La Vida >>

• BEST RASPADOS
  La Reyna Michoacana
  On a sizzling afternoon, we've found a way to beat the heat that's even better than a slushie: a Mexican slushie. Made with fresh fruit chunks, flavored syrups, and scoops of shaved ice, they're called raspados and do they ever hit the spot when the heat's starting to make us a bit loco. La... More >>
• BEST PALETAS
  Moreliana Fruit Bars
  When summertime arrives — you know, in early March — we start craving Mexican popsicles, known as paletas. This year, we started the hunt for the cantaloupe bars we recalled from last season, but it wasn't easy to find them. We remembered Moreliana's cute packaging (a boy and girl... More >>
• BEST SUNDAE, MEXICAN STYLE
  Fruitti Sweets
  There's nothing like an ice cream sundae to satisfy a sweet tooth. Not just any sundae, mind you, but the kind of layered confection that's so good you'll forget there's such a thing as a love handle. With south-of-the-border Coke in glass bottles, nachos, and wicked chile tamarind raspados,... More >>
• BEST TRES LECHES CAKE (2 Comments)
  La Tolteca
  We have a very good friend who's a very good cook, and recently, she let on that she's been perfecting a recipe for tres leches cake. We put in an order for our birthday, but 'til then, we will continue to worship La Tolteca's version. Tres leches means "three milks," indicating the main... More >>
• BEST FLAN (1 Comment)
  Los Sombreros Mexican Restaurant
  It doesn't matter if we feast on a platter of fabulous carne asada, or inhale a whole basket of chips with queso fundido or chunky homemade guacamole — we always have room for dessert at Los Sombreros, one of the best places in the Valley for gourmet Mexican food. In particular, we're... More >>
• BEST PANADERÍA (1 Comment)
  Flores Bakery
  We can't tell you how happy we are that the Atkins diet trend has completely fizzled. For a while there, Mexican pastries were our naughty little secret, an indulgence that we couldn't sheepishly mention without getting dirty looks from our protein-obsessed friends. But now that everybody's back... More >>
• BEST VIETNAMESE BAKERY THAT CATERS TO MEXICANS (1 Comment)
  Bamboo Bakery
  David Pham is a classically trained French pastry chef from Vietnam who runs a Phoenix bakery that caters mainly to Mexicans. Don't you just love America? (Okay, don't answer that. We're sick of you bigots out there!)In any case, Pham has certainly added a dose of sugar to the local melting pot... More >>
• BEST EYE CANDY ON THE WALLS
  Realeza Michoacana
  Since those popsicle pushcarts are, literally, moving targets, when we get a taste for our favorite paletas, we head to this sweet little shop, where the freezer is always packed with cantaloupe, watermelon, and tamarind popsicles. Realeza Michoacana also sells a wide variety of ice cream and... More >>
• BEST AGUAS FRESCAS
  Phoenix Ranch Market
  Why is there always a line at the grass-roofed hut next to the open dining area at Phoenix Ranch Market? Because all those hungry shoppers need something thirst-quenching to go with the burritos, tacos, and tortas they're getting at the hot foods counter, and these refreshing, cantina-style... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN COFFEE DRINK
  La Olla Coffee Company
  Hey, have you been to Christown Mall lately? That is one weird mall, dude. You walk inside — and there's a Costco. And a Wal-Mart.Luckily, in between the two, along with Famous Footwear and Claire's, is La Olla. It's a cubby of a coffee shop, and we would never have found it if a good... More >>
• BEST MOLE
  Mini Mercado Oaxaca
  Even though mole shows up on a lot of menus around town, it's usually the token Oaxacan entree in a sea of Sonoran specialties. But at Mini Mercado Oaxaca — located in the heart of Sunnyslope, where the burgeoning Oaxacan community has earned the 'hood the nickname "Little Oaxaca" —... More >>
• BEST TORTILLAS
  Carolina's
  We've given Carolina's "Best Tortillas" more times than we can count, but don't assume we're being lazy just because we're giving them the honor again. Seriously, we spend all year thinking about tortillas, comparing the offerings at every Mexican place we visit to the hot, homemade beauties we... More >>
• BEST QUESADILLAS
  Restaurant Mexico
