I had heard so much about this restaurant and definitely wanted to check out what all the hype was about. I'd like to start by saying it did not disappoint! When we first entered the restaurant we were warmly welcomes by several members of the staff. We let them know that we had a reservation and we were seated quickly. You definitely need to make a reservation. The restaurant is quaint. It has bar seating for eight and about seven tables. We definitely love the warm and cozy vibe. Another huge contributing factor of the intimate setting was the fire grill that you can see from pretty much anywhere in the restaurant. To drink, I had the Cantarito. It was a mixture of. Milagro reposado, charred citrus juice, lime, and ginger which was garnished with dried slices of citrus. It was spectacular! My husband chose a bottle of Mexican Coke. We started with the Embered Elote and the cucumber salad. The Elote was fire roasted corn on the cob with a delicious crema, and spicy sauce garnished with queso. The cucumber salad was super unique, and the combination of flavors were absolutely delightful. it was made up of cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, tomatillo vinaigrette, and queso. For dinner, we shared the Shorties. Bone in short ribs season to perfection and the squeeze of lime on top pushed the flavor over the edge. Everything we had at this restaurant was fantastic. The portions are large. I definitely recommend sharing dishes. Next time we go, we are going to get one less appetizer so that we can try a dessert. Thank you for the wonderful service and crazy delicious food! read more

See all

Wow wow wow! We were in town for the weekend and I was lucky to score 2 last minute resys. I've been to Mexico many times and had authentic food. Bacanora was like a breath of fresh air. The menu isn't big but we had a hard time choosing since everything looked good. We decided on the elote with bone marrow, hamachi crudo and Pollo asado. I have to say the elote/bone marrow combo is life changing. My husband isn't a fan of elote but he could not stop raving about this dish. It was rich without feeling heavy. The hamachi crudo was SPICY but in the most addicting way. We didn't think it could get better,but the pollo asado was amazing. I prefer dark meat, but had a piece of the breast and it was so juicy. The rajas and frijoles were flavorful. But the best thing on the plate were the quesadillas. I wish they offered it separately. We would've ordered another plate they were that good! The portions were so big, that we ended up taking the rest of the asado to go. We ended up bringing it all the way back to NYC 3 days later and it tasted even better! I loved the whole vibe of the place. Yes, it's tiny but it made you feel like you were eating at a friend's house. The staff were friendly and patient (especially since we were so indecisive). We tried 2 cocktails which were tasty. We wanted to try more but were soooo full. We did try the sweet potato dessert which was nice but I really was too full to enjoy. I'm already planning a trip back to Phoenix so I can eat here again! read more

See all

I took a chance as a walk in yesterday and there were 2 open seats at the bar! Very lively atmosphere. I love Latin music and it was blasting as soon as you walked in. The bartender was super friendly and helpful with the selections. I had the bone marrow and Shrimp Aguachile. Both were amazing. The shrimp were so fresh and it had just the right amount of heat. The bone marrow was so delicious. I had the bacanorita which was dangerously good. I had a glass of Cabernet as my 2nd drink. I loved it. they only had 2 wines by the glass, but a decent selection of bottles. Highly recommend read more

See all

We'd heard so much about this place and all the awards it has won, but we still didn't quite know what to expect. It definitely exceeded our expectations! Every dish was memorable. The elote with bone marrow was rich and flavorful; the cactus salad was light and refreshing. I was also surprised by the beef tartare - the beef was incredibly tender. The fish, though, was the highlight of the entire meal. It was super fresh, with perfectly crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. The potatoes underneath soaked up all the flavor, and the taco that came with it was delicious as well. Such a great dining experience from start to finish. If you happen to be in central Phoenix, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more

See all

Great experience again. The guava drink is really good. They have definitely upped their cocktail game in the last while and the one in the clay cup is super tasty as well. Cauliflower this time was smothered in seasame seeds-super tasty. First time trying the Borchetta steak tacos with the kale salad-it was super delicious. Ask anyone but I'm not usually super into steak. I was here for a friends birthday so I let them choose. Excellent choice. We also did the elote, top tier but messy. The cucumber salad was still good but I didn't like the way the cucumber was chopped into seemingly random chunks. Still tasty, just nitpicking tbh. The chocolate ice cream for dessert was great! It had this spice mix on top with the crumble and a little spice... mmm! read more

