Welcome to Los Pookies Mexican Restaurant
**OUR STORY**
Nestled in the heart of Albuquerque, Los Pookies Mexican Restaurant celebrates the vibrant flavors of Mexico with a unique twist. From its humble beginnings as a food truck to a bustling eatery, Los Pookies has quickly gained a loyal following for its exceptional taco offerings, especially the must-try birria tacos and innovative dishes like Birria Pizza. The restaurant prides itself on authentic, quality ingredients complemented by rich spices and savory sauces. With an emphasis on friendly service and inviting atmosphere, Los Pookies invites you to experience a culinary adventure steeped in culture, flavor, and the warmth of home.
- 5626 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 Hotline: (505) 588-2911
If you're wandering the streets of Albuquerque and find yourself craving authentic Mexican cuisine, look no further than Los Pookies Mexican Restaurant. Nestled at 5626 Menaul Blvd NE, this vibrant spot has quickly made a name for itself in the bustling food scene, renowned for its delectable tacos and a variety of Mexican specialties. With a reputation that's echoed by locals and food enthusiasts alike, Los Pookies invites you to experience a culinary journey that pays homage to traditional Mexican flavors while adding a unique twist.
The menu is a treasure trove of tantalizing options, but don't miss their Birria Taco Plate, which has captured the hearts (and appetites) of many. For $16, you can indulge in three juicy birria tacos, perfectly enveloped in fresh, homestyle corn tortillas, and grilled to a golden crisp on the flattop. Each bite is a symphony of flavor, accompanied by aromatic onions, fresh cilantro, and a side of rich consume for dipping. Patrons rave about its deliciousness, with one ecstatic customer stating, "DO NOT walk. RUN. RUN TO THE BIRRIA PIZZA!!!"—a testament to the overwhelmingly positive feedback.
- Customer Favorites:
- Pookie Tacos: Constructed on large, homestyle corn tortillas, these tacos can be customized with your choice of meat and come with a side of broth for dipping, priced at $14.
- Loaded Pookie Nachos: A cheesy delight piled with toppings and accompanied by chipotle mayo for just $13, it's perfect for sharing.
- Pookie Burrito: A massive California-style burrito filled with succulent meats and toppings galore, available for $13.
- Loaded Pookie Fries: For $14, a hearty portion drizzled with nacho cheese and fresh veggies makes for an unbeatable snack.
Aside from tacos, the restaurant excels in other offerings like the Birria Ramen, where flavorful ramen is bathed in rich birria broth—certainly a dish that sparks curiosity in the culinary landscape. For those with a sweet tooth, their pumpkin tres leches cake has also garnered rave reviews for its fabulously rich texture.
But it's not just the food that keeps diners returning; it's also the inviting atmosphere and friendly service. Many guests note how the restaurant, which transitioned from a food truck to a permanent spot, strikes a charming balance between warmth and hustle. Customers appreciate the well-prepared dishes and prompt service, even during peak hours.
So whether you're a local or just passing through, Los Pookies Mexican Restaurant is a must-visit. With exciting specials—like their ever-popular $2 Taco Tuesday—you're bound to find something to satisfy your cravings. As one customer puts it, "It's not a slick operation, but it's a real one"—an honest, heartfelt statement that captures the essence of dining at Los Pookies. Embrace the flavors and join the fan club—you won't be disappointed!

I have heard multiple friends talk about this place. Over and over again. The Barría Pizza Sometimes it's hard for me to finish food even if I enjoy it, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to eat it all (even with help). Nope. I LICKED THE BOX CLEAN! (I was also in a pretty heavy food Coma after, worth it) It was one of the most amazing food experiences I've had in ABQ, and when I tell you. Do not walk. RUN. RUN TO THE BIRRIA PIZZA!!! It's. That. Flipping. Good. Only side note, more cucumbers in the side would be awesome!

I got lucky on Sunday and was able to get in here without there being a crowd. This place is always full when I drive by. This new location they have is a few doors down from the old location and it's way bigger with nicer seating. Everything was clean and the service was friendly and fast. The food was prepared well, the garnish was fresh and crunchy. The best part was the red chile had great flavor. Most restaurants in New Mexico just try and turn the heat up at the detriment of the flavor. This had medium high heat that takes a little bit to build up, but the flavor was better than most in town. Definitely will give this a try again, I forgot to ask if the birria here is real and made with goat or if it is gringo birria and made with beef. I will give an update on my next trip.

