Eli’s Place

What can you say about this place? Best breakfast in Burque. Can’t go wrong with the breakfast burrito. The red chile is dark and delicious. Huevos rancheros are amazing. I even tried their pancakes last week and could not believe how good they were.
Yesterday I ate dinner there for the first time. Had taco salad, sans shell, with sirloin. Mixed greens, beans, pico, steak, cheese and sour cream, and perfectly cooked asparagus on top.
In short: Fresh, local. Friendly service. If you haven’t been, you should go.

A friend and I Stopped by while driving through Albuquerque on a cross country road trip. It’s a small place that doesn’t stand out too much when driving by, but it’s definitely worth checking out. The cashier said the duck enchiladas were the dish to get and I’ve never had duck enchiladas before so I figured why the heck not. The duck was cooked well and was very tender and the salsa had a really nice kick to it. I also really appreciated that it came with a small salad. Made me feel like I was eating somewhat healthy. If I ever drive through Albuquerque again, I’ll definitely have to stop by again.

Stopped for New Mexican food that was highly rated. Well worth the pit stop. Building and parking lot is small and old, but once inside, you find out quickly why people come. The menu is filled with high end ingredients, combinations, and lots of value.
I had the Huevos Divorciados with Carnitas added, plus a half order of the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. The Huevos were perfectly cooked and seasoned, ample meat and black beans, with plenty of red and green salsa. Small side salad helped break up the heavy flavors. Pancakes were perfectly cooked, great lemon Ricotta flavor, mixed fruit on top with actual Maple syrup instead of the usual offerings.
Overall, it’s a bit pricy for everyday, but weekend brunch, special occasion, or like for me, passing through ABQ, Eli’s is well worth the stop.

The place is a little rundown, but after get passed the look of the place and how small the area is. You will find this place amazing. The plating is rich in color and stands out. Makes the food look very inviting.
The pull pork pastor tacos have a sweet taste thanks to the pineapple but not over powering. Rice cooked just right, beans a little spicy but great. The salad it comes with is ok
I had the Migas. They are in a chipotle sauce that is also spicy. Unfortunately because of the spice I wasn’t able to enjoy them fully. This doesn’t mean they are bad when I was able to get over the heat the 2 eggs on top tasted amazing
Overall come here and eat it is worth it

I just had some of the best Mexican food in my life. Pork belly tacos al carbon with avocado and cream on top. Holy smokes. And super great pinto beans and lovely rice. I come here every chance I get when I drive south from Santa Fe.

Hmmmmm where to start? I started out with high expectations for this place with several amazing reviews. And, The Guy, Guy Fieri that is from Diners Drives and Dives was here and they explain it as vibrant and eclectic. I’d describe the cuisine as somewhat of a fusion between New Mexican Food and Mexican Food … I’ve yet to come across a place that does it just right. Overall it truly is an A-​Okay place I will be returning but, not as willingly as one might assume. We went for a late brunch on Thursday around 11:30/noon first gripe, everyone comments on these pancakes that are pictured welp, they’re only served on weekends okay not a huge deal. Second gripe the french toast, still listed on a dry erase board — and well … who runs out of bread before a possible lunch rush? From a business stand point a sandwich is something you can offer to turn table quickly which is beyond beneficial for a location with limited seating available. Gripe 2.1 if your menu is on an erasable surface have the courtesy to erase it from the menu or write 86 next to the item.
I settled on the fish tacos and the fish was cooked well but, for some reason the flavor wasn’t as elite as the previous reviews. I’d suggest adding cabbage or cooking the fish until its a little crispy around the edges to break up the flavor and add some texture. My other half had a carnitas burrito and the meat was extremely tender and flavorful but the chili smothered over the burrito was a little tomato paste like. Essentially it wasn’t what I expected. but i am willing to give it a second shot maybe I’ll pack my own bread.

