El Patrón Café wins Best Green Chile in New Mexico

The Hatch green chile coming out of the kitchen at El Patron Cafe in Las Cruces is certainly spicy, but not overpowering. The brisket nachos are a house specialty, smothered in green. Diners also find green chile in the house made posole, atop chicken enchiladas and even for dessert in the form of a green chile pineapple upside-down cake.
Photo courtesy of El Patrón Café and Catering

The green chile that smothers the authentic New Mexican food at Cocina Azul in Albuquerque is a little different than the usual. Following a family recipe, the Hatch chile pods are soaked in spices before getting blended and strained into a smooth and creamy sauce.
Photo courtesy of Cocina Azul / Facebook

El Farolito, a charming hole-in-the-wall in an adobe building in tiny El Rito, easily has more fans than the town has residents. The menu of authentic New Mexican fare is highlighted by a very traditional green chile cheeseburger, served on a real hamburger bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard. Green chile also comes on the usual suspects – burritos, enchiladas, tamales and stuffed sopapillas.
Photo courtesy of El Farolito

The famous green chile from Owl Bar and Cafe in the town of San Antonio is made fresh each day using locally grown green chiles. The sauce is simmered all day to meld the flavors. While the chile is delicious in all its forms, Owl Bar is best known for its excellent green chile cheeseburger, made from a fresh, hand-formed beef patty, grilled and topped with green chile, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo. A classic!
Photo courtesy of Owl Bar & Cafe

Barbecue gets a Southwestern twist at Cowgirl BBQ in Santa Fe. Green chile enjoys its due prominence on the menu in many forms: smothered over chile cheese fries, baked inside creamy mac and cheese, truffled on a cheeseburger or ladled over more classic New Mexican dishes, like chile rellenos and huevos rancheros.
Photo courtesy of Cowgirl BBQ

Sadie's has been satiating New Mexico's chile cravings for more than five decades. Famous for their seriously spicy red and green chile, Sadie's menu offers green chile on just about everything, including their excellent green chile cheeseburger. A local favorite is the Roberto's Special – a hamburger steak atop a bed of beans and papitas, smothered in chile con queso and green chile.
Photo courtesy of Sadie's of New Mexico

Blink and you'll miss Chaco Grill, located within a gas station in the equally small town of Cuba. But a stop here is well worth it for the excellent New Mexican fare. Grab a handheld burrito with green chile inside for the road, or enjoy it smothered over huevos rancheros, enchiladas, french fries or a fry bread taco. It's equally good in a bowl with beans and warm tortillas for scooping.
Photo courtesy of iStock / JannHuizenga

What better place to get Hatch green chile than in the town of Hatch, where the best New Mexico chiles are grown? Famous for its BBQ and decidedly funky exterior, Sparky's World Famous Green Chile Cheeseburger is made from scratch with local green chile, cheese and meat. Green chile here knows no bounds – diners find it in sweet corn, cheese fries, lemonade and even in a green chile chocolate shake.
Photo courtesy of Sparky's Burgers & BBQ

Family owned and operated since 1915, Chope's Bar has long been a favorite in La Mesa for its fiery fare. Green chile takes many forms, including atop rolled enchiladas, stuffed sopapilla or crispy fried chile rellenos. 
Photo courtesy of uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs / Flickr

Situated just east of Santa Fe Plaza, The Shed specializes in Northern New Mexican fare, including fine green chile that comes in the form of stew with potato and pork or a sauce for smothering enchiladas, burritos or huevos rancheros.
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Noble / Flickr