Can you get New Mexican food in Phoenix?

January 30, 2007 1:48 PM

Where can I eat good green chile in Phoeniz, AZ?

I'll be in Phoenix next week on a visit to my in-laws. They're Minnesotan snowbirds, and not real adventurous eaters. I grew up in New Mexico, and after 10 years in the upper midwest, I could really go for a taste of the good stuff. My ideal would be somewhere quiet where I can escape the family for a couple hours and get a good New Mexico style green enchilada (I'm so sick of rolled-up enchiladas!) and a beer, and a couple sopapillas for dessert. If it can't be New Mexican, more traditional Mexican is OK (Ethereal Bligh understands the distinction I'm trying to make -- I'm not after tex-mex). Failing all that, anything tasty and reasonably hot will do. Lunch or dinner is fine, though lunch might be easier to manage logistically. I'm willing to pay what it takes, so price isn't a really big deal, but I'd rather pay for tasty than for fancy. Where should I eat?

posted by nickmark to food & drink (21 comments total)

Oh, nickmark, I know your pain. No chance to get to Vegas, is there? There's a Garduno's near the strip (or maybe right on it, I can't remember.) Longshot, I know.
posted by sugarfish at 1:57 PM on January 30, 2007

Carolina's? That's a local joint and I see green chilis are on the menu.

Macayo's, but that's almost Mexican fusion, it seems. I think I had their sopapillas, but I was drunk at the time and suffer from CRS.

Garcia's is an upscale chain -- I've never eaten there, but people in Tucson eat there for "special occasions".

La Parilla Suiza is Mexico City style. Not as hot as New Mexico style. I eat at two of the locations here in Tucson often. Highly recommended, but they don't seem to use many of the spicy green chili's.
posted by parilous at 1:59 PM on January 30, 2007

Here's a list of restaurant reviews from the local indie paper. (El Tlacoyo looks awesome.)
posted by parilous at 2:05 PM on January 30, 2007

In phx, the "Bertos" are usually pretty good, but some aren't. Fillibertos was the flagship of the bertos. I think they had a pretty great green chili. The BEST I have EVER had is in Santa Fe, (red chili) at the Blue Door.
Oh.Man.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 2:06 PM on January 30, 2007

Be careful; Arizonans sometimes think they are cooking "New Mexican food," but they aren't. Some don't really understand chile.

Try Frank and Lupe's Old Mexico; 4121 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, 480-990-9844. They are only open for lunch, I think.

I've been to the Frank and Lupe's in Socorro, and their adovada was pretty good (course I was on the way to the Trinity site and the VLA, so I was somewhat inebriated by my own geekiness at the time).
posted by answergrape at 2:11 PM on January 30, 2007

Ooh. Here we go. For NM-style food: Arriba Mexican Grill, Blue Adobe Grill, and Carlsbad Tavern and Restaurant -- and that's just on the first page of this guide.

(Last time I'm gonna post. I swear.)
posted by parilous at 2:12 PM on January 30, 2007

My experience at Carlsbad was that it was kitchy but the food was.... flaccid.
posted by answergrape at 2:16 PM on January 30, 2007

As a former Arizonan, with a sometimes sketchy memory, I remember Arriba being delicious.

My boyfriend at the time, a former student at NMT, loved their chile verde.
posted by birdie birdington at 3:07 PM on January 30, 2007

When I was just in Phoenix, I ate at Adrian's on E. McDowell and enjoyed it. It isn't new Mexican, but pretty traditional. It looks a bit like a hole in the wall, but the food is good.
posted by jdl at 3:17 PM on January 30, 2007

There is a restaurant called Garduno's here, at the Chandler mall, if that's what you're looking for. I hope it isn't though, to be honest, as I went there once, and the food and service were both some of the worst I've ever had.

