Barrio Café

Well. One thing I can say about this place is that there comes a time when you become so popular and so famous that you forget about what makes you good: great, accommodating service. I asked for a simple drink and even showed them the recipe– a michelada Cubana, which is simply beer and Bloody Mary spices without the tomato juice. Simple accommodation considering that the regular michelada (with tomato juice) is on the menu. The waiter acted as if I wanted something extra special, and told me that he could not accommodate me??? What?! I guess he forgot how much he was charging for a plate of his restaurant’s award winning food… He forgot how much we waited for a table, he even forgot to check and see if he actually could attempt to accommodate my needs. He said «I will get you the regular michelada, and you don’t have to pay for it if you don’t like it» which he promptly forgot about. I left that joint, went down the street and got everything I wanted, with better service at half the price. Olé!

I found this place via google, and was very intrigued with the best Mexican awards. I love the funky vibe with the street art and local artists featured inside. The food is solid, but not knocking my socks off. I imagine to be decorated that there would be multidimensional flavors and textures where every dish is presented well.
The evening started with the bread and olive tempande. I like this spin that makes the restaurant unique.
We then ordered the table side guac. Definitely fresh and delicious guac, but nothing that is so spectacular that I was amazed. I did like the touch of pomegranate arils which provide a nice crunchy and juicy texture.
My friend had a house margarita which was pretty standard. I had the chata beverage which is horchata mixed with tequila and kahlua. It was tasty, but I didn’t really feel any effects of the alcohol despite drinking it before eating.
For the main course, I ordered the filetito torta which was delicious and tender. I got the salad on the side which was probably a mistake when the other option was fries. It was just mixed green with balsamic vinegar based dressing with some white cheese and some chopped up peppers. I enjoyed the torta, however. I can’t speak to my companion’s fish tacos as I didn’t try them, but it looked good but small.
The best part of the meal which actually lived up to the hype was the caramel churro dessert. It was goat’s milk caramel stuffed churro with more caramel on top with pecans and ice cream. Very good.
This is a good Mexican restaurant, but the hype around it just builds you up to be disappointed. It’s also rather pricey for what you are getting and for the lack luster presentation/​reputation/​flavors.

Saw an AZCentral article that lists Barrio Café as the «No.1 Mexican restaurant in the United States» by Tabelog. Seeing this the wife and I were really excited to try it out. I have had really good Mexican food all over the country and Phoenix has some of the best.
The wife and I drove down to Phoenix for dinner and was surprised by all the cool art on the outside of the building. Inside was loud and cramped. Being so cramped the staff kept bumping into each other and occasionally the customers too. I usually dont mind how a restaurant looks, I’m there for the food.
The first thing I noticed when opening the menu was the high prices. Some dishes are over $ 20 and I’ve noticed the prices have gone up referencing past menu prices. I’m one that doesn’t mind paying a high price for food but it better be worth it. We ordered the $ 11 Guacamole del Barrio which is supposed to be prepared table-​side for dinner but we didn’t get that treatment. Nor did we get the complimentary bread and salsa that others on Unilocal have said they received. We also ordered the carne asada tacos and fish tacos each dish at over $ 13 for street tacos. The taco dishes came with fries or a salad. We opted for the fries which are the thick cut style fries w/​seasoning. Service was really slow.
I went from being excited about the food to being underwhelmed. The carne asada tacos were good and the beef tender. The fish tacos were good as well and the fish crispy. The Guacamole had pomegranates which were a nice addition. The fries were so-​so. The food was good but nothing special. I was expecting to be wowed by the amazing «No.1 in the United States» kinda food but felt let down.
The bill was almost $ 60 for Mexican food that was nothing special. I have had better in the valley at multiple places and haven’t had to pay nearly those kinda prices. Must be the chef hype we are paying for. All in all I felt rooked. I really hate to feel that way about a restaurant especially one that has received really good reviews.
I dont think we will be back due to the high prices for over-​hyped food.

The food was amazing, and it deserves the recent attention it’s getting as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the US. The wait at lunch during the weekday was approximately 20 minutes, but once we were seated we got our orders in quickly.
For an appetizer, we ordered their queso fundido over their much talked about tableside guacamole, as it was something more unique and not typically found at every Mexican restaurant. The dish was rich and creamy without being too greasy or heavy. Highly recommended.
As our main course, we tried their cochinita pibil, pollo en mole, and pollo poblano, and while all these dishes were great (pollo poblano was buttery-​melt-​in-​your-​mouth great), the mashed papas and vegetable sides really stole the show at our table, and we wished we’d had gotten more.
The service, however, was less than ideal, as we had to wait a long time to get our waters refilled or for extra sauces. For the most part we felt very ignored and wished we didn’t have to constantly try to get the staffs’ attention.
Price-​wise this place is on the expensive side with an average of around $ 20 per dish. Their portions are not small, if that’s any consolation, but it is a splurge to eat here.
Overall, great food, average to lackluster service, and a price that may not sit well with everyone’s wallet. (Side: the murals around their building are beautiful and are worth spending a few moments appreciating)

Expensive, mediocre
When we sat down they brought out stale french bread with tapenade which felt like an odd choice for a Mexican restaurant. I ordered the shrimp salad with spicy vinaigrette for $ 16. It was literally 3 shrimp (!!) and around it was slices of brownish avocado and mango. That was it. The «spicy» vinaigrette tasted like store bought balsamic and I was as hungry when I left as when I arrived. My husband ordered pork torta, their house speciality. It was bland and forgettable. Don’t understand the hype about this place.

