The 10 best breakfast and brunch in Los Alamos

I could not eat this meal - had the Navajo taco special - no spice, bland ground beef, beans had no flavor. If you have any standards you won’t be happy eating here. Staff was friendly and I enjoyed my doctor pepper. On my way to someplace else for my lunch. :-(

Food was great! Nice little hole in the wall! We were in town for a tour and walked right across the street and enjoy a quick and good lunch!

Decent but underwhelming. Not sure why it's so popular. This was our first time and probably our last. Chile was decent and the coffee was palatable but the rest was under seasoned and the children's plates rather bleak.

Just ok these days. It was once the best place in town. Ever since they changed their operation it’s bad. Use to be a friendly sit down diner experience. Now you order and pay up front at the counter. They bring you the food and that’s it. You’re on your own from there. No server taking care of you checking if everything is ok.

We visited this restaurant several years back and it was amazing with lines out the door. This time around we found the food lacking although service was good. Won't be back.

Great place for affordable breakfast. About $6 a plate for smothered burritos. They have pancakes, French toast and staples like eggs, bacon and sausage. Fast service and no waiting for the check, just go and pay at the counter whenever you're ready to go

Neat little spot to grab some good food for a reasonable price. I’d just like to have a menu available while waiting in line. Maybe they could add a menu QR code or something in the entrance.

Not bad at all! Everything was a reasonable price: breakfast bagel sandwich with ham and a hot tea for less than $9. There was a lot of cheese on this sandwich, but it was still good!

After reading a bunch of recent reviews, I was a bit hesitant ordering here. But it was overall a great experience. The only reason I did 4 stars and not 5 was because the food was great, but nothing incredibly special. The portions were nice and filling though! And the service was nice! Pictures of the massive chicken Cesar salad and the popeye panini with pastrami instead of turkey

I was really looking forward to trying this place based on the reviews, but my first experience was disappointing. I sat for about 30 minutes at the table right in front of the pickup counter and never heard my name called. Even if I somehow missed it once, it was never called again — and one of the bags sitting on the counter ended up being mine. That stood out, especially since I heard plenty of other names being called repeatedly. I had also ordered a coffee, but there wasn’t one next to my bag — which could’ve been a clue something was off. When I asked about it, they made it then, which took another five minutes. Still, no apology or acknowledgment for the mix-up. As for the food — the latte was lukewarm and not what I ordered (I asked for a hot peppermint latte). The bagels weren’t toasted, and after sitting so long, they were cold by the time I got home. I had added avocado to one, but it turned out to be smashed rather than sliced — would’ve been nice to know in advance. The meat portions were generous, but overall, the sandwiches lacked flavor; the eggs seemed unseasoned and possibly just egg whites. We also received a mini muffin that came with the meal, but it was hard and clearly not fresh, so we tossed it. Granted, it was complimentary, but it didn’t inspire confidence in their pastries. All in all, it was $25 on a coffee and two bagel sandwiches not well spent. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll give them another try, but my first visit definitely left a poor impression.

I understand there are new owners - so this is intended as constructive input. The bagels were very good and so was the coffee. The service and the staff is completely underwhelming. The staff was unfriendly and seemed inconvenienced that they had to take our order and fill the cream pitcher. I believe your success is dependent on your staff - they could really benefit from some consistent training and oversight from someone with a customer service mindset.

I had the cordon-bleu wraps and they did not taste cheesy or anything--I had to add a lot of hot sauce to make any kind of flavor impact. My wife loved her lox & bagels, though. Place is a bit small if you want to sit in and eat, but it's not a bad spot at all.

Thought I would give this place another try since there was a new owner. Nope. Ordered a sandwich that was supposed to have toppings, I got it and there was nothing but the dressing on it. And the quality of the ham was lacking, I couldn't eat my meal and my husband got an upset stomach within 20 minutes of his cordon bleu wrap. Horrible quality and the girl taking the order was not friendly at all. Never again.

