Her sunrise could bring light into a blind man.
Her sunset could put tears there in his eyes.
Her colors are laying there in brush strokes.
Underneath those peote skies.
The lay of the land stirs all of my emotions.
She heals me with a laid back energy.
She holds onto my broken lifeless spirit.
And molds me just like pottery.
And nowhere that I’ve ever been can make me feel this way.
That’s why I’m going there to stay.
– The Bellamy Brothers
Santa Fe’s preternatural beauty is so captivating that even the plethora of writers, artists and musicians who pilgrimage to this jewel of the Southwest are at a loss for adjectives to adequately describe it. Perhaps because of their scarcity of synonyms, some of them refer to it as “Fanta Se” as in fantasy, a city so singularly soul-stirring that its mystical qualities seems to transcend reality. Even Santa Fe’s cuisine is lavished with laudation. Critics and patrons alike lionize Fanta Se’s restaurants and the world class chefs which preside over traditional earthen ovens, ultra-modern steely stoves and Spanish style tapas grills to prepare the mouth-watering marriage of traditional and contemporary cuisine that has made Santa Fe one of the country’s foremost dining destinations.
For every fantasy indulging restaurant and every hot-bed of haute cuisine, there are plenty of “down to earth” restaurants in Santa Fe. The appellation for one of them, Realburger, even speaks to its down-to-earthiness. Perhaps that’s why it appeals so much to diners who who don’t necessarily want the taste bud confusion of disparate exotic ingredients competing for their rapt attention; diners who want something filling and delicious without having to spend a week’s salary; diners who don’t need or care to be impressed–in other words real people who want real food.
Contrary to its name, RealBurger isn’t solely about burgers though that’s probably where your eyes will first gravitate. You’ll likely contemplate whether to enjoy a six-ounce Angus beef burger, a double patty Angus beef burger or a tortilla or sopaipilla burger. If you’re of a healthy bent, you can also choose a turkey burger or a veggie burger. What you will find on that menu is a compendium of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs American comfort food along with traditional New Mexican favorites, innovative vegetarian entrees and a few surprises thrown in for good measure. Make sure to study options for burritos, tacos and tortas.
For years, Realburger’s domicile was a spacious ranch-style edifice on Old Pecos Trail, a space previously occupied by the Red Skye Grill, Peppers, Chilacas and the Pecos Trail Pizzeria among others. Though somewhat on the outskirts of the city, it was certainly not off the beaten trail (no pun intended). Perhaps because of an “out of sight, out of mind” perception, Realburger relocated in 2012 to Cerrillos Road, arguably the city’s most heavily trafficked street. Realburger’s address is almost right out of Harry Potter: 2641 1/2 Cerrillos Road. The 1/2 probably has to do with the restaurant being recessed from Cerrillos. It’s actually on the corner of Cerrillos and Maez Road, behind a purveyor of fine cannabis products.
RealBurger has a long history in Santa Fe, dating back to 1974 as both a restaurant and a catering business. Realburger got its start in 1974 in a space on Don Gaspar Avenue on the edge of downtown. After twenty years at that location, Realburger moved to a restaurant space of the Park Inn on Cerrillos Road before relocating to the Old Pecos Trail Inn location. Our first two visits to Realburger were at the Old Pecos Trail location where shock and awe was reaction at first perusal of the menu. The appetizers include Yakidori Orange Chicken Kebabs, Yakidori Grilled Shrimp, Mini Egg Rolls with Orange Sauce and Taco Dogs ( a hot dog and slice of American cheese wrapped in a tortilla and served with a paprika-based dipping sauce).
In 1985, Realburger was purchased by John Chavez who continues to operate the restaurant with his family. Realburger no longer has the (overly) ambitious menu it had at its Old Pecos Trail location. Instead, the restaurant is more focused. Sadly, that means fried chicken is no longer on the menu (though you can still get chicken fried chicken). Realburger is open from 10:30AM to 7PM. It’s got an intriguing breakfast menu and offers milk shakes in addition to the usual suspect fountain drinks. One of John Chavez’s scions told me that contrary to some opinion, Realburger is not named for the Camino Real which traversed through Santa Fe. He stressed that Realburger is so named because the burger is always freshly made with no frills or fillers.
