Ajiaco Colombian Bistro

Mexican and, even more so, New Mexican places are a dime a dozen here in the Duke City. This place is different. Think of it as the Colombian version of Tucano’s.
The empanadas are fantastic, and also a good take-​home snack (although I didn’t see the green chile version when I was in South America ;)). My parents split the picada, which is a dish for two or three, unless you are a 210-​pound football player. It has nearly every meat imaginable, plus yucca, which is a root vegetable, and fingerling potatoes.
Service was excellent! Our waiter knew it was my mom’s first time having Colombian food and my dad’s since he went to Bogota circa 1972. So, he was patient and answered all our questions.
Only regret is that we didn’t have room for dessert.

This place was ridiculously good. Everything we tried was full of fresh, bright flavors– from the fruit juices to the appetizers (try the arepas!) and the meals to the desserts. The ropa vieja was tender and flavorful, the vegetarian plate was incredible– roasted peppers surrounding stewed eggplant and yam with balsamic reduction. The mango flan was great, too.

Wow is this little gem incredible! This is my second time and I loved it just as much as the first time. The guanabana juice is refreshing and sweet. For appetizer I got the yuca frita (fried cassava root) which comes with an amazing green sauce to dip. I got the vegetarian plate and was not disappointed! It’s so flavorful and beautifully displayed. Anytime I visit ABQ, I’ll make sure to stop here!

Just arrived from a long flight, and this happened:
Me: I’m hungry, what do you want to eat honey?
Her: Hmmm, a hamburger.
Me: No.
Opened Unilocal,and option # 13 was this Colombian gem. Great environment, even better service, and even better taste. Soup was amazing, their guanabana and passion fruit drinks were very refreshing, and food was very tasty.
Definitely going back. And my wife, she thanked me for not going to Fuddruckers.

Rather slow service. Food is rich but still came across to me as bland. If you love Columbia I’d say its worth a try but not sure I will return.

What a great place to go for lunch. The atmosphere is quite allowing you to have a conversation and the staff are extremely polite and helpful. The menu is very creative and nicely surprising!
The Carne Con Arepa was full of flavor and the ribeye was cooked perfectly. The chimichurri added to the ribeye or arepa was excellent! The Arroz Con Pollo was a nice alternative to a red meat dish. The salad compliments the chicken well.
If your looking for somewhere different for lunch and a little bit off of Central this is definitely a great place to try!

Wow!!! I’ve tried Colombian food in the past, mostly in Florida. And this place has definitely changed my lack of craving for Colombian. Everything we ordered was delicious. A new favorite place to frequent.

You know when you’re trying to tell someone how you feel, but you just can’t find the right words? You might prematurely drop the «love» bomb, but you don’t care because that’s how you feel. Sound familiar? Well, that’s what I felt when I ate at Ajiaco. And I regret nothing. I meant everything I said, everything I ate, down to the last crumb on my plate.
I was blown away by the love that is radiating from this place. You can see this family is passionate about what they do. You can taste their dedication. You can smell their hours of prepping, stewing, perfecting. All of your senses are perfectly stimulated in this experience, and it is worth every minute and every penny.
100 times over, yes yes yes. You must try Ajiaco!

Columbian food has thick corn «tortilla» cakes, sausages, fresh fruits and vegetables. Try the plantain or yucca. My hubby had the blood sausages and I had a crisp salad with a nice egg on top. Prices are very reasonable, atmosphere great and food experience excellent.

