Unfortunately, I didn't get to try this place out. We showed up shortly after opening time. They open at 11 and we got there around 11:10. Â One of the staff actually ran inside the front door as we pulled in to the front of the restaurant, so they knew we were there. It had started to rain and we were definitely hungry. Unfortunately, when we got to the front of the restaurant, the door was locked (after a staff member had already run inside). We tried knocking on the front door and my sister went up to one of the windows to see if someone would let us in. We tried for about 5 minutes and then went drove across the street to the Owl Bar and Cafe on that pouring, rainy day.
I won't be going back to Buckhorn. They lost a potential customer.
for a dive, the Buckhorn burger is pretty good. they only cook the meat well. Â I typically like mine medium rare. Â The burger didn't seem dense either which I think is pretty good. Â I wasn't to impressed with the onion rings. I guess considering the location of the place, it is a gem.
Review Source:Went right after it aired on food network throw down with bobby flay. It was crazy waited for about twenty minutes to get seated. but worth the wait. Probably one of the best green Chile cheese burgers i have Had been back a few times, stopped on the way back from Las Vegas NV, with my daughter and her friend, they said the same thing, one of the best burgers they ever had. Oh and they serve beer! can't  have a good green Chile cheese burger with out a cold beer!!!
Review Source:I love hidden treasures like these in the Southwest!! Especially with the high ratings from The Food Network, New York Times, etc, I loved how the servers were chill and were not like other pompous servers who act like we would waste their time eating there. As for the interior- Â the walls are filled with beer neon and street signs, but it looked cool and mysterious as if you don't know what's going to happen next. As for the food, it was like what the critics raved, DELICIOUS!!
Review Source:To quote Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction - "Now that is a tasty burger!"
Now, I have never had that Big Kahuna burger - but I am sure The Buckhorn's Green Chile Cheeseburger can take it any day. This is by far the best place in NM to eat a burger. When traveling I-25 between Las Cruces and ABQ, be sure to stop in for a taste. Just be sure you are not in a hurry. In fact, as soon as you walk in, there is a sign saying something like "Buckhorn is not a fast food resturant - if you are in a hurry, this is not for you". And that is quite true. When I was there, only two waitresses were working about twenty tables. But when  you have a burger this good: 1) It's worth the wait; and 2) you will want to cherish each bite.
I was in New Mexico on a family visit/ Mexican food pilgrimage and this was my first stop of many in the Land of Enchantment. Â My cousin told me about this place and said I needed to try the green chili cheese burger on my way to Las Cruces from Albuquerque. Â It did not disappoint.
The burger was the prefect balance of meat, bun, cheese, condiment, spice, and green chili. Â If you've never had good New Mexican chili it is hard to explain. Â All I can say is that like a smell from your childhood, you can always remember the taste of perfect green chili and Buckhorn nails it.
I ate here shortly after opening on a weekday. Â I've heard it can get very busy and the wait can be a long time. Â Luckily there was only two other people there so I got in and out. Â I will definitely be stopping next time I am in New Mexico.
Saw this place on Throwdown and wanted to go if I ever got a chance. Â I was able to stop by for dinner while driving from Las Cruces to Albuquerque for work. Â I love green chiles and their aren't any better ones than New Mexico's. Â The green chile burger was perfect and everything I wanted it to be, simple and full of green chile goodness. Â The fries were ok but that wasn't why I was there, so I am not knocking them for it. Â Manny was there so that was pretty cool too. Â The atmosphere was great and being off the beaten path in a small town makes it that much better.
If I get a chance to drive past San Antonio, NM again I will definitely be going back. Â If not I will have fond memories of Manny's chile burger.
We drove up north to attend the 2012 Festival of the Cranes and decided to stop at Manny's Buckhorn for lunch. Â We were fortunate to meet the owner, Bobby Olquin, soon after arriving. Â His friendliness and charm made our lunch a pleasant experience. Â Our friends from Albuquerque joined us for a delightful lunch. Â We all had the restaurants specialty, burgers. Â My wife and I had the official specialty, the Green Chile Cheeseburger. Â The burgers were absolutely scrumptious. Â Our basket of fries to share were also very good. Â It helped make the trip very worthwhile, since we were then treated to views of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese at the Bosque del Apache. Â Would definitely return to dine at the 'Buckhorn', and to visit the Bosque!
