Kachina Restaurant

In the five years total that I have lived in Flagstaff, I just very recently decided that it was time to try Kachina. Like some, I just wasn’t convinced I would be eating authentic Mexican food if I tried it. On the outside, there restaurant is just on big brown box. Nothing on the exterior makes it look like a Mexican restaurant. The name definitely doesn’t help as Kachina is not a Spanish word. «Never judge a book by its cover» is the lesson learned yet again.
The food was outstanding. The beans and rice were flavorful. The burritos are filling. The enchiladas are cheesy and portioned well. Chips were decent, and the salsas were very good. One of the salsas they bring out is an avocado salsa. I’ve been to so many Mexican restaurants, specifically in Tucson. I never had a salsa like this one. It was medium/​hot, but very flavorful.
The college-​aged guy who seated us was not nice, but the assistant server and the server were very friendly and nice. The server (probably in her mid-​40s) made us feel welcomed and was very funny.
I could say that this is the best full-​service Mexican restaurant in Flagstaff. You might be wondering, why am I not then giving it 5 stars? Unfortunately, a few reasons: (1) The confusing real ‘front’ entrance and lack of anything on the outside or inside in terms of decorations. Make sure to park opposite of the only sign that tells people that this place is a restaurant. (2) Many of the booths had the seats broken. (3) It took a very long time for some of the tables to be cleaned up.
That all said, absolutely come to Kachina. Compared to the other full-​services Mexican restaurants in town, this is the cheapest of them all. Check out the menu pics I will have posted by the time you read this. Kachina is where the locals eat, and that now includes me!

This is my favorite restaurant in the world. Same staff over the years. Both salsas are fantastic. Viva La avocado chunks! I love every ground beef dish. Ask for the shredded chicken enchilada «old school style». Save room for the sopapilla or take it to go.

Agree with Caitlin H. I love their avocado salsa.
The people are very nice and helpful,. I generally get take out there. A four item combo with beans and rice. There to go order comes with a generous serving of chips and salsa as well as a few of their handmade tortillas.
I love their frito tacos, they are pan fried.

Great food. Try the Navajo taco!!!

I lived in Flagstaff for several years and went to Kachina a few times. I always found it to be average Mexican food. The salsa was always good and the rest of the food was decent at least but nothing special. My last almost visit has completely driven me away from ever returning again though. The owner (or maybe manager? but I think owner) was so wildly rude it took all my effort not to verbally destroy her. I pulled into the parking lot the back way (by Babbitt’s) and parked. Truthfully I wasn’t set on going to Kachina yet, I just needed a moment to scout out the area and come to a decision with my girlfriend. We got out of the car and took about 5 steps from it and I pointed out some surrounding restaurants to her and gave her a little history of the area. Before we could come to a decision a middle aged lady walks up in a way I’d describe as overtly aggressive and says «where are you going?» in a harsh tone. I respond «I don’t know yet». She then goes full on B-​mode and angrily says «well you can’t park here, what do you think you’re doing».etc, to which I politely respond «oh sorry, we hadn’t made up our minds yet but no problem I’ll move». No big deal, I get it, she doesn’t want non-​patrons parking in her lot. I hadn’t seen any signs saying Kachina parking only so I honestly didn’t know. I started to turn to my car to move it since at this point I had been turned off to the idea of eating at Kachina restaurant because of the owner’s aggressive manner. The matter was settled there as far as I was concerned but the lady would not relent. She continued «this is my lot! didn’t you see the sign?! What do you think you’re doing». Well no, I came in the backway and I didn’t see any sign. Thanks for trying to be polite about it or maybe even giving me the benefit of the doubt. Some other male that was now flanking her echoed «yeah, she pays taxes for this lot». She continued complaining at me and I just said «sorry» and my girlfriend and I got in our car and drove away.
TLDR: Owner/​Manager was incredibly rude and continued to be rude even after I apologized for an honest harmless mistake. People like this don’t deserve your business considering the surrounding restaurants all have terrific service and are run by decent humans. If you want Mexican food go to La Fonda’s instead. Way better prices, drinks, and the owner isn’t a jerk.

