Monica's El Portal

Hubby, his uncle, and I came here for lunch. We were seated right away and attended too. I ordered the carne adovada and replaced beans with rice, and sopapilla, and hubby ordered 2 eggs, bacon, and sausage place which comes with papitas (potatoes) and smothered with both red and green chile (they call Christmas because of the colors). They also serve chips on the house as you are waiting for your food to be served. Food: Full of flavor, cooked right, and served hot (not dangerously hot). Even the chips were warm and tasted like it’s just made. The sopapilla is so light and yummy. Ambiance: The restaurant has outdoor dining but with the cold weather, better sit inside as it is clean and cozy. Just the perfect warm comfortable temperature. Service: Our server was attentive and friendly and warm. The entire experience was pleasant and I definitely recommend this place 100%.

This is green chile chicken enchiladas with beans and rice and a fried egg on top. The food was excellent! The atmosphere and service were wonderful. Dessert was the best sopapillas, hot and fresh.

The food was 👌🏻 we all finished our plates and didn’t have to eat again for the rest of the day! Sopapillas we’re maybe the best I’ve ever had and the chile relleno batter was perfect. I’d skip the margaritas, but everything else was fantastic.

Chile rellenos were so delicious and crispy. Kids menu was a nice option for our 4 year old. Husband enjoyed a stuffed sopapilla with Carne adovada.

Tasty traditional NM dishes specializing in breakfast and lunch. Friendly service and good coffee. The burrito was enormous although not too much once my friend got started on it. I had the breakfast enchilada from the light menu and I was stuffed half way through. Bottom line you won’t leave hungry! Pro move: Get the red and green sauce. Life is too short to choose just one ;)

My wife & I like trying new restaurants and Monica's El Portal is one of them. The food was delicious, the green Chile gravy on my chicken fried steak was off the wall. Come to find out that Monica has been making her food homemade for 45 years. Well like they say "if it ain't broken don't fix it". Good job you guys we'll definitely will be coming back, Thank you

What a charming and wonderful dining experience. I highly encourage eating breakfast here. This was our first time to New Mexico and they taught us the practice of putting honey onto warm, fresh tortilla chips as the appetizer. And that right there described my visit. Warm, fresh, safe, clean, and entirely content. oh, and the sopapillas with honey were a must! (We were driving to see Smokey the Bear park later that day so he often made an appearance in our photos haha) I ordered the omelet and got the red sauce with it. Next time I might order the sauce on the side because I thought it was a little extensive for me, but we REALLY enjoyed our visit. By the time we were leaving, the place was really starting to pack it in and we could tell it was a popular spot!

I'm always on the hunt for local New Mexican restaurants, and I've found another 👍 Our first visit and we were sat quickly and our food came out even quicker, which is a plus when your starving. I was impressed with the red chile since it had a bite, and it was flavorful as well. My India taco hit the spot since I hadn't had one in a long time, as well as the chile relleno. The oozing cheese is my fav.

Alright, I had meant to write this much sooner. I hadn't been to Monica's in years. Literally years. Last time I was there they were still serving dinner. I heard that they were closing and wanted one last chance. Much to my surprise they had become a breakfast/lunch place (or maybe I'm confusing it for somewhere else, but I really don't think so). I ordered my typical cheese enchilada dish and they were just as good as I had remembered. The staff was friendly, if a little disorganized with the large crowds that kept coming in. I am sorry to see them go, but wish them the best! I'm hoping something new and just as amazing appears in this location rather than yet another trinket shop for tourists. Keeping my fingers crossed and will be on the lookout!

Well I must say I'm sorry to see this place go since it's been here most my life and I never took the time to try it. As a recommendation from a great friend, I gave it a try and it was great! The fresh salsa was flavorful, the lime margarita was tasty and refreshing, the fresh tortilla was homemade, the chili was spicy but great and the huevos were quite good. Loved the ambiance of the space, the great colors and tile throughout and I especially enjoyed the family feel especially when the regulars would come in. It says so much about a business. The service was fantastic too! Going to have to come one more time before they close. They have 6 days left, come check it out.

