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It's been alluded to bunches in writelots active topic "Phoenix Upscale Mexican Food" (viewtopic.php?t=7226), but what about a listing of great (i.e., tasty, cheap, safe) "downscale" Mexican Food?

I've lived in Phoenix for ten years now, but don't really have much info on the subject.

Maybe a criterion to keep in mind is "somewhere to take a dozen family members visiting from out-of-town (think California, not Wisconsin/Minnesota/New Hampshire/Maine/etc.) who want some good, Arizona Mexican food." Of course, driving a bit (say, to Surprise, Chandler, Apache Junction, Avondale, etc.) is perfectly fine.

kingsnake wrote:Via De Los Santos, in Sunnyslope, on Central, just north of Dunlap.

I've been to this one a couple of times and enjoyed their food.

@Dave1
This is the first place my wife and I saw pasta on a Mexican restaurant menu....nom nom nom

Trishness wrote: I love Latin food especially Cuban and Puerto Rican.

I had two of the best cuban sandwiches ever in Ybor city in Tampa...so flavorful, mouth-watering just thinking about them. Wish there were/or I knew about some small deli with good cuban sandwiches here in Phx...

Nahimana:

Havana Cafe, on like Bell & 52nd St (or somewhere near there) and another on Camelback and uhm, like 40th St (or somewhere in there). I enjoyed both.

Also, Fuego Bistro, which I really like, on 7th St & Palo Verde, just north of Missouri, is a combination of Cuban, Brazilian, and some other things.

Mid-Market: Ajo Al's is good (and I remember the b.s. charges) and Los Dos Molinos is pretty dang good. Try the carne adovada at Los Dos.
La Parilla Suiza has always been one of my favorites. The Mesa location is really good. It's different than what we consider "normal" Mexican food in that it's prepared Mexican City-style. Worth checking out.

Downscale: Los Reyes de la Torta in Sunnyslope is really good.
Carolina's is awesome. I used to work 3 blocks away from the Mohave location. I still have the # memorized: 602-252-1503, and I moved to the Bay Area 2+ years ago. I once ate a Oaxaca special burrito made enchilada style every work day for a month to win a bet.
Rito's is also awesome, but in a different way. It's in a building that looks like it used to be a house with outdoor seating on picnic benches, and I think it's cash only. However, the green chile and red chile they serve up (burritos only?) are both absolutely ridiculous. Very limited menu.

@Jim Lyding
the oaxaca special is my favorite item
mmm...
where is rito's?

@kingsnake
Thanks! I will check them out! I have been craving the Cuban sandwich ever since I thought about it...

RIto's is an old house, the front room converted to the kitchen. window service only. no inside seating.. but the weather is great, so who cares!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritos-market-an ... ut-phoenix

kingsnake wrote:Nahimana:

Havana Cafe, on like Bell & 52nd St (or somewhere near there) and another on Camelback and uhm, like 40th St (or somewhere in there). I enjoyed both.

Also, Fuego Bistro, which I really like, on 7th St & Palo Verde, just north of Missouri, is a combination of Cuban, Brazilian, and some other things.

I'll be in that area Sunday and plan on trying Havana Cafe. I also lived in Florida for a couple of years before moving to Arizona and this is where I got hooked on REAL Cuban and Puerto Rican food....pernil, mofongo, homemade pasteles.....I even learned how to cook many of these dishes.

So I'll check it out this weekend

Trish