I went there with a big group of 12, they were not given notice, and the woman who took our order was so nice and totally prepared. Our food was so delicious and came out in an extremely timely manner for us being a big group for a small sized restaurant. Everyone there was so nice and any time I am back in ABQ I will for sure go to Eli’s Place.

I was in town for business for a week & ate at both Sadie’s & Sophia’s. Once I tried Sophia’s (soon to be Eli’s) I never went back to Sadies. Here’s why.
1. Authentic Mexican
2. Great people in a small home like atmosphere
I had the chicken burrito with homemade mole for one dinner & it made me wanna burn down a Taco Bell for their lies. Luckily the urge for arson subsided & I returned for breakfast & had huevos rancheros with green & red (Christmas) was amazing and drool inducing.

I’ve never had a bad meal here. It’s a must stop if u have friends in town, or haven’t been before!

Eli’s place is the place to go for great customer service, fresh food, and a nice local spot! The place is small but mighty in taste. I had the grilled tilapia tacos, my friend had the steak tacos, and her daughter had a chicken quesadilla! Everything was on point! Although the salsa could be hotter but that’s okay! I highly recommend this spot!

I’ve lived here my entire life and never visited this place. Highly recommend it! Good food, real people. I also love that it’s so hidden in plain sight. I look forward to trying everything on the menu

This place is so cool and the food is great! It’s puts a twist on New Mexican food. I had huevos rancheros, and it did not disappoint. I will be back! I’m coming for you, duck enchiladas!

This joint, although small, packs a big punch in flavor! I tried the chilaquiles and the berry pancakes! The taste was authentic and right on point. The establishment is small and lacks space for a big groups, but their outdoor seating can work if it’s not freezing outside. I’m from California, but I look forward to visiting Ellie’s when I’m back in town.

Oh. My. Goodness. Stopped at this little gem on our way through town on a 2050 mile road trip. I’m SO glad we did as it was the best meal we had the entire time. The owner was incredibly friendly and brought our food to the outdoor tables where we sat with our dog.
I can’t emphasize enough how wonderfully fresh and tasty our plates were. Just go here. Just do it.

Great diner for authentic NM burger. Im sure the other items are great too, but the burger is all I can comment on.
Small and cozy little place. Not much atmosphere to speak of, but you can tell that from the outside.

Delicious breakfast for three. Eggs Benedict, with delicious asparagus, a small salad and potatoes dusted with Chile powder. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes the best in town. Carnitas melt in your mouth and a very unique deep flavorful red Chile.

MY kind of place! I was a bit wary of the quality of the food considering some of the negative comments provided by some of my fellow Unilocalers.
I went to Eli’s Place on a rainy Saturday morning and found the place quite busy, but ample space. It’s a small restaurant — possibly holding no more than 20 patrons. The décor is very cute — very New Mexico, replete with the photo and signature of Guy Fieri.
Even though the restaurant was full, the food came out quickly. I was impressed.
Ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes (half order) and a handheld breakfast burrito w/​carnitas and red chile. O M G.
. $ 6 for the burrito and let me tell you… WOW. There are some great breakfast burritos in this city, but Eli’s delivers. Definitely top 3 in the city IMO.
The «smothered» breakfast burrito w/​green and red chile looked amazing. I prefer to cradle my burrito in my hands like a small infant, instead of fork and knive method of eating which is mandatory for the smothered «Christmas style» burrito.
If I lived in ABQ, I’d absolutely be here on a regular basis. Really a super cute «hole in the wall» type of establishment and one of the best diners/dive’s I’ve been to in Duke City. Big thumbs up!

Had a wonderful breakfast here with a dear friend. Everything was awesome.

Had a great breakfast experience there with the blue corn pancakes and the Eggs Benedict. Considering the size of the kitchen and the crowd, the service was remarkable. Tiny dinning room. Outdoor seating fine in good weather.

