You’ll find some of the best at Ranchos Plaza Grill, which serves up warm, fluffy sopapillas and blue corn enchiladas that are so good they may ruin all other food for you forever. Meanwhile, the food magicians over at Michael’s Kitchen are whipping up Frito pies so perfect you just might find yourself considering taking up permanent residence in Taos. And on your way out of town (if you do decide to leave), do yourself a huge favor and pick up a breakfast burrito (with green chile, of course) from almost any of your delicious food trucks.

Ranchos Plaza Grill: Besides La Cueva, this is one of the most highly rated NM style restaurants in the Taos area on TripAdvisor. It’s always been closed when I’ve been in the area so I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it’s located in Ranchos de Taos which is where the San Francisco de Asis Catholic Mission (a noteworthy historic site) and the Chimayo Trading Del Norte (great place to buy turquoise jewelry and Native American art) so it’s a nice little side trip from Taos.

If you’ve read or studied the history of New Mexico, you’re probably aware that life wasn’t easy for Spanish colonists. As with other efforts to colonize North America, Spanish settlers quickly found themselves insufficiently provisioned for the agrarian lifestyle they sought to establish and maintain. Wholly dependent on water to produce and maintain crops and farmland, they quickly found out rainfall in the desert Southwest was fickle and unpredictable.

Ranchos Plaza Grill, known for its delicious New Mexican and French fusion cuisine and its stunning views of the Taos Mountains, features a menu with dishes ranging from seafood to steaks to sandwiches to burgers. Situated in a large, open-air plaza surrounded by adobe buildings and beautiful landscaping, the restaurant offers an inviting atmosphere. Fieri tried the carne adovada, noting, “The sauce has got a real depth of flavor.

Let’s start with Ranchos Plaza Grill, seen on TV and known for its slow-cooked carne adovada that Guy couldn’t stop raving about. Then there’s Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico, serving authentic enchiladas and sopapillas in a cozy, colorful setting. Up next: Gutiz, a Latin-French fusion gem where breakfast and lunch get kicked up a notch with dishes like coconut French toast and spicy paella.

Rancho de Plaza - We showed up in the area that this restaurant is in, Ranchos de Taos Plaza, just before sunset and got to see the historic San Francisco de Asis Mission Church with pink cotton candy skies. The plaza itself reminds us of some places we have experienced traveling in Latin America. The restaurant itself has a nice large patio and is in an old abode style structure.

The focal point of the plaza is the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, a World Heritage church and National Historic Landmark. Built of adobe, between 1772 and 1816 by Franciscan Fathers, it was the centre of the fort protecting against Comanche attackers. Located around the church is a plaza lined with small stores and the restaurant we were headed for.

On site filming at the local establishments for days, and well-ahead of Fieri’s planned appearance, the owners, chefs and employees of Gutiz, Antonio’s and Ranchos Plaza Grill were introduced to the fast-paced, all-consuming and meticulously detailed world of filming a TV show in their workplace.

Ranchos Plaza Grill: Next to the historic San Francisco de Asis church. Go early, during golden hour for a beautiful photo op or just to take in the sights. We love the Carne Adovada, pork marinated for hours in red chile, perfectly spicy and delicious.

Ranchos Plaza Grill is another excellent breakfast or lunch option; it is said to have the best chile in Taos and serves authentic New Mexican food (including yummy sopapillas drizzled with honey).

Traditional New Mexican cuisine, featuring their famous sopapillas, served with the best red and green chile in town. 8 Ranchos Plaza Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557 (575) 758-5788. 4.0 mi from property

Ranchos Plaza is a popular shopping and dining area, and Taos Ski Valley is a great place to ski and snowboard.