Huauchinango

Legit Mexican food! I feel like I’ve had kind of a hard time finding GOOD, LEGIT, Mexican food for a good value, but this is it!
I had some quesadillas that were amazing, and their salsa was amazing. On top of that their service is great. Super friendly people. Definitely worth a shot.

I love this place. Their variety of authentic Mexican food as well as great prices makes it one of my go to places.

I cant begin to explain how much I can appreciate a good ol mom and pop shop. This place definitely fits the bill! I had the quesadillas (corn) of asada and cheese and mushroom… it was delicious! The price cant be beat ($ 6 for 3) either. The server was so sweet and helpful and she spoke English so she was able to explain the menu… which she was happy to do! I will definitely be coming back. Love… love…love this little gem! And for those who were hesitant about the cash only thing… they now accept card. Just bring a few dollars for tip. They definitely deserve it.

Hands-​down the best Mexican food around Found this by mistake and I will now be a regular. The service was amazing if not better than amazing and the food was to die for

Such good, authentic, cheep Mexican just minutes from the airport. Very friendly, helpful staff. Get the spicy salsa from the salsa bar and dig into fresh huaraches!

Service was great, food was out quickly, and I really enjoyed my chalupas. My husband said the enchiladas were a little bland, which is why I only gave 4 stars. Definitely a hole in the wall, but you often find the best service (as we did)!

Home made chicken mole! Very authentic. No English. Cash only, otherwise would be 5 stars. Great hands made tortillas.

Great little Mexican restaurant with an authentic taste in the food. Kids soup is a traditional Mexican soup that every kid likes and the adult meals where really good too. We had enchiladas with a pork chop on the side and a huarache. The pork chop was perfectly cooked and had a great taste. Everything else was also good. Spicy enough to to enjoy comfortably.

Good food and good prices. Is a little casual spot, the service is really good. Will definitely come back to try more of its menu.

I ordered two fish tacos and a chorizo and egg burrito. The fish tacos were SO good. The downside is that they are served on one tortilla, so it got messy after a couple bites. Fresh veggies and great salsa verde. The burrito was a bit salty. The serving was way more than expected. I could have shared it and will been satisfied. Customer service was done all in Spanish. Once they realized I mostly speak English they switched it up no problem. Seating is at plastic covered tables and metal chairs. I’d come back again for the fish tacos.

I stopped in for the first time late afternoon yesterday, and there was a steady stream of people coming in for take-​out while I had the wet cheese enchiladas and three of the al pastor tacos. I’m giving the place five stars based upon the flavors and recipes which are clearly fantastic. The salsa bar has three different: a tomatillo salsa, a red one, and a habanero sauce — all quite tasty. The table tops were clean in this modest place and the people were friendly. The cook was eating a mole dish that I will try next time.
It’s my opinion that a TV with the volume turned on inside a restaurant (rather than say inside a bar) is a negative thing, but perhaps others like it on… I’m sure I’ll get more adventurous and try the unfamiliar menu items soon — -I trust the people in the kitchen here.

Recently moved to Mesa and am very glad I found this place. Food is excellent. I don’t typically enjoy Mexican restaurants on this side of the border, but this one has the authentic mexican comfort food that I love.

El servicio no era tan buena pero la comida… riquísima!

Huachinango might be hard to say for some people but don’t let that scare you This is one of most authentic Mexican fares I’ve had in awhile The tlacoyos alone have guaranteed I’m gonna be coming back

Deliciosa comida, la salsa habanera riquísima, tiene un sabor especial que sólo en «el huachinago» la puedes probar, me encantó que tienen opciones veganas recomendadisimo.

I was really looking for yummy cuisine in Mesa and I found it. The quesadillas were delish and the hibiscus drink was exactly what I wanted.

Best tacos Al Pastor since Mexico City!!!
Very helpful staff. The others are correct when they rave about the sauces !

I loved this place. The salsas are fantastic. The green and habanero are delish. I had the quesadillas. They come in a light green sauce that is full of flavor. Try out a couple different meats in them.
Definitely recommend trying this place. It’s more southern Mexican, which is a bit different style.

This little «hole in the wall» — «where the heck is it» Mexican joint is amazing. It is CASH ONLY so beware before coming in. The food here is incredible and a very different set of flavors than most Mexican you’ll find in the Phoenix Valley. I’ve sampled much of their menu and the main standout feature is the sauce. They have incredible sauces! From the salsa’s in the bins to the salsa that comes with the chips or the sauce they put over the quesadillas it’s all amazing. They have perhaps the best torta I’ve had.
This is a very different and unique experience compared to the majority of Mexican available in the city. It’s homemade menu, not the standard «[fill in the blank]-berto’s» menu you see at most places.