A great no frills breakfast/brunch spot, my mom and I shared the huevos rancheros with "plain beans" (aka vegetarian ones as the refried beans have lard) and red Chile, and the breakfast quesadilla with green Chile. I loved the potatoes in the quesadilla and the green chile was flavorful and not too spicy. My favorite part was the sopapillas that we got on the side. YUM. maybe just because it was my first time having them but boy were they good. The best to sop up your runny eggs and sauce. Mmmmmmm! We were seated right away at 10 am on a Saturday and served coffee instantly, but by the time we left around 10:45 it was pretty full. Service was fast, food was cheap and tasty, what's not to love!

I always pass by this restaurant on the way to the Biopark but have never went in. It's been around for years. Sunday I decided to go. It was crowded but we didn't wait too long to get a table. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros while my daughter ordered the grilled cheese We both thought our meals were delicious and chips were included! I will be back to try more on the menu!

Service from particular staff BIG ATTITUDE. Food was fantastic as always as Monica is at the realm . I have been going to Monica's since 1997, with my deceased husband. Always have loved everything this little cafe has to offer. I took my new partner for breakfast today to

My husband and I stayed in a Albuquerque. Looked up Mexican Restaurants on Yelp and Monica's ratings were very good. We decided to try and we were very pleased. My husband had Monica's Favorite Enchilada Ranchera with green chili. He was very pleased. I had pancake sausage and egg. Everything was delicious and the service was fast and staff is very friendly. We found out that Monica's is closing soon but we were glad we had a chance to try Monica's El Portal Restaurant.

Monica's is a family run and oriented dining spot on Rio Grande, close to old town. The ambience is comfortable, and I would describe their food menu as comfort New Mexican food. The wait staff is very attentive. Today I had a short stack of pancakes with a side of sausage, and it was quite pleasant. On other times, I've had their vegetarian burrito, which is a real treat. I include a photo of some of the wall art, there are several other examples. Dress is casual, and especially around lunchtime they can be very busy. If you're looking for a great meal, at a reasonable price, and a restaurant, that is unique, try Monica's.

Monica's is a great restaurant to eat at. As a native New Mexican, it is definitely a local spot. The last few times I've gone, I see someone I know. It looks small. However, when you walk in, they have a few rooms with plenty of seating. To add, when my party goes there on Sunday mornings, we are sat right away or put on the wait list for a short time. Regarding the service, the staff is very efficient and friendly. Last but not least, the food. The food is excellent and always served hot and fresh. I would describe it as authentic New Mexican food. The taste is far better than bigger well known New Mexican restaurants!

My favorite New Mexican food in Albuquerque! We love the food and drinks. The service is excellent, and the ladies serving us are always welcoming. Only downfall is they close early.

My daughter and I are always looking for a great place to eat on Sundays. With that in mind, she suggested Monica's for some reason I thought they were closed on Sundays but to my surprise they were open and we had the best breakfast I've had in a long time ...breakfast enchiladas with red chili , eggs, over easy, refried beans with cheese ,and potatoes!!! Yum!!! sopapillas that are light, fluffy and delicious! Did I tell you about the Natilla's?! So good I wanted to cry!! Lol Absolutely my new favorite spot !! I don't want to leave out how wonderful the staff is!!! I can't remember are waitresses name, but she was amazing !

There were a lot of scares during the heart of the Invisible Menace, winter 2020. Monica's was on my shortlist for nightmares. It closed early and remained shuttered through spring '21, and there was a point where I was sure the restaurant would land on my personal list of Covid's worst casualties. This was a place I considered a second home. The sweet family that owned and operated it didn't know me, I didn't visit often enough, but I intimately knew the homestyle flavor of the food. I'm proud to report that Monica's is absolutely BACK. All of my life, I've dined on the covered, concrete front patio of the venue, never discovering the comparitively soft and floral area out back. It's back patio forever, moving forward. I'm also switching to the breakfast sopapilla, an upgrade on the burrito, although as a general rule, if you haven't tried the carbs around here, you're going to love them. The chile doesn't mess around, servers are efficient and friendly, this is the best New Mexican restaurant in Old Town. Please support a survivor.