A wonderful breakfast spot with super good Mexican food. Huevos rancheros with carnitas, rice and beans, tortilla, and both red and green sauce. Amazing food! Cozy place; we sat outside. Nice people and good service. A perfect conclusion to our morning of enjoying the Balloon Fiesta.
Thank you.

Eli’s, once called Sophia’s is a great hole in the wall establishment. They didn’t even have a sign for the longest time… Truly locals only! I still don’t know why they changed their name.
Nonetheless, this place has excellent New Mexican food of high quality. Very good breakfast with some of my favorite red and green chile in town. Did you wake up hungover today? Is today Sunday? Then this is the perfect time to come out to Eli’s, get your sweat on and detoxify that liver. This place is very authentic with a great staff that is always helpful. Many breakfasts have and will be eaten here by yours truly. I’m craving it now! Besides traditional breakfast dishes, they have many options that will satisfy your tastebuds.
Things that need improving:
I will admit it, I’m a coffee snob. They use drip coffee and charge $ 2+. Enough said.
Indoor and outdoor seating could use a little revamping. Very thrown together with green benches outside and old tables inside. This might be an added quirk but I also like to sit in a comfortable place.

Ok ok ok. Hands down, the best breakfast burrito i have eaten in my life! Boom
It was a carnitas with bacon and egg smothered in green chile! (New Mexico’s unique touch). The carnitas was marinated in a red sauce which had a kick! The bacon was the thick cut kind and wrapped in the carnitas which made this a pork lovers paradise, or would turn any person into a pork lover. The burrito is huge and good for two people to share. Confession, I shared it with my alter ego, fatty mcfat guy. I recommend this as a must try.
The grandmother of Sophia sat down and chatted with me while i dined. I had missed the breakfast rush and the lunch rush so it was a peaceful meal to pig out! I owe her and the cook (Sophia’s brother) a huge thanks for the recommendation for breakfast. They also said that the duck is a must try, but to come early because they sell out quick. Also, the blue acorn pancakes on saturday and sunday is a must! I will be back!

Not sure. what is going on there with the U sticker (repeat violations) I didn’t want to ask in front of other patrons so took my chances and ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. Very good, though needs more of the lemon topping. Coffee was good also, needing just a bit of sweetener and splash of cream.
online searching didn’t produce results on the sticker and I’ll look this week to see if they are still open. Bernco website doesn’t provide real time info. I kept my eyes especially busy looking around and didn’t see anything outrageous in the dining room except a blown plug at eye level next to the air conditioner. Hope it’s just a technical issue and that they have the green sticker on the door next time.
Funny, other people never even. looked at the door sticker as they came in..

Duck enchiladas. Lamb tacos. Best little known place in town. The name has changed to Eli’s but the food is still awesome.

Nice lil spot looked shady at first from outside. However. Get yourself inside and enjoy the fast friendly service and an awesomely priced, sized, seasoned meals.
We had French toast, blue corn pancakes, lemon pancakes, Huevos rancheros, eggs, turkey sausage and coffees all around our table.
Every bite of food was gone and we left satisfied with a full food baby in our bellies.

Don’t blink because you might pass by Sophia’s (which is what we did). Nice local and cozy place with patio sitting. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming.
The duck enchiladas were very tasty and the green chile was excellent. The fish tacos were pretty good just needed a little more seasoning. This is a nice New Mexican style local restaurant. Next time I will definitely try the Blue Corn Pancakes they looked delicious.

Best breakfast burrito in all the land!!! I was a bit skeptical going here because from the outside, it looks super shabby. But the inside is fun and more upkept. The prices aren’t to bad, $ 8 for a smothered burrito. They have limited seating and we had to wait for an open table, but not too long. Their red chile is the best I’ve encountered in Albuquerque– deep and flavorful. We also got pancakes– blue corn and piñon & a lemon sour cream– both amazing. But from what I understand, pancakes are only on Sunday. Also, free drinks if you pay in cash!
Really glad we discovered Sophie’s. They have a really unique, quality menu (duck enchiladas, what?!) that’s refreshing and good service. Definitely coming here a thousand times more.

