Readers have spoken: These are the Valley's best Mexican restaurants
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There was no consensus but plenty of mouth-watering recommendations when we asked for your favorite Phoenix-area Mexican restaurants.
State of play: The top vote-getter among our 35 responses was New Mexico-style Los Dos Molinos, which has two Phoenix locations.
- Reader Amy Donahue's go-to is the machaca burro, while Ron Wested recommends anything with garlic roast pork.
The other side: Keri said Los Dos Molinos is great but called it "sacrilege" to declare a New Mexico-style restaurant Arizona's best.
- She recommended Tacos Chiwas, Espiritu, El Horseshoe, Poncho's Mexican Food or Rosita's Place.
- And if you want New Mexican food, Barry Smith directed us to Gil's Taste of Taos in north Phoenix.
Zoom in: Given the abundance of great Mexican restaurants here, only a few other places collected multiple votes from readers.
- Three readers recommended Mi Patio.
- Phoenix's Tee Pee Mexican Food and Casa Corazon, and local chains Ajo Al's and Valle Luna each got a pair of votes.
El Mesquite Cocina Mexicana is a small, family-owned joint that's been in south Phoenix for nearly 40 years.
- José Gutierrez said his go-to meal is machaca and eggs, "but their homemade chorizo is nothing to sleep on."
El Bravo in Sunnyslope is "true Arizona Mexican food," reader Audrey Taylor writes.
- They're known for green corn tamales with an "unforgettable green sauce," but her top order is a bean and cheese burro, green-style.
Tacos Huicho in Phoenix is "straight out of Sonora," Jeff Jumpe wrote.
Zoom out: Others recommended Taqueria Obson in Guadalupe, Isabel's Amor in Gilbert, Don Rubens Mexican Food in Surprise, Ghost Ranch and Casa Reynoso in Tempe, Tamales Guadalajara in Tolleson, Los Olivos in Scottsdale, Alebrijes Cafe & Grill in Litchfield Park, Cocina Madrigal and Just Tacos and More in Phoenix, and Carolina's and Tacos Calafia, with multiple locations.
Yes, but: Former state lawmaker Steve Farley said Tucson has Arizona's best Mexican food, and he recommended Juanito's Taquería, which he said has great veggie burros and carnitas.
Jeremy's thought bubble: I'm loyal to Los Dos Molinos — the adovada ribs are incredible — but I'm also a big fan of recommendations Mi Patio, and a friend recently introduced me to Las Glorias Grill, which was fantastic.
- El Norteño and Valle Luna are the only places I know that serve Sonoran enchiladas with thick masa patties, and El Bravo has incredible flat enchiladas.