My Nana's Salsa Challenge Winners!

Mild Winners
1st Place Restaurant Mild Someburros
2nd Place Restaurant Mild Dos Gringos
3rd Place Restaurant Mild El Penasco

Hot Winners
Hot1st Place Restaurant Hot Macayo’s
2nd Place Restaurant Hot Barrio Cantina
3rd Place Restaurant Hot Cadillac Ranch

I am so fortunate to say that the first place winners in both categories are among my favorite MEX FOOD places of all times. All told, I have probably eaten at both more than - well, let's just say more than I'd care to admit (way upwards of 100)! Yikes!

The other four I haven't tried - but after visiting their websites to get the links - I am definitely going to all of them! Will post here as soon as I do!

Let us know if you agree with results or have other favs - we must know!

So Fond

LOVE La Fonda! Made an impromtu trip Sunday night so only had camera phone but I think you can see the important details - mainly the bowl of burning hot chips right out of the fryer along with the beloved hot sauce decanter with the pull back top! MexFood fans - leave a comment here - let me know I am not alone in my adoration of La Fonda's hot sauce!

Cinco Celebration at Julios Too

Red Chile Beef with side of rice and beans and fresh hot tortilla. Spicy, tender, delicious!













Chimichanga! So nicely done-a must try



Julio's TOO in Mesa - a PHXBESTMEXFOOD fav!

Tales from the Fifth of May

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

I am going to have Mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Cinco de Mayo (don't tell my husband okay?) How about you? Leave us a comment and tell us about the best thing you had on Cinco de Mayo and where of course! I am in need of new salsa fix so if you encounter any awesome salsa, please let us know!

Hate to Say Goodbye

Here is what we have on the recent and sad news of some our town's great Mex spots closing: Abuelo's in Scottsdale is closed.

Two locations still are open:

• Chandler
• Peoria

The Pink Taco in Scottsdale is reported to be closed as well - couldn't get confirm on that yet, however called during normal biz hours and got a message with no name or info, just a "You have reached 480- . . . Will keep you posted.

And let's keep it positive, any Pink Taco tales to tell? I am certain that many of us Mex Food fans enjoyed some of the deliciousness of the PT - do tell! Let's celebrate the sauciness that was but is no more!

Bad News, Good News

Garcias in Chandler on Alma School between Eliot and Warner is closed. I loved that spot - great cantina, comfy booths, funky (some said scary) decor with big stone head sculptures, nice window tables in the back - I could go and on. Will definitely miss that one.

New Garcias in South Chandler! I am so sorry friends, I can't tell you exactly where because Garcias website is under contruction! I will try to give a call tomorrow and get you address so you can check it out! Am excited to try it. Recommend tortilla soup and my fav, cheese enchilada.

FAVS! Our Friends Recommend

Two of my Twitter friends have some awesome Mex Food spots for you to try! (If you're not on Twitter - try it! Lots of fun plus make great connections! If you need a hand - it can be daunting at first - email me at PhxBestMexFood@cox.net - I would love to help you out!)

Here is what Twitter friend @chilinaz says:

Mine is Barrio Cafe (and La Tolteca)... mi esposo's is Mi Patio

And if you are ever down South for business or fun, here are Tucson Twitter friend @TusconFoodie favs:

• La Parilla Suiza
• Cafe Poca Cosa
• El Charro

Tortilla Chip Shark

Food photographer who loves Mexican Food and wants to help out a fellow hot sauce fanatic - could you magically appear and make this tortilla chip shark disappear? Please? I'll buy you lunch at Mex Food place of your choice if you will photograph the hot sauce without anything swimming in it.

Do You or Don't You

Hot sauce for breakfast? Do you? We're looking for your favorite breakfast with hot sauce. Eggs, obvious choice but how? Rancheros? Scrambled? Or are you the breakfast burrito type? Do write and tell us and please, please let us know where you get your favorites - some of us can never have enough favorite breakfast burrito places.

Need Two Things: More Serrano's Salsa and a Food Photog (please!)

Does anyone know what those little black bowls with the three legs that salsa come in are called? I am calling them 'not big enough' because it is embarrassing to ask for a third bowl! But ask I did tonight at Serrano's (www.serranosaz.com). So wonderful is their salsa, bright red tomato chunks, green onion, cilantro - served (first bowl to third bowl but who is counting) cold and delicious. I only wish I would have remembered to get a half pint (okay pint) to bring home. Fans? Let's hear what you love about their salsa. And don't get me started on the bean dip - I wonder if you can get that to go?

I took pictures of the delish salsa, but frankly I used my phone and they are unpublishable. How can a camera make such delights look so frightful? Anyway, any Mexican Food Lovers/Photographers out there that want to take some good shots for our blog? Or at least share a secret or two about how to get food to look like food? Post a comment with your email - maybe we can meet for lunch? Thanks, everyone loves a good picture (and a good photographer!)

Can Good Hot Sauce Save Bad Chips?

Friends, this is the question. Can really good hot sauce save mediocre chips? For a fanatic like me, the answer is yes. Great hot sauce could save an overcooked roast at my table. But what do you think? Do you need both - or does the fantastico sauce bury the bad chip? Can't wait to hear!

About Us PHXBESTMEXFOOD

Okay, so food photograhy isn't my calling. But eating Mexican probably is. Does that qualify as a career? Well, food critic is one but I am not that. I am a Phoenix native who has been eating Mexican food as long as I can remember. And since I can't have it every day (chips and salsa handles - not attractive) the next best thing to do is talk about it! I love to hear from folks who have been here as long as I have (since 1965) about their favorites - whether or not they are still serving up the hot sauce. Some of the best of the best are no longer with us (rest well in Mexican Food Nirvana GuadalaHarry's) so all we can do is extol. So I hope you join the fun - we are all Mexican food all the time. Let us know what you love - we keep it positive here. We are starting in the perfect place with the search for the perfect cheese enchilada! Amigos, what do you say?