Experiencing a place includes exploring its local flavors and distinctive dishes. Courier asked destinations about their specialties. To see more check out “8 dishes worth the trip.”
Gallup is a premiere place for outstanding New Mexican cuisine. And much of that food features red or green Hatch chile peppers, named for the Hatch Valley region where the peppers are grown.
Situated on I-40 only 30 miles from the Arizona border, this unassuming little town packs big flavors into its dishes. And there are plenty of places to discover them.
Diners can sit down to handmade fresh chile rellenos at Jerry’s Café in the heart of downtown Gallup—or at its bigger (and group friendly) sister location, Don Diego’s, located on Route 66. The green chile rellenos, fried with a golden crust, are topped with your choice of red or green Hatch chile sauce. Another option is “Christmas style,” which includes both red and green varieties.
Also popular in Gallup is the Hatch chile-smothered burrito, which, due to its size, is best eaten with a fork and knife. Every restaurant in Gallup puts its own spin on the dish, but it’s served fresh all day at Railway Café on Route 66, which houses a tribute to the train history of the Gallup area—plus those smothered burritos.
Where to try it: Jerry’s Café, Don Diego’s, Railway Café, and other eateries.
Who to contact: Jennifer Lazarz, City of Gallup
Top photo by City of Gallup
Support for Courier articles provided by:
Amelia Island Tourism Development Council
Brandywine Valley
Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau
City of Gallup
Maryland Office of Tourism Development
Oneida County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tourist Office for Flanders-Belgium
