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El Tlacoyo

4.2 (82 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Closed • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

El Tlacoyo Photos

Business Info

EL TLACOYO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Casual
Good for kids

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a bowl of soup and a plate of meat
Inty M.

My daughter and I just visited El Tlacoyo for the first time and we had an amazing experience Starting with the service, we were greeted and sat quickly, chips and salsas were brought as soon as we sat. The red and green salsas were spicy and tasty. I had a mezcal drink that was spicy and refreshing. To eat we started with the barbacoa, super tender and flavorful (came with cilantro, onion, lime), lamb soup with hominy (bomb) and Guarache ! Everything was fresh, authentic and seasoned! Would recommend anyone to come and try this amazing food!!!

Menu August 2023
Robyn V.

Came back and had the exact green Chile beef burrito lunch I've had a few times before, and although be service is GREAT and the burrito was tasty - it was a bit smaller, included rice and beans were a bit less, and it no longer comes with the small side of guacamole - but the PRICE RAISED from $7 up to $11.44! Ouch. That's pricing for a much nicer restaurant, not a little fast food place. Also there was loud tv on in the kitchen (playing some soap opera with lots of crying/whining and laughing), and different tv (playing loud sports) on in the dining room and I couldn't wait to finish and get out of there quickly. Lastly, my first review talked about how cute it was on the inside. They freshly painted everything white and got rid of all the decor, so now it's pretty bland.

Burrito
Amanda C.

You know this place is authentic when you walk in and you're the only non Latinos dining in! We came on a Saturday for lunch and it was a full house. Super friendly and patient staff. They do not skimp on onions, lime, and cilantro!! Salsas are really spicy. Chips were good. We ordered a burrito and 3 tacos. My husband normally does not like beans and he loved his side of beans!! While the meat can be a bit dry I didn't mind as the toppings and salsas helped. We were super full and had leftovers! Can't wait to return to try more menu items, esp the carne asada plate!

Yadira C.

We always love the food here! Authentic Mexican cuisine. The mushroom soup is my favorite as well as the lamb soup and the Chile relleno and micheladas. Always leave full and satisfied with the great flavors of Mexico City!

Old French fries and dry hard nuggets
Lorena B.

Disgusting. Reheated old food. My toddlers fries were rotten and the nuggets were dry and hard. My torta had old carne asada.

Quesadilla Huitlacoche

Food was delicious as always. Try the hitlacoche for something different and tasty. Coffee has cinnamon and I love it.

Mikey R.

This place felt pretty authentic. The meat had good flavor but was dry. The tortillas are store bought. The salsa they give you for chips and salsa is really more just hot sauce. They know how to do cilantro and onions though. They do not skimp on cilantro and onions.

Huitiacoche Cheese Crisp
Laura A.

El Tiacoyo is not your usual Mexican Restaurant. It's Hidalgo Regional Cuisine. That means you can order things like cow foot tacos, cactus soup, head meat tacos, sausage and intestine tacos, huitiacoche cheese crisp, barbacoa, mixotes and so much more! They have weekend specials this past weekend it was lamb tacos but on past visits I saw goat and brain tacos. They start you off with chips and a creamy green very spicy sauce thats very good and a smokey red sauce that's also good and less spicy. We got the huitiacoche (also known as corn smut or Mexican Truffle) cheese crisp. It's not the Americanized watered down version it's the real stuff. Very earthy and interesting. From what I tried so far from here I've found that they do very good fish dishes here very reasonably priced. They don't use that cheap tilapia or muddy tasting swai fish like other places use. From the two fish dishes I tasted it seems like a very fresh sweet snapper kind of fish. This time I tried what they called grilled fish. When I saw it I thought they gave me the wrong thing because I received an aluminum envelope filled with very moist very fresh tasting fish cooked in juices from tomato and onions and a little butter. By looking at the envelope I think they cooked it on the grill. This dish came with average rice and beans and tortillas. My husband tried the chicken enchiladas, They were made with very fresh tasting chicken and were or mostly were just filled with chicken. The green chili sauce that topped them was very heavy with lime juice. I should mention that this place is not fancy and is very raw looking so you only come here for the food and not the ambiance. It's also hard to see from the street because it's located behind another building. 4.5 stars I didn't round up to 5 because of the average rice and beans and lack of atmosphere

Gross

Disgusted. There was rotted meat in the order and also a French fry that looked like it came from a rotten potato.

Aaron C.

In a locale full of hard core and amazing authentic Mexican food. This spot nestled off University and Evergreen provides you that experience. No frills and wholly affordable with all of the traditional drinks of Horchata and Jamaica. Then traditional and tasty cuts that you get with ethnic Mexican food with Lengua and Buche tacos and that I ordered. The Lengua was chopped up enough for anyone that's squeamish. The Buche tacos were also amazing...yum.