  The first time we ordered a quesadilla at this downtown Tempe eatery, we had to do a double-take when it arrived with our meal — it was unlike any we'd ever seen. Usually, we have some kind of melted cheese-and-tortilla thing in mind.But at Restaurant Mexico, where the menu focuses on... More >>
• BEST TAMALES
  El Bravo
  What makes the green corn tamales at El Bravo so addicting? Is it the moist, sweet masa, or the creamy, tangy green sauce? We're not sure, but we know that every time we visit this cheerful, family-run nook, we can't resist ordering one. The menu's filled with other temptations, too — like... More >>
• BEST TORTAS
  Los Reyes de la Torta
  Sooner or later, you're going to blow your diet, so you might as well come to Los Reyes de la Torta and enjoy every guilt-inducing bite of their gargantuan Mexican sandwiches. There's hardly anything here for vegetarians, but if you're a meat lover, you'll get a week's worth of protein (not to... More >>
• BEST COMBINATION PLATE
  Mi Cocina Mi Pais
  Okay, we know what you're thinking. "How much can a restaurant improve on the time-honored taco, enchilada, and chile relleno platter?" Our answer: When it doesn't include any of the above.We're used to getting variety at Mexican restaurants, but Mi Cocina Mi Pais has won us over by sheer... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN SEAFOOD
  San Carlos Bay Seafood Restaurant
  Close your eyes, pretend the sound of cars passing by on McDowell is actually waves crashing on the shore of the Sea of Cortez, and let your taste buds take a beach vacation at San Carlos Bay, where you'll find the finest Sonoran-style seafood in town. Perfectly cooked shrimp dishes are... More >>
• BEST MODERN MEXICANA RESTAURANT
  Padre's Modern Mexican Cuisine
  A downside of most Mexican restaurants in the Valley is menu fatigue. We love classic Sonoran dishes, but sometimes a break from tradition is just what we're craving. At times like those, we head to Padre's, where Mexican food comes with a twist.For starters, we're hooked on the lobster... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN BRUNCH
  Barrio Café
  A lot's been written about chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza's creative, contemporary Mexican fare, from the fresh guacamole with pomegranate seeds, prepared tableside, to her hauntingly delicious cochinita pibil, fork-tender pork that's been slow-cooked for 12 hours.Indeed, we still think... More >>
• BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY MEXICAN RESTAURANT
  Tradiciones
  When you need to please the kids and the grandparents alike, head to Tradiciones. Heck, you might as well invite your extended family while you're at it, because the colorful dining room has abundant seating for large groups. Ordering appetizers is a snap, thanks to the generous sampler plate,... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, CENTRAL PHOENIX (1 Comment)
  Rosita's Place
  We couldn't dream up a better neighborhood Mexican joint than Rosita's Place. It's got that been-there-forever charm — with rustic décor, and a bubbling water fountain that flows into a tiny fish pond — along with welcoming service from waitresses decked out in ruffled dresses.... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, SOUTH PHOENIX
  Comedor Guadalajara
  The Sanchez family's South Central eatery has been around nearly 40 years, thanks to tasty Sonoran cuisine and a welcoming atmosphere fit for families — the sprawling dining rooms here go on and on, each one painted a more colorful hue than the last.Comedor Guadalajara's menu is pretty... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, WEST VALLEY
  Pedro's
  From the looks of its plain, brick exterior, it's hard to tell how hoppin' it is inside Pedro's, but once you snag a table and dig in to dinner here, you'll immediately get why this place has become a west-side institution.The Sonoran-style eats are homey and flavorful, and portions are... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, SOUTHEAST VALLEY (1 Comment)
  Guedo's Cantina Grille
  Who knew that a couple of tacos and some cerveza is all it takes to feel like you're on vacation? The beachy vibe at Guedo's is so true to the laid-back spirit of Baja that the only thing missing is the smell of the ocean breeze. Outside, the patio is decked out with palapas, palm trees, and... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, TEMPE
