The ’slope saw its dining fortunes rise with Little Miss BBQ joining the fray three years ago, and remains a top destination for Mexican food, including these three new taquerias, all clustered around Seventh Street and Hatcher Road. Perfect for a taco crawl.
Valerie’s Taco Shop
9706 N. Seventh St., 602-612-3415
Here’s one carpetbagger we’ll gladly embrace. Owned by the same family that runs Southern California’s legendary Roberto’s Taco Shop, this original concept (their first in Arizona) takes over the former Flavorz Fish & Chicken drive-thru spot, and the fare is simply off the hook. Fried-to-order crisp-shell tacos are the masterpieces here – potato froofed up with cabbage and cotija, shredded chicken with cheddar – but the burritos, fish tacos, enchiladas and chimis are crushable, too. It all feels momentous, like getting our first In-N-Out.
La Santa
9521 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-369-5194, facebook.com/lasantamexicanfood
Across the street, you’ll find more tacos – these of the birria variety, served out of a permanently parked food truck with shade and mist for on-the-spot dining. Have your tender, umami-drenched birria the traditional way – wedged into chewy-crispy taco shells with a side of consommé for dipping – or in one of several alternate delivery vehicles, including pizza, ramen and quesadilla-like mulitas. Open late (11 p.m. most nights), La Santa also serves carne asada, pollo and the usual proteins.
La Oaxaqueña Mexican Food
9822 N. Seventh St., 602-354-3445, la-oaxaquena-mexican-food.business.site
Completing your taco trifecta: Oaxacan-style sopes from this longtime Valley restaurant that recently moved into Sunnyslope from 19th Avenue. Granted, sopes – thin masa cakes smeared with refried beans and topped with crisp lettuce, cotija, sweet marinated onion and the meat of your choice – are a bit more like tostadas than tacos, but you eat them with your hands, so let’s not quibble. The sit-down restaurant also offers tlacoyos (basically larger, stuffed sopes) and other bright Oaxacan delicacies.