This link more info.
posted by !Jim at 3:18 PM on January 30, 2007

While I can't vouch for their green chile, Richardson's
is a favorite of mine in central Phoenix. Great food and atmosphere.
posted by zoel at 3:46 PM on January 30, 2007

The answer is Los Dos Molinos. Awesome, but *hot*, New Mexican food and great margaritas.

As a runner up, I second Richardson's--it is also very good (and also the connected but sorta hidden Dick's Hideaway). Their green chile potato is awesome.
posted by mullacc at 4:00 PM on January 30, 2007

Here's one of my previous answers on Mexican (and other) food in Phoenix. I've since been to Barrio's Cafe (which I mention in the answer I link to) and it's excellent.
posted by mullacc at 4:09 PM on January 30, 2007

"Can you get New Mexican food in Phoenix?"

Ha ha ha.

Sorry.

No.

And anybody who tells you that you can hasn't really eaten New Mexican food. Trust me, as a seven-year resident of Santa Fe who tried to find good food (New Mexican, Old Mexican, what have you) in Phoenix, AZ, it doesn't exist. Nobody in Arizona even seems to have been to New Mexico.
posted by koeselitz at 4:16 PM on January 30, 2007

Have you been to Los Dos Molinos, koeselitz?
posted by mullacc at 4:37 PM on January 30, 2007

I'll second Los Dos Molinos. The Phoenix site is located in the adobe hacienda once owned by silent film star Tom Mix (according to local legend). The salsa is too hot for my New England taste buds, but the entrees were a perfect combination of heat and flavor.
posted by zoel at 4:38 PM on January 30, 2007

Anyway, our Mexicans are just as Mexican as any in New Mexico. They probably don't mimic New Mexican food exactly...but, who really wants to mimic anything from fucking New Mexico? I wish I could say I was one those Arizonans that had never been to New Mexico--I'm embarrassed to say I was trapped in Alberquerque one night by an evil snow-storm while driving cross country. I would've preferred to have been trapped in Amarillo or Oklahoma City. Worst. Day. Ever.

Los Dos is great and they tell me it's New Mexican so...*shrug*. But try something at Pro's Ranch Market--I'm sure it'll stand up to anything from that dirty hippy state next door.
posted by mullacc at 4:46 PM on January 30, 2007

Take a short trip to Mesa and eat at Rosa's. I drool just thinking about it.
posted by Sassyfras at 5:20 PM on January 30, 2007

Los Dos is... amazing. Go there. Be prepared to drink and stare at South Mountain for awhile.

The Arriba's chain is pretty close to NM-style and it ain't bad, but yeah... if you want the real deal, you're going to have to go to Sante Fe or ABQ. Arriba's does brew its own beer, so its got that going for it.

That place Abuelo's in Chandler bills itself as a "New Mexican Embassy" (I think), but it's not that good. Not terrible... it's just that there are way better places around. It's the Olive Garden of New Mexican food.

(Speaking of... I work over by La Parilla Suiza on the west side on a constant quest for a great lunch special. I'm gonna have to check that place out. If you're over near 35th Ave and Peoria and want a great 24 hour burrito place check out a sketchy little joint called Rolando's right across the street. The California burrito is the best in a valley full of 24 hour burrito places. Bring cash.)
posted by ph00dz at 5:26 PM on January 30, 2007

By the way... if you go to Carlsbad Tavern, you may be tempted to try the habenero burger. Do not attempt to eat this burger. It is much, much hotter than you might think any burger could ever be.

Everything else I've had from there was pretty good.

Blue Adobe in Mesa is pretty good too. Garcia's... eh. I think I eat there too much. It seems to be the best Mexican place over by MetroCenter, but I'm not sure I'd go outta my way.

(Damn, I eat a lotta mexican food.)
posted by ph00dz at 5:43 PM on January 30, 2007

Nthing Los Dos Molinos. Be prepared to wait, but they have a courtyard where you can sit and have a few drinks while you do.
posted by curie at 8:03 AM on January 31, 2007