About
Head one block south of the historic Taos Plaza and you’ll come across a rustic sign boasting ‘New Mexican cuisine and more’, welcome to La Cueva Café. Every plate that leaves this kitchen is 100% gluten-free, and most guests never notice. That is the quiet skill behind this small, family-run restaurant where everything is made fresh each day from 100% natural ingredients.
Originally from Mexico, owners Horacio and Juana Zarazua each spent years cooking in well-known Taos kitchens, including Graham's Grill, Rellenos, and the Old Blinking Light, before opening a place of their own. Today, La Cueva Café sits inside the historic Casa Baca Plaza, an adobe building dating to 1850. It is one block south of Taos Plaza, at the corner of Paseo del Pueblo Sur and Quesnel Street.
Chef Horacio's approach is simple. Good ingredients deserve careful preparation and a little ceremony on the plate. That care shows up in every enchilada, relleno, and bowl of tortilla soup.
Vibe
The earthy adobe exterior of Casa Baca Plaza immediately lets you know that you've found something baked in history. The building has stood for more than 175 years, and its thick walls and soft lines feel right at home in this corner of New Mexico.
On a sunny day, the garden patio is the place to be. Guests often call it the highlight of their visit. Enjoy lunch in the open air with the mountain sky overhead. Inside, the dining room is small and cozy, with a relaxed, casual feel. Families, couples, and solo travelers fresh from browsing the plaza shops all fit in here. Service is friendly, and the pace never feels rushed.
La Cueva Cafe: Menu & Drinks
With a menu that easily blends breakfast tacos and burritos with mole poblano, La Cueva Café presents a wide selection of popular NM dishes with traditional Mexican cuisine. Guest favorites include Chicken Mole Enchiladas, Fajitas, Ceviche Mexicano and Enchiladas de Camarón Enchipotladas.
The Chicken Mole Enchiladas top the list of favorites for good reason. Two chicken enchiladas arrive under rich mole poblano, topped with grilled onions and sesame seeds, with rice and beans on the side.
For a true taste of New Mexico, order the Rellenos NM. Hatch green chile is stuffed with cheese, then smothered in your choice of red or green chile. If you’re not sure which chile to choose, ask for Christmas.
Want something lighter? The Ceviche Mexicano brings white fish cured in lime juice with pico de gallo, avocado, and chipotle mayo. It comes with tortilla chips for scooping.
To drink, try the traditional margarita made with agave wine. Beer lovers can choose Mexican favorites like Negra Modelo and PacÃfico or New Mexico's own Santa Fe IPA. Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Save room for the Mango Cream Chimichanga with vanilla ice cream.
La Cueva Café delivers honest, home-style cooking in a building steeped in local history. Fresh food, a cozy atmosphere, and a kitchen anyone with a gluten sensitivity can trust make it an easy choice for families. Add a garden patio just steps from the plaza, and it becomes a memorable stop on any Taos vacation.
Local Tips
- The restaurant is closed on Sundays; plan accordingly.
- Park on Quesnel Street, one block south of Taos Plaza.
- The kids’ menu makes it family-friendly.
- Enjoy al fresco dining on the patio.