My girlfriend and I ordered two coffees and a bagel to go, but somehow our order was lost between the counter and the kitchen. The front counter staff seemed disorganized and disengaged, and we noticed several people who ordered after us received their food before we did. When I brought it up, a gentleman quickly prepared our items but never offered an apology. The girl behind the counter seemed overwhelmed with our order and was covered in hickeys. Overall, it was a really disappointing experience, especially for our first visit.

Pros: Fast, Cheap (for Los Alamos) Cons: Bland, Flavorless, Messy, Rude Staff, Weird Hours, No Place to Eat Food First couple times I came by this place, they were closed, despite me coming during hours posted here on Google Maps. Today they were actually open. I wouldn't have even tried for a third time had the place not come HIGHLY recommended by a friend who used to live in Los Alamos 8 years ago. Despite multiple co-workers warning me this place really went downhill, I had to give it a try anyway. First there's no marked spaces in the lot, no signs about where to park, so I parked next to the door. First thing I walked in the door they yelled at me for where I parked. I asked if I should move my car, they said "hurry up and order". I swear they handed me my burrito within 30 seconds of placing my order, I said "Could you have made it any faster?!" with a warm smile, joking with them, and the old man in back gave a nasty look and said, "Just trying to get you out of here." Wow. Since there was no place to eat the food there, and they had no sugar-free drinks, I took my burrito to Smith's to get a drink and the burrito felt light so I got some chips to eat with it. When I opened the tin foil, I was presented with a mess - they use a tortilla that's WAY too small to contain the fillings, so it's essentially a huge messy nasty taco. Both the tortilla and the ingredients were bland and flavorless mush - no detected seasonings, no onion, no garlic, no chiles (other than the red & green chile salsa which was also bland and flavorless). I noticed they gave a salt packet, probably because numerous other folks here have complained about the lack of any seasoning. Like salt is what's missing. Sorely disappointed. I work near this place, and will never be back again. Not sure how they're even still in business. Gave 2 stars just due to affordability in an otherwise VERY expensive town, and due to the speed.

Chili Works in Los Alamos, NM, is a fantastic spot for anyone craving authentic New Mexican cuisine. Known for its mouthwatering breakfast burritos and flavorful green chile, this casual eatery delivers big on taste and portion size. The friendly service and laid-back atmosphere make it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or taking your time to savor the delicious flavors, Chili Works never disappoints.

Have been going there for over 15 years. Have tried other places, but they are never as good. Service is fast. Atmosphere OUTSIDE is lovely in the warm weather. The store is made for you to order, pick up, and leave. It is very fast. People are quite accommodating.

Chili Works is a dive location and if you know dives, they make the best food! Highly recommend the Steak Green Chili Burrito. When I travel I look for the dive restaurants because you know it’s going to be on point. Service is fast, food is hot and ready to go in no time flat (took me 3 minutes to get 3 burritos). I’ve been in Los Alamos 22 years and am really going to miss these burritos.

This place is a hit n miss place. Not very friendly, prices have gone way up and quantity and quality has gone down. Sometimes open on time other times have to wait a few. Cleanliness is nothing to be impressed about..

The absolute BEST breakfast burritos we've had in Los Alamos and possibly all of NM. Ate there 7 years back, came back several days ago... the quality and deliciousness hasn't changed one bit. I cannot express how delicious the burritos there are, you just have to try one!

Ordered burrito with chili verde sauce, but not much flavor, did not finish. Cazh only. Hash browns were mushy. 3 people eating, none of us finished our different meals.

We ordered to go because the inside didn't look too cozy to be honest. HOWEVER! The food was amazing, especially the adobada and birra. My wife's chorizo was good...maybe just a tad overcooked for her preference. Rice and beans very flavorful, too. Love salsa to go container availability. Definitely recommend.

I've been to Rigo's approximately 3 bajillion times since I moved to Los Alamos 5 years ago and I have never one time been disappointed. Do you like delicious burritos? Do you like a salsa bar? Do you like getting your food lightning fast even when the line is out the door? Then you will LOVE Riggy's. The California burrito is my personal fave and you must try the asada fries once.