So I'm not gonna everytime I've passed this place on my way to uptown on Menaul I've found myself more and more curious. I love Mexican food. Unfortunately because well where my hometown is, the definition for Mexican food and New Mexican food are two different things. Because of this I'm always iffy to go to places named Mexican because they are not what my definition is. Anyways I heard they offered $2 birria tacos for taco Tuesday. I've never had one and I've been curious so I decided today was the day! Walking in the place was really nice. I hadn't realized they used to be a food truck. That's so cool they have an actual restaurant now! That gave me even more excitement when I discovered that. The food was ready to go soon as I rolled up to the register. I ordered ahead online. They got that out quick! Going home I had no idea what to expect but the excitement was killing me. I finally got home and was impressed with the packaging. Mainly cuz I ordered rice and a cup of the consume to go with the tacos. They tapped that lid shut which I appreciated cuz the whole time I was driving home I was so scared to make too sharp of a turn or god forbid I gotta slam my breaks. I was basically worried for nothing. Thank goodness! I of course added the cilantro and onions it came with, drizzled on some lime and then went for that first dip. Omg I felt like the crazy bird from the old coco puff commercials. I literally lost my mind it was so good. I'm so disappointed I didn't try it sooner! Because I took it to go they were a little soggy but that's ok it was still really good. I bet they taste even better right at the restaurant. Next time I'm trying them inside the restaurant. Regardless the tacos were so savory. It broke my heart when I finished my last taco... I ate 6! lol The rice also was seasoned really well. Overall I really enjoyed this meal. I'm now a new fan of those birria tacos. Now I see why everyone is so obsessed with them. I can't believe I've been missing out. These guys did not disappoint at all. I'll gladly be back... next Tuesday! This is my new favorite place. Thank you Los Pookies for such a delicious dinner!

The birria tacos were very good. We came in for $2 taco Tuesday, and the whole family was satisfied. We had never tried birria before, and it was definitely a great first impression. We ordered to go, and the food prep was a little slow, but in my opinion it was worth it. I also ordered beans and rice, these were tasty. For dessert we ordered the pumpkin tres leches cake, and honestly it was fabulous. We will definitely be back!

I've heard great things about this place and I'm so glad we stopped by and tried it. The place is a bit small but had a good amount of seating. Food is so good, highly recommend trying this place out!

Los Pookies? Ok that's a bizarre name for a restaurant. If you call a friend or significant other one it's ok - maybe a relationship with food? What's a name anyway - we're here for good food. It's small - 4 tables and counter seating. We ordered the steak tacos & cheese enchiladas at the counter and waited. Food arrive looking great. The taco shell was freshly fried with the reddish cast probably dipped in enchilada sauce before frying. Much better than the generic pre-folded taco shell. There was a nice amount of relatively unseasoned steak, it worked because the other ingredients provided the spiciness. The beans were whole with bacon. The cheese enchiladas was overloaded with cheese, the added cumin was overpowering. That said the food was still delicious and worth the stop.

I like Los Pookies, but I'd not say that they had their act totally together. But . . . it's real. The food is good. Surprisingly to me, the birria tacos (the $2 Taco Tuesday brought me in) aren't the best thing I've had here - they're good, but not great (and not - to my taste - the best in town), but plenty dandy for the special price on Tuesday. But the Pookies Burger! It's really kind of it's own thing. I don't know how to describe it - a really large patty ground with bacon in the mix, bacon and lunchmeat on top of it along with cheese, special sauce and all the fixings. And - I don't know whether they actually soak it with chile/broth like a Pambazo, but the thing just comes out _drenched_ in flavor: your hands will be dripping as you eat this. (Minimum four napkins to consume.) It's . . . well, it's a trip - here in the land of Green Chile Cheeseburger, the Pookies Burger is something else entirely, but it's something I'm very happy to have tried. And I'll have it again. Man, they're nice folks. And they're always hustling to get stuff to the customers. But, well, they might forget something - they're so gracious when you remind them and they'll get it to you, but . . . if you're a little prince who expects everything to be perfect because you're special, well, you might be disappointed at Los Pookies. The room has a few tables, a long bar looking out into the parking lot and a small bar looking toward the hustling cooks in the kitchen. They open at 11 and my experience on Tuesdays is that the place is generally packed by 1130 - but then it dies down and there's room to sit again. The food takes a while coming out, but that doesn't stop tons of Door Dashers and a line of high schoolers stacking up to dig in. If you haven't tried it, you're kinda missing out. It's not a slick operation, but it's a real one - and I like it.