14 Incredible Restaurants in Alamogordo, NM You Need to Try
Alamogordo sits in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico, on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains and about 15 miles from White Sands National Park, which protects part of a 275-square-mile gypsum dunefield. The town was founded in 1898 when the railroad arrived, and its name is Spanish for “fat cottonwood.” Most restaurants line White Sands Boulevard, the main north-south street, with another cluster on North New York Avenue. The food is New Mexican at heart. The state’s official question is “red or green?”, meaning red or green chile sauce, and ordering “Christmas” gets you both. Stuffed sopaipillas (puffed fried bread with a filling), green chile cheeseburgers and Navajo tacos (tacos built on frybread) turn up all over town, and PistachioLand, the family farm and shop on US 54, sells green chile pistachios beside a sculpture billed as the world’s largest pistachio.
This guide covers 14 places, from a German gasthaus with shared tables and a classic drive-in to family Mexican kitchens, a Victorian-style house serving steak, a pizza and sub shop that dates to 1972, and the bakeries and breakfast counters that open early. Ratings and review counts come from each restaurant’s Google listing in October 2026.
Oppenheimer Gasthaus
Oppenheimer Gasthaus is a German restaurant at 902 N. New York Avenue, in downtown Alamogordo. A Gasthaus is a traditional German inn or tavern, part restaurant and part pub, and this one follows the model with communal seating at long wooden tables, where guests may share with strangers as they would in a beer hall. It is new: the printed menu says the restaurant was established in 2026.
Rated 4.7 stars from more than 200 Google reviews, it is the place for schnitzel. The menu has a plain pork schnitzel, Jägerschnitzel under mushroom gravy, a Hungarian version with a zesty sauce and a cordon bleu stuffed with ham and Swiss. Also look for goulash over spaetzle (small German egg noodles), kohlrouladen (stuffed cabbage rolls), currywurst and a large Bavarian pretzel. Weihenstephaner wheat beer and lager are on draft.
Plan on a leisurely meal. The restaurant says dishes are cooked in house from raw ingredients, and once you sit down the table is yours for as long as you like. A small light on each table calls staff. Sauerbraten, a sweet and sour marinated roast, is served only on Sundays, and parties of six or more pay an automatic 20 percent gratuity. The website does not mention reservations, so call ahead for a group. Check hours before you go.
Address: 902 N New York Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: oppenheimergasthaus.com
Hi-D-Ho Drive In
Hi-D-Ho Drive In is a burger stand at 414 S. White Sands Boulevard where you still order the old way: flash your headlights and a carhop comes out to your car. New Mexico Magazine dates that tradition to 1952 and reports that the Myers family has owned the place since 1979. The building keeps its awning and sign, and local lore includes a Cadillac that got bent around that sign in 1957.
Rated 4.4 stars from more than 2,200 Google reviews, it is known for the Tiger Burger, two beef patties with lettuce, tomato, mustard, American cheese and onion, named for the local high school mascot. Ask for green chile on it, meaning roasted diced New Mexico chile peppers. The Luigi, on the menu since the 1950s, adds grilled onions and Parmesan. Round it out with onion rings, a cherry limeade or a Lemon Squeeze, which is shaved ice with lemon.
There are no reservations. Eat in your car, at the covered outdoor tables or take your food to go. Food can take a while at busy times, and one reviewer reported a wait of more than 20 minutes on a Saturday afternoon, so an off hour is smarter. The outdoor tables get hot in summer. Prices are modest for the portion sizes. Hours vary by day and it closes in the evening, so check before you go.
Address: 414 S White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
CJ’s Si Señor
CJ’s Si Señor is a Mexican restaurant at 2300 N. White Sands Boulevard, on the town’s main north-south street. The menu mixes New Mexican plates with American ones such as chicken fried steak, and the rustic dining room fills up fast at lunch. Reviewers describe a lively, local crowd and friendly service, which suits a first taste of New Mexican food.
With 4.4 stars from more than 2,100 Google reviews, CJ’s is best known for stuffed sopaipillas. A sopaipilla is a puffed pocket of fried bread, and here it comes filled with beef, with beans and rice on the side. Reviewers also single out the green chile pozole (a hominy stew), chile relleno (a stuffed, fried pepper), gorditas, chips with guacamole, and the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.
