18 of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Phoenix, AZ
Studies show Arizona ranks highest in the country for the love of Mexican food. Perhaps it’s the state’s dry climate and beautiful desert landscapes that make it the perfect environment for enjoying the delicious cuisine. If you’re in Arizona or planning to visit, these are among the best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix that you are bound to taste and love.
1. Cocina Madrigal
4044 S 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85040
(602) 243-9000
Cocina Madrigal has been voted #1 by Traveller’s Choice 2020 on the 10 Best Restaurants in Phoenix list. In 2019, Yelp listed it as #68 on the Top 100 Places to Eat. It was also documented as having the Best Enchilada on the Best of Phoenix 2019. It was also rated as Top Restaurant in Phoenix by YouTube vlogger Miken Chen – he has more than one million subscribers. This award-winning restaurant offers a range of tantalizing Mexican dishes with chicken enchiladas, mesquite-grilled Romaine salad served with beef tenderloin and Oaxaca fundido among its top dishes.
2. Barrio Café
2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 636-0240
Barrio Café offers a combination of Southwestern and Mexican cuisines. Tasty churros and uniquely tasty guacamole are some of the popular menu items. Other food items you can try out include the queso fundido – made with lots of cream and a variety of cheese types. It has been rated #30 of 3267 eateries in Phoenix. Dining options are available for the patio or dining room, or you can opt for take-out. You can also order gift cards from them and share some love with those you care about.
3. Fuego @ the Clarendon
401 W. Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ
(602) 469-1730
Started in 2006 by husband and wife, this Mexican restaurant offers a fusion of Latin cuisine, with live music every night – as long as the weather is favorable. In 2020, they teamed up with the Clarendon Hotel to grow into what they are today, a local gem. The restaurant is available for private bookings, including cocktail receptions, weddings, or business lunches. Fuego is reasonably priced and provides a romantic outdoor ambiance. It has continually appeared for eight years and more as one of Phoenix’s top 10 restaurants on the Tripadvisor Hall of Fame. The menu caters for special diets with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
4. Aunt Chilada’s Squaw Peak
7330 N Dreamy Draw Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85020
(602) 944-1286
Open for both a dine-in experience and take-out services, Aunt Chilada’s Squaw Peak is family-owned and among one of the friendliest. It’s a historical monument with its own individuality, nestled in the shadows of Squaw Peak Mountain. The original structure, built in the 1890s from railroad ties and desert stone, operated as a supply workshop and general shop for mercury miners traveling through the Dreamy Draw region of Phoenix, AZ. Menu favorites include quesadilla, guacamole, burritos, and specials like fish tacos.
5. Dick’s Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 241-1881
This restaurant is a little hidden gem, literally hidden, that offers a rustic ambiance. Dick’s Hideaway is part of Richardson’s restaurants. Menu favorites include slow-simmered smoked pork in red chile, roasted garlic platter, and shrimp wrapped in bacon. However, if you’re looking for the typical American steaks, burgers, and salads, you’ll find them here too. Open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can choose an accompaniment from their select wines. Happy hour is offered daily on both food and drinks all day except during peak hours (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm).
6. Los Dos Molinos
1044 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 80516
(602) 528-3535
Los Dos Molinos translates into ‘The Two Grinders’. The restaurant derives its name from two grinders that were used by the proprietor couple’s grandparents, drawing inspiration. All the meals are hand-made by the proprietors or their daughters, with a single help. Talk of a personalized touch. Any item on the menu indicated ‘chile’ means HOT Mexico chiles; be warned. Ranked #140 of 3264 restaurants by Tripadvisor, the food and ambiance are a combination of local cuisine and Mexican. Happy hour takes place from Tuesday to Friday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
7. Richardson’s Cuisine of New Mexico
6335 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 265-5886
Having started its operations way back in 1988, Richardson’s has perfected Mexican cuisine’s art, with menu favourites such as smoked turkey enchiladas and Carne adovada. The restaurant provides alfresco dining on the viga-covered patio or in the dining room adorned with colorful Southwestern-inspired woven wall rugs and Saltillo tiles. Private dining is available with a seating size of 22 guests, with the potential to host more at The Cove (on the patio). The cove is a huge spherical banquette with a number of coffee tables set up in front of the seating.
8. Gallo Blanco Café
928 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 327-0880
Specialties at this owner-operated restaurant include wide vegetarian variations, street tacos, unique specialty beverages, craft beer, and wine. All ingredients are sourced locally in support of the local community and are brought together to create healthy, flavorful, tasty meals. Happy hour at Gallo Blanco occurs daily between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. They are open throughout except Mondays. Menu favorites include al pastor tacos, churros, and carne asada tacos.
