaurant that seems to attract half the population of Albuquerque and the majority of tourists for lunch and dinner. Armed with a menu in direct proportion to its floor space, there is undoubtedly something for everyone and then some. I am sure I am not the only one who is trying to decipher exactly what differentiates New Mexican cuisine from Mexican cuisine. If it's the chile, then allow me to clarify that the New Mexican chiles (both red and green varieties) are mild tasting - very mild. Perhaps it's my endless love for fiery foods, but the chile Sadie's serves is far from spicy or hot. Maybe it's a New Mexican thing? By the way, their "hot" salsa is anything but hot. We ordered the carne adovada (pork steak marinated in chile sauce) and the house burrito with Billy's Spicy Ground Beef. The adovada (which seems like it's available at virtually every restaurant in the state) was satisfactorily good. My burrito was huge but far from being spicy. The best tasting thing of the evening was easily my blue margarita. Leave it to booze to soothe all culinary bummers. Service was quick but our waiter seemed like he was a on some serious speed. Prices were very reasonable. This was a mediocre stepping stone into the New Mexican cuisine scene. Be sure to come with an empty belly and no expectations.
(2)John H.
In response to my less-than-favorable review dated 8/3/2010, I was contacted promptly by Sadie's management. They sent me a sincere apology for our experience and have assured me that they will do their best to correct the situation. Cheers for Sadie's!
(5)John D.
Ginormous portions of goopy, gloppy Mexican in a big, Applebee's-decorated room. Locals will claim that this is special. It's not. But it's cheap and filling and could be worse.
(2)Matthew W.
Really good Carne Adovada Rib. Free appetizers (meat quesadillas and taquitos) during UNM games (at least today). The gives potatoes instead of rice. The chips and salsa has a good flavor. Chile Relleno was good, not great. Chile tasted good - the green chile was a little different but still good. No green chile stew. Good flavor in everything overall.
(5)Christopher B.
When i first walked in, i was a little worried when told my party if 2 might not be seated for an hour and a half. We stayed the course because of the many positive Yelp reviews and it paid off. After my experience at other eateries in town, Sadie's was by far, the best experience and best tasting restaurant here. The wait staff was very attentive and even gave a complementary Patron Margaretta which I would recommend over the house. The dishes are plentiful and can serve two. I highly recommend stopping by here for a nice experience.
(5)Leslie W.
Every time I go home to visit my parents, I try to go to Sadie's. I don't usually get to eat there, though. The wait is entirely too long for the quality of the food they offer. Despite the size of the restaurant, wait time is generally 20 minutes or longer. ( I have a strict policy of not waiting for more than 20 minutes for a restaurant. No one's food is worth that. I'd rather try something new than wait. But, I digress...) They have the typical New Mexican stuff like carne adovada and green chile stew. All of that stuff is good. Portions are HUGE. My sisters and mother generally all share something. People really like the salsa. I think it is fine, but I don't like their jarred version of it. They used to have a Betty Rangel's special (or something along those lines) that was hamburger patty with cheese sauce over it. It is like a deconstructed cheeseburger. 50,000,000 calories, but oh-so-tasty. Save room for sopaipillas! Service is decent. Iced tea is good.
(3)Dan W.
I wish we had listened to recommendations earlier. The food was excellent. My son ordered the burger, my wife enchiladas, and I had the stuffed sopapilla carne adovada. As mentioned in other reviews, the portions are huge. We all brought home more than half our dinners. Five stars if it wasn't so noisy, I couldn't hear half what my son was talking about. Worth the noise if you want good food, but I wouldn't bring company I wanted to talk with here.
(4)Rebekah L.
Delicious blue corn enchiladas, best chile relleno I've ever had, spicy salsa, great food new mexican style!
(5)Jamie B.
While in Albuquerque on business I was told that I need to go to Sadie's. Of course i had to go there since that is the name of my sweet little girl. This was my first real experience with New Mexican food. WOW! I loved it! The food was so fresh and flavorful, and had a great kick to it as well. Also the staff was very friendly, and very helpful. I will defiantly be making a few more visits to Sadie's while I am in town.
(5)Finnegan M.
Mexican food here is exceptional, though my Dad is not a big fan of New Mexican Mexican food because it is so spicy--My Mom loves this place and we always eat here when in Albuquerque several times a year. The last time we ate here was in January 2011. My Mom always gets the combo dinner.
(5)Melissa G.
We had the BEST team dinner for 60 people at Sadie's!!!!! I lived in New Mexico about 13 years ago and was back in town for a regional dive meet at UNM. I asked our coach if I could arrange our team dinner and of course he obliged. Everyone from our team decided to come and everyone was thrilled! The patio was the most amazing, spacious location and the food was delicious. The sopapillas and the green chili chicken enchiladas were favorites...not to mention the margaritas!!! The silver coin margarita, which is not on the menu, was spectacular! I would highly recommend Sadie's for any large function. The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Thanks to Steven, Bree, Zach and Penny. After our party was over, Zach even offered to take our extra food to a downtown homeless shelter. The hosts created our best team dinner in years! Thanks Sadie's for showing us a good time in Albuquerque!
(5)Katie H.
If I'd had better company ( I was alone) this may have been 5 stars. As it was, I had a great, huge and filling meal (and I only ate about 1/4 of it!) with excellent friendly service. I had a margarita, tasty guac and chips and a combo plate of a tamale anda cheese enchilada "Christmas style". The tamale was fantastic and on top of all that it came with a heaping side of potatos and beans that I barely made a dent in. The spopapilla was doughy and definately helped quench my fire mouth. I not the one to judge "authentic" new mex cuisine but I can say it was damn tasty!
(4)Kim N.
I found myself in the Albuquerque area once again for snow skiing, and we had one night that we decided to go out to eat. After discovering that Garduno's (the place my Dad wanted to eat) closed at 7:30pm (on a Saturday evening I night add- wtf?), I started looking on Yelp for other options. Sadie's looked like a solid option. After a fairly lengthy drive from the Cedar Crest area (with a few complaints from my parents), we found Sadie's. The reviews are true, from the road the entranace is dark and eerie, and almost looks as though the place might be closed. We pressed on though, and as we entered the parking lot the mass amounts of cars were a very good sign that this place was pretty popular. There was a 25-minute wait, which is a good sign to me. Not so long that we're starving by the time we get a table, but just enough that you know it's gotta be good. We got comfortable in the bar and ordered some guacamole and queso to have with the complimentary chips & salsa that was offered. I was immediately impressed. The guac was tastey and the queso was very fresh. Not just like they melted some cheese and threw some rotel in there, but truely home-made. I had a hard time staying away from it. For dinner, my sister and I thought we would share the Carne Adovada with the Red Chile. Unlike what I'm used to in Texas, this dish came with beans (similar to charro, but less soupy and with cheese) and potatoes. It sure was good. It was huge, lean pieces of pork marinated in spicey red chile and then baked. The meat was perfectly cooked and had excellent flavor. Get ready for some spice though... I thought that coming from Texas that I would have no problem with the heat level, but this dish had my nose running and me gulping down water. I just couldn't stop eating it though... Too good. mmm... Another dish that I tried was the Chile Relleno and in my opinion, was just too damn hot. I don't consider myself to be wussy when it comes to spice, but I just couldn't handle it. We finished off our dinner with sopapillas and honey. Darn good. Great prices and great food. Definitely recommended.
(4)Scott C.
