Rio Rancho Archives - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Albuquerque Dog Friendly New Mexico Pizza Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho

Thicc Pizza Co. – Albuquerque & Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMay 15, 2026May 17, 202612:01 AM

As you’ve read on the tagline for Gil’s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog, your humble blogger fancies himself somewhat of a sesquipedalian (a person who tends to use big words). My logophilia (the love of vocabulary) is a lifelong affliction, both in English and in Spanish. Despite my “affair” with words, one word-related term which just doesn’t always describe me is neologist (someone who uses new words). This is especially true about slang terms in fashion among the pop-culture-oriented youth. When it comes to such terms, I’m not far removed from groovy, bread and copacetic. It’s certainly not that I’m not interested in such words. It’s just that I don’t seem to know anyone young and cool enough to use such…

Bar & Grill Dog Friendly New Mexico New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail: 2009 Pizza Rating: Very Good Rio Rancho

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMay 9, 2026May 11, 20263:27 PM

The Tewa name “Oku Pin” which translates in English to “Turtle Mountain” has three meanings of significance to the people of Okay Owingeh, one of New Mexico’s great Tewa speaking Northern New Mexico Pueblos. “Oku Pin” was the the Indian name given to Dr. Alfonso Ortiz who obtained worldwide prominence as an anthropologist and ethnologist until his death in 1998. Ortiz was born and raised in San Juan Pueblo which in 2006 officially changed its name to Okay Owingeh. “Oku Pin” is also the Tewa name for Sandia Peak, the 10,678-feet high mountain which provides a spectacular backdrop for Albuquerque, Bernalillo and Rio Rancho. When Nico Ortiz, son of the famous anthropologist launched his inaugural restaurant and microbrewery in 1997,…

Mexican New Mexico Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho Tacos

Las Villas Taqueria – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoApril 23, 2026April 26, 202612:01 AM

Upon learning that a new Mexican restaurant named “Las Villas Taqueria” would be launching in Rio Rancho, the bilingual lexicologist in me didn’t immediately ponder the menu. Instead, my ruminations were of the translation of “Las Villas,” a Spanish term with several meanings depending on context. I pondered whethr the restaurant was named for small towns or settlements or for luxurious country homes, both translations of the term “las villas.” Then again, “Villas” is a common Spanish surname. After a superb meal with my dear friend Bill Resnik, I came to the conclusion that “Las Villas” is actually a diminutive form of “las maravillas,” or “the wonders.” That’s wonder as in “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by…

Mediterranean New Mexico Rating: Very Good Rio Rancho

Al-quds Mediterranean Grill II – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoApril 20, 2026April 26, 202612:01 AM

The penultimate day of the 2023 International Balloon Fiesta will be memorable for many reasons. Foremost may be the 2023 annular eclipse whose path took it directly above the Balloon Fiesta Park, host of the world’s largest ballooning event. That day will be imprinted on our minds for another reason–our inaugural visit to Al-quds Mediterranean Grill in Rio Rancho. The second instantiation of perhaps Albuquerque’s most popular Middle Eastern restaurant is located on The Village on Rio Rancho, a timeworn shopping center that flourished in the early 1990s when Intel’s Fab 4 was fully operational. Neither owner Mohammad Abdeljalil or his son were in Rio Rancho during our inaugural visit. Our server assured us that the menu at the…

Asian Lao New Mexico Rating: Outstanding Rio Rancho Sushi Thai

Vong Sushi Thai and Laos Cuisine – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 28, 2026March 31, 202612:01 AM

Grammatically any of the following is correct: Laotian cuisine, Lao cuisine or the cuisine of Laos. Just don’t ever call it “Laosy cuisine.” That would not only be a malapropism, it would be wholly inaccurate. The cuisine of Laos is among the most dynamic and delicious in Southeast Asia, if not the world. One of the reasons Laotian cuisine doesn’t receive the accolades it deserves is because of its neighbors. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia bordered by Myanmar (formerly Burma), China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. To some extent, these neighbors (at least China, Vietnam and Thailand) have surpassed Laos on the world’s culinary stage–not necessarily because their cuisine is superior, but because it’s…

