Good food and drinks Our Waiter Dante was awesome and attentive Place was clean . Will be coming back. read more

Came here for dinner on a Friday evening. Space is big with patio, bar area and separate dining quarters. We sat at High Top near bar. The seats in the dining room were hard and metal and we weren't up for that. For food, we ordered the chips with green salsa, Beef Birria, Carne Asada Plate. Food was decent. Salsa Verde and Chips were great. Birria was flavorful but everything else was just sufficient. For drinks we the Aye Papi and PECADO. My husband enjoyed his Aye Papi. I survived the PECADO but it was not my style. PECADO which is suppose to be patron silver + pomegranate tamarindo + orange juice + citrus for $14. On this occasion this drink wasn't cold and I did not enjoy it. All in all, It was a decent experience. I would come back for Happy Hour or if I was in the area for another event. What I like was that they validate up to 2 hours of parking and the music was good. read more

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Every time I have eaten at Chico Malo I have enjoyed the food as has everyone I have dined with here. I think it's delicious! It's def overpriced, but it fits the restaurant's vibe and in this location it is to be expected. Happy hour prices are not bad, but portions are very small. Regular menu portions are plentiful, however. While the food is yummy imo, the drinks are meh. What is lacking for me at Chico Malo is the service. It's pretty slow even when they are not busy and overall I would describe it as absent. It also isn't particularly friendly. This is not make or break it for me but it is at the point that it stands out, I would say. The restaurant inside is cool though! And I love the music. This is definitely a fun place to come to grab some food before a night out. read more

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TASTY ENCHILADAS, yet small portions. Typically a enchilada dish comes with rice & beans or some sort of side. Unfortunately, Chico Malo's enchilada order comes with only two medium-size enchiladas and nothing else. I was so lucky to order chips because I would've been completely unsatisfied with this visit. The flavor of my green/red enchiladas was great, however it was missing that extra touch. Chíco Malo prioritizes decoration and presentation, over quantity. However, I believe in a balance of quantity, quality, and presentation. The food isn't the cheapest as it's in a nice location of DT Phoenix so I'm expecting a little more bang for my buck. Service was decent, out server was chill guy. He thoroughly explained the menu and gave us good recommendations. The alcoholic drinks were tasty, I think this is more of an appetizer and booze spot after a trip to Mortgage Matchup. The restaurant is huge, dim, and full of space for large groups. It's inside Cityscape and is full of action during the weekends. Outdoor seating is available. read more

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TLDR: Tomahawk Steak was phenomenal. Perfectly medium rare. Delicious seasoning blend that was sweet, sour and very savory. read more

I visited on a Friday evening after a holiday. The interior is beautiful, and the menu offers a wide range of options, from appetizers to entrées with Mexican and Southwestern influences. However, the overall focus of the menu wasn't clearly defined, and the server was also unable to clarify it. I appreciated the use of fresh ingredients. I tried the shrimp aguachile and the tres leches; both were good. I was surprised by the tres leches presentation, which looked more like three small donuts with ice cream. It tasted good however I would not order it again. I looked around, the dishes at nearby tables were well presented and visually appealing. I will definitely return. Also a notation on parking it looks like the restaurant does validate two hours if you park underneath the cityscape garage. Otherwise half street parking is difficult. read more

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While in town for a competition, we came across Chico Malo just walking around--and we're so glad we did. The food was so good we ended up coming back three times during our trip. Everything we tried was full of flavor and consistently great each visit. The service was also on point, and the bartenders made really good drinks. The music was an entire vibe too--they kept playing hit after hit, which made the whole experience even better. We would definitely be going back anytime we're in town again. read more

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The inside of the restaurant was fairly quiet when we were there for lunch. It was well decorated and had a cool vibe to it. I got two cocktails, one of which was a bit watery. They're famous for their shrimp aguachile and with good reason. Definitely try it! The elote was flavorful, too. The ceviche was mild in taste, and the salsa was good but not the best I've had. Our server was very friendly but not as attentive as we would've liked. read more

