Tune-Up Cafe on Hickox Street in Santa Fe has been combining the cooking traditions of El Salvador and New Mexico in a small neighborhood restaurant that earns regulars who come back weekly and visitors who plan their Santa Fe trips around a table there. It appeared in Season 5, Episode 7 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Neighborhood Favorites,” which aired January 19, 2009. Guy Fieri found pupusas, huevos rancheros, and the kind of Salvadoran-New Mexican hybrid cooking that reflects owner Daniel Santacruz’s background and the high desert city he set up in. The combination works because both culinary traditions prioritize fresh ingredients, handmade preparation, and the kind of bold chile and masa flavors that share a common DNA across Latin American cooking.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Tune-Up Cafe
City: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cuisine: Salvadoran / New Mexican
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 7
Episode Title: Neighborhood Favorites
Original Air Date: January 19, 2009
Address: 1115 Hickox St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 505-983-7060
Website: https://tuneupsantafe.com
Status: Open
What to Eat at Tune-Up Cafe
The Pupusas are the Salvadoran centerpiece — thick handmade corn cakes stuffed with cheese, beans, chicharrón, or a combination, served with curtido (pickled cabbage slaw) and tomato sauce. The Huevos Rancheros bring New Mexico chile tradition to the morning plate. The Breakfast Burrito with New Mexican red or green chile is the other morning staple. The full menu covers both traditions throughout the day. Find a Santa Fe hotel on Booking.com.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours.
Address: 1115 Hickox St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 505-983-7060
Website: https://tuneupsantafe.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Neighborhood Favorites episode on Amazon. Santa Fe has two strong Triple D breakfast stops — Tune-Up and Harry’s Roadhouse make a great pair for a morning in the city.
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Tune-Up Cafe appeared in Season 5, Episode 7 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Neighborhood Favorites,” originally aired January 19, 2009.