Quesadillas de huitlacoche and flor de calabaza. A gordita de chicharron on the back.
Leticia Z.

This place is really authentic! Not only are the quesadillas really good, we also had the tlacoyos, sopa de papa and on my previous trip I had barbacoa de Borrego. My daughter never finishes her food and this time she finished her entire bowl of soup. The owner is very friendly and a really nice lady! I'm definitely going back!

Dining room
Amanda W.

El Tlacoyo is a quaint, homey restaurant located in Tempe, AZ just east of the 101 north bound. The atmosphere of this cozy restaurant is casual and relaxing. Soft music plays on the speakers while TV shows play on a low volume. It is comfortable and offers opportunities for conversation or distraction during your meal. The food at El Tlacoyo is authentic and flavorful. They offer you chips and two types of salsa, salsa verde and chipoltle salsa, right as you take your seat, and both varieties are delicious! The menu offers a large selection of Mexican cuisine from the more familiar chicken enchilada to tacos tripa (intestines!). The food mirrors the flavors found from the northern border states of Mexico to the tropical southern tip. Everything, fromm tacos to tequila shots, is priced well and arrives to the table quickly. If you are looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant to try, visit El Tlacoyo.

Menu shot 1
Kate K.

I am afraid to write this review, for fear of it becoming super busy! If you are coming here for the decor you will be disappointed. But if you are coming for some amazing food (and aren't a spice wuss), you will be blown away. The service from the lone female server is always sweet and quick, despite a bit of a language barrier (...if you're a silly gringo who only speaks English, that is). I shy away from meats, including the more interesting offerings here, but anything I've had that is vegetarian, or vegetarian after my slight adjustments to the menu, are delish. Annoyingly closed on Wednesdays. Bonus: keep up to date on your telenovelas while you dine!

Huarache with with cactus

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9 years ago

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Taco Chelo - Carne asada tacos

Taco Chelo

4.7(169 reviews)
3.0 mi
•$

Everything !! Start with chips and salsa plus some…read moreguacamole! 2 Sonoran tacos One costra Taco de carnitas Margarita And finished with a tres leches

I used to live in Phoenix, and I tried this place for the first time literally the same week I was…read moremoving to Denver. Out of all the restaurants I had before leaving Arizona, THIS ended up being one of the places I couldn't stop thinking about after I moved away. Ever since leaving, I've randomly craved these tacos constantly. I've tried other taco spots in Denver hoping something would compare, but honestly nothing really hit the same. So when I came back out to Phoenix recently to visit some friends, this was one of the first places I knew I needed to come back to because I had built it up so much in my head over time. And somehow... it was just as good again. The meat tastes incredibly fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned, and you can literally watch them prepare everything right in front of you, which makes the whole experience even better. There's something so satisfying about seeing the tacos being made fresh instead of food just appearing from the kitchen. You can tell they care about quality and consistency. The servers were also super friendly and welcoming both times I came here, which honestly makes such a difference. Everyone had great energy, the service was quick, and the whole place just feels inviting and authentic. I honestly think the fact that I remembered this place so vividly for so long says everything. Usually when you revisit a restaurant after hyping it up in your head for years, it ends up disappointing you. But this place tasted exactly how I remembered it, fresh, flavorful, comforting, and absolutely worth the obsession. Safe to say this place is officially a mandatory stop for me anytime I'm back in Phoenix now.

Photos
Taco Chelo - Really cool vibe inside

Really cool vibe inside

Taco Chelo - Costra Taco - get it!!!

Costra Taco - get it!!!

Taco Chelo - Piña Colada Agua Fresca - very tasty

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Piña Colada Agua Fresca - very tasty

Anayas - Beer battered fish on top of a cilantro lime rice

Anayas

4.3(198 reviews)
5.6 mi
•$$

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately it was a total flop. We ordered a kids…read moreburrito, ceviche and another burrito. Their ceviche was good but I don't recommend eating it with the tostadas they serve it with. It was better with their table chips. The price doesn't justify the portion of it. The serving was very small and you should honestly be getting more than that. The burritos were sadly not memorable. How can you mess up a burrito?! It wasn't very busy either to have an inattentive waiter either. I don't know if it was maybe an off day to come in? But I won't be returning.

I'm an Arizona native, and a self proclaimed Mexican Food snob…read more Añayas is in a strip mall behind a Circle K, so it's easy to overlook, but it's a true gem of the neighborhood! It's quaint, never a wait, and it has become our family go-to. We always have wonderful service and great meals with freshly prepared ingredients. The shrimp dishes are incredible, remnant of Puerto Peñasco with shrimp that "pops" (if you know good shrimp, you know what I mean!) They have Negra Modelo on draught (hard to find that!), and their margaritas are delish. You can't go wrong with chimichangas or combo platters! They have moles on the menu but we typically opt for more traditional Sonoran style. If you are on the search for amazing traditional Mexican food in South Tempe - you found your spot!

