Ryan F.
Roswell, New Mexico, may not be the most populated city in the state, but it’s a popular destination. It’s the city where an alleged UFO crashed in the 1940s, and this event is showcased throughout the town with museums and other alien exhibits.
Even if aliens aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of things to do and see in Roswell. There’s art museums, the main street, and of course, the food scene. Since Roswell is in Southern New Mexico, it’s close to Texas and Mexico, and you’ll see many cuisines modeled from these areas.
Whatever your reason for visiting Roswell, you’re going to need to feed yourself while you’re there. Whether you’re in the mood for Mexican, Italian, or Thai, there’s a delicious restaurant waiting for you. I searched high and low to find the best restaurants in Roswell NM, so keep reading to learn more about each diverse option!
Best Restaurants in Roswell
- La Escondida
- Portofino
- Peppers Grill & Bar
- Chef Toddzilla’s Gourmet Burgers & Mobile Cuisine
- Cowboy Cafe
- Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen
- Cattle Baron Restaurant
- Taste of Thai Cuisine
- Martin’s Capitol Cafe
- Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro
- Antigua Cocina Mexicana
- Billy Ray’s Restaurant
- Burrito Express
- El Toro Bravo Restaurant
- Lemon Grass
- Pecos Flavors Winery & Bistro
La Escondida
109 N Delaware Ave, Roswell, NM 88203
Phone: (575) 625-6726
One of the best local restaurants in town is La Escondida. This breakfast and lunch joint is a favorite among locals and has been for over 20 years. Their menu boasts traditional Mexican cuisine and is one of the best small restaurants in Roswell.
If you want to stop by La Escondida, you may find it hard to choose whether to eat here for breakfast or lunch since everything is fantastic. Their Mexican omelet with chorizo and jalapenos is a favorite for breakfast, but their deep-fried chimichanga is a must-try for lunch.
Portofino
1203 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone (575) 625-8410
There’s more in Roswell than Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. Portofino is a laid-back and casual Italian restaurant. The outside is unassuming, but the inside is warm and welcoming, serving Italian and Italian American cuisine.
They have everything you could want from an Italian joint. They have pizza, pasta, chicken dishes, seafood, and a menu for the kids. Their chicken picatta is to die for, but if you want to share a pizza with the family, you can create your own or choose a traditional cheese or meat pie.
Peppers Grill & Bar
500 N Main St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 623-1700
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The Roe family opened Peppers back in 1990 and has kept the restaurant in the family ever since. Peppers are very active in the community, making them a favorite among locals and visitors. Plus, their great happy hour deal of $4 margaritas and $3 beer make them a popular spot too.
Peppers Grill & Bar serves a combination of Mexican and American cuisine such as burgers, taquitos, fresh Mexican food, and more. If you’re craving Mexican food, their New Mexican enchiladas are the way to go. The queso burger is slathered in melty queso and definitely worth a try.
Chef Toddzilla’s Gourmet Burgers & Mobile Cuisine
107 Twin Diamond Rd, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 755-3663
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If you’re wondering where to eat in Roswell and craving burgers, you need to head to Chef Toddzilla’s. This small restaurant only has outdoor seating, but the patio is well lit and has plenty of fans to keep you cool in the heat. They’re known for burgers, sandwiches, and French fries.
This quick-service restaurant will have your mouth watering as you wait in line to order. They’re known for their Zilla cheeseburger, which has been featured on the Food Network and Cooking channel. If you’re feeling adventurous, their PB&J burger is spectacular, and the NM Philly fries are the perfect addition to any meal.
Cowboy Cafe
1120 E 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 622-6363
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A classic Western-themed restaurant in Roswell is Cowboy Cafe. Cowboy Cafe serves breakfast and lunches to cowboys and girls almost every day of the week. It’s the perfect place to fill up after a busy morning or before you head out on the day’s adventure.
Their classic cowboy and cowgirl breakfast comes with eggs, grits, or hashbrowns, your choice of breakfast meat, and a biscuit or toast. It’s a classic, and you can’t go wrong with that. Another great option is their Haystack meal. It’s traditional biscuits and gravy over a pile of hashbrowns.
Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen
2103 N Main St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 622-4919
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There’s no shortage of authentic Mexican food at many Roswell restaurants, and Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen needs to be on your list to try. All of their food follows traditional Mexican recipes, and everything from salsa, guacamole, and tortillas are made from scratch daily.
Regardless of what you order, you need to order their tableside guacamole. On taco Tuesday, you can order beef tacos for 99 cents and have a delicious margarita with it. If tacos aren’t what you’re in the mood for, their beef, chicken, or shrimp fajitas are sure to satisfy you.
Cattle Baron Restaurant
1113 N Main St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 622-2465
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A small local chain, Cattle Baron, is the perfect spot to grab a steak in town. This Western-themed steakhouse has had a home in New Mexico since 1976 and has since expanded to a few locations in neighboring Texas. It’s great for celebrating or just having a great Friday night dinner.
