Mexican, Phoenix

I rarely like to create Restaurant Tips because so many people have different tastes, but I only mention places I would eat again.
I have been to many Mexican restaurants in the valley and feel the Valle Luna is one of the better in the City. It is small and personal with nice ambience and friendly staff. Complimentary Warm chips and salsa and good food at good prices. What more could you want?

Favorite Dish: Enchiladas are very tasty.

Basically I am a lunch-time foodie. I work in Central Phoenix and one of my favorite past-times is to hunt out new lunch venues for co-workers and clients.

I passed by this restaurant numerous times and finally had lunch there with a co-worker. We were so pleasantly surprised. This is an intimate little place with a cute decor, table cloths and cloth napkins. The service was was wonderful and the food was excellent. We were also treated to a guitar player in the dining room which made for a very relaxing lunch.

The fare is Mexican in the central-southern Mexico style. We enjoyed their guacamole. I need to go back for dinner sometime soon.

Favorite Dish: Seafood Enchiladas and Guacamole.

(Barrio Cafe) Fantastic... unassuming little place... but once you walk in, you realize its not gonna be your standard tacos and chimis.... its a hip little place, and the wall are adorned with an ever changing variety of beautiful mexican american paintings, which are also for sale... Barrio means nieghborhood, and the local art and small size, with its hip n loose feel, make it a true corner of phoenix....

Now for the grub... its fantastic, but not without a price... that aside, its worth it. Everything ive tried is fantastic... chef Silvana Salcido Esparza is an acclaimed mexican cuisine innovator.... there are traditional dishes like mole and posole, both well done, and some original twists, like the crab and chicken torta..... the dishes featuring oaxacan cheese like the relleno pablano come loaded in good, rich mexican cheese... portions are large, drinks are fantastic, like the margaritas... they have excellent fresh fruit margaritas too... I recommend a Michelada, which I was introduced to on a trip to cuernavaca.... Definately get the tableside guacamole... Its unreal... they add pomegranet which works very well for some reason...

This place is not only authentic, with a slight fusion twist... The food seems modern, yet traditional.... its hip, sheik, yes, its a bit pricey... but trust me.... If you wanna see real Phoenix, and do it first class, check this place out....

Favorite Dish: Guacamole, micheladas... margaritas..... pablano relleno, the red pepper soup.... the mango shrimp salad, and anything with crab and mexican cheese... but, its all good, in my humble opinion...

The restaurant's motto is "Where you don't peso much!" This is true! You get inexpensive, delicious, hearty food along with a great selection of salsa's!

There are 3 of these little restaurant's, all in the West Valley. They're small and run by two brothers. The people who work here are wonderful and friendly.

The food...FABULOUS. They have a huge menu and all (yes, I said ALL) of it is delicious! A huge variety, from your authentic Mexican to your "americanized mexican". DON'T miss Caramba's!

I do NOT like Mexican food, but I eat here at LEAST once a week!

Favorite Dish: Stuffed Quesadilla - Huge totilla stuffed with meat, cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole.

Pollo Fundido - Chicken burrito with a queso fundido sauce over it.

Torpedo's - SImilar to flauta's, but with flour tortilla's, topped with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo.

This is not a chain, and doesn't serve tomato sauce as their salsa, so if you think Macayo is awesome, don't bother making the order line longer here. This is authentic positively yummy mexican food--everything is fresh and made right at the restaurant. I haven't had one bad food order here--EVERYTHING is good! They also sell food in bulk to go (tortillas by the dozen, pints and quarts of beans, rice and red and green chili). Their flour tortillas are the best in town. The dining room has a lot to be desired, and their location is not in the best part of town, but I have never felt unsafe visiting Carolina's (and diningroom is usually full with firemen who obviously love the food as well).
The prices reflect the overhead and location of the restaurant--they are extremely reasonable. The combo plates range from $3.95 to $5.15, and are loaded with food! A dozen flour tortillas are just a little over $2, and they are HUGE!! I can't say enough wonderful things about this restaurant.

Favorite Dish: "Oaxaca Special" burrito enchilada style and the Combo #9 (shredded beef taco plate)

This is a classic Mexican restaurant that has been around for years. The decor hasn't changed much since we started going there in the early 70's, but the food is great and the price is right.

Favorite Dish: Their specialty are chili rellenos, but enchiladas are good too.

There is a large industry of restaurants in Phoenix that serve "Mexican" food to anglos. The most notable amongst the chains are Garcia's and Macayo's. If chimichangas and fajitas are what you are looking for, stay with those places.

Pepe's, on the other hand, is not a chain, it's a family-owned business where Pepe's wife Dora Luz, does the cooking. It is in a relatively bad neighborhood and the place wouldn't win any awards for aesthetics. The food, however, is magnificent, and the prices make you feel like you are getting away with something.

Favorite Dish: My wife swears by the mole. I usually order the machacado. The Tecate is served in cans. The food somehow manages to seem very light in comparison to the Mexican food I am used to having.

Great food - a bit too spicy for me but delicious nonetheless...

Favorite Dish: I had chicken enchilada with salad (thank goodness) and sangria (unfortunately, not very nice at all - if compared to the one I prepare).