Four of us came to this Colombian restaurant once it was spotted on Unilocal.We were the first to arrive ahead of the dinner crowd. The bright interior and home-​like décor consisted of natural sunlight, cultural artifacts, small light bulbs that dangled from the ceilings, and several breakout dining rooms. The atmosphere had a bistro vibe without the snobbery and is appropriate for all occasions. We were told the Colombian chef and his wife carefully examine all the dishes before they leave the kitchen.
The Empanada de Pollo ($ 1.85) came with plenty of shredded chicken nicely seasoned embedded in a fried cornmeal exterior. The exterior was amazingly fried to perfection. Crisp with the grease completely blotted out so it tasted light and airy. We also had the chance to try several other Empanadas, and each was sizable and good to share.
The Arepas Chicharepa ($ 5) came with deep fried pork rinds, and corn cake that arrived fluffy and softer than a pancake. The fried pork rinds turned out delicious but too stiff, and again, not greasy at all. The corn cake was easy to cut into, came with a finessed corn flavor, and thick enough for that noticeable chew. The only limitation is the lack of a third texture to go in-​between the two extremes.
The Arroz con Pollo ($ 11) encompassed rice, chicken, salad, and plantain. The rice was flavorful, paella-​like, and carried just the right texture with a hint of firmness. It was loaded with plenty of tender pieces of shredded chicken, supported by a mix of greens for texture and sweetness. The salad was fresh and lightly dressed, and the sweet plantains provided a wonderful finale. I recommend it.
Our server Liliana was pleasant, knowledgeable, attentive, and very kind. Our water was consistently filled, and we were able to stay there to socialize long after the meal. Corn, finessed flavors, and great plating were certainly the centerpiece of the experience. One of my favorite restaurants in the area, I would love to return to try their Patacon con Ropa Vieja and Bandeja Paisa. 4.5 stars for the overall experience.

It’s our first time in Albuquerque and we just happened to stumble upon this restaurant by chance, but thank goodness we did!
So impressed!
Humble space, but tastefully decorated. I order the Ajiaco soup, (which the restaurant is named after), and it was phenomenal. The flavors were rich and intriguing — kept your palate interested the whole time. My fiancée ordered a roasted chicken dish that I tasted and it was also wonderful!
These guys are doing a great job with their Colombian cuisine and making it taste mighty fine.
If/​when we return to Albuquerque, we will be sure to visit Ajiaco again!

Occasionally one finds oneself wishing to be truly «home» for dinner… but without all the mess. And fuss. If home is… or in fantasies could be… Columbia, then Ajiaco is a great place to go. Loved every bit of this straightforward, simply delicious meal. Fresh fruit juices were excellent, empanadas (&their sauce) were really tasty, our entrées were simple and truly satisfying. Moderately priced, great value, fabulous service!

Had dinner tonight with my girlfriend. On the food: I had the green chile empanada, and it and the chimichurri sauce it was served with were excellent. My partner had the pollo a la plancha and I had the bandeja paisa. The entrees were good, but not exceptional, and the steak that came with mine was essentially inedible because it was so tough. The prices are reasonable, but that steak was inexcusably terrible. The worst part? Two large parties came in ahead of us, and we waited more than an hour for our food because the kitchen could not handle the load. An inexcusable faux pas, on a Friday night, no less, likely their busiest night — no plans for the extra customers? Ugh. If the food wasn’t generally good, I’d be giving one star. The wait staff were helpful and apologetic, at least.

Great authentic Colombian meal! The place was simple, clean and small. Our favorite was the fried yuca with chimichurri. Everything was tasty and affordable.

A seriously delicious and refreshing place! It’s so nice to see something different and creative open up in the nob hill area. This place is as legit as it comes.
The inside is simple but well thought out. There’s only a few tables so you know you will be getting good service. We came in kind of late about an hour before close and the server still agreed to have us.(
We got the big sample plate for 2 and I can honestly say it was one of he best things I’ve ever ordered. The meats are authentic Colombian and are full of flavor that differs from the next. Everything was cooked to perfection and was really an art in itself. I also got the passion fruit con leche and it was perfect!
Some reviews have commented on the wait time but remember good authentic food takes time. If you wanted something fast, go to Taco Bell. The patience is worth the outcome! I will definitely be back.

I had there food when it was El Pollo Real and it was damn good then so I knew Ajiaco would be good too. My girlfriend and I both had the arroz con pollo and we shared some arepas. Everything was delicious and the service was great. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary (for Albuquerque) then give this place a try! I would recommend the arroz con pollo and a few arepas. Enjoy.

