We recently signed up for New Mexico Magazine (the first and longest-running state-dedicated magazine in the US!), and they conveniently had a list of “20 Green Chile Cheeseburgers to Try Now” in their May issue. One of the 20 was the Hi-D-Ho in Alamogordo, so we braved the spring winds and came down from the mountains to try the place out.
Located on the southern end of White Sands Boulevard, the Hi-D-Ho Drive-In is low slung with long arms that cantilever over the cars parked to partake of the wares. There are tables to eat outside and a few inside (but indoor seating is still out of commission due to covid), but you can also order and eat from your care under the wings (flash your lights for care service). The service was friendly, attentive, and artfully tatted.
Opened in 1952, the Hi-D-Ho has been in Mika Meyer’s family since the 1970s. The food is housemade, down to the taco shells, and not frozen. Even the cherry limeades are housemade and freshly squeezed. And they use Mika’s grandmother’s burger recipe.
The Bride had a hankering for red chile enchiladas ($10 plus an egg, +$1), Brother of The Bride went with the Luigi Burger (grilled onions, Parmesan cheese, American cheese, extra ketchup, fries, and a drink; $11) while I went with the legendary Tiger Burger (double meat cheeseburger, fries, and a medium drink; $13 plus double green chile +$2) named after the Alamogordo high school mascot. The somewhat unusual location of the Hi-D-Ho is due to the location of the high school, also on the south side of town.
Hi-D-Ho brands itself as “Home of the Tiger Burger,” a patty-patty voted the #1 cheeseburger in Otero County. And, woo-wee, it was dang good! Large with a perfect balance of beef, cheese, and chile flavors, I was in heaven, the best green chile cheeseburger I’ve had since I’d had a revelation of a burger in Carrizozo some 20 years ago. Due to my excitement for diving into my burger, I didn’t take a photo of the fries, which were thick, crispy, and perfectly complemented the burger.
The enchiladas had good red chile flavor and a slight burn while The Bride’s brother quickly made hay with his burger and raved about it. We all walked away impressed. The Tiger Burger, while fantastic, was a bit of a bull to ride given its size. Next time I’ll try the single patty version, although it’s gonna be hard not to grab the tiger by the tail once again…
web&where: interwebs; 414 south white sands boulevard; (575) 921-5676
what’s the deal? classic American drive-in (car door/table service)
overall: **** (food****; drink**; atmosphere**; service***; instagrammability***)
cost: $$
our scale:
– meh [think twice]
* OK [it’ll get the job done]
** good [solid neighborhood joint]
*** damn good [we’ll definitely be back]
**** yippity-yikes that was amazeballs [fantastic; one of the best]
***** holy sh!t [transcendental; best of the best] each $ = $10; cost is based on a typical dinner entrée and appetizer (no drinks)
each $ = $10; cost is based on a typical dinner entrée and appetizer (no drinks)
austin wanderlist 