Type Privately held | Number of locations 13 | |
 | ||
Founded Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1976 (1976) Headquarters Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Area served New Mexico and Colorado Products Mexican and New Mexican cuisine | ||
Little Anita's is a Mexican and New Mexican cuisine restaurant chain from the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have nine locations in Albuquerque and four in Colorado. The chain comprises their traditional casual dining locations, as well as Little Anita's Express fast food restaurants.
Contents
History
Anita Tellez is responsible for the creation of multiple restaurants, across the United States, her children and grandchildren often took over the individual restaurants. Little Anita's is a restaurant chain started in 1976, it was owned by her eldest son Larry Gutierrez, and was named after one of Mrs. Tellez's granddaughters. They have become well known in the Albuquerque, New Mexico restaurant scene since then. The chain expanded to Denver in 2001. Another chain of restaurants started by Anita Tellez, Anita's New Mexico Style, serves Little Anita's New Mexico inspired food in the Washington D.C. area. Both chains are independently owned, but borrow heavily from each other's menus. There was also a solo Anita's restaurant in Fullerton, California.
Specialties
They serve their critically acclaimed sopapillas and red/green chile-smothered foods, as well as other New Mexican fair like, enchiladas made with blue corn, huevos rancheros, and green chile cheeseburgers.
Reception
In Colorado, they have won multiple awards; including multiple accolades from Denver Westword, including "Best Taste of New Mexico" and "Best Red Chile".
In popular culture
Their location at University Blvd., in Albuquerque, was featured in Breaking Bad (season 5).