Back to Basics at Matteo’s Eatery

Welcome to the only source for artful, bite-sized stories and diverse perspectives on the New Mexico food and drink scene. This week, Leah Romero highlights the return of a beloved Las Cruces favorite.

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Back to Their Roots—And Back on Wheels

After seven years of becoming a Las Cruces favorite, the Rios family has returned to where it all began—or maybe more accurately, back to the wheels.

The smell of Hatch chile and carne asada on the grill fills the air before customers even reach Matteo’s Eatery food truck. Nearby, rows of their signature aguas frescas sit chilled and ready. And judging by the steady line of people waiting for tacos and horchata, they’re not the only ones excited to see Matteo’s return.

From Food Truck to Local Favorite

Melody and Hugo Rios launched Matteo’s Eatery as a food truck in 2018, originally serving downtown Las Cruces between City Hall and Thomas Branigan Memorial Library.

Named after their son, Matteo’s quickly built a loyal following. Over time, that success grew into four fast-casual restaurant locations across Las Cruces, Alamogordo, and El Paso.

Last November, the family made the difficult decision to close all locations.

According to Hugo, rising food costs and maintaining the quality they were known for made operations increasingly difficult. At the same time, the family was considering a new season of life and new opportunities.

But the response from customers was overwhelming. Community members continued encouraging them to keep the Matteo’s story alive.

For the Rios family, Matteo’s had become more than a business—it was something they cared deeply about continuing to build.

A Full Circle Return

Not long after closing, hints began appearing online that Matteo’s might not be gone for long.

After four months of restoring and updating the original food truck that had been sitting in storage, Matteo’s Eatery returned to its original location and reopened with a soft launch.

Melody described the experience as a dream realized—returning to handmade food, scratch-made aguas frescas, and serving customers face to face the way they originally started.

Behind the scenes, it remains a family operation with help from grandparents and the couple’s three children.

A Smaller Menu with the Same Standards

While the menu today is smaller than the restaurant version, the focus remains the same.

Working within the limitations of a food truck meant simplifying without sacrificing quality.

Their well-known carne asada remains available in tacos, quesadillas, tortas, burritos, and bowls.

The family credits freshness and small-batch preparation as the foundation behind both their flavor and popularity.

The Drinks Customers Keep Coming Back For

Matteo’s aguas frescas have become one of their biggest signatures.

While not every flavor returned, favorites currently include:

• Horchata
• Blue Ocean (pineapple with blue spirulina)
• Cucumber Chia Limeade

Rotating flavors occasionally appear, including:

• Dragon Fruit
• Mango
• Piña Colada

One customer favorite recommendation: mixing Blue Ocean with Horchata for a smooth, refreshing combination that stays balanced without becoming overly sweet.

Growing Again—One Item at a Time

The menu continues expanding based largely on customer demand.

New Mexico–style stacked enchiladas returned in April and brisket also made its way back onto the menu.

Customers continue requesting flautas and carne asada fries, though adding fry capabilities inside a food truck remains a challenge the family is exploring.

The Next Generation Is Already Cooking

Every Friday, the family’s sixteen-year-old daughter Sophia serves her own ceviche recipe.

What started as a small side project inside their previous restaurant grew into something customers now actively seek out.

Her recipe features shrimp, hand-squeezed lime juice, cucumber, tomato, onion, cilantro, and a black-pepper finish.

The family says their goal remains simple: serve their community with the highest standards possible.

Visit Matteo’s Eatery

Location: 896 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM

Phone: (575) 404-5398

Matteo’s Eatery continues evolving while staying rooted in what made people love it in the first place: fresh food, family involvement, and serving customers face to face.