Albuquerque Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at the award-winning Bien Shur at the Sandia Resort & Casino where you'll not only get a delicious holiday meal but can also enjoy the spectacular view from the hotel's top floor. In addition to the regular menu, there will be seasonal specials offered from 1 to 7 p.m. as part of Bien Shur's holiday service. The Sandia Resort is located on Sandia Pueblo Reservation just north of Albuquerque on U.S. Interstate 25 (U.S. Highway 85) at 30 Rainbow Road Northeast. Also at the resort, you can stop by Thur Shan on Thanksgiving for a buffet-style meal instead.

Buca di Beppo is a popular nationwide family restaurant chain that will offer a Thanksgiving-style dinner featuring turkey alongside Italian favorites at its uptown location (6520 Americas Parkway Northeast). If you want a to-go meal, the "small feast" serves three people for around $70, and the large feast serves five for $135. Dine-in service starts at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, but you can pick up your to-go meal starting on Monday of Thanksgiving week, then heat it up when you're ready to enjoy your holiday feast.

With over 40 years of serving the Albuquerque area, The Cooperage has earned its tagline of "A Great Place for Prime Rib," but its menu will also feature a traditional Thanksgiving feast this holiday season. Not only is The Cooperage one of the longest-running locally-owned restaurants in the city, but it's also one of the biggest caterers in town, so you know you can rely on their talented chefs for a great holiday meal. The regular menu will also be available on Thanksgiving Day, and service for both the holiday meal and The Cooperage favorites will begin at 11 a.m.

If you're staying at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Santa Ana Pueblo—or would like a chance to dine in true style while you're in Albuquerque—you can head over to either of the restaurants inside the resort for a Thanksgiving meal this year. You can make a reservation at either the Corn Maiden or the Santa Ana Café for a Pueblo-style holiday feast featuring seafood, artisan cheeses, salad, turkey, ham, pork loin, and beef tenderloin along with sides like dressing and sweet potato casserole. Both restaurants will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Located in the historic Nob Hill neighborhood on its bustling Central Avenue, Elaine's offers elegant Thanksgiving service in a small yet comfortable dining room. Your special Thanksgiving meal will be made from fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers, but you'll want to make sure to make your reservations on OpenTable well in advance as space is limited. Elaine's will serve its Thanksgiving dinner from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. this year.

Furr's Fresh Buffet is a regional chain with two locations in Albuquerque (2004 Wyoming Boulevard and 6111 San Mateo Boulevard). The buffet at Furr's offers a wide variety of choices year-round, but you'll have even more options on Thanksgiving this year. With over 70 menu items to choose from, including a carving station and a full dessert spread and mix-and-match items allow you to pay as much or little as you like, Furr's is a great destination if you're traveling with a bunch of picky eaters or kids who can really put away some food. Additionally, you can order a takeout meal for $90 if you would rather eat your meal outside the restaurant instead.

Located inside the stylish Hotel Andaluz, MÁS Tapas y Vino will celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional feast featuring the flavor and artistry of Spanish cooking. On the holiday menu, you'll find locally-sourced organic turkey along with favorite family-style side dishes including spiced dressing and chile-seasoned gravy. While usually a tapas bar, you won't have to worry about leaving MÁS Tapas y Vino hungry on Thanksgiving—the portions are great and the prices are fair.

Pueblo Harvest is an intimate cafe founded in 1976 and located inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that serves Native-fusion cuisine. On Thanksgiving from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this year, you can order a prix fixe holiday feast featuring a variety of options including breakfast dishes, autumnal salads, oven-bread stuffing, green chile gravy, sweet potato mash, and entrees from the carving station. Made with ingredients sourced from local Native American tribes and inspired by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, this restaurant's Thanksgiving feast is about as authentic as you can get when you remember the origins of this American holiday.

While you may not think of fondue when you think of Thanksgiving dinner, Melting Pot certainly does. This popular nationwide chain has one location in Albuquerque, which will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m on the holiday for $40. The four-course meal also features cheese fondue, salad, an entree, and chocolate fondue for dessert.

Another Santa Ana Pueblo favorite, Prairie Star, is known for its cozy fireplace, adobe walls, and views of the Sandias, and on Thanksgiving, this popular restaurant will offer a traditional holiday dinner with a Southwestern twist. The dinner includes appetizers, soup, salad, and entree choices of five-spice grilled swordfish, grilled turkey breast, and cherry wood smoked petite prime rib; dessert is sweet potato cake with white chocolate cranberry mousse or black cherry chocolate ganache.