I recently had dinner at Cocina Chiwas as part of Taste of Tempe. I had never been to the area before and liked the vibe of the neighborhood. CC had a nice modern layout and the service was remarkable. I loved the authentic menu and had several menu items that were new to me. I went with a vegetarian tostada and elote quesadilla that was actually more like a pizza. Both items were amazing and came with sauces on the side that added some kick. The waiter was so nice to walk us through the menu and he didn't steer us wrong. I already recommended this restaurant to a friend and will be in big trouble if I don't bring my wife back soon! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Vegetarian Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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07/24/2026 ***Taste in Tempe review*** I had been wanting to try this place for a long time, so I was excited to see it on the Taste in Tempe list. Made a reservation for two at 6pm on a Friday. We each got to choose a starter, a main dish, and a dessert off of the limited menu. To start, I got the Chorizo Fundido (queso chihuahua, chorizo, salsa verde). This was so good and probably my favorite dish of the night. It had a lot of salsa verde, so it was quite tangy. My main was Al Pastor (slow roasted pork, beans, arroz de poblano, pineapple, flour tortilla). It was like a deconstructed taco. Flavor combos were great, and I loved the green sauce it came with. For dessert, I chose the Seasonal Carlotta which was chocolate hazelnut. Such a unique dessert. The texture was a bit thicker than a mousse and like an ice cream cake but not. I found myself continuing to take bites of it even though I was so full. I also got a paloma mocktail and highly recommend it. Service was good. They were getting so busy by the time we were done eating. Our server had to tell us our time was up so that they could give our table to the next reservation. So be mindful of time when you dine here. Overall I had a good time and meal here and would go back again to try more dishes. read more

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This is a fun restaurant with delicious food. A kind reminder of your idea of Mexican food is Tex Mex, that review can't be trusted. This is authentic Mexican food and it does not have yellow cheese as a seasoning or flavor! Great service at the bar! Tony was great and we were greeted when walking in the door. We went for restaurant week and the menu was fantastic. We started with the house margarita (made with sotol and tequila) and chips and guacamole. We tried the ceviche and elote. We had the ribeye tacos and chicken mole and both were great. We had the pastel elote for dessert and I definitely recommend trying it! We will definitely go back! read more

First time at Cocina Chiwas but I love Tacos Chiwas! The restaurant is beautiful and the staff were very friendly! Def recommend going during happy hour as most of the menu is on it! Don't forget dessert! I'll be back! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Went here for "taste in Tempe" and didn't realize I had driven past this place a couple times when heading to Tempe. Just like az restaurant week we were given 2 appetizer options, 3 entree options, and 2 dessert options. My friend and I both had the chorizo fundido, I had to have this cheesy goodness option but I will say it was pretty spicy! I had to excuse myself to get some tissue from the bathroom to dab at my watery eyes. I didn't care though, I kept eating it! For the entree I had the elote quesadilla, it was actually so bomb and I wish I had the stomach capacity to eat it all there because I knew it would get a little soggy sitting in a takeout box. I ate what I could and got it to go, for a quesadilla the flavors were actually pretty close to the cup of elote I usually get outside Walmart. My friend enjoyed her Al pastor taco but was surprised at the deconstructed look of it at first. She still tore it up. Last was the Carlotta's, they were really good but after all the food we had just eaten, we only got a couple bites in before calling it quits. Overall this place is lovely and in a beautiful, not necessarily easy-to-spot, location (which I think just makes it more alluring). Reservations highly recommended! read more

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I was really looking forward to my dinner reservation at Cocina Chiwas and although,overall, I had a decent meal, my expectations were much higher than my experience. Oysters- this was my favorite dish. If this was all I had I would have rated my experience much higher. Tuna crudo special- flavors were good but the tuna had way too much connective tissue and was hard to eat. Pulpo- octopus is something I'll always order but will not order this one again. Under seasoned, not balanced. Very hard to eat. I really didn't understand the upside down concept but I gave it a try. Prices- on the high side for what you get and considering the overall experience. Service- excellent. Maria was warm and authentic. read more