So I went to this New Mexico institution looking for authentic New Mexican cuisine. I was a little disappointed in the spiciness. I ordered the Sadie's Burrito with red chili. The menu warned about how hot the food was, and I did not find it very spicy at all. The salsa was by far the spiciest thing I ate. My wife ordered the combo plate with a taco and enchilada. She got the green chili, as a friend told her it was the less spicy of the two. I tried a few bites of her green chili and immediately wished I had ordered that. While still not that spicy I liked the flavor better than the red. While I'm stating the food was not that spicy, my wife was clearly in disagreement. She looked like she was going to need medical attention.So if you are not used to spicy food then is probably pretty spicy. If I return I think I would order the carne adovado. I did not this time because i expected the chili to carry the flavor and temp and it didn't quite happen. Overall not bad, and I might change after ordering different menu items. The salsa was exceptional as were the sopapillas.
(3)Joshua C.
Oh my goodness! What a great time! When I think New Mexican food, Sadie's is it. The only complaint I have is the wait. If you don't time it or call ahead plan on sitting for at least 45 minutes to 3 hours on Friday and Sat night. That's gotta tell you something about the food. If people are willing to wait that long... Hold on to your taste buds Albuquerque! This place rocks my world and it will rock yours too!
(5)Christine J.
My husband and I decided to eat at Sadie's while we were in ABQ . We saw such great reviews so we decided, why not ? We got there around 7:45 and were told it was going to be a 25 minute wait so we decided to head to the bar , grab a drink and wait til we got a table. Not even 10 minutes later we got seated. The food was beyond delicious and the chips and salsa were amazing. Read on some reviews that there would be leftovers but nothing compares to any leftovers you have ever had! I had mine for 2 meals after our dinner! Great quality of food and also pretty great service. We can't wait to head back to ABQ to eat at Sadie's agan!
(4)Brian H.
When you talk about New Mexican cuisine, this is the epitome of the best of the Southwestern flavors and spices. Green chiles, soapapillas, potatoes, it's all here. I've never eaten anywhere else in New Mexico that has matched this restaurant. Be forewarned, it is really, really spicy b/c the green chiles are the staple of any New Mexican cuisine. But they are different then jalapenos as they add both flavor and heat to any entree. The menu isn't very expansive but it doesn't need to be as they do what they offer really well.
(5)Peggy R.
Love it, Love it, Love it!! Hot and spicy, great papitas (little fried chunks of potatoes smothered with green chili and cheese). Always busy so go at off times if you don't want to wait.
(5)Virginia G.
Chile rellenos that aren't soggy, warm sopapillas with honey, margaritas made with lime not premade mix, homemade salsa, I wish there was one of these in FLorida so my hubby could get a taste of real mexican. YEs, it gets very crowded at times and yes it can be over run with us out-of-towners and yes the servers can snip, but hey , go early, have a maragarita, relax and graze
(4)Heather M.
Awwwe...warm sopapilas with honey dripping down your fingers...I hadn't been there in 8 years and came back to find that they have actually remained to same. Margarita's are excellent. My hubby and I split a burrito and that was plenty! I forgot they put potato in the burritos..I was in burrito heaven...LORD DON'T take me yet...give me Sadies a few more times. BUT BEWARE of the chili because it will get you the next day :]
(4)Joan S.
Major caveat--my first time in New Mexico, in the Southwest even. Originally from NYC and living in the upper midwest for the past two decades. So what do I know from New Mexican? However, this place was reasonable, service was fast, and the food was OK. Absolutely HUGE portions, I felt like I stuffed my face but had over half of the meal left when I couldn't go any further. Except for the soapaillas, never had them before but managed to fit one in, must try again. Chips and salsa--very good, a little honey on the chips was even better. Carne adovada was fantastic, the papitas even better. Frijoles okay. Sweetie had enchilladas, one chicken and one beef, almost licked the plate afterwards so I guess he liked them. Definitely worth a try.
(3)Charlee W.
The stuffed sopapilla, pork enchiladas, and house salsa were delicious. The fact that they roast their chiles right out front shows how fresh their stuff is. The place was huge, packed, and had great service. I'd definitely return if I was back in the area.
(4)James S.
I have been eating at Sadie's since it was in the bowling alley next door. I still love the food, the service, and now the atmosphere has improved immensely. Every trip to Albuquerque I eat at Sadie's. Stacked enchiladas are always awesome.
(5)Gil G.
Been enjoying hot spicy foods around the world for more years than I can remember (more than 50). We discovered Sadie's a number of years ago and when traveling through ABQ we schedule an overnight stay to go there and enjoy good NM cooking. Until tonight, we have always had a 5 star experience. Tonight was not so good. The good: The carne adovada was excellent! The bad: We were warned by both the waitress and the buss boy the salsa was hotter than they could ever remember. When we tried it, the flavors were completely hidden by the acid. We asked for a different salsa and were told they had bottles of milder salsa but we would have to purchase it at the counter. Additionally, the chips were not fresh and the chili relleno was very small. Most of the plate was covered with the beans and potatoes. The sopapillas were old, cold and they were served with the meal instead of hot after the meal as usual. On the whole, we were disappointed with the quality of food and the lack of good service. We will try it again sometime but suspect the real Sadie has left the building.
(2)Sarah E.
This place is AWESOME if you love spicy flavorful food. If spice isn't your thing this probably isn't the place for you, though they probably have something on the menu you could eat. I think the salsa has some secret addictive ingredient in it. We went through four bowls of it and probably would have just stayed there scarfing down chips and salsa if the food hadn't come. The carne adovada is truly spectacular. Be warned that portion sizes are relatively large and this is not exactly health food (though they'd probably serve you up beans without so much cheese if you asked). But seriously, worry about your diet tomorrow and head to Sadie's today. Now I just need a good excuse to head back to Albuquerque soon.
(4)Lhm M.
The flavors explode at this rocky busy place. Every family visit includes a delicious meal at Sadies. The most memorable part of the meal is the amazing tortillas made right there in front of you at the counter. We even order a dozen to take home.
(5)JoAnna G.
Gotta love Sadies! Usually busy for dinner, especially during the weekends but worth the wait. The salsa is pretty great and I always buy it in the grocery stores! Has a great flavor and kick to it! The stuffed sopapillas, burritos-especially the carne adovada burrito!-, burgers, and enchiladas are delicious!
(4)Darcy K.
After being voted the best New Mexican restaurant in 2009 by the Alibi, I finally figured I'd better check this place out. The only reason I can figure out people might fuss about the place would be the very large portions and the sopapillas. Yes, the sopapillas are really great. However, the rest of the food was far from the 'best' New Mexican food in Albuquerque. I went with 4 friends and we each had different dishes. I had the chile relleno. It was fine, but I was so disappointed in the potatoes! They were bland and the worst I've had with New Mexican food. Just small fried, boring bites. The potatoes can be so great at other places (like El Patio!). One of my friends had the chicken quesadilla (the half size was huge) and she seemed to like it alright. My other friends had enchiladas, burritos, and other New Mexican fare I cannot recall. They complained about the greasiness and the general tastelessness of it all. Here you get quantity but not quality.
(2)mike c.
stopped there on are way to texas. best chips and salsa i have ever had. not a fan of tex mex but this the best i have tried.
(5)Erin M.