I don’t understand all of these one star reviews. I have been coming here for two to three years now and I am still satisfied by everything this place has to offer! Yes I will admit that they could use new flooring but that does not take away from the food experience for me. This place has phenomenal avocado salsa, I put that stuff on everything! Usually I do the combination plate and there are enough items for me because I am a vegetarian. This place actually cooks their enchiladas through unlike tacos Los altos. The portions are huge! I always have enough for dinner that night. Their Mexican food is one of the better places in town. Forget salsa brava their salsa tastes like tomato soup compared to here!

Give this place a skip. I agree with the other diners who gave it one star, in that the décor is shabby, the carpets and booths are filthy, and even the plates are worn. The service was indifferent and the food was barely passable. It’s particularly sad that this restaurant is a family business with obvious pride in its history, but which hasn’t maintained that pride in keeping up the quality.

Over the years this place has gone steadily downhill. It looks and feels like it needs a good cleaning. The food was mediocre during my last visit, and the staff seemed apathetic at best. Sorry, Kachina. Agave or La Fonda are both better choices.

I have driven past this place for years and I should have kept going.
The décor is shabby.
I ordered the Adobado dinner – it was hard as a rock. I thought I was cutting through bone. I am not kidding about how bad it was
The guacamole was a smooth green substance.
My stomach is still upset five hours later.

Another «no gun» place.

This place… where do I start? Oh man, I apologize ahead of time for the harshness in this review, but seriously, Kachina. I don’t wanna waste too much time so I’ll make a list.
Food — I was served better Mexican food in Iraq.
Cleanliness — this place needs new: floor, decorative theme, silverware, plates, cups, and aprons for all staff. The bathrooms were gross, my girl confirmed the female latrine was worse than the males.
Staff — nice
Prices — Id rather pay for Taco Bell.
Avoid. Go to Salsa Brava!
I just spent more effort on this review than whoever purchased this places’ food stock and whoever cooked it, combined. Yucky. Haha.

Best meal one night, absolute worst the next. It’s a Dump. Off our list.

My party came in when it was really packed but the staff was polite and the food once we got it was delicious, I highly recommend the blue corn enchiladas!

I went here with a Flagstaff local that had nothing but praise for this place, I do not understand why. The only thing I found remotely good was the guacamole. I had what they call carne adovada, it was not like any carne adovada I have ever had before or since. Two overcooked unseasoned pork chops covered in a red sauce, not cut up and marinated like adovada should be, with some meh rice and beans. In conclusion overpriced lousy food, will not go again.

We arrived at this restaurant by mistake. We were trying to find a different restaurant that we’d eaten at five years before.
As we entered, we immediately knew we were in the wrong place, but we decided to give it a try. We began to read previous reviews and began to get very nervous. As we looked around, the floors were filthy. There were also spots of food on the wall. Although the women’s restroom was cleaned, according to my husband, the men’s restroom was filthy.
The good news… the food was better than average. The service can only be rated as okay since our waitress disappeared after our food was served. Based on the condition of restaurant, I can’t help but wonder what’s the condition of the kitchen. We will not return.

This is one of the best places for good, old style Mexican food. The hot sauce is fantastic, chile rellano was very good, and the enchilada sauce had just the right amount of heat. The service was friendly, and the prices were good.

I come here every time my family comes up to flag to see me. We absolutely love the food and their salsa is great. Service is fast and they are nice people. Nothing beats Kachina. We will still comeback.

Things just haven’t been the same since Frank left. Their food comes out cold and their service is absolutely horrible.
My wife and I went there for her birthday dinner and waited 45 minutes for food while everyone around us was served. When we got a hold of the manager, they were actually the owner of the restaurant, so we thought things would be sorted out. Unfortunately the owner handled the situation very poorly and could’ve cared less about our business.
I would recommend finding another Mexican food restaurant in town instead of giving your business to kachina.

Dirty restaurant. My carne asada plate was ok but my family hated it there food. Service was poor. Prices not bad tho.

We ate here yesterday and really enjoyed the food. Their shrimp fajitas were AMAZING. I don’t recall what everyone else got, but all five seemed to really enjoy their food, too.
The environment isn’t anything to write home about, but the food is good enough that I don’t care. They still get five stars for the food.