Wax paper, a walk-up window, and a burger dripping with roasted green chile turned an ordinary pit stop into the best lunch of my whole New Mexico road trip. I almost drove right past the little stand with its picnic tables and hand-lettered menu.
Then I caught the smell of beef on a hot griddle mixed with smoky peppers, and my stomach made the decision for me. What I found was the kind of place locals quietly claim as their own, and after one bite, I understood why.
A Walk-Up Window on North Broadway
Right along North Broadway Street in Truth or Consequences, A and B Drive In sits at 211 N Broadway, close to the heart of the town’s famous hot springs district. It is small, simple, and easy to overlook if you are cruising through with your eyes on the mountains.
That would be a mistake. This hamburger stand has quietly become one of the most talked-about places to eat in town, and the reason usually comes wrapped in paper with green chile spilling out the sides.
The setup is classic. You walk up or drive up to the window, read the menu posted right there, place your order, and wait while the kitchen cooks everything fresh.
There is also a drive-thru for folks in a hurry, which travelers say comes in handy when heading out of town.
Truth or Consequences itself is a quirky stop between Albuquerque and Las Cruces, known for mineral soaks and the Rio Grande flowing nearby. A burger here fits right into the rhythm of the place.
You soak, you wander, you eat.
For anyone traveling Interstate 25 across southern New Mexico, a few extra minutes off the highway can lead to a meal that sticks with you for miles.
Old-School Roots That Never Faded
Step up to the counter and time seems to slow down a notch. Visitors often say the whole place feels like sitting back in an earlier era, the kind of drive-in that families have visited for decades.
Regulars mention stopping here for years and years, which says a lot in a small town where everybody has an opinion about where to eat. Some longtime customers even recall an indoor dining room from earlier days, though today the experience centers on the window and the outdoor tables.
The appeal is in what has stayed the same. Orders are taken by hand at the window.
Food comes out hot and freshly made. The menu blends American drive-in favorites with New Mexican plates, a mix that feels very at home in Sierra County.
Plenty of famous roadside spots across the state, from Albuquerque’s Route 66 diners to small burger shacks in Socorro, built their names the same way. They skipped the fancy stuff and served what people actually craved.
That steady, no-fuss approach is the real story at A and B. Locals did not need a billboard to find it.
They just kept coming back, and eventually the travelers started following them.
The Green Chile Cheeseburger Everyone Talks About
Ask around town what to order, and the answer comes fast. The green chile cheeseburger is the star here, and it is the dish people bring up more than anything else on the menu.
The build is honest and messy in the best way. A griddled beef patty, melted cheese, and a generous layer of roasted green chile come together in a bun that barely holds it all.
Travelers passing through have called it one of the best homestyle versions they have had in a long time.
One regular admits it is the only thing he has ever ordered, every single visit, and he always asks for extra hot. He says the heat may not quite reach his personal limit, but the flavor makes up for it.
That is a handy tip for spice lovers.
Green chile cheeseburgers are practically a state treasure, with a whole trail of them stretching from San Antonio to Santa Fe. Finding a standout version at a tiny stand feels like earning an insider badge.
Want to level it up? Add bacon.
The green chile bacon cheeseburger has its own loyal fans, and one visitor happily carried hers down to a riverside park to enjoy in the sunshine.
Chimichangas, Enchiladas, and New Mexican Plates
Burgers may grab the headlines, but the Mexican side of the menu has a fan club of its own. Chimichangas come up again and again, and some diners say they are right on point.
One visitor went bold with a green chile chimichanga and walked away grinning. Another praised the green chile cheese chicken enchilada plate for a smart detail.
Instead of leaving chicken only on top, the kitchen layers it between the tortillas with cheese and then adds more on top.
There is plenty more to explore. Guests have enjoyed the chile relleno so much they came back the very next day.
Others mention breakfast burritos, a carne asada burrito, a chicken burrito supreme, and a chicken burrito with red chile.
Flavors here lean mild and freshly cooked, according to out-of-state travelers trying local Mexican food for the first time. Folks raised on fiery northern New Mexico red might want to ask about heat.
Opinions on the sides do vary, especially the rice, so set expectations around the main event. The chimichangas and enchiladas are where this part of the menu shines brightest, and they make a fun change of pace from the burger.
Fried Mushrooms and Loaded Fries on the Side
Sides at a drive-in can make or break the meal. At A and B, a few of them have earned real bragging rights.
Fried mushrooms are a sleeper hit. Diners pair them with the green chile cheeseburger and call the combo delicious.
They arrive golden and crunchy, perfect for sharing, or not sharing, depending on your mood.
Then come the fries. Green chile cheese fries get a lot of love, and one couple staying nearby named them a top favorite of the trip.
Chili cheese fries are also on the menu for anyone craving something extra hearty.
Onion rings get mixed feedback. Some guests enjoy them, while others mention heavy breading or a small portion for the price.
Think of them as a gamble and the mushrooms as the safer bet.
Here is a fun way to order. Grab a burger, a basket of fried mushrooms, and green chile cheese fries for the table.
You get crunch, heat, and gooey cheese all in one meal. It is the kind of spread that turns a quick lunch stop into a little roadside feast, especially when you are hungry from a day of exploring the Rio Grande.
Malts, Shakes, and a Famous Banana Split
Save room. Seriously.
Some people come to A and B just for the frozen treats, and it is easy to see why on a scorching desert afternoon.
