Introduction

Kirtland Air Force Base is a part of the Air Force Global Strike Command and sits inside the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s a large installation that takes up 51,000 acres, and there over 23,000 people who live and work on base. Because it’s located in a major metro area, the options for dining in and taking out are extensive. No one is going to go hungry after PCSing here. Though there are a ton of choices, you’ll find this list details some of the best restaurants in Albuquerque and on Kirtland AFB. Know what you’re hungry for? Click the link to go straight to the information. (1-2) American Restaurants on Kirtland AFB (3) Coffee and Juice Shops on Kirtland AFB (4-5) Italian Restaurants near Kirtland AFB (6-9) American Restaurants near Kirtland AFB (10-11) Mexican and Latin Restaurants near Kirtland AFB (12-13) Asian Restaurants near Kirtland AFB (14-15) Veteran-Owned Restaurants near Kirtland AFB

Suggested Read:

Kirtland Air Force Base: In-Depth Welcome Center

Kirtland AFB Restaurants

American Cuisine

1. Bogey Bar & Grill

Kirtland AFB Tijeras Arroyo Golf Course Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 846-1169 The Bogey Bar & Grill is located at the Kirtland AFB golf course. It’s meant for golfers to use in between practicing their swings, but you can come by anytime for what they have on offer. You’ll find pretty classic American diner fare here, like burgers, wraps, baskets of fried food, breakfast, coffee, and beer. It’s a nice option for those times when you’re looking for some no-frills eats.

2. Sparetime Grille

Kirtland AFB Kirtland Bowling Lanes Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 846-6851 The Sparetime Grille is inside the Kirtland AFB bowling alley. It’s there for those nights when you and your friends or family are spending a late one on the lanes and having an absolute blast. Get yourself some fried finger food like sweet potato fries or onion rings and get back in the game. They also have more substantial eats like burgers and hot dogs for those who need the extra energy to nail that last strike.

Coffee and Juice Shops

3. Jitters Coffee Shop

Kirtland AFB Consolidated Support Building 20245 Albuquerque, NM 87123 Jitters is a coffee shop on base that serves up a variety of different flavors for your precise needs. They use Starbucks coffee here, along with the company’s recipes for lattes and chai teas. There’s an assortment of pastries and simple eats like bagels and sandwiches to plop down with at a table or take on the go.

4. Keva Juice

Kirtland AFB Texas St SE Albuquerque, NM 87117

Phone

: 1 (505) 846-1102 Keva Juice is a cleanser’s paradise. You can find a zillion different recipes for smoothies and fresh juice here. You can pick up pitaya and acai bowls here, too, and pack your body with all kinds of nutrients to burn in field exercises later. You’ll be met with a ton of choices from non-dairy to veggie smoothies.

Best Restaurants in Albuquerque

Italian Cuisine

5. Trombino’s Bistro Italiano

5415 Academy Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109

Phone

: 1 (505) 821-5974 If you’re craving Italian, then Trombino’s Bistro Italiano is the place you want to go. It’s a family owned operation with great ambience and a huge variety of classic dishes. Everything here is made from scratch. Order wine or craft cocktails to go along with your entree.

6. Dion’s

8525 Jefferson NE Albuquerque, NM 87113

Phone

: 1 (505) 296-0771 Dion’s is a pizza and sub shop with a major presence in the community. They coordinate volunteer activities and provide grants for organizations like the Children’s Grief Center. They have a great selection of original recipe pizzas and gourmet pies, and you can even make your own. There are also a variety of subs and other things to take out or eat while you’re here.

American Cuisine

7. Owl Cafe

800 Eubank Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 291-4900 The Owl Cafe is a great place to get that great southwest flavor. You’ll find mostly American food here like burgers and wraps, with huge portions that are great for packing up and taking home leftovers. The southwestern flare comes in as they tweak the flavors to match the region, as in the case of the green chili cheeseburger. They like to have a lot of fun here with their food and their customers. The Owl Cafe has a handful of local awards from discerning Albuquerque food critics.