Bacanora - Borchetta - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Pretty hard to get a reservation here. Tables open on the first of every month for the entire month, we managed to score a 8 PM reservation. Once we got to the restaurant we could tell why it was so hard, they have less than 10 tables inside, and it's a very small space. We're extremely hyped though because of all the good things we've heard. We ordered two appetizers, bone marrow Elote, and the scallop Crudo. The bone marrow was supposed to be a side for the Elote, which honestly confused me because it came out as bone marrow sprinkled with corn on top, made me confused as to what would've came out if we ordered elote without the bone marrow. The scallop Crudo was so good, served with some kind of tortilla chip, I've had this at lom wongs and I prefer the one here, sauce was sweet and sour, and avocados were perfectly ripe. For our entrée, the four of us shared the 40 ounce ribeye, this was $280 and takes 45 minutes to cook, so it was quite the commitment. The platter comes with tortillas, quesadillas, grilled onions, beans, and more. We are all definitely stuffed by the time we finished it. Meat was cooked perfectly medium rare, and tasted so good with all the fixings of the platter. We also got a birthday dessert on the house which was really nice. It was some kind of pinwheel cake with marshmallow foam on top, it was just OK to me but I'm not a huge dessert person. Really cool restaurant to visit if you were able to score a reservation, I would definitely recommend the ribeye to others if you're looking for something a little elevated at a fun restaurant. read more

See all

My first night back in Phoenix and I knew I had to go eat at Bacanora. FYI you have to make a reservation when they open up on the first of each month. So thankful I was able to grab one! When my friend and I got there, we still waited 15 minutes past our reservation time, so keep that in mind. But while you are waiting, you are hanging out outside by the colorful tree art and there are worse places to wait! Logan, the hostess, was lovely and seated us. Cara was our waitress and she was beyond friendly. I wish I could hang out with her in real life. She brought us a free dessert on the house because I noted on the reservation that it was my birthday. The dessert, the Mexican ice cream, was outstanding and an impressive portion. But I'm getting ahead of myself. We got the elote, cucumber salad, aguacate, pulpo (octopus), and steak. The starters were insanely delicious. I recommend all three. I think the standout for both of us was the cucumber salad. The entrees are the only reason I am not giving a full five stars, because while both were such high-quality, the steak was hard for my friend to separate from the bone, and the octopus was overly salty. But I still loved every bite, and the portion size for both entrees was so appreciated. If you are in Phoenix or visiting, I recommend you make a point to go to Bacanora. It is such a cool space, the food is clearly carefully crafted, and the staff is warm and happy to have you. read more

See all

Bacanora is small but MIGHTY. We had a 5 PM reservation right when they opened, and this downtown Phoenix corner spot filled up immediately. It's intimate, lively, packed with plants, and the house music gives it such a cool energy. Service was excellent--friendly, attentive, and our water glasses never saw the bottom. The NY strip was the winner. Perfectly cooked, and the kale had this bright acidity that made the whole plate. The elote was a full ear of deliciousness, and of the three salsas, I could've straight-up DRANK the verde. The chicken was great, but somehow the little cheese quesadillas stole the show. HOW is a cheese quesadilla that darn good?! The potatoes needed more flavor, and the borracho beans came topped with raw onions, which immediately eliminated them from consideration. Onion hater. Forever and always. The short rib was sweeter and chewier than I prefer, although everyone else at the table enjoyed it. Three entrées + an appetizer came to about $222, which felt fair for the quality, service, and atmosphere. Small space. Big energy. Seriously good food. I'll absolutely be back. read more

I'm honestly not sure why this place isn't rated higher the food is some of the most unique and flavorful I've had. Everything is meant to be shared, and the portions are generous, which makes it even better for the table. The prawns in mango sauce were incredible sweet, slightly tangy, and balanced with a subtle heat that keeps you going back for another bite. The bone marrow is a MUST. They bring it out straight from the grill, rich, buttery, and perfectly charred, with deep smoky flavor that stands out. The New York strip was cooked perfectly tender, juicy, and seasoned just right with that nice char from the grill. You can tell everything is done with intention and quality ingredients. It's a smaller, more intimate spot, which adds to the experience. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, and now I understand why reservations can be tough to get it's 100% worth it. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to. read more

