La Choza restaurant doesn’t need any accolades or glowing reviews; it’s always packed. As a Santa Fean, I can attest that there aren’t many great (or even good) New Mexican restaurants that consistently deliver a meal that’s ALMOST close to as good as home-cooked. However, the reason there’s always a long wait (without a reservation) at La Choza is because it delivers on all fronts, every single time. Both the food and the service are beyond top notch and the wait is actually worth it.
For me, the Huevos Racheros are by far the best in all of New Mexico. The green chile is sweet, spicy, and provides that warm roasted flavor that only freshly roasted Chile’s can provide. Each bite is a sample of why green Chile is NM’s biggest export. The eggs are perfectly over-medium, every time, the cheese provides velvety luxuriousness without being gloppy and over-bearing, and the beans are “toothy” without being under-cooked. Now, I get mine with posole because La Choza’s posole reminds me of holidays. The sweet corn and pork are laced with red Chile and really, the posole could be a meal all on its own. Combine it with all the other stuff on the plate and even someone as impatient as me forgets about the long wait that preceded my meal.
The service, though, should be used in training videos. On a recent visit, our server, Jessica, seemed like she was providing a clinic on how to provider great service. She was friendly, calmly attentive, and even pronounced all the dishes with the correct accent! That’s a lost art to me and she made me feel at home in a place that might seem touristy. The combination of the best huevos rancheros and best service make La Choza a “go-to” for me.
Really, I think La Choza is among the best restaurants in Santa Fe, regardless of type. There are few moments in life worth mentioning and La Choza seems to have a knack for delivering those moments….
