Here in the valley there are many choices on where to stop and eat at. There are tons of Mexican restaurants as well. There is everything from chains across the valley to little mom and pop restaurants. Some are expensive and some are very cheap. Here is what I have found and what is worth visiting for your next Mexican dining adventure!
Top shelf is located at 3301 W Greenway rd in Phoenix AZ. It is conveniently located right off the I-17 freeway. There are two other valley locations as well but I have found that this location is the best and has the best service! They have wonderful food at this restaurant and the service is always great! My favorites are their shredded beef burro and the Polo Fundido. They are both scrumptious! You always get chips and salsa when you dine in for free and their salsa is great. This is real Mexican food made to order! Sometimes during the weekend or busy nights you may have to wait for about 15 minutes or so but it is worth it! They have a bar that you can eat and drink at as well if you don't feel like waiting. They have TV's set up in parts of the restaurant if you are into sports and want to watch the game. The prices are fair, I wouldn’t' say they are cheap but they are definitely not expensive either. You can usually get coupons too in the local coupon magazines that come in the mail for buy one entree and get one free or $5 off your total bill. So keep an eye out for those in the mail because this restaurant is wonderful and is definitely my favorite Mexican food in the valley.
Valle Luna is another local Mexican restaurant in the valley. The address is 3344 W Bell rd. in Phoenix, AZ. Now this restaurant has good food as well. The restaurant itself is older and sometimes not so clean. Other than that though they are great. The food is great. Rarely do you have to wait to be seated and if you do then it is minimal. The prices are great at this restaurant. Very low and you get a fair portion. The service is pretty good too. They have a bar that is off to the side as well to eat and drink if you wanted that kind of atmosphere. My favorite at this restaurant is the tacos. They are really good and a great place to go on a budget for the whole family.
Olivas is another great Mexican restaurant in the valley. They are located at 12201 N 28th Dr, which is right off the I-17 and Cactus rd. They are locally owned and are a great kept secret in the valley. I have never had to wait at this restaurant and they are rarely busy. They have great service and great prices. The food is wonderful! My favorite is the shredded chicken tacos. They are amazing. I also love their cheese crisps. Everything is delicious at this restaurant. The salsa is great too! They are always welcoming and a wonderful dining experience.
Carambas is a great place in the valley to get Mexican food as well. They are located at 6661 W Bell rd in Glendale, AZ. This isn't the average sit down restaurant though. I would say it is more like fast food environment but with the fresh cooked great food of a restaurant. You order at the counter and wait for your food and then you sit down and eat. All the food is fresh and cooked there not microwaved or anything. It is wonderful! It is so delicious and fast so this is a great place when you are in a hurry. They have seating inside and outside. The prices are just as much as a sit down dining restaurant though or maybe even more for some items. The service is usually pretty good as well. The restaurant is kept clean and in good condition. They are often pretty busy and sometimes you have to wait in line for a good 5-10 minutes but again it is worth it!
These are my best choices for Mexican food in the valley. They are all great and I would recommend them all. I would have to say again though that Top Shelf is my absolute favorite so definitely check them out if you haven't already!
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