Taco ‘Bout Good Eating! These Are the Best Taco Shops and Stops in All of Phoenix
Here at Phoenix Fray, we’re focused on the important things in life such as Where in this wonderful city does the best taco live? The Southwest is plum FULL of tacos and the most wonderful Mexican-style foods you can find. Luckily, we’re here to help you sort through them! The valley stretches far and wide, so let’s focus on Scottsdale here. Old Town Scottsdale, a mix of nightlife, trendy shops, and the wild west, is a perfect place to find excellent Mexican and beautifully made tacos.
Cien Agaves
First up – a definite favorite. With mini tacos stuffed with delicious ingredients, what’s not to love? The atmosphere here is also one for the books. Bright color schemes mixed with a Mexican vibe pairs nicely with the bar and table seating available.
#FrayLife Tip: At Cien Agaves, the best bang for your buck is going to be the Tres Tacos Especial. For $14.50, you can choose three tacos alongside rice and beans. The Island Shrimp Taco, Carne Asada Taco and the Veggie Taco are our favs. These three give a super vast flavor combo, and give you the freedom to try an array of special dishes.
Los Favoritos
Need tacos in a pinch? This place is the true definition of “hole in the wall.” Located in a strip mall between a nail salon and a gym, this place really does it right. The menu is big, the portions are bigger, and you won’t leave disappointed.
#FrayLife Tip: Los Fav’s has plenty to choose from, but you can’t go wrong with a couple select items. Firstly, the Fish Tacos. Amazing. They offer homemade green or red salsa as well – and you definitely don’t want to miss out on that. Pair your Fish Tacos with an order of Rolled Beef Tacos, and you’re set for a dinner you’re sure to want again.
Diego Pops
Even if we weren’t here for the incredible food and drinks, we might still come here just to hang out. The atmosphere at Diego Pops is next to none. It’s a fun mix of 80’s neon and contemporary simplicity. It’s often busy, but for good reason. If you get the chance, sit on the patio on a warm Scottsdale night!
#FrayLife Tip: This one is kind of awesome in the fact that you can either get your ingredients in a taco or in a bowl over rice and beans. We’d absolutely recommend the braised Pineapple Pork Taco. In fact, get two! These guys are on the smaller, but delicious size. We also love the $3.50-5 per taco price!
El Hefe
This is basically where the party’s at. Located in the middle of all the dance clubs in Old Town Scottsdale, people-watching at this place is nearly as good as the food! Taco Tuesdays at El Hefe are going to be your best choice in terms of pricing but be prepared to have a loud and crazy dinner!
#FrayLife Tip: You’re probably going to want multiple tacos here. The dishes are street taco size, and too delightful to simply have one. Our picks would have to be the Chicken Tinga and Fried Avacado Tacos. Both have a spicy hint that’s cooled down by a fruity twist. Not your traditional flavor combo by any means, but a must-try!
Barrio Queen
Talk about an experience! This might be as close as you can get to walking into a restaurant that’s actually in Mexico. For that reason, you want to hit up Barrio Queen. Don’t let the line of waiting patrons deter you – they’re all there for good reason.
#FrayLife Tip: Barrio Queen tends to be on the more expensive side of food in the area, but they have one heck of a deal on tacos! Any three tacos will run you $11, which is a steal considering how tasty they are. We’d absolutely recommend that deal, as it’s cheap and offers a great opportunity to try multiple tacos! Our favorites? Al Pastor (pork), Carne Asada Y Huevo, and the Rajas (vegetarian).
At the end of the day, there are more tacos in the valley than we could feasibly put into one article. Get out there, try our recommendations, and hit us up with your own if you feel inclined using #FrayLife and #PHXFray!
For more articles by Jessy Harbach