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Delicious food and quick service on an early Saturday evening. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating available. Our waitress was kind and talkative. Elote and their traditional guac were hands down my favorite bites. read more

Chico Malo - Enchiladas Verde - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Another great time at ChicoMalo with friends. Was invited to the suns game and this place just continues to do all the little things right from point of entry the vibe is perfect. Not to much to be over the top just enough to be comfortable and feel like you're at somewhere special. Great news was I was not only with someone special(my wife) we felt special by some friends for the invite. Started with a Frozen Jefe & Como La Flor. So so good I had another! Friends arrived and we smashed the trio&chips. I should have errored and shared with my wife as I forgot how large the portions are here but I messed up and ordered way too much and well at it all! The molcahete was very good and pretty spicy. Only negative was it was so temperature hot it was hard to make a taco but I mean hot food definitely not a bad thing. Wife's barbacoa was on another level we should have just split that and our friends as always crush the pork verde shank. If you've never been this place is a must. The prices are reasonable for 2 people drinks and if you've were to split a plate right around 6-7eventy dollars. Excited to come back thanks for the team absolutely crushing it as always read more

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We had a great experience getting dinner here. The service was super friendly and helpful. We got a Sakura cherry blossom drink and it was delicious and refreshing. The sushi roll tasted very fresh and the beef entree was some of the best we've had. The sauce was amazing too. Although it's delicious, it's very expensive so know that going into it. Would recommend you try it out, read more

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To begin our birthday weekend getaway, my boyfriend and I went to Chico Malo for dinner and it's a place that I would definitely consider going again! I made a reservation at 5:30pm, and we were seated quickly. The ambiance was lively yet intimate with dim lighting that fit with the Mexican-inspired aesthetic that invited people to party and socialize after a hard day of work. We have a bowl of chips with two different salsas and guacamole as a complimentary appetizer, so we solely ordered our main dishes since we knew from the size of the appetizer would be enough to satisfy us both. Although, I had a smaller appetite than usual that evening, so I tried their Dorados de Papa- a shareable dish, but just the right amount that I needed to get me full, but not painfully so. As for my partner, he ordered the Sea Molcajete that comes with octopus, shrimp, clams, and more to make for one stunning dish. It's a large meal, so if you consider trying it, you better come in ravenous. The server we had was very nice, checked up on us frequently, and even offered to take away a drink I had ordered and ended up not liking (my boyfriend drank it for me). Overall, I'm glad I tried this place out and I would come back again and make sure I have more room to eat more food! read more

Chico Malo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I was so disappointed with the food that if I wasn't starving. I wouldn't have even tried to eat some of it. First, the steak was i've suggested and I ordered medium and got well done. This was especially disappointing because i am a steak critique, and after speaking to the person in the front and hearing about how good they cook.The steak I couldn't believe what was in front of me. The staff was really nice.The waiter, the host.Everyone was really nice and my drink was exceptionally good.I got an amaretto sour, so that was the up part. The décor and vibe of the place was really nice. Intimate, cozy and just a nice atmosphere and feeling. But I would never dine there again. read more

Chico Malo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I really enjoyed Chico Malo. I came here with a friend while visiting Phoenix, and it did not disappoint. The decor was nice and modern and the windows, doors and patio were open with the great weather. Once I saw the menu, I was so excited to see crab guacamole for the first time. I've had lobster guac, but never crab guacamole. It did not disappoint. While there could've been more guac, there was a great amount of crab on top. The combo tasted great. I saw the pork belly and was going to order, but once I saw duck breast al pastor, I knew that's what I had to get. The waitress said this was basically duck fajitas, which I've never seen before. It came out sizzling and looked appetizing. Only thing I wish was that there were more onions and peppers. The L pastor flavor was really good and the tortillas even had "C" in the center- nice detail. I would definitely recommend folks to try this spot, read more