Photos
Anayas - Bar area

Bar area

Anayas - Weekly special

Weekly special

Anayas - Restaurant

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Restaurant

Taqueria Mi Casita - A huuuge quesadilla!

Taqueria Mi Casita

4.4(761 reviews)
6.1 mi
•$$

I've been in a couple of times now and I think their tacos are so delicious! Their tortillas are…read moreeven softer than most places I've been. Some of my favorite tacos are their Cabeza, Buche, and Asada. I also think their menudo on the weekend is fantastic too! Service is always fantastic, whenever we come in they always remember my boyfriend and say hi to him. Lol The restaurant is cute, alot of collected items throughout the place and somehow it just goes well.

I had a very late 30min lunch break (around 2:30 in the afternoon) so I stopped by this place next…read moreto my work. I tried it years ago but didn't remember much about it...had to be an upgrade from Taco Bell on the same corner. Luckily the place was dead and was able to place my order right away. The service was friendly and quick. I ordered a taco plate (w/ rice and beans) with 3 different tacos (al pastor, pollo and cabeza). They have a Pepsi fountain so I skipped a drink and had water. I looked around at all the decorations and flair in the building...quite unique! My plate came out quick and looked pretty, especially with the radish garnish. However, nothing on the plate wowed me. The tacos, rice and beans were all quite bland. The meats just didn't have the flavors I was expecting. Nothing was bad...but just not a place I see myself coming back to.

Photos
Taqueria Mi Casita - Lots of seating inside

Lots of seating inside

Taqueria Mi Casita - Cabeza nachos!!

Cabeza nachos!!

Taqueria Mi Casita - Interior has a lot of flair

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Interior has a lot of flair

Los Sombreros

Los Sombreros

4.3(394 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$

My dad, my boyfriend, and I went to dinner at Los Sombreros tonight and it was fantastic. Our…read moreserver said they were the only one working tonight and that they'd take care of us, and they sure did. The parking lot outside was parking so we thought we may have to wait, but inside was not busy yet and we were seated immediately. I ordered the smoked chicken enchilada as I saw it was a Yelp favorite and it was delicious. I ended up taking half of it home since we all filled up on chips and salsa before our meal. This restaurant is decorated so cutely. I love how there is a Baja influence with all the surf boards but also southwest appeal. There is plenty of seating and tables for big groups. Even with other people yapping around us, the noise level was perfect to enjoy company. 10/10 would recommend.

This restaurant is MUST visit! We enjoyed some delicious drinks, entrees, and an app! We were…read moreseated immediately upon arriving in their super cute space; there was both indoor and outdoor options on a Sunday evening! There were heaters available if we needed them, as we sat outside. Our amazing and friendly server offered to turn the heaters on for us, but we didn't need them. I enjoyed a Oaxacan Old Fashioned (on the sweeter side, but that's what I like), we had the Elote (BEST I'VE EVER HAD), and I also had the Carne A La Tampiquena. Everything tasted amazing and was served fresh and in a timely manner. We will most certainly be back (and you should visit, too!)!

Photos
Los Sombreros
Los Sombreros
Los Sombreros

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El Jefe Tacos

El Jefe Tacos

4.1(410 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$
Kitchen open late
Vegetarian friendly

Food was exceptionally flavorful and seasoned well. We ordered the ramen, tacos, and the Phoenix…read moreroll. We went to here as they were one of the late night spots still open. *This along with a hibiscus drink (large) and a cola! Approximately 50$. * Service was simple, kind, order at the register- type of spot. Ambiance wasn't busy for a Sunday night but the vibes were there, and I can imagine they get busy and can handle a lot with the seating options they have.

I've been ordering from El Jefe in Tempe for the last 4 to 5 years as we live fairly close. We love…read morethe tacos especially with doing the family meal for street tacos! The meats are so good. We also use to love the sushi side. During Covid, we tried the sushi for the first time. We were hesitant as it's a Mexican joint, right? Not a Japanese specialty shop. So to my surprise, I couldn't believe the sushi especially the Las Vegas roll and their Nigiri cuts were pretty dang good. My disappointment seems to be this last year with the sushi just hasn't been the best or fresh tasting. The Las Vegas roll was always nice and warm but with an awesome cold center and fried to perfection and the sauce just right. Lately it's been the opposite. Super over fried were all you can taste is old burnt oil and it dried out and the sauce just bland and not helping at all. The other thing that bothers us is the lack of wasabi they give! If you're not going to give us full flavor, at least give more wasabi to help mask. I will say they give you plenty of soy sauce packets (just barely any wasabi).

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El Jefe Tacos
El Jefe Tacos
El Jefe Tacos - El jefe box

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El jefe box

El Tlacoyo - mexican - Updated May 2026

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