  Casa Reynoso
  Tucked into the corner of a strip mall where Fry's is the main attraction, Casa Reynoso doesn't look like much from the parking lot. Inside, though, it's cozy, with lots of archways, wrought iron, hanging plants, and pottery. Grab one of the booths and take your time with the menu, which... More >>
• BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT, SCOTTSDALE
  Los Olivos Mexican Patio
  Los Olivos' original Scottsdale location has been around for decades, and it's one of the funkiest Mexican restaurants in the Valley. The quirky blue room, just a step past the lobby, looks like a psychedelic underwater scene, with a big fish tank and a cluster of bubble-shaped skylights that... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN CHAIN WE HOPE GROWS HERE
  Costa Vida
  A good friend led us to Costa Vida because it's become her favorite lunch spot, not only because of the salads on a tortilla (not in a tortilla — these aren't fried; instead, they're layered with beans, your choice of meat, veggies, and cheese) but also because of the free cheese crisps for... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT CHAIN WE'RE GLAD IS A CHAIN
  3 Margaritas
  There's nothing fancy about 3 Margaritas, a lesser-known, smaller chain than the big guns in town. We stumbled upon it only recently, and were so happy to find it. From the chips to the fajitas, everything was fresh and tasty, with no big surprises, except that we hadn't discovered it earlier.... More >>
• BEST PIÑATA
  Sanchez and Sons
  Living so close to the border, we don't have much trouble finding a run-of-the-mill piñata. Even gringo-friendly markets like Safeway carry piñatas shaped like SpongeBob and Disney princesses. But if you want the real deal, not just some assembly-line rip-off, Sanchez and Sons is... More >>
• BEST NON-AGGRESSIVE PIÑATA
  Party City
  You'd think, here in Phoenix, a really good piñata would be easy to come by. Think again. It took us months to land our "Best Piñata" winner, and at that, the kind gentleman who sold us our red, blue and orange burro admitted he doesn't carry the "pull piñata" model. The... More >>
• BEST PLACE TO BUY A QUINCEAÑERA DRESS
  Bridals by Ofelia
  In Latin American culture, a young girl's quinceañera (her 15th birthday) marks her movement from child to woman. The first thing that delighted us about this dress shop was the coincidental (and, yes, alternately spelled) name Ofelia, which brings to mind one of Shakespeare's most tragic... More >>
• BEST ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR QUINCEAÑERA NEEDS
  Quince Girl Expo
  Planning a quinceañera is as complicated and stressful as planning a wedding. You need the dress, the venue, the flowers, the photographer — the list goes on. Fortunately for young Latinas planning their sweet 15, there's Quince Girl magazine, a sort of one-stop advice shop to guide... More >>
• BEST WAY TO DRESS FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM (4 Comments)
  Ch.A.L.E. Clothing
  Ch.A.L.E. stands for Chicanos Achieving Latino Equality, and founder Leticia Almezaga certainly gets the point across with the sloganized T-shirts and accessories for sale on her Web site. The online clothing shop based in Phoenix was born around the same time as Almezaga's daughter, when she... More >>
• BEST CHICANO STYLE
  Chicano Style
  Sorry for the unoriginal award title, but we figured the name of this fashion outpost says it all. Chicano Style comes highly recommended by none other than our own "¡Ask A Mexican!," Gustavo Arellano. "The Mexican" hails from Orange County, and, as it turns out, so do the Chicano Style... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN IMPORTS
  Mercado Mexico
  We stumbled across this spot while trying to avoid rush-hour traffic (Guadalupe has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, but it's better than sitting bumper to bumper with Arizona Mills patrons.) And lucky us, because it is literally room after colorful room of imported Mexican treasure. Narrow... More >>
• BEST RUSTIC MEXICAN FURNITURE (1 Comment)
  El Pueblito
  The best thing about carved Mexican furniture is the unfinished style of the truly authentic pieces. The look has become so popular in the Southwest that every furniture store, from Sears to Levitz, offers an imitation. But the replicas are too shiny, too polished.Not so at El Pueblito. You can... More >>
