Don Diego’s Restaurant & Lounge

I almost walked out after waiting 10 minutes for a server to come around. A lady brought chips and salsa to my table and when I asked her if they had any daily specials she answered «yes» and then walked away. The server told me that the fajitas were not available unless I wanted them without the sauce??? I’m not sure what that meant so I opted for the Chile rellenos instead. The rellenos breading was flat and the cheese filling was almost non existant. The sopapilla was hard like it had been reheated in a microwave. The salsa tasted like it came out of a jar. The meal was overpriced and disappointing.

You might want to reconsider. When I first arrived I was taken to a seat and they immediately brought chips and salsa but it was pace picante sauce! 10 minutes later I am still sitting there waiting for somebody to ask me what I want to eat or even drink. No water nothing. It was after the lunch rush and there were plenty of people standing around but nobody was moving fast and certainly nobody wanted to take my order

The Sheepherder was a GREAT burrito with amazing flavor. So glad we stopped here enroute back home from Cali!

I enjoy this place! One of my hometown faves!
The salsa is mucho delish! As are the chips! I will get a combo plate with everything, taco, tamale, tostada and enchilada! Red is my fave, green every now and then. I’ll chase it all down with a gulp of ice tea or sipping on hot tea!
Service is usually great! Place gets packed, I prefer to go during slow times to ensure I get the best service!
The only downside for me are the sellers that come in every so often. If you want to buy, it’s great! But if you’re just hungry, then they can be a little annoying. Although last visit, I did purchase a cute, beaded cuff bracelet. So yay me!

Here is a fine example of what true New Mexican food is supposed to be. The aromas of the red chilies and slow roasted meats arose from my well plated Carne Adovada special. The slow roasted pulled pork was tender and delicately seasoned with regional red chilies and spices. The vibrant red sauce simmered the pork into a dish that came to an end too soon.
My dining companions enjoyed some awesome burritos. Again, the meat was cooked low and slow and the chili sauces well executed. The green chili sauce had a few peals sneak through that should have been caught in the kitchen. The cheese was typical New Mexican style. Not a white Mexican cheese but instead a medium cheddar. Generous portions all around.
Salsa and chips come with the meal. The chips are pretty thick and crispy. Not greasy or overcooked with great body. The salsa is Christmas in a dish. Bright red stewed tomatoes speckled with green chilies, onion, and garlic.
Service is also good and family style. Drinks stayed full.

The only decent Mexican restaurant in this town (seriously). Don’t waste your time or money going to any other Mexican restaurant.

Real food, great prices. I’ve been here twice as I was traveling from CA to MI and both times the service was fast and the food tasty. Not sure what the issue was with anyone getting something bad here. I would think that since I had such a long time between visits that since they were both good that would be the norm. I’d stop again.

Uncle’s family took us here. They have the hottest salsa I’ve ever managed to get in a public restaurant ever which is a plus for me and the reason I’m putting down 4 stars. I only had a taco dinner plate so I can’t give insight beyond that but compared to the other southwest places I’ve been to here locally, it was great.

Terrible!
We could barely eat our food. In fact, we left most of it on the plate.
My sweetheart had a belly ache all night and into the next day.
Bleck.
Almost nothing for vegetarians. They ended up bringing a terrible chile rellano with cold salsa from a jar, plus a sopapilla filled with a huge lump of tasteless beans topped with a layer of heavy bland cheese.
And the atmosphere? A big overly bright room. Unpleasant.
Keep on driving… and look for one of the smaller restaurants in the neighborhood with better reviews.

Really good. The carne adovada was so sumptuous and earthy without being overly hot. They make a burrito with sliced roast beef that is familiar and unique at the same time. Hmmmmm.

The sheepherder is my favorite, with green chili. My husband gets the same or a stuffed soapapilla with green & red chili (Christmas).
If you get chili on top of your order, it will be smothered in it. As a local, I think the green chili is consistently medium, and I always get it. But if you aren’t sure about the heat, just ask for the chili on the side.

This restaurant is no longer in business!

We found this restaurant by chance and did not see any reviews until we returned to the hotel. We had an enjoyable evening because the food and service was much better than we expected in Gallup. good acoustics so we were able to have a discussion without straining to hear each other. We would go back.

My husband and I came here while staying the night in Gallup on a road trip through the southwest. We wanted to try some New Mexican cuisine and Unilocal seemed to give this place okay reviews so we stopped for dinner. The service was good and the staff friendly, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the food. Maybe it’s because I’m used to the California version of Mexican food, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I chose red chili for my food which was a mistake because it was too spicy for me, although it did have a good flavor. My husband felt the same way about his food, it was pretty tasty but not quite what we were hoping. Despite these minuses, the service was friendly enough for me to recommend stopping by if you’re in the Gallup area. The menu is pretty extensive so give it a try!

Was road-​tripping from Chicago to San Diego helping my little sis move. A girl friend native to the area recommended Don Diego’s and I’m glad she did. Off the beaten path a bit (on historic Route 66 near I-​40), we found the place, were seated right away, and upon receiving our drinks we were immediately inundated with locals coming by selling jewelry. It was a bit weird to a Chicago gal.
The complimentary chips and salsa were good, as were the tortillas (with butter/​margarine on the side). Green chile sauce was good but way too much of it on each plate smothered the entrees. Sister had the stuffed sopapillas, I had enchiladas, and Dad had chile rellenos. We all left satisfied and full. Such a lovely respite from those horrifying McDonald’s signs.

Pretty good breakfast burrito. Typical breakfast items like juevos, corned beef hash, etc. Friendly and quick service.

Stopped at this place when we were stuck in Gallup for the night. We started with some chips and salsa. The chips were mediocre but the salsa was really hot and good. I had some steak tacos and enchiladas an my Cousin had a chicken burrito. Overall the food wasn’t the best Mexican food I’ve ever had but it filled me up and was ok. If I’m ever in Gallup again I’d go back.

Don Diego’s is another childhood favorite of mine. If your from Gallup you know where to go to get what. And for me and my family Don Diego’s is the place to get Enchilada’s. Anytime we are having a get together we order a tray or two of cheese enchilada’s red and green, and the party is good to go. Everything else there is o.k., but I would suggest the enchilada’s.

Like another reviewer, we were planning to go to Jerry’s, but an illegible handwritten ‘Closed’ sign on the door deterred us. As the sound of soothing screeching railroad whistles echoed through Gallup, we walked into Don Diego’s instead.
Look, sometimes road trip food is road trip food and you’ve just got to suck it up. But this was honestly the road-​trippiest road trip food of all. Gloppy, greasy, topped with Velveeta, and stomach-​startlingly gigantic, the stuffed sopapilla my dad and I shared was the opposite of the fresh, understated, and spicy New Mexican food I know is prevalent in this part of the country. Don Diego’s felt more like Tex-​Mex-​style (though not taste) to me despite the green chile: mild, bean-​heavy, and huge, complete with ice-​burned lettuce on the side.
If you’re looking for the hugest, heaviest meal ever to celebrate having been on a celery diet for a year, I recommend this place. Otherwise, steer clear.

I love DON DIEGO’S. I live in Sacramento, CALIFORNIA but I was born in GALLUP, NM. They have really good NAVAJO TACOS and stuffed sopapillas. GREAT NEW mexico food. RED or GREEN CHILLI. Thats what its all about. Nice service. FRESH, very delicious food. LOTS OF GREAT FOOD IN GALLUP, new mexico!