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Had a large party here Friday night. The patio was a perfect spot for us. Have a good selection of drinks and the server was very friendly. The salmon tostada was very good and the rice is amazing. read more

Cocina Chiwas - Salmon Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Cocina Chiwas has been on my list for AWHILE. I love some of their other concepts (Taco Chiwas is life), so it's honestly overdue for a visit here. My husband and I met some friends for an impromptu dinner date on. Friday evening. We caught an earlier time slot. My friend thought they made a last minute reservations, but alas...they did not hit the final confirm button, but upon showing up at around 5:45 they were able to fit us in. It really was not that busy yet and their patio was open, but as its heating up we were grateful to get an inside booth. The inside dining room is intimate with an open kitchen concepts. They have a lovely moody vibe with wood tones, greenery and a modern spanish touch, which I really liked. Their booths are roomy, able to fit six comfortably. I don't think they could accommodate much larger groups, perhaps outside or seperate tables, but perfect for date night or small group for sure. Ou friends had been there before and love to eat family style like us, so we really let them roll with it for the table. I started with a Trip to Chile for my cocktail, one of their house specialities - PERFECTION. I love a egg white froth, and this cocktail delivered on flavor, freshness and I understand why its a fan favorite. you also don't find pisco too much, so fun change of pace. Its really not very spicy, but just enough to scratch the itch. My husband who usually doesn't lean towards a cocktail like this, loved it and got it for his second round over his usual bourbon preferences. For the table we had: the burrata salad, wood fire elote, wood fire quesadilla, chile rellenos, their pinto bean dip & I cannot recall the name (& its not listed on the online menu) but a shrimp and jerky starter. The standouts were the burrata salad, the quesadilla and chile relleno, oh and of course the bean dip! Everything though was fabulous. So much flavor, beautifully plated, VERY generous on the cheese and the overall portions were great. I noticed on past menus they had a ceviche or aquachile, which is really what or experience missed. The shrimp dish we got was meant to be that, but honestly just did not hit the mark and personally was the only thing I would not get again. We ended the meal with their tres leches carrot cake. Still delightful, but a bit different then Taco Chiwas (unless they changed their recipe) and had more of a bread pudding consistency. It was tasty, but not a repeat for me, just a tad too dense compared to their sisters concept. Service was great. They were all on top of of water, offering drinks, clearing plates and overall a very smooth and great experience. Overall consensus, It will definitely be part of our date night rotation, they continue to bring quality and fabulous flavors in all their concepts and Cocina Chiwas is no exception. I look forward to having a few repeats and trying some new options when I visit again. read more

Cocina Chiwas - Bean dip - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Cocina Chiwa is an absolute gem and dare I say, I enjoyed more than sister restaurant, Bacanora. Every bite here is bursting with flavor and creativity. We started with the elote corn, and wow -- it was smoky, creamy, and perfectly charred. One of the best I've had. The burrata salad was a surprising standout -- the combo of velvety burrata with roasted squash and sweet potatoes was both comforting and refreshing. The carnitas tacos were Juicy, tender pork with bold seasoning, nestled in warm blue corn tortillas...3 of them.. So simple, so perfect. They hit all the right notes. Vibe? Chill, stylish, and full of good energy. Service? Friendly and fast. Cocina Chiwa has that magic mix of great food, great people, and great atmosphere. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Originally tried to go to sister restaurant Espiritu on a Saturday night without a res. Unfortunately they were not able to seat us, but lucky for us, a direct shot on Main/Apache12 minutes away Cocina Chiwas. I've been to Tacos Chiwas before. In my honest opinion, I thought it was overrated, but Cocina Chiwas is on a different level. Its Bacanora collaboration is on display instantly, as only a whiff of the mesquite grill as I stepped in. Multiple menu options sounded amazing: we chose 3- the elote (which if you've been to Bacanora, you know), birria quesedilla , and burrata salad. I equally loved them all. I've never had a short rib I didn't love, but to be completely honest, this bone in, shareable dish was a little fattier and tougher vs what I like. The accompanying rissoto or farro? Was great as well. Great experience, cool area, trendy spot which look like it was built from pre- fab / sustainable materials. I'd definitely recommend read more