9. Ajo Al’s Mexican Café
5101 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016-3904
(602) 222-9902
Ajo Al’s Mexican Café offers authentic Mexican meals. The ambiance is friendly and the food tastes great. They are claimed to have the best calabacitas and fajitas. Menu options entail Mexican, Vegan, Contemporary, Southwestern, and Vegetarian friendly. The restaurant is open to host large groups, special events and business meetings. Aside from the tantalizing meals, there’s a wide range of cocktails and margaritas, salads and soups – all gluten-free. They offer catering services for either home or office.
10. Taco Guild
546 E Osborn Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 264-4143
The food at Taco Guild is innovative and modern, likely why they were named among the top Mexican restaurants in Phoenix by Travel Channel. The menu combines Latin, Mexican, and Southwestern cuisines to offer meals that’ll tease your taste buds. Menu favorites include coconut shrimp, chipotle cherry steak, tacos, chicharrons, grilled romaine, grilled burrito, and the tequila flight. Open daily from 11:00 am (except Mondays when they remain closed), they close at 9:00 pm on Sunday through to Thursday, and two hours after on Friday and Saturday.
11. Chantico Restaurant and Bar
1051 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 699-3015
With a health-focused menu, Chantico Restaurant and Bar offers casual dining located at the corner of 11th Street and Camelback in Phoenix, Arizona. With native desert flora and fauna, the restaurant has an indoor and outdoor space for visitors. Live music, healthy eats, and happy hours every day from 4-6 PM is all we could ask for when it comes to a successful outing!
12. Casa Corazon
2637 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 334-1917
As Casa Corazon means the heart house, you immediately know everything is made with love. Inspired by Southern parts of Mexico, all meals are made from scratch with authenticity. Featuring plates such as fish tacos, there isn’t anything you’re craving that you won’t find on the menu here. There are plenty of places in Phoenix with great salsa, but no one does salsa like Casa Corazon. They have an extensive salsa bar and make 10 kinds of salsa in-house daily. It’s all from the heart at Casa Corazon!
13. Presidio Cocina
519 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 279-8420
With fresh horchata and homestyle Mexican cooking, you already feel at home. Located in Central Phoenix, this is a new spot serving Michoacán-inspired dishes. All food is locally sourced, and crafted with care. Founded by the Nava family household, come visit the soul of Mexico at Presidio Cocina!
14. Centrico in San Carlos Hotel
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 254-8226
Located in the San Carlos Hotel in Central Phoenix, Centrico provides all the vibes. With classic Mexican dishes, patio seating, and tasty drinks, Centrico has it covered. Supplying popular cuisines such as tacos, empanadas, and Queso fundido, there is so much goodness to choose from! While you’re there, book a stay at San Carlos or just enjoy a fun time with your friends and family.
15. Joyride Taco House Central
5202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 274-8226
Being the perfect sort of place you hope to discover with friends, the vibe at Joyride Taco House draws you in and the food blows you away as well. Featuring tacos of all sorts, we won’t blame you if you don’t want to leave! Offering elevated eating with patio seating, a colorful setting, and street food, Joyride Tacos are waiting for you!
16. Tacos Chiwas
1028 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 358-8830
Taco Chiwas is a family-owned restaurant that serves up some of Phoenix’s most delicious and authentic Mexican cuisine. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it the ideal spot for chowing down on some classic Mexican dishes. With a small menu that’s all about quality over quantity, Taco Chiwas is the perfect spot for taco connoisseurs to check out. The menu offers a variety of tacos, from the carne asada taco, to the al pastor taco, and the flavorful street taco. These recipes have been passed down by generations, ensuring visitors an authentic taste of Mexico.
17. Mariscos Playa Hermosa
1605 E Garfield St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 462-1563
This neat restaurant serves up fresh and innovative Mexican seafood. Mariscos Playa Hermosa brings the flavors of Mexican beaches to the Arizona desert. The food is served with the freshest ingredients and the menu includes dishes like the molcajete caliente, fish tacos, and red snapper. Mariscos Playa Hermosa also has an innovative approach to drinks and a large tequila selection; try the shrimp cocktail or the Micheladas cocktail, both are delicious!
18. Taco Chelo
501 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 368-5316
Taco Chelo is a go-to taco spot among Phoenix locals. The vibes at this Mexican restaurant are great, the margaritas are delicious and not too sweet, and the tacos are even better! All tacos come on handmade corn tortillas with cucumber, lime, and salsa. Try popular options like the carnitas and Sonoran taco with carne asada, cabbage, Sonoran salsa, and avocado based salsa verde. Yummy drinks, good classic Mexican food, what more can you ask for?
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink around Phoenix, check out our Phoenix city page.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on August 17, 2021 and last updated on October 19, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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