We make it a point to visit Monica's El Portal every time we visit Albuquerque from Southern California. The service is always great and the food is delicious! My go-to order in a Mexican restaurant is the chile relleno and this one does not disappoint! It's crispy on the outside - with outstanding red sauce - and wonderfully spicy and creamy on the inside. The chips come to the table warm and the salsa is excellent!

They turn off their grub hub portal on weekends by unplugging their machine but don't make it so you can't order online on weekends. So i went there and waited for my food after ordering online. Gave them my name multiple times to check on my food, and Waited 45 minutes before they tell me they never got my order because they turn off their grub hub machine. They person i talked to was rude and made it out like i should know that they don't do online orders on weekends. All in all it was bad costumer service and poor management skills. If you're not going to do grub hub on weekends then deactivate it on they days you aren't doing it.

I live close to this place and the food is pretty good but the staff is always rude AF

It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. If your super hungry and and you don't want to cook at home, than come to Monica's. Food is just okay, tortillas need help, they aren't soft they are slightly hard and crunchy. Service was attentive but loud. Ambiance is old school traditional New Mexican cozy Was hoping to be wowed but was a tad disappointed:( Ciao

Not bad, not exceptional. No free chips and salsa. That is always a deduction of one star in my book. They also don't have straws for drinks. I know we're moving in that direction but I didn't think we were there yet. I had asked for easy ice and the waitress must have forgotten. I will say that the waitress was nice. Food was decent and the place was cute. There was potato in the taco salad which is unusual, but tasted good. Their hours vary a lot so I'd check before you go. I'd likely go back.

I was skeptical about going because I have heard both great and bad things about Monica's. I want to be VERY clear, I'm not a fan of New Mexican food. I know, I know... it's shocking and disappointing lol. Bottom line up front: Eat here! A. The food was fantastic!!! Huevos Rancheros and the basic breakfast- eggs, bacon/sausage, potatoes B. The service was good C. The vibes are chill D. As I was leaving, I was so upset that I didn't get a mimosa! Ugh. Next time. E. Please don't hate me because I didn't take pictures. I promise I will next time.

Favorite restaurant in Albuquerque. This is the place the locals go! Amazing Sopaipilla hot out of the oven and honey so good! Lots of vegetarian options as well and great prices! Can't wait to be back to get more of their Sopaipillas! Laid back casual environment.

Best breakfast in town. Excellent service. This place has been around forever and is always consistently delicious. Warm friendly atmosphere. Lovey patio in the rear of the building! I highly recommend.

Nice place in Old Town to stop in for breakfast. Their huevos rancheros with green chile and chicken was good! And their salsa was yummy

[Be warned! Someone hijacked their website! Careful with the links on Yelp.] Asked around for a good authentic local place, and got told to go to Monica's. Total win! Upon arriving, it looked like we were the only tourists, and many people were greeted by name. Super nice servers working hard, but always friendly. Lunch was amazing, especially the stuffed sopapilla. We got the ground beef which was outstanding. Also got solid blue corn stacked cheese enchiladas (but in looking around, we might get chili rellenos next time). We had both red and green chili, finding the first much better (in fact, the only thing we didn't like was the red... but I heard people ordering it, so...). Oh, chips and salsa were very very good. And we walked out VERY full. Liked it so much we went back from breakfast and got the breakfast version of our lunch. An AMAZING breakfast stuffed sopapilla (eggs, potatoes,etc.), and an egg on a cheese enchilada (see pic). When we return to Albuquerque, this will be on the list!Super nice people working hard, but always friendly.

This place is absolutely awesome! Super busy place but great service and food. I had the Taco salad very taste and fresh. We also had the Chicken fried steak very tasty and fresh as well. I was pretty amazed how great everything tasted and great portions at a great price!!!! Great Job

Best mexican food in Albuquerque, hands down. Home cooked and tasty. Deliciously picante! They will take good care of you here!