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Three of us went here to try the restaurant week menu at my daughters insistence. She had been telling us it is a highly touted, consistently high rated restaurant known for its flavors and such so we make the long drive to Tempe. The food was just plain excellent. Wow, what a surprise. I probably expected something else but the choices we made kept blowing me away. The starter we had, Roasted Beets with Greek yogurt/honey crema, crushed pistachios, was something I could have eaten all night. For the meal the Ceviche and Elote as starters were both stars. I ate both and couldn't decide which was better as both were packed with flavor. Our main courses, Mole Chiwas and Ribeye tacos were both fantastic. I've never had better Mole and I am old as H and have had it many times. The presentation/plating of the food was outstanding as well. Our server, Magdalena, was so helpful and enthusiastic I thought she was an owner or family member! In my view you MUST eat here. read more

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Excellent service at the bar from Mike and Brennon tonight. Everything was delicious and they even made me a special birthday drink. Highly recommend dining in at a table and especially the bar! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Our family was in town visiting from Fort Worth, Texas. Our daughter-in-law loves Mexican food. We saw this restaurant on the show Check Please! and thought we would give it a try. Disappointment cannot begin to tell you how we felt! The appetizers started off strong, but it went all downhill after that. There were five of us and neither of us liked our entrées. I had the pork chop and I found it to be dry and somewhat flavorless. My husband had the pork belly and he sent it back because it was way too done! Our daughter-in-law had the Carnitas and she was not thrilled with them either. The grilled oysters for our appetizers were lit. The bread was fantastic. And the corn Elote was also very good. But the entrées had a lot to be desired. It was almost as though they were trying to do too much and they forgot to season their food. The presentation was nice, but it lacked flavor. When you think of Mexican food, you think of bold flavors and we did not get any of that. read more

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This was outstanding. Starting with the host, who was also our server...she was outstanding. Kind and spent a lot of time walking us through dishes, including their ingredients and flavor profiles. The food was outstanding. The guacamole was flavorful and full of fresh ingredients. At the recommendation of the server, we got the ceviche with white fish. Unreal. In fact, it was the best we have had. My daughter got the birria quesadilla, and her quote was the best I have ever had. I had the mole chicken dish, and I appreciate that it wasn't canned. The mole was not sweet and had just enough spice to make it a must for anyone who loves flavor. Yes, there are a lot of bests, but being a native Arizonan, you know great Mexican food when you taste it. This is a must. read more

The food is decent, but I probably wouldn't return. First off, there's ample parking behind the restaurant--just be sure to read the sign carefully to check when free parking is available. The interior is stylish and upscale, which set high expectations. However, I was taken aback by the menu prices. Don't get me wrong--I don't mind paying a premium for fresh seafood, sushi, or a high-quality steak, but $26 for a small portion (I believe it was around 8 or 10 small pieces) of pork belly felt excessive. If you pay $26 to a Korean restaurant, they will fill your stomach with a lot more pork belly that your stomach will be about to explode. Our server was friendly and nice. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, but in my experience, it doesn't feel like a Mexican spot. read more

Cocina Chiwas - Cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Came on a Saturday morning for brunch to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday. i appreciated the touch of bringing g a letter board to our table with Feliz cumpleanos on it to make her feel special. The food was fantastic, you really can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. My friend was treated with Horchata ice cream and was the perfect way to end our meal. read more

Amazing food. Amazing drinks. But the cherry on top was the service. Tony was hands down the best server I've ever had. You can tell how much he loves his job by the service he provides. An amazing experience. We will be back, and we will be telling everyone about this place! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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This place is awesome! I love their atmosphere, it's cozy and romantic, and their food is yummy! My friends and I got to try grilled elote, fried pork belly, quesadilla and everything was so good. I especially loved elote so much, perfectly grilled and the sauce was the bomb. Fried pork was super crunchy and grains came with it was satisfying. And quesadilla, it was cheesy and the meat was soft and flavorful. Can't wait to come back and try their other food! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Best taco de papas in town. Delicious food, good service, and a modern yet warm ambience. read more

