by Mona Gallagher

Created on: March 15, 2009   Last Updated: May 17, 2009

Old and new traditions merge in New Mexico as evidenced by old Mexican cuisine. You see the diverse cultures in the people, the architecture, and you taste it in Albuquerque's finest Mexican restaurants. Native home grown red and green chiles combine to make Albuquerque the premier city for Mexican cuisine and the best Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque build their reputations on excellence.

Mexican cuisine is a huge attraction in Albuquerque. We're not talking Tex-Mex cuisine here, but an authentic taste of Mexico with moles and other unique flavors of Old Mexico. If you've been south of the border and wish for the same food experience in the US, you'll find the same dishes in New Mexico restaurants and great dining choices.

Green chiles originated in Mexican regional foods and they're the defining ingredients of New Mexican cuisine. Red and green, they grace the food in Albuquerque with bold bursting flavor that wakes your palate and begs for more.

A word to the wise, if you're not familiar with red and green chiles, it's always a good idea to have them on the side and taste them first. They vary in taste from mild to meltdown heat but chiles aren't just for Mexican cuisine, they're a flavor enhancement for many different ethnic foods from burritos and hamburgers, to bagels.

Whether you're a seafood lover or traditional meat lover, you'll find great choices in New Mexican restaurants.

Casa de Benavidez:

Casa de Benavidez is located at 8032 Fourth St. NW. The ambience is hard to match with patio dining in a lush outdoor garden. The food is excellent but you'll pay extra for the ambience. Dishes run about 40 percent more than the more humble establishments.

The Benavidez family built their trademark on the Sopaipilla burger starting small and expanding as their reputation grew. The family owned restaurant still makes their salsas in house on a daily basis.

The Sopaipilla burger, their specialty, is a beef patty with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato and choice of red or green chiles between two sopaipillas. You might call it a hamburger with a south of the border flair. You'll find a large expansive menu that offers the world's finest Mexican and New Mexican cuisine.

Make a reservation if you plan to visit during holidays and festival days because their reputation is grande.' Visit their web site and view their menu at: Casadebenavidez.

Seafood lovers try Los Equipales Restaurant

If you love fish and seafood for example, you'll enjoy the specialty,

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