Award-winning

Sazon

Name: Sazon
Address: 221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM, United States, 87501
Telephone: (505) 983-8604
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (5596)

$50 and over

Latin American

221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 6, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Great for creative cocktails

Originally from Mexico City, Chef Fernando Olea, formerly Chef of Epazote, has been enthralling diners in Santa Fe since 1991. Chef Olea creates sophisticated flavors using Old Mexico’s indigenous and culinary traditions alongside ingredients from around the world. His menu is deliberately small, featuring fresh and locally sourced produce and meats when possible.

Nothing evokes the mystery of Mexican cuisine more than mole, a sauce of complex flavors that usually includes toasted and ground spices, seeds, nuts, chocolate and chile. Many mole recipes contain more than thirty ingredients and some recipes have five varieties of chile alone. Chef Olea is delighted to share his moles that include his "New Mexican Mole" that he created to commemorate Santa Fe’s 400 year anniversary in 2009.

Awarded the prestigious AAA 4 Diamond Award and ranked fourth in the country for fine dining by Trip Advisor, Chef Olea is honored to have won the 2022 james Beard Award, Best Chef: Southwest.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Latin American, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(505) 983-8604
Website
http://www.sazonsantafe.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Fernando Olea
Private party facilities
We offer customized menus, experienced servers, extraordinary food, and our very own Chef Fernando Olea’s culinary expertise and flair. There can be nothing more perfectly paired! We use organic and sustainable products whenever possible. Our menu celebrates the varied and complex flavors of classic dishes from Mexico City, Oaxaca, Michoacán and Puebla. Chef Olea brings these classic dishes to life with modern and New World techniques thereby imprinting his own distinct signature, or Sazón, into each and every dish. Menu items change with each season and can be customized to fit your needs. We also are happy to embellish the menu with entertainment, florals, linens, and unique décor. For more information: Tel: 505-983-8604 or email: fernando@sazonsantafe.com

Location
221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Award-winning
1. James Beard Award 2022
Neighborhood
Santa Fe
Cross street
East Alameda Street & Water Street
Parking details
There is self- parking only, but most of the parking near the restaurant is metered. The meters have certain times when they are monitored and when they are not, so please read signs carefully.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wine

Featured in

64 Albuquerque Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Popular dishes

Camaron-Tini$28.00
colossal white shrimp from Gulf of Mexico / light crispy batter / sweet Thai chili aioli
Xochimilco$18.00
huitlacoche: savory and earthy corn truffle over mini tortillas / native spices / queso fresco
Oaxaqueños$19.00
chapulines (baby grasshoppers) infused with olive oil / garlic citrus / chile de arbol / served over avocado on a corn tortilla
Azteca$19.00
yellow fin tuna crudité / avocado / cucumber / spicy tacuba sauce / crispy corn chips

Ensaladas

De la Casa$15.00
baby spinach / mango / cotija cheese / white onion / bacon / cilantro vinaigrette
Suzanna's Salad$25.00
mixed seasonal greens / avocado / mango / crispy quinoa strips / sautéed shrimp / ginger cilantro vinaigrette

Sopa

Sopa de Amor$18.00
Chef Olea's signature soup
Frijole Negro$15.00
silky black bean soup with bacon / jalapeño / white onion / epazote sour cream / crispy corn tortilla strips

Plato Fuerte

Barenjena$32.00
stuffed eggplant / zucchini / corn / tomato / gruyère cheese
Coyoacan$37.00
shrimp enchilada: creamy sauce of zucchini blossoms / asadero cheese
Popocatepetl$55.00
spicy black pepper crusted aged angus beef tenderloin / vegetable mélange / jasmine rice
Cholula$37.00
(Chef Olea's interpretation of Chile en Nogada) a tower of chile poblano / ground lamb, pork and beef / nuts / dried fruits / spices over a cold creamy walnut sauce / pomegranate seeds / balsamic jalapeño reduction
Atun$40.00
pan seared tuna / red cabbage / snow peas / mixed greens
Salmon$42.00
filet wrapped in filo dough / huitlacoche (corn truffle) / jasmine rice

What 5,596 people are saying

Sazon reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New Mexico
Innovative
New Mexico
Most Booked
Santa Fe / Mountains
Best Overall
Santa Fe / Mountains
Best Service
Santa Fe / Mountains
Innovative
Santa Fe / Mountains
Hot spot
Santa Fe / Mountains
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sazón offers an exceptional dining experience in Santa Fe, featuring "outstanding" mole dishes and an "incredible" Chef's soup. The service is consistently "impeccable," and the vibrant ambiance enhances the "unique" and "artistic" cuisine. Frequent praise for the attentive staff and Chef Fernando Olea's personal touch makes every visit "special."

