The Quest for Route 66’s Finest Green Chile Cheeseburger...
(spoiler: they’re all winners)
If you drive through New Mexico in the autumn, you will notice a change in the air. It’s drier, fresher and spicier. Mid-August to late September is chile harvest season in the state, and the aroma of green chiles roasting over an open flame permeates the air.
In New Mexico, green chile is iconic. It is pictured on our license plates and is a staple on our dinner plates. It comes as no surprise, then, that we add the spicy fruit to everything from the traditional (enchiladas and burritos) to the unconventional (pizza and cheeseburgers). In fact, the green chile cheeseburger is so important to our culinary scene that Edible New Mexico hosts an annual Green Chile Smackdown in the late summer, a gauntlet of New Mexico’s finest cheeseburgers, and the New Mexico State Fair hosts an annual Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge. There’s even a Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail (established in 2008 by the state Tourism Department), for chile’s sake!
Ask any New Mexican to recommend the spot with the best green chile cheeseburger and you will get dozens of opinions, ranging from upscale bistros to tiny diners. I’ve tried more of them than I care to admit. Call it comfort food, call it a New Mexican institution, or call it my vice. The green chile cheeseburger is here to stay.
Who invented the green chile cheeseburger? Who's to say?
Journalist Molly Boyle traced the history of green chile cheeseburgers in a 2022 article for New Mexico Magazine. She found that “green chile cheeseburger experts” seem to agree that the Original Owl Bar & Café in the small town of San Antonio, New Mexico (about 90 miles south of Albuquerque), might have been the first to serve up a hamburger with cheese and green chile together. Blake’s Lotaburger, a statewide chain with more than a dozen locations in Albuquerque, claims to be the first chain restaurant to promote green chile on cheeseburgers, and I believe that. Legend has it that the founder, Blake Chanslor, witnessed a customer dressing up his burger with green chile and it changed the course of Lota-history. Laguna Burger claims that the people of Laguna Pueblo started putting green chile on burgers in the 1950s. All of these stories likely overlap each other in the big picture of green chile cheeseburger history, each bearing some degree of truth.
The green chile cheeseburger is a curious New Mexican specialty. In no particular order, behold a selection of some of the finest places along Albuquerque’s Route 66 (Central Avenue) to partake in this New Mexican delicacy:
66 Diner - 1405 Central Ave. NE
University Area
It wouldn’t be a Route 66 list without 66 Diner. Consider the following: a green chile cheeseburger with a slice of green chile apple pie (topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course). Talk about a twist on an American classic.
Some of my fondest Albuquerque memories were spent sitting at a vinyl booth near the windows facing Route 66, sometimes with snow falling gently in the cool night, the warm glow of the red neon light wrapped around me like a blanket.
Duran Central Pharmacy - 1815 Central Ave. NW
Old Town
If historic Route 66 diners are your jam, Duran Central Pharmacy should be at the top of your Albuquerque to-do list. Duran’s opened as a pharmacy in 1942 and moved onto Route 66 in 1975. The restaurant began as a humble soda fountain within the pharmacy. Today, it's a beloved neighborhood spot for everything green (and red) chile: tamales, enchiladas, and yes, green chile cheeseburgers.
Bob’s Burgers - 4506 Central Ave. SW
West Central
Bob’s Burgers on Route 66 bears the honor of inclusion on New Mexico True’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail. Family-owned and operated since 1963, Bob’s Ranchero Supreme burger is a respected classic along Central.
Image courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department.
Laguna Burger (66 Pit Stop) - 14311 Central Ave. NW / I-40
Laguna Pueblo
It might take some time to drive out to this diner — though there is another location on 12th Street in Albuquerque, near the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, if you want to stay local — but it’s worth the trip. Laguna Burger is based in Laguna Pueblo, just west on Route 66 out of Albuquerque. The Laguna Burger, a classic green chile cheeseburger, was first cooked up at The Pit Stop convenience store in 2005. Green chile cheeseburgers became a part of traditional Laguna Pueblo feast days about 70 years ago, grilled up on camp stoves and called “Feast Burgers.”
Owl Café - 800 Eubank Blvd. NE
East Central
A spinoff from the Original Owl Bar & Café located south of Albuquerque, this franchise location serves up classic green chile cheeseburgers along with fries and milkshakes. Although it is located on Eubank Boulevard, about a mile north of Route 66 proper, it definitely checks off all the quirky Route 66 boxes. Where else can you dine in a neon-lined, owl-shaped building?
Lucky Goose - 3503 Central Ave. NE, Suite B
Nob Hill
Vegans and vegetarians rejoice — there is a green chile cheeseburger for you! Lucky Goose is an all-vegan eatery that serves up a variety of American favorites, from “lucky dawgs” (plant-based hot dogs) to the quintessential green chile cheeseburger (hold the beef).
Flying Star Cafe - Nob Hill - 3416 Central Ave. NE
Nob Hill
Flying Star is one of those Albuquerque chains that understands Albuquerque’s historic character and twists it. Route 66 meets the Atomic Age in their Nob Hill location, boasting a sleek but plush interior that integrates atomic mid-century style with a warm brick facade. If your road trip partner is a furry friend, Flying Star’s “petio” patio is a prime oasis for your pooch. A green chile cheeseburger in the heart of Nob Hill is what Route 66 dreams are made of.
Image courtesy of Flying Star.
Stackers Burger Co. in 505 Central Food Hall - 505 Central Ave. NW
Downtown
If you’re visiting Albuquerque, you are likely to find yourself at 505 Central Food Hall at some point for a bite. Everything at 505 is delectable, but if you are overwhelmed with choices, take a hint from me: Stackers Burger Co. Stackers won the 2022 Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown for their flavorful double beef patties, molten cheese and exceptionally hot green chile. With a side of seasoned fries, Stackers’ green chile cheeseburger is a smash hit.