I honestly think I have dreamed of this place every day since I visited Albuquerque last summer. It was THAT delicious. My friend and I got there around dinner time so there was a bit of a wait but there was space both inside and outside to do so. Overall, service was extremely prompt but not in an obnoxious, hovering-to-get-you-out-the-door kind of way. Our waiter was attentive to any questions I had about the cuisine, having not been to New Mexico at all before, and did not get impatient with me perusing the menu for a really long time. Multiple staff members throughout the night filled our water, made sure we had enough chips and salsa, checked to see how our meal was, etc. There was never a wait for anything. And the food...was spectacular. I am not one for salsa since I always find it too chunky, tomato-y, watery, bland, or SOMETHING. My friend insisted I try this salsa and it was PERFECT. It was spicy but did not burn my mouth and did not appear to be just chunks of stuff thrown together. It looked like care was actually taken to create it. I can't even remember what I ordered (I could if I read the menu I'm sure) but it was definitely inexpensive considering the huge portion I received (I took a photo of it!). There was no lettuce involved with the meal either. I loathe lettuce so I was absolutely relieved that I could order something from Sadie's without having to say "I want 'this' but without XYZ" like I have to at so many places. I could order off the menu because they keep it simple with just chili (I went with red and green) and cheese smothered all over. Fantastic! Oh, and sopapillas are unforgettable...and pretty much impossible to find in the northeast. Granted, I fear finding them here because I know they will be inferior to ones Sadie's served at the end of the meal to be smothered in honey. Heaven in a lovely little pastry. Anyway, I will definitely be back! Eat up!
(5)Brad H.
The chili and food are good overall. Piss-poor beverage refill performance by staff members. Bussers like to re-use watered down ice instead of providing a fresh and crisp beverage to patrons. Yet another restaurant that makes kick butt food but is able to screw up a diet coke. Staff doesn't seem to work together as much as they should.
(2)L Z.
We had the opportunity to visit one restaurant in Santa Fe and one in Albuquerque. I ordered the tamale and chili relleno plate at the restaurant. You could order an option of green or red chili and then you have an option of beans and potatoes on the side. This restaurant is more of a fast food style food in a family style restaurant. I thought the food was okay. It was heavy with the beans/potatoes were lathered in cheese. On the positive end, I thought the sopapillas were ready good and the drinks were good. Overall, I thought it was okay.
(3)Shane A.
Great food. Large portions. Pulled and parking lot was full. Always a good sign. Didn't take long to be seated and service was fast.
(5)Linda U.
big cheap food. If that's what you like then you'll love it!
(1)Cari S.
Clearly an institution-6:00 on a Tuesday and the parking lot was full as was the large main room of the restaurant. Felt the menu was limited-meat choices were chicken or ground beef. Only pork was in the tamales, and no shredded beef. Margaritas are served in water glasses! Flavor was good, the sauces (either red or green) are very spicy (yum). Chicken also had good flavor, and husband really like the tamales-with pork. Service was excellent, water glasses were never empty, and a take-home box was offered without asking. Just wish they had more interesting food choices.
(3)Nuri G.
I wrote a haiku about Sadie's. I hope you enjoy. Red and Green Chile All over my body please Cheap Delicious Lunch
(5)Sasha P.
Don't let the dark entrance and seemingly hidden location fool you - Sadie's is excellent! Everybody seems to call it quintessential New Mexican so who am I to disagree. The chile con queso is so good you'll be tempted to just eat that for dinner - save room! I had the Sadie' special that let's you choose up to 5 things - I only had 4 and it was plenty. Chile Relleno was superb - flavorful, not too breaded and just outstanding. My beef taco was delicious, but didn't stand out like some of the other stuff. But the Carne Adovada Rib not only deserves special mention, but even it's own paragraph. This was something special. Meat totally fell off the bone and the spice rub was had just enough heat so you know you are eating New Mexican food, but not so much you wanted to cry. My only complaint was the chicken enchilada. I found the chicken both dry and lacking in flavor - but there was so much other stuff on the plate it was easy to cover up this miss! My other note of warning is beware of the Nachos - they are HUGE. We ordered two for the table (of 10) and it was borderline obscene how much food we had. In the end though we left happy, satisfied and well fed. Go to Sadie's if you are in Albuqurque.....
(4)Catherine K.
4 stars: Good chips, salsa, and sopapillas (Yum! Sopapillas! Yum!) Good service. Long menu. Good value. Minus one star, or maybe even one and a half: I donno, it just didn't quite jump that final hurdle of "memorable." Three of us got three different dishes, but they all looked...the same. Not necessarily a bad thing, but sort of uninspired. The dining room is big and although there are plenty of New Mexican decorations, it wasn't exactly cozy. Part of me wants to go "meh," but the experience was definitely more than "meh." While we enjoyed our meal (and our leftovers!) I don't think I'd recommend this if you were in town for one night and looking for a Really Truly New Mexican Experience In One Night. It's a little too bland for that. But it seems reliable: you could do far worse, and the quality and amount of food you get for the price is good. Also: sopapillas.
(4)Mimi R.
The meal I had here was horrible: the shredded pork in the dry tamale was also overcooked and very dry, the beans and rice were covered with what the server called "a garnish" of tomatoes, lettuce and cheese, and it cost me $20! After having spent a week in NM, I can recommend many other restaurants that far exceeded Sadies in quality. Unless you like huge quantities of inferior food, don't waste your time at Sadies.
(1)Jamie Q.
I don't have much of reference for New Mexican cuisine. The only other encounter I have had with it was a visit earlier in the trip to Mary and Tito's. But if I had to compare the two, the latter takes it by a mile. Sadie's is a much more popular place and its huge. We showed up for lunch on a Monday and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. As soon as I sat down, the busboy came by and asked us for our drink orders. Throughout the meal, he also made sure that our drinks were always filled to the brim. So kudos to him for that. Our waiter Scott was also good. He made sure to check on us periodically to see if we need anything. I ordered the carne adovada enchiladas topped with the red chile. I inhaled them but I was still a bit disappointed. I love spicy food and so I was expecting to get a lot of it from the dish. Unfortunately, there was barely a tinge. The red chile at Mary and Tito's had waaay more of a kick to it. My friend ordered the carne adovada burrito topped with green chile and he ate about 20% of it. It wasn't that it wasn't good. It was because he couldn't handle the spice. I took a bite of it and it was good to me. I think it's because he is a baby. Overall, I would return to this place but not go out of my way to go. I would rather try a different place. Also a note on the sopapillas. They were well made; fluffy and soft. But I don't like honey, so it was a bit plain. Completely my fault though really. Cost: $24 for a burrito, an enchilada plate, a soda, and a coffee
(4)Eliot L.
Awesome food! Big proportions! Awesome chile sauce. Too much drama around the bar. Screw those "Housewives of Whatever" shows! Come here for your drama feed. CGM!
(3)Tracey J.
