PHX: show a Minnesotan real Mexican food :)
Hi, I'm going to escape the snow and cold of Minnesota for a week in Phoenix/Scottsdale and want to know where I should go for some great Mexican food. Up here, people are really happy just to have Chipotle, so I'm hoping to branch out a bit. From reading the posts, two nice places seem to Barrio Cafe and Los Sombreros, but both have some uneven reviews as of late and people keep commenting on how they're not as good as they used to be. Is that true? Where else would you suggest? Thanks a lot!
By dahlsk on
Mar 17, 2007 03:18PM
View »
Video
I think people are being too hard on Barrio Cafe. I've been there twice in the last couple months and I think it's wonderful. Yeah, it's cramped and loud...but the food has been consistently great. I haven't tried it yet, but there's numerous posts here than indicate a trip to Phoenix Ranch Market, for either the food court or the sit-down restaurant, is a good, authentic way to go. Also, Carolina's and Rito's (two hole-in-the-wall central Phoenix places) are worth checking out as long as you aren't looking for fancy or comfortable. I'm also a big fan of Blue Adobe Grill in Mesa, which bills itself as New Mexico cuisine, though it doesn't have the heat that you might expect. The heat is at Los Dos Molinos, and a few years ago I would have said you should run, not walk, to the nearest location...but I really think they've lost the plot.
Permalink | Reply
I have found Barrio Cafe to be consistently excellent, and my best friend who works at a high profile gourmet magazine demands to go when she visits.
I'd also recommend Carlsbad Tavern and Richardson's for some New Mexican cuisine - fiery and hearty. Phoenix Ranch Market provides good food and a great experience.
Have fun!
Permalink | Reply
I'd suggest Tradiciones (the sit-down restaurant) at the Ranch Market at 16th and Roosevelt, Los Nopalitos (24th St., hole in the wall), and...hmmm....OH! A brief trip to Guadalupe - the Mexican/Yaqui neighborhood at Guadalupe Rd. and Avenida del Yaqui - aka Priest Rd. - where you will find San Diego Bay restaurant (very simple, very good) and the Guadalupe Farmers' Market, with organic produce AND an array of house-labeled salsas and jams (try the Five Amigos Fire Roasted Pepper Salsa and the Peach Jalapeno jam). You'll also find a couple of markets for Mexican tiles and pottery in Guadalupe.
Permalink | Reply
And I almost forgot....please kindly abandon the idea that wonderful, great, good, fabulous Mexican cuisine equates with extreme heat. Not necessarily so.
Permalink | Reply
Be careful about hunting out "real" mexican. That's like finding real BBQ... but that's all I'll say on that. I'm one of the ones responsible for the uneven reviews as of late. I would return to Barrio cafe for sure if I was with people who wanted to go. It's "modern" Mexican, so if you're looking for something classic, I would skip it. If you were my guest I would take you Richardson's and the Ranch Market for certain. All the suggestions above are great, and you could go to all of them and feel like you were getting a different cuisine from each one.
Permalink | Reply
"Mexican food" is exceptionally varied because the various regions of Mexico produce different styles. Most Mexican food in Phoenix is going to be "Sonoran" style which usually means "mild comfort food." You can spice it up with jalapeños and similar, but it tends to be hearty with plenty of cheese and tortillas and fairly inexpensive.
If that is what you are looking for, I would suggest Pepe's Taco Villa on West Camelback, Rosita's Place on East McDowell, El Napolito on North 24th Street, Carolina's on East Mohave, or El Bravo on North 7th Street (especially their green corn tamales).
For a step up in price and atmosphere, I would definitely head over to Tradiciones at 16th Street and Roosevelt or Asi Es La Vida on North 24th Street.
High end would definitely be Barrio Cafe on 16th Street, just south of Thomas, but be advised that they do not take reservations and the wait could be substantial. (I will note here that my two visits here were very different. The first time, I thought it was great, while my last visit this past Thursday was very mixed and I was disappointed.)
If you want New Mexican, Richardson's is the place (16th Street and Bethany). There is also the "standard bearer" Los Dos Molinos (South Phoenix), but I was less than impressed on my last visit there because it seemed like they had turned down the heat in the dishes.