With Old Town restaurants packed for the balloon festival, we wandered across the street to find sopapillas. Entering Monica's, we were prompted to seat ourselves. We also grabbed a menu to prepare our order, which made our waitress a bit peeved for some unknown reason. We were told seat ourselves not serve ourselves?? Once we ordered, two combo platters, we were also passive aggressively scolded for only ordering water, "that's it?". The food barely made up for the service. The sopapillas were delicious-nice and fluffy smothered in great red chile. However, the rice was overcooked, the beans were dry, and the tamales didn't stand out among other eats in the area..added the taco shells weren't cooked(warmed) and the meat was mushy and unseasoned..no wonder people just wait it out in Old Town.

Good stop for lunch, just one street over, short walk from all the shopping in old towne. Definitely a locals place, with great food

I love Monica's. There's great seating out front or in back, when the weather is nice, like today. I had a carne adovada omelette with red chile. It was a great choice. The potatoes were well cooked and tasted like real potatoes, not something pulled out of a freezer. Parking is easy, and the place has a bit of a vibe, including some interesting trinkets for sale in the front, such as artistic mementos of New Mexico, day of the dead, and Freida Kahlo.

I was in town for the balloon fiesta and was looking for a decent place to eat. While driving by, I saw that the parking lot was almost full as was the patio, so I figured it must be good. There was a wait, but I was willing to give it a try. SO glad I did. First, it appears to be a small, family run business which I love supporting. Second, all of the staff were polite and welcoming. Third, the food was amazing! I got the chicken enchiladas with red sauce. They were delicious and the sauce had a nice, unsuspected kick! But the real star of the meal was the sopapilla. Those were pure heaven!! Perfectly golden brown on the outside with just enough crisp to get a little bit of crunch, and then pillowy soft on the inside. I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for good, Mexican/SW food and a small restaurant with a homey feel.

This restaurant was packed when we arrived and now we know why....the food and service was spot-on! Our waitress came up to us right away and asked for our drink orders, also brought chips/salsa too! There's outdoor seating and on a nice day or evening, very enjoyable sitting outside. So if you are ever in the Old Downtown Alburquerque area, give this place a try, you will not be disappointed. Next time we are back in Alburquerque, we will definitely be stopping by!

Driving to old town Albuquerque, NM, we passed by Monica's. I asked my daughter to look it up, and it definitely had better reviews than the restaurants adjacent to the town square. So we tried it out. We arrived a little late (after 7) and it was quiet. We sat outside in the back, and it was a perfect place to enjoy our dinner. Service: Our server, Renee, was awesome! She made great recommendations, had a fun personality, and was personal and fun. Food: Guacamole, taco salads, and Chile relleno were awesome! The fajitas were good, but not as good as th e other items we ordered. Our favorite though, was the sopapillas--with honey! We highly recommend Monica's when in Albuquerque!

A local, "hole in the wall" authentic option for New Mexican food in Old Town. The service was fast & friendly, entrees were fine, but the sopaipillas...man...those are some of the best in the city! Just the right amount of doughy & crispy. I'll be back for more of those!

Sorry but serving food to this guy? I my self would've said "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" and you are the first one so BYE !!!!

We have been supporters of this restaurant from DAY 1 since it's in our hood and know the family. We adore Monica's food! Everything on the menu is delicious and a good portion size. The red chile is something your grandmother would make. We are so glad they made it through the pandemic and did our part by pickingup take-out every 2 to 3 weeks. Pro-tips: 1) Don't go on a Sunday after church, especially with a large group. It will be a long unpleasant wait. 2) Try not to ask for substitutions or for extras. Special requests are not well received. 3) You may not want to bring elders or anyone sensitive to brusque service. 4) Do chat up Monica or her husband Bill if it's not busy and they are in the dining area. They are warm, friendly and funny. 5) The back patio doesn't seem to be open anymore, but sit there if you can. A lot quieter than inside.

