Best Mexican Food in Arizona
This is the best Mexican food in Arizona. Guayo's El Rey in Miami Arizona has been a family run restaurant since 1938 and a tradition in my family for just as long. I've been eating here for over 50 years. This is my favorite - Dinner #3 - taco, tamale and enchilada. With a frozen margarita. It comes on two plates because the plates are so hot. The chips and salsa are home-made - not commercial. Two varieties of salsa. I judge heavily by the quality of the Tamale. Tamales should be a source of pride. And the fact that they don't load up with rice and bean filler. This is on Sullivan Street north of Hostetler pool and just east of the Catholic Church.
After a tough week working in the mines, the miners would bring their families here for a night on the town.
I don't know why they bother with the straw in the Margarita. The ice plugs it up. But without the straw you get a brainfreeze if you drink it too fast. :)
{edited} In all fairness - so you can judge my tastes in Mexican Food
- here are some other restaurants that I think are in the competition:
Chalo's in Globe
Sylvia's La Canasta N. 7th Ave in Phoenix
Carolina's on 12th St & Mohave in Phoenix
La Canasta on 7th Ave south of the Bridge in Phoenix
Tee Pee Tap Room on E. Indian School & 42nd St in Phoenix
Casa Molina in Tucson.
{end edit}
{edit} jcwadeaz nominates Rosa's on Campbell in Tucson
cobalt123 nominates Guayos "On the Trail" north of Claypool
and Micha's in Tucson on 4th Ave around 36th St.
ms phoenix recommends Capitolio Canasta's on Van Buren (just west of
15th Ave)....{end edit}
Just heard that Sal & Teresa's Mexican Restaurant in Show Low should be on the list. I'll have to get there and find out.
There's a new fancy place Barrio that gets good reviews. I haven't eaten there. Not really Sonoran from what I understand. For me in Arizona, it needs to be our sister state of Sonora. Especially washed down with a little Bacanora.
El mejor alimento mexicano en Arizona !!!
Not much to look at from outside. Poweron took a photo
www.flickr.com/photos/power_on/2104348965/sizes/s/in/set-...
Here is the best Tequila in Arizona www.flickr.com/photos/7202153@N03/5197572600/
Comments and faves
Eddie Engel, suzanne~in~phoenix, boeke, catbennett, and 36 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Eddie Engel (62 months ago | reply)
Delicious. Makes me hungry. How hot is the hot sauce?
AZTransplant/Nicki (62 months ago | reply)
I'm not a big lover of Mexican food, but that margarita certainly looks yummy!!
Lollygagging (62 months ago | reply)
yum! I'll have to check this place out, I'll be in phx tomorrow morning :-)
Al_HikesAZ (62 months ago | reply)
Amy - sorry to disappoint you, but this is 90 miles east of Phoenix. In Phoenix, I recommend TeePee Tap Room on Indian School Road near 42nd Street.
jhaskellus (62 months ago | reply)
Looks way too good! I'll have to eat Mexican soon. Nice photo.
southwest girl (62 months ago | reply)
oh my favorite.....
this all looks sooo very good al; yummy
widowmkr (62 months ago | reply)
Now that looks like a really delicious meal and the famoous Margarita that is the best , great shot my friend
larry wfu (62 months ago | reply)
Looks great!
Thanks for posting on The place I call home.
JHJANE [deleted] (62 months ago | reply)
i have to go eat this food
lizardgal (62 months ago | reply)
This looks yummy!!!!!!! I could go for a big margartia right now. Yeah, dump the straw, go for the brain freeze. LOL
alexbsmith (62 months ago | reply)
Mmmm .... That Place is good. Also try Libby's El Ray - the pink stucco place in Globe on the 60.
thornydalemapco (62 months ago | reply)
Yep, Libby's El Rey is great, although the building has been painted tan. I'll have to try Guayo's one of these days.
Sandra Leidholdt (62 months ago | reply)
Oh yummy!
RafterH (62 months ago | reply)
Oh, yeah.....is that a "red" enchilada?!?!?!
Ever since we moved to San Antonio from Hell Paso I've yearned for some good "red" enchiladas (preferably with an egg over easy on top). Around here you get that dang "Tex-Mex" type of Mexican food and the enchiladas have what I call "chili gravy" as the enchilada sauce.......gross...!!!! And this looks like the taco is a "real" taco, pan fried shell, not one of those tasteless, grocery store, pre-formed shells! Mmmmm......would I love to go to Guayo's El Rey...!!
suzanne~in~phoenix (62 months ago | reply)
it looks wonderful Al :) too bad we don't have smell-a-vision :)
Al_HikesAZ (62 months ago | reply)
Thank you everyone for the nice comments.
