Many New Mexico families are facing a sudden and stressful challenge this month. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will not be issued beginning November 1. For families who rely on these benefits to help put food on the table, this interruption can be devastating.
In true Albuquerque spirit, local restaurants and small businesses are stepping up to make sure no child goes hungry. The following restaurants are offering free meals for children and families affected by the SNAP disruption. No purchase required, no questions asked. Just kindness, community, and warm meals.
If your family is affected, or if you know someone who could use help, please share this list and spread the word.
*Please note: with partial benefits being provided by the state, some locations are no longer providing these offerings. We will do our best to keep this list up to date. But consider calling or messaging before arriving. And please let us know by emailing [email protected] if you find an error on our list.
ABQ Sweet Spot
📍 9250 Golf Course Rd NW, Suite D, Albuquerque, NM 87114
🧁 How about a little sweetness during tough times? Beginning November 1st, kids under 16 get a free cupcake. No questions asked. Child must be present. Limit 1 cupcake per child.
Afghan Kebab House
📍 218 Gold Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM
🍢 Starting November 1, Afghan Kebab House is offering free kids’ meals for families affected by the SNAP pause. Each kids’ meal includes: 1 Skewer Chicken Tikka Kebab with Rice, 1 Flatbread (Leek or Potato), and 1 Mantoo. No purchase necessary. No questions asked. Simply mention “Afghan Kebab Kid’s Special.” Kids must be present for dine-in; one meal per child.
Albuquerque Nutrition
📍 2114 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
🥤 Starting November 1, families affected by recent SNAP changes can receive free kids’ menu items. Available options: Classic Cheese Pizza + Kids Drink, Classic Waffle + Kids Drink, or Kids Shake. No purchase necessary. Kids must be present in-store.
Baked by Christina
📍Saturday at the Downtown Growers Market on 11/1
🥪 Free sack lunches for anyone who needs it. One lunch per person or child, no questions asked.
The Burrow Café
📍12501 Candelaria Road Northeast, Albuquerque, NM 87112
🥣 Free Kids’ Menu Items starting November 1 for families affected by SNAP changes.
Available options: Classic oatmeal with brown sugar and maple syrup, Two eggs (any style) with toast or a plain crepe, Kid-sized ham and cheese crepe. Kids must be present. One item per child per visit. No purchase necessary. No questions asked.
Burrito Baby
📍 7400 Montgomery Blvd NE #12, Albuquerque, NM
🌯 Free Kid’s Burrito beginning November 1 for families affected by the SNAP shutdown.
Available options: Any small breakfast or lunch burrito. Kids must be present. One per child. No purchase necessary. No questions asked.
Chicken Salad Chick
📍 10621 Unser Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
📍 2100 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 825, Albuquerque, NM 87110
🍗 Free Kid’s Meal for any child visiting until SNAP benefits are restored. Limit one meal per child; kids must be present for dine-in. No purchase necessary. No questions asked.
Chile Chicken Nashville Hot Chicken
📍 3005 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
🐔 Free meals for children while supplies last. For children 12 and under. One meal per child, and children must be present.
The Crêpe Brûlée
📍 6001 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
🍨 Free Dessert for Kids Every Wednesday until SNAP benefits are restored. Offering one free menu item or a custom ice cream cup to children 10 and under every Wednesday. No purchase necessary. Kid must be present.
Delectable Baking
📍 2740 Northern Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM, United States, New Mexico
🥧 Beginning November 1st, offering free sack lunches, snacks, and pantry items for children and the elderly. Must be present in the store. Just grab what you need and go. No questions asked. Also collecting non-perishable items and snack packs for kids.
El Catrin Mexican Kitchen
📍Food truck, keep an eye on their Instagram account for current locations
🌮 Free breakfast tacos for kids. They are at the CNM Main Campus every Monday & Thursday at 9 am. Bring your child for a warm taco to start the day.
Enchanted Grazing Co.
📍Text (505-394-8945) or Instagram DM to arrange pickup.
🍎 20 free lunch boxes for kids each week until the government shutdown is over.
Flamez Fusion
📍 12118 North Highway 14, Cedar Crest, NM 87008
🔥 Kids eat free until SNAP benefits are restored. No questions asked. No purchase necessary. Child must be present. One meal per child.
Fit & Fabulous Nutrition
📍 2500 Central Ave SW Suite 300 , Albuquerque, NM
🥞 All kids eat free throughout November at Fit & Fabulous Nutrition! Enjoy pancakes, donuts, and lemonade at no charge.
