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    Tacos Calafia - Downtown

    4.4 (252 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Tacos Calafia - Downtown Photos

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    TACOS CALAFIA - DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Carne asada and al pastor tacos. Delicous.
    Rob K.

    Delicous tacos. Got the #1 combo 4 tacos and drink. Carne asada and al pastor were very good. Great salsas to try. The place is nice and clean with plenty of seats. Service was fast and friendly. Best tacos in downtown Phoenix

    Vanessa H.

    Awesome tacos! Ordered carne asada tacos to-go when I was starving and late for dinner a few days ago. Ordering online was easy. The carne asada tacos come with pineapple! Didn't expect that. Next to the pick up area in the restaurant, there is a salsa bar with all of the fixings. I got green salsa, onion and cilantro, and limes. A little bit of each on the tacos was super tasty! I really enjoyed these and will absolutely be back for more.

    Petra V.

    Good taco spot, my favorite part of this place is the tortillas. But you have to eat there while it's fresh and it tastes the best. Their burritos are also huge and good! Can't go wrong with anything you get from the menu.

    Frank T.

    Meh. Self service too slow. $4 for a small bag of chips. Queso was jut melted Velveeta. Quesadilla was nice and tasty and big. Tacos good. Ok meat amount but not coming back. Way better joints cheaper and tastier. This one you are paying for the location. Not coming back.

    Two tacos Taco Asada and two Taco al Pastor with extra pineapple
    Allie N.

    We came here for a quick lunch on one of our free days visiting downtown Phoenix. Parking was easy as we lucked out that someone was just leaving as we pulled up. Otherwise, if you come when it's busy, you'd probably have to find a spot around the block. When we walked in, we were amazed at how huge the restaurant was. However, my favorite part of the whole experience was their self-serve salsa and guacamole bar. I went crazy even before our food was ready and stocked up on salsas and guacamole and the onions and cilantro blend as I know I'm a maximalist and submerge my food in things like that. My boyfriend and I shared a few things family style which included the al pastor nachos, the al pastor vampira taco, and an order of four regular tacos (2 asada and 2 pastor). Coming from California, we're used to having incredible tacos and similar foods but this place was so good and tasted so fresh. It was all well balanced and the amount of meat they gave was incredible for the value. If I were to return to Phoenix, I'd definitely make the stop back here again. It's great for large groups too!

    Another carne asada beautiful view
    Sarah G.

    I have gl to taco shop is officially this place! I eexpwdiwnced it this past week and I'm so shocked I had never heard of it before. The service is so quick and the carne asada tacos on flour tortillas are the best! They offer great combos! I got the 3 tacos and a drink! The tacos were so good that I had to go up and order one additional tacos. I also liked how they offered the salsa service bar. The onion and cilantro with the green salsa and guacamole are a delicious combo for your tastebuds.

    Protein bowl
    Katelyn L.

    UH YUM ! Went here with some friends blindly and really hyped it up because of the reviews. Thank god it was everything I wanted and more because that would have been a flop & embarrassing if it was bad. I got the chicken taco bowl and that thing was like 3 pounds. There's a topping/salsa bar and I LOADED it up with gauc/salsa/cilantro/etc. Food was fresh & flavorful, came out within 10 minutes, and it wasn't too busy. No taco Tuesday deals though (whomp whomp). We sat on the patio but there's tons of inside seating too. Definitely make a stop here!

    Carne Asada, Al Pastor and Chicken Tacos
    Travis T.

    I had parked near here for a Dbacks playoff game and stopped in for a quick bite after the game. I have visited a couple of other Tacos Calafia locations in the past and love their tacos. I have traveled to Tijuana many times over the years and have had some great late night street tacos. I am glad Tacos Calafia has brought those flavors over here to the Valley. You won't find a full menu of Mexican food here. Tacos Calafia is about tacos and they offer a simple menu of tacos, burritos, mulitas and vampiros. Tacos Calafia started out as a food truck before opening up a few brick and mortar locations around the Valley. This location is very spacious and is right off of 7th street near the Roosevelt Row art district. I love condiment bars and they offer a number of salsas and toppings for your tacos. Tacos are my love language and my stop here satisfied my craving.

    Salsa bar
    brittini a.

    Tacos are one of my favorite go to's for a quick bite, it's nice when you find a really great place. They have the salsa bar, and let me tell you the salsa is not for the weak.. it's got a lil kick to it. If your in the area i definitely recommend stopping by one of the best tacos places around! Can't go wrong.

    Mel B.