RafterH - this is the real deal. No eggs through
Suzanne - thank you so much. Be glad you can't feel the brainfreeze from the Margarita :)
Al_HikesAZ (62 months ago | reply)
In all fairness - so you can judge my tastes in Mexican Food - here are some other restaurants that I think are in the competition:
Sylvia's La Canasta N. 7th Ave in Phoenix
Carolina's on 12th St & Mohave in Phoenix
La Canasta on 7th Ave south of the Bridge in Phoenix
Tee Pee Tap Room on E. Indian School & 42nd St in Phoenix
Casa Molina in Tucson.
altamons (62 months ago | reply)
Thanks Al! I know where I will be going on my next trip to your area. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo!
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
pgibson1953 (61 months ago | reply)
Ahhhhhhh, yes! The El Rey! BEST mexican food ever! I've recently moved back to AZ after being gone for 30 years... gotta get up to the El Rey soon! Thanks for posting.
cattt01 (60 months ago | reply)
thanks for the list of the mexican restaurants. mexican food is my favorite and i sure will try them!
jcwadeaz (60 months ago | reply)
Rosa's on Campbell in Tucson. It Great!
Al_HikesAZ (60 months ago | reply)
@jcwadeaz - thanks for the recommendation. Not sure when I'll get to Tucson, but it is on my "to eat" list.
cobalt123 (59 months ago | reply)
I agree with you - the very best in Arizona! There have been more than a few of us Arizona Wonders members that have made the trek east to Guayo's and it is well worth it! It's right between Miami-Claypool-Globe, on a street to the north of the highway as you enter Globe. There's a stoplight there to help guide you. I've shot many a photo there too. Don't miss seeing the javelina taxidermy on the way to the restroom, LOL!
BTW, my second place goes to Micha's in Tucson on 4th Avenue around 36th Street. Family place like Guayo's and super for shrimp dishes. Watch out for the very very strong margarita - oh yeah!
Al_HikesAZ (59 months ago | reply)
@Cobalt - we sort of agree. You're talking about the new one north of Claypool. I'm talking about the original one - Guayo's El Rey - on Sullivan Street in downtown Miami. Same family, similar food, different ambience - no stuffed animals. The original one across from the Hostetler pool and east of the Catholic Church is where the miners took their families. The one north of Claypool started for the tourists to & from Roosevelt Lake.
Looks like I'll have to get to Tucson to try Micha's. My second place is La Canasta on south 7th Ave in Phoenix or Sylvia's La Canasta on north 7th Ave.
Az~Kate (59 months ago | reply)
Wow, gonna have to send a link to this shot to my hubby. We love authentic Mexican food! ;o) I want to try some of these places out...now.
Hot Pepper Dave (59 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Cafe's, Coffee Houses, Burger Joints, Food Carts., and we'd love to have this added to the group!
It certainly looks good, very good in fact.
anaivette64 (58 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Grub, comida, food, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
feel free to post all your food pictures, they look amazing!
desertstorm1929 (56 months ago | reply)
Looks great; I must try it. I love restaurants with a long tradition.
laap mx (56 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm the administrator of a group called Mexico abroad and we would like to add this to the group.
HungryFuck (55 months ago | reply)
Oh damn this looks good :)
Howard33 (52 months ago | reply)
It looks good. Here is a little snack served up by my wife, who is NOT Mexican.
dianatowsley [deleted] (52 months ago | reply)
I beg to differ!
I rate these better (in no particular order):
Chalo’s - www.chalos.com (the one in Globe, AZ)
La Casita Cafe- Globe, AZ
La Casita East- Globe,AZ
Libby’s El Rey Cafe- Globe, AZ
Irene’s Real Mexican Food- Globe, AZ
El Ranchito- Globe, AZ
The margarita’s at Guayo’s El Rey are made from a wine mix, they don’t even have real tequila! Blech. And unfortunately, I have NEVER gotten good service there.
I will say that Globe/Miami, AZ has the best Mexican in the United States!
Al_HikesAZ (52 months ago | reply)
Diana - thanks for the recommendations. I will be back to Globe in early May and I will try a couple of these. Which one is the best? I remember an El Rey in Globe that was excellent. Maybe that's Libby's El Rey. I don't remember that they used to have the different names in front of them. When & where did you live in Globe?
dianatowsley [deleted] (52 months ago | reply)
I lived in Globe for five years, I moved there from NC (I thought the Mexican food was good in NC until I moved to Globe). I moved from AZ last May. I lived across from the post office in Globe, it used to be a hall and no one can seem to find it, which was always a really nice thing. I had a landlord that never raised my rent ($450/mth for a 1000 sq. ft+ “home”, I paid utilities- I did have a heater that was as old as the building, 100 yrs+, it was expensive to run) the entire time I lived there because I was a great tenant that took care of his place.