A hidden gem of a restaurant in Los Alamos There are a fair amount of restaurants in the Los Alamos area. I would recommend trying this one. It is truly a hole in the wall and is located in a set of stores centered around a parking lot on the north side of Central Avenue. Even in this collection of stores, there are several restaurants to choose from. El Rigoberto’s is located in the West set of stores and has one entrance that took me a little bit to find. The inside of the restaurant is a fairly large space with wood paneling, linoleum floors, and several 4 person tables. You order and pay at the counter and they will call you when your order is ready. I saw several people order takeout but did not see anyone that stayed to eat at the location I was visiting later in the evening so It may not have been the time for eat-in restaurants. The staff at the counter was pleasant and the restaurant was relatively clean. I ordered a chicken burrito. It was reasonably priced and ready quickly. It was a large burrito and very good. Overall, I would recommend this location to other travelers in the area.

Found this little place while we were out doing the walking tour of the Manhattan Project. Stopped in for lunch and was quite impressed. Service was fast. Food was absolutely delicious and the portions were amazing! Would definitely recommend if you are in the area for a lunch.

The food was exceptional delicious, well-prepared, and served promptly. The staff were attentive and efficient. While the atmosphere was fairly plain and could benefit from a touch more warmth or character, the main issue was the state of the toilets, which fell short of the otherwise excellent experience.

This is our go-to place whenever we are in Los Alamos. Good, athletic food at a fraction of the cost that we pay at home, in Santa Fe. Don't let the looks deceive you. Whether getting it to go or eating it there you can't beat the food. PS (Mexican, not New Mexican)

Tired of paying $40 buck and getting just "good" food. Would you like to spend less than half of that and get GREAT food? El Rigobertos Taco Shop is the spot. Don't miss it if you're passing through because all the locals already know.

The Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì was delicious! Just a little small. I could’ve eat 1 1/2.

The staff is always courteous and the food is always delicious. I've noticed that the wait times have been shorter recently, which is great. I love the variety of menu options and daily specials. It's always hard to decide what to order! I also appreciate the quality and selection of beverages.

The food is predictably delicious and everybody is super friendly. Sometimes I take out, but I prefer to stay and eat there at the University. I love the turkey Jack and their Indian dishes are wonderful. I've never been disappointed, I highly recommend it.

It's a good thing that these reviews are text rather than verbal, because all you would be hearing is me cramming my fat gob with delicious brownies. That aside, you can see into the back(at the kitchen) at this Los Alamos location- at the kitchen- and it is not the eyesore wince parade you usually experience with a lot of kitchens. The cooks are put together, clean, wearing plastic gloves- and regardless of age, the person at the register is always sweet and attentive, and willing to banter. If you aren't familiar with our other Location- Morning Glory, that has hit and miss dishes depending on how uncommon your order is- then don't be shy to spend the extra bits at Secret City. The food is beautiful and the kitchen smells delicious every opening hour.

This review is for my 15 year old son who ate here last week a few times and literally told me he didn’t want to tell all his friends how good it was because he didn’t want there to be a long line! Haha- I’ve eaten there too and it’s great!

courteous, satisfying/delicious as usual, but the efficiency has picked up; shorter wait. I really like the menu options and daily specials; make it difficult to decide. Appreciate the quality/choice of beverages.

I love getting my lunches there when I forget to pack one. The cheese melt with onions added on is super yummy. My single complaint is that once I ordered a muffin with my lunch and didn't get one.