Malts are a big deal here, with lots of different flavors to choose from. Longtime visitors rave about them, and even a diner with mixed feelings about the rest of the menu called the malts the best around.
Shakes get plenty of praise too. One fan singled out the chocolate banana shake as better than the others she has tried.
After a mineral soak at one of the town’s hot springs, a cold shake feels like the perfect way to recharge.
And then there is the banana split. A visitor called it the best around after a soak, which might be the most Truth or Consequences recommendation ever written.
Bananas, ice cream, toppings, and a spoon. What more could you need?
Kids especially love this part of the visit, but grown-ups are hardly immune. Sipping a malt at a picnic table while the sun dips behind the hills is a simple pleasure that feels very New Mexico.
Order dessert alongside your meal, or swing back later just for a sweet ending.
Picnic Tables Under the Desert Sky
Forget booths and tablecloths. Dining at A and B happens outdoors, at picnic tables set up near the window, where the desert air and small-town street noise become part of the meal.
Guests describe it as a fun place to sit with friends and family, trading bites and slurping ice cream. The vibe is relaxed and casual.
Nobody minds if you get green chile on your shirt.
Weather plays a role, of course. Summer in Sierra County can sizzle, and one visitor arrived on a 103 degree day.
Her solution was clever. She grabbed her green chile bacon cheeseburger and drove to a park by the river to eat in the shade.
That idea works beautifully here. The Rio Grande runs right through town, and parks along the water make a lovely spot for a takeout picnic.
Spring and fall bring milder temperatures that make the picnic tables extra inviting.
Visitors also mention the crowd can be a colorful mix of locals, travelers, and folks fresh from a hot springs soak. That variety is part of the charm.
Everyone ends up at the same tables, united by the same messy, delicious burgers.
Who Will Love This Little Stand
Road-trippers chasing authentic green chile top the list. If you measure a trip by how many great green chile cheeseburgers you eat, this belongs on your map between Albuquerque and Las Cruces.
Hot springs visitors are another natural fit. Guests staying at a spa next door wandered over for dinner and returned for lunch the next day.
A soak followed by a burger and a malt is a pretty unbeatable routine.
Families do well here too. The big menu means picky eaters can find something, whether that means a plain bacon cheeseburger, a burrito, or a banana split.
Outdoor seating lets kids be kids.
Who might want to plan differently? Diners expecting fancy service or super fast fast food.
Food is made fresh, so it can take longer than a chain. Visitors who embrace that tend to call it well worth the wait.
Fans of greasy, satisfying comfort food will feel right at home. One diner summed it up simply, saying you get exactly what you expect from a solid drive-in.
For New Mexicans who take pride in knowing the real local spots, that honesty is exactly the point.
Service, Patience, and Fresh-Made Food
Good things take a few minutes. That is the unofficial motto at A and B, where everything is cooked to order instead of sitting under a heat lamp.
Many guests describe the staff as friendly, polite, and happy to help newcomers figure out what to get. Some call the service prompt, while others note a wait during busy stretches.
The kitchen stays focused on getting orders out, which can make things feel brisk at the window.
Freshness is the payoff. Visitors say their food arrived hot, all at once, with a simple yet very good taste.
One traveler noted it was not quite as fast as chain restaurants, but it was absolutely worth driving a few minutes out of the way.
A quick heads-up for planning. Some customers mention trouble reaching the stand by phone, so ordering in person is the surest bet.
Double-check special requests like extra sauce before you drive off.
Prices on the posted menu may also change, so it helps to confirm your total at the window. Little habits like these keep the visit smooth.
Bring a bit of patience, chat with the crew, and let the griddle do its thing.
Hours, Prices, and Getting There
Planning is easy, because A and B keeps a steady schedule. The stand is open seven days a week, from 10 am to 6:30 pm, Monday through Sunday.
That early closing time matters. This is a lunch and early dinner spot, not a late-night stop.
Roll in after a morning hike at Elephant Butte or an afternoon soak, and you will be right on time.
Prices generally land in the $10 to $20 range per person. Visitors frequently describe them as fair and reasonable, especially for the portion sizes and the fresh cooking.
Finding it is simple. Head to 211 N Broadway St in Truth or Consequences, NM 87901.
From Interstate 25, exit into town and follow Broadway toward the hot springs district. The drive-thru is ready if you are short on time.
Need to check the menu ahead? The stand has a website at a-b-drive-in.shop, and the phone number is 575-894-9294.
Calls may not always connect during rushes, so stopping by is often quickest. Late summer visits line up nicely with Hatch chile season, when the whole region smells like roasting peppers and green chile cravings hit their peak.
A Burger Worth the Detour
Some meals are just fuel. Others become part of the trip story you tell later, and the green chile cheeseburger at A and B lands firmly in that second group.
Not every dish here wins every heart. Opinions on sides like rice and onion rings run hot and cold.
But the core of the menu, the burgers, chimichangas, fried mushrooms, and malts, keeps people returning year after year.
What really sets it apart is the feeling. Ordering at a window, eating at a picnic table, and tasting real New Mexico green chile on a sunny afternoon captures something you cannot fake.
It is humble and a little scrappy, and that is exactly why locals love it.
Travelers repeatedly say it is worth going out of your way for, even if you are only passing through on I-25. Folks in Truth or Consequences already know this.
Now you do too.
So next time the road takes you through Sierra County, pull off on Broadway. Order the green chile cheeseburger, maybe extra hot.
Add a shake. Then sit back and enjoy feeling like an insider who found one of the state’s quiet treasures before everyone else did.