Chico Malo - Crab guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Went to Chico Malo to meet for happy hour on a Wednesday and it was the perfect place to be with the jungle atmosphere in downtown Phoenix, almost forgot I was in AZ! I sat outside on their patio and bar area, the bartender was very attentive and friendly, made great drinks. I didn't order food during this visit but I will be sure too when I go back. read more

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Located just off Jefferson Street in downtown Phoenix, this hip restaurant did not disappoint. Service was attentive and friendly, and the food was delicious and artistically presented for a Mexico City vibe. We started with the Queso Fundido which is served with warm tortillas and was plenty for 4. The shrimp aguachile is presented like art and was delicious. The elote and cheese enchiladas with green sauce were also outstanding. We will be back. Recommended! read more

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Came here as a recommendation from friends. Ambience trendy and clean. Service very friendly and attentive. The waiter makes great recommendations and knows the best orders! Cocktails are amazing. We ordered the trio dip, fresh tortilla chips and amazing salsas. Duck empanadas are also tasty with their mole sauce. The crust is crisp and moist duck filling inside My entree is the pollo con mole and chorizo mashed potato. I like to try moles in various restaurants to see how their take of mole. The chicken is juicer than past chicken mole dishes I had and they give you a hearty cut. The mole is different than I am used to. They incorporate maraschino cherries to the mix gives a tangy depth to it. I personally am not a big fan of that flavor profile. I am not saying it is a poorly made dish, their version of mole is fruity and tangy. When I saw it in the menu I was expecting a chocolate mole rather than a fruity one. Tried barbacoa and it is a must try because it comes with consume! The chorizo mashed potato is a great side to counter the tanginess of the mole. We tried their desserts which is a great ending fried aroz con leche and a chocolate milk cake. It is in the downtown area so a nice place to take a bite and have some cocktail as part of the downtown Phoenix experience read more

Chico Malo - Duck al pastor with handmade corn tortilla - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Well, I too had some high expectations for this place. Seeing and hearing about it! I meet up with a co worker here on a Tuesday. It was around 3:30 the place was empty. Hmmm I thought! No one at the bar no one in whole place I believe but employees. Anyways sat at the bar and was greeted by a nice young lady but she gave us only regular menus... (it was happy hour)? Not a deal breaker We ended up trying the ceviche and shrimp stack! Both were good but my favorite was the Ceviche! Spot on! Full of flavor! The Top shelf marg I opted for was just okay. I think the citrus salt on my rim ruined it for me, personally not a salt gal, but I also didn't know it was salt. It looked so pretty I assumed it was something different. I think I would try this place again for dinner though and for date night or girlie upscale din! It is pretty expensive though! Ambiance and decor is great Just know parking down there nightmare but if your close or can lyft that's your best bet. Or even have a nice bestie! read more

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Food was yummy and the service was great. The restaurant had a really cool vibe. Definitely would return on another visit to Phoenix read more

Chico Malo - Beef Birrara taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Went on a Wednesday for early dinner There was no wait Got a table right away The ambience was unique and very inviting. Service was excellent. It was happy hour so we ordered a couple of appetizers The chicken flautas were very tasty made with fresh tortillas The shrimp aguachile came with chips. The shrimp was very fresh and the sauce was yum My colleague ended up getting the land molcajete and he really enjoyed it. It was a HUGE portion. The freshly tortillas were the highlight and he ended up taking some extra home along with the leftovers. I got the enchiladas which were 2 pieces and I got one with the red sauce (roja) and another with the green sauce (verde). Both were equally tasty. The red one almost tasted like a mole Also got the frozen drink Chico verde which was pina colada but spicy! Very unique taste! read more