I'm sticking with my 3 stars....and this visit was a different ball of wax. I want to start by saying that my husband would give Sadies 4 stars. He had the carne adovada burrito both times and loved it (and paid a big price for it the next morning, if you get my meaning...ha ha). We went on Feb 13th...the wait was around 20 minutes....even though I spied many empty tables. Maybe they just didn't have the staff to service them all? Instead of the massive cafeteria-style dining area, we were led to the very back room, which was like an enclosed sunroom. There was a large (extremely loud) party in this room....we had a terrible time trying to hear each other. It was also pretty chilly in this room....I kept my heavy jacket on for most of the time. Also, the floor was slanted....which was just a weird feeling. The salsa....it's really good. Really. And.... the chips weren't stale this time (yeah!). Our busboy was pretty good....nice, quick with refills on chips and drinks. Sadly, the same can't be said of our waitress. She had this air about her like she couldn't give a crap. I asked about the taco....she said it was bigger than a normal taco. Okay then, I ordered a "spicy ground beef guac" w/no chile. I don't eat a lot of spicy food because if I have too much, my rosacea flares up....the salsa was PLENTY hot...I don't need a mega dose of spice so I skip the chile on my entrees. My non-mexican food-eating child ordered 2 scrambled eggs and bacon. This time, our food didn't arrive too fast. It seemed we waited the proper amount of time for our food to be made for us...just the right amount of time for sure. A waitress we had never seen before delivered the food. Our waitress came by, asked if we had everything we needed and we didn't see her again till she dropped off the check. My taco was MAYBE 1/2 inch taller than a "normal" taco...not longer in the least and the top was curving outward. It was packed chock-a-bock full so when you bit into it, everything spilled out the other end. And you get 1 taco. They could've EASILY given me 2 tacos for the amount of stuff that was in the 1 taco...and it would've been a lot easier and more pleasant to eat. The small amount of beans on my plate were very nice and flavorful. 3/4 of my plate was fried potatoes. 3/4!! What a disappointment. So, I ate my messy taco, which was just okay....not a whole lot of flavor, and I ate my beans (yum!). It was soooooooo not worth the money (which was around $9). HOWEVER...............the bacon for my son's meal was AMAZING!! Honest, the BEST bacon I have EVER had! It was cooked fresh...not reheated. It tasted like it was made on a campfire....nice, smokey flavor. The right amount of crispness and not overly fatty. I would have GLADLY spent $9 on that bacon! When we come back (and we will...you didn't lose us yet Sadies!) I will try something else. My hubby will have the carne adovada....again. The overall food is flavorful. Service is spotty though. I really wish there was a choice of potatoes or rice. I think it's "A-OK"...a 3 star rating. Definately doesn't knock my socks off.....but it's NOT BAD. I am sure that I will find something that will blow me away (besides the bacon....oh sweet baby Jesus that was some good bacon!).
(3)Jamie M.
This is the place that finally converted my husband to loving spicy food! We only had a few days in Albuquerque and wanted to make sure we had some authentic New Mexican food. Sadie's seemed to fit the bill, based on our hotel location and Yelp reviews. Parking was a bit of a pain-limited spots and tons of cars circling like sharks waiting for someone to pull out. We finally got lucky and headed inside. It was a Friday and we waited a good 35 minutes to be seated. The wait was made more bearable by the margaritas and beer we ordered from the bar. They have a pretty good sized area for waiting as well. After we were seated, we proceeded to enjoy some super hot salsa. My husband was a little put off by how hot it was, but he persevered and was glad he did. Nice heat, chunky tomatoes and just bursting with flavor. The crispy chips were warm and tasty as well. Obviously being in New Mexico green and red chile played a huge part on the menu. My husband ordered a burrito with a grilled patty inside (more on that later) and I got the carne adovada enchiladas with green chile. We also ordered a chile relleno to share. I have never had carne adovada before and I was not disappointed. Huge chunks of tender pork and whole beans all covered in the most perfect green chile I have ever tasted. It was cheesy and hot and tremendous. The relleno was hands down the best I have ever had. Crisp and hot and not soggy in the least (a major downfall of rellenos much of the time) this was the highlight of the meal for me. My husband's burrito had a grilled patty inside-basically a hamburger patty. It was covered with cheese and red chile. When he described it to me I thought it sounded a bit icky-a hamburger burrito?-but it was fantastic! The meat was really flavorful and melded with the flavors of the chile and the burrito perfectly. I was so impressed that he ate it (normally he is not a fan of spicy food). He said it was so good he just had to power through. We both ate until we were about to pop-and still had two huge takeout containers to take home with us. The meal ended with two warm sopapillas and honey. They looked delicious, but we both only managed a couple bites due to extreme, disgusting fullness :) The service here is nothing special; they were all a bit distracted and not overly friendly, but it was insanely busy. A busboy did an awesome job keeping our drinks and chips refilled. This is a solid choice for anyone wanting tasty and reasonably priced authentic New Mexican cuisine.
(5)Ami T.
Food was good. Got Huevos' rancheros. Love the Red and Green Chile Sauces. The offer Vegetarian Green Chile Sauce. Went to this place because it was recommended by the locals as one of the best places to eat New Mexican cuisine. Their sapodillas are really good, and with the honey drizzled on it is yummy. They give them to you fresh and puffy. The staff is very friendly and the chile is yummy. They have a huge restaurant with plenty of space, and a large parking lot. The decor is airy, bright, and fun. They serve chips and salsa chile with every meal.
(4)Brandon M.
Colleague brought me here for lunch last week. First visit to New Mexico and I just got off the plane when I entered the dining room. The skylights flooded the room with natural light . The friendly server was more than helpful in pointing out some of the specialties. Ordered a standard combo plate with stuffed pepper, enchilada and taco. The plate was mounded with food. Definitely, did not leave hungry. The flavors were very good. I liked the sweetness of the sauce with the spiciness of the peppers. Will definitely visit again.
(4)Julie B.
This was another great find thanks to Yelp. The food was absolutely fantastic. Quite a bit spicier than a lot of Mexican places- but I love spicy so that didn't bother me at all. The portions were huge- my husband and I could easily have shared an entree. One con- we were seated in the main dining room at the back, and the bleach smell coming from somewhere near the kitchen was pretty overpowering.
(4)Matt A.
Slop in a pile, Greasy and gross. Stay at the bar and have the Margarita's.
(2)D D.
We went to Sadie's during a recent roadtrip to the Southwest. Overall, the experience was so-so. We went on a weeknight but it was packed, with people over-flowing the waiting areas. While we were waiting for our waitress, we were given tortilla chips and salsa- this salsa is just loaded with jalapeno flavor- one little dip goes a long way! So we ended up ordering a stuffed sopapilla (with spicy ground beef), and also a combination plate (with chile relleno, pork tamale and beef enchilada.) The dishes both came with red and green chile on the side. The plates were huge, but I disliked how the majority of the food was made up of potatoes and beans. The chile sauces were very spicy- the red one had a dry intense heat, while the green one had an acidic undertone and was more pleasant for my taste. Now for the main entrees: my number one observation was that everything looked pretty much the same, especially when you first get your food, since everything is covered with a layer of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes on top. While none of the dishes were bad, the flavor profile was very monotone. The enchilada and sopapilla tasted very similar, while the chile relleno's chile pepper taste was completely hidden by the massive amounts of cheese filling and topping. The tamale was good, but rather standard tasting- there seemed to be nothing special to the seasoning of the pork or masa. By the next morning, the leftovers from the meal tasted like one giant mass of chile covered mush. Overall, Sadie's is a great place to stuff an empty stomach, but unfortunately isn't terrific at delivering the range or depth of flavor/texture to please the discerning palate.
(3)Jaime Patricio M.
The salsita is sold at some grocery outlets. Buy it but be ware it is muy caliente! the flavour is solid as it is a green chile salsa. The margaritas are strong but is there any other way to enjoy them. Great traditional Nuevo Mexicano cuisine. Buen Provecho!
(5)Stephen T.
An awful experience during my most recent visit to Albuquerque, My friend and I went to the bar to wait for a table. The wait was 1 hour and the joint was mobbed! We ordered two margaritas and they carded us. That's OK you think but we are both in our forties. My colleague only had a Canadian drivers license so they would not serve him. We left and had a better meal elsewhere with out the wait! I will not return during my next visit to Albuquerque. This place used to be great when it was above the bowling alley!
