West - PHX Airport or Nearby Southwestern Food

Hi,

I will be in PHX for about four hours. Looking for something Southwestern. The airport would be preferable if I do not have to exit security to change to another terminal. I am arriving on Delta.

Otherwise a nearby restaurant would work. For this option, it would be best if it was near a light rail stop. Near for me means within a couple of blocks or so. I will have a 25lb carryon with me and do not want to carry it very far. No wheels on it. :(

Thanks!

Hey there,
There's not much in the airport unfortunately. Terminal 4 has a halfway decent Mexican place outside security called Oaxaca. http://phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/maps-food-shops/t4-shops-and-restaurants.html

If you don't mind a light rail ride...http://www.macayo.com/ is in downtown Tempe. You could take the Light Rail to 3rd and Mill and walk the block back to it. It's my personal favorite.

It won't be easy to find something close, without leaving the terminal. There are some good, authentic Mexican food places in the area, but not easy to get to. Macayo's is a chain restaurant, that I would not go to unless I was starving.

Carolina's at 12th St and Mohave, is a local legend. It's located in a bit of a slum, and seating is quite basic, but it's cheap and a great place. I've seen state legislators and even mayors waiting in line here.

Another place that I used to love (but haven't been to in two years), is a converted house, that has takeout (or picnic table seating outside), called Rada's. It's on 14th street, just south of Roosevelt, I think.

There are some other supposedly good restaurants in downtown Phoenix, but I haven't eaten there. Pizzeria Bianco is one I've heard of, but haven't tried. I think it's open for dinner only.

In the end, I think you'll end up eating at Wendy's or something else, unless you want to make a big effort. I'd say, get some wheels on that bag 'o yours!

It won't be easy to find something close, without leaving the terminal. There are some good, authentic Mexican food places in the area, but not easy to get to. Macayo's is a chain restaurant, that I would not go to unless I was starving.


Agree that your selections in the airport are rather limited, but I certainly DO NOT agree on the Tempe Depot Cantina. This used to be a separate restaurant at the Tempe Amtrak Depot, hence the name. About 15 years ago, a local chain, Macayo's took it over, but kept much of the local flair. It had a separate menu until rather recently. Macayo's specializes in Sonoran-style Mexican food, which includes more cheese and generally more mild.

I certainly don't think the President would have gone to Macayo's if the food wasn't good. :D


That said, there's a Mexican restaurant in downtown Phoenix, it would be about 1-2 blocks from the Convention Center light rail station. I think it was Matador (http://cityvoter.com/matador-mexican-food-restaurant-125-e-adams-st-downtown-phoenix-phoenix-az-85004/loc/80526), but I'm not certain. This food was much more spicy than Macayo's, still good, but different.

Doesn't the PHX airport have a Blue Burrito Grill at one of the terminals?

Thanks for your great suggestions.

Doesn't the PHX airport have a Blue Burrito Grill at one of the terminals?

There is a Blue Burrito in the high A's side of T4, across from the small US club. However, the OP is flying on DL, into T3. The terminals do not connect, and I don't think they let you through security unless you're flying out of that terminal.


There's more info on both the airport and environs in the US Guide to PHX (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/960712-us-guide-phx-phoenix-airport.html#post11860390)

If you don't mind a light rail ride...http://www.macayo.com/ is in downtown Tempe. You could take the Light Rail to 3rd and Mill and walk the block back to it. It's my personal favorite.

We went with this option. It was super easy to get there and the food was great.

My item ended up being about 10 pounds so that was a major plus!

I certainly don't think the President would have gone to Macayo's if the food wasn't good. :D

That said, there's a Mexican restaurant in downtown Phoenix, it would be about 1-2 blocks from the Convention Center light rail station. I think it was Matador (http://cityvoter.com/matador-mexican-food-restaurant-125-e-adams-st-downtown-phoenix-phoenix-az-85004/loc/80526), but I'm not certain. This food was much more spicy than Macayo's, still good, but different.

I used to live near the downtown area in the 80's and early 90's. I also had my warehouse there too, and consider my self a bit of a down to earth Mexican food "foodie". <burp>

There is plenty of decent Mexican food, but not that I'd go out of my way for. The original Garcia's location on 35th avenue and Encanto is still one of my favorites, as well as Carolina's, which has a central Phx, North Phx (yaaaaaay!), and I think Peoria or Glendale location now. I went to the original Garcia's in the 70's when it was near McDowell, as a kid. It often seems that when you go from a tight knit family restaurant, to a chain that you lose much of the soul that makes a restaurant good.

I used to like Los Dos Molinos that 22nd st and Washington area, but I think they closed after some relative siphoned some money off. This was run by the Carbajal family.

I did work for the original owner of Macayo's, Woody Johnson, in the 1980's, and have been in some of his kitchens, and wasn't impressed.

Macayo's is better than the chain version of Garcia's. The Garcia family sold off the rights in the 80's I think, and only retained their original restaurant on the west side. I had to work hard not to spit the food out, when I went to one of the chain locations for lunch a few years ago.

We went with this option. It was super easy to get there and the food was great.

My item ended up being about 10 pounds so that was a major plus!

A 10 pound plate of food? I've seen big plates of Mexican food, but that takes the friojle! :)

We went with this option. It was super easy to get there and the food was great.

My item ended up being about 10 pounds so that was a major plus!

I'm glad you enjoyed it and I was happy to help. Let me know if you're ever here again and need more Phoenix advice.