It was my first time out here to Los Alamos and I thought I would swing by this little place. Ordered the Turkey Fig sandwich with Gouda cheese that's on sourdough bread, it was delicious! Definitely would recommend! Friendly staff too! :)

Surprisingly a very fun store to visit at the end of the trail so you get a nice workout in between. There's a lot of good quality and local stuff. I can find my kimchi here! My only issue with this store is how they would discount products that are close to being bad. That part in of itself isn't bad because Smiths does it. My issue is how they would do it for items that are beyond the "use by" date like nearly a month. I would probably buy after a week or so but a month? That's nuts to have a dollar discount. For dairies, it's even more questionable because they can be good either after or before 1 week or it's a gamble. Some of the discounted produces can be moldy already by the time you get there so it's like why would you do that? I do notice that they don't monitor all the produces for moldy stuff. Occasionally, I would see moldy produces and that just turns me away from buying any items there.

Great place for groceries and hot lunch buffet. Not many places like this anymore that will carry a product if you ask them, or change the food menu. Super nice employees, oh, and a peanut butter grinder!

The wraps in the refrigerated section were good. Could never make it in time for the hot bar because it finished up by 2pm, but smelled so good. This is more of a health food store so you won’t find major brands like Coke/Pepsi, or junk food here. Two great trails are nearby, one across the street (rugged) and one right behind it (flat black top, great fir running). Cashier was super nice

I love love love the food that they cook fresh everyday! Delicious soups, beautiful salad bar and the hot food is always so so yummy! Today I'm enjoying a salad with sausage and mixed veggies. Everything beats expectation. And the staff! Always delightful! If you're hungry..... have I got a place for you!

This place is a hidden jewel, a block from the Holiday Inn and Suites. They have a great selection of produce and all the basics of a grocery store, plus a daily salad bar and hot bar with great breakfast burritos and amazing options for lunch that vary every day. They also have a deli counter where you can get sandwiches made to order. They have a wonderful selection of bakery goods. They also have a good selection of unique and delicious premade salads, sandwiches, sushi and entrees. They feature many items from local or nearby growers, producers and bakers. Don't miss the banana bread they make in-house! The staff is always very friendly and helpful.

I don't do a lot of grocery shopping here (I don't think I'm in the target audience), but there are a few things I've only been able to find here. Plus, I love their food bar and breakfast burritos!

I’ve never had such bad experience and product from a Starbucks as I just did. I usually don’t order food, this morning I did and it was thrown together! Then the iced Mocha had no chocolate! They remade it and was still lousy as could be! So, needless to say I will never go back there again😖

Slowest Starbucks ever. We ordered online because that’s usually faster. The drinks took 15 minutes longer than the app estimated, despite the fact that there were three employees behind the counter and nobody was in line. Ugh.

Ive had so many bad experiences at this location and the only reason i keep coming back to this one is because of the drive thru. My drinks are always messed up and the store manager Sascha never seems to care and never wants to man up to the mistakes her and her coworkers make. They’re always either not putting the cold foam or making the drinks sloppy or putting in a different milk rather than the oat milk I ask for. This has been an ongoing issue. Deanna the store manager before always made sure that the one mistake that happened wasn’t an ongoing issue and took it seriously. Sascha always acts snotty even after I show her the order is messed up so she can see proof with her own eyes. It’s not my fault you and your employees aren’t making the drinks correctly for you to get mad with me. Please please get it together. I did get ahold of customer service and the lady I talked to on customer service was very understanding and apologized and gave me a refund since the girl inside the store did not want to refund me and told me to contact customer service….

I have seen Starbucks close many stores nationwide, and I believe this one should be next. In my experience, both as a customer and as someone with a doctorate in organizational leadership, the last four or five managers are the poorest I have ever encountered. I find it remarkable that, despite dozens of negative reviews, this store continues to display an average rating of 3.8. It leads me to suspect that the numbers are being tampered with or artificially inflated. On a recent visit at 6 a.m., I was served a cold blonde roast with grounds in it. The young woman who claimed to be the manager apologized to me, but I watched her treat her coworker with open rudeness. That kind of behavior is worse than honest indifference, and it reflects poorly on the entire store. Such a superficial approach toward me. At the same time projecting your own shortcomings as a leader onto your staff. Next time, tell me to take a hike.