Cocina Chiwas - Taco de papa - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We initially wanted to go to Espíritu but the place was packed so we decided to come here. I am glad that happened because otherwise we would have missed out. Even though they have been opened for a bit and it's been on my try list I had not made it down to Tempe to try it. We had an early dinner around 6 pm and the place wasn't busy. We were seated right away. Service was good and fast. We shared a few appetizers and they were all a hit. I loved the burrata salad and the elote the most. My husband and I shared the short rib and although it was tasty it was probably my least favorite out of all the things we tried - I think it was a little too fatty for my liking. read more

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I hate to give it only three stars, but as being well known for having some of the best Mexican food in town, the expectation was high. The service, ambiance, and live music were top notch, but the food was a let down. The birria quesadilla was just ok, the flavor or the meat tasted of regular "pot roast". The mole in the chicken thigh with polenta was overly salty and the polenta had a strong hard cheese aftertaste that pairs better with Italian cuisine. The chile in the mole had a nice taste to it, but the subtleties of the different notes of a mole were missing or hiding with the saltiness. The taco ribeyes were on the smaller side, and while I appreciated the handmade blue corn tortillas, the fillings didn't really wow us. We don't mind paying for higher prices, but since the food was nothing spectacular, I don't see us coming back. I wanted to love this place, maybe we can come back just for some drinks and the music. read more

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Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! So welcoming and comfortable. Service was fantastic start to finish. We went for restaurant week and they went above and beyond. We had Elote and Ceviche. Both delicious and perfect for sharing. The chips with the ceviche were fantastic and addicting. Dinner was chicken mole and ribeye steak street tacos. Both excellent. The mole with polenta was perfect to scoop up with the leftover chips and our fingers. Dessert was a to die for sweet corn cake and mango ice cream. We had the best time and can't wait to go back! Our waiter Josh was funny and helpful. We literally told him whatever he suggests, we will try. The food was that good read more

Every single thing about this spot was amazing!! Atmosphere is modern but comfortable, service was awesome. We sat on the patio which was lovely, well lit and had misters. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos since I visited for a work dinner but so happy we were able to bring some out of towners to try this wonderful restaurant. The server let us know it was a good idea to order a few plates and share so that's what we did. We had the elote, roasted veggies, birria quesadilla, chicharrón and chicken mole. There wasn't one dish that wasn't absolutely delicious. Probably the best elote I've ever tasted! It was funny how the group went from embarrassed to eat corn on the cob in front of colleagues to asking for seconds. I love tacos Chiwas and even though the menu was upscale and far from what you experience at the local taco shop, the flavor and food was just as good, if not better. I can't wait to bring new friends back for more! read more

The birria quesadilla is a must! I tried the pork shoulder with beans and corn tortillas, my husband ordered the chile relleno - both dishes were flavorful and seasoned perfectly. I tried the piña colada - disclaimer it's not blended, but it was tasty. Very nice flavors going on with that drink. The atmosphere is modern and picturesque- I love all the desert touches throughout the establishment. Server Edgar was great, attentive yet chill. Looking forward to returning. read more

Cocina Chiwas - Pork shoulder and chile relleno - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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First and foremost, the food is EXCELLENT! My wife and I share the salsa trio, guacamole and chips and it was fresh, delicious and truly unique. The open faced birria, wood fired quesadilla was beyond measure and comparison. Our server was very hospitable, accommodating, patient, knowledgeable and very attentive! read more

We made a reservation and got there a bit early so we got to walk about this nice car-free community. When we got the table and hear about their special, we ordered it right away. The shrimps are perfectly cooked and seasoned, the green paste that comes with them is super complement the tasty shrimps. Oysters are so fresh and delicious. Chile con queso is the best! I love all kind of chiles and veggies in the creamy (not too creamy) sauce. I could not stop dipping chips into this queso. The sweet corn panna coat is so delicious and looks loving in pink plate. read more