Chef Silvana keeps it ‘hood and keeps it family, which means you’re going to get delicious homemade food in a comfortable setting. Yes, her style is a bit more elevated than your average taqueria and you’ll be paying more than 5 $ for a burrito, but Barrio Café spares no expense to bring their patrons the best and freshest ingredients. They have dreamy cream of elote (corn) chowder which I must have, every time! The tacos are delicious and the desserts are la bamba!

I have been hearing about Barrio Café for a few years now, but had never made it down to try for myself. I seriously question my life choices that I had not been graced with that food earlier in my life.
We ordered Queso Fundido to start. I am somewhat of a queso fundido expert, ordering it every chance I get, but let me tell you, this one blew all the other ones I’ve had out of the water! The sauce was creamy and smooth, the additional ingredients were thoughtful and full of flavor; the chorizo added the perfect compliment of earthiness and savory to cut through some of the richness. Superb. I’d go back just for that.
My partner got the Enchiladas Suizas, which I’ve also had at numerous places (being quite a popular dish in Tucson, where I’m from) and again; these were in a class of their own. The tomatillo cream sauce was heavenly, the grilled chicken’s char was a lovely addition. Delicious
I ordered the Pollo Poblano. I didn’t know what to expect but man; I have no words. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the poblano sauce has the right amount of heat and sweet, the veggies were cooked perfectly (a bit soft, like my Nana would make), the potatoes had a crispy edge and the rest smooth and buttery. Perfection.
I’ve eaten a lot in my years here in Phoenix, and lord does it show; but I will say that, without a shadow of a doubt, this was the best food I’ve had in the area. A bit pricey, but so worth it.

Cool spot with awesome artwork!
Good, not great service.
Great menu selection.
Very small space for dining, over-​priced, food is heavy and a bit too greasy, tasty cocktails, NO beers on DRAFT, only bottled Mexican beer and half of them are flavorless, loud atmosphere, but try for yourself!

We found out about Barrio Café after seeing it on Diners, Drive-​ins, and Dives.
We went at the perfect time as we were able to get a table right away. It filled up while we were eating. The space is tightly packed but not horribly too tight. The only drawback it how loud it got at times with people talking.
I ordered the Cochinita Pibil while my boyfriend ordered the Chiles en Nogada. The pork in my Cochinita Pibil was very tender but was missing some flavor. Chiles en Nogada, on the other hand, had such an amazing flavor. I would recommend that to anyone. They both came with tasty mashed potatoes and a corn and zucchini side. Very yummy.
The staff was friendly and helpful with questions we had.

Delicious food and unique Margarita’s beyond compare. Small dining room but big enough to host a small dinner party and still feel you have privacy. Very friendly employees who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure a return visit!
The art work displayed throughout the restaurant is also tasteful and you have the option to purchase. Seeing the local arts showcased makes you start to feel our city does have culture!

I was very excited to try this well-​reviewed, Zagat rated dive that’s been around seemingly forever.
Well, I don’t get it.
The good: the people were very friendly. The horchata was fresh and very flavorful. The the chocolae Oaxaca dessert was pleasing though insanely priced at $ 12. The cochinita pibil has some interesting flavors. Well, the first one anyway. See below for this to make some sense.
The bad: The noise was insufferable. Sorry but the musical «group» for Saturday night has exactly 2 beats. It was just noise for a few minutes at a time followed by silence and then one of the guys saying «thank you» followed by a couple people applauding. The music, on top of a small dining room’s non-​existent acoustics made holding a conversation impossible. Many diners were leaning in to each other with one ear cupped. Others were plugging their ears.
The unfortunate: so there is simply no way that the food can be a total miss on a place this highly rated. My guess is that this was an off night. The pollo poblano was cooked so far into death that it took 2 of us comparing the chicken and the pork entrees to realize we’d been served each other’s dishes. Poblano peppers? Well, there were none. The mashed potatoes just tasted odd. The waiter was very willing to switch out the incorrectly delivered dish for another of the cochinita. The second cochinita arrived in less than 2 minutes which was impressive — yet, the pork did not seem to have been marinated at all. The menu suggests an over-​night marinade. Hmmm…
In my opinion: I’d rate the people and the server a 5 star experience. But, the ambience was something I couldn’t deal with at all so a 1 star for that. The food was not up to what the reviews and ratings had suggested it would be. On balance, 2 stars.
One last comment (in case anyone with the establishment reads this): when we were leaving, an obviously way-​too-​drunk male patron was standing within inches of one of the female servers. She was practically pinned against the bar. His hand was pressed hard down against hers on the bar top. Clearly he was hitting on her. She seemed a bit scared but was also bravely trying to make the best of it. One male server stood nearby not getting involved. I was about to interject when the male floor manager made an appearance. So, I asked him if the server was OK. He said she was. So I left. But, I think it better to kick an out-​of-​line drunkard to the curb (well, get him a cab because he was really wasted) and risk losing that customer over allowing this behavior to happen to one of your staff. I do hope it all ended well.

