Earl’s Family Restaurant – Gallup, New Mexico

Two years after the end of the “second war to end all wars,”  a hamburger joint in Gallup first opened its doors.  What started out as a small burger place with scant seating (four stools and a couple of booths) has grown over the years to accommodate legions of loyal guests, some of whom have been frequenting Earl’s Family Restaurant practically since its inception.  Today, the seating capacity at Earl’s approximates 300.   That’s just barely enough to accommodate crowds during peak hours  Earl’s is open seven days a week fror breakfast, lunch and dinner. At nearly eighty years of serving Gallup residents and travelers along historic Route 66, Earl’s shows no signs of surcease.

As you amble through the canopied walkway to the restaurant’s entrance, you’ll pass by several tables lining the walkway.  Stationed at those tables are several intrepid Native Americans hawking their wares, braving rain, snow and gloom of night to do so.   This is among the many charming aspects of dining at Earl’s.  You’ll enjoy occasional visits to your table by local artisans from the Native American community.  They’re never intrusive nor will they ever push you to purchase their wares (like some of annoying door-to-door vacuum cleaner salespeople).   Other Native Americans will wait on your table.  They’re unfailingly polite and friendly.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 52.5% of Gallup’s population identifies as American Indian.   The fact that they dine and work at Earl’s speaks highly to reasons for the restaurant’s longevity.

So does the menu, a melange of American, New Mexican and Native American favorites.  Though New Mexico’s sacrosanct red and green chile are offered on many entrees, chile is mispelled (as “chili”) throughout the menu.  It’s interesting because illuminated “Bueno Chile” signage over the kitchen counter contradicts the offensive spelling on the menu.  Yeah, it’s  nit, but this is 2025 and this is New Mexico where “chili” is something served at backward states.   Be forewarned–portions at Earl’s are humongous, easily a full day’s worth of calories.  If you’re on the road, beware of postprandial somnolence (falling asleep while driving).  Half portions are available for small appetites and seniors.

Earl’s menu is of the comfort food variety, especially for those of us raised in New Mexico.  You’ll find everything from sandwiches and burgers to such New Mexican favorites as enchiladas, tacos and burritos.  If you’re tempted (as we were) to order a Navajo taco, the ground beef is laden with cumin, the malodorous seasoning that should never be used on New Mexican chile (a Gil opinion with which you may or may not agree).  Other menu items in which ground beef is part and parcel are also seasoned with cumin though burger patties are not.  Daily specials are posted on a sign board as you walk in, but you might be distracted by the pastry case in which mouth-watering desserts offer temptation not even Job could resist.

Appetizers include a combo plate featuring onion rings, fried zucchini and cheese sticks.  You can also order guacamole and homemade chips.  Salsa and chips is a better option if you’re jonesing for something with a little bit of heat.   A little bit of heat is about all you’ll get with the salsa which wouldn’t register very high on the Scoville scale.  The homemade chips are rather on the salty side.  In addition to the salsa, you’ll be served a small bowlful of bean dip.  It’s also got just a bit of heat, but is quite tasty.

Burger options are always interesting.  Earl’s offers “Fresh Gourmet Angus Ground Chuck Burgers” which top the scales at a whopping half-pound.   A “Mexican Burger” is the restaurant’s version of New Mexico’s hallowed green chile cheeseburger.  For something unique in the “everything but the kitchen sink” manner, try the “chili burger deluxe (open-face with shredded cheese, lettuce, onions, corn chips and your choice of red or green “chili” all topped with French fries or tots.  You can order this behemoth burger at half-pound or quarter-pound sizes.  It’s everything you could possibly want in a burger…and more.  For me, the “more” would be more heat.  Chile that doesn’t bite me back isn’t chile to me.

My Kim doesn’t do chile at all, but she loves patty melts.  Earl’s offers an All American pastty melt (American cheese, grilled onions, dark rye served with fries or tots).  It’s a big sandwich with big flavors.  Grilled onions are a very nice touch.  So is the thick Angus beef patty.  In this age of  waifishly thin “smash burgers,” it’s refreshing to see a thick patty.  Prepared at medium-well, it’s moist and juicy.  A dab of mustard and you’ve got many of the flavors of a burger albeit with an earthy, slightly sour dark rye.

Despite the pulchritude on display in the pastry case, our server talked us into a small bowl of soft-serve ice cream.  It’s complimentary (free) and like the restaurant and its staff, worthy of accolades and compliments.

Earl’s Family Restaurant
1400 E Historic Hwy 66
Gallup, New Mexico
505) 863-4201
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LATEST VISIT: 24 October 2025
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET:  Chips, Salsa and Bean Dip; Patty Melt; Chili Burger Deluxe
REVIEW #1495