Arizona’s food scene is a sizzling fiesta of flavors that goes way beyond the expected Southwestern fare. I’ve spent years exploring the hidden gems and famous haunts across the Grand Canyon State, sampling everything from street tacos to gourmet tamales.
Whether you’re a local looking for new favorites or a visitor hoping to taste authentic Arizona cuisine, these seven mouthwatering spots will have you planning your next meal before you’ve finished the first!
1. Barrio Queen: Where Tequila Meets Tradition
Holy guacamole! The moment you step into Barrio Queen, your senses are bombarded with the intoxicating aromas of slow-roasted meats and fresh corn tortillas. Their guacamole, prepared tableside with theatrical flair, has ruined all other guacamole for me forever.
Though relatively new to Arizona’s food scene, this place honors old-world Mexican recipes with modern twists that’ll make your taste buds dance the jarabe tapatío. The cochinita pibil tacos, marinated in achiote and sour orange, practically melt in your mouth.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try their chapulines (yes, grasshoppers!) with a shot of premium tequila from their collection of over 200 varieties. Weekend brunches here are legendary, their chilaquiles have cured many of my Saturday morning regrets!
2. Los Dos Molinos: Fire-Breathing Dragon of Spice
Warning: wimpy taste buds need not apply! Los Dos Molinos isn’t joking around with their New Mexican-style heat that’s cranked up to eleven. My first bite of their adovada ribs nearly sent me running for the nearest fire extinguisher.
However, beneath that legendary spice lies incredible depth of flavor that keeps heat-seekers coming back for more punishment. Family-owned since the 1970s, this Phoenix institution uses New Mexican chiles in almost everything, even their margaritas pack a punch!
What makes this place special isn’t just the heat; it’s the genuine hospitality from the Chavez family that makes you feel like you’ve been invited to their home for Sunday dinner. Just remember to order extra sopapillas, these puffy pillows of fried dough drizzled with honey are your only defense against the chile onslaught.
3. El Charro Café: Birthplace of the Chimichanga
Imagine accidentally dropping a burrito into hot oil and creating culinary history! That’s reportedly how the chimichanga was born at El Charro Café, Arizona’s oldest Mexican restaurant continuously operated by the same family since 1922.
When visiting their original downtown Tucson location, I felt like I was stepping into a living museum of Sonoran cuisine. The building itself, a converted old home, creaks with character and stories from generations past.
Their carne seca is legendary, beef dried on the roof in metal cages (a tradition they still maintain), then shredded and grilled with green chiles and tomatoes. While everyone raves about the chimichangas (rightfully so), don’t miss their tamales, especially during the holidays when special seasonal varieties appear. Pair everything with their house margarita for the full El Charro experience!
4. Taco Guild: Sacred Shrine to Street Food
Where else can you enjoy street tacos inside a 19th-century Methodist church? Taco Guild’s unique setting, complete with original stained glass windows and pews repurposed as booth seating, creates an atmosphere that’s downright reverent toward its food.
If you’re wondering whether this is just gimmicky architecture with mediocre food, banish that thought immediately! Their Urban Bean coffee-rubbed carne asada taco converted me into a true believer. Meanwhile, their roasted jalapeño bacon jam should be considered a controlled substance for how addictive it is.
Though they excel at craft cocktails (the prickly pear margarita is heavenly), I always gravitate toward their impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals. The bartenders double as spiritual guides, helping you navigate the extensive menu while sharing the history behind each agave spirit. Hallelujah for fusion tacos in a holy setting!
5. Matt’s Big Breakfast: Morning Glory in the Desert
Sometimes the longest lines lead to the greatest rewards. Such is the case at Matt’s Big Breakfast, where I’ve happily waited 45 minutes just to sink my teeth into their thick-cut bacon and fluffy griddlecakes.
Unlike trendy brunch spots with complicated menus, Matt’s philosophy is refreshingly simple: source the best local ingredients and cook them perfectly. Their eggs come from cage-free chickens, their pork from heritage breed pigs, and their bread from local bakeries. The Chop & Chick, a succulent pork chop served alongside eggs any style, has saved me from many a hangover.
Despite expanding to multiple locations across Phoenix, they’ve maintained their quality and charm. The original downtown spot is tiny but worth squeezing into. Just don’t expect fancy coffee drinks, here, it’s all about strong, straightforward diner coffee that keeps flowing until you say when.
6. Barrio Cafe: Chef Silvana’s Love Letter to Mexico
Before there was a Barrio Cafe, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza was just a baker’s daughter with a dream of showing Arizonans that Mexican cuisine extended far beyond cheese-covered combination plates. Twenty years later, her restaurant has become the standard by which all upscale Mexican food in Arizona is judged.
Though many dishes deserve praise, the chiles en nogada stands as her masterpiece, a roasted poblano stuffed with fruit, nuts, and pork, then draped in walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. The colors of the Mexican flag never tasted so good!
While waiting for your meal, admire the local art covering every wall, Chef Silvana’s commitment to supporting the community extends beyond food. Don’t rush through dinner; this is a place where meals are meant to be savored slowly, preferably with one of their tableside-prepared guacamoles and a glass of Mexican wine from their carefully curated list.
7. Tortilla Flat: Wild West Dining Adventure
Technically, Tortilla Flat isn’t a town, it’s a restaurant with its own zip code! This historic stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail survived fires, floods, and the end of the stagecoach era to become Arizona’s most unusual dining destination.
Where else can you sit on a saddle-shaped barstool, surrounded by walls papered with thousands of dollar bills, while eating the best chili in the state? Their signature “killer chili” lives up to its name, with a rich, meaty base and enough heat to make your forehead glisten.
After your meal, don’t miss their prickly pear gelato, a sweet, vibrant pink treat that perfectly counters the chili’s heat. Though some might dismiss Tortilla Flat as a tourist trap, the food quality proves it’s much more than that. The journey there, winding through the Superstition Mountains, is half the fun. Just watch out for the resident burros who might try to steal your leftovers in the parking lot!
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