Review Source:First off - Don't even think about ordering anything else - This is the place for green chile cheeseburgers. Made with Hatch chiles, and meat that was freshly ground that day!
Second - You must be patient, very patient. You come in and if it is busy they serve in the order you come in and everybody waiting keeps track of what the order of the line is, no matter where you wait. Everybody knows and it is up to you to know even though you are not standing or sitting in a line to honor the line and be like a local who knew everybody by name. Be social introduce yourself and make friends with the others in the line. (if you are in a hurry, just skip lunch and move on)
----------------
Yep it is worth the wait. Yep you will meet some very interesting characters. Yep it is true local color. Yep I would go back. Yep I would tell you to give it a try. Yep it looks like a well used country cabin, and You better get there while it is still standing!
I stopped here on the way to Albuquerque from Alamogordo. The Owl was closed that day, so I stopped here (it's across the street). There is signage everywhere and framed newspaper/magazine articles proclaiming this shack home of the #7 burger in the United States.
"Overrated" would not even begin to describe the burger I received. I ordered the Green Chile burger and fries, which at $12 was not particularly cheap. The fries were soggy and oversalted, clear evidence of either not having been properly fried, prepared prior to frying, or thawed out improperly from the freezer. So salty I could barely eat five of them before I had to push them aside.
So, the burger - it was large, but that's about it. The bun it sat on was undersized compared to the patty, so the sandwich fell apart when I picked it off the plate, leaving bits of hamburger patty behind. The meat was tender but quite dry, burnt, and overcooked. Clearly, the cook was pressing down on the patty with his turner, a no-no in the world of burgers, since that pushes all the fat out of the burger. The green chile (definitely not fresh) made the bun so soggy that halfway through I had to pick apart the sandwich and eat the components individually.
Service was non-existent. The place was deserted but it took me 5 minutes of standing by the door until the server even looked in my direction, and another 15 minutes until they were ready to take my order (the menu is ONE PAGE!). I realize there is a sign by the front door saying that this establishment is not a "fast food restaurant," but my experience here was so subpar "slow food" would have been an overstatement.
I realize that if you're from a rural area where independent restaurants are rare this may seem like a gem, but objectively it is not. I've even had better service (and food) in the mom-and-pop cafes elsewhere in the state. I will not be back. Maybe I'll try the Owl someday, though.
Sharon reviews Buckhorn, San Antonio, New Mexico
Being a person raised in rural New Mexico, green chile cheeseburgers are a staple as are the little out of the way places that serve them. Â The Buckhorn serves one of the best green chile cheeseburgers that I have ever eaten, and I have eaten a lot. Â I used to believe that Blake's Lotaburger was the best, but The Buckhorn is right up there.
If you are ever in the Socorro, New Mexico area, perhaps on your way south to Las Cruces or going north towards Albuquerque, you have to stop here. Â It is about 1.5 hour drive from Albuquerque in San Antonio, New Mexico. Â Be warned though, it keeps odd hours. Â I have never gone when it has been closed, I stick to evenings like Friday and Saturdays. Â It usually closes at 8ish. Â It may be closed on holidays. Â Basically, it is run by a family so you have to understand that they have lives too! Â Also the wait, it is worth it, but it is a wait sometimes. Â It makes you more hungry anyway and so the burger is better!
First, the atmosphere. Â It is very interesting. Â If you like cabin in the woods like, taxidermy cougars and kitch, you will love it! Â I loved it. Â Tiny place, but a nice bar to sit at and sometimes there is a band in the back room. Â There is a lot to look at. Â Now the food - order the specialty - the green chile cheeseburger and the fries. Â I like to order a root beer to go along with it. Â DELISH. Â It is very big so you can share, but I don't I eat the whole thing. Â I share fries though, can't stuff it all in! Â The buns are big and I only eat one bun, so that helps. Â You have to stop on in because the owner - Manny - will be there and he is great to talk to. Â Hope to see you there one day!
