Tucumcari eats New Mexican: green and red chile on most things, sopapillas with honey, occasional Tex-Mex crossover. The town's dining scene is small but solid, with a few longstanding family-run places on Route 66 and the more workaday joints nearer the I-40 truckstops.
Order huevos rancheros for breakfast and a Frito pie or a green-chile cheeseburger for lunch. Coffee is American — refilled, not strong. Restaurants close early; aim for dinner by 8pm.