(1)Jodi N.
We ate here for a late lunch on a Saturday. It seemed busy, yet we were seated right away. We ordered a variety of things- all were great. I was concerned with the spiciness of the burritos, the waiter assured me it was not bad and had the sauce put on the side just in case. The waiter and the man refilling our drinks were amazing! We could not have asked for better service. We will be coming back again soon.
(5)Yvonne L.
Great Mexican food. We just drove through ABQ a few years ago on our way to Scottsdale, and have also lived in Albuquerque back in the 90's! However, it is overcrowded and noisy, so, we have not stopped by the past few years. If you don't mind a wait and crowds, you will enjoy the food...but it is not the simple place it was in the early 90's...
(3)Andrew J.
So many people have reviewed this place, and most of the people are from out-of-state. Is this just where the tourists go when the come to the lovely town of Albuquerque? And what I have noticed is people always say that it is such great Mexican food, these people are wrong! It is NOT Mexican food, it is NEW Mexican food, not "Southwestern", New Mexican. All three are, though similar, very different from each-other. So the fact that any New Mexican restaurant would be compared to some taqueria 1000 miles away is ridiculous, it's like comparing Italian cuisine to French cuisine... similar, but very very different. Now that we have that out of the way, about Sadie's.... Like I said before, it is a place for tourists and out-of-towners... the chile is mild, the atmosphere is big and loud and you can get the salsa shipped anywhere is the United States. (the salsa is actually really good) I do like the place, if I am in the valley and would like some decent NEW Mexican food, it is usually my first choice. But, there are much better places to get your red/green chile fix. So if you are visiting the Duke City and would like to get some real good New Mexican food, go to Old Town and visit Church Street and La Placita.... OR even better, make good friends with a New Mexican whose family has been here for generations, and get invited to their grandmothers house... you will never be the same again.... and you will DEFINITELY know the difference between Mexican and New Mexican food....
(3)Celia J.
Delicious, HOT salsa and very attentive water/bus boy service, the waitress....well, meh. I love green chile and I appreciate that they have a vegetarian version, but as far as being veggie friendly...not so much. They have cheese enchiladas or cheese rellenos as options...just because I don't eat meat doesn't mean that I only want to eat cheese. I was very excited to come here and most New Mexican places offer some type of vegetable enchiladas, even if its just a bunch of spinach..and cheese, just something to offset the cheese. I got the flat cheese enchiladas and the plate was a mess of beans, rice, cheese, a couple tortillas and green chile topped with some iceberg and a few tomatoes--there's my veggies. Their sopapillas were slightly less greasy than some from other places, and they were generous with them giving us a couple more to take with our meals home as the servings were huge! Probably just not my thing, though clearly popular. I'll seek out their salsa in the grocery store for sure.
(3)Steve M.
Just go there and you will understand. We live in San Diego and Sadie's has food worth going to NM for. There is nothing like it outside of NM. People that have never heard the phrase "red or green" when ordering food just don't understand. There is nothing like NM mexican food anywhere, and Sadies is one of the best. Everytime we are in NM we go there. We have been known to show up early and sit in the parking lot until they open. Especially when we NEED lunch at Sadies before flying back to CA. I grew up in NM but have been gone for over 25 years. There are things that I miss and the food is at the top of the list. Sadies delivers that food time and time again. Dont read a bunch of reviews just go there. Book the flight for the food alone. Nothing like it, anywhere.
(5)Andrew R.
One of the best New Mexican restaurant in the South West. Sadie's is so good that you'll lick your plates!! The Salsa is very popular and sold in stores. They don't scrimp on the food and give you healthy portions. Green Chilies are awesome here and the food is a joy to eat. The place is very big inside and still you may have to wait for a table. Honestly, don't order appetizers or you'll be taking your main course home. Simply Delicious !!
(5)Lindsay C.
Some of the best New Mexican food ABQ has to offer. Famous for hot salsa...i always take some back to Cali with me. I love the blue corn enchiladas with beef!
(4)Tim F.
Frickin awesome!! Love love love Sadi's! Lived here all my life and that place is legit.
(5)Pebbles And Bam Bam A.
Great stuffed sopapillas! Nice decor inside, and friendly, attentive staff. Great selection of food. Only downside is that the Margheritas weren't great; not bad, but too sweet.
(5)Erin G.
A year and a half later I am sitting here looking at pictures of the BEST MEAL I EVER ATE!!! The sopapilla was amazing....but the salsa was so good I got extra and drove it back 3 days to CA for other people to try. I am seriously thinking of driving back just to eat here again that's how amazing it was. Get the green sauce!
(5)Van D.
Food here really is excellent but despite that, I can only give it 3 stars because atmosphere is quite bland and service can be spotty at times. Food is smothered in chile and portions are good size. Prices are also reasonable.
(3)Drew B.
Wish you weren't so North Drive to get my carne fix Big hot red meat chunk (Sadie's is a little out of the way for me to get to, but it's one of the three best restaurants when I get a carne adovada craving. Man, that is one large hunk of meat! Mmmmm...)
(5)Travis D.
I went to Sadies with a group while i was in Albuquerque on business last week. Being a Texan recently transplanted to Northern California, and someone who's pretty well traveled, i've seen many permutations of Mexican food, but our 30 hour foray into New Mexican food caught me a bit off guard. What am i talking about? 1.) You guys sure do like your green chili. 2.) Sopapillas are different from what im used to in Texas, but i like that they are bigger, softer, more doughy, and not as sweet. Plus, you've got to love that so many places give them away for free. However, they were brought out with our food and i saw many people in the restaurant taking a break from their food to indulge in a bite of sopapilla with honey. What's up with that? How about keeping dinner and dessert separate? I've also never seen them on a menu stuffed with something savory (ground beef). I didn't ever order a savory sopapilla (mostly because i was interested in other things) but im definitely curious. 3.) I realize that there is nothing Mexican about frozen margaritas (they were invented in Dallas, I hate Dallas), and i love magaritas of all shapes and sizes (on the rocks, frozen, well, premium, mango, blue, etc..). But when i think about the perfect margarita, one characteristic is that it has to be frozen, they are just that much better. The guy that took us to Sadie's said they had kick @ss magaritas, but only later did i find out they don't make them frozen. It was good, but it would have been great if it were frozen. 4.) I ordered enchiladas, but what arrived in front of me were two tortillas laid flat on a plate, then covered with filling and gravy ladled on until it reached the brim of the plate. What happened to rolling enchiladas? 5.) Pork Adovada. Good god, this stuff is incredible. Its hot enough to sting, but tastes so good that you just can't stop. The sweet with the spicy, mixed with the tangy. Where have you been all my life? After i got back home i searched the internet for a recipe and found one that spent sunday afternoon sitting on the stove on low heat, reducing into magic. I think its going into heavy rotation with my other favorite recipes. After my boss informed me that Albuquerque was low on good places to eat (i hadn't been there in 10 years, and back then i couldn't have cared less about food) i was pleasantly surprised with Sadie's. The sopapillas were good, the pork adovada was incredible, everything else was okay. It was a bit loud for my taste and they overdid things on the cheese, but thats getting a little bit nit picky.
(4)Kimmy V.
Go for the margaritas but don't stay for the food. Always jammed packed with customers. I've been here twice and have been highly disappointed, the food basically taste like mush and is disguised with lots of cheese and sauce to mask the mush like consistency of their main entrees.
(1)mike c.
