Best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix (Tucson, Scottsdale: home, budget, reviews)

[SMG]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

Pork tacos at Restaurant Mexico in Tempe are to die for.

BINGO!! I forgot ALL about that place and it absolutely rocks. the original poster is from Tempe and I would say this is the best suggestion yet...

[JasonS]

I just moved to Surprise, im trying to find a good mexican food place to eat at,not a full service resturant but a place to just go for lunch to grab a burrito and get some good chips and salsa, Can anyone reccomend a good place near Surprise Farms area

[military spouse]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Wow, the response so far has been great! From what I've had so far, I'd rate El Taco Tote on Country Club in Mesa as the best Tacos. True, it's a chain, but there's only two in the Phoenix area and their food is really good. For best gringo food, I'll say Gardunos at the Chandler Mall. But I have a whole bunch of new recommendations to try now. Keep 'em coming! Feel free to invent your own category if you want.

When we lived in El Paso, we went to El Taco Tote all the time. They used to have the best, most unusual cheesecake. The last time I went to one, the cheesecake was completely different and not nearly as good. Love their chicken tacos and quesadillas!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting hungry thinking about it!

[Chelsielea]

LOS DOS MOLINOS off Central...HANDS DOWN my favorite MX restaurant. But get there early..it gets pack and they have weird hours. AMAZING food though...

[MotleyCrew]

The only place we ever stop at is Taco Smell. I would love to try some of the ones mentioned.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Chelsielea

LOS DOS MOLINOS off Central...HANDS DOWN my favorite MX restaurant. But get there early..it gets pack and they have weird hours. AMAZING food though...

For those who haven't been there... beware! I've been to the Mesa location before. Their food is so spicy it is painful to eat-- and I like spicy normally. I also thought it was extremely greasy, and not much real flavor. I'd say overall it is far overrated.

[vegaspilgrim]

BTW, in the last few weeks, I've tried out a couple of these suggestions. I went to Restaurant Mexico on Mill Ave in Tempe-- prices were very low (at least the base prices), the food was good, better than average, but nothing to brag about, IMO. I'll probably go there again just because of the great location and the price. I also went to Rositas on University Dr-- I thought it was great food-- well executed. So far the recommendations have been pretty good.

[nikkzone]

I used to eat at Pepe's Taco Villa like twice a week back in the 80'th.I used to love that place. I wonder if they are still as good... I think 3 Margarita's pretty good. My kids like Burrito Bandito. You can order Tamales for holidays there. Very reasonable and good. I like the little Mexican bakery on Glendale around 51st Ave(?)

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Chelsielea

LOS DOS MOLINOS off Central...HANDS DOWN my favorite MX restaurant. But get there early..it gets pack and they have weird hours. AMAZING food though...

OMG - thank you!!!!!!!! This topic caught my eye as I was lurking and for over *10 YEARS* I was trying to think of this fab place I went to in Phoenix with wicked hot spicy food - a local took me there (who I lost touch with). As SOON as I saw this name I knew this was it!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vegaspilgrim]

Just ate lunch at this place called "El Pollo Supremo" in Tempe, on University & Ash. It's really simple: barbequed chicken served with whole pinto beans, grilled onions, salsa, and tortillas, but really good! The chicken actually reminded me of Tandoori chicken you get in Indian restaurants, with that reddish seasoning. You get an actual piece of chicken, not a cut up, shredded up, liquidity hunk of crap, like most Mexican fast food places. I guess you could call it the non-chain version of El Pollo Loco. Owner said she's been there for over 25 years. Really low prices too. A couple of quirks-- like cash only, no plastic knives, no free refills, small seating area, but I would definitely recommend it.