The Shed — serving the best red chile in Santa Fe

If you’re on a quest for the best red chile in Santa Fe, you won’t want to miss The Shed, just a short distance from the Santa Fe Plaza. Their chile is deep red and robust, with a delicate sweetness that lingers long after your last bite of food. The Shed grinds their own red chile every day on the premises to guarantee its freshness.

Not only the best red chile in Santa Fe…

But the red chile isn’t the only reason to visit this nearly 60-year old culinary legend in Santa Fe. The green chile is outstanding too. And so is just about everything else on their menu.

The Shed — favorite destination for hungry tourists in Santa Fe

The only downside to The Shed is that it’s always crowded (so many tourists!) and the wait for a table can be long. Some people call The Shed cute and bustling, others call it cramped and hectic – I guess it depends on your mood. The doorways are low in this historic adobe hacienda, so don’t forget to duck when going inside! The décor is artsy — colorful and cozy.

We were seated for lunch on the flagstone courtyard, which was lovely except for all the people milling around us who were waiting for a table. I found it a little too crowded to be truly relaxing, but once our food and drinks were served, we forgot about all that and focused on savoring the delicious New Mexican cuisine and silver coin margaritas.

Excellent authentic New Mexican fare at The Shed in Santa Fe

You can’t go wrong with any of the New Mexican items on the menu. Our favorites were the green chile stew with traditional New Mexican blue corn tortillas, blue corn chicken tacos, and the enchilada plate with the best red chile in Santa Fe.

If you’re not used to eating chiles, I suggest ordering Christmas (red and green chile) on the side so you can add as much chile (or as little) to your food as you wish. Ask for an order of sour cream or The Shed’s flavorful guacamole. You can use these items to lower the temperature of the chile, if need be. It pays to be prepared!

All entrees are accompanied by a single slice of The Shed’s French garlic bread – a treat not generally associated with New Mexican food.

For a light and delicate dessert, try the fresh Lemon Soufflé. Or if you prefer something dark and chocolate, have the highly touted Mocha Cake with fresh whipped cream. The Zabaglione, a creamy custard flavored with white port and Cointreau, also makes a nice ending to a spicy lunch or dinner at The Shed.

Still the best red chile in Santa Fe

Some Santa Fe locals complain about the long lines and say there are too many tourists at The Shed. But this tourist is absolutely convinced that The Shed is worth visiting for the best red chile in Santa Fe!

The Shed

113 1/2 E. Palace Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-9030