A must go place! This is one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve been to. First we ordered the guacamole barrio which had pomegranate seeds in it. I must say that was a great addition. They also served us french bread with some Mexican pickles which were amazing too!
Then we ordered the Enchiladas and Tacos. Though I don’t remember the names of those dishes but I will never forget the taste! Amazing food. The other most striking thing about the place was its décor. Felt like I was transferred to Mexico! They also has a musician performing live. I will definitely recommend this place!

Upscale Mexican in a cool no frllls enviroment.
Tried and loved the Enchiladas chicken and seafood. Great sauce. Salads and veg with entrees. Good shit.

My first time vision Phoenix and our friend took us to Barrio Café, great experience! I do not like guacamole and I must say, I LOVED the guacamole! The pomegranate was a game changer! I ate the pork entrée and it was delicious! My favorite part was the spicy mashed potatoes though! The service was also really good — our waiter answered all of our questions and was very helpful! I’d return to try out more entrees!

One of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve been to. Start out with the bread and tomato/​olive tapenade. Than we ordered the guacamole… I could not stop eating it. Loved the addition of pomegranate seeds in it. It brighten it up so much.
Hubby had the posole soup. He really enjoyed it. I got the del mar enchiladas. Omg they were so good! The vegetables of onions, corn and zucchini wish I could have eaten it all.
Saw this little Gem on food network «the best thing I ever…» And decided we needed to stop while traveling thru. So VERY glad we did!
If I ever get to Phoenix I will be back.

We’ve visited Barrio Café twice now. Both times, I’ve found the food to be okay, but not quite what I’d expect given the price you pay.
The place itself has a very hip ambiance, which I’m sure skews the opinion of many local food snobs. What’s kind of bizarre is that they are obviously going for a «dive» type feel, despite their prices not really reflecting this. There’s plenty of art on the wall for sale, presumably done by Phoenix artists.
Getting a basket of bread instead of the usual chips and salsa is a refreshing approach. I really like the horchatas that are served in Mexican coke bottles. It’s a unique flair, if nothing else. Don’t expect it to «wow» you on the same level as nearby La Santisima’s signature horchata, however.
I wanted to try a variety of their tacos, but since they refuse to accommodate any mix and match requests, I was stuck with three carne asadas. They were good, but not really any better (or worse) than what you can get at many other establishments for less. The «spicy» fries are actually standard fries with spicy ketchup. Eh. Whatever.
My girlfriend’s enchiladas suiza felt like they were desperately in need of something to liven them up aside from what was on them. I thought they were pretty boring, despite a pretty elaborate menu description.
We’ve sampled two desserts on two separate visits. The churros with a scoop of ice cream are good, but the price borders on arrogance. The last time I checked, churros are pretty damned cheap! But us white people love our overpriced foods, so what do you expect? The Pastel de Chocolate, gives you a bit more bang for your buck and is quite good.
If I come back, I’d probably stop messing around with «safe» foods and just get the Chiles en Nogada, since it seems to be the most popular item on the menu. I also intend to sell some of my finger paintings on Barrio’s walls if they’ll let me. I already picked the space!
In my opinion, it’s worth trying, but I don’t feel it’s a place that’s fit for everyone.

