Casa de Benavidez

Casa de Benavidez is a long-standing New Mexican restaurant in the North Valley of Albuquerque, occupying a large, colorfully decorated space on Fourth Street NW that has served generous family-style New Mexican food for decades. The restaurant draws a broad mix of local families, groups celebrating birthdays and gatherings, and visitors to the North Valley who discover it as a convivial alternative to the more tourist-oriented options downtown. The menu is anchored in traditional New Mexican cooking: combination plates built around enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos, and burritos served with red and green chile, beans, and rice. The combination plate with red and green chile is the most popular order, allowing diners to sample the kitchen's two primary sauces side by side. Blue corn tortillas make an appearance on several enchilada preparations, adding the nutty, slightly earthy character that distinguishes New Mexico's indigenous corn tradition. Sopapillas arrive at the end of the meal with honey, in the traditional manner. The dining room is festive and family-oriented, with bright colors, regional artwork, and enough noise on busy nights to suggest genuine activity rather than performance. Large groups are well accommodated — reservations for parties are accepted and encouraged. Prices are reasonable for the generous portions: most combination plates fall between $13 and $20. Hours run through lunch and dinner daily, with Sunday brunch beginning the week with a popular morning menu. Casa de Benavidez has been a fixture of the North Valley dining scene long enough to have served multiple generations of Albuquerque families.