The burgers were delicious, but overpriced. Fries are billed separate, my family shared a basket of fries, we had three burgers and a hot dog (with no bun because they ran out). Our bill was nearly $40 and we waited over an hour for our food. We will not be going back, the burgers were good but not worth the price or wait.
Review Source:The burgers are tasty, large, simple with ample green chile. We went and found Manny, the owner and chef out front relaxing. He is like a Hispanic Don Rickles who starting insulting us the minute we arrived up until we left...and they pride themselves in not charging for the entertainment (the insults). Manny is the biggest Mexican I have ever met and makes things interesting. The burgers are worth the visit and the insults are free. Drop by have a burger and watch out for Manny as he can dish out the insults and kicked Bobby Flay's butt.
Review Source:The Green Chile Burger was my favorite burger that Ive ever had. The burger itself was cooked to perfection on a griddle. Aside from some pretty basic toppings       (tomato, onions and mustard), this burger comes with perfectly sauteed green chile's on top that is like nothing I have ever tried. The perfect amount of heat mixed bursting with flavor makes this place a must try. After finishing one I quickly ordered another. If your with in a three hour drive its worth the trip!
Review Source:In our vacation's down time, I would channel surf and would often be watching Food Network. Lo and behold while we were visiting New Mexico, Food Network's Throwndown with Bobby Flay was showing. Â In the show, it seemed like the green chile burger is a must try. So, my husband and I trekked to the place to try it out. The place has great ambiance. Â What I like the most is that the owner himself will try to seat you. Â Yes, we saw Manny! :D
He's a pretty good guy. I didn't think the place is too pricey since they give you a huge burger. Â Nom!
cant beleive this place doesnt have more reviews. peeps here in nm havent heard of yelp. well everyone knows this guy battled bobby flay and won, so of course i had to try since i love a good burger. the sign says #7 best burger in america so my mouth was just watering by then. well talk about love at 1st bite, this is the best burger i ever had! just the blend of good quality meat,cheese,green chili,onions,mustard went perfect together. the green chili was just right to me, gave u a little kick but not overpowering and didnt take over the burger. i was going to abq and nodding my head yea! all the way with a big burger smile. just a little pricey with fries and a drink $12-$13 but u get what u payed for! well worth it
Review Source:The Buckhorn is good, but the chile tastes like it is out of a can. Â The fries are ok, but they usually skimp on the cheese and they taste like they were frozen.
Also, this place is expensive! Â You can feed 5 at the Owl Bar for around $45. Â That same $45 feeds 3.5 people at the Buckhorn. Â
The Food Network has given this place an ego and made it suck.
You'll get a good burger at the Buckhorn, but for a GREAT burger, you need only cross the street to the Owl.
The Buckhorn may very well serve a great burger on occasion, and if Food Network's Bobby Flay comes to town they likely pull out all the stops. Â But for the general non-famous (yet!) diner like me, the burger was just average/good. Â While the patty was formed of excellent ground beef, it was woefully underseasoned which was noticeable even under the condiments and green chile. Â While the top bun had the look of having been toasted, the bottom bun was actually cold to the touch.
What made it worse was the fact that the green chile looked and tasted like it came not from the roaster but from the "Bueno Foods" can (hence the neon "Bueno Chile" sign on the wall). Â The bright green, flavorless chile didn't compare to the darker, roasted-looking and roasted-tasting chile that I like to see (and more importantly, taste) on my green chile cheeseburgers.
The rings and fries were just OK, and amazingly similar to those frozen fare offered at the Owl. Â Although unlike the Owl, the onion rings at the Buckhorn were a bit too difficult to chew for my taste.
Finally, a word about atmosphere and service. Â There was one very friendly and very over-worked waitress to serve a full house. Â At almost $30 for our two-person check, this seems very chinsy and not fair to the eager clientele like us who were lured by the national attention the Buckhorn has recently received. Â The atmosphere is OK, but it seems more about the Buckhorn's notariety than whatever original charm it might have had before its ego got a bit ahead of it, and before publicity got more important than the value and quality of the dining experience it offers.
I am so glad I stopped here. Â This was a find. Â Getting close to a major highway and chain restaurant hell, I was looking for some lunch and this place happened to be in the perfect location.