The Girls’ Coffee House
📍 915 Yale Blvd SE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87106
☕ Free family meals beginning November 1st until SNAP benefits are restored. Each child and up to two accompanying adults, or any disabled community member, will receive a free hot dog or peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The Homestead Cafe
📍 40 Tramway Road Northeast, Albuquerque, NM
🥪 Free meals (sandwich, drink, and snack) for kids. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Also collecting non-perishable food.
The Hopper Pub & Pizzeria
📍 2400 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM 87110
🍕 Free Small Kids Pizza starting November 1 until SNAP benefits are restored. One per child. Kids must be present. No questions asked.
Horizon Bagels & Café
📍4000 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite D, Albuquerque, New Mexico
🥯 Beginning November 1, Horizon Bagels & Café is offering one free bagel with cream cheese per child until SNAP benefits are restored. Mention “Horizon Kids Special.” No questions asked. Child must be accompanied by an adult.
I Scream Ice Cream
📍 2000 Carlisle Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM
🍦 All furloughed federal employees get 50% off ice cream or espresso products. Even though ice cream doesn’t seem essential, a little bit of joy during tough times never hurts. All kids get a free kids cup with a paying adult until SNAP benefits are re-instated.
Joe’s Pasta House
📍3201 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
📍6650 Holly Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
🍝 Beginning Tuesday, November 4th, kids 12 and under get a free pasta meal from their special Kids Eat Free Menu, available Tuesday-Thursday from 4 pm – 6 pm. No purchase necessary. Offered until benefits are restored or through the end of November.
Juice Ritual
📍 3617 Wyoming Blvd NE Suite C, Albuquerque, NM
🥤 Free Smoothies for Kids until all SNAP benefits are restored. Each child can receive one free smoothie per visit. No purchase required, no questions asked. Kids must be present.
Kap’s Diner
📍5801 Central Ave NE #1701, Albuquerque, NM 87108
🍳 Free kids meals for all children under 18. No questions asked. Also, Kap’s is extending its $4.95 breakfast special to 7 days a week from 7-11 am.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
📍 2340 Grande Blvd. SE, Ste. D, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
🍛 FStarting November 1, families can visit L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Rio Rancho for a free child’s meal—no purchase necessary, no questions asked. Child must be present. In-store only.
Le Bakery
📍1924 Juan Tabo Blvd NE Suite D, Albuquerque, NM 87112
🥐 Free Kids’ Meal Breaks beginning November 1. Each child can receive one free meal: Cheesy Bread, Egg Sandwich. Made with love and care. These aren’t regular menu items but homemade breakfasts the owner makes for her own children. No purchase necessary. Kids must be present.
Meraki Coffee + Market
📍 5900 Eubank Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87111
☕ Free Breakfast Sandwich for children until SNAP benefits are restored. One item per child. No questions asked.
Mrs. Sprinkles Ice Cream Parlor
📍 3107 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
🍦 Free Mini Scoop of Ice Cream (with sprinkles!) starting November 1 for children affected by the SNAP shutdown. Child must be present. Customers can also “Pay It Forward” by prepaying for another child’s treat.
Napoli Coffee
📍 3035 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
☕ Free Kids’ Meals beginning November 1 and continuing until SNAP benefits are restored.
Available options include: Toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese, Butter, or Jam, Breakfast Burrito with Bacon, Sausage, or Beans, Oatmeal with Dried Fruit & Brown Sugar, Turkey & Cheese Sandwich with Chips, or Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich with Chips. No purchase necessary. No questions asked. One item per child per visit. Child must be present.
Neecy’s Treats
📍 3015 Glorieta Meadows Drive, Rio Rancho, NM
🍪 Free Sweet Treats for Kids beginning November 1, offered daily. Kids can stop by any day of the week to grab a sweet treat, stickers, and coloring pages during the SNAP pause. One per child per day. No purchase necessary. No questions asked. Just a community mom doing her part to keep kids smiling.
New Mexico Pinon Coffee
📍 4545 Alameda Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87113
📍5222 4th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107
📍1761 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
📍2781 57th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
📍2235 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
🍩 While SNAP benefits are suspended, parents can stop by any NM Pinon Coffee location (excluding the Sunport location) and get a free biscochito donut. One donut per child. The child must be present. No purchase necessary.
O’Hare’s Grille & Pub
📍 4100 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
🍦 Kids eat free while SNAP benefits are on hold. Choose from PB&J, grilled cheese, or corn dog. Parent and child (ages 1-18) must be present. Valid for dine-in or to-go. No purchase necessary.