    #19 for 2024 We came in to do a job over the weekend. We finished late evening looking for something good to eat. Not too far away Tacos Calafia had good reviews and was still open. It's a large place that can accommodate large parties. A party of 4 was easy. So was the menu mainly tacos and burritos. Ordering is simple. Choose your meat (carne asada, al pastor, pollo, cabeza and nopales) and how you want it (taco, quesadilla, mulita, vampiro, burrito and taco-nachos. I took 4 Al Pastors tacos, my favorite, to along with a Mexican Cola. You pay for everything upfront. Go up to the counter place your order, take a seat until your number is called. Once you get your order you can hit the well stocked salsa bar with peppers, onions, raddishes, carrots and different sauces. I took a couple plates of those. Everything was so good I went back and ordered a vampiro and cabeza. Everyone ate quick and talked about how we were fortunate this time to have found delicious food so quick. It gave us a chance to talk and go over our plans for the weekend. Walls were done in kind of graphitti style deco commonly found in patio settings. It was a good vibe that made us feel comfortable. Very good experience. So good we came back the next night just to make sure it wasn't a dream. It wasn't.

    Noah S.

    The BEST TACO IN THE WORLD. Very authentic tasty. Best tacos by far. Love me some tacos. Go get yourself them.have fun

    Hilluian M.

    I would literally fly from Miami to Arizona to eat tacos from here lol the Tacos were just that good. I was in Arizona I dined here at least once a day other days it was twice.I never had tacos this good in my life the costumer service was amazing and the service was fast I love the ambience it gives family owned restaurant it's not to fussy the food speaks for the restaurant trust me.Ill highly recommend 10/10

    Taco al Pastor, Taco Nopal, Taco Pollo, Taco Asada  Nachos Cheese
    Skyler S.

    The meat in the tacos could've been fresher and juicer. The flavor was decent. Didn't like the queso they had- it lacked flavor. The salsa bar is convenient to make your own tacos to your liking.

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    Leo V.

    Awesome! Thank you for your amazing review Day

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    Tacos Calafia - Downtown Reviews in Other Languages

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    Taco Viva - Tacos 1 chicken, 2 steak & 1 Al pastor. Modelo Michelada.

    Taco Viva

    4.7(440 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    We stopped here on vacation and it was so good we had to go back. Excellent food, service and…read moresalsa! The asada vampiros, al pastor tacos, chicken fries with everything "con todo" was the way to go.

    At this point, the line at this taco spot is less of a wait and more of a support group for people…read moreaddicted to hongos fries. Every time I come here it gets more packed, which is both annoying and completely understandable because the food is ridiculously good. The tacos are fantastic, the fries are life-changing, and the hongos fries specifically deserve their own national holiday. This place made the Top 100 food spots in America list, and honestly? Deserved. It's the best taco spot in the country in my opinion and makes places like Torchy's feel like they're competing in junior varsity. The vibe is also way above average for a taco joint; lively, clean, and full of people who look like they just took their first bite and immediately started planning their next visit. The taco crew is always friendly too, even while dealing with lines longer than a DMV on a Monday. If you don't know what to order, here's the move: Get one taco or an especial if you're a cheese enthusiast, a medium fry with your topping of choice, and guac with chips. That's the kind of meal that makes you sit in your car afterward thinking about your life choices in a positive way. Enjoy. And maybe stretch beforehand because you're going to want to fight someone over the last hongos fry.

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    Taco Chelo - Crispy shrimp taco

    Taco Chelo

    4.2(910 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    I will forever come here every time I make to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Taco shells are made in house and…read moremake the tacos elite. They make my tacos just how I ask every time I come, and I make changes! Most recently was last night after a rough rental car situation (avoid NU check those reviews eek) and the bartender was awesome. Quick service, friendly and took my order perfectly. Strawberry lemonade is my absolute favorite and if you know me I'm a lemonade girl. Tacos are perfect, the meat has virtually no weird fat on them like most tacos do. Both carne and chicken. Delicious. I'm here for five days this trip and I'm going back for sure, may end up at the Tempe location too. I should mention the great atmosphere and getting I got, a "welcome in" from the ladies behind the counter as well as the bartender I wish I got his name. Thank you for making my night :)