Italian New Mexico Pizza Rating: Good Rio Rancho

Aldo’s NY Pizzeria – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoFebruary 15, 2026April 5, 20263:35 PM

Being within walking distance of Intel, my place of employment for eighteen years, made this old fashioned pizzeria an easy choice. Excellent pizza and a surprisingly varied menu (especially for such a small storefront) made it the right choice! During Fab 9’s halcyon days Aldo’s, then named “Venezia,” was (along with the legendary Smokehouse) a virtual second home to Intel employees. Aldo’s has long been the right choice for Rio Rancho residents, many of whom have their familial roots in New York City just like Aldo’s NY Pizzeria has. Moreover, Aldo’s has deeper roots in the mother country where pizza was invented. When it first launched as Venezia, diners may have surmised that it was named for a family with…

New Mexico Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho Sandwich

That’s My Rez Sandwich – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoFebruary 10, 2026March 31, 202612:01 AM

Has life on the rez suddenly become mainstream? Increased exposure certainly seems to indicate that may be the case. In 2023, the novel Rez Ball received prestigious literary recognition, including the American Indian Youth Literature Award. PowWows.com described the novel as “rooted in the reservations, Rez Ball is a fast-paced and fiercely competitive form of basketball that showcases the spirit of Indigenous identity. Its aggressive defense and quick transitions reflect the strength and pride of Native American players, making it a powerful expression of culture.” In 2024, the subsequent movie, also titled Rez Ball, also earned accolades. Centered in New Mexico, the movie follow the Chuska Warriors, a Navajo high school basketball team, as they overcome personal challenges in pursuit…

Bakery Breakfast New Mexico Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho

Dulce River Bakery & Coffee – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoFebruary 5, 2026March 31, 202612:01 PM

“Siblings in an ancient tradition Who take time, temperature and love And bring them together To make something that brings people together. You make more than just food You make friendships. You make joy.” ~Thank You Bakers According to legend, the city of Vienna, Austria has bakers to thank for its existence. Those legends have it that in 1683, Vienna was under siege by over a hundred thousand Ottoman Turks. After months of trying to starve the city into submission, the Turks attempted to tunnel underneath the walls of the city. Fortunately for the “City o Dreams,” some bakers hard at work in the middle of the night heard the sounds of the Turks digging and alerted the city’s defenders.…

Breakfast Coffee New Mexico Rating: Outstanding Rio Rancho

Cafe Bella – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJanuary 18, 2026April 29, 20261:08 PM

Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze. It maketh me to wake in green pastures: It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses. It restoreth my buzz: It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction, I will fear no Equal: For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me. Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks: Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over. Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever. ~Author Unknown Among the many unflattering…

Chinese New Mexico Rating: Good Rio Rancho

Best Lee’s – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJanuary 12, 2026April 5, 202612:14 AM

When does confidence become audacity? Is there a point at which a claim becomes braggadocio? To what extent can you trust a review on a hometown magazine? These were all questions we sought to answer during our inaugural meal at a Rio Rancho Chinese restaurant with the quaint name “Best Lee’s.”Best Lee’s is ensconced in the Southern Plaza Shopping Center in the same suite that held Peking House, a Chinese restaurant so mediocre I chose not to write anything about it during our one and only visit. In truth, we thought Peking House was still happily torturing taste buds until reading the December-January 2007 edition of Rio Rancho magazine (now defunct). A published review practically gushed with effusiveness over a…

Albuquerque Burgers New Mexico Rating: Very Good Rio Rancho

Stackers Burger Co. – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoNovember 9, 2025April 5, 202612:01 AM

In baseball it’s called the “Triple Crown,”an incredibly rare achievement in which a player leads the league in average, home runs, and runs batted in. To win the triple crown, a player must tremendous power to hit for distance as well as a very keen eye to hit baseballs thrown at nearly 100 miles per hour and place them on the field in positions that result in driving in runs. In horse racing, the term Triple Crown represents a series of horse races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. To win all three of these races is even more rare. There’s another Triple Crown competition that’s even more challenging and difficult to win. That’s Edible’s Green…