Our Daily Bread of Life
📍Porch Bakery in Rio Rancho
🥖 Free bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito for children present on Saturdays at 10am. Call for the exact location.
Peter Piper Pizza
📍3109 San Mateo Boulevard, Albuquerque, NM, 87110
📍9260 Golf Course Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
🍕 Beginning Nov. 3, both Peter Piper Pizza locations in Albuquerque will offer $2.99 one-topping personal pizzas for kids 15 and under, available Monday through Friday from 2-5 p.m.
Pizza 9
📍 All participating Pizza 9 locations
🍕 Starting November 1, children ages 16 and under can receive a free 7” cheese or pepperoni pizza until SNAP benefits are restored. Dine-in or carry-out. Limit one pizza per child per day. No purchase necessary.
Rail Yards Operation SNAP Gap
📍7200 Montgomery Blvd NE STE A2, Albuquerque, NM 87109
🥕If your household has been effected by the SNAP benefits reductions/lapses, please sign-up for a FREE Veggie Box. Sign up here.
Richie B’s Pizza
📍7200 Montgomery Blvd NE STE A2, Albuquerque, NM 87109
🍕Kids will receive a free 1 topping slice of pizza begninning November 1st. Child must be present
Rio Grande Social
📍10127 Coors BLVD NW, Albuquerque, NM 87109
🍕 Free cheese pizza for kids. Starting November 1 until SNAP benefits are restored. Also collecting groceries.
Say Cheese
📍1255 Bosque Farms Blvd, Unit F, Bosque Farms, New Mexico
🧀 Free grilled cheese for kids. Starting November 1 until SNAP benefits are restored. No questions. No purchase necessary. Children must be present.
Shake Lab
📍1540 Bosque Farms Blvd # A, Bosque Farms, NM 87068
🥞 Every child who visits Shake Lab will receive a free order of mini pancakes and a lemonade until SNAP benefits are restored.
Tacos El Muchacho Alegre
📍3107 Eubank Blvd NE, Suite 16, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
📍930 Sunset Road SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105
🌮 Free tacos or corndogs for kids. Starting November 1 until SNAP benefits are restored. No purchase necessary. Also collecting non-perishable food goods. Both locations will match your donations.
Tasty Pot NM
📍 8050 Academy Road NE, Suite 101, Albuquerque, NM 87111
🍱 Free Kids Meals beginning November 1 for families affected by the SNAP pause.
Meal options include Kid’s Panda Chicken + Rice, Kid’s Popcorn Chicken, Mozzarella Sticks, or Fried Dumplings. Kids must be present for dine-in. Limit one per child. Just mention “Tasty Kid’s Special.”
Three Baby Birds Baking
📍 Albuquerque, NM – Local home bakery
🧁 Free School Lunches starting November 3 until SNAP benefits are reinstated. Porch pickups: Wednesdays (before school) and Sundays (before the school week begins). Delivery may be available if transportation is an issue.
Tomasita’s
📍 4949 Pan American Fwy, Albuquerque, NM
🍲 Starting November 2nd, Tomasita’s is offering free meals for furloughed federal workers and their families during the government shutdown. Workers just need to show their federal employee or contractor ID.
Turtle Mountain Brewing
📍905 36th Place SE, Rio Rancho, NM
📍7835 Enchanted Hills Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM🥪 Ham and cheese sandwich, fruit snack, and juice box provided to children 12 and under. Child & parent must be present. 1 meal per child, per day, take-out only. No purchase necessary, no questions asked.
Urban Hotdog Company
📍 10250 Cottonwood Park NW, Suite 400, Albuquerque, NM 87114
📍 3507 Central AVE NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
🌭 Free Classic Starter Hotdog for kids beginning November 1 until SNAP benefits resume. No purchase required. No questions asked. Kids must be present. Just mention “UHDC Kids Special.”
Wing It Up
📍 Food truck in downtown Albuquerque. Check social media for exact location.
🍗 Starting November 1, Wing It Up will offer free meals for kids and seniors until SNAP benefits return. Child must be present.
The Yeller Sub
📍 7200 Montgomery Blvd NE G1, Albuquerque, NM 87109
🥪 Free Kid’s Meal beginning November 1 until SNAP benefits are restored. Simply mention the “Got Your Back Kids Special.” Kids must be present. One meal per child. No purchase required. No questions asked.
This list will continue to grow as more local restaurants join in to help families through this time. If you know of another business offering free or discounted meals for families affected by the SNAP shutdown, please let us know in the form below so we can add them to our list.
When Albuquerque faces a challenge, our community always shows up. Let’s continue to support one another and make sure no child goes hungry.
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