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After having an amazing lunch the first time dining here with Mika as our server we decided we wanted to go back for dinner, wrong decision we quickly came to find out! It was a Sunday evening & pretty quiet with the restaurant being only half full so we expected attentive service but that ended up not being the case! Chloe the server greeted us with not much of a personality & on top of that she seemed pretty anxious to get our order in but being the restaurant wasn't busy we started with the Trio Tortillas. As we remembered they were amazing first time dining but this time they didn't really have that wow factor! Once Chloe took our order we didn't see Chloe for a good minute, she couldn't even take away my empty martini glass as I'm sipping on my second cocktail! The entrees came & my husband was not very impressed to say the least because he originally wanted the chicken entree, he was so looking forward to it yet they didn't have any nor did they have any duck! My husband got the pork verde & it came out looking like something from the Flintstones era... not attractive at all! Didn't think the presentation was appealing at all! I had the beets salad again with 3 prawns added @ $6 a piece, the salad just wasn't a wow factor either & the goat cheese didn't taste like last time! It was just blah like no consistency in the preparation with the menu. We definitely chose to not have desert, we were just ready for our check! As we're staring at our dirty plates waiting endlessly for our check Chloe then appears, gives us our bill yet walks away empty handed! Sorry but I didn't know that service ends once the check is placed on the table! We ended up waiting so long we went over our validated 2 hours by 5 minutes because Chloe was nowhere to be found! Normally I'm a 20% - 25% tipper depending upon the whole dining experience but not this time! After $142 bill & we're now looking at dirty plates surrounding us no I definitely was not intending on tipping Chloe 20%! After this dining experience we couldn't even imagine going back there because on top of horrible service they were also out of several menu options, really how disappointing! read more

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We came across this place while walking around. Sister restaurant of wren and wolf. They took us in and seated us right away. The interior is decorated really nicely. Very cool vibe. The workers were all very nice. We got the Brussels sprouts and elite corn. We loved those. My husband got the sea mocaljete for us to share also. I thought it was very tasty. A little spicy too. All together good food and vibe. Nice place to stop by for a drink or dinner. read more

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Great service on a busy night! They were out of the Duck Al Pastor, but the Pork Verde was pretty good. Large portions but not many vegetables on the sides for all the meals at our table. The drinks were excellent and I even got a free birthday shot with sparklers! read more

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Great meal! Everything was full of flavor. The shrimp aguachile was so good! The restaurant is really well decorated and stylish. Service was spot on too. Check it out if you're downtown. read more

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THEY WERE SOO AMAZING EVERYONE!!!, I just want to say thank you so much for letting a party of 5 come in without reservation, they all treated me so well and had so much patience with my party. I truly felt special, they had gave me a complimentary drink. The food was a 10/10 I had ordered the ceviche and it was delicious, chips and guacamole were good as well. My experience here was amazing. read more

Chico Malo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Let's be honest -- who comes to Arizona without trying authentic Mexican food? While in town for a conference, Chico Malo came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint! We started with the trio -- queso, salsa, and guacamole -- and wow. The guacamole had pomegranate seeds in it (a first for me), and let me just say: chef's kiss. So fresh, so flavorful, and a beautiful balance of sweet and savory. For my main dish, I had the smoked & slow-braised beef with guajillo garlic, ancho, chipotle, cabbage, cilantro, and onion, served with flour tortillas. Every bite was tender, rich, and packed with bold flavor. My friend ordered the pork verde and said the meat was so tender it literally fell off the bone. She also tried the canasta tacos, which she described as perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. From the food to the atmosphere, Chico Malo lives up to the hype. If you're in downtown Phoenix and craving elevated, flavorful Mexican food -- this is the place to go! read more

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Decided to come and take my mom out for a happy hour before dinner today. We drove our 30 minutes to get downtown early, we got there for our reservation at 3. We got seated without a happy hour menu and I asked for one once we got our server, and was told since it was Mothers Day, there was no happy hour. I just noted we were disappointed and looking forward to it as a Mother's Day treat - he basically laughed and said we should've called ahead to ask. We got up a left.. won't be back. read more

While staying in Downtown Phoenix we got to eat at a couple good places but Chico Malo was by far one of the best. We went Saturday evening and even though it was busy they were able to sit us very quickly. Inside the restaurant has a really good aesthetic and cool vibe. I started off with the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, which is made with Mezcal, and was one of the best of these type of cocktails I had. We then ordered the Chicharron de Ribeye Gucamole which was super tasty and came with lots of Ribeye. For the main meal we got the Molcajete that came with four different kinds of meats, rice and handmade corn tortillas. The sauce in the Molcajete really took it to the next level. Overall our experience was great and would recommend this place to anyone that finds themselves in downtown phoenix. read more

