El Modelo Mexican Foods Chile Relleno Reviews

El Modelo Mexican Foods serves a classic Chile Relleno, a dish featuring a whole green chile pepper stuffed with cheese. The chile is battered, fried until golden, and then smothered in the restaurant's signature green chile sauce. This popular entree is served with a side of creamy refried beans. The price for the Chile Relleno plate is between $3.25 and $7.50.

The Chile Relleno at El Modelo is often compared to a similar dish served at Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge. El Modelo Mexican Foods Chile Relleno reviews often praise the dish for its authentic, homemade flavor and the perfect level of spice in the green chile. Both restaurants are Albuquerque institutions but El Modelo is known for its fast-casual, take-out friendly operation, whereas Cervantes offers a more traditional, sit-down dining experience with a full bar.

The Chile Relleno is a staple of the menu that has been satisfying customers for decades. El Modelo began in a three-room home in 1929, when founder Carmen Garcia would wake up at 2:00 a.m. to make tortillas by hand. After her son Salvador joined the business, the operation expanded, and the current building was constructed in 1947. The restaurant was sold in 1985 and is now owned and operated by Virginia Chittim, who continues the long-standing tradition of serving delicious, authentic Mexican food to the Albuquerque community.