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Stumbled into this place by luck! Ordered and enjoyed their bloody Maria. I thought the carne seca was awesome twist from the regular bacon. Also enjoyed their avocado toast, which was delicious as well. Great environment! Good music selection! Not too loud where you can't hear the person next to you! Josh was a great and attentive bar engineer! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Bloody Maria and Avocado Toast - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I've been wanting to try the much hyped Cocina Chiwas since it opened. We somehow managed a last minute reservation on a weekend. FYI, indoor seating is reservation only. There's a small patio for walk ins. The building is sleek modern angled glass. We ordered the elote and oysters for apps. I got a chili relleno for an entree. Partner got the emmoladas. He had sangria and raved about it. I was appreciative for an NA beer option. The elote was amazing. They grill it over mesquite and it was really truly perfect. By far the best thing we got. The oysters were on the briney side, which I tend to like and on the small side, which I also tend to like. The salmon roe was interesting texture wise but I felt like with the brine from the oysters, it ended making a salty bite. I got shell in one of the oysters which is never pleasant. The relleno was just okay. The batter was too heavy. The tomato sauce was a bit bland. Twice I got crunchy bits that I convinced myself were pepitas but I think were really just seeds. I will say the globs of crema/requeson on top were incredible. My partner's mole was really good. I think it was too spicy for him but I thought it was great. We got a chunk of carrot cake for dinner that was solid. The service was good. Lots of check ins. Let me preface this--we went on a day with a heat advisory--but the A/C was not keeping up. The high ceiling and the wood fire grill made for an uncomfortably hot room. So on whole, I'm glad we tried Cocina Chiwas. It was a fun date night. Probably not a regular stop for us, but I do feel like it would be fun to come back for a drink and to work our way through some of the appetizers. read more

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USA Today said this was one of the best restaurants and wowzah! I can see why. A group of six of us came for a Saturday dinner and it was great. Hats off to Diane M. (go add her!) for gathering us up for such a lovely meal. We shared the Guacamole ($16 - Aguacate, EVOO, Red Onion, Lime Juice, Tomato, Cilantro, Queso Cotija & Totopos) to start. You can't go wrong with a classic guacamole. The chips were the thin cantina style which buckled under the weight of the good green stuff but these are the kind of chips I like with guacamole. For my dish, I ordered the Special of the Week, Farrotto ($24 - Batter fried Soft-Shell Crab, Farrotto [Farro based risotto] kale & mushroom cream base, Salsa Macha XO, roasted lemon, parmigiano reggiano). Seriously, it's one of my top two bites of 2024 so far. The soft shell crab was excellent and crispy and the farrotto is something I will be singing from the rooftops about. Even while typing this and eating the leftovers, my tastebuds are still happy eating this reheated version of the Farrotto. No notes! I also tried the Chicharron ($22 - Roasted Pork Belly served on Salsa Verde, White Rice & Crema). This dish is really something. While I can admit the rice isn't anything to write home about, it's all about the pork belly on salsa verde. The bite of the pickled onions helped cut through the richness of the dish. Excellent flavor combination on an eye-catching plate. I had two cocktails as well: Pina Colada ($14 - Charanda, velvet falernum, creme de coconut, fresh lime juice, fresh pineapple juice) and Un Cafecito ($16 - Espresso infused bacanora, coffee liqueur, Cafe de olla simple, coffee bitters topped with star anise zest). While my pina colada was a delightful drink, I must admit that I passed my un cafecito off to Mike D. because the smokiness of the drink wasn't to my liking. Beware, a lot of their drinks are smoky. So why not five-stars? As much as I enjoyed our charming waiter, Jordan, his manager didn't allow us to split the bill three ways. There was also a weird persistence in splitting the bill four ways that didn't make sense given that we were three couples. Note: 90-minute tables and reservations are highly recommended. read more

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I really want to give more stars because our server was so polite and clearly overwhelmed but I also feel like I need to be accurate and a 4 is just too high... again, yelp, give me half stars! Anyway, after waiting about 45 min for a table (plenty empty but again I suspect a staffing issue) we were seated and ordered drinks. They took 15 minutes to come out. We then ordered food and (decent wait here as well) never got one of our items. Honestly it was a happy accident because we ordered far too much (portion sizes are large!) but still worth mentioning. The food itself was quite good if not a bit lacking for vegetarian options, but the overall experience missed the mark, especially for the higher price point. There's real promise here, but at least my experience missed the mark. read more