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For me a bad waitstaff will ruin the entire experience for me at a restaurant... UNLESS the food and everything else is so amazing it cancels out a bad waiter... this was not the case. This could be someone else's vibe and I get that but the lighting in this place is so very dim you can barely see your food. On top of that we made a reservation and it was pretty empty but when we were seated there was no silverware on our table. We were given an appetizer that required silverware and still none was given. So we grabbed a set from the next table. Then we were given our entrees and if you hear we had to ask for silverware. On top of that the waiter was not attentive. It's like he didn't want to come to our table and check on us for some reason. We tried several times to get his attention to order and horchata before our meal came with no success. Then it took forever for him to bring the drink after forgetting and being reminded. The duck I will say was good. My meal was okay even though I was told it's the best they had... all in all I would pass this spot there's plenty of other Mexican restaurants in the area. read more

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Order the filet and it was raw and when asked to cook more, it came back the exact same. THEN I received a flat 1/4 inch piece of overcooked leather. Insulting. Had I not been on a business dinner, I would have refused to pay. You should be embarrassed. The setting, drink and guac was delish! The waiter was nice but you didn't deliver on the main. read more

Went 2 times in a week for their happy hour. I thought the price was great for the amount of food (variety) we had. The drinks were also reasonably priced and it was the perfect amount of alcohol for me. Sat at a table the 1st time, great experience. Our server was amazing! I can't remember his name. ‍ Sat at the bar the 2nd time and can't complain about the service either. Only giving 4 stars because the 1st night, they charged us regular price for the drinks when we ordered from the happy hour menu. We were there before 5pm and happy hour was 3-6pm. Also, both days the parking validation didn't work! I thought the 1st night was a mistake because maybe the person who helped us didn't know what she was doing, but it happened again when I came back. Don't advertise that you validate parking if you don't. Just a thought. clearly, i'll come back for the food, just don't lie to me about the parking. lol read more

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I absolutely loved this place! I went there to celebrate my birthday. Staff members were amazing, shots were great, and the food was delicious. I loved the energy and ambiance. Our waitress was the sweetest! They made me feel special on my day. read more

Was in downtown one night and this was our first stop. The atmosphere is dark and moody. It's a cool vibe and has a nice patio. Our server was super friendly and nice and answered all of our questions. She did, however, disappear towards the end of the night when we were waiting for the bill and had to ask another server for it. Other than that, she was great. The food was different. I appreciate the creativity and there was good flavor. It did feel a little pretentious for what it is but that's just my observation. Drinks were reasonably priced and the ones I had were pretty good. I definitely think this place is worth a try. Our bill was $136 before tip. read more

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Really enjoyed the tamarin margarita! Not too sweet! But not strong because i drank 3 and felt nothing! But the foods great. Good vibes! Good service! read more

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First time here, made a 530pm reservation for two. Downtown Phoenix on a Friday evening, hostesses got us checked in and seated right away. They sat two at a table for four right by the door way to the patio, there were plenty of better seats for two lovebirds. Our server was very attentive and friendly, I informed him of my food allergies and he made sure to tell me if I should order a certain food or drinks. Chips and salsa are not complimentary here, you'll need to pick and pay for it. The pork belly was delicious and plenty for one person as a main dish. Ordered the pork verde, it forked right off the bone, the salsa verde was a bit bland and lacked punches. The beets salad was amazing, minus the cream cheese, thank goodness it's on the side of the plate. Overall, I'd come back to try their Mole' and Pasole' for sure. read more

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Had a nice evening here but has some room for improvement. They have a great atmosphere with modern cantina vibes and good music. We were a little surprised they don't have corona and the queso fundido is served with soft tortillas instead of chips. Overall the food was good but not great. The salsa roja would've been delicious but the smoked paprika flavor was very overpowering for such otherwise fresh ingredients. We felt it was on the pricey side for small portion sizes of good, (but not out of this world) food. read more