8. Bombs Away Beer Company

9801 Acoma Rd SE Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 554-3204 The Bombs Away Beer Company is an Albuquerque brewery where you can come by to enjoy a great craft beer made by an Air Force veteran. John Degnaro founded the place in 2017 after serving 14 years as an airman. There are some great-looking options here to munch on, like the cubano missile panini, and the frito pie. The list of beers on tap changes regularly, but some of the options you might find include the detonator dark lager, frag out imperial stout, bombs away IPA, and the all clear! apple beer.

9. Vick’s Vittles Country Kitchen

8810 Central Ave SE Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 298-5143 Vick’s Vittles Country Kitchen is a southwestern-style country food joint with a long history as a community favorite. You get huge portions made with love that this kind of food is known for, like big pork chops, liver and onions, fried catfish, and much more. You can also get breakfast foods, sandwiches and burgers, salads, and New Mexican dishes. They have room for big parties if you call ahead.

Latin and Mexican Cuisine

10. Acapulco Tacos and Burritos

840 San Mateo Blvd. SE Albuquerque, NM 87108

Phone

: 1 (505) 268-9865 Acapulco Tacos and Burritos is a little cabana that might not be a lot to look at, but it’s an extremely popular spot that’s consistently recommended for great quality food. They’ve been around for 45 years. There’s a lot of great options here and you can’t go wrong, from the tacos to the breakfast plates, you’ll be inspired to come back again and again.

11. Sadie’s of New Mexico

15 Hotel Circle NE Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 296-6940 Sadie’s of New Mexico is a classy Mexican restaurant with a 50-year history in the area. It’s a family owned business that uses fresh ingredients and keeps people coming back every day. The portions here are huge, and you can find Mexican food with New Mexican input in their tacos, burritos, nachos, and more. Sadie’s salsa is also pretty famous for being delicious, and it’s sold offsite in stores.

Asian Cuisine

12. Pho Linh

9100 Central Ave. SE Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

: 1 (505) 266-3368 Pho Linh is a popular Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque. There’s a ton of great food, from the classic pho noodles to seafood soup and clay pot fried rice. They also do catering and host parties at guest’s request. Best of all, they offer a 10% military discount for dining in.

13. An Hy Quan Vegetarian Restaurant

1405 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112

Phone

: 1 (505) 332-8565 An Hy Quan is an Albuquerque vegetarian restaurant with the chops to stand up to the meat lovers out there. It’s a wildly popular place and great for anyone with dietary restrictions. The food is Vietnamese inspired and makes use of a variety of tasty applications of faux meat. This is the place to go for picky eaters or those with real concerns about their intake, but it’s also a fantastic option for everyone to take advantage of.

Veteran-Owned Restaurants in Albuquerque

14. Chicago Pizza Kitchen

4300 Eubank Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87111

Phone

: 1 505-332-2270 Rated 4.7 stars on Grubhub, this veteran-owned pizza joint is the place to go if you are craving an authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Many locals who have been to Chicago swear it is like eating the real thing.

15. El Charritos New Mexican Restaurant

4703 Central Ave NW. Albuquerque, NM 87105

Phone

: 1 (505) 836-2464 This place is a must-go according to the locals, with some coming back again and again for over 20 years. Just check out the Tripadvisor reviews!

Conclusion

There are a ton of restaurants near Kirtland AFB due to the city of Albuquerque serving as host to the base. With so many options, it’s difficult to sift through them all and figure out which ones are worthwhile. Fortunately, there’s easily something for everyone here, and judging by the popularity of the places on this list, it’s going to be hard to go wrong with any of them. Getting PCS orders to a new base is stressful enough without having to worry about what you’ll be eating from now on. But Kirtland is home to so many great choices that the whole family will be happy no matter where you eat next.  

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