A passing police officer was suspicious when he spotted us loitering outside of Nellie’s one morning before the cafe’s 8am opening.
“We’re waiting to eat,” we responded to his inquiry about our intentions.
Good answer. He broke into a big grin and said, “Best chile in town!”
In Las Cruces, the heart of chile country, such an avowal is no casual observation.
Inside the cozy cinderblock and glass brick restaurant, a sign on the wall confirms the kitchen’s priorities: “A day without chile is like a day without sunshine.”
Danny Ray Hernandez, Nellie’s son, makes vivid salsas using five to seven different types of chile and specializes in such eye-opening breakfasts as huevos a la Mexicana (scrambled with jalapenos) and eggs with chile and meat. For the latter you can get red or green or a side-by-side duet of both, known as Christmas. The red tastes of pure pod; the green is hot enough to require tongue-tamping with the kitchen’s pulchritudinous sopaipillas. Mr. Hernandez speculated that dry growing conditions over recent years have produced chiles in which the heat is more concentrated.
Years ago, Nellie’s and its offspring, Little Nellie’s Chile factory, served dinner. Today it is strictly a breakfast-and-lunch eatery.
Sunday | CLOSED |
Monday | CLOSED |
Tuesday | 8am - 3pm |
Wednesday | 8am - 3pm |
Thursday | 8am - 3pm |
Friday | 8am - 3pm |
Saturday | CLOSED |
Other Nearby Restaurants
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Little Diner
Canutillo, TexasLittle Diner of Canutillo, Texas, just outside El Paso, offers the best true Tex-Mex food: superb chili con carne, flautas, gorditas, and made-here tortillas.
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Chope’s
La Mesa, New MexicoIn the heart of New Mexico chile growing country, Chope’s is the locals’ favorite place to go for chilies rellenos, enchiladas, tamales, and tacos.
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Nopalito
Las Cruces, New MexicoExcellent New Mexico food at family-run Nopalito of Las Cruces: crisp-edged chilies rellenos, stacked enchiladas with beans and cheese and a fried egg on top.
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Hillsboro General Store
Hillsboro, New MexicoOff the beaten path in southern New Mexico, Hillsboro General Store is a destination small town café known for green chile cheeseburgers and bumbleberry pie.
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Sparky’s
Hatch, New MexicoIn Hatch, New Mexico (chile capital of the world), Sparky’s serves fine green chile cheeseburgers as well as chile-powered steaks, milk shakes, and lemonade.
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H&H Cafe & Car Wash
El Paso, TexasEl Paso’s H&H Cafe is also a car wash, providing travelers the opportunity to savor excellent Tex-Mex food then get on the road in a sparkling clean car.