The Real Places Behind AMC’s ‘Better Call Saul’

Loyola's Family Restaurant

When Jimmy McGill (in a fake British accent) asks Craig Kettleman, the county treasurer accused of embezzling $1.6 million, and his wife Betsy to meet him at Loyola’s Cafe, he couldn’t have given the long-time family eatery a better endorsement (not that it needed it).

Located on historic Route 66, this diner with maroon vinyl booths and wrap-around counter has been packed with University of New Mexico students, cops, and chili-loving locals since it was opened by Loyola Baca in 1984. Her daughter Sarah Cordova now runs the joint that also sells posole, menudo, and red and green chili that will make your nose run, your brow sweat, and your heart dance the flamenco.

Fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and liver and onions go for $9.19. For a New York strip, be prepared to pony up $11.99. And even though Loyola’s appeared to be open into the wee hours in Breaking Bad (“Cornered” — Season 4, Episode 6), it closes by 2 PM each afternoon. Don’t miss the roadrunner lamps.

Café Lush

With Jimmy’s credit card already being declined at the flower kiosk, he didn’t try lassoing in new clients at this tiny, 12-table café on the edge of downtown. But it played a cameo role in the pilot as twins Cal and Lars waited at 7th St. and Tiejeras Avenue with skateboard in hand.

Café Lush (baristas even write the letters L-U-S-H on top of lattes) is tops on the list for Albuquerque’s vegan, organic, and gluten-free set. Their breakfast pizza, which looks and taste nothing like a pizza (but is every bit as delicious), satisfies both persuasions. They also make gluten-free brownies, muffins, and tortillas, and such daily specials as shrimp tacos with Napa cabbage and mango salsa. They even have a Better Call Saul burger piled high with turkey, cheese, peach mustard.

Java Joe's

Psychopathic Mexican kingpin Tuco Salamanca is back, along with his henchmen No-Doze and Nacho Varga. Luckily, he’s not snorting meth straight out of the bag just yet. His abuelita’s house (where Jimmy first meets him) is at 12204 Manitoba Drive Northeast, but if you want to see his hideout, the one a certain chemistry teacher blew up by throwing fulminated mercury on the floor, it’s not in ruins after all. Instead, it’s a quaint neighborhood café serving breakfast platters and its own house-roasted coffee, complete with nightly live music.

Vintage 423

Jimmy had trouble making conversation with his blonde bombshell date at this upscale Northeast Heights supper club. And no wonder. He’d just survived a different kind of encounter in the desert with the maniacal, grandma-loving Tuco. Although this elegant, low-lit restaurant doesn’t really serve breadsticks (the crunching of which reminded Jimmy of the twins’ legs being broken) it does serve a fabulous homemade French baguette with chili olive oil spread. If its accompanying bar with the waterfall were anywhere else, patrons would be required to wear a tie. Here, like Jimmy, you can throw back a few drinks wearing just about anything you like.

Los Altos Skatepark

When Jimmy came up with the scheme of tricking the Kettlemans into becoming a client, he knew just where to find the no-brain skateboarders Cal and Lars: Los Altos Skate Park. The largest in the southwest, it has 35,000-square-feet of skateable area, a banked street course, two bowls, and accommodates BMX bikes, skateboards, and in-line skates. There are even bleachers, phones, and colorful murals at this popular park near Lomas and the I-40 overpass that got a facelift just last year.

"Omaha" Cinnabon

Want to take a selfie at the Cinnabon where Gene (yet another alias for Saul) now spends his days wearing an apron, mixing dough, and stirring up CinnaSweeties? No need to head to Omaha. The opening black and white sequence was filmed at the Cinnabon inside Albuquerque’s Cottonwood Mall. They even handed out some 350 free mini-buns the day after the pilot premiered.