Conserve water. Drink tequila.
When in Mexico. Si. When in the Barrio. Si. Si. Si.
Enter through the back where you park. and sit in this artistic gem of a restaurant. It’s tight. So suck it in. The strum of a guitar played as we tucked ourselves into our table. There is live music here from Thursday thru Saturday in the evenings and adds to the ambience. A very nice touch to this quaint place with amazing food. It’s definitely tight in here. It reminds me of cafes in Europe. You may or may not get to know your eating neighbors. So since we are conserving aqua. I started with the Paloma. It came delivered by our friendly waiter with a salted rim and consisted of Patron Reposado Tequila, Mexican grapefruit soda and fresh lime juice. My husbands house margarita was legitimately worthy. We started with the table side guacamole. Our waiter rolls up and makes this with whatever you like. Pomegranates? We will pass. But everything else and it was perfect with awesome chips. The bread and an olive spread paste that was complimentary for the table was very good too. The menu is so diverse and some of the best native Mexican dishes from Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza that I have seen outside of Mexico. It’s truly hard to decide on one thing! I ended up ordering the Enchiladas del Mar. These enchiladas are blue corn tortillas filled with quesos of Oaxaca and de cabra, topped with lots of shrimp, lump crab and scallops in a tomatillo cream. I had the scallops held and that wasn’t a problem. One small issue after they were delivered, is that I wanted a salsa type sauce. My waiter seemed either confused or taken aback. I even pointed out the sauce/​salsa on other plates on the table and he pretty much just didn’t bring it! Cmon now! The enchiladas were amazing! I just wanted to ‘salsa’ them up a little. okay. So, one of the other people got an extra salsa and simply passed it to me. As, he simply never brought it. While dining the Filet de mi Tita arrived at the table next to us. I have never been one to go to a Mexican café and order steaks. THIS time. its on my ‘to go back and order list’. THIS steak was HUGE! It was on the menu for $ 26 and was piled with crab. I have had lesser filets in steak restaurants for way, WAY more than that price! Following dinner I ordered the café. I had no idea this was going to arrive in a larger than normal french press! $ 3.95 and you get a HUGE french press full of amazing Mexican café and pure cream. if you choose. Enough to share, trust me. We also just HAD to share the Churros Rellenos de Cajeta de Cabra. They are also pretty big! Shareable and filled with creamy, rich goat’s milk and caramel; then served warm with vanilla ice cream, MORE warm caramel and candied pecans. The Flan de mi Miami. I mean, we had to order and share this too! Also topped with candied pecans and a little Kahlua and a generous portion, as well. Melt in your mouth amazing.
The façade of The Barrio Café is in itself so unique. I spent at least ten extra minutes taking photos of the art. Inside there is more eclectic art, as well. As we left we felt lucky for getting to The Barrio Café about 615pm on a Friday night and not having to wait more than 15 minutes, because as we were leaving there was a HUGE wait outside and standing room only. I can see why this place was featured on Diners, Drive In’s and Dives with Guy Fieri. I seriously just have to go back now and stick with the plan to taste what he highlighted on that show!
Barrio Café is a perfect place for the senses of taste, smell and to the artful eye!

After seeing this place on triple D, I knew I had to add it to my bookmarks for when I visited Phoenix. Unfortunately for me, the food was just A-​OK. This place seems to be very popular though as it was completely full with a line of people waiting at 6pm on a Thursday night.
Our server, Claudia, was really great and hooked it up with the chips for us. We are used to the typical free chips and salsa when going to a Mexican restaurant but this place gives bread and salsa.
I’m from Dallas, TX and here we have street tacos and street elotes in a cup for a little over $ 1 each. We started off with the Esquites which is pretty much like the street elotes we have at home but were pretty shocked a small bowl of it could cost $ 9. It was good, though. Just not $ 9 good. I guess I’m used to it being so cheap at home.
We tried the infamous chiles en nogada and were underwhelmed. There was a LOT going on in that dish and maybe it was too complex for our simpleton taste buds? I also could not believe it was a $ 24 dish… a tad overpriced in my opinion. Not sure what was in there that could make it $ 24.
I also had to try the acclaimed Cochinita Pibil and got it in taco form. Again, I was underwhelmed… I was excited for it since it is slow roasted over night. The pork was pretty mediocre and the texture wasn’t as tender as I thought it would be.

Good food. 3.5 out of 5 but i’m nicer than most people think so i give it a four.
guacamole was nice, the pomegranate in it was a great gesture but felt it a bit having sat too long before being served.
The «pollo» was reasonable but the «mole» was amazing.
their house made drinks way too sweet.
service: friendly and a bit brusque… the server almost snapped at me saying «i don’t understand you!» i should have told him because he was a damn idiot but decided to take the high road.
anyways at the end all worked out and i would enjoy going back there on my next visit.
Thanks to my good friend Erin for her recommendation.

Good service, a nice friendly/​unique atmosphere, and excellent food, what more could one ask for from a Sunday afternoon brunch??? Not much. This past weekend, the family and I made the trek to downtown Phoenix to try Barrio Café and I’m sure glad we did. We arrived promptly when they opened to avoid the crowds, and even though we were so early, the service and food surely hit the mark. It took us a minute or two to actually find the place, but once we did, it’s actually hard to miss. Loved the décor and wall art, couldn’t have gone better with the food.
As for the food and drinks, everything was delish. We shared the «famous» guacamole, which was simple, fresh, and as everyone else on Unilocal can attest to, very tasty. For lunch I had the pork tacos… the pork they are known for. It was simple as well, but everything was good… not amazing, but on point. For dessert we all shared the tres leches, which blew me away (though I only got a couple bites).
This small hole in the wall place is serving up some unique, fresh, yummy food and drinks (BTW had a margarita and it was also very good), so you can bet we will venture to downtown again and pop into this spot.

