Perea's Restaurant

Red or green? Ask anyone in New Mexico those simple words and they know exactly what you are talking about -- chili! Now ask where is the best place for chili in Albuquerque, and Perea's will certainly be among the top on the list.

 "The thing that makes our restaurant different  is the chili," said Claudia Perea one of the original owners of Perea's. "We make it with beef. Everyone else does not because it is too expensive. It gives our chili the good flavor."

 Claudia and her husband opened Perea's Restaurant in 1981 using authentic recipes passed down through the generations of the Perea family.  Their children grew up in the kitchen helping make tortillas and learning the business. As of last year, their son, Santiago Perea, (age 40) has taken over the recipes and the business as his parents prepare for retirement.

 "We are southwestern," Perea said. "The old tradition. My husband learned to cook through his mother. It is the way people used to cook here. It is true New Mexican food."

 The carne adovada simmered in a rich, dark red chili sauce ($7 with eggs and hash browns) and huevos rancheros ($8.05) are the favorite dishes at Perea's Restaurant.

 "They are our big sellers," Perea said. "There is just something about the huevos rancheros that people like."

 Perea said her favorite dish on the menu is the chicken enchilada with green chili ($7.85) because "the chicken blends in well with the green chili."

HelloMetro Tip: The chili is hot at Perea's ask the wait staff before ordering to determine which chili is best suited for your tastes. If it is too hot, Perea suggests drinking milk or adding sour cream to the dish.
 

- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.