long post alert
Love Angel Fire, spent 2 weeks there each of last 2 summers, outside of the resort lodge at the base, there are no real hotels in AF so it keeps the population down and things quiet plus things are spread out. But due to that the restaurant options can be lacking and mediocre, it's definitely more of a VRBO cook your own meals place, but the places that are good:
Good to Great:
Taty at the Bump - great coffee and breakfast bagels, sandwiches, could go there every morning
Angel Fired Pizza - same center as Taty, good
Pizza Stop - seems to be inconsistently open, may be better in the winter season
Mikuna Grill- Peruvian restaurant food is good, but it may not be a super kid-friendly menu
El Jefe - taco shop at the base, while they won't be as good as what you can find in Texas, they're not too bad and has good margs, good patio to sit and watch skiers if the weathers good
Legends at Resort Lodge - fish and chips and wings were good, not sure how the rest of the menu goes, probably hit or miss
Just Ok:
Zebs - kitschy always decorated for Christmas place, bar and grille, don't have high expectations
Mi Cocina Mexican - if you just want Mexican its fine, but won't hold up to Texas Tex-Mex
Skip:
Elements at the Country Club - the "nice" restaurant in town is a nicer experience, but the food is not good and it's expensive, the locals will tell you the same - the Elements Bar is probably better for bar food, but the main restaurant is a hard pass
Summit Haus at the top of the mountain - awful $20 hamburger, just bring your own food if you want to eat at the top
The grocery store in town should have pretty much everything you need for meals as well as beer/wine/liquor
There is not a functioning drug store in town, it may show there is one but it is very inconsistently open. The grocery store has the basics, but we needed a Covid test one time and had to drive to Taos.
I've skied there but never rented equipment in AF so don't have a rec there.
Christmas snow/skiing conditions can be hit or miss, like most of Colorado and NM, snow was scarce until mid-late December last year when AF got about 2 feet right before Christmas, they have significant snow making capabilities so there will be snow and runs open but it was probably 50-60% open at best at Christmas. Right after New Years they got about 3 feet and that led to a solid spring so it really all depends on how early the snow shows up. Ultimately it's not going to be as much snow or as good of skiing as Colorado, but if you're just looking for a place that's a pretty easy drive from Texas to do some runs, let the kids play in the snow and not break the bank it's a good option. Angel Fire has good social media presence on X and Instagram to keep you updated on snow.
Taos will almost always have the best snow of the 3, higher base and higher elevation. It's also the most expensive and in my opinion least convenient to get to. I have a co-worker who has a place in RR but does all their skiing in Taos and will have the best conditions in mid January. If snow shows up in early December and continues it should be good to great in AF and RR by mid January so you might let that dictate where you ski. RR is a fun family friendly place, but overall pretty small, after 1.5-2 days you will have done it all and may be looking for something else. AF is somewhat bigger, might get an extra day, and Taos the largest also considered the hardest of the 3, definitely an intermediate to advanced mountain.