FOOD & DINING

Top 10 Mexican restaurants in metro Phoenix

Howard Seftel
The Republic | azccentral.com
The Torta El Rey at Los Reyes de la Torta as seen in Sunnyslope on September, 10, 2013. Credit: John Samora/ The Arizona Republic

If there's anything as American as apple pie in Arizona, it's Mexican food. Folks here have been eating tacos, burros, enchiladas and tamales for hundreds of years. On Cinco de Mayo, try one of my top 10 Mexican restaurants in metro Phoenix.

10. La Frontera

It doesn't get any more basic: This is a food truck parked on the southeast corner of Van Buren and 16th streets. And the basic food — mostly tacos, with the occasional quesadilla, burrito and torta — is basically wonderful and cheap. Barbacoa, pork al pastor and carne asada are particularly noteworthy, and there's an icy collection of Mexican soft drinks. The post-midnight close is another plus.

Details: 151 N. 16th St., Phoenix.

9. Carolina's

For more than 45 years, Carolina's has been putting together chimis, tacos, enchiladas and burros with its best-in-town flour tortillas. The Oaxaca special burro is particularly special, packed with chorizo, beans, potatoes and cheese. And it's pronounced Car-o-LINE-uz, not Car-o-LEEN-uz.

Details: 1202 E. Mohave St., Phoenix. 602-252-1503. Also, 2126 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. 602-275-8231. And 9030 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria. 623-487-1400, carolinasmex.com.

8. El Bravo

You've eaten these Sonoran favorites before. But they've probably never tasted this good. Along with exceptional tacos chile relleno, ground-beef popover, green-corn tamale and lusty chimichanga, look for the hefty machaca burro, packed with shredded beef, eggs and onions. The chocolate chimi dessert makes it easy to linger.

Details: 8338 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-943-9753, elbravoaz.com. Also, at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Terminal 4.

7. Los Sombreros

Prepare for a trip into the heart of Mexico, where chef/owner Azucena Tovar hails from. Among the fetching main dishes are crab queso fundido, huitlacoche crepes, duck mole enchiladas and tequila shrimp in bacon-chipotle-cream sauce. The specialty is lamb adobo in a luscious sweet/spicy ancho-chile sauce.

Details: 2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-994-1799. Also, 14795 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-991-1799, lossombreros.com.

6. San Carlos Bay

Did you know that Mexico has more coastline than the continental United States? That's why reeling in south-of-the-border ocean fare is so rewarding. Hook a briny fresh seafood cocktail, a well-stocked seven seas stew or authentic, Veracruz-style snapper.

Details: 1901 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 602-340-0892.

5. Los Dos Molinos

The chef at this fiery New Mexican-style Mexican restaurant isn't kidding when she says, "I do not know how to do 'mild.' " But going down in flames was never so appealing. Do a slow burn with green-chile beef, red-chile enchiladas and the signature adovada pork. The eye-catching, hacienda-style setting and top-notch margaritas make the meal even more festive.

Details: 8646 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-243-9113. Other locations at losdosmolinosphoenix.com.

4. Pepe's Taco Villa

Three generations of the Acosta family have been pleasing customers for more than 30 years, by focusing on quality and value. So many choices, so little belly room. How can you choose among the chicken-mole enchiladas, the beef enchiladas Suizas, the carnitas platter and the "Siberian" tacos with chicken, guacamole and sour cream? You'll just have to make a repeat visit.

Details: 2108 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-242-0379, pepestacovilla.com.

3. Los Reyes de la Torta

The food is "todo al estilo D.F." — everything in the style of the Federal District around Mexico City. That means huaraches (thick tortillas) topped with chicken; sopes (corn-meal disks) topped with carne asada; and some of the best tortas (sandwiches) in town, especially the torta del rey, spotlighted on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

Details: 9230 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-870-2967.

2. Mariscos Playa Hermosa

You can practically hear the seagulls squawking at this cute spot. Drop your line in the marvelous Campechana cocktail, loaded with oysters, octopus, shrimp and calamari. Other favorites include shrimp-meatball soup, octopus in ranchero sauce, fish fillet in garlic sauce and crab enchiladas.

Details: 1605 E. Garfield St., Phoenix. 602-462-1563, mariscosplayahermosa.com.

1. Barrio Cafe

James Beard Award nominee Silvana Salcido Esparza turns Mexican food into Mexican cuisine. Among her regional specialties are a luscious chile soup with goat cheese and Mexican cream, black mole chicken and duck breast in tamarind-chipotle sauce. Most places are fortunate to have one signature dish. Barrio Cafe has two: cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork wrapped in banana leaf; and chiles en nogada, poblano peppers stuffed with chicken, nuts and fruit.

Details: 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-636-0240, barriocafe.com.