BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS – LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO
NOPALITOS RESTAURANT
310 South Mesquite Street
Las Cruces, New Mexico
(575) 524-0003
Located along the Camino Real (The King’s Highway), this popular family restaurant was founded in 1963 originally at a location on Campos Street, as the banner over the adobe style mural will tell you. In 1970, Tina and José Gallegos moved the restaurant to its present location on historic South 
Mesquite Street. A location with a spacious dining room and adjacent dining area looking out on Mesquite street. While there you may wish to visit the Nopalitos art gallery located next door.
The opener chips come with red chile and a bowl of steaming green chile, mild but still with a kick. Menu includes an array of appetizers ranging from avocado salad, grande cheese nachos, chile con queso and chile fries. Main dishes include enchiladas, tacos, chimichangas, flautas and other traditional dishes in combination plates or al a carte.
Latinopia sampled the adobada huevos rancheros which were scrumptious The red adobada sauce was mild but had a great afterburn, the meat was soft and tender. The meal came with 
rice, beans, salad and flour tortillas Very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.
See Also:
NOPALITOS #2
2605 Missouri
Las Cruces, New Mexico
(575) 522-0440
RANCHWAY RESTAURANT
604 Valley
Las Cruces, New Mexico
(505) 523-7361
You don’t come to the Ranchway for the atmosphere, you come here for the BBQ! Voted best BBQ in 2012 by the Las Cruces Sun News, this family run restaurant was founded by Elsa and Chuy Rodríguez more than 35 years ago. Feeling very much like a roadside dinner, you order at the main counter, take a seat in spacious dining area and then come up for your order when it is called. 
The menu features a wide array of traditional Mexican dishes such as red and green chile plates, chile rellenos, and flautas. No alcohol served. The main attraction, of course, is the delicious BBQ: rib plate, brisket plate, BBQ combination, sausage plate, BBQ sandwich, and pulled pork sandwich.
Latinopia sampled the BBQ sandwich which was very tasty, served on a large bun with BBQ sauce and pickles. This is one of those savory dripping sandwiches with generous portions of meat that it’ll take you a moment to finish. Latinopia also sampled the green chile which was tasty, the pork and potatoes in a mild suave green chile sauce that was soupy but tasty. Walls adorned with photos of Latino cultural icons.
SÍ SENOR RESTAURANT
1551 East Amador Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 527-0817
Sergio Castillo
Founded in 1995 by owner Martin Castillo, this family run restaurant is housed in a spacious nuevo adobe style building with a spacious interior divided into large eating areas, and a spacious backroom bar and 
lounge (check out the premium tequilas and local Mesilla Valley wines!). The restaurant also sports a spacious patio for outdoor dining.
Your meal opens with a platter of chips with four different sauces, the traditional New Mexico red and green chile, a bean dip sauce and a delicious unexpected sour creme and jalapeno dip. The Latinopia favorite is the Hatch Green chile steak– a 10 oz. Ribeye steak topped with grilled Hatch Valley green chile, onions, tomatoes. Served with beans, rice and flour tortilla
Menu also includes Rio Grande combo, Hatch Valley combo, Alamagordo Gordita plate, Lincoln County Combo–yep, you know you’re in New Mexico! The menu selection also includes a wide a variety of salads, appetizers, daily homemade soup specials and desserts. The Castillo family has two other Si Senor restaurants, one in Las Cruces and one Chandler, Arizona.
OTHER SÍ SENOR RESTAURANTS:
SÍ SENOR EXPRESS
500 S. Solano
Las Cruces, NM 88001
575-993-5255
SÍ SENOR RESTAURANT
600 N. Alma School Rd.
Chandler, AZ 85224
(480) 857-1217
Irene Castillo – Restaurant Manage
EL SOMBRERO PATIO CAFÉ
363 South Espina
Las Cruces, new Mexico
(575) 524-9911
This is a popular unpretentious restaurant with a spacious main room and adjacent bar, the
Cantina. The menu announces that the food is cooked only with Canola oil which makes the food lighter and healthier. Dishes include queso fundido, chile con queso, sopapillas, salads, tacos, burritos, and red, 
green and rainbow enchilada plates as well as fajitas, Ribeye steak, Chicken tampico and Sombrereo steak. . Hamburgers and chicken sandwiches are also available. The Cantina in the restaurant sports New Mexico wines, beer by the bucketful, sangria and margaritas.
Latinopia sampled the green chile stew and found it to be arguably the HOTTEST green chile encountered so far in the state of New Mexico. It was scrumptious with large pieces of pork but was so hot that the Latinopia tatser had to leave the bowl unfinished.
Other Las Cruces Mexican Restaurants Not yet reviewed by Latinopia:
HABANEROS
1275 S Solano Dr
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 524-1829
NELLIE’S CAFÉ
1226 W Hadley Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88005
(575) 524-9882
SAENZ GORDITAS
1700 N Solano Dr
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 527-4212
__________________________________________________