After a decade plus hiatus from visiting Realburger, I finally made a return visit in May, 2025. Never mind that I had just finished judging Table Magazine’s Pie Event alongside the scintillating four-time James Beard award-winning author Cheryl Alters Jamison. After enjoying (immensely) ten ambrosial pies, I was jonesing for a green chile cheeseburger at a restaurant long overdue for a return visit. My initial choice was El Milagro. Alas, I arrived twenty minutes after its Tuesday closing time. Seeing El Milagro’s “best burgers in town” proclamation, I asked the friendly staff where the second best burgers in Santa Fe could be found. Without hesitation, an owner boasted “our only competition comes from Realburger.” With that endorsement in hand, I backtracked on Cerrillos to Realburger.
A la carte taco options are plentiful: carne adovada, chicharrones, grilled chicken, ground beef, refried beans, pan-fried potatoes, seasonal fish, al pastor, carne asada and calabasitas. For what more can you possibly ask? Tacos are constructed on your choice of a hard-shelled or on a steamed corn tortilla. Have one of each for a textural adventure just as I did. Tacos are served with a surfeit of lettuce and chopped tomato as well as salsa. The salsa has just a bit of bite, just enough to give the tacos personality. The hard-shelled ground beef taco is somewhat reminiscent of the tacos you’d get at Taco Bell at least in appearance. Taco Bell doesn’t have anything like Realburger’s salsa which really makes it a good taco. Better is a carne adovada taco on two steamed corn tortillas. It’s not conventional New Mexican carne adovada…or perhaps I was mistakenly given a carne asada taco.
Realburger offers a package deal meal–a burger, fries and a soft drink. Five types of fries–Real fries, ribbon fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries and crisscut cries–are part of the deal. The portion of ribbon fries delivered to your table will elicit oohs and aahs from neighboring tables. It’s a very popular choice, one that begs the question “aren’t ribbon fries really just potato chips.” As potato chips they’re very good. As fries not so much. Realburgers doesn’t serve chile con queso which would make a wonderful dip for the ribbon fries. Alternatively you can dip them in salsa, but that’s not quite as good a dip as con queso would be.
Burgers are plated with lettuce and tomato on the side. Condiments are available near the soft drink dispenser. Essentially, unless you order your burger with green chile, cheese (American, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Cheddar) and maybe grilled onions, you’re served an unadorned burger. The beef patty extends as far as the five-inch fresh-baked sesame seed bun. As a green chile cheeseburger, this is a good one save for the crumbly, somewhat dry buns which just don’t maintain their integrity under the moistness of ingredients. The green chile actually has some bite, certainly more than you’ll find in most burgers throughout Santa Fe. The beef is nicely seasoned–not overly salty. It is most definitely a burger for which two hands are required.
Realburger is the real thing–a family-owned and operated eatery that offers very good value for the money, service with a smile and very good food.
Realburger
2641 1/2 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico
(505) 699-5392
Website |
1st VISIT: 24 January 2009
LAST VISIT: 6 May 2025
# OF VISITS: 3
RATING: 21
COST: $ – $$
BEST BET: Real Burger, Ribbon Fries, Ground Beef Taco on a Hard Shell, Carne Adovada Taco on a Soft Corn Tortilla
With much regret I must report that Realburger is no longer open for breakfast during the weekdays (Tues thru Friday – closed Monday) and on weekends (Sat/Sun) they now open at 8am instead of 7.
I hope they are not in financial trouble or the Pecos Trail jinx – no restaurant has ever succeded at the location and there have been a lot who tried there.
The huevos adovada breakfast is top notch, about the best single breakfast plate I’ve had in Santa Fe in the last 25 years or so – get it with the papitas (you get a choice of several potato sides) – as Gil has noted the papitas are good and I always get mine covered with the green chili (their spelling).
Sometimes – but you have to know to ask for it – you can get the breakfast items at lunch time – maybe this is something only the “locals” (loco’s???) know about since asking for breakfast at lunch time is a bit crazy to some.