This newly opened bistro has a nice selection of some of the more popular and well-​known Colombian dishes – sopa ajiaco, bandeja paisa, arepas, patacones, fried yucca – all which I tried on my recent visit. The waitstaff was attentive and pleasant and the re-​done space is light and cheery, if sparse.
My major complaint is the fussy, hard to maneuver plates and bowls. There’s a reason eating vessels (check the archaeological record folks) throughout history have been mostly round; these modern sleek dishes are a pain for eating soups and the lovely sauces, the latter of which are served in rations that are far too small for the food they are meant to accompany.

I saw «Arepa de Choclo» on the menu and had to stop by even though I already had dinner plans. I’ve been looking for this dish since I got back from a trip to Colombia a few years ago, and it had been hard to find.
We couldn’t eat much since we already had dinner plans, but still had to try a few things: Beef and Chicken Empanada, Arepa de Choclo and the Guanabana drink mixed with milk. The empanadas were tasty– the beef was better than the chicken. The guanabana drink– the pulp is white, and the taste is hard to describe– creamy with a hint of citrus? Anyway, the drink was tasty.
The Arepa de Choclo was a bit of a let down, and I know no dish is better than how it’s made in its country. It was ok though– it is sweet corn with cheese in between and on the dessert menu here. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll definitely be back to try the Ajiaco.

A Burqueño take, here.
I am so starved for «ethnic» food. By national standards, that’s a relatively obscene statement, because per-​restaurant-​capita this town offers a diverse menu for the culinarily adventurous, especially those seeking Latin eats. There’s a lot to discover amongst the nooks and crannies of our town, you can find El Salvadoran, Peruvian, Cuban, heartland Mexican, and if you’re wanton for Columbian, Ajiaco serves it up. I’m going to go soapbox, too, and assert that New Mexico owns a cultural authenticity the rest of the southwest cannot fathom. Forget Colorado, Texas and Arizona. New Mexicans embrace our place. We don’t bastardize the foreign, we devour it.
Ajiaco offers legit plates of Columbian eats and I’m so glad they’re here. The chorizo isn’t salted beyond oblivion, you can appreciate every morsel. The empanadas are precisely what you hope for, dripping in oil, cheese, yummy goodness. Come with a friend and enjoy the Picada plato, you will not leave empty-​stomached. Better yet, bring a date. The dining room lends itself to a romantic vibe, not intimate, but bare and somewhat hip. If you’re an adventurous foodie, you’ll quickly find out if you’re dining with your Soul Mate.
This is a spectacular new restaurant on the Duke City scene, and I’m thrilled it’s dropping some culinary science in Nob Hill.

Really cute spot in Nob Hill for some authentic Colombian comida. I went for lunch and got there before they opened at 11AM. The staff was very welcoming to us as the first costumers in for the day! There is indoor and outdoor seating, and the whole place has a chic bistro vibe. It fits in nicely with P’tit Louis, Limonata, and Michael Thomas all nearby.
Ajiaco is distinct, however, in the type of food they bring to the table. Pun intended! I spent about 6 months in Colombia recently, and their offerings are the most authentic that I’ve found in Albuquerque. The empanadas were greasy guilty pleasures, and the jugos naturals were AWESOME. I pretty much subsisted on natural juices and avocados while in Colombia, and the maracuya (passion fruit) juice took me right back to the good ‘olé days.
For the main dish, I shared the Picada plato, which is kind of like a sampler plate, Colombian style. It was a substantial amount of food and I appreciated getting to try a wide assortment of their keystone cuisines. I have a special place in my heart for platanos, and these really hit the spot. I also thought their arepas were above average: they didn’t just taste like cardboard! Anyone who has had a traditional arepa knows what I’m talking about. These had some cheesy deliciousness going on, and I was into it. The steak, chicharron, and chorizo were also great! I noticed on the menu they had some vegetarian options, but I clearly did not partake. For the next chilly winter day, I’ll definitely be back to try the namesake ajiaco soup, and I’m looking forward to it.