Charlie’s Front and Back Door

Karma’s a bitch. This place should have closed long ago.
Horribly rude management — A few years ago I went to Charlie’s with my 84 year-​old father, expecting to spend an enjoyable, relaxed evening out. After being there for 24 minutes exactly, a teenage boy working there tapped on my shoulder: «Is that all for you guys? We’ve got a bunch of people waiting for your table.» I looked at him in shock. We had barely been there. I had eaten about one-​third of my meal. Then, about five minutes later, the manager asked me, «Are you expecting me to put your food in a to-​go box?» They obviously didn’t want us around. For the next half-​hour, the manager stared at us almost constantly, told waiting customers that we were holding up their table, and then those customers would look at us, too. I couldn’t believe it. My father felt so uncomfortable, we could hardly keep up a conversation. The manager was doing this to other customers, too. Even the elderly couple sitting next to us. They took the hint and left, though. I expect to be in a restaurant for at least an hour. Not at this place. Good riddance, assholes.

An Albuquerque icon is disappearing. Charlies is closing as of Sunday, January 19^th. You always got a good meal here, tasty and hefty portions. We usually got the Sheepherder, which was a flour tortilla enclosing a big helping of pastrami with strips of great green chili. And, with some of the meals, you got Charlies famous posole. Charlies will be sorely missed after 50 years in business.

Food was very good. Drinks weren’t that great. Décor and ambience were very Dive-​y. Great service. I would come back.

Canned chile? Absolutely not. Charlies consistently has some of the best old school New Mexican food in Albuquerque. Its the same as I remember since going here as a kid. I love the feel of the place and it will always be a favorite. I second those comments on the chile rellenos too…

Disappointing that GC burger had canned chile that tasted of ascorbic acid. When I asked for fresh chile they said that they only have canned sauce.

Still a great place for new Mexican food. Great place to bring your out of town family or friends. This place has been here for a very long time. That should say something.

Dug this place, was sent here on a recommendation. Went to the back door section for an early dinner. Salsa was meh, but the sour cream enchiladas were darn tasty. And also forgot that sopapillas are served with everything in NM. The place was mostly empty, except for a group arguing about local water rights. Service was very attentive, food was cheap and beer was cold. Not fancy, but that’s not what I wanted.

Charlie’s Back or Front Door is great. I’ve gone here since I was a kid, hanging out in the Back Door with my parents for happy hour on Friday nights. I go much less frequently as an adult, but I always enjoy the food. I do prefer the Back Door over the Front, but the food’s the same either way.
Tonight I had the Luncheon Steak Asada. It was a small (4 oz?) steak, cooked medium rare, smothered in green chile and a slice of cheddar cheese (could have lived without the cheese), served with whole pinto beans and fideos. It was delicious, though I actually had to add a little salt (which is very rare for me). Their sopaipillas are fantastic. So was the Maker’s Mark on the rocks. :) The chile was quite spicy. I agree with other reviewers about their salsa – it could use some serious improvement.
No complaints. Good service. I really like to get their green chile sour cream chicken enchiladas as they are SO good, but I’m a bit lactose intolerant and they kill me, though it doesn’t always stop me. Give them a try if you’re looking for spicy, creamy enchiladas.

I should have listened to my instinct to leave after tasting their salsa. It was more like a bowl of crushed tomatoes. I ordered the Marks plate and sent it back. The calavasitas (sp) was cold, and the plate was very hot… I didn’t understand that. The spinach tasted and looked like canned. The fideo was made with spaghetti noodles and had no flavor. The potatoes were OK but I honestly couldn’t tell what they were at first. I will not go back. Do these people really care about the food they serve? I doubt it.

We went there for the huevos rancheros because of a recommendation from a friend. They were OK. It was a tortilla on bottom, eggs, red chile, beans, and lots of cheese. I personally like my huevos with the lettuce and tomato fixin’ (nice and refreshing) and potatoes. The red chile was ok, but not hot at all. This being said, the service was great. The owner of the restaurant checked on us several times to see how we were doing. I may try it again, but the huevos are definitely not the best in town :).

I love this place. The ambiance in the Back Door (I’ve never eaten at the Front Door) is wonderful. It’s dark, intimate, and you get a free margarita with your entrée M-​F from 5 – 9. The food is yummy and authentic. I have never found Quelites at another restaurant or the Torta de huevo which are specifically Lenten foods but are available all the time.

The food is fantastic! Sourcream enchiladas are MY personal favorite. Love the free baby margaritas offered at dinner!

Charlies is our favorite bar. Its dark, friendly and safe. Their New Mexican food is excellent. I think they have some of the best chile rellenos in town. The carnitas are great too. Note that the food is not super spicy

Delicious! Try Kay’s Special. The atmosphere is dive bar perfection.

Legit.

Sometimes, my heart and stomach pine for this food. Alright, more then sometimes. All the time. When I lived in Albuquerque, my parents and I would go to lunch once a week. We’d sit and chat with the waiters, and with Charlie, actually, very often. When we’d travel for Christmas, we’d always take their Green Chile with us en route (Frozen, of course). My dad’s favorite dish was Como Se Llama (haha), and I loved the Enchilada’s and the tacos. Whenever I’m home I always try to visit. The Front door is more lit. I do remember, on one occasion, going to the back door, and my dad actually falling (he thought he was sitting own on a seat and he missed because it was almost pitch black in there). It was pretty ridiculous. A funny memory, for sure. Charlie’s serves all the staples, and they do it in a very New Mexican way. I wish I could have brought this restaurant to Portland with me!

This review is for Charlie’s Back door.
Been there a couple times now. The food is good. The Kay Special is one of my favorites. You also get a free margarita with dinner… can’t go wrong with that!
It’s pretty dark in there and feels like it’s been there forever.

I’m really torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars. Their menu looked fantastic, old school New Mexican, but the food itself was not. And I do remember loving the food here years ago. I’ll chalk this one up to an off day and go back some time soon.

Well this review is purely for Charlie’s Back Door cause I only got to eat there. Was in Albuquerque for a wedding and a friend who had lived there for a summer really wanted to have a meal here cause she missed the place. So we peeled ourselves from our poolside chairs to join her for a lunch there… and BOY WAS IT WORTH IT!
Now, I’ve never had New Mexican food… it’s kind of a cross between Tex-​Mex and Mexican with a splash of Native American and a giant heaping of delicious. The big thing in NM is their chile sauce — green or red. Both were delicious and spicy. The green had a little more tang while the red is a little more smokey. Two of the party ordered the Sour Cream Enchilada’s with green sauce. It was rich, decadent and flavorful… two got different variations of huevos rancheros. And myself and another got the mix plate. I think it’s was a Mark’s Special or the Jack’s Special.
It was a plate of awesome. There was roast pork (tender and moist, fell apart in your mouth), new mexican creamed spinach (the cheese and corn and peppers really took it to a new level), beans, noodles, some other stuff… the reason why i took a star off is the place was toooooo dark. even at lunch I couldn’t see what I was eating.
But enough abotu all that let’s talk about the sopapillas… imagine a mini pita pocket style fried perfection made from a light sweet donut batter. They were still warm but not oily… just enough sweetness and fluff. it went great with all the sauce-​heavy food we had. But oh MAN when you put the honey on,…it’s heaven on earth.
Everyone needs a little sopapilla in their life. :)