Spanish in Phoenix

3602 N. 24th St. East Phoenix

602-955-2926

Mexican, Dessert, Seafood, Southwestern, Spanish, Best Of, Slideshow

The cuisine at this casual-upscale Mexican restaurant in Central Phoenix is nearly as gratifying now as it was over 20 years ago, when then-owner and founder Moises Treves first brought his gourmet dishes celebrating the regions of Mexico to the Valley. Given its age, the building may seem a bit frayed, but inside, its softly lit rooms decorated with tables topped with white linen, paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and lazily spinning ceiling fans, make for an intimate place to unwind -- perhaps with a glass of sangria and outstanding dishes like an Acapulco-style shrimp cocktail, a heady soup, and outstanding signature plates of thinly sliced top sirloin, Veracruz-style fish, and enormous butterflied and garlicky shrimp you'd be forgiven for picking up and eating right out of their skins. Read our review.

12 articles

CoR Tapas

4500 N. 12th St. Central Phoenix

602-264-8471

Tapas, Spanish, Mediterranean

CoR Tapas & Wine is a Spanish-styled tapas bar that brings the tapas concept to midtown Phoenix, complete with a menu of homemade sangria cocktails. CoR exceeds expectations with a streamlined menu of artful, beautifully executed small plates like gambas al ajillo, a garlic shrimp plate featuring a wonderfully rich garlic aioli. Simple and classic dishes like patatas bravas are upgraded through presentation and a very good, spicy aioli sauce. Chef Casey LaRue makes many of the house breads and cheeses, and he demonstrates a special knack for extracting maximum flavor out of simple vegetable dishes like charred Brussels sprouts.

1 article

deseo

6902 E. Greenway Parkway North Scottsdale

480-624-1202

Contemporary, Latin American, South American, Spanish, Recommended, Best Of

Star chef Douglas Rodriguez has made an international name for himself with his Nuevo Latin American cuisine, and now he's in our humble town. Everything is stunning here, such as ceviche with Spanish and Asian influences, arepas (griddled corn cakes) with caviar and quail egg, and plantain-crusted halibut with sliced banana, sautéed spinach, bacon and cherry tomato. Read our review.

7 articles

Havana Cafe

4225 E. Camelback Rd. East Phoenix

602-952-1991

Caribbean, Central American, Cuban, Latin American, Spanish, Recommended, Menu

Even Castro would endorse capitalism like this. Authentic comidas Cubanas like tostones, paella and arroz con pollo served in an attractive, intimate environment. The black bean soup is revolutionary. After 5 p.m., sip sherry and sample tapas upstairs in Arriba.

7 articles

Havana Patio Cafe

6245 E. Bell Rd. North Scottsdale

480-991-1496

Caribbean, Central American, Cuban, Latin American, Spanish, Recommended, Menu

Even Castro would endorse capitalism like this. Authentic comidas Cubanas like tostones, paella and arroz con pollo served in an attractive, intimate environment. The black bean soup is revolutionary. After 5 p.m., sip sherry and sample tapas upstairs in Arriba.

10 articles

Hola Cabrito

4835 S. 16th St. South Phoenix

602-513-8384

Mexican, Spanish, Best Of, Essentials

Goopy quesabirria may rule TikTok and Instagram, but if you follow the true fans in South Phoenix, they’ll lead you to Hola Cabrito. Since 2011, Maria Lopez has been slinging the birria de chivo she learned from her mother in León, Guanajuato. Rather than the drip and the ooze, this classic style of birria is all about the goat. Seasoned and slow-roasted in banana leaves, the succulent adobo-spiked meat boasts a rich flavor and gentle gaminess that plays beautifully across multiple formats. You can get it swimming in crystal-clear consommé, ready to be perked up with crisp vegetables and herbs and a splash of smoky salsa. You can load the meat onto thick fresh-pressed tortillas to make some mean tacos. But our favorite order is the birria tatemada — scattered and pressed on the griddle along with a bit of fat ladled off the top of the consommé, lending a robust, sizzling crisp to the tender goat meat.

4 articles

La Casa Del Mariachi

1420 N. 24th St. East Phoenix

Breakfast/Brunch, Mexican, Seafood, Spanish, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

As its name says, part of the restaurant is a mariachi hall. It's unbelievably packed with musicians and dancers on weekend nights. But the other half of the place is a first-rate Mexican restaurant, specializing in seafood. Garlic fish is outstanding, regional soups are gripping, and when the menu says spicy, it ain't kidding. Read our review.

10 articles

Lola Tapas

800 E. Camelback Rd. Central Phoenix

602-265-4519

European, Spanish, Tapas, Wine Bar, Bars and Clubs

1 article

Marquesa

7575 E Princess Dr. North Scottsdale

480-585-4848

European, French, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Pizza, Spanish, Bars and Clubs

2 articles

Pepin Restaurante Espanol

7363 Scottsdale Mall Central Scottsdale

480-990-9026

Spanish, Music Venues, Recommended

Tucked away near the Scottsdale Civic Center, this Spanish restaurant features fragrant tapas, fruity sangria, and a flamenco floor show. Menu items are listed in the native tongue, so if you don't speak español, you'll have to break out the translator before placing an order. A fun, exotic place to take Midwestern visitors on a Saturday night.

Prado

4949 E. Lincoln Dr. Paradise Valley

480-627-3004

Mediterranean, Spanish, Recommended, Best Of

There's something magical about the atmosphere at Prado, the Andalusian-inspired fine-dining spot at Paradise Valley's brand-new InterContinental Montelucia. But for now, the hit-and-miss cooking and subpar service aren't special-occasion good. Stick to cocktails in the lounge to soak up the ambiance.

14 articles

Talavera

10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr. North Scottsdale

480-515-5700

Steakhouse, Spanish, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

The Spanish-inflected steakhouse spilling out onto the second story patio of the Four Seasons in far north Scottsdale is impressive, as is the food within. Crudos cascade across plates in arcs of fish, fruit, and flowers. Salads often unite unlikely flavors, like coffee-roasted beets, vanilla, and bleu cheese. Even the peppered basketweave of iberico pork shoulder gains levity from citrus, celery leaves, pickled squash, and mostarda. Each season brings thrilling new changes to the menu, and there are so many directions you can go. Sherry or sidra. Spanish-style gin and tonic or Txakoli. Prawns with mole verde or lamb meatballs with raita. Fideo in smoked tomato broth or a beautiful seafood-and-pork-belly paella, punctuated with a scarlet lobster carapace — a squiggly exclamation point on so much more than just a pan of rice.

45 articles

Tapas Papa Frita

7114 E. Stetson Dr., #210 Central Scottsdale

480-699-5004

Spanish, Tapas, Vegetarian

Tapas, traditional Spanish small plates, are the specialty at Tapas Papa Frita, a casually upscale restaurant and bar with views of the Scottsdale Waterfront. The restaurant offers a menu of about 50 tapas and 20 entrees, including crowd favorites like tortilla española (potato omelet) and paella (which the kitchen can prepare in seven different styles, including vegetarian). Simple, rustic tapas like boquerones (fresh anchovies cooked in olive oil and lemon) and chanquetes (flash fried silver fish) delight with bold, fresh flavor. But dishes like berejenas con centollos (crab and eggplant tart) and paella valenciana (the restaurant’s most popular entrée) suffer from bland, underseasoned treatment, making for a hit-or-miss dining experience.

6 articles

Spanish in Phoenix

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