Updated: I've eaten here for 35 years so the quality has been through ups and downs. Lately, it has been much better at this location. The service and food has significantly improved although I miss the self serve chips and salsa bar.The location near Eubank should be avoided as the food tastes microwaved. I've eaten there many times over the last 30 years and the service has definitely gone downhill the past year. The last 5 times I ate here this year the service was horrible. Each time the table hadn't been cleaned and I had to ask the waiter to clean it. Each time they messed up my order. Sometimes I ordered a 3 item combo and they only brought two or the other times they forgot the sopapillas and I had to bring the waiter back to get them. The beer I ordered usually arrived as I was finishing my dinner. Usually I was dying of thirst from lack of water and beer before they noticed me. They need to improve the service to where it was years ago.
(4)Nicole O.
I hate to say it, but I just didn't "get" this place. The dining room was half full and there was a 20 min wait (which I expected after reading the yelp reviews). We went to the bar & got some margaritas, and the bartender told us that we could order food there (they said we couldn't when we put our name in). Anyway, I think this place is just SUPER understaffed, but the people working there are working their asses off! If you haven't eaten there please read this review: ALL THE FOOD IS EXTREMELY SPICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you love spicy food, this is your place! For real. The food seemed like it would have been good, but I couldn't get over the spiciness of it. I drank about 5 glasses of water and barely got through one chilli rellano. The bartender then told me that they cook EVERYTHING in chili because they grow them there and that's like, their thing. My friend & I split a combo plate and by the end of it, it didn't even look like we had touched it. It looks like a plate of slop and you can't even tell what's what. I'm sure that this is the "New Mexican way" and I'm not putting it down, I'm just saying that's how it comes so you won't be shocked. Also, the green sauce is red. Please note that the green sauce is the only VEGETARIAN sauce (the red has meat in it!) Prices are reasonable, and now I'm wondering if you can ask for the sauce on the side so it won't ruin your experience like it did mine. Just a suggestion. I'd say give it a try for authentic New Mexican food, just be ready to take the heat.
(3)Lucien S.
Sadie's has a reputation is just simply doesn't deserve as THE place to go for New Mexican. The salsa is all about heat but without much flavor, and the food is average at best. This place is not worth the long wait for a table. Don't bother.
(2)Chris F.
Reading reviews for this place does not actually give the experience justice. It was a little surreal. Atmosphere- Nice Mexican kitsch on the walls, a mariachi (gringo, but he was good!) and nice tame lighting. Service- Very friendly , took time to talk to us about our road trip, was helpful about the menu. Food- They really need to focus on smaller quantities of higher quality food. The serving sizes were.... absurd. There was no way any normal person could ever eat that much food. With us staying in a hotel, and not able to take any home, it's a complete and utter waste of food. I got a guacamole taco and a cheese enchilada. The guac was... ok. Not anything special. The taco was soggy with the sauce underneath, and fell apart. The enchilada sauce was tasty, but again, nothing special. The enchilada itself was, eh. Whatever. They were resting on about 1.5-2 pounds of rice, beans, and vegetarian green chili sauce, which I did not find until the end of the meal, as it was really obscured. The rice and beans were... just sort of there, not too much flavor, really. I ate more than normal, mainly because I felt like I had to at least try and make a dent. The most impactful aspect of the meal was how I felt about 5 minutes after we finished eating. I felt.... drunk. And I don't drink, so I am only surmising, but I felt like someone had taken away my ability to think clearly. I was giggly, and the most sensible thing to do, it seemed, was to take my index finger, and flap my lips up and down while humming, like a silly little kid. I had to contemplate the idea of walking, and I felt like I was working on 2 hours of sleep. I guess that food was just sitting in the bottom of my belly, sucking all of the blood from my body, just to process all that food. My stomach hurt the rest of the night. My girlfriend got the chili relleno and the carne adovada rib. Her rib was dry, and a little hard to chew. The chili relleno was ok, not that great. She felt the same way about the beans and rice, not that great. She got a margarita, and was totally unimpressed. I would not go so far as Matthew C. in his review, but I would say he is more on the money than those who are on here praising the place to the heavens. If i was ever there, I might try it again to see if it was just an off night. We got much better New Mexican food the next day (see my review of Carlsbad in Scottsdale AZ.)
(3)Chrissy K.
The food was pretty good although the service could've been better. The waitress seemed to rush us throughout our meal and she even forgot the trainee's name. She was a little rude and had a bit of an attitude and I'm not sure why, maybe she just was in a hurry to get off of work as it was near closing. Even so I felt as though we weren't treated very well.
(3)Jackie R.
We first became fans of Sadie's back in the bowling alley days. We went to Sadie's so often, the lady at the register who always seemed to be there knew who we were and actually gave us a Christmas stocking every year. They did the same for their many steady customers, and it was a super-friendly touch. The Christmas stockings are long gone, but Sadie's remains my favorite restaurant in the entire city. We go to both remaining locations of Sadie's even yet, and it is a favorite spot of both my immediate and my extended family for both everyday meals and for celebrations. They have great New Mexican food, and their signature house margarita can't be beat. If you haven't been to Sadie's, give it a try. The salsa is hot, and the people are cool.
(5)Emily D.
I still dream about this place and it's been a month since I have eaten there. -This place is huge and on a week night, all the tables were FULL! I'd plan on a wait during the weekends for sure. -Our server was wonderful and clearly had worked at Sadie's for many years. I trusted her from the start and decided to ask her what I should order as I was new to newmexican food. Without hesitation she recommended the carne adovada. Carne ado-whata? I had no idea what it was but once I tasted it, I knew I would never forget it. Before I go too into details about my amazing meal, I should also mention the chips and salsa. The chips are clearly made in the house along with their 2 types of salsa. I couldn't tell you which one I liked better as both were outstanding. My meal was ridiculous-aparently the pork is marinated for 24 hours before being prepared. It is served along side diced potatoes and re fried beans which seemed to seep up the flavors from the carne adovada. Sadly I couldn't finish the meal but my boyfriend came through to clear out the meat. To top off the meal, you are served warm sopapias with honey which were the perfect end to an extremely delicious meal. Honestly, if I could give this place more stars I totally would. I have eaten all over the country and this was by far my absolute favorite meal. If tomorrow were my last day, I would be on the next plane to Albuquerque for one last meal at Sadie's Dining Room with the hope that my heaven is filled with warm, soft sopapias and drizzled with honey. Amen
(5)John S.
So this is the mecca of New Mexican food in Albuquerque. This place gets absolutely packed, so be aware and ready. The first night we went the wait was a bit too long, so we came back the next day. We were all pretty hungry and just wanted to eat. I have to say the food is not really overly amazing and certainly isn't memorable. But what you come here for is the experience of New Mexico. If in town, why not?
(4)David A.
Sadie's is one of the most popular New Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque. Their Sopaipilla's are the best in the city according to the 2011 Albuquerque magazine "Best of the City" listings. I ate solo, so they placed me at the bar. The bar features a small enclosure that highlights individuals who would like to take on the challenge of eating a 6.5 lb. stuffed Sopaipilla. The waitress caught me taking a picture of the cover of the menu. I get embarrassed by things like that, and I speculated that it would cause her to treat me as if I was a food critic or avid Yelper. She was extremely attentive and nice, but I think it was just her style. I ordered a gigantic plate of Sopaipilla stuffed with Carne Adovada and BOTH red and green chili. The plate was pretty good, but I think I might prefer a little less than "everything slopped on top". I couldn't make out the sweetness of the Sopaipilla with everything mixed in but she provided a few "virgin" or "unstuffed" ones that I topped with Honey. They were the best I have tasted so far.