Lunch is the busy time, so arrive a little early, and expect a wait at peak hours. Listings show it open Tuesday through Saturday only, closing in the early evening, so it is not a late dinner stop. Takeout, delivery and online ordering are available, and there is a kids’ menu. Prices are on the low side, and the portions are ample. Reservations are not mentioned, so plan on walking in. Check hours before you go.
Address: 2300 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Rizo’s
Rizo’s is a Mexican restaurant at 1480 N. White Sands Boulevard, with a cozy dining room and parking at the front, side and back. It also has a drive-through window and online ordering, which helps if you are packing food for the 15-mile drive to White Sands National Park. Reviewers describe friendly, accommodating staff who are good with children.
Rated 4.3 stars from more than 1,300 Google reviews, Rizo’s is known for generous Mexican plates. Reviewers praise the sopaipilla with carnitas (slow-cooked pork) and green sauce, green chile chicken enchiladas, the California smothered burrito and carne asada plates. Street tacos al pastor, made with marinated pork, are a favorite, and soups such as caldo de res (beef and vegetable) and menudo (tripe) also draw fans.
Food comes out quickly, and the restaurant lists plenty of gluten-free options. Prices are reasonable. Listings show it closed on Mondays, open from 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and open from 9 a.m. on Sundays with an earlier close that day, so check hours before you go. Walk in, or call ahead for a larger group.
Address: 1480 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: rizosrestaurant.com
Memories Fine Dining
Memories Fine Dining is a family-owned restaurant in a Victorian-style house at 1223 N. New York Avenue. One listing dates the house to 1907. The kitchen makes its desserts, salad dressings and french fries in house, and the dining room is quiet and cozy, a change from the quick-service places along White Sands Boulevard. Lunch is served on most weekdays, with dinner Thursday through Saturday, according to listings.
With 4.4 stars from more than 70 Google reviews, Memories is smaller than most picks here but a favorite for steak. The restaurant highlights ranch-raised, grass-fed beef, and reviewers praise the ribeye and the bacon-wrapped filet. Lunch leans toward sandwiches, including an Iowa Maid-Rite (a loose-meat sandwich), pulled pork and a Southwestern green chile cheeseburger. For dessert, try the bananas Foster or the banana split made with house-made ice cream.
Reservations are available through the restaurant’s website or by phone, and booking is wise for dinner since it is served only a few nights a week. For a special occasion, the website describes Table for Ten, a private meal of at least four courses for one group of ten, booked through a form. Listings show it closed on Sundays and Mondays. Check hours before you go, as they can change.
Address: 1223 N New York Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: memoriesfinedining.com
Pizza Mill & Sub Factory
Pizza Mill & Sub Factory has served Alamogordo since 1972, according to its website, from a single location at 1315 E. 10th Street. The menu board shows the shop marked its 50th anniversary in 2022. Reviewers mention an arcade next door with vintage games such as Pac-Man and Galaga. It is a classic small-town pizza and sub shop.
Its 4.4-star rating across more than 900 Google reviews is built on thin-crust pizza and subs. The pizzas have names: the Deluxe Supreme, the Garbage Barge, piled with nearly every topping on the board, Between the Borders, with Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, green chiles and mushrooms, and the Killian, with salami, sausage, honey and sriracha. Subs include the Italian and the Belly Bomb, and the antipasto salad and hot garlic bread round out a meal.
The website lists hours Tuesday through Saturday, opening at 11 a.m., with closing a little later on Friday, and says the shop is closed Sundays and Mondays. Menu prices include tax, drink refills are free with a meal, and the kids’ menu has chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs and a toddler plate. Pizzas come in three sizes. The menu is posted as an image, so call ahead for a large order.
Address: 1315 E 10th St, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: pizzamillandsubfactory.com
Juan’s Cactus Cafe
Juan’s Cactus Cafe is a family-owned Mexican café at 3199 N. White Sands Boulevard, inside White Sands Mall. Listings describe a long-time local favorite where the decor has stayed the same for years. There is outdoor seating, ample parking and a kid-friendly feel, and the kitchen offers quick service along with delivery and takeout.
