So I was home this weekend for a quick visit.  I had not been home in almost two years.  Home is Portales, New Mexico. 

So even though Portales is only fifteen miles from the border of Texas, New Mexican cuisine is certainly different than it's Texas counterpart.  Always I have to go back to my fave restaurants to remember those foods that I can not find in San Antonio, Texas.

FOXY DRIVE-IN

Foxy Drive-In is in Clovis, New Mexico.  This city of 42,000+ is 19 miles north of Portales, which has 17,000+.  This Drive-In has been a family favorite for generations.  We only come here for the taquitas.  That's right, I said taquitas not taquitos.  My brother once had a professor in college pinpoint that the grew up in Eastern New Mexico because he pronounced this dish in the feminine tense.  Apparently only that part of the world calls them taquitas.  For instance, here in San Antonio, they are called flautas. 

These taquitas are delicious.  Just the right amount of greasy and the dunking salsa is excellent too.  Eaten curbside like at an old-fashioned drive-in is the only way to go.

PAT'S TWIN CRONNIE

Pat's Twin Cronnie, everyone just calls it Pat's, is in my hometown.  This place has just always been.  They serve the best Green Chile Burgers and Peanut Butter Milkshakes in the nation. It's true, I have never had a bad burger or milkshake from this place.  This weekend was no exception. In fact I went back the next day and had another shake.

LEAL'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

So they closed LA HACIENDA restaurant down in Portales.  That was the go to place for authentic New Mexican cuisine in Portales.  Bummer. So we head back to Clovis and I get my stuffed sopaipilla at Leal's Mexican Restaurant.  Super tasty and super huge.  I was stuffed myself after eating this giant meal. 

So my trip was real quick.  We say IR Y VENIR, but at least I got to partake in my favorite foods while up in Portales.  I didn't have time to go to Cattle Baron Restaurant for my rib eye fix.  That will have to wait another two years I suppose. 

4.5 Stars out of 5