Ricas Gorditas Vale – Great Value!
3311 Coors Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
Overall Bites:
Value: If there is something this local spot has it’s Value! Total food cost was $8. That included the freshly made Agua de Melon (Cantaloupe Water), the 4 tacos with cilantro and white onion, and the chips and salsa were free!
Taste: The taste was good and the meat was tender. They use their own seasoning on their beef so it’ll be a little different than the taco stands you’re used to.
Presentation: The presentation was good. The food was garnished with a little lettuce, tomato and a slice of cucumber in the middle. The onions/cilantro and the red salsa were in little plastic containers. The chips were in a basket and also came with a green salsa and nacho cheese.
The restaurant itself looks a little dated in the inside.
Vibe: Overall this was a decent atmosphere. There is music playing in the background, there is a TV usually playing a novela or a sporting event, and the wait staff is usually pretty attentive. On a busy day 2 waitresses can take care of the entire restaurant.
Accessibility: This is located in the far southwest of Albuquerque. Just south of Blake on Coors Blvd. Pull into the north side of the restaurant, drive around the back, and find plenty of parking for such a small restaurant.
They do close early since they also operate a food truck which is a strike against them.
I visited Ricas Gorditas Vale just before noon. There were only a couple of tables occupied and one waitress and a bus boy. When you walk in be sure to take whatever table is open as this is a seat yourself place and they get super busy during the lunch rush or on the weekends.
This restaurant mostly serves gorditas – they are a bulky fried tortilla that puffs open so they can be stuffed with your choice of meat. The gorditas aren’t fried here. They corn masa is made into the shape of a tortilla and then cooked on a hot plate. I would think that as healthy options go this method would be healthier. You can have your choice of red pork with potatos, ground beef, Carne Asada, and even a Chile Relleno (which is delicious) to name a few. The gorditas run $2.50 – $3.00 each. You can mix and match and get all the flavors you’re craving.
On my visit I was feeling like having tacos. Getting 4 small tacos for $5 is a deal too good to pass up. The meat is seasoned with a house seasoning and I’ve always had it be tender – no fatty pieces here! The complimentary chips, salsa and cheese are also hard to beat.
They usually have two aguas frescas. You can count on Horchata but it’s hit and miss on the other flavors. It can be Limonada (lemonade), Agua de Pina (pineapple), or Agua de Melon (cantaloupe). If you walk in craving one and getting something else it can be a slight disappointment – as it was for me on my visit.
The restaurant itself is a little dated. The booths look like they were taken from another restaurant, the tables look a little older, there is carpet throughout, and you’ll see old single pane windows too. Don’t let this distract you though. The food is great and the value is also hard to beat. The wait staff speak English and Spanish so you can practice your second language and they’re happy to accommodate your language preference.
This location is worthy of 4 Bites. The only thing holding them back from 5 is the aguas being hit and miss on the flavors and the location looking a little dated. Check them out today and find which gordita, or tacos, you like best.
Look for them on Facebook.