Rated 4.3 stars from more than 200 Google reviews, Juan’s is best known for its Navajo taco, a taco built on frybread (puffed fried dough developed by the Navajo people), sometimes called an Indian taco. Other things to order are the taco bread, stuffed sopaipillas, and a deluxe Christmas burrito, which in New Mexico means red and green chile together. Reviewers also like the homemade chile sauces and guacamole.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until just before 8 p.m., and the café is closed on Sundays, so check hours before you go. Reservations are not taken. Prices are low, and reviews are more mixed than at some other places in town, so order the Navajo taco, the dish most often praised.
Address: 3199 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
The 19th Hole Grill & Bar
The 19th Hole Grill & Bar is the restaurant at Desert Lakes Golf Course, 2351 Hamilton Road, a public 18-hole course at the base of the Sacramento Mountains. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, has indoor and outdoor seating, and reviewers say the patio looks toward the mountains. It also hosts banquets and private events in a separate banquet space.
Rated 4.6 stars from more than 300 Google reviews, it serves diner-style comfort food with New Mexican touches. Reviewers recommend the chicken fried steak, red enchiladas and crispy sweet potato fries, and the menu also lists breaded jumbo shrimp. The kitchen makes a different soup each week, and breakfast includes huevos rancheros and omelets. Daily specials include enchiladas on Tuesdays and meatloaf or Salisbury steak on Thursdays.
Listings show it opening at 7 a.m. most days, serving dinner Wednesday through Saturday and closed on Mondays, so check hours before you go. There is a bar with a happy hour, and prices are moderate to low. The restaurant also takes banquet bookings for up to 100 guests, 160 with the patio, so call ahead if you are bringing a larger group.
Address: 2351 Hamilton Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: desertlakesgolf.com/19th-hole-bar-grill
Brown Bag Deli
Brown Bag Deli is a locally owned sandwich shop at 900 Washington Avenue, in its own building with its own parking lot. It builds sandwiches and subs with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, and it is known for homemade bread and soups. The shop is simple and clean, with a ramp and accessible parking, and it opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Its 4.6-star rating across more than 1,400 Google reviews rests on generous sandwiches. The Ultimate Green Chile Chicken Club is the local favorite, pairing a chicken club with roasted green chile. Reviewers also recommend the pastrami and roast beef with cheese, a Cuban, a reuben and smoked turkey, and they note vegetarian options. Cheesecake and pie are on hand for dessert.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the deli is closed on Sundays, so check before you go. Service is fast, and the shop offers takeout, delivery and online ordering, which makes it an easy place to pick up a picnic lunch on the way to White Sands National Park. Prices are on the low side for the portion size.
Address: 900 Washington Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Our Country Kitchen
Our Country Kitchen is a homey breakfast and lunch spot at 1201 N. New York Avenue. The dining room has a country feel, with decorative wall displays that include children’s drawings, and the owners are known for hosting community events and donating to local charities. It keeps early hours, opening at 6 a.m. on most weekdays.
Rated 4.6 stars from more than 500 Google reviews, it serves the classics in big portions. Order biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and ham, the hearty Mountain Man Breakfast, eggs with corned beef hash, or huevos rancheros, which are fried eggs on tortillas topped with chile sauce. At lunch the chicken fried steak is a regular, and reviewers also point to the cinnamon rolls. You can swap beans for potatoes.
It is closed on Sundays and Mondays and serves only until early afternoon on weekdays, closing at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, so go early and check hours before you go. Reservations are not taken, and takeout is available. Prices are low, the portions are large, and there is a kids’ menu, which makes it an easy family stop before a day at White Sands.
Address: 1201 N New York Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Waffle & Pancake Shoppe
Waffle & Pancake Shoppe is a small, busy family diner at 950 S. White Sands Boulevard. Seating includes a bar, where solo diners can usually grab a stool quickly, while groups often wait for a table. It is a breakfast and lunch place that listings show closing at 1 p.m., and it is closed on Tuesdays.
Rated 4.6 stars from more than 1,200 Google reviews, it is known for classic griddle plates. Order the pancake or waffle plates, the strawberry French toast, sausage gravy and biscuits, or the Mexican omelette, which gives the menu a New Mexican accent along with the breakfast burrito and a chile verde breakfast plate. For lunch, reviewers point to the chicken fried steak and a burger called the hangover burger.
