Here in the desert, we don’t get a ton of Mexican food options. It’s understandable — our options in other cuisines are endless. Thankfully, as well as our love for tacos and enchiladas, there are a lot of great Mexican restaurants out here! If you’re looking to expand your horizons and try something new, especially when it comes to Mexican cuisine, here is our guide on where you should go next (no matter where you live).
Santa Cruz Tacos is our absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in the state. We’ve tried pretty much every other spot in the state, and we keep coming back to them over and over. Not only do they have some of the best tacos in the state, but they’ve also got a great selection of Mexican beers, a seriously good margarita, and a whole lot of Tex-Mex vibes. If you’re looking for authenticity, you’re out of luck — but, if you’re looking for a fun, new Mexican food spot, we highly recommend heading to Santa Cruz Tacos. Location: 909 S. Front St, Santa Cruz, AZ
One of our favorite Mexican restaurants in the state is Tamarindo Mexican Bistro. They serve up some of the best Mexican cuisines in the state and have a seriously good selection of wines to go with your meal — so, if you’re not a fan of margaritas, this is the place for you. Tamarindo is more of a fine-dining Mexican restaurant, but they have a great happy hour deal, with half-price appetizers, daily, and generous portions. If you’re looking for a nice, classy, refined Mexican restaurant, Tamarindo is your new spot. Location: 2100 S Ranch Avenue #101, Phoenix, AZ 85034
El Rancho Grande is one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in the state and it’s no wonder — they serve some of the best Mexican cuisines out here. If you’re in the Phoenix area, we highly recommend heading to El Rancho Grande. They’re located on the outskirts of the city, so you’ll get a little bit of a change in scenery while you’re there. On top of its excellent Mexican cuisine, El Rancho Grande has a great happy hour deal, with $2.50 tacos and $2.50 margaritas, daily, from 5 - 6 pm. If you’re looking for a more relaxed Mexican dining experience, we recommend heading to El Rancho Grande. Location: 17267 N Cave Creek Road, #100, Phoenix, AZ 85022
If you’re looking for the best authentic Mexican food in the state, Carnitas Cafe is the place for you. Carnitas’ Cafe is located in the Mexican Village neighborhood of Tucson, which means you’re in for some real authentic Mexican cuisine. Carnitas’ Cafe serves up some of the best tacos in the state, and you can taste the love that goes into making these tacos. If you’re looking for the real deal, we highly recommend heading to Carnitas’ Cafe. Location: 3100 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85718
If you’re looking for some killer Mexican food in the Phoenix area, we recommend heading to Cactus Cantina. They serve up some of the best Mexican food that we’ve tasted, and they have a great happy hour deal with $5 margaritas and $5 margarita flights. Cactus Cantina is also located in the Mexican Village neighborhood of Tucson, which means you’re in for some authentic Mexican cuisine. On top of their excellent Mexican food, Cactus Cantina has a great happy hour deal, with $5 margaritas and $5 margarita flights, daily, from 3 - 5 pm. Location: 3292 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716
If you’re looking for one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants in the state that also has a great happy hour deal, we recommend heading to Guadalajara Grill. Guadalajara Grill is located in the Mexican Village neighborhood of Tucson, which means you’re in for some authentic Mexican cuisine. We also recommend heading to their happy hour, because it’s one of the best happy hours we’ve ever seen. On top of its excellent Mexican food and excellent happy hour, Guadalajara Grill also has great margarita options. If you’re looking for a great authentic Mexican restaurant in the state, we recommend heading to Guadalajara Grill. Location: 3292 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716
If you’re looking for some of the best Mexican food in the state that also has a great happy hour deal, we recommend heading to Guacamole Grill and Cantina. Guacamole Grill and Cantina is located in the Mexican Village neighborhood of Tucson, which means you’re in for some authentic Mexican cuisine. We also recommend heading to their happy hour, because it’s one of the best happy hours we’ve ever seen. On top of their excellent Mexican food and excellent happy hour, Guacamole Grill and Cantina also has great margarita options. If you’re looking for one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants in the state, we recommend heading to Guacamole Grill and Cantina. Location: 330 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716
While Arizona has its fair share of Mexican food options, you’re better off visiting one of the many other states in the Southwest if you want some of the best Mexican food in the country. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican cuisine and you live in Arizona, we recommend heading to Santa Cruz Tacos. If you’re looking for the best margaritas, we recommend heading to Carnitas’ Cafe. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food in the Phoenix area, we recommend heading to Cactus Cantina. If you’re looking for the best Mexican food in Tucson, we recommend heading to Guadalajara Grill. With these options, you’re sure to have a great time eating some of the best Mexican food in the state!
