When the powerful come to town, they eat Mexican food.

• That's according to an Axios review of presidential and vice presidential meal choices during Phoenix visits dating back to 1987.

Why it matters: Mexican food is deeply embedded in Phoenix's culture, and a stop into one of our many excellent restaurants is a sign of respect by national leaders.

• It's also a smart political strategy in our very important swing state.

The latest: Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was in town for a speaking event earlier this month, met Mayor Gallego for dinner at Huarachis Taqueria, the buzzy, Sonoran-inspired eatery from James Beard Award-winning chef Rene Andrade.

• They ordered carne asada tacos.

It got us thinking about which other Valley spots have been honored with a high-profile political visit.

• Here's what we found:

🫔 Poncho's, 1999 and 2024

Former President Bill Clinton stopped into Poncho's weeks before the 2024 election to find a mural depicting his 1999 visit to the south Phoenix restaurant.

• In 2024, he ordered a smattering of tacos, beans, rice, chips and hot sauce. On his first visit, mini-tamales and chimichangas were on the menu, the Arizona Republic reported.

😋 Cocina Adamex, 2024

Harris took her running mate Gov. Tim Walz to this central Phoenix spot for red and green chile tamales — and joked that her Midwestern running mate considered black pepper spicy.

🦜 Macayo's, 2009

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited the local chain's now shuttered Central Avenue location.

• Waiters later told reporters the pair loved their fully-loaded margaritas (made with Presidente brandy) so much they ordered a second round. And then two shots of an undisclosed liquor.

🌮 Tee Pee Mexican Food, 2004

Former President George W. Bush talked sports (we assume) during a dinner at the Indian School Road location with MLB executives including then-Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly and Jerry Colangelo, the former owner of the D-Backs and Suns.

• He ordered the #2 combo (two cheese enchiladas, rice and beans), which has since been renamed the presidential special.

More Mexican food, please!

It's easy to see why Huarachis is the place Mayor Gallego took Harris.

State of play: Andrade, the decorated chef behind Bacanora and co-owner of Espiritu, opened Huarachis in downtown Phoenix in 2023.

• It's earned an intense following and plenty of accolades, being named one of USA Today's 2026 restaurants of the year.

Yes, but: Somehow Harris tried it before we had a chance to.

• We decided to fix that last week.

Zoom in: Huarachis serves up tacos and tortas, along with vampiros — crispy tostadas with melted cheese and toppings — and sides like their "world famous" beans, elote and ceviche.

Best bites:

• Pescado taco: Lightly breaded and fried fish soaks up the drizzle of creamy hot sauce in this delicious, not-too-small taco.
• Carne asada vampiro: The tostada was small but the serving wasn't, piled high with tender, savory, VP-worthy carne asada.
• Papas al disco: The spicy crema and seasoning add some zing to the perfectly fried, sliced potatoes.

The bottom line: Huarachis lives up to the hype — it's another home run for Andrade, whose reputation as one of Arizona's best chefs is well-deserved.

The Phoenix Suns are back in the playoffs and have a chance to fight their way into the first round.

State of play-in: The Suns earned the seventh seed in the West and will face the Portland Trail Blazers in a play-in game tomorrow.

• The series winner will face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in a best-of-seven series.
• The loser will play the winner of the other Western Conference play-in game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors, with the victor advancing to a first-round series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The latest: With most of both teams' starters out of the lineup, the Suns beat the top-seeded Thunder last night to end the season with a 45-37 record.

What's next: The Suns and Blazers tip off at 7pm tomorrow.

Share with a Suns fan.

A federal judge temporarily halted AG Kris Mayes' criminal case against Kalshi over questions about whether the federal government has exclusive regulatory authority over online prediction markets. (Capitol Media Services/KJZZ)

👀 R. Lamar Whitmer, Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky's former chief of staff, is demanding $1.5 million from the city over his firing, saying the city manager lacked authority or a valid reason to terminate him. (AZcentral)

🐒 A UofA primatologist was part of the team of researchers that documented a chimpanzee society in Uganda splitting into rival warring factions. (University of Arizona)

✈️ ICE agents are no longer assisting TSA at Sky Harbor due to the partial government shutdown. (CNN)

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego withdrew his endorsement of Eric Swalwell in the California governor's race following sexual assault allegations against U.S. representative. (Arizona Mirror)

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Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shoutout in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find these sculptures?

No one gave us the correct location for last week's contest.

• The metal saguaro is at South Mountain Community College.