One of the best meals I have enjoyed since living in Phoenix (1 year so far). Didn’t know what to expect. Originally I was thrown off as they serve complimentary bread instead of chips– but to my delight, the ciabatta with olive tapenade was «deelish.» My spicy margarita was outstanding.
Our super personally server suggested I go with the chicken molé—
FANTASTIC! I was so full but I couldn’t stop– it was like crack.
Thank you. I will be back.

My 100^th review! I waited for something truly epic to come along. Here it is. The Barrio Café! I drove up to see my bio dad and his wife. They decided to meet at the café because they said that they have the best food ever. I was skeptical because I practically live in Mexico, so who has the best food? Tucson has the best food! Just kidding.
I get there and they’re packed at 2pm. That’s saying something. We had some somewhat slow service, but the guy was super nice so I’m not docking anything.
We get the guacamole first. It has pomegranate in it or something like that. What!!! No. This was the best dang guac ever. I mean ever. I ordered the carne asada tacos. It was served with fries and two very unique sauces that I didn’t think to ask about. My step mom had this cheese stuff and this corn stuff. I had a bite of the corn and it was incredible. The tacos were awesome.
We had an excellent visit. This was a perfect choice in dining for the occasion. We did end up putting our lady Guadalupe on the floor because we needed more room for food. I’m definitely not religious, but I hit a huge traffic jam on the way home. Next time Lady Guadalupe can stay on the table I guess. I give this place a million stars. One million.
I’m coming to Phoenix for training next month. I’m ready to gain some weight! I hope you’re ready for me Barrio folks!

This casual, unassuming place is fantastic! Blown away by the carnitas and chicken enchiladas! They were both amazing! Highly recommend. This certainly seems like a place a person could eat at once a week! Great service with wonderful dinner recommendations. I doubt anything on the menu isn’t amazing. Can’t wait to come back!

Dank. Every time. Try to get here for happy hour, it really makes a difference. Chef silvana’s food creations is like artwork in every bite. Try every one of the tacos, and get the pink guava margarita

Hold to your hats boys and girls — excellent food, I wasn’t sure what it al was but it was outstanding. Love the people, live loud — go here.
Do you like tequila? Go here! Do you like guacamole? Go here! Do you like Posole? Go here! Do you like flavor? Go here!
I’ve stopped here 6 or 8 times while is phx, az — it’s close to the airport and I always have time coming or going to go here. Sometimes when I’m going I feel like I’m … It’s that good.
Unique and fun

Visiting Phoenix and a friend recommended this place as «one of the best» however it’s just OK… Not worth the hype.
I got the pescado tacos. They were mini tacos with one thin piece of fried fish with little flavor. Batter wasn’t good to me. The size of the tacos were the size of HH tacos I get back home in Seattle for $ 1. I love fish tacos and cannot resist them when they are on a menu, but these sucked.
My uncle got the suizas enchiladas. He said they were just OK. I tried some of the zucchini side that was in the sauce, but I thought it was decent. Overall, just OK.

Worthy of the hype in every way imaginable. Our server, Dick, was a true professional and took our dining experience to a new level.
The table side guacamole was excellent. I settled on the Pescado Veracruz and quite frankly it was as close to perfect as I could expect a meal to be. Yes it’s a little pricey but the quality and creativity of the dishes justifies it.

I had read such great reviews of Barrio Café, and was greatly looking forward to trying the cuisine. Chef Silvana had been awarded Best Chef in Phoenix by the New Times this past year, and Barrio had won multiple awards for its cuisine. I had high hopes and a little bit of fear of disappointment because of my expectations.
The décor of the restaurant is colorful and welcoming. There is a huge mural of «Phoenix» out in the parking lot, local artists’ work on the walls, and a unisex one stall bathroom with the largest collection of crucifixes I have seen that’s not in a museum.
Our waitress was very attentive and laid-​back (she had glasses and a shaved haircut with a bun– I recommend her!), and we ordered the guacamole, the signature Chiles en Nogada and a seafood tostada.
When the Chiles en Nogada came, I sliced a hefty forkful and dipped the savory pepper in its white sauce surrounded by pomegranate seeds. As I swallowed my bite, a rush of fresh flavors exploded in my mouth. In about 5 minutes, I had eaten the whole dish! I was not even ashamed — I wish I had more, just writing this.
What makes the Chiles en Nogada ridiculously good is the creativity and flair that goes into the dish. Not only this dish, but the other items at the table create an amazing tapestry of flavors that is a new twist to Mexican cuisine. I absolutely cannot wait to come back!