I suggest any of them, they each make dishes in a different way and depending on the dish you prefer is how they were rated. And sorry I don’t know who made which dish the best. I guess that will be for you to investigate. :)
thornydalemapco (52 months ago | reply)
I drive 60 miles to Globe just to eat at Libby's El Rey. I like the food there so much I honestly don't want to try another restaurant in Globe.
Lv Hao (51 months ago | reply)
so delicious
alexbsmith (51 months ago | reply)
Wasn't the Chalo's in Globe closed for awhile in ~2001 or so? If in Tempe try the Casa Reynoso on Mill & Southern. It is the closest to the Globe/Claypool/Miami area style of food I have found in Phx area.
Emilia Mickevicius (51 months ago | reply)
Try Cafe Poca Cosa in Tucson. MY best Mexican meal ever!
thornydalemapco (51 months ago | reply)
I like El Charro at Broadway and Wilmot in Tucson;
Salsa Brava in Flagstaff and Juan's at 16th Street and Thomas in Central Phoenix.
*Lynne (49 months ago | reply)
Just saw this one, Al--you need to try Pedro's
on the north side of Glendale Ave, a block east
of 51st Avenue. The have the best beef tacos
in the world!
Al_HikesAZ (49 months ago | reply)
*Lynne - my metabolism is so "efficient" and I put on weight so easily that I only get to "break training" and treat myself to a big restaurant meal after a few days of dehydrated food in the wilderness. I'm learning to eat better at restaurants but I tend to avoid the temptations. That's why you won't see many restaurant photos in my photostream. I'm struggling now to lose a few more pounds before going down into the Grand Canyon for a week. But my metabolism is a blessing in the wilderness because I don't have to carry as much food as some of my friends.
storystick (45 months ago | reply)
How's the Flan Al?
You might want to check out my Santo Tomas rental house pictures....great place to run,bike at low tide and swim....I'll give you a deal
ndrwwilson (43 months ago | reply)
Mexican food are simply the best. Looking at the snap can make anyone feel hungry. Well, during my last trip to San Diego I got the chance to enjoy Mexican food like never before. Even at the California Suites Hotel where I was staying the complimentary breakfast they offered had some good variety.
DanVoglesong (38 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called GMO Free World (sans OGM, Gentechnikfrei ) picture it ; join us , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Food2.com (37 months ago | reply)
Hi Al_HikesAZ,
Your Mexican food photos are delicious. You should totally enter your pictures in the Mexican Standoff Challenge for a chance to win! You don't need a recipe, the photo just has to be taken by you. Enter here - www.food2.com/challenges/mexican-standoff/cha llenge
Ms. Phoenix (34 months ago | reply)
Yer food photo looks delish! I agree with your choices of Mexican restaurants!!!....but don't forget the Capitolio Canasta's on Van Buren (just west of 15th Ave)....it's the roomiest Canasta yet.....
This photo was invited and added to the Mexico abroad group.
linda_laticia (32 months ago | reply)
@ dianatowsley...Ive worked at Guayos El Rey for almost 4 years...our margaritas ARE made with tequila..not a wine mix. They are made fresh!
Al_HikesAZ (32 months ago | reply)
linda - i figured it had to be tequila - just too tasty and one was enough since I had to drive. I just don't know why they bother with the straw :)
Blue387 (31 months ago | reply)
This was used here:
www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2010/oct/29/
Luc8078 (30 months ago | reply)
Qué agradable se ve! Qué rico comer y mejor si es saludable y deli. Encontré la historia de una familia que se transformó al cambiar su dieta... youtube.com/watch?v=gDuBxDxpyCs
This photo was invited and added to the Enchiladas group.
Días de Colores (18 months ago | reply)
¿Y los dueños son Mexicanos?
Al_HikesAZ (18 months ago | reply)
@Dias de Colores - Los abuelos eran de Sonora, Mexico. Sus niños son el Americano de origen Mexicano
Riccardo Gaudiano (steppin_razor) (13 months ago | reply)
fantastic composition! here are my own, always Mexican food ... if you want to visit my profile and let me know what you think of my photos ... I am a beginner and I need opinions and advice :)
Lance Tankman (2 months ago | reply)
Wow that looks so good. I have been looking for mexican restaurants in tucson az i think i found a keeper! thanks for posting this!
hammy2014 (2 months ago | reply)
Thanks so much for sharing! I'm really gonna have to check out the mexican restaurants in tucson az! That looks so good!