LAS CRUCES, NM — March 2026 —
There’s a moment in every restaurant’s life when the line out the door stops being a problem and starts being a sign. For Familia Rojas Kitchen, that moment came about eight months after opening in Albuquerque, when weekend wait times stretched past two hours and regulars started asking quietly at first, then loudly when a second location was coming.
The answer, as of this month, is Las Cruces.
Familia Rojas Kitchen has opened its second New Mexico location in the heart of the Mesilla Valley, bringing its approach to New Mexican comfort food to a city with its own deep culinary identity. The menu centers on slow-braised green chile pork, hand-pressed tortillas, and dishes that have been in the Rojas family for three generations recipes that were never written down until the restaurant opened and someone finally had to.
“Las Cruces has an incredible food culture that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves,” said co-owner Carmen Rojas. “We didn’t want to just open a second location here. We wanted to actually become part of this community. There’s a real difference between those two things, and people can tell.”
The Las Cruces restaurant seats 68 guests and features a full green and red chile bar where diners can adjust the heat level of any dish to their preference. A weekend brunch menu available Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m. includes several dishes exclusive to the southern location, including a breakfast enchilada plate that Carmen says was her grandmother’s Sunday staple.
The team sourced all furniture and décor locally, and the artwork throughout the dining room was created by Las Cruces-based artists specifically for the space.
Familia Rojas Kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, with brunch service on weekends. Reservations are accepted online, though walk-ins are always welcome.
About Familia Rojas Kitchen: Familia Rojas Kitchen is a family-owned New Mexican restaurant group with locations in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Founded in 2022, the restaurant draws on three generations of family recipes and a deep respect for New Mexico’s culinary traditions. Both locations source ingredients from local farms and regional producers, and the menu evolves seasonally based on what’s available from their supplier network across the state.