I visited this place for the 1^st a couple weeks ago after seeing it featured on The food networks Diners, Drive In and Dines.
I happened to be in the area and wanted to try it out. The outside looks great there is murals painted all over the building. When we walked in the place the first thing we noticed was that is was a small little cute place. It doesn’t feel too inviting and there isn’t much décor.
1^st off we arrive and we weren’t greeted until a few minutes later. Once we were sat we wait at least ¹⁰⁄₁₅ mins until we are greeted by our server granted it was a busy day. Only half of our table actually received the drinks they ordered and our server took forever to bring us our drinks/​apps/​food! The service was sooooo slow not as friendly as I would have expected it to be given that it’s been featured on national television and for the over priced food this place has I expected wayyyy better service for the staff!
Okay well now on to the food!!!
For apps we ordered:
–Guacamole: it wasn’t the greatest the pomegranate seeds did add a good kick to it but the guacamole overall had no flavor it was missing lime, salt, & pepper and just flavor in general.
–Equites: (Roasted yellow corn with garnishing) this was good it came with spicy mayo cheese and lime.
Entrees:
–Fish tacos: Were really good the fish was fried and had great flavor but nothing out of this world.
–Chilaquiles: they came in a green sauce with an over easy egg on top. I’ve had way better Chilaquiles else where. These weren’t crunchy they were a bit mushy which I didn’t like at all and you could somewhat taste the oil in them.
–Chiles en Nogada: my sister ordered this because everyone raved about how great it was, the plate failed to impress us! It wasn’t as amazing as everyone said it was. It was all sweet but no savory in it… what ruined the meal for my sister is that as she was eating it she found a produce sticker still on her chile!!! It was such a disappointment and made us all think twice on how unsanitary and careless this place maybe. Given that’s they can’t even take the time to wash their produce correctly!
— Enchiladas Suzias de pollo: my brother order this and he said they were alright not really worth $ 20. There was nothing special about them that you can’t get at any other place.
–Cochinita Pibil: we all agreed that this was the best meal of all. The meat was pork, the portion of the meat was big and had great flavor. Overall was a very satisfying plate. It did come with side dishes mash and veggies.
As for all the other dishes they weren’t anything amazing! This place is just over priced because it’s been featured on TV and it falls short of service and flavor! I wouldn’t go out of my way to try this place again. There are other places that are 10Xs better for half the price and better service!

So, I’ve written a lot of reviews on Mexican food in various places in search of the nostalgia that comes from growing up in California. I went to this restaurant with a coworker that saw it on TV and she raved about the Guacamole that had pomegranate seeds in it and I thought to myself. «Here we go, another failed attempt at Mexican food.»
I was so wrong, I had the guacamole and although the pomegranate seeds were in there this tasted like an authentic dish. So from there I went all in.
I also had the Chiles en Nogad, mainly because I like apricots and was curious about how it was all going to work. I can tell you that was one of best plates I’ve had. Everyone ordered different foods and no one was disappointed.
The service was fast and most of all pleasant and my coworker earned exponential cool points for picking this restaurant. Chef I salute you!

I came here twice this trip and as always it was amazing! Brought 3 friends and they were blown away. They all said they hated avocados and were hesitant to try the guacamole but once they tried it, it was every man for them selves! Each dish was amazing and prepared perfectly. Thank you again to everyone there for an amazing visit.

Amazing atmosphere, authentic food that combines many different flavors and spices. The staff was very welcoming and efficient. Although the area around it might seem rough, don’t pass this up. Highly recommend the agua de horchata, the carnes asada tacos and the churros! :)

What can I say… probably the BEST Mexican food I have had in years ! I had the Enchilada Suizas and it knocked my socks off. The first bite was heaven. The portion was just right and every forkful was a treat. The restaurant itself is mostly white with artist paintings hanging from the wall, but the outside is colorfully painted and a treat all by itself. The wait staff is great, friendly, cheerful and seem to be having a great time waiting/​assisting the eager customers. Looking around at what the other patrons were having made one want to stay and try a great number of dishes, everything looked like you wanted to go over and say, «Excuse me, can I have a bite of that ?». And there was no waiting for food, although the place as about ¾ full, the order arrived within 10 minutes, barely enough time to sip a Margarita. So, as you can tell, I loved the place, and will return.

No joke, this is probably one of the best Mexican places I’ve ever been to. It’s a small cozy place in central Phoenix, where they have local artists work hanging up the walls. The price is not cheap, but it’s worth every single penny for what you get.
First, I had the Barrio Bomba Margarita. Phew! I was buzzed a quarter way thru lol It was very tasty though! Two thumbs on their margaritas. I had the shrimp tacos and boy they were phenomenal! Life changing shrimp tacos! My boyfriend had their seafood enchiladas and he loved it too. Their servings were very generous. Last but not the least, the churros were amazing! I read an article that it’s one of the top 10 best desserts in the greater Phoenix area. No wonder! It is to die for. I would go back here just for that.
P. S. We are huge fans of the murals outside the restaurant! Such great work.

