Barbacoa Archives - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

2026 James beard Foundation: "Best Chef - Southwest" Semifinalist Arizona Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Mexican Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Tacos United States

Tacos Chiwas – Phoenix, Arizona

Gil GardunoJuly 21, 2026August 10, 202612:01 AM

The city of Phoenix has a population of approximately 1.66 million residents, making it the fifth most populous city in the United States. As anchor for the broader Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler-Scottsdale-Tempe, etc., etc. metropolitan area, more than 4.8 million people call the Valley Of The Sun home. So no, it’s not glutted with designer taco shops competing with modest mom-and-pop taco joints. As in Austin, Texas, there can’t be nearly enough taco shops to appease denizens and visitors who believe tacos should be on the USDA food pyramid–maybe at the top right above pizza and burgers. At the risk of delving (or…

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…

Albuquerque Breakfast Dog Friendly Mexican New Mexico Rating: Very Good Tacos

Foodtopia – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJuly 13, 2023April 3, 202612:01 AM

When a restaurant with the curious name “Foodtopia” surfaced in 2022, long-suffering readers of Gil’s Thrilling… probably realized an etymology lesson would soon be in order. If the suffix “topia” intrigued you as much as it did your grandiloquent blogger, hang on. First, a review of what we all know. Utopia is “a seemingly perfect society, one without flaws, where everyone is content and conflict and strife are unknown.” One example of a Utopian society is the movie Zootopia in which animals live in harmony and lions sing kumbaya with antelope. More common than movies about Utopian societies are…

Dog Friendly Food Truck Mexican New Mexico Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho

No Te Rajes – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMay 26, 2023April 5, 202612:01 AM

As the eldest of six, I had the wonderful blessing of having spent more time with our dad than my siblings did. Dad was the embodiment of the term “gentle man,” a patient mentor and nurturing exemplar of how to be a father and friend. During our many outings, dad always had the radio tuned to KDCE, “The Station That’s All Heart” out of Espanola. KDCE played the New Mexican and Mexican songs dad grew up with and loved. Among his favorites (frequently on KDCE’s repertoire) was Ay Jalisco No Te Rajes by Jorge Negrete. It became one of my…

Albuquerque Breakfast Dog Friendly Mexican New Mexico Tacos

Los Olivos – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJanuary 27, 2023February 11, 202312:01 AM

For many New Mexicans, Durango, Colorado is much more familiar than Durango, Mexico. In truth, however, Mexico’s Durango may actually have more historical significance and ties to the Land of Enchantment than its like-named resort town in Colorado. That’s especially true for the Catholic Churches of New Mexico. Episcopal jurisdiction for the Catholic church in New Mexico was placed in 1797 under the stewardship of the Bishop of Durango. New Mexico remained part of the Diocese of Durango until 1850 when Pope Pius IX created the Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico and appointed Father Jean Baptiste Lamy as its first…

Dog Friendly Mexican New Mexico Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Rio Rancho Tacos

Tap N Taco – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoApril 6, 2022April 5, 202612:01 AM

Imagine Marty McPlata, a 17 year old Rio Rancho High School student who gets transported back in time seven years to 2015. With the help of his mad scientist friend Bill Resnikoff, he makes his way back to the future to the year from which he left–2022. Significant changes and burgeoning growth have transpired in the City of Vision since he left. Among one of the improvements by subtraction is the absence of one of the city’s three Burger King restaurants, a multi-national chain he drove past only because it was on the way to Corrales. Marty smiled at the…