The menu is vast and offers patrons several steak dishes, chicken, burgers, appetizers, and a salad bar with everything you could imagine. While you can’t beat a traditional steak, their specialty New Mexico steak has green chiles and pepper jack cheese.
Taste of Thai Cuisine
1303 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 622-2412
There’s nothing better than a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant, and luckily for Roswell residents and visitors, Taste of Thai Cuisine is available. This unassuming restaurant is located in a strip mall, but don’t let that deter you. It has some of the best Thai dishes you’ll find in the city.
Taste of Thai Cuisine has a vast menu with all your favorite Thai and other Asian staples. Everything is prepared quickly, making it an ideal spot for lunch or a quick and easy dinner. Their Thai rolls and ginger-perfect entree are very popular. Be sure to say hot spicy you want your food.
Martin’s Capitol Cafe
110 W 4th St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 624-2111
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The Torrez family in Roswell opened Martin’s in 1989 and have been preparing all their menu items their “traditional” way ever since. They believe that their way of preparing food is what keeps bringing people back year after year. Their foods are a blend of Mexican and American Indian influence.
While everything on their menu is fantastic, you have to try their award-winning green chile cheeseburger. They have plenty of breakfast items to choose from in the morning, but for lunch or dinner, their enchiladas and taco salad are sure to impress.
Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro
1208 N Main St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 624-1111
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Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro is more than your average Italian joint. This low-key restaurant makes you feel very comfortable, but you’ll feel like you’re at one of the finest dining restaurants in the city. They have pasta, pizza, steak, seafood, and several chicken dishes to choose from, and a full bar.
Pasta Cafe is the perfect place to wind down after work with a nice meal and drink or for spending time with loved ones. If you want to go the traditional route, their lasagna and manicotti are to die for. For the non-traditional, their green chile chicken parmesan is worth a try.
Antigua Cocina Mexicana
3601 N Main St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 208-0991
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Antigua is a slightly upscale Mexican joint in town that specializes in great food, great drinks, great company, and fantastic live music. It’s the perfect spot to catch up with friends or take your partner on a date.
They have various Mexican dishes and juicy burgers on their menu. Their ribeye burger is a popular choice among locals, but their Tinga, a traditional Puebla dish, is one of the best meals on their menu.
Billy Ray’s Restaurant
118 E 3rd St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 627-0997
Billy’s restaurant and lounge is a local hidden gem, but it’s located close to Main Street. It’s an old-school joint that serves excellent food and has live music on the weekends and karaoke for people to show their skills.
It’s said that Billy Ray’s has the best steaks and cold beer in town, so you can’t stop in without ordering a steak in the evening. They’re known for their New Mexico-style green chile and cheese stuffed ribeye. It takes a bit for the kitchen to prepare it, but it’s worth it.
Burrito Express
209 E College Blvd, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 627-7893
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Another fantastic locally opened restaurant is Burrito Express. Their original location has been open since 1984, and since then, they’ve expanded to another location in Roswell and a few others throughout the state.
They’re open for breakfast and lunch every day. Although they’re named Burrito Express, they have more than just burritos on the menu. That being said, you can’t stop by and not order one of their burritos on a homemade tortilla. Their enchilada burrito is a fan favorite as well as the classic steak burrito.
El Toro Bravo Restaurant
102 S Main St, Roswell, NM 88203
Phone: (575) 622-9280
You’ll find El Toro Bravo across the street from the UFO Museum and Research Center. This is a hot spot for museum-goers and other visitors alike. This authentic Mexican restaurant has everything from tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, and more.
One of the best things you can order when you visit El Toro Bravo is their combination plates. It allows you to get a little taste of multiple menu items without having to order multiple entrees. Their green beef burrito and barbacoa tacos are well worth a try.
Lemon Grass
610 S Main St, Roswell, NM 88203
Phone: (575) 208-0411
That is a popular cuisine in Roswell, and Lemon Grass is yet another fantastic choice for Thai food in the area. Some have even gone as far as to say that it’s the best Thai food you’ll find in town.
Their menu has plenty of Asian staples, but their Thai curry is where it’s at. They have red and green curry. Whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong. For dessert, you need to try their delicious Thai tea.
Pecos Flavors Winery & Bistro
412 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 627-6265
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Pecos is owned and operated by the Ragsdale family. They’re a local Roswell family who opened their dream restaurant in 2004. Pecos is downtown and provides locals and visitors a place to taste New Mexico wines. You can sit down for a meal with a glass, or two, of wine or purchase bottles to take home.
When visiting Pecos, you can’t leave without doing a wine tasting. They’re held almost every day and come with a cheese or fruit tray. Their signature label, Compadres, pairs well with everything on their bistro menu. Their green chile cheeseburger is a must-try, as well as their pasta primavera.
Final Thoughts
There are so many great places to eat in Roswell, but this list should help you narrow the choices down. From traditional Thai food to Italian to New Mexican cuisine, there’s something everyone will enjoy.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure to leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
