El Maria Bonita – Pecos, NM

El Maria Bonita

After a trip to the Pecos National Historic Park brought me to Pecos, New Mexico, I found myself driving around looking for a place to eat. Pecos is a smaller town of about 1,300 located about a half hour southeast of Santa Fe. As I was driving a sign caught my eye. For possibly the first time I actually turned around to get to a restaurant! There was something about the sign and the building that had me convinced that this was a perfect place for the Fatman.

Like a siren the sign drew me in and when I got inside I found a quaint little diner. Only a few tables but with a really comfortable vibe. A group of construction workers were the only others in the restaurant when I got there. You know that those guys know all the best local places so I was in the right spot!

The Food!

Now to the important part…The Food! As is one of my customs when I am trying a new place is to ask the server what they recommend. El Maria Bonita had a fairly extensive menu of Mexican and southwest styles of food so I was a bit surprised when the hamburger was what was suggested. I’m not one to argue with the suggestion so I went ahead and ordered the hamburger with some chips and salsa.

Chips and Salsa

I started with the chips and salsa and they were really good. It was more blended and not super chunky but had a really nice spice to it that I liked a lot. The chips also looked like they were made right there on sight and were nice and crispy and big enough to get a lot of salsa per chip.

Pecos Burger

Now to the burger. This was so good! The patty was nice and thick and probably about a half pound. It was topped with really fresh green chilies that gave it a nice smoky flavor with a bit of a spice. I also got it with bacon and cheese on it and the bacon was really rich and delicious. Really fresh lettuce and tomatoes were the perfect topper for the burger. I have to say, this is one of the best burgers that I have had in one of my adventures.

There was a side of hand cut fries that came with the burger and they were delicious as well. Nice and big, hand cut wedges that were crispy on the outside and a little soft on the inside. Lightly salted and really really good. So much better than the machine cut fast food fries that we are so accustomed to!

It is not everyday that I turn the car around to get back to a restaurant on one of my journeys but I am so glad I did. The food at El Maria Bonita was really good and the small restaurant had a charming atmosphere. It was more like someone invited me into their home and took pride in what they served me than a big restaurant. I was really impressed. If you find yourself in Pecos, New Mexico, give El Maria Bonita a shot!

Finding El Maria Bonita

This is a bit embarrassing but I can’t find the El Maria Bonita! I ate there but it hasn’t quite made it to Google maps yet. I can tell you that it is located on New Mexico SR 50 near Pondersa Lane and next to Bobby’s Park. The sign was visible from the road and that is what drew me in.

I have added this restaurant and all of the restaurants I have been to on my interactive map that you can find here. If you have a suggestion for a restaurant or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Bon Appetit!

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Unlike some other bloggers, I never ask for discounted or free meals on my site. I think it is important, especially now, to support our local restaurants and small business owners. It does get expensive though! Plus, I am just a small business myself so if you are willing to help me out by making a donation below I would greatly appreciate it and be able to continue to bring you the content you love!

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