1 Tune-Up Café
1115 Hickox St.,
505-983-7060
Santa Feans adored Dave’s Not Here, so the couple who opened the Tune-Up Café in its place, Charlotte and Jesus Rivera, had very big chefs’ clogs to fill. And filled them they have. Tune-Up is the city’s favorite new restaurant for two big reasons. First, it rocks. It’s cute, comfortable, casual, affordable, funky, fun and, oh yeah, the food kicks ass.
Tune-Up never tried to be like Dave’s, so it has largely escaped being compared too directly to the beloved burger joint. Sure, Tune-Up has burgers, but they’re delightfully tweaked burgers. The bison burger comes with garlic mayo on a brioche bun; the brown rice and nut burger is totally vegan. But the great thing about this place is that it provides a rare taste of El Salvadoran food. Mixed in with the enchiladas and fish tacos, Chef Jesus Rivera provides delightful edible glimpses of his native cuisine with dishes like delicate pupusas—puffy corn things that taste like a delicious cross between pancakes and tortillas.
It was the pupusas that charmed Guy Fieri when he came to the restaurant to tape an episode of his Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
2 Vinaigrette, 709 Don Cubero Alley, 505-820-9205
3 The Original Realburger, 2239 Old Pecos Trail, 505-820-3311