    I didn't know this place would not have table service. You order at the register. That sucks for…read morethe servers because they won't make service tips and they still bring stuff to the tables often. The water is serve yourself and they ran out of both of them. I feel like thats a rubios or mc Donald's vibe. Ceviche should be like $11, $14 wasn't worth it. Vegetable taco should be cheaper than all the tacos and it was just sweet potato inside. The tacos are good but they're not what I was expecting. This is more of a fast food style taco. The whole restaurant reminds me of Rubios. The only things we didn't like were the chips and the rice and beans were not good at all, not even Mexican. But like I said the food is good with nice flavors but for a $5 taco I expected plates and table service. No one wants to stand up to order a marg and then order another one after, they'll prob just order 1 marg and go somewhere else when they're done eating, it's not smart. It's not relaxing to eat here after work. We were all fighting for the tables and it's not a vibe. Not enough inside seats and tons of outdoor seats. I'd totally tell the owner to close up the register area, expand the kitchen, and get the girls to be servers. No one wants to pay full price ceviche and tacos to a restaurant with no table service. The vibe doesn't match the price so I think you should change the vibe to be high end and step up service to match the prices of food. Or match the vibe to a fast food all the way and change some prices. The food is fast so they can easily do a drive thru or walk up and order window. Should be $3 for veggie, $4 for regular taco $5 for loaded or special tacos with expensive The guac matches the vibes! Sold in plastic cups. And $6.50 $4 on happy hour. That explains the vibes of the restaurant perfectly.

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    4/2026- outside

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    Tacarbon - Carne asap plate with tortillas and beans

    Tacarbon

    4.5(507 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $

    This is a go-to for tacos for me. They're quick, fresh, and well-priced. The grilled meat is…read moresavory, the beans are outrageously good, and their salsas tie it all together with a fresh, spicy touch. I recommend the asada, the hazz, the Lorenza, and anything with the beans. Order at the counter, they'll call your name when your order is ready, and the seating is casual and open. They have a selection of aguas frescos, but I usually like a classic bottled coke for the perfect beverage pairing.

    Gotta love Tacarbon! I always try to stop when I'm on that side of town. I hadn't been to this…read morelocation before but its a quick 5 minutes off the I-10. Very convenient! This location is a standalone with a decent patio. Parking is minimal but seemed like there were enough people coming and going. I got a spot right away. Note when leaving you'll have to go right - heading North on 43rd. The staff here were really nice! It was very busy and after ordering, I was standing with others waiting for my food when the other cashier called me up to check on me, thinking I hadn't figured out the process. He was very nice! The place was packed people finished quickly so getting a table wasn't hard. They also had someone cleaning up tables quickly. I got a carne asada caramelito and a carne asada taco. The caramelito continues to be my favorite of the two. Love the roasted salsa on the salsa bar though the hot red one is really good too! I do wish their guac salsa had more tang and salt. I find it bland. These are among my fave tacos but not my absolute so thus the 4 stars.

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    Taco Chelo - Carne asada tacos

    Taco Chelo

    4.7(169 reviews)
    7.8 mi
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    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.

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    Costra Taco - get it!!!

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    Piña Colada Agua Fresca - very tasty

    Tacarbon

    Tacarbon

    4.1(67 reviews)
    11.9 mi

    Super delicious spot. I came here with my girlfriend she ordered the asada tacos and I got the al…read morepastor and cabeza. Everything was really good but in my opinion the cabeza was the standout. We also had horchata which was great as well. The tacos came out super quickly and the service was solid. I asked for their spiciest salsa since I've got a high tolerance and what was out at the bar wasn't quite enough for me. They actually brought me one from behind the counter that was both really flavorful and seriously spicy. Overall great experience and definitely our new go to taco spot.

    Food: 4-stars - The only reason for the -1 star is because they do not have any chicken options and…read moretheir guac is liquidy with zero flavor. Their pickled red onions are also flavorless. Otherwise the carne asada, lengua and tripa tacos were all delicious and generously portioned! They have grilled jalapeños, and a self-serve garnish bar with 4 different types of salsas, pickled red onions, sliced cucumbers, shredded cabbage, diced onions and chopped cilantro, lime, and their liquidy guac. We came back already for their crunchy tripas and will continue to visit for our taco/burrito fixes. Service: 5-stars - Open kitchen behind the service counter allows you to see how they cook their meats over the charcoal grill. Our order came out pretty quick. 10-15 mins max. It's a fast casual spot so open seating, no host/waiters but there are workers that clean the dining area. Ambiance: 4-stars - Nothing special but clean and open dining areas. Multiple TVs for your viewing pleasure along with an outdoor patio area for outdoor dining. Overall 4-stars - I will say, after ordering for takeout last week, the best experience is to dine-in. The tripas were not as crunchy when taking home to eat. However, if you like your tripas crunchy like I do, dine-in and eat fresh is the best. Tacarbon satisfied our taco craving but they also offer cheese crisps, burritos and plates that include tortillas and beans. Pretty good overall, but definitely still room for improvements - especially for the premium price point. Definitely recommend to check out if you haven't already. It's probably going to be our new go-to spot for Mexican food.

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    Tacos Calafia - Downtown - tacos - Updated May 2026

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