Over the years, Sophia’s Place has become one of our trusted regular places for lunch and brunch. I love that this place is close enough from my house for us to be able to walk or bike, and build up an appetite for some delicious breakfast dishes or fish tacos.
Rumour has it that Sophia’s Place is in the process of changing its name to Eli’s Place. The sign that identified the place as Sophia’s Place has been taken down quite a while back, and the new sign for «Eli’s Place» is not yet up. The result is that this place has been flying without any sign now for quite some time. It speaks volumes about this place’s appeal and popularity that it always seems busy despite having no visible identifier.
Somehow this lack of proper signage just seems to add to the ambiance of Sophia’s, which really resembles a beach shack, albeit right on 4^th street, with a view of passing cars instead of the Pacific ocean. Regardless, I like to walk over, order me some of the finest fish tacos in all of ‘Burque, sit out on the patio and pretend that the asphalt of 4^th street is actually a sandy beach, with the ocean rhythmically lapping just beyond. Ahhhh… bliss.
The above-​mentioend fish tacos are very tasty. they are made with their fish of the day [Rockfish today] grilled to perfection, some salsa fresca, avocados, delicious aiolli and fresh corn tortillas [the soft variety]. The plate also includes a delicious and fresh salad, pinto beans and rice.
On other occasions, I have also enjoyed a variety of other dishes, including huevos divorciados, breakfast burritos, duck enchiladas, calabacitas rellenos, and fish sandwiches. The food is always well prepared, unique in flavor, and playful in presentation. Really the only thing missing is a cold cerveza to complete my pacific fantasy.

Being generous with 4 stars. The place is quaint but it’s a roadside stand with decent food but not worth 5 stars or all sorts of lofty praise. I had the Duck Enchiladas just like Guy Fieri as this was another TV food find for me.
The duck enchiladas were good tasty and ample the referee beans were also good but the rice was overdone and fairly plain. It’s a good plate but just a bit pricy. Then again I did have the duck.
It’s tiny inside but they have a cool outdoor area that’s probably pre seating In warmer weather.
I’d return to try more dishes if I were local. This is more of a lunch place bit don’t let’s Unilocal stop you from coming for breakfast lunch or dinner.
Watch out for the name change. Still the same ownership I don’t get it either. Somebody ask why and post it here for us.
FoodDude. Because I’ve got nothing better to do!!!

Do you remember Babyface’s rendition of «Everytime I Close My Eyes»? Are the corny 90s lyrics reaching the inner workings of your foodie soul? Yes, it felt like heaven had opened its gates for me (whew)… to Sophia’s Place.
Sophia’s will humble the fact that not every four to five star restaurant has to look like a pseudo swanky, lounge-​y edifice of modernity. It CAN be small, cozy, well lit, family-​friendly, and creative. Places like this still exist. Don’t be fooled by all the nice spots Downtown. There are true gems on Fourth Street: Sophia’s is the crown jewel.
To the food: Exhuberant, different, classic, GOOD. Both the Tri Tip Burrito and the Carnitas Omelette were two commitments I wasn’t ready for. The type of dedication to this food is read in newsstands and dreamt of by up and coming chefs. The intensity of the chili in the Tri Tip Burrito for example, is right in the meat, providing a lasting taste through the experience of trying to down that thing. As my fascination with Carnitas continues, this omelette set the bar for all omelettes… Holy crap, it was good! Salsa or green chili: take your pick to douse over the omelette stuffed with onions, calabasas, celery, and other veggies. It’s a meal I won’t forget.
Everyone talks about the uniqueness of Albuquerque; Sophia’s Place is simply another testament to that. With the friendly reception and it’s simple décor, and impeccable options to eat, I cannot think of a better example of a place that embodies what this city is about. Simply amazing.