My friend and I hadn't been to this part of Tempe in years. OMG it's changed all for the better and this neighborhood gem: Cocina Chiwas was excellent in all aspects, atmosphere, food and service. I had made 6:00 Saturday evening dinner reservation in advance. Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated. The restaurant is small. The atmosphere is fresh modern, good vibe and along with a nice patio seating area. We ordered a Chiwarita while looking over the menu. All the dishes are served family style which I love. We ordered the Ceviche Misto to start. Entrees were the Chicharron and the Asada De Puerco. All the dishes looked and tasted fantastic. The flavors all blended so nicely together. The previous week we had dined at Espiritu in Mesa, similar food, though Cocina may have more menu items to choose from. I would definitely make a reservation and dine here again. Loved it! Atmosphere: fresh modern, open. Service: very good. Food: excellent read more

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Cute place! We were sat in the back next to the kitchen. The service was good.... Everything brought out at a reasonable pace, water was self refill via water pitcher, cocktails were good. Now... The food... The ceviche was delicious. It has a nice kick to it and had plenty of shrimp and octopus. I wish there were more "chips" (fried tortilla) to go with it as there was a lot. The quesadilla was mouthwatering good. I would definitely recommend it and would get it again. The enmoladas were SPICY. It had some good flavors but the spice was definitely what was left in your mouth. I wouldn't get it again... But it was our server's favorite dish... The Costillas de Res aka Korean style short ribs were amazing. I would definitely get them again. They were the star of the night. The tacos were also delicious and the carnitas was cooked perfectly. We did get a dessert to share... But it wasn't amazing. We were celebrating my friend's 40th and maybe I've become accustomed to it.. but usually nicer places will give the birthday person a free dessert. This location does not do that. Overall 4 out of 5 stars. It was good but I wouldn't say "you HAVE to try this place!" If I were to go again, I'd get the quesadilla and the Korean short ribs again. read more

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We scored a weekend dinner table to try out Cocina Chiwas. Inside there's only a handful of tables but a decent number of seats at the bar. There's also a patio space but it's already far too hot out for that. I got a red sangria and it was really tasty! There was some mystery flavor there that worked really well. Not sure if it was the rosemary or maybe some almond in there but it was a very smooth sangria. For the appetizer, I got the elote and any elote I ever eat again will be compared to this one. The sweet corn and mesquite from the grill are an awesome combination. The sauce on top is some kinda mayo and lime. So you get great sweetness from the corn, mesquite flavors, creaminess and citrus acidity all in each bite and it's the best thing I have eaten in a while. Main course: enmoladas. From my pedestrian perspective, these are chicken enchiladas with molé. I must have missed it on the menu but this molé is packing some heat. It's flavorful but more heat than I am usually looking for. Otherwise it was good. Dessert was tres leches carrot cake. Very good and heavy, but the carrot cake part of it just didn't seem to combine with the other flavors very well. It's good but disjointed. Overall the food and service was great. Would go again. Might go again just for elote. read more

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Beautiful restaurant, amazing food, great service! We decided to sit at the bar, and the bartender was so wonderful to talk to! She gave us wonderful recommendations and I got a "choose your own adventure" drink that was to die for! Will definitely be returning. Thank you Maggie! read more

I went to Cocina Chiwas a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday and was very excited to try it based on some recommendations from friends. Unfortunately, the service our table received was very bad and put a damper on the experience. We waited almost 15 minutes for water, and drinks from the bar (beer and/or mixed drinks) took almost 30 minutes. The restaurant was close to empty inside and I could see the bartender talking with our server while our table was out of water & drinks. Hopefully this was just an off day for the server and not a typical experience for customers. The food was good, I especially liked the Chicharron which was cooked perfectly and paired with a delicious crema that I could eat with anything! The wood fired quesadilla wasn't my favorite with the birria meat on top, styled like a pizza. Could be for others but this dish wasn't for me. The empanadas were delicious, I wish I had gotten a picture of this dish because it was fantastic as well! read more

