Santa Fe and Taos are known for adobe architecture, world-class art galleries, and high-desert scenery—not exactly the first places that come to mind for kosher dining. But between a dedicated kosher deli, a Chabad house preparing meals for travelers, and a handful of local supermarkets stocking kosher basics, keeping kosher in northern New Mexico is more doable than most visitors expect. It just takes a bit of planning.
Santa Fe's Kosher Deli: Manhattan Avenue Deli
The anchor of Santa Fe's kosher scene is Manhattan Avenue Deli, described by the local directory as the city's first and only kosher restaurant. It serves New York-style deli classics—pastrami, corned beef, Reuben sandwiches, schnitzel, bagels and lox, matzah-ball soup, and latkes—under the supervision of the Santa Fe Jewish Center. For anyone craving a proper deli sandwich in the high desert, this is the destination.
Chabad of Taos: Prepared Meals for Travelers
Taos doesn't have a standalone kosher restaurant, but it does have Chabad of Taos Prepared Kosher Meals, which prepares meals for tourists under the strict supervision of Rabbi Eli Kaminetzky. The offering includes weekday lunch and dinner as well as full Shabbat meals, and everything is Glatt Kosher. The one catch worth planning around: orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance, so this is a resource to line up before you arrive rather than the day you land.
Plan ahead in Taos. Since Taos has no full-service kosher restaurant, Chabad's prepared meals are the most reliable way to eat well there. Book at least two days before you need a meal, and further ahead if you're visiting over Shabbat.
Grocery Shopping in Santa Fe
For self-catering, Santa Fe offers a few supermarket options. Smith's Food and Drug carries a kosher frozen-food section, while Albertsons stocks some kosher packaged foods. Santa Fe's Trader Joe's goes a step further, carrying kosher meat, chicken, and wine alongside its usual packaged selection. As with any supermarket kosher section, it's worth checking individual products for their own certification rather than assuming the whole store is kosher.
Grocery Shopping in Taos
Taos supermarkets are a more mixed bag. Cids Food Market has been identified by Chabad of Taos as carrying a small variety of basic kosher food products from time to time, but selection is inconsistent and should be confirmed before visiting. The same is true of several other local stores—Smith's, Albertsons, Walmart, Supersave, and Taos Market—all of which Chabad reports may sometimes carry basic kosher items, with availability that varies by time and location. If you're relying on grocery shopping in Taos, calling ahead is a good habit to build into your trip.
Planning Your Kosher Trip to Northern New Mexico
Between Manhattan Avenue Deli, Chabad of Taos's prepared meals, and a network of supermarkets with varying kosher selections, both cities offer more than a visitor might expect—as long as expectations are set correctly and a little advance planning goes into the trip. For the full, up-to-date list of options in both cities and across New Mexico, visit the Santa Fe and Taos Kosher Restaurant Directories on Kosher Plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kosher restaurants are in Santa Fe, NM?
Santa Fe's directory currently lists 4 kosher restaurants and food businesses, including Manhattan Avenue Deli and three supermarkets carrying kosher packaged products.
Is there a kosher restaurant in Taos, NM?
There is no full-service kosher restaurant in Taos. Chabad of Taos offers prepared kosher meals, including Glatt Kosher Shabbat meals, with orders required at least 48 hours in advance. Otherwise, Taos's kosher options are limited to local supermarkets that sometimes carry basic kosher products.
Can I buy kosher groceries in Santa Fe or Taos?
Yes, though selection varies. Santa Fe's Trader Joe's, Smith's Food and Drug, and Albertsons all carry some kosher packaged goods, and Santa Fe's Trader Joe's also stocks kosher meat, chicken, and wine. In Taos, supermarkets such as Cids Food Market, Smith's, Albertsons, Walmart, Supersave, and Taos Market carry a small and inconsistent selection of basic kosher products, so it's worth calling ahead to confirm availability.