The Show wanted to know what your favorite places are for Mexican food in Central Arizona, so they spoke with two Arizonans and long-time friends, Laurie Notaro and Kathy Cano-Murillo. From the traditional Az-Mex dishes to the sophisticated cuisine of Silvana Salcido Esparza, there is no shortage of great Mexican food in the area. Gallo Blanco, located in the Garfield neighborhood, is a Mexican-influenced restaurant owned by chef Doug Robson. The eatery is named after the Mexican slang for “white man” and is housed in a light-filled building from the 1920s.
It offers a variety of dishes, including Sonoran sausages, mole, green corn tamales, minced steak, red sauce made with chili de arbol, and crunchy cheese. If you're looking for a seafood experience, Phoenix's favorite Mexican seafood restaurant is always a day at the beach at this unconditioned 16th Street restaurant. Painted in bold colors, it serves up a variety of seafood dishes that are sure to please. Named after the olive trees that Scottsdale's founder Winfield Scott once planted, this evocative old school Mexican restaurant has been owned by the Corral family for 74 years and counting.
It offers traditional Az-Mex food with few surprises but still tasty and filling. Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza opened her art-filled restaurant with white tablecloths in 2002. She rejected the usual clichés in Mexican restaurants to illustrate how sophisticated Mexican cuisine can be. Her menu includes guacamole with grenades next to the table and baskets of bread and butter instead of French fries and sauce. The region's reputation as a destination for Mexican food has grown considerably in recent years, thanks to a series of regional restaurants showcasing the rich diversity of Mexican cuisines. Notaro and Cano-Murillo have been enjoying really good Mexican food together for a longer time and shared some of their favorites with The Show. From traditional Az-Mex dishes to seafood specialties to sophisticated cuisine from Silvana Salcido Esparza, Central Arizona has something for everyone when it comes to Mexican food.
Whether you're looking for an old school experience or something more modern, there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from.