They NEVER make the drinks correctly. Store manager never makes changes all 5 times I’ve gone I’ve given the benefit of the doubt. I thought maybe they are in training but I’ve lived here for 3 months and spread throughout I’ve gone here. I have to drive to Santa Fe for it to me Made better. I don’t know what the hold up is at this location. Pretty wild man. Pretty wild.

Incredibly rude experience! A short haired blond girl at the counter when I arrived, She looked up didn’t greet me, gave me a dirty look and turned away! The other young lady caught that and quickly greeted me and took my order! I picked up my order and left a tip on the counter, the short haired blond girl just looked at it then looked at me with that rude face so I just got my drinks and left! This kid obviously doesn’t like her job or dealing with people! Great way to start a Saturday!

It’s incredible how many terrible experiences I’ve had here. My fault for continuing to give them a chance I guess. Today, for example in the drive through I said “Can I get a triple espresso shaken on ice with half and half and 2 pumps of sugar free vanilla?” And was responded to with “Wait what!?” And I said “it’s a custom coffee order” and she said “I heard you I just don’t understand what you want.” Like? Hello? What the helly? Don’t you work at a coffee shop? So I repeated it and she responded with more confusion. So I said “Nevermind just 3 shots of espresso iced with half and half and 2 pumps of sugar vanilla” and I get to the window and now I’m more annoyed because I don’t want to pay nearly $10 for the wrong thing and I order that drink often from other Starbucks that hire literate people and it already looked completely wrong with no ice. So I asked her if I could look at the label and once again repeated the interaction her and I just had and she said “They made you what you ordered”. So I told her I didn’t want the drink and I’d be writing a review and calling the manager (Karen move, I get it but this isn’t a one time thing, it’s happened too many times. It’s Starbucks not rocket science). So here’s the review. And I tried calling and of course no one answered. Just go anywhere else.

Cool place to socialize and hangout at work. I just don't like their burritos at all. It has to be the biggest waste of money here unfortunately. Imagine the size of a JBL bluetooth speaker and imagine it again at 3/4th the size. That and it being cold somewhat with not a lot of filling is so questionable. Their hatch chile burger is kind of dope and it's somewhat worth the money but I would just go to one of the restaurants in town. Their coffee is okay but it's cheap so it comes in a pinch. It's unfortunate that this is one of the "better" coffee places in town.

Nothing special, but their burritos work for me and it's better than the cafeteria. They make lattes et. al., but their coffee isn't great.

I was down here last summer and I would have easily given them 5 stars last summer, but this summer they have done nothing but mess up orders. In the past, I have ordered items and gotten the wrong ingredients on them (should come with this and that but never do) but today was by far the worst. I order an omelette with sausage, onion, and cheese. I get to my office and there is only sausage and chorizo on it. I take it back down stairs in hopes that maybe they can fix it and instead I get back a greasy egg pancake with sausage, onion, and unmelted cheese on top. I would be okay if they had fixed the issue but they did not take the time to fix it correctly at all. Probably better to go to the lab cafeteria across the street.

Olivia was very polite and diligent even with my complex order

Quick stop here from Bandelier National Monument. This place is tucked in tight - we would have never found this if not for Google Maps! Friendly staff and fast service.

This is an amazing local gem! After trying to do a large lunch order with other local restaurants with no success, Hot Rocks Java Cafe came thru in a huge way! We had a last minute large lunch order. They accommodated us with no problems and were so pleasant!! Their food options are always delicious. I highly recommed❤️

As one of two places to eat lunch on the lab proper, hot rocks doesn't have to try very hard, but they make a really good breakfast and a decent lunch. The prices are a bit high, but you're welcome to drive downtown or pack lunch. The place is usually so busy that they run out of food most days. The staff are always extremely busy but still make time to smile and say hello. My only warning would be that if you buy a cookie, check carefully to make sure you are actually getting chocolate chip and not oatmeal raisin disappointment. For being called "Hot Rocks Java Cafe" you would expect great coffee. It's drinkable, just not great. They just started selling that bubble tea stuff. I'm not a fan.