(4)Heather S.
Sadies was fantastic! We stumbled upon it via a recommendation from a friend, and I'd definitely go back again. Massive portions of really good New Mexico-style food. Lots and lots of sauce, and the salsa is really hot but SO flavorful. The margaritas are super-strong, and the sopapillas are something to remember. Mmm. There's nothing I would change about my experience except perhaps not eating for a few days prior. So, so good, and very inexpensive.
(5)Benjamin R.
Some of the best carne adovada in the city. That's all I ever get. Comes with the papitas smothered in red chile and cheese. Very good. The salsa is addictive. Fire hot, but worth the pain. The one big downside is the wait. There is always a wait to be seated no matter the time of day. The dining room could be empty, but it won't matter. Never been able to just walk in and sit down. 10-15 minutes every time.
(3)Jaquelina L.
The BEST mexican food I ever had. First of all, I noticed that the mexican food in New Mexico tastes very different compare to the one in SF bay area. Mexican food in NM is MUCH better. I went to Sadie 3 years ago on a biz trip, oh boy, till this day, I still remember how good it was. Their portion is huge and it's cheap too. I ordered the Carne Adovada burrito, it was SOOOO good.
(5)Cory C.
we had really high expectations for this place and I have to say my review might be a little bias. Being from CA we were expecting more traditional Mexican food, but sadies is actually New Mexican food. The portions are really big and the food has a lot of flavor. I LOVE hot and spicy foods and even the mild seemed to have a kick to it. This definitely is not a place for people who do not like trying new things
(4)Chris W.
Sadies of New Mexico; hats off to you. Okay, I get that Sadies of New Mexico does not offer up authentic Mexican food, but who cares? The point is, Sadies serves up some of the most tasty, wonderful, and often hot food you will find! The portions are phenomenal, the food is worthy of its own fan club, and the service is good. Oh, did I forget to tell you about the margaritas? Make sure you save a little room (and have a designated driver)! Truly, Sadies of New Mexico is on my list of places to stop in at during my trip around the globe.
(5)Craig E.
As a kid in the 1970's, I got my intro to green chile enchiladas at Sadies when it was located at the bowling alley. It was great. Since they moved to the big space next door, the food has been inconsistant. Most of the luke-warm reviews on Yelp are by locals and we would know. It is also really heavy food when compared to Durans, Padillas or Pereas Tijuana bar. I think their meats can be too fatty. It all boils down to preference. Sadies isn't bad. Super strong Margaritas, salsa hotter than the sun, but alas, not my first choice for an enchilada or carne adovada.
(3)Jonathan P.
On a recent trip down to Albuquerque, we stumbled upon this gem. We took a chance and followed one of those tour book recommendations... For the life of me, I can't remember which one. Sadies, located in a converted bowling alley, had the look and feel of a true local hang out. The place was packed, and a lot of the people seemed to know each other. The service was fast and courteous. And the food... The food was great! True spicy New Mexican flavour. Everything we ordered was spicy and flavourful. The stuffed carne adovada sopaipilla was delicious; but, the carne adovada dinner was much more tender. My only disappoint was the kind of flat bread texture of the sopaipillas, not really fluffy. Be warned, the portions are immense!
(4)Bruce K.
Wife & daughter in Albuquerque on a special trip. After reading reviews and travel books I suggested Sadies for dinner. What a mistake! The drinks were fair to poor but the food was absolutely awful. So bad they couldn't finish. They both felt ill after the meal. I have emailed Brian Stafford the owner twice since then and can't even be shown the courtesy of a response. Never again, Bruce Kroll
(1)Louie B.
Muy bueno! I love New Mexican food, and Sadies although they have gone somewhat commercial is one of N.M's staples.. I have been there numerous times and they still don't disappoint. They have however over the years lost a little bit of their flair which is why I took away a star. My last visit I ordered the Carne Adovada Enchiladas with Blue Corn Tortillas, and they were superb! They bring the plate to your table piping hot with the bubbling cheese crusting over the edge of your plate with a side of refried beans and rice and sopapillas on the side. I was almost full from eating the chips and salsa they brought to the table before my meal, but managed to still scarf down at least half of my meal. By the way they bring you chips and salsa but I asked for hotter salsa and they brought me two variations, one with green chile and their red hot salsa... Ouch!! It burns you twice!! Good food, friendly service. On my good list!
(4)Mr. I.
So needless to say Ive been here every time Ive been to this area.. one thing you will notice is that its always filled with travelers from all around the nation. So all these people cant be wrong.. Not to mention I love the area but this is a great place to go and get red or green chili food from a great Mexican place. The plates are huge, the plates are SUPER HOT and you cant go wrong with the magaritas. I leave this place with a extra stomach every time I go. So if you are in the area, go check it out!
(5)D A P.
SO GOOD! I have to eat here every time I'm in ABQ. The decor is nothing to look at. I suggest the patio. And the plates are huge. You will be taking home leftovers. Sadie's makes a great salsa. And you can buy 3 kinds of it here for only $3.99 a jar.
(5)Stan L.
Great restaurant. If they would let me I would give it a 10. Everything is excellent, and service even better. Food is spicy and Hugh servings. You should plan on sharing or taking another meal hoe with you. They even have to go boxes with ther name on them. DON'T go to Albuquerque with out going to Sadie's. May 31, Sarah and I ate our first meal of our weeklong 50th celebration at one our favorite places to eat. We shared a meal and still had food left over. Our blessing was being serenaded by a south of the border group. Both in Spanish and English. A great start
(5)Jeff M.
I do not for the life of me understand what people see in this joint. There are so many better NM places in ABQ. Last time we ate there there were four of us. We all ordered different dishes, and all four of them came out looking the same. I ordered tamales, and if there were tamales down in there they were indistinguishable from the stuff they were smothered with. My table mates had the same experience. Maybe we got each other's dishes. Who knows? Our waitron was very friendly, but a while ago we walked out because a waiter was remarkably rude. Needless to say Sadie's is off our list.
(1)Jeremy W.
Food was excellent. Service was great as well. Our server gave great suggestions and I was so thankful I chose one she had suggested.
(5)Chris K.
Based on lots of local input, this is the face of New Mexican cuisine - the quintessential New Mexican restaurant in ABQ. The atmosphere is sub-par, the service is average, the food quality is average, and the portions are...RIDICULOUSLY LARGE. An a la carte carne adovada stuffed sopapilla literally fills an entire dinner plate (enough for three hungry adults to share easily). I have been several times with colleagues and locals, mostly for the novelty of the New Mexican food and chile.
(3)Nikke A.
Yesterday, University of Washington law students were visiting from Seattle, so classmates and I invited them to lunch at Sadie's. We sat in the lounge section of the restaurant. We waiting about ten minutes before going to the bar on our own to get a drink. When we went to the bar area, we were scolded by the waiter. He told us to order our drinks at the table. Ten minutes later, we were finally given menus. The waiter took our order. The food arrived and our orders were wrong. One girl ordered a taco dinner, and only received one taco. I ordered enchiladas with blue corn tortillas without onions. I received yellow corn tortillas with onions. I returned my plate, and received the same yellow corn tortillas with onions. I at that point did not want to eat. I was tired of returning my meal. The out-of-state visitors requested the chile on the side of their dishes, and all of them had chile on their dishes. The manager agreed to take off some of the meals, but my meal was the only one taken off. The rest of the group 6 people were forced to pay for meals they didn't order. I was so disgusted by the service. After we ate, we immediately left, and everyone left in a bad mood.