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Came for a group dinner during a conference in Phoenix. Downtown was a bit quiet but this place was lively! Service was attentive. Drinks were delicious. Our group had a variety of dishes but that standouts were the duck breast and the surf and turf. Churros were delicious too. Great place for group dining. Will definitely come back next time we are in town. read more

Chico Malo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Chico Malo means bad guy in Spanish. So take that how you will. For me, I wasn't deterred. I've stopped by twice: once for drinks and once for dinner and drinks. Located downtown, this Mexican restaurant and bar is close to Stand Up Live and lots of other restaurants and bars. Parking isn't the easiest downtown. I Ubered once and parked far away on the street the other time. Ambiance (4.5/5): This is part of where Chico Malo shines. Think of it as a trendy Mexican joint. You'll see beautiful paintings on the walls. Nice decor. It makes for a nice date spot, whether you're sitting at a table or at the bar. Service (3.5/5): Luck of the draw a bit. The first time, I sat at the bar. Which should be the easiest area of a restaurant to get service. Instead, I had to track down a bartender to order another round and to get my bill. And the restaurant wasn't busy at the time. The other time, I sat at a table. Our waitress was great. She was friendly and smiled a lot. She stopped by when needed. A great job all-around. Drinks (4/5): Chico Malo has some interesting cocktails, many of them tequila or mezcal-focused, or incorporating Mexican ingredients. I've had a few cocktails and a Mexican pineapple cider. They're known for their margaritas. The drinks are a bit pricey, but it's a solid menu, overall. Food (3.5/5): To start off, the presentation was great. I went with a nice pork shank smothered in green sauce (tomatillo). It's served with a few roasted potatoes and small, fresh tortillas. The meat was tender, which is exactly what I was hoping for from a braised dish. Unfortunately, it was a bit simple. The pork needed some seasoning. The sauce helped, but it didn't save the dish. After going through my three mini tortillas, the waitress asked if I'd like some more tortillas. I took her up on her offer. Nice attentiveness there. Generous portion, it just needs a little more sizzle. If you're going to a comedy show at Stand Up Live, or a Phoenix Suns game, or you'd like to grab drinks before or after, Chico Malo makes for a convenient choice. That's one of the nice things about downtown, there are a good number of awesome bars and restaurants in the area. read more

I have to say I am very impressed with how good the food is at Chico Malo, I've walked by it sooooo many times and it was never a place that caught my eyes for anything past a drink. My coworker insisted on how good the food is and I wish I had listened sooner. Now it's one of my first choices downtown. The music they play is also great and the service is always really really good! read more

Chico Malo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I had kind of high expectations of this place. I had been here before, but it had been a while, and I really didn't remember much about it The decor is great--great lighting fixtures, murals, and tufted booths. There is a big iron candelabra on the floor at the entrance, and a really nice patio where you can see everyone at Cityscape. We waited quite some time for someone to come take our order. They have the brunch menu until 3:30, so unless we wanted eggs, our choices were few at 1:00 pm We placed our orders for green salsa and chips, and our entrees. They do charge for chips and salsa. When my friend asked for red sauce to use as a condiment on her carne asada fries, she asked if we would be charged for another order of salsa. The server said normally yes, but she would just go ahead and get it and not charge for it. Except they did charge my friend $6 for salsa to pour onto her meal. I kind of feel like a Mexican restaurant should not charge for hot sauce to put in your food. I ordered the shrimp and grits, which was just okay. The shrimp were nice and big, but overcooked and tough . Two people ordered the carne asada fries sans egg, and both said it was just okay. Friend said she needed the above-mentioned salsa to give it flavor. The last friend ordered avocado toast. She said it was fine, but there was something sweet on it that she wasn't sure if she liked. All in all, we left saying that we wouldn't race back. Perhaps it's another story at dinner time? read more

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