Go for the brilliant graffiti art on the rear exterior, and stay for the churros for dessert. Everything else in between is luke warm mediocre.
It’s been a while since we last ate here, and now remember why. Food and drinks are very expensive for what you get. $ 13 table side guacamole is ridiculous. They used to actually cut open the avocado in front of you, now someone puts a bowl of chopped avocado and the waiter adds toppings and barely mixes. Really? $ 13 for this?
The $ 13 margaritas were not that great. More ice than anything.
What I failed to remember up until the first bite was how items were luke warm at best. The squash veggie side was barely warm, as if heated in a microwave. The enchiladas suiza was hotter, but I could tell the ingredients weren’t just made. The chicken was dry. Flashback to the two previous visits. My dinner companion’s potato side was also barely warm, and the poblano plate was luke warm. Considering you are paying high prices to sit in what once was a store front in a mini mall, it adds a sour and queasy note.
The churro dessert was delicious. I feel that once you order, the service drops off. As the hype built over the years around this place, the owner and management have figured out how to exploit it. After $ 120, had diner’s remorse when leaving.
Suggest going for HH and dessert. Then go somewhere else for the full meal. Sorry Barrio!

Awesome food, love the murals, love the ambience, though the wait was a little long and there were two sizable flies hanging out on the window next to us that made me feel like someone in the vicinity was listening in on our conversation (I may have been binge-​watching Ray Donovan recently, maybe).
We came out here for a celebratory lunch, were seated almost immediately, our waitress gave us a quick rundown of the popular menu items which was much appreciated since some of us were new to Barrio Café. The choices were vast, and I was so torn between several menu items I ended up just going with the first thing that came to mind when the waitress asked for my order.
I wound up with the filetitto torta which was really reasonably priced ($ 16). This is going to sound rather odd but I really appreciate the range of prices of their menu items. You have things that are in the low teens, and some that go into the high twenties, making it accessible for people who are on a budget (like yours truly) and people coming in for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, and the like.
The torta was amazing. Huge piece of meat, topped with chorizo and I’m not sure what else cause I was too busy wolfing it down. It looked glorious, for the short time it was on my plate. I regret getting their spicy fries, not because they weren’t good but because the salad looked so much better — I don’t remember exactly what was in it (the dried cranberries did catch my eye), but it was definitely not your regular house salad. My boss ordered the carne asada tacos which I actually almost ordered but am glad I didn’t. I guess they weren’t quite as good since the response I got to «how were the tacos?» was «they weren’t as good as yours looked».
My only gripe was that it seemed like we were waiting for our food for quite a while but maybe our order just took a little longer to cook so I’m not too bothered by that. I’m definitely ordering their crepes next time I stop by cause damn, did they look good. Pretty much all of us were eyeing the neighboring table’s dessert the minute it came out, I’m not even kidding. Maybe I’ll just order that crêpe as my main course. Nope, I need to have that torta again. Or maybe try something new. Hmm.

Finally found a great tasting fish taco. This restaurant is not as casual as a café. The fish tacos were sooo good. All the customers seemed like regulars and ordered all types on entrees. The desserts looked amazing as well.
Will def go back!

I’m never in the area (or hood, as I like to call it), so when I was in the hood (or barrio, as I like to call it), I was well aware of the consequences of wasting the opportunity to hit the Barrio.
Driving past the front door, which faces 16^th St, I concluded parking must be in the back… which there was… just none for me… so I settled on the questionable lot on the north side of Edgemont… you know, where they filmed The Warriors? It’s ok, I’m totes insured.
So, I fabricate my best hardened criminal scowl, gangsta-​strolled up to the front door, lean like a cholo, and announce that I require accommodations for uno. That’s Mexican for solo. The hostess looks me up and down, and that’s when I remembered I was wearing my Disneyland Resort shirt with the adorable Mickey Mouse arm patch. Son-​of-​a-​nutcracker!
Luckily, I got the best seat in the house, right at the end of the bar by the entrance, where no less than 47 people came to order their drinks while waiting to be seated.
This is the first «Mexican» restaurant where I was served a sliced french loaf and tapenade.
I started out with the Esquites, which is a delectable myriad of buttered roasted corn, chipotle cream, cotija cheese with cilantro and lime, served in a petite martini glass. YES, this is the way a civilized person enjoys elote.
For the main course, I decided on Chile Colorado, which is a grilled bone-​in pork chop smothered in a dark chile and red wine reduction, paired with a spicy mashed potato and grilled zucchini (half of which were cooked perfectly)
Since I was in such a high-​profile seat, I thought I’d treat the clientele to a big boy eating a massive dessert, with my very large plate of dos churros floating atop a lake of caramel near a glacier of vanilla bean ice cream. It was a winter wonderland on my plate. Four people could have comfortably split this, but I was there to give the performance of a lifetime, and somewhere during Act 3, I spoon-​fed the last morsel into the black hole perched precariously above my chin.
In today’s match-​up… MAN WINS!
I love people, and my bar-​stool accommodations allowed me to chat with a seemingly never-​ending stream of patrons. I was walking people through the menu, suggesting specific pre-​dinner drinks (lowrider) and regaling them with my quips. My big hit of the evening seemed to be «Wow, it appears y’all missed the happy hour pricing». That one killed them all… especially the young couple who was charged $ 27.23 for 2 Modelos and 2 lime flavored tequila shots.
Barrio Café is spendy. The entrée was overpriced, but the appetizer and dessert were well worth the fare. Sure, my tab could have fed a village in Sri Lanka for a month, but I don’t know anyone there.