Cocina Chiwas - Chicharron - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

AWESOME !!! If you are looking for a great Place to eat on Tempe or around Tempe this place it's worth your time driving to, me and my husband had been trying to find a good place to enjoy a meal for a while, I will be honest didn't had any luck until today, to start the service it's very nice we sat at the bar and the bartender it was very nice and talkative, we ordered the Wood Fired Quesadilla and the Tacos de Carnitas, both place are AMAZING, great flavors beautiful presentation and the portions are just right, they also have an Amazing Salsa, my only complaint it will be they don't have chips and salsa on the menu but other than that the place is wonderful we will definitely come back !!! My Regards to the Chef's the taste is amazing!!! read more

I love this place! Cocina Chiwas is known for their upscale Mexican food. The food here is really pretty looking. I frequent their Tacos Chiwas locations quite often and have been wanting to check this place out. The restaurant itself is in a building in a car-free neighborhood with glass walls, an open patio section, open kitchen and a large cactus mural on the side of the building. They are open for dinner only. I came in for some light bites one early evening with some friends. Even though the owners are known for their tacos, the menu has other items like quesadillas, salads, short ribs, chiles rellenos and empanadas. I'm a huge elote fan. The Wood Fire Roasted Elote here is covered in lime-sparked chile mayo and dusted with cotija and was very tasty. The Birria Quesadilla resembles a Mexican pizza and is topped with juicy shredded beef birria. I ordered a horchata for my beverage. Cocina Chiwas has a brunch menu on the weekend. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made on their website. Parking is free for the first two hours. read more

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Ok so this is a really simple review: good, but expensive. The food is very good and so are the drinks. The service is great- they will literally make the guacamole fresh, right in front of you. The ambiance is ideal for a small neighborhood spot- it's like a fine dining experience built into the neighborhood... The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is the bill. It's very tasty, authentic Mexican cuisine, but be prepared to sell a kidney for a dinner for two. read more

I'd give this more of a 3.5/5. The restaurant itself was cute and I liked sitting by the open kitchen but I thought the food was just OK. The guacamole was good, but the queso was "difficult" to eat. I think most of our group had been expecting a queso sauce to dip our chips in, but this was just melted cheese that we had to break apart and position atop the chip. The roasted veggies in the queso had good flavor though. I ordered the bone marrow/carne asada tacos for my entree, and the plate was good but not worth the price point. The bone marrow was either cooked through and hard in some areas or just non/existent; I really only had about a spoonful of edible bone marrow from the whole bone on the plate. The carne asada tacos were good but nothing special--I could probably get similar tacos for a lower price point somewhere else. The service was fine. Overall the staff were very nice but our specific waiter seemed to forget what he was going to ask every time he came over. He also offered to split the bill at the end (5 ways) but then split it improperly and said he forgot who had what drinks, etc. I know places aren't obligated to split the check, it was just a little odd that he knew they were a little off and still gave them to us. read more

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Had a great dinner at Cocina Chiwas with some girlfriends! The parking is easy with a large lot towards the back and the restaurant itself is a cute trendy spot. It's the perfect location to grab a nice dinner and they also accept reservations. Overall the food/drinks were a tasty with some favorites and certain items we would've skipped. Our group started with some drinks and I thought my Paloma was perfect. The Chiwarita was a bit strong and earthy and the Pina Colada was surprisingly not blended. For appetizers, we ordered the guacamole and chile con queso. The guacamole was excellent but the chile con queso was a bit different than expected --the cheese is simply melted over onions and peppers. We probably would skip this one next time. For my entree, the shrimp and polenta was done well and tasty. However, we sat next to the open kitchen and could smell some other meats roasting over the open fire so I would definitely order one of those proteins instead next time--the smell was amazing! Overall, our group enjoyed their food. The price point is a bit on the higher side for the location but it didn't seem unreasonable. Service was also good throughout the meal. Conveniently located off the 101 in Tempe and in a cute new area, I would definitely recommend Cocina Chiwas and will be back! read more

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