See all

One of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever been to! Seriously very good! We ordered the Bacanorita and Oaxacan and both were tasty and smooth drinks! For food we shared a bunch of dishes. We had the Elote, the prawns, and short rib dish. Everything was packed with favor and well prepared and presented. Will definitely come back if we are ever in PHX! Btw make sure to book reservations early as we were very lucky to get last minute reservation here! read more

Bacanora - Being cute on the outside - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food speaks for itself and was amazing. The scallop crudo was so fresh. It is tart but balances so well with w hint of chili and the avocado. The shorties were delicious and had so much flavor. The meat was perfectly cooked and the side salad was a great contrast to balance out the heaviness of the meat. The ambiance inside is super nice and love that you can look over and see your food cooking over the fire. All the servers were super sweet as well which is a big reason I'd be back. read more

See all

Amazing. I understand why this place is always packed and busy. Omg. Service is so friendly and sweet. Food is out of this world. We ordered so much more but I didn't have the chance to capture the delicious food since our mouths ate it! Great selection of drinks. Bar has hooks for your purse! I cannot wait to come back. What a cute lil place. The bathroom is a vibe. Love the plants. read more

Bacanora - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Dinner Friday night at 8pm. Place of full up and folks are waiting outside to be seated. We were seated at the same time our resy. Started out with cocktails. Desert Oasis was good. Not a flavor I had had before. For dinner we split Aguacate, Hamachi Crudo, Chayote Salad, Shorties, and NY strip. All were well made and well seasoned. NY strip was the highlight - cooked to perfection. Didn't bother us, but the ambiance noise is loud. Perhaps not your jam. We had a great time and would return. N*joy! read more

Bacanora - Front door - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Wow this was a rollercoaster. Made a reservation for bar seating for 9:30. With having a rental car we set out and got a nice parking spot nearby on the street. Walking up, it was obvious this was a small spot with limited seating. Upon checking in - we were told our seat wasn't ready yet - although there was a two top bar type seat open facing the window. I mentioned those and the girl said they were spoken for. So we waited outside. Other reservations showed up checking in and were told to wait. One by one, they were sat - and even a couple who were on the waitlist were sat too. Any guesses where? My humble opinion is - if someone who went thru the trouble to make a reservation wants an open table - they should be given it and the waitlist can wait for the other. We got our bar seats and crammed into the corner. We stuck with waters and ordered the elote for a starter. Man this was good. They cut off one of the sides of the corn and toss it in the sauce around the cobs as well as dressed the cobs as you would get elsewhere. Never had it done this way but it was very good. The menu is somewhat confusing for me - mainly bc I don't know a whole lot of Spanish and and what I do know is limited to a very American Mexican menu. Anyway - I got the chicken (pollo asado) which was a platter and came with a half chicken, quesadillas (which sold me if all else failed), beans, potatoes and three sauces along with the tortillas Honestly - this meal knocked my head off it was so good. The chicken was very good - the skin crispy with a nice flavor. The potatoes which I didn't know were until the end were perfectly cooked and dressed with cojito cheese. The quesadillas were also very good and there were several so that was a nice addition - and the tortillas were perfect for making your own personal concoctions. Such a damn good meal. Wow. Apart from the start this was great. read more

See all

This place was amazing! I'm not from Phoenix so I wasn't aware of all the hype, but my friends explained that it can be hard to get reservations. We read all the yelp reviews on the way, and were prepared for the street parking (a non-issue on a Monday evening) and the small space (I've seen way smaller, even in Durham, NC!). The ambiance is really cute! There's a beautiful pink wall, a mirrored bar, and the bathroom is also worth a trip! The service was outstanding- from the host who seated us immediately, to the server who brought us new plates and napkins every now and then just because she could tell we needed them. Several folks checked in on us as we were eating, but not in an annoying way. We knew, from yelp, that we should try the cucumber salad, elote, short ribs, and chicken. It was a lot of food, but honestly great for three people. We could have probably gone with one less dish, but we wanted to try so much! The cucumber salad was crisp and delicious and, yes, a bit spicy. We got the bone marrow with the elote and this took a popular dish to a whole new savory level- I've always enjoyed bone marrow and this was such a cool twist! The short ribs were my absolute favorite- a delicious sweet rub, served with a different cucumber salad (more creamy than the small plate version). The chicken was also perfection- and this was a LOT of food- the chicken with a huge pile of homemade tortillas, quesadillas, potatoes, plus a bowl of beans and a bowl of rajas (mild roasted chilies). Honestly I suppose just the chicken could probably feed two, but the way we did it my friends have a whole other meal of leftovers. Would definitely love to go back! read more