I saw this place on The Food Network’s Diners Driveins and Dives and it looked so amazing I had to put it on the list for my next Phoenix trip, and I wasn’t disappointed. The host, Guy, seemed pretty smitten with this place, and I can’t say I blame him.
The outside of the restaurant is covered with awesome graffiti style art, literary on all sides. The inside has a hip vibe to it and is broken into several small rooms with tables. We were seated right away on Saturday at lunch over a holiday weekend. Our server was with us quickly and was very nice and accommodating. He had no problem pointing out the couple things on the menu I should avoid, to stay away from da glutzen, but mostly everything else was gluten free.
We ordered the guacamole which was amazing and the unexpected pomegranate seeds added a nice sweet yet tangy component. I had seen a couple of their especialidades de casa featured on the show and it was the tilapia that made me decide that this place needed to make the top of my nom list. The Mojarra San Augustin was amazing. A piece of seasoned tilapia on a bed of the family recipe achiote and wrapped in a banana leaf. It was perfect. My friend had the spinach salad with pecans and golden raisins. She loved the spicy yet sweet dressing but wished she’d had more options as a vegetarian. I’m not sure what my other friends ordered, they are regulars here and love it.
Overall, wish I was still in the Phoenix area so I could explore this menu more. It has a great atmosphere, food quality is excellent, price is reasonable and service was good. Definitely recommend trying it out, Guy wouldn’t steer ya wrong.

Love the artwork and the fish tacos were good, too. I’d like to try more of the menu because I’m not sure if I like the place as much as I think I do. Well, that’s confusing but it’s not my fault because this restaurant obviously seduced me.

Okay, I can at least say that I’ll be back because, if nothing else, the made-​from-​scratch horchata in a Coke bottle is very good. (No credit to Coca-​Cola here although, considering the ongoing slide in soda sales, the company might think of copying the Barrio Café’s cheeky idea.)

Pretty awesome, saw this spot on Diners, Drive-​Ins and Dives a couple of years ago and remembered it when I was in town on vacation. I’m glad we came here for lunch/​dinner. The portions were big and the food was very good, not your regular mexican food which I really liked.
I ordered the famous chile relleno and it was sooooo good, I’ve had some good chile rellenos in the past but this one was different, stuffed with chicken, cheese, fruit and I believe nuts and topped with this awesome sauce and pomegranates, very Azteca which I loved. The side of mashed potatoes were especially good too, they had a little spice to them and they also gave a side of veggies, the dish was huge. My sis ordered the Cochinita Pibil tacos and those were also very good, three tacos stuffed with marinated pork and topped with pickled onions, what else can you ask for?
Don’t forget to get an order of the guacamole while you wait for your food, that too was delicious. We also tried to horchata which was divine and a mixed drink with horchata mixed in it (I forgot the name). If I ever come back to the Phoenix area, I’d definitely make this a «must dine» again. The only thing I didn’t like about it was it’s a bit small and we waited for a table for a while when the dining room didn’t seem too full, and it was a bit expensive, but worth the wait.

This had been one of my bucket list restaurants to try and it did not disappoint.
Came here for my wedding anniversary on a Friday night at 6:30 pm and was worried that we would have to wait. I tried to call twice and got the answering machine. We had a half hour drive so we decided to go for it. As we were on our way my wife was able to call them and they said about a half hour wait so I thought let’s do it.
As we got there I saw an empty table and were seated right away. Bonus!
Nothing fancy for the décor but a home feeling and nice and casual.
Was brought to our table and quickly had a basket of bread and salsa. The bread was so soft and the salsa was an olive base salsa which was awesome.
We started with the Fresh Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds which was prepared on a cart in front of our table. The waiter asked which ingredients we would like to add in and then he mixed the guacamole in front of us. Excellent and fresh! Would highly recommend.
Wanted to order some of the traditional mexican food such as the street tacos but ended up going with what the waiter recommended and was not sorry for what we ordered on recommendation.
We shared the Pescado Del Mar and the Filete Mignon Tita.
The Pescado Del Mar was a filet of Halibut topped with shrimp, scallops and crab, and a shallot of white wine cream sauce finished with longaniza chorizo sausage and Carmelized onion.
The Filete Mignon Tita was prepared as requested and was one of the most tendor filets I have ever had. Also came with a chipotle mash potatoes that was excellent.
We finished with the Churros Rellenos which were 2 churros with a large scoop of ice cream topped with caramel and candied pecans.
What a great evening of dining and celebrating a special occasion.

google a video for ‘Receta de chiles en nogada tradición mexicana’ on Unilocal,amazing