Dear Phoenix folk - I am going to be in town for business with one night free to dine on the town. Would love recommendations for some suggestions I won't find easily myself. I am a pretty adventurous eater so am willing to try a wide variety of foods. I have a soft spot for hole in the wall taquerias/taco trucks in particular.
Many thanks!
By lexvegas
on Mar 18, 2011 10:22 AM
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Phoenix is a big place... Can you tell us where you're staying? Will you have a car? Are you willing to drive a few miles?
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good questions - am staying at the clarendon. have car. will drive more thn a few miles for something really good. thanks!
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Ok so you're going to be staying in Central Phoenix... That helps...
Well if you're after Mexican faire, here's my suggestion... it's certainly not a hole in the wall, but you can't go wrong with Barrio Cafe... It's only a couple of miles from where you're staying... I literally dream about the lobster quesadillas... The chef is a James Beard nominee for the second year in a row...
Our food truck scene is just getting off the ground after some legislative red tape and I don't know a whole lot about the specifics. Maybe some other users can chime in...
Good luck!
LBX
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Barrio Cafe
2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
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I think you'd be crazy not to have one meal, any meal, at Gallo Blanco, at your hotel. Check the menu online.
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Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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Gallo Blanco Cafe, the non-hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant on the first floor of the Clarendon is a favorite of mine. For various reasons, actually I prefer it to Barrio Cafe. I'm pretty sure I coud eat their chilaquiles verdes every day for the rest of my life. Other favorites of mine are their guac, elote, tortas, and Pica Rico burger.
At night, the new non-taqueria-type food trucks tend to be either inactive or dispersed around the metro area, so my recommendations would depend on the night of the week you're interested in. I know of a couple of taco trucks that set up a bit south and east of where you will be staying, but (a) I don't know that I could consider either of them to be destinations and (b) I don't know how late they operate--one in particular is in a fairly sketchy part of town, which could limit their operations to daylight hours.
There are various Southeast Asian eateries within easy striking distance of your hotel, Thai E-San (Thai), Pho Thanh (Vietnamese), and Sekong by Night (Cambodian). Fattoush, a neighborhood Middle Eastern joint, doesn't seem to be on most people's radar, but I like to go there every so often for their kibbeh.
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Barrio Cafe
2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Fattoush Restaurant
4426 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Thai E-San
616 W Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Sekong by Night
1312 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Pho Thanh
1702 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85015
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Barrio Cafe and Gallo Blanco are both good recs. I haven't yet tried it, but there is a much written about food truck that sets up near 20th/Indian School called Nogales Hot Dogs, that serves Sonoran style hot dogs.
For something else quite different, there's Chino Bandido, which was featured on Diners, Drive--ins and Dives. I love the place.
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Chino Bandido
1825 W Chandler Blvd Ste 2, Chandler, AZ 85224
Chino Bandido
15414 N 19th Ave Ste K, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Nogales Hot Dogs
1945 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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They also have a location at 15414 N.19th Ave which is much closer to the Clarendon.
Great food and definitley adventerous, also one of the few 3-D places I've tried that lived up to the hype. Gallo Blanco rocks as well, or head to Dick's Hideaway for green chile heaven.
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Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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I've been to 9 3D places now and have thought all were fantastic.
Anyway, Chino Bandido is fantastic. Really and odd combination in this fusion but when you get your food it somehow all seems to make sense.
One of my cousin's (Az resident 25 years) favourites.
DT
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Chino Bandido
1825 W Chandler Blvd Ste 2, Chandler, AZ 85224
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completely agree with both Gallo Blanco and Barrio Cafe...really no reason to look farther. Perhaps you could sneak in lunch at one place and dinner at the other. Gallo's tacos are so, so good and Barrio has the most authentic, true gourmet Mexican around.
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Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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La Condesa has superb tacos as well. not too far away at 16th st and Palm lane.
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+1. I would definitely hit La Condesa at some point. Try their mole, tinga, and cochinita tacos, and explore their awesome salsa bar.
If you have some time during the day, you might also appreciate Ranch Market (Roosevelt & 16th St.). Grab a drink from the aguas frescas bar, some tacos (or anything, really) from the food court, and browse the market.
I'll also put a vote in for Barrio Cafe and Dick's Hideaway.
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Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
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i think the food court at ranch mkt is closed.
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Tradiciones is closed, but I believe the in-store food court/Mexitessan at the Roosevelt/16th St location of Ranch Market is still in operation.
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/d...
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Tradiciones
1602 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
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I was there a couple weeks ago - the food court is still in operation.
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My favorite 'Mom and Pop' for true Sonoran Style Mexican food is Rosita's Place.Same family running this place for years,always great food.
2310 e. McDowell
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Many thanks to everyone for their suggestions - am headed out to Phoenix today and will let you know where I end up!
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Thanks to everyone for their advice - I ended up only having one dinner and one breakfast free - and ate both meals at Gallo Blanco which was as folks had promised, delicious. The chilequiles were amazing and I had an assortment of tacos for dinner - pork, beef and shrimp, all of which were also delicious. Loved the atmosphere, the drinks (the bartender made me a tasty virgin prickly pear margarita), all good.
Will look forward to checking out other recommendations next time I am in town.
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Gallo Blanco Cafe
401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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