See all

Not bad but overhyped. I don't understand the big deal about this place. Pretty standard food you can find anywhere. People just like this chef to be a big deal.. Better drinks and food other places in valley... location is a drag. Small space really bright lighting. Service just kind of average. Really nothing makes it special read more

Given the extensive hype this restaurant has received, it's difficult to live up to the high expectations. The food was very good, but it didn't blow me away. We had the grilled cauliflower, which was just a big head of cauliflower grilled with sauce. The whole fish was OK, but very bony. And the desserts weren't particularly notable Considering it takes months to get a reservation, it doesn't live up to the reputation. At least for my experience. I may try it again, and get some different items. read more

What an amazing dining experience! Went to check out this place after a work conference and can definitely understand the hype. The place had a fun edgey vibe especially for Halloween. We ordered the steak combo and some appetizers--everything had wonderful flavor and was well cooked. The dessert was really unique and a must try. Drinks were really fun as well. Our server was super kind and friendly, helpful and fast. High recommend! read more

See all

This has been on my list for such a long time and finally got to go this past weekend. Only got a 9:45p reservation but still made it happen. We had some food earlier at the NBA Finals watch party so we just had some small plates and no mains but everything we had was really good! We got sone off the menu items for the vegetarians and I stayed with that theme since I didn't care for a main dish. The elote was also really good. I came mainly for drinks and those didn't disappoint either! We ordered 5 drinks and all were excellent. Even had the Bacanora liquor shot - must have Our waitress was really helpful and good at her job and the ambience is really nice too. It's a small restaurant and cozy. read more

See all

Every time we visit Phoenix we hit up bacanora. Incredible ambiance that hold 20 guests but packs a major food punch. It's got that old town vibe with family style dinning. The drinks are no joke and will fill that itch for a good refreshing drink. Menu always has updates. The open pit cooking makes the place fill with incredible smells. Love this place. The team is professional and friendly and now recognizes us every year! You must get reservations it fills fast. Try Sunday brunch it's great also! read more

This was definitely worth the experience! The must get is the elote and the rib eye. It's definitely pricey but the rib eye comes with a great spread of tender meat, quesadillas, house salsas, and frijoles con queso. The restaurant is pretty small with two high tops, four tables sets of 4 and one table that can seat 5. They also have bar seating with maybe 10 people so it's pretty exclusive and you definitely need a reservation. I got so lucky to get one a month out (and it's not when they release them first day of the month on open table). My only caveat about this place is that they really enforce the 90 minute dine in experience. Our rib eye came out maybe an hour after we got seated and ordered so we had to rush in the last 15 minutes trying to finish it rather than enjoying/savoring it. Overall, i would definitely come back here, but I will definitely note that this is a "treat yourself" kind of place! read more

See all

Thanks to Bacanora for a perfect dinner and experience. My husband and I walked away loving our first time here and can't wait to come back one day. Reservations open on the first day of the month and there are only about 6 tables inside this small corner restaurant, so they book up quick. Walk ins are available at their bar seating too. Inside is small yet cozy, cute, and cool. Service is AMAZING. Our waitress Cara was an absolute gem and really made this whole experience for us. She made us feel right at home and comfortable and helped us decide on what to eat. We had our one year old with us and our waitress and the host were so quick to take care of her with a high chair, sticker, and even brought out guacamole for her so she could have food right away. It's a small menu and they have family style meals. We split the elote and loved it! We also shared the pollo asado and it comes with half a chicken, tortillas, cheese quesadillas, potatoes, beans, chiles, and salsas. Everything was delicious and it was fun to try all of the different foods. Amazing dinner. So happy we finally made it in! Thanks for a great date night! read more