5,596 Reviews

R
Ramona VIP
Fort Lauderdale41 reviews
2.0
Dined today
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We were really looking forward to our meal at Sazón, but it ended up being a major disappointment — especially for a $200 dinner. The menu fails to disclose that several dishes contain pork, including three of the moles and even the black bean soup. My husband doesn’t eat pork, and despite clearly communicating this, he was served multiple items containing it, unknowingly. Even the vegetable purée under the rice had bacon — again, not listed on the menu. The halibut was terribly overcooked and, unbelievably, served over a pork broth mole after we had emphasized the dietary restriction. The pepper steak was also tough and lacked flavor. Our server was kind and did her best to make up for the experience, bringing us mango mocktails — not realizing I’m allergic to mangoes. Later, the owner sent out a complimentary scoop of jalapeño ice cream (which we didn’t order and didn’t want), and made a point to let us know it was free. Unfortunately, that didn’t fix anything. For a restaurant of this caliber, the lack of ingredient transparency — particularly with pork — is unacceptable. We left frustrated, disappointed, and feeling like we couldn’t trust what was on the plate. We won’t be back.
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T
Terri VIP
Kansas City / Kansas13 reviews
2.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We were very disappointed with our experience. This was our fourth visit and the menu is virtually unchanged. It definitely needs a refresh. The octopus starter was swimming in oil and our once-favorite squash blossoms were greasy. We were stupefied to find we were charged $27 for three waters (one sparkling and two still). The individual mole tastings have been replaced with a shared mole tasting which we found to be a downgrade. Overall, we were just underwhelmed from a restaurant that was once our favorite in Santa Fe. We had a much better experience this trip at Zacatlan and Joseph’s Culinary Pub.
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R
Richard
Southwest Florida6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was incredible. Thank you Chef Olea and Julian for a fantastic dining experience.
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W
Wes VIP
Dallas - Fort Worth5 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Second visit. Exceeded expectations again. Wonderful staff. Great meal. Will make a reservation soon for our next trip to Santa Fe.
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W
William VIP
Tampa / Central Florida West9 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our dining experience was amazing in many ways. We were greeted by the Chef at the door and had a lovely orchestrater of a server Shauna. She guided us with a sample of the Chefs signature Mole to which once chosen, was magically paired with our selected protein of Salmon and Pork Loin. Our meal from the Black Bean Soup to the main dish to their unbelievable Chef created dessert. Not to mention the stellar Watermelon Margarita with a hint of red chile. We did not have just an amazing meal, we were taken on a fantastic palate journey. We were never rushed. Every aspect of our courses were perfectly paced so that we could enjoy each element. The Chef even took time to stop at each table to talk to the dinners. Even the support staff were impressively attentive to our needs. When visiting Santa Fe Do NOT pass up this restaurant. You will be talking about your experience for a long time. Rating this establishment under 5 Stars would be nothing less than insulting!
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A
Alana VIP
Austin3 reviews
3.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Service is brilliantly choreographed. The chef’s presence is a lovely touch. Beautiful restaurant. Our waiter seemed a little vibes are off-ish..didn’t like any questions. Soup of love (trademark dish) is delicious, unique, and totally worth a try. Rice was horrendous. I don’t know if it was an off night or they dumped too much of salt/seasoning in it. I think it’s worth a try if only for the ambiance and a few dishes. This was the second time I’ve dined here.
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P
Philippe
New York City19 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We had a wonderful experience at Sazon - everybody from the Chef to the manager came by our table to enquire about our experience. Our waitress Erica was terrific and very attentive to our needs. Loved the mole flavors from sweet to hot, great presentation and intro to the desired flavor for protein cooking. We both ordered soup as appetizer - very tasty and the chocolate crumbs added to the unexpected flavor. We chose lamb and the duck entrees with desired mole flavors, plate tasted as good as it looked. To finish we had the surprise cake with 3 different flavors which came through sequentially in our mouth, loved it ! Overall, a very nice surprise and Sazon exceeded our expectations !
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J
John
Las Vegas1 review
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, superb service. When you go to Santa Fe, this is a place you must go to.
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M
Michael
New Mexico5 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed our dinner very much. The atmosphere is appealing and tastefully done. Shortly after being seated you are given a sample of the mole sauces. You can add your favorite sauce to your entree. We enjoyed the octopus appetizer as well as the soup de amor(a specialty of the chef). I had the fish of the day which was halibut. It was perfectly prepared and served with mole sauce, rice and asparagus. My wife had the salmon which she loved as well. I highly recommend Sazón for the quality of the food and the chance to experience flavors and a unique style. We look forward to our next visit!
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L
Lorraine
Phoenix / Arizona6 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I enjoyed my meal at Sazon, but there were some issues with balancing the menu. Three of the listed appetizers were sold out by my reservation time of 7:45, which I acknowledge is the last serving of the night. It was hard to structure a good meal based on the remaining choices, however I still enjoyed it and had great service.
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FAQs

Sazon is rated 4.8 stars by 5596 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 6, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Dining areas

Additional information

Award-winning
1. James Beard Award 2022
Cross street
East Alameda Street & Water Street
Neighborhood
Santa Fe
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Latin American, Contemporary Mexican
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
There is self- parking only, but most of the parking near the restaurant is metered. The meters have certain times when they are monitored and when they are not, so please read signs carefully.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Fernando Olea
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wine

Website
http://www.sazonsantafe.com/
Phone number
(505) 983-8604
Private party facilities
We offer customized menus, experienced servers, extraordinary food, and our very own Chef Fernando Olea’s culinary expertise and flair. There can be nothing more perfectly paired! We use organic and sustainable products whenever possible. Our menu celebrates the varied and complex flavors of classic dishes from Mexico City, Oaxaca, Michoacán and Puebla. Chef Olea brings these classic dishes to life with modern and New World techniques thereby imprinting his own distinct signature, or Sazón, into each and every dish. Menu items change with each season and can be customized to fit your needs. We also are happy to embellish the menu with entertainment, florals, linens, and unique décor. For more information: Tel: 505-983-8604 or email: fernando@sazonsantafe.com

Featured in

64 Albuquerque Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Sazon

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

64 Albuquerque Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Sopa de Amor

Dulce Sinfonia

Chocolate Mexicana

Antojitos

Camaron-Tini$28.00

Xochimilco$18.00

Oaxaqueños$19.00

Azteca$19.00

Ensaladas

De la Casa$15.00

Suzanna's Salad$25.00

Sopa

Sopa de Amor$18.00

Frijole Negro$15.00

Plato Fuerte

Barenjena$32.00

Coyoacan$37.00

Popocatepetl$55.00

Cholula$37.00

Atun$40.00

Salmon$42.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Sazon restaurant rated?

Is Sazon currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

64 Albuquerque Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day