E.F. (Eat First) Chinese Food
Let's face it: I was desperate -- desperate -- for some San Francisco culture
in the ABQ area. I did everything I could to keep it going. Sushi, Vietnamese
noodles, Chinese food, it's what I sought out. It was the only thing keeping me
remotely sane. With that said:E.F. (Eat First) Chinese food gives you a huge plate for five bucks. No-nonsense,
high-volume Chinese food, just like mama used to make in the Tenderloin (a place
I don't recommend traversing unless you're intentionally feeling adventurous).
Simple stuff if you're in need of quick eats.
Hacienda Express
For some reason the breakfast burrito stuck with me. It was the only thing
New Mexican I would seek out. Have no idea why. At Hacienda Express, I found
my favorite breakfast burritos. Probably because of the flavorful (but not too
hot) green chile sauce -- I got weaned on Chinese food and ventured far away
from spices. It was here, after returning from New York that I found an odd
correlation between them saying "Stay or go?" at walk-up pizza counters and
the McDonald's on 42nd street and "Red or green?" at Hacienda Express.
Probably some kind of driving/racing metaphor inside my head, a language
I naturally spoke, finding a commonality because life was so foreign in New York.
But please, take these (green chile bkfast burritos) in serious moderation.
They will kill ya.Ho Lo Ma
They say go where the locals eat. For Chinese, this is a pretty good place.
Nice decor, and again, a lot of Chinese tend to eat here. And speaking as
an ex-pat San Franciscan, it also was not bad, not bad at all. Good fried
shrimp on crispy noodles, ask for it by name, and a waitress who reminded me
of Dabs. Not that that means anything to you reading this; but Dabs is, how
shall we say, hot.NYPD Pizza
Really excellent New York style pizza, said by someone who's just had really
a taste of it, but knows that sampling versus the hundreds of mainstream pizza
he's had for 20-odd years. Worth stopping in, worth making the trip.Pei-Wei
If you like pan-Asian, which actually I don't -- it's okay, quite tasty food,
just not real Asian food of pick-whatever-cuisine-you-happen-to-be-thinking-of,
Pei-Wei is for you. I try and stay away from chains but this place is okay
for what you want.Pho Nguyen
I liked the decor. Good wonton soup. Reminded me of L.A. for some reason.Satellite Coffee
Albuquerque is woefully lacking in good cafe's, but Satellite is a start.
No-nonsense, Starbucks-esque coffee shop, good outdoor ambience at the
Coronado location. At night.Taco Sal
The taco plate (really, anything with beef) is awesome. Very tasty. But please,
limit your eating this kind of stuff. It'll kill ya. Excellent New Mexican food.Vietnam 2000
Excellent, hot, fresh pho noodles. My favorite place. About 80, 90% the
quality of authentic pho noodles on the coast or in San Fran. Minimal
decor, the way it should be.
