Fresh Mexican Flavor in Phoenix Cuisine

WRITTEN BY Mark Chesnut

Spanish conquistadores reached what is today the state of Arizona in the mid-1500s, and the region remained part of Mexico through its independence from Spain and up until the end of the Mexican-American War. So it’s no surprise that there is plenty of Mexican influence in the cuisine in Phoenix, the largest city in Arizona.

During a recent visit, I discovered three noteworthy places in Phoenix, where tasty, south-of-the-border flavors are served with great style.

 

Barrio Café, 2814 North 16^th Street, Phoenix; tel. +602-636-0240; http://www.barriocafe.com

“I fell in love with how quiet Phoenix is,” says Silvana Salcido Esparza, the chef and owner of Barrio Café, one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in the city. Local artists exhibit their work at her eatery, and the bright red bathroom has a delightful “lucha libre” wrestling theme. The Chihuahua native has crafted a delightful, relaxed ambiance as well as a tempting menu. I dig into the rich mole poblano, and I’m in heaven. 

 

Gallo Blanco Café Bar, Clarendon Hotel, 401 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix; tel. +602-274-4774; http://www.goclarendon.com

Don’t be fooled by the rather nondescript façade at the Clarendon Hotel; this is a stylish, offbeat hotel that attracts plenty of people for its dining and drinking scene. I dig into tasty, tangy chilaquiles verdes at Gallo Blanco, the hip Mexican restaurant that opened in 2009. You can have breakfast all day here, or savor a marinated pork taco or a fresh fish sandwich; the rooftop deck is one of the places for drinks in the evening.

 

Frank & Alberts, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix; tel. +602-955-6600; www.arizonabiltmore.com

At the glorious Arizona Biltmore, I sip a tangy Biltmore Breeze — a blend of raspberry iced tea and lemonade — before diving into a hearty bowl of tortilla soup at Frank and Albert’s, an indoor-outdoor restaurant that opened in 2009. Named after Frank Lloyd Wright, the famed architect who set up a winter campus nearby, and Albert Chase McArthur, who designed the resort, the new eatery is casual but elegant; an appropriate addition to this unique 80-year-old hotel.