Wonderful experience and great homemade authentic Mexican food. Prices are very reasonable with lots and lots of tasty options. Wasn’t sure if we’d feel out of place here, but the staff was friendly and service was excellent. Our server took the time to explain the menu and made recommendations for dishes. Plus for the homemade salsa varieties that offered a very hot habanero option that I really enjoy sometimes. The food came out fresh and hot and was cooked perfectly. This isn’t a high dinning experience or refined cuisine, but it is fantastically good authentic food. This is a must try for everyone, and I look forward to returning to sample more of the menu.
Notes: This is a cash only restaurant.
Soda is served by the can.
Two things your won’t think twice about after your meal.

CASH ONLY.
Ok, I’d forgotten about this restaurant. They moved a while ago from their SoScott location (that may have been in Tempe) on McKellips. So I basically forgot about them. I was searching for this restaurant on Unilocal/​Google after a discussion about my taste in MX food. Come to find out, when Huauchinango reopened in the new location, the person that submitted this business page on Unilocal spelled the name wrong! So my search would turn up nothing on Google and Unilocal.I figured the resto was out of business. Then like magic, another Unilocaler mentioned it in Unilocal Talk. I caught the misspell by a Unilocaler today and searched on that and bam… IN BUSINESS!
Yes, this is some really good food from a bonafide-​hole-​in-​the-​wall joint. Makes me wanna do the happy dance when I used to eat their tamales. So of course, after finding them in the search today, via a Unilocaler mention, I knew I had to go here tonight! I’d waited for 2 years!
No tamales as they were out and would be making more for the next morning. I will return soon for the tamales. I’ll stop in for lunch this time or, call ahead to make sure they have them. So, no tamale tonight — that’s ok, I stuffed my face with a couple tacos. I had the carnitas and the beef tongue tacos. Both delicious and yummy. I ordered chicken enchiladas for lunch tomorrow. In true pig-​out fashion, I took a bite of that and the enchiladas are far better than I remembered them being when they were on McKellips. Just the right amount of salt-​ness with enchilada sauce and cheese on top. I top everything with something spicy. their spicy habanero salsa adds the right amount of kick to it.
Also on my to have-​again list from Huauchinango would be the mole (mo’lay).
I would easily give this play 5 stars if I could drink alcohol there and they don’t accept credit cards!!! Oh Lord, please get the Square or something! However, after I’m reminded how good the tamales are, I may come back for an update next week. Stay tuned.
Oh Yeah… CASH ONLY.

This is real authentic Mexican street food that you may eat while visiting the areas around Mexico City while on vacation. Same Tasty Menu and Friendly Owner from the Restaurant that he had at Mckellips and Miller in Scottsdale before he relocated. The menu is full of several family recipes that he has gathered from back home. Always fresh and flavorful. He has been in the Best of PHX issues a few times in the past for his Quesadillas. Just do a quick search at New Times for Huauchinango and they pop right up.
This is a Mom and Pop hole in the wall place. It is in a strip mall that looks a little tired if I can say so. Inside is nice, clean and casual with a kicked back sort of feel. The game of Soccer is a favorite there and you will notice a cool mural painted on one of the wall of a giant soccer stadium as well as a beautiful display of trophies from some of the teams they play in or support. There may be even a game playing on the TV from Mexico.
Everything is made from scratch. No mole from a jar. Being a foodie myself I have talked recipes (some top secret) and types of chili pepper used as well as techniques with him and I am amazed at what is involved to produce an authentic product. This is no Filibertos so do not expect that style of fast food.
I have tried just about everything on the menu including the BBQ lamb they sell on the weekends that is slow cooked in a special covered pit just like they do in his hometown. You can pick from several types of meats or styles. Chicken Tinga, Chicken with Chiltepin, Carne Asada, Marinated Pork, Carnitas, Chorizo, etc. Some of my favorites are the assortment of Tacos, Burritos, Tortas, and Tamales (I get him to deep fry mine). They have the BEST Habanero sauce in town. Other great dishes are the Enchiladas, Quesadillas and the really authentic dishes like the Huaraches, Tlacoyos, and Mole Poblano. Some even come with tender cactus sliced up and added to it.
Easy to drive right passed. No main signage on the corner but only on the building. Small language barrier when asking specific questions about something you may not have tried before but well worth the effort. You will be pleased. Like my friend in Tucson Isabella J. says «Keep it local when you can». CASH ONLY. Enjoy!