Plan on walking in rather than booking, and expect a wait of 15 to 20 minutes on busy mornings, with groups waiting longest. Reviewers say meals arrive in under ten minutes once you are seated. Weekend mornings are the busiest, so go early or take a stool at the bar if you are on your own. Takeout and delivery are available, and there is a kids’ menu. Prices are low. Listings show a 7 a.m. opening, so check hours before you go.
Address: 950 S White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Amigos Panaderia Bakery
Amigos Panaderia Bakery is a small, family-owned bakery and Mexican food counter at 1107 E. 10th Street. A panadería is a Mexican bakery, and this one sells sweet breads and pastries alongside burritos, tacos and tamales for breakfast and lunch. Listings describe a welcoming spot that is popular in the morning, with takeout and delivery available.
Rated 4.7 stars from more than 400 Google reviews, it is known for its burritos and tamales. Reviewers praise the brisket burrito, the smothered carne asada burrito and the steak, potato and green chile burrito. Tamales are made daily and often sell out, so buy a dozen early. Add Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) or an empanada, a filled pastry, for the road.
It is open Tuesday through Sunday from morning to early afternoon and closed Mondays, so check hours before you go. Lines can get long at busy times, and even pre-ordered food can take five to ten minutes, so allow some time. For tamales, ordering ahead is the safer plan. Prices are low, and parking is available.
Address: 1107 E 10th St, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Infinity Sweets Bakehouse & Café
Infinity Sweets Bakehouse & Café is a bakery and all-day café at 1010 N. White Sands Boulevard. Its owner left a hospitality career in 2024 to open it, first in the Mainstreet District that summer and since in a larger building on White Sands Boulevard. The website says Otero County voted it Business of the Year and New Business of the Year, along with best coffee shop and best bakery.
With a 5.0-star rating from more than 60 Google reviews, it is one of the newer places on this list. Breakfast runs to sausage kolaches (sweet bread rolls), croissant sandwiches and coffee cake. For lunch, try the Alamo Turkey with green chile, avocado and chipotle mayo, the blackberry grilled brie, or The Claudia, a Margherita-style sandwich with fresh mozzarella and pesto. The bakehouse case changes by day, with cupcakes, brownies, macarons and lemon bars.
The website lists hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the café closed on weekends, so check hours before you go. You can order online for pickup. Whole six-layer cakes, such as tres leches or pecan praline, need 48 hours’ notice, and custom cakes go through a quote form on the website. Drinks include lattes, cold brew and the shop’s own energy-drink refreshers.
Address: 1010 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: infinity-sweets.com
The Drip Coffee House
The Drip Coffee House is a spacious café at 2724 N. Scenic Drive, with indoor and outdoor seating, seasonal decorations and a calm, quiet feel. Reviewers say it works for studying, a date or just hanging out. It opens early, at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays, and serves breakfast burritos and sandwiches as well as coffee.
With 4.7 stars from more than 160 Google reviews, The Drip is known for its signature lattes and iced Americano, which is espresso over ice and water. The cinnamon roll is the item reviewers single out most, and the breakfast sandwich can be made on gluten-free bread. The café mentions celiac safety precautions. Espresso drinks get more praise than plain brewed coffee.
Hours listed are 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, so check hours before you go. Online ordering is available through Toast for quick pickups. The room is large enough for groups, and the outdoor seating helps on a cooler morning. It closes by mid-afternoon, so this is a breakfast and lunch stop.
Address: 2724 N Scenic Dr, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: toasttab.com/local/order/the-drip-2724-north-scenic-drive
Final Thoughts
Most of Alamogordo’s restaurants line White Sands Boulevard or sit a few blocks off it, so plan to drive. Hours are short and vary by day: many places close on Mondays, the breakfast spots and bakeries shut by early afternoon, and Memories serves dinner only a few nights a week, so check hours before you go. If you are heading out to White Sands National Park, about 15 miles southwest, pick up burritos at Amigos Panaderia or a sandwich at Brown Bag Deli beforehand, then come back for dinner at Oppenheimer Gasthaus or Hi-D-Ho. Call Memories to book a table, and give the Gasthaus plenty of time, because it is built for long meals at shared tables.
Planning the rest of your trip? See our guide to the best things to do in Alamogordo, NM.
Main photo, from left: Hari Krishnan, Diego Ramírez and Kairi Kaljo / Unsplash