See all

It is important to note that Bacanora is a tiny establishment with only street parking. Thus, it behooves you to make a reservation if you want to try this out. We were too late to make one so we came right as they opened. They opened precisely on time and there were a few couples who made reservations but my group of 6 were able to be seated at the bar. If you're looking for conversation over food with friends, then I suggest coming here with no more than 4 people because that's the maximum of seats for a table here. Groups larger than that have to sit at the bar area. Overall, the whole eating experience felt cramped and slightly uncomfortable. It was nice to be so close to the kitchen that I could feel the warmth of the flames though. I wish that there were better descriptions of the food items. One of the items has fish in it despite not listing it as an ingredient. I'm glad I asked about it as some people in our group had allergies to fish. The appetizers go from $11-$32. And the main dishes cost $36, $54, and $76. There's even a $300 rib eye dish that is supposed to feed 3-4 people. I decided to try the short rib asado. What I really liked was that there was multiple short ribs in it so it was a full meal. It was a messy meal though as these are the type of short ribs that have bones (once again, their menu is not descriptive as it failed to mention this). What was fantastic about the short rib was the marinade was something I've never had before. The same goes for the cream they put on the cucumbers. Also, the tortillas were some of the best I've ever had. They make all of this old school style: over a legitimate open fire with firewood. read more

See all

Food was amazing. Service was great. Cool atmosphere. Highly recommend trying. Entrees are large- meant to share. read more

See all

First time at #Bacanora in Downtown Phoenix. You have to have reservations. This place is tiny and holds 25 people. I was able to park on the street with no problem. I had their guacamole and short ribs. Very good. I sat at the bar and our waiter/bartender she was great. Highly recommended for a date night. read more

See all

This place is excellent. Highly recommend. It's small, hard to get into.... Everything is cooked on an open grill. Ceviche, agua chile and meat are hard to beat. Have a cocktail, buy more food than you can finish; enjoy this with a friend. read more

Great spot. Food was fantastic, drinks were on point & service was amazing. Not a cheap spot but great for a once in a while splurge. read more

See all

Finally got to try this place, walked in last night and sat at the bar without having to wait at all. Super friendly and professional staff here!. Bartender Tanya was incredible, knowledgeable, professional and super friendly. Tiny restaurant didn't realize how small it was but a beautiful decor and welcoming atmosphere. Food was incredible. I had their take on a marg, called a bacanorita, so good! And then I ordered the cucumber salad and the short rib platter. Omg the short rib dish - top 5 foods I've ever eaten. If you take the meat, pair it w the tortillas and add in the cucumber side salad (not the separate appetizer option the one they give u w the entree) it's one of the best bites you'll ever have trust me I was in f'n heaven. Holy shit lol that food is sooooo good. On top of great service and food I love the music they play in here, adds to the vibe for sure. Couldn't be happier and so glad I wasn't underwhelmed as of course I had high expectations coming in... Top 3 favorite restaurants I've ever been to in the valley - easy read more

See all

Even though my partner and I went overboard with the amount of food we had ordered, we had a very good experience here and I understood why they were so popular, because I could only grab a reservation for 11am since all other times have already been taken. Pretty much as soon as the restaurant opened, it was almost full, since the place was pretty tiny. And it pretty much remained that way on that Sunday. Pretty much every item was a hit, in terms of both quality and amount. The aguacate used a type of chiltepin cheese which was representative of Sonoran culture, and that provided a good spicy flavor to the dish. The cucumber salad was defined by salsa macha, which offered a different kind of spice, along with the vinaigrette that provided a hint of sourness, and then with the queso bits that neutralized the flavor a bit. The carnitas torta was huge in size and very flavorful. The escabeche mayo made all the difference because together with the tender carnitas, it was just juicy and succulent. The birria had an abundant amount of meat, which sometimes could be a hit or miss for consomé in general. I thought it was very appropriate for tortillas offered on the side as a result of the way they made the consomé. My partner had the pulpo con chorizo and had good feedback about it, citing its overall tastiness and how there was an abundant amount, as well as how the eggs and beans were made nicely. Since we sat at the first table next to the door, I sometimes stepped outside to enjoy the sunshine after that nice meal. I also want to mention that our server Loghan was very nice and even offered to customize a mocktail for my partner upon learning about their allergies. It was very nice for my partner and I to finally have some Mexican food since a lot of Mexican spots in our home of Minneapolis were closed at the time. read more

See all

Phoenix has a food scene that is so good -- and Bacanora is among the brightest stars. Tucked away on a colorful corner of Grand Avenue, you want to make the trip. The food here has been next level when we have been. I cannot say enough good things. The chicken is way more than enough to share and the quesadillas that come with it themselves are worth it. The steak is also first rate and elote is also a must do. You're going to get a lot of food so be ready to share to try a few things. The service is friendly and fast (you have 90 min only, but that's not been a problem that I've experienced). Overall the food is the standout - the wood fire cooking is insanely flavorful. The vibe is unique. And you need to book your table now. read more

