Opened: July 2024
Owner Aldo Jaramillo opened his first Tacos & Craft in downtown Tempe earlier this year, but road construction on Mill Avenue was killing his business, so he packed it in and moved to Peoria, where he dispenses craft beer, craft cocktails (how about rum-spiked horchata?) and creative craft tacos in a sleek, industrial-style space. Sit at the bar to watch the magic happen and take in the subtle aroma of wood smoke from the Santa Maria grill. Kicky guacamole ($8.99), sprinkled with cotija, Tajín and cilantro, arrives with hot, crunchy corn chips and zippy morita salsa, made with dried, smoked jalapeños. Queso fundido ($9.99) – a mild blend of mozzarella, Oaxacan and Chihuahua cheeses, also served with Tajín-dusted chips – is a gooey cheese-lover’s dream. Street tacos include a luscious lengua taco ($4.95), and a slow-roasted goat quesabirria taco ($7.25), gooey with cheese and sided with chile-sharpened consomé for dunking. Meanwhile, the craft tacos are fire: mildly spicy jerk chicken (sweetened with pineapple salsa, $6.99), beer-brined drunken chicken (amped up with morita salsa, $6.99), and sauteed nopales (cactus pads, $6.99), whose bright astringency is fantastic with melted cheese. Lucky Peoria! I’d love to have T&C in my backyard.
Wild Card: Crisp, light-as-air Aztec fry bread, topped with cinnamon, powdered sugar, chocolate and honey ($7.25).
9340 W. Northern Ave., Peoria, 602-826-9509, tacosandcraft.tumenupro.com