They are known for their Green Chile Cheeseburger. Â In fact the owner threw down with Bobby Flay on his Food Network show Throwdown with Bobby Flay and won off of this menu item.
When in San Antonio, do as the San Antone's do.
What else was I going to order?
Cooked medium, with a side of fries, the burger comes heaped with green chile, onions, tomatoes and mustard on a nice soft bun. Â I ordered a side of fries and an iced tea.
The burger came out nice and pink. Â This is not fast food as the sign says upon walking in. Â You will wait for your food and you will like it.
If you happen to be down here, stop in. Â It will stop you from having to go to McDonalds on the way up Highway 25.
We were in Socorro for training and were told we needed to come down here and try out the Buckhorn. Glad we did.
If looks were ever deceiving, this would be the time and place. But, as cliche's go, don't judge a book by it's cover. Â The Buckhorn burger was delicious.
Unpretentious establishment that knows what it does well, and does it! I will let the burger speak for itself, or you can read the review from QG magazine or watch the Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Food Network) episode if you need more prodding.
We were on a roadtrip down I-25 and had heard about the Owl (another bar and burger place across the street from the Buckhorn). I checked out the reviews of the Owl the night before we'd pass through town and there were several REALLY bad reviews of the Owl (on Yelp and other sites), but I didn't see any bad reviews of the Buckhorn.
So.. for the burger. We both went with the classic green chile cheeseburger and agreed that it was very good. Whether or not it is the 7th best in the country is debatable. I've had LOTS of better burgers, but this one is tasty, cheesy goodness. Yum. And the fact that it's served up in the middle of nowhere at a little bar that's been around for 70 years.. that just adds to the charm of it all. Is it a bit overhyped? Yes. But if you're passing by around lunchtime, it's a great place to stop for a burger.
Don't expect anything fancy and you won't be diappointed.
Hole-in-the-wall dining at its down-and-dirty best!
Third time's a charm -- but, then again, so were my first two visits to this cozy little bar & grill out in the middle of the New Mexican nowhere. Took my wife and her folks out tonight and treated them to cheeseburgers ranked 7th in the nation by GQ magazine. I promise you that ain't no hype, neither.
This eatery came to my attention when Manny's Buckhorn Burger beat out Bobby Flay's green chile cheeseburger in a throw-down on the Food Network. Since then, we've made the effort to eat here every time we visit the in-laws. It's an hour drive to get there but well worth it.
The food is always great but it truly excels on nights the owner, Bob, works the grill. A nationally-ranked harmonica player, he hands over chef duties twice a week to jam with his band, truly a treat in itself. There's a full bar and a nice selection of beer, too. And did I mention the food is great?
If you find yourself in the Land of Enchantment, go out of your way and treat yourself to one of the most enchanting dives in the land.
I would like to give Buckhorn 5 stars but I can't. Â Having only had one GCCB in my entire life, I can't make a judgment that Buckhorn is "as good as it gets." Â But it's very, very close.
I love this place. Â Will try to update this review to give more details but for now, I'm out of time. Â If I'm ever, ever in the area again, I will be there. Â For fairness though, I will certainly also try the joint across the street.
For a roadhouse in the middle of nowhere, Buckhorn has a respectable beer selection too.
4.5 stars.
I don't know if I'd say it's the 7th best burger in the U.S. but it sure was good. Now the big question, which is better, here or across the street at the Owl. We ate at the Owl yesterday. Â You can see my review of the Owl here as well.
Here's my opinion. The actual burger was tastier here, but the green chili was more flavorful at the Owl. The Buckhorn was a couple of bucks less expensive, but I'd say the better of the two goes to the Owl. Â If you're in the area, check them out. You can't go wrong with either place.
Okay, so Bobby Flay took it easy on him, but hey, the owner of this place makes one mean green chile cheeseburger! Â Please see my previous review of the Owl, right across the street. Â Seriously, the Buckhorn has a better tasting burger in my opinion. Â The patties were thicker, cooked well. Â If they're open, to me, they edge out the Owl despite them, being a little more expensive.
Review Source:
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