One of the things that often gets overlooked, though, is the incredible seafood creations that can be found in Mexican cooking. I think a place that does this very well is Mariscos Playa Hermosa at 16th Street and Garfield.
Also, don't forget our western suburbs. If you are up for a drive to Glendale, I highly recommend Pedro's and La Perla (both on Glendale Avenue), which serve classic Sonoran fare.
And, of course, you can't go wrong with a visit to the food court at Phoenix Ranch Market (16th Street and Roosevelt). Grab some street tacos, a torta, a horchata from the beverage station and save room for one of the pastries sitting in the case as you exit the market.
Welcome to Phoenix and enjoy our weather. As I type this, my outdoor thermometer reads 94 F.
Permalink | Reply
Depending on where you will be located in PHX (about 5,000 sq. miles by now), I would recommend El Bravo, up 7th St. (West side) in Sunny Slope). It is about 8 miles from downtown. It is a mom-n-pop operation and very good, though down-scale. Seth did a review about 10 months back.
The other would be Tradiciones at the Phoenix Ranch Market, which I have yet to dine at, but has received several rave reviews.
Hunt
Permalink | Reply
I would definitely go to Phoenix Ranch Market just for the experience, if nothing else. The first time I went was around Christmas and it was almost overwhelming with all the people. We went there a couple weekends ago, and it was much calmer. I'd recommend hitting them for a nice casual lunch. Given the sheer volume of what you can get in the food court, it is a great place to sample the numerous items.
Permalink | Reply
Thank you all so much, the variety of ideas given is totally great. I'll report back in a couple weeks!
Permalink | Reply
I would try Casa Reynoso at Mill and Southern in Tempe. The style is from the Globe Miami area and is amazing. The prices are great, although the restaurant is a little out dated.
Permalink | Reply
As a former-Duluthian, I know the pains of horrible Mexican food. I believe I've celebrated multiple birthday's at the ill-fated restaurant chain Chi-Chi's.
All suggestions already posted are great suggestions and would provide a better taste of "real" Mexican.
Permalink | Reply
AZhotdish, I was DYING laughing about your Chi-Chi's comment.
When my family moved to Chicago years ago, our new Chicago friends wanted to make us feel at home and took us to Chi Chi's for dinner to have Mexican food.
My older brother and I were just old enough to think the name was HILARIOUS and know that the food was truly, truly bad. This just brought back a funny memory.
To the OP, you almost can't drive down any street in Phoenix and not pass a great hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that may be homey and inexpensive, but will likely be great. I make it a habit to pop into new random Mexican restaurants at least every few weeks.
I recommend Barrio Cafe, Ranch Market/Tradiciones, Carolinas, La Tolteca, Mariscos Playa Hermosa, Richardson's and all of the suggestions above...and to be honest, being from Minnesota, you may find that even a drive-through Mexican place (try the bean burritos) are not half bad. :)
Have fun!
Permalink | Reply
Being from Iowa and having lived in Indiana and Illinois, I just assumed that everyone had a Chi-Chi's in their town. The ONLY reason I would go there was for the queso and cheap margarita's after work on Friday's. That being said, we still made fun of the place as home to crappy Mexican fare.
But I made a joke with reference to Chi-Chi's here in Phoenix and everyone just gave me a blank look. I didn't realize what the word meant.....
Permalink | Reply
For their credit, they had good fried ice cream. Oh, and it was free on your birthday. Yippee!
Permalink | Reply
Ok, ok. I have to ask, what DOES it mean? Save me any embarassment for my upcoming trip :)
Permalink | Reply
See #3.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...
Permalink | Reply
Yep, #3 is what we had heard. :)
Permalink | Reply
When I used to work by the pool at one of the resorts here, a guest asked one of the waitresses (who was rather amply endowed) for a couple of Chi Chis. She got offended and stomped off. She told us what happened, and we told her that in bar parlance a Chi Chi is a piña colada made with vodka. I have never seen someone turn so red before.
Permalink | Reply