• BEST PLACE TO GET OLD MEXICO STYLE ON A BUDGET
  Razmataz
  We'll say it right now and get it out of the way: Mother knows best.Okay, happy now, Mom?True story: We were out and about in Scottsdale, doing deep undercover research for this year's "Best of." (Hey, it's a nasty job, but someone's gotta do it.) And we wanted to round out the "La Vida" section... More >>
• BEST ACTION
  IN A PARKING LOT
  Sundays at Phoenix Ranch Market
  We'd like to be jet-setting hipsters with unlimited travel budgets. Sadly, we're just working stiffs with tiny bank accounts. When we're ready for some out-of-town fun without the TSA screening, we head to Phoenix Ranch Market on Sunday for some parking lot people-watching. Enormous grills cook... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Comment)
  Sunnyslope
  We knew we'd found the best Mexican neighborhood in town when we heard that Silvana Salcido Esparza lives there. After all, Chef Silvana, as she's known to fans of her Barrio Café, runs one of the best Mexican restaurants in town, on one of our most-traveled paths, 16th Street.We asked... More >>
• BEST PLACE TO BUY MEXICAN FOLK ART
  The Purple Lizard
  This upscale boutique in central Phoenix takes the prize in this category because it offers items we simply have never seen anywhere else. Sure, there's the expected mix of loteria games, Frida Kahlo replicas and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) figurines. But resting on a high shelf is a... More >>
• BEST LATINA ART COLLECTIVE (7 Comments)
  Phoenix Fridas
  Frida Kahlo remains an important Latina cultural and feminist icon for many artists (even after that awful movie they made about her a few years ago), so it makes sense that she's the namesake for this local women's artist collective. The Phoenix Fridas, as you might guess, focus their work... More >>
• BEST BROWN-TOWN BILINGUE POWER-BOOSTER
  City of Phoenix Latino Institute
  About 10 years ago, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation department noticed a town that was brown. "With Latinos poised to become the majority in Phoenix in the near future," says Carmela Ramirez, "we needed to be ready to help empower our community and stop others from taking advantage of... More >>
• BEST BIGOT
  Rusty Childress
  The competition for Best Bigot was fierce. With the debate over illegal immigration raging, there were so many nominees: Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andy Thomas, Governor Janet Napolitano, State Representative Russell Pearce, white supremacist J.T. Ready. It was hard to ignore Arpaio's... More >>
• BEST LATIN RADIO STATION (4 Comments)
  95.1 Latino Vibe
  While it's moved away from its mostly reggaeton format in the past year, Latino Vibe still airs NYC DJ Kazzanova's reggaeton mix in a prime Saturday spot (8 to 10 p.m.), and its own on-air talent — like the lovely Jackie Morales on weekdays and Raul RocDaHouse on weekends — still... More >>
• BEST BILINGUE RADIO-WAVE BARRIO (4 Comments)
  La Buena Onda 1190, "El Break"
  They have big brown muscles, big brown mouths and big brown boobs. But most importantly, they have big brains and huge hearts. The hot, hipster crew from "El Break" is the best shot in the arm of political activism for the local Latino community since Chicanos por la Causa. This is a modern day... More >>
• BEST LATIN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY (2 Comments)
  Ritmo Latino
  Albert Lineses III, better known as DJ AL3, has been dedicated to building a better Latin nightclub community since he began spinning mixes around the Valley in the early '90s. With the establishment of Ritmo Latino Entertainment in 2005, AL3 created an enterprise "for Latinos, by Latinos,"... More >>
• BEST LOCAL HOPE FOR A RONSTADT RETURN (1 Comment)
  Marisa Ronstadt
  Her cousin Linda ain't got nothing on her. Marisa Ronstadt is making a name for herself in the music world. After spending years touring locally in Phoenix with different groups including Los Amigos, Pazport, and Straight Up, Ronstadt is starting to get recognized in La-La Land. The South... More >>
• BEST PLACE TO HEAR LIVE MARIACHI MUSIC
  Garcia's Las Avenidas