Great food with cozy, old town ambiance. Family owned with great service. Their salsa is great and so are the sopapillas!

Friendly small Mexican style restaurant. Price are very reasonable and service is very friendly. Overall good experience here.

Our server was prompt, checked on us regularly and was very pleasant. Our food was delicious!!! The chips and salsa were top notch . The chips had just enough salt and the salsa had a delicious flavor and a little heat. Our lunch was excellent. My husband had quesadillas with the green chili, guacamole and sides and he very much enjoyed it. I had the chimichangas with the carne abdova, was extremely delicious! Topped off with sopppillas and honey. Definitely will go back. Highly recommend this restaurant!

This was my first time at this establishment! I must be hiding under a rock!! What a gem! I'm thankful my friend Roxanne suggested it for our monthly LULAC meeting. Plenty of space, in fact we even had a room all to ourselves. Service was amazing, prompt, and friendly! Our drinks were kept topped off. Food was delicious. I had the chile beans with both red & green chile and what a delight! The flavor was perfect! The fresh homemade tortillas were a real treat... warm, poquito gorditas just how I like, with the perfect amount of toasty marks on them... so authentic I swear someone's cute abuelita must have been in the kitchen making them while saying dichos. And the sopaipillas were just as delish!! I'll definitely be back next time to try the breakfast menu.

Love this place!! The adovada is the best around. I wish I could eat it every day. And you must try the cookies that are at the cash register. I didn't ask and don't know but they might have almonds or almond flour. They are so unique and exceptionally delicious.

Cool little spot, average.. but if you're visiting ABQ for the first time or just passing thru as I was, I'd travel another block or so to old town. This place seemed to cater to locals

Loved this place so much! Truly a hidden gem in Old Town. This was my first time trying it and I was very pleased. I ordered the breakfast quesadilla and the salsa was perfectly spicy! I loved the authentic local vibe. Just adorable!

Delicious New Mexican food at this local restaurant . They have a nice patio, the staff was pleasant and even though they were short staffed and busy, we got seated pretty quickly.

Monicas is a Great place to eat, been in business for many years, always consistent, give it a shot

Today I had the Chicken Fiesty Fijitas as a burrito. It was okay--at little under $12. Like so many New Mexician restaurants, they rely on red or green chile for flavor, though there was a cumin flavor to the chicken (many restaurants don't even give you that). I was told the tortillas are homemade, which is a plus. The salsa was a little unique and had a little bit to it. Probably a draw would be the ambiance of a old New Mexico house with color. They also have 2 patios. Oh, you can walk to the plaza. I love a drink with a straw...you won't even find a paper straw here (something about not wanting to spend the money...remember $12 burrito...just saying). New ordinance coming in ABQ about plastic straws, but you can still use paper or metal straws.

Sorry the photo is of an empty bowl but it was almost all gone when I recovered my senses. Hands down the best menudo I have had outside East LA. Absolutely amazing, abolutely authentic, and very spicy with good chili. There was no radishes or cabbage but there was chopped onions and lemon. I had to get another order to go for later.

Always a stop for me when I'm in town! They have good hot green chile and my favorite chicharrone bfast stuffed sopapilla. Legit New Mex food despite being in a tourist area.

Monica's never disappoints! I'm thrilled Monica' is open for indoor dining once again. I had the Torta Burger and we ordered Guac, Queso, and Salsa for the table. Great service and fresh food has me coming back time and time again, thank you!

Great food, fast service, friendly wait staff and very clean!!! I can see why it is so busy!!!

Great food and service, would definitely recommend you try them out. I had the mini Huevos Rancheros and it was perfect.

Great food and service the portions are perfect for lunch! The wait was long but for being understaffed and only one cook it was not too bad and well worth the wait!

This is a straw free restaurant,so bring your own if you have to have one. I tasted the red and green chile. I think the green chile is too watery. The green chile does have a good flavor. The red chile is a little thicker and has a very deep richness to the chile. Sopapillas are very fluffy and good.