I’ve never had such bad experience and product from a Starbucks as I just did. I usually don’t order food, this morning I did and it was thrown together! Then the iced Mocha had no chocolate! They remade it and was still lousy as could be! So, needless to say I will never go back there again😖

There’s bare minimum 5 people working here and it’s the slowest Starbucks I’ve ever been to. I just counted there’s 13 people in here and the drive thru is closed. How have I been sitting here waiting my coffee for 25min? Could you imagine trying to get a coffee on your lunch break? Definitely going to try to find another local spot or move to Los Alamos and open my own. I try not to come to Starbucks anyway but didn’t see another option.

Incredibly rude experience! A short haired blond girl at the counter when I arrived, She looked up didn’t greet me, gave me a dirty look and turned away! The other young lady caught that and quickly greeted me and took my order! I picked up my order and left a tip on the counter, the short haired blond girl just looked at it then looked at me with that rude face so I just got my drinks and left! This kid obviously doesn’t like her job or dealing with people! Great way to start a Saturday!

Slowest Starbucks ever. We ordered online because that’s usually faster. The drinks took 15 minutes longer than the app estimated, despite the fact that there were three employees behind the counter and nobody was in line. Ugh.

I have seen Starbucks close many stores nationwide, and I believe this one should be next. In my experience, both as a customer and as someone with a doctorate in organizational leadership, the last four or five managers are the poorest I have ever encountered. I find it remarkable that, despite dozens of negative reviews, this store continues to display an average rating of 3.8. It leads me to suspect that the numbers are being tampered with or artificially inflated. On a recent visit at 6 a.m., I was served a cold blonde roast with grounds in it. The young woman who claimed to be the manager apologized to me, but I watched her treat her coworker with open rudeness. That kind of behavior is worse than honest indifference, and it reflects poorly on the entire store. Such a superficial approach toward me. At the same time projecting your own shortcomings as a leader onto your staff. Next time, tell me to take a hike.

Amazing and fast service! I have been coming to this store for months now and the last month has been the best experience I’ve had! Everyone is happy and working as a team

Went by to grab a drink and a quick snack and they were so nice! Very quick and made my drink perfectly. Night and day from a while back when I tried it!

Food was intentionally tampered with. I’ve filled a complaint for the unprofessionalism that this establishment is starting to display. I’ve contacted corporate and file two formal complaints. One was for the morning shift and now the second one will be for the night shift all on the night shift will be held responsible for taping with food and intentionally not making the orders correct. I am aware that this is an independent franchise owner that owns this in this location. I will also be reporting you to the BBB Albuquerque food inspector.

I only wish I could give it a negative 5 rating. I special ordered a quarter pounder, waited 10 minutes, then was given a fully loaded sandwich. See photos. The dining room is always locked to save a buck, so no good way to complain. Total incompetence

Would be a lot better review if the drive thru workers weren't intent on harassing me. I just want my food, not to answer questions on what im doing or whether i have a bf. I've let this slide MANY times because its always the same guy giving the food In the drive thru in the morning but dude. Take a hint.

initially stopped at Window 2 to pick up my order, trying to be considerate of the cars behind me. However, there were no signs indicating where to pick up food. After two cars pulled away, I reversed back to Window 1 to get my order. The employee told me I was supposed to stop there, but I explained that there were no signs providing clear instructions. Not everyone visits McDonald’s regularly, so clearer directions would be helpful.

Ive never been to Los Alamos Stopped for something to eat of course. Manager took our order,didn't wait long our order was out quick. And food was good 👍🏼 this McDonald's location was clean .Manager was very friendly!

Apparently employees here are unable to read. No lettuce doesn't mean extra lettuce, I paid for extra cheese and extra sauce and got none of either. Typical, nothing here changes, shame on me for being too lazy to cook my own lunch.

I had amazing costumer service from Martine. She was very pleasant and went out of her way to check up on me and my husband. It was a pleasant change from how the staff have treated us before.