The 10 Best Restaurants In Carlsbad New Mexico

Carlsbad, New Mexico is right in the middle of a hotbed for beautiful scenery and national forests. As it turns out, there’s also plenty of good food around to keep you satisfied between your treks. The population has been growing steadily recently, which means that the restaurant scene has had to accommodate that — and now you can reap the benefits on your visit. Here are The Culture Trip’s ten favorite restaurants in Carlsbad.

Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Que

Bar, Restaurant, American, Gluten-free, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Fast Food, BBQ

Red Chimney Pit Bar-B-Que is the perfect example of a family business well worth supporting. The restaurant has been open ever since 1952 and they even expanded to a bigger building in 1993. It’s now the third generation of the family running it, and they still keep to the old family recipes that have been pleasing guests for over 60 years.

Yellow Brix Restaurant

Restaurant, American, Healthy, Cuban, Vegetarian

For some impressively creative dishes, Yellow Brix Restaurant should be your first stop in Carlsbad. You might want to go in for a full three-course meal, as you shouldn’t miss their soups, salads, and appetizers. Both their steaks and seafood come highly recommended, and of course, you can’t forget dessert.

Junior’s Restaurant

Restaurant, Mexican, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free

When all you want is spicy, authentic Mexican food and you’re unconcerned with appearances, Junior’s Burritos & Mexican Restaurant is the perfect spot. The service is always friendly, and they’re happy to make changes to the dishes to accommodate your diet or preferences.

The Trinity Hotel Restaurant

Restaurant, Hotel Restaurant, American, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Fast Food

The Trinity Hotel and Restaurant was originally built in 1892 as a bank, and over a century later, a brave group of investors decided to save it from many years of decay and turn it into a charming hotel and restaurant. They offer both a selection of fresh steaks and a menu of Italian cuisine, so there’s really something for every taste.

No Whiner Diner

Diner, Restaurant, American, Vegan, Vegetarian

No Whiner Diner aims to serve your favorite typical diner food in a comfortable and welcoming environment. They love experimentation, and you can see the results of that all over the menu which is also full of cheeky comments, especially the one warning you that your bad decisions are your own responsibility, meaning that they’d love you to have fun with the menu and make additions and changes, but if you do, you’ll be paying for it whether it’s good or not.

Blue House Bakery & Cafe

Bakery, Cafe, Coffee, Tea , Pastries, Dessert, Vegetarian, American, Gluten-free, Vegan

Blue House Bakery & Cafe is, as you might expect, actually a blue house. The breakfast is a local favorite, and the choices range from breakfast burritos or French toast to freshly baked pastries. They’re not open for lunch or dinner, so if you want to take advantage of their great coffee and chai lattes, you’ll have to come in the morning.

Lucky Bull Grill

Bar, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Pub Grub, American

Lucky Bull Grill has cornered the Carlsbad market on great pub food. You can get big juicy burgers, freshly cut steaks, or their local twist on the Canadian favorite poutine. It’s a little difficult to find this restaurant, but you won’t regret the search once you do.

Italian Villa Restaurant

Cafe, Coffee, Tea , American

Italian Villa Restaurant is generally agreed to have the best Italian food in Carlsbad, and the locals who know it return again and again. They start out by giving you complimentary garlic bread, which you’ll want to devour. The portions are very big, though, so keep that in mind — although they are of course happy to box up your leftovers, and you’ll be happy to have two meals out of what you ordered. Some of their highlights include the eggplant and veal parmigiana, and you should also listen closely to their daily specials, which is where they really get to show off their stuff.

Peco’s River Cafe

Cafe, American, Coffee, Tea , Vegetarian

Put together a breakfast café and a Mexican restaurant, and Peco’s River Caféis the excellent result. They’re only open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays, but you should definitely take the time to swing by. Their service is fast and friendly, so you’ll never have to wait too long on a table or your food.

Danny’s Place

Danny’s Place serves up delectable barbecue to your heart’s content and with their huge variety of cuts on the menu, you’ll definitely want to try as many as possible. The service is always very open and friendly, and they’ll be happy to advise if you’re a newbie to real barbecue or if you want some help picking something new.

About the author

Lani Seelinger

Lani is a freelance writer and translator currently living in Prague, Czech Republic. After growing up in Durham, North Carolina, she went to university at Northwestern University in Chicago and then went on to live in Georgia, Scotland, Hungary, and various cities in the Czech Republic.