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Old 05-26-2015, 09:59 AM
 
9,480 posts, read 12,312,665 times
Reputation: 8783

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Quote:
Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised View Post
I'd have to agree with wit-wit. Rio Mirage is my go-to Mexican spot but it has to be the original location. They make fresh flour tortillas right in front of you and they are to die for! I breath in while eating so I can inhale the grill smell on those tortillas. Man oh man are they good! Don't bother with their margaritas as they are average at best.

I tried the original Garcia's and that place was slightly above average. All hype and no flavor but a great atmosphere. I sampled a bunch of items with our large group. B to B- caliber; tops. With all of the Hispanic influence in the Valley, I was hoping for much better Mexican restaurants selection. Not! I've tried about 50 so far and most have come up way short. Some like Rivas Mexican is two letter grades below Taco Bell. I'd give Rivas a letter grade D-. I swear, give me a microwaved frozen Mexican meal over that crap. Arriba's is pretty good but not authentic. The best Mexican food I've ever ate was in Old Town San Diego, and a street restaurant in Mazatlan where our condo bartender took us. My toes separated during my 1st bite. IMHO, no spot in Phoenix has ever approached those two experiences but I have not tried them all. If I could reproduce these flavors in those 2 restaurants, I'd be rich!

A native PHX friend who grew up with the Abril family took us to their original restaurant near Chase field last year. I cannot think of the name.... It's the same sisters that started la-canasta.com | . There enchiladas were to die for and was the best Mexican food I've had in PHX area so far. Now I need to figure out the name. It trumped Rio Mirage. I'll need to check out these other suggestions that were posted. There HAS TO BE a better MX spot to eat that I am missing. I want that grill flavor on the tender meats and authentic sauces. Some salsa are terrible too. If you cannot nail the salsa, how can you expect to get a good meal? Oh. Rio Mirage makes a mean salsa (add some lime and it is prefect).

For steak and shrimp fajitas, try Macayo's (a local chain). Order them with light oil. The steak fajitas are by far THE best fajitas I've had. I've had too many fajitas in my day to count. But it's the only thing I order at Macayo's and it is enough for 2 people to share.


You had me all set to try Rio Mirage until you said to not bother with the margaritas. I won't bother with the place at all, then!

Macayo's has a REALLY good green corn tamale and their Baja sauce is really good. Love the margarita mugs you take home and get refilled at a special price.

Garcia's happy hour is really good; 3 to 7 PM 7 days a week. SO nice to find a happy hour that extends past 5 or 6! All appetizers are half price and the big house margs are $3.99.

Nando's has a good prickly pear margarita, and the food isn't bad. (Good hamburger if your dining companion is sick of Mexican food because you want to eat it every day )

Caramba has the best strong margs I have found, but the food is MEH. I do like to go there for drinks.

I also like Manuel's and Rosa's.

I had an excellent marg at Loco Patron on Mill Ave, but didn't like that it wasn't served in a margarita glass! That just isn't right

Dos Los Molinos, though actually NEW Mexican food, kind of fits into this category. VERY good. Best chile relleno I have ever had!

Mexican food is my favorite and I have tried many, many places. Always looking for more.
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Old 05-26-2015, 10:15 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
19,449 posts, read 27,897,754 times
Reputation: 36146
Whatever happened to Los Sombreros in Scottsdale? They were my absolute favorite.
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Old 05-26-2015, 10:21 AM
 
Location: Surprise, Az
3,502 posts, read 9,613,701 times
Reputation: 1871
Comedor Guadalajara
Si Senor - New Mexican (Chandler)
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Old 05-26-2015, 11:21 AM
 
9,805 posts, read 11,200,038 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkgourmet View Post
I'll agree that Macayo's and Arriba's make good to excellent fajitas. But fajitas are an American invention of Mexican cuisine
I learned something and you now ruined my "Mexican" experience. It turns out the 1st time the word was used in print was in 1971!

The next thing you will tell me is that German Chocolate cake was invented by an America too (see German chocolate cake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ). The chocolate baker Sam German came up with the recipe.
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Old 05-26-2015, 11:53 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
19,449 posts, read 27,897,754 times
Reputation: 36146
Quote:
Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised View Post
I learned something and you now ruined my "Mexican" experience. It turns out the 1st time the word was used in print was in 1971!

Funny story. When I lived in Philly and my friends asked where I wanted to go for dinner, I had a stock answer: "Anything but Mexican." Hated the stuff. If I were forced into it by public demand or business lunches, I ordered fajitas, which to me were Mexican stir fry.

It wasn't until I moved to Phoenix and started to date a Hispanic man that I learned about REAL Mexican food. I loved it immediately, and still do. But after being in Phoenix for 25+ years and living in Mexico part time for two years, I admit that I've become a bit of a Mexican food snob.

You'll never catch me eating a chimichanga or buying bottled salsa. But I'll still eat the Mexican stir fry occasionally.
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Old 05-26-2015, 12:10 PM
 
Location: Metro Phoenix, AZ USA
17,914 posts, read 43,462,871 times
Reputation: 10728
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkgourmet View Post
Whatever happened to Los Sombreros in Scottsdale? They were my absolute favorite.
Still there, as far as I can see. Two locations in Scottsdale. One around Thomas, one up north.
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Old 05-26-2015, 01:28 PM
SMG
 
Location: Gilbert
490 posts, read 1,111,662 times
Reputation: 666
Try Pepes at 23rd ave and Camelback, great Mole.
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Old 05-26-2015, 05:24 PM
 
Location: Willo Historic District, Phoenix, AZ
3,187 posts, read 5,751,623 times
Reputation: 3658
+1 for Pepe's Taco Villa.
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Old 05-26-2015, 06:05 PM
 
Location: Valley of the Sun
2,619 posts, read 2,345,668 times
Reputation: 2824
Macayo's is the worst Mexican food I have ever had in any part of the country. Just avoid that when people suggest it.
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Old 05-26-2015, 06:27 PM
 
Location: Metro Phoenix, AZ USA
17,914 posts, read 43,462,871 times
Reputation: 10728
Quote:
Originally Posted by pbenjamin View Post
+1 for Pepe's Taco Villa.

I've always meant to try that place. It's on my list....
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