See all

4.5/5 (Yelp needs half stars!) This was a cool spot. Small but bright and comfortable. The servers were great. Personable, fun, knowledgeable. We'd heard raving reviews and naturally had to come check it out for ourselves. Dishes below with the first thoughts that came to my mind to describe them. But overall #1 & 3 are what I'd 100% come back for. [ ] EMBERED ELOTE - Spicy. Sweet. Flavorful. [ ] AGUACATE - Fresh. I wish there was slightly more lime or some citrus aspect. But personal preference, I can respect just letting the main flavors do their thing. [ ] SHORT RIB ASADO - Sweet. Hint of smoke. Hint of spice. Maybe the best flavoring I've ever had on short ribs. I kept going back and having to pause to savor that underlying sweet flavor. I'd be back just for this. Comes with 2 items below: [ ] TORTILLAS - No notes. Literal perfection. [ ] CUCUMBER SALAD - Fresh. Light. Crunch aspect. read more

See all

Great food! The restaurant is pretty small inside so reservations are required. We tried multiple things on the menu, all of which was fantastic. We had the Burria, the octopus (good but a little spicy), the beet salad (LOVED it), the chicken (chicken itself was just okay but the dish comes with a lot of items and is big! Can feed two easily), and the short ribs which were my favorite dish. They were delicious. Would definitely come back! read more

I lived in Taxco Mexico as a young kid. I've never had again until tonight. This is the food served at Bacanora. I relived my childhood. Had a reservation at 5:15, which is recommended. The restaurant is not big, maybe 10 tables maximum. That said it was cute. I looked into the kitchen showing the open fire grill. Sat immediately at bar per our request. Approached asking for drinks, two classic margaritas please! Drinks arrived promptly and we gave our order. Strip bone in, cucumber salad and beet salad. We're sharing which we we were told was perfect. Salads arrived in 10 minutes. Cucumber salad was chunked cucumber with cheese and spicy (a little). It's amazing! Beet salad had warm beets roasted with dates, celery and pomegranate seeds which was spectacular! As we finished our salad the steak arrived. Rare to medium rare with superior taste. Served with potatoes and beans with tortillas. I could have closed my eyes and was reminded of eating at the dinner table when I was 14 years old. So good. I recall only two restaurants that were spectacular, AU Chaval and Bacanora. Don't think about it just go. You will never regret. Yea, it's that good. read more

See all

As the other reviewers mentioned, this place is great! It's a small, funky place and you definitely need to make reservations. Maybe an insider tip (?), there were some seats at the window as well as the bar, but that was close to closing. Not sure when they stop serving people. Ambience and service were also really good. They played some good hip hop and our server was pleasant and had good drink and food recommendations. There were four of us total and we fired up a bunch of different dishes to share, which was... Embered Elote -- this ironically enough was my least favorite, but it was still good. Ceviche / Tartare -- Was it ceviche? Was it tartare? I have no idea, but it was freaking delicious whatever it was. Pollo Asado -- roasted half chicken with all sorts of goodies on the side. The chicken itself was prepared perfectly and I really appreciated the cheese quesadillas on the side. I kinda did a rift on a cheesw quesadilla. Or take all the other sides and choose your own adventure -- baby fried potatoes, peppers, and beans. Short Rib Asado -- Release your inner Fred Flinstone and have a gay old time eating these short ribs. Again, the flavors were on point, with an almost teriyaki flavor to them, cooked well, yet still tender. Maybe next time I'll pony up and throw down the $300 steak read more

See all

Pros: Food was absolutely insane. Everything we ate we not only good, but most hit the realm of excellent, and the short ribs were amazing. They really defy description... At the risk of overselling it: life changing. I'm not the same person since, that's for sure. It's been days and I'm still thinking about them. I can't remember the last time I've had something that delicious in my mouth. Just insane. Elote with bone marrow is a must if they have it on the menu. That was genuinely insane as well. Really really loved the nopales salad as well. Very tasty. Service was great. My friends proceeded to get pretty tipsy and she was cracking me up... the interactions were funny to me. You'd have to have been there. The place has nice decor and vibes. Outside they have some really cool decorations on the trees and the grounding line for the power pole. Cons: It's loud. It's hard to have a conversation, it's hard to hear the servers... it's just kind of hard to hear period in there. It's tough to have everything on a tight time schedule. Make sure you order everything you want up front; you might not have a chance to order more later. Overall: would definitely go back 10/10 times. read more