(2)Johnathan B.
There are three places I make sure to stop by when I'm in Albuquerque. Sadie's is one of them. Whatever you order will be excellent, the wait staff is usually quick and always happy, and the prices are very reasonable. There's a reason Sadie's is a staple of the city. The green chile cheeseburger is my top pick, but the new taco salad comes in a close second. The mix of chicken and avocado is great (especially with a little salsa mixed in).
(5)Austin C.
Went here based on the recommendation of staff at our hotel. The price was great for the portions that we received. It wasn't the greatest Mexican food I've ever had, but it was still delicious nonetheless. The staff was very friendly and able to accommodate any requests. If in Albuquerque and looking for a solid meal that won't break the bank, I will definitely come back here.
(4)Steve T.
We had a bit of a wait when we arrived but it didn't take too long. Plenty of parking in their huge lot. We had tried one of the other Sadie's previously which didn't hold a candle to this one. The food was surprisingly good considering the prices are very reasonable. This restaurant was recommended to us by native Albuquerque folks who we met on the plane. Great for New Mexican cuisine.
(4)consuelo w.
This is one of those places you come for classic New Mexican dining. (There is a difference between Mexican and New Mexican, promise!) I mean the state's question is Red or Green? I used to come here quite a bit before I moved. It's a fairly big popular spot. Sometimes it's so popular it starts to get a little noisy, but never too loud. They give you salsa and chips like most New/Mexican places, and the salsa is always tasty. They've even began to sell it in local stores. I only really ever get 2 things here: Chicken taquitos and cheesy papitas. The chicken taquitos are bigger than your average taquitos. They are freshly rolled every time and greasy. I love them. They are stuffed with the signature shredded chicken and cheese. You do have to order guacamole on the side, but it's very worth it. My favorite parts are always the extra crunchy ends. They make you pause and say "One more?" as you can order them in sets of 4 or 7. We usually go for 7 then share with the family. I also get a side of papitas with cheese melted on top. Honestly there is just something so warm and happy about cheesy potatoes. Even better when they are fried. Very simple, very delicious. You get a whole plate of them so be prepared to share or order them on their own. Recently I've noticed they also have papitas with chile con queso, so be careful when ordering if you want one or the other. Even though I always get the same things, my family always order from the entire menu. I don't think they've ever gotten something they don't like. The service is fair. The prices are fair. But the food has always been good. I recommend it if you want some good New Mexican food.
(4)Brenna M.
Great food! Generous portions! Try the nachos!
(4)Abq D.
Went to Sadi's recently, and feel compelled to rate the venerable North Valley establishment. And yes, I did used to eat there when it was part of the bowling alley. Unfortunately, as they say, "it ain't what it use to be." First, the good: The service is the best in Albuquerque, hands down. They float their bussers around so it's like you have 2 waiters for each table. And they're all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The salsa is hot and terrific; Good, strong margaritas, decent guac and chile con queso; average green chile, serviceable chicken enchiladas, and very good carne adovada. And with the portions, you'll never go away hungry (though possibly nauseous). The bad: in general, except what I mentioned above, the food is pretty awful. The red chile is completely tasteless, my chile relleno was mainly batter and tasted like it was fried in old oil. Any my "spicey taco meat" burrito tasted like dog food. The ubiquitous papas came with everything (even though I ordered a la carte because I specifically didn't want them), and a layer of melted cheese blanketed all dishes. Normally, I'm in favor of the cheese blanket, but their cheese is entirely flavorless. In fact, my table also had the nachos, but between the meat and the cheese, they were inedible. I love New Mexico slop food, but Sadi's has gotten too sloppy for me. It's as though they've severely compromised on the quality of their ingredients. So in spite of my allegiance to an ABQ tradition, I'm afraid I just have to recommend another place... unless you're only looking for any of those "goods" I mentioned above.
(2)Colin B.
Been driving for so long through the South feasting on BBQ, catfish, fried oysters, hush puppies. I enjoyed it all but since I'm from Los Angeles tonight's dinner of Mexican food was a huge comfort and delight. Amazing food!
(5)Jaci B.
Great service and very friendly waitress. Salsa was hot and delicious. Stacked enchiladas were very good, portion was big. Sopapillas were some of the best I've ever had...very flaky and warm.
(4)K B.
If there was a way to give less than 1 star, I would. First of all let me say this is by far the WORST place I have ever eaten in my life. Lets start at the beginning. We are first seated by the wait staff's station. So, 5 minutes into it, I am smacked on the head by a water pitcher and my chair is ran into twice. It took 10 minutes to get a drink order. Then, when we did the pours sucked. While we are waiting for the waiter to come back and take our order, there is a band playing. They are so loud, we have to scream to hear each other. They went table to table and for one they were not that good. They were loud and the lady sounded like a strangled cat. WE FINALLY get our food and it was disgusting. No, disgusting would be an upgrade. It was covered in so much cheese and beans and potatoes. Horrible. My enchilada's were freezing cold and the cheese was congealed by the time it got to me. My husband had the famous "stuffed sopapilla" and it resembled dog food. HOW this place was every featured on a TV show, or how several celebrates whose pictures on the wall ever got good food. It surely was not from here. Never saw the waiter again, till he brought the check. WILL NEVER EVER EVER EAT here again.
(1)Jason A.
Among the best New Mexican food in NM. Chips and salsa are amazing. Salsa is spicy though, but ask for the "not so hot" if mild is your thing. Margaritas are also amazing and strong. Get yours "coined" for an extra kick. Had the Carne Adovada. My absolute favorite at Sadies! Ive been to Sadie's half a dozen times and the food is always high quality and authentic. The sopapillas are a great way to end the evening. Also some of the best in New Mexico. Service was great and this meal deserves 5 stars!
(5)Olivia A.
The Best! We take our family and friends from out of town all the time! We walk out happy!
(5)Public B.
Salsa brought tears to my eyes, its a good thing, also liked the chili sauce. Meal was fresh and tasty.
(4)Regina P.
We've been visiting Sadie's and enjoying their salsa for years but this most recent visit was unfortunate. Our food came out late and luke warm. The manager and staff were clearly unsympathetic to our situation. This is no longer the Sadie's of old.
(1)Shelby P.
Okay, I rank things pretty high when I get good service. This place is no exception. As soon as we were seated they took our drink orders (really, it doesn't take a lot to please us!) and when our chips were brought, the manager came over to make sure we got our drinks ordered and to see if the little munchkin wanted a plate. They were really attentive here. I could use less green chili (I think most places could use less green chili) but I liked it! Will definitely revisit this little New Mexico gem!
(5)Lily A.
One statement describes Sadie's: A small is a large! We ordered the small nachos and it was HUGE! We ordered the Roberto's Special and it was HUGE! We ordered the regular Sopapilla and it was 1.5lb of HUGE! Yes, Sadie's is known for the 7lb sopapilla food challenge that was highlighted on the Travel Channel...and I believe it lives up to all the hype. The portions are incredibly huge. The food was good, great flavors and the green chili which wasn't green that evening was pretty damn good. Which was a good thing because they sure do smother it on everything. The prices are reasonable. And the service was absolutely amazing! They are so sweet and kind and super attentive here. Hugs were exchanged with the staff when we left. I would have given 5 stars but we waited for about 2 hours for a table. No bueno, it gets super duper crowded here! Especially during dinner time during the balloon festival! I would definitely come back when the crowd dies down.
(4)