Mary & Tito's Cafe

Mary & Tito’s Cafe may look unassuming, but this no-frills eatery is as beloved by locals as it is by critics – the restaurant earned an “America’s Classics” award by the James Beard Foundation in 2010. Such honors are apt considering the heart and soul that go into each and every timeworn recipe, many of which smolder with green chile flavor. The menu star is the sopapilla, a fried pastry wrapped around fillings such as beef, chicken and carne adovada. The latter is the winner, a traditional Mexican medley of diced pork marinated in herbs and chiles. Customers can then get the whole thing heaped with green chile salsa, which lends a smoky, slightly fruity flavor to the dish, and tastes like a New Mexican calzone.