BEST Burger in New Mexico
SANTA FE (KRQE) – It’s the stuff that causes furious debate. It’s even a state competition. Who cooks up the best green chile cheeseburger in the state? Yahoo has declared a winner as it went out to find the best burgers in all 50 states.
After the three months of researching, eating, and yes, fighting, Yahoo believes the best burger in New Mexico can be found at Santa Fe Bite in our capital city.
“It’s a great article. It’s always good to be recognized,” said John Eckre, owner of Santa Fe Bite.
Eckre previously owned Bobcat Bite and earned a reputation for mouth-watering burgers there.
“I’ve been doing it for 15 years now, so I should start getting good at it pretty quick,” he joked.
“We always do our best. We grind our meat fresh every day: whole boneless chuck and sirloin; it’s like ground steak,” he said.
Eckre set out to cook with the best ingredients he could find. But that’s not his only secret behind the kitchen door.
“We take our time with the burgers. We don’t hurry them and mash them down. We let them cool slow. That leaves you with a savory flavor that longer cooking gives you,” Eckre said. “I made my grills myself. I used to be a welder, so I built three cast iron grills that really do enhance the flavor of the burger. It makes a big difference,” he said.
Customers, whether first-time diners or longtime patrons, raved about their meals over their Friday lunch.
“When you order a medium, it’s just a perfect medium. The meat is very well made, and it’s juicy. It’s never dried out, and the vegetables are always fresh,” said Lewis Smith. “I’ve been coming here every other Friday,” he added.
A Huffington Post article also recognizing Santa Fe Bite is what led Sandy Usita of Rio Rancho to choose to dine here this particular Friday.
“I’m glad I had a chance to read the article because it’s great. I missed this for I don’t know how long,” Usita said. “I absolutely love a good burger. This is quality,” she said.
Shane Plossu developed his cravings back at Bobcat Bite and visits Santa Fe Bite when he returns to Santa Fe. “It’s just a real treat for me to do that. Get a green chile fix everytime I come back home,” he said.
“The Bite is really the best burger I’ve had. I’ve traveled a lot myself as well, tried lots of burgers and to me the green chile cheeseburger is just the one,” Plossu said.
In its review, Yahoo said, “The chuck and sirloin beef mix complements the smoky heat of the chiles, and makes you wish more people from other states would start putting green chiles on everything.”
But was there a runner-up in New Mexico?
Yahoo began its burger choice for the Land of Enchantment by saying, “With apologies to the delicious burgers at Manny’s Buckhorn Tavern in San Antonio, we had to go with Santa Fe Bite’s green chile cheeseburger.”
Santa Fe Bite is located at 311 Old Santa Fe Trail.