Did not live up to the hype. Restaurant is extremely small and loud and AC doesn't work properly. It must have been 90 degrees inside. The drinks were good. We loved the elote appetizer. The hamachi crudo was a little fishy, but the chips were great. We also ordered the "Shorties" short ribs, which were really tough and I was constantly pulling pieces of fat and gristle out of my mouth. The frijoles were amazing. read more

What can I say? We had high expectations considering James Beard Award and the generous invite from our friends (high end chefs). The place didn't deliver. The appetizers were tasty. The entrees were a hit or miss. The roast chicken was not done - think Reddish- (!) at the bone. The beef short rib was listed as an entree but was a very small portion. The red snapper was very good and a saving grace. The noise level (music) was loud and I was getting notifications on my iWatch about potential hearing loss. It was impossible to have a conversation without shouting. Finally, the time limit of 90 min is ridiculous. 2 hours would have been necessary for us to somewhat enjoy our entrees. Our friends ordered several appetizers. The first appetizers arrived half an hour from the seating time. The entrees were brought 18 min before the 90 min mark! We had to scarf down the food - it really ruined the atmosphere. Finally, considering the time limit, we were not offered a coffee or desert. The server was hovering over us signaling it's time to go. Considering the prices - $76 for half chicken - you would think patrons would be treated much better. Our friends said they would not return bc of the above. read more

See all

Four of us walked in for Mother's Day brunch. We were fortunate to get a table, even if it was outside. The only difference was that they don't serve alcohol outside which was fine. We ordered the elote (very good), oysters (amazing!), sandía salad, and some other entre food items (pretty good). We ate family style. As for the restaurant, because we sat outside, we never went inside. We sat on the shade side which was really nice. It had a gentle vibe. There was a tree dropping flowers in the breeze, but I didn't care. Someone else might. The highlight for me, after the food, was our server. She had such a pleasant and light energy about her. I can't say why, but we weren't rushed or pressured, so our experience was great! I didn't pay, so I can't speak to the cost. read more

See all

We came here to celebrate a birthday and it did not disappoint! It's expensive but every dish was well worth the price. Somehow even the most basic items like beans and tortillas were outstanding. All of the meats were tender with complex flavors. Two dishes we ordered were new that night, the grilled trout and the pork chop, so the chef stopped by our table to ask how they were which was neat! They actively enforce the 90-minute table limit but the food comes out pretty quick so it wasn't an issue. They did not have any dessert options the night we went which was fine but worth noting if you are planning for multiple courses. The music was also really loud for how small the restaurant is. read more

See all

For our second meal in Phoenix, we scored seating at Bacanora, the wood-fired gem from Chef Rene Andrade, who earned the James Beard Best Chef: Southwest award in 2024. The restaurant was also a national finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2022 - and once you eat here, it's easy to see why. I was surprised at how far in advance the place was fully booked. With just 36 seats, it's tiny and intimate, so I took a shot and emailed the team to see if two out-of-towners might squeeze in during our quick visit. It worked. We arrived at 6:30pm and waited a few minutes outside, where we met a local diner who told us, "Get the Tomahawk - it's to die for." At $300, it was a little ambitious for our group size, but noted for next time. We were seated at the bar - right next to the open kitchen and the glowing mesquite grill. It turned out to be the best seat in the house. We watched cocktails being made, chatted with the bartender, and got a front-row view of the magic happening behind the line. To start, we followed the crowd and ordered the Cucumber Salad - crisp, zippy, and kissed with just the right amount of heat. Then came the Embered Elote, a smoky ear of corn slathered in creamy elote chile. We shaved the kernels off the cob to share, and every bite delivered sweet, spicy, and charred perfection. For the main event, we went with Bacanora's signature Pollo Asado - a juicy half chicken served on a tray barely big enough for all the extras: sliced radishes, charred peppers, pillowy tortillas, mini quesadillas, and a savory tomato-bean mixture that made each DIY taco feel like a new dish. By the end, we were too full for dessert--but not for one more cocktail. Their mezcal-forward drink list is well worth exploring. Bottom line: If you can snag a reservation, go. They do allow a limited number of walk-ins, so if you're feeling lucky, show up before they open. Either way, Bacanora absolutely lives up to the buzz. read more

See all