  Mariachis at a Mexican food restaurant? Typical, right? The crooners at Garcia's Las Avenidas are anything but. Walk into this old-school Mexican restaurant on a Saturday night and you will hear the bittersweet harmonies of a live mariachi band wafting through the building. Starting at 6 p.m.,... More >>
• BEST LATIN DJ (2 Comments)
  DJ Big Latin
  To paraphrase the moniker of the great James Brown, Andy Herrera (a.k.a. Big Latin) is the hardest-working DJ in the Valley's Latin music scene. When he isn't busy handling promotions for locally owned label Nastyboy Records or bringing big name acts like DJ Kane to town, the stout spinster has... More >>
• BEST REGGAETON NIGHT
  Friday Nights at Henry Jack's Place
  Daddy Yankee gets some serious play on Friday nights at Henry Jack's Place, as does Don Omar, Pitbull, N.O.R.E., and Hector El Father. No, playa-hater, we ain't firing off a list of Latin Lotharios who've been hooking up at this Avondale nightspot. It's a rockin' rundown of the superstar... More >>
• BEST GAY LATIN DANCE NIGHT
  Fridays at Paco Paco Club Premiere
  Though the dilapidated exterior of Paco Paco makes it look as if it's fit for demolition, inside is a fiery Latin disco-dive that lures in P-Town peeps from across the GLBT spectrum every Friday because of its hot beats, stiff drinks, and unpretentious atmosphere. Bare-chested boys, luscious... More >>
• BEST VA-QUEER-O BAR
  Club Zarape
  Don't try ordering an apple-tini here. It's a gay bar, but not that kind. No fancy drinks, electronica or twinky go-go boys. At Club Zarape, the standard swill is a can of Tecate beer with a lime wedge and salt packet on top. The place, which looks like the piñata aisle at Food City with... More >>
• BEST VA-QUEER-A BAR
  Cash Inn
  It's not necessarily a cholo bar, but it may as well be with all the tank tops, spiky crew cuts and sagging-pantalones vaqueros at this joint. The Cash Inn is one of the best va-queer-o/a friendly bars in town. It's country, but to be cool, you don't have to be. While some girls who like girls... More >>
• BEST LATIN DANCE CLUB
  Sky Lounge
  While the perpetual chaos of light-rail construction has snarled downtown Phoenix, you'll definitely want to brave the bulldozers and barricades choking Copper Square to get a heaping helping of Hispanic hotness and Latin luxury at the Sky Lounge.This bilevel beat emporium is like a... More >>
• BEST NEW LATIN NIGHTSPOT
  Rain Club & Lounge
  Everything about Rain is cool. Whether it's the front door surrounded in electric-blue lighting, a pair of cerulean-colored bubble columns near the dance floor, monsoon-themed video projections on the walls, or a couple of twisted metal dance cages that shoot jets of fog every 15 minutes, this... More >>
• BEST MEXICAN NIGHTCLUB (1 Comment)
  Club Tropicana
  This upscale nightclub caters to a mostly Latino/a clientele, but everyone's welcome. Formerly the Rockin' Horse Saloon, Club Tropicana is a complete departure from the biker/cowboy vibe of RHS. The music is mostly a mash-up of salsa and merengue, whether the tunes are coming from a live band... More >>
• BEST MARGARITA
  Cadillac pint
  This ain't no Hyundai, baby. The Cadillac is a monstrous witch's brew that rivals a properly constructed Long Island iced tea for pure liver-pummeling power. It's also — quite shockingly — as good as or better than anything we've come across in the countless Mexican cantinas we've... More >>
• BEST FROZEN MARGARITA
  Z'Tejas
  We used to sneer at those amateurs who insisted on making this tequila-and-lime confection take a pass through the blender. The best margaritas, we'd insist, are always on the rocks. Then we were introduced to the Sixth Street Margarita at the cavernous, comfortably dim Tempe franchise of this... More >>
• BEST HIBISCUS MARGARITA
  Mucho Gusto
  As we began to see hibiscus pop up as a trendy ingredient in hot spots from San Francisco to New York City, we were reminded of where we saw it first: Mucho Gusto. This cute Tempe cafe has consistently great specialty margaritas, none of them better than one infused with hibiscus. We especially... More >>
• BEST TEQUILA SELECTION (1 Comment)
  Old Town Tortilla Factory
  Sitting in the patio of this gorgeous old hacienda, surrounded by twinkling lights and leafy trees, feels something like visiting the home of an old friend with excellent taste — and a huge collection of premium tequilas. The restaurant's bar, or "margaritas tequileria," features 100 agave... More >>