TACO HUNT PART FOUR: Tacos Chiwas
Welcome, everyone, to Part Four of the Hold Your Fork “Taco Hunt” (Be sure to catch up on parts one, two, and three before embarking on this journey).
This stop on our hunt for the best taco shop in Phoenix: The notorious Tacos Chiwas.
First, ask yourself… What do you think of the place? Is it the best? Is it the worst? Is it just another taco shop? (Guy Fieri loves it! But what the fuck does that guy know? joking.)
Tacos Chiwas has won some local awards for their tacos and their infamous beans. Bryan Suarez and I took a long lunch to eat tacos, flex our unwanted opinions, and assign some awards of our own.
TACOS:
Chicken:
Tasty, moist, charred, nice aioli and pickled onions for acid. The bright and colorful taco has equally bright and fresh flavors.
Carnitas:
Tender, yes. I feel like they should be crispier and more aromatic. Either way, this shit’s dank. When we say tender, we mean grandma’s-pot-roast tender.
Tripe:
Fried and super tasty like a tripe chicharon, with a really nice texture. Chewy in all the right way (However, this is subjective. Some might be turned off by how chewy this one is).
Lengua:
This is definitely the best in town. The other Lengua tacos on this hunt have been chewy so far. It tastes like it’s been braised really well because it has a great tender bite. #1 LENGUA IN PHOENIX.
Calabacita:
If you’re a veggie lover, this one's pretty good. Methinks it could be cheesier, but the squash is cooked really well it has a nice chew. Other than the cheese, we couldn’t ask for more. #KeepItSimpleStupid
Al Pastor:
Not my favorite, but good either way. It’s kinda spicy and less sweet, which I like. Carne:
Salty and really juicy, thick cut of beef not thin or chopped. Pro tip: Add the caramelized onions from the cart.
Chiwas:
Ham and beef with the spicy Chile are a real flavorful combos. The shredded cheese is very traditional to Chihuahua. Definitely one of my favorites! Add the onions after your first bite.
Gordita rojo:
The sauce is DANK. A lot of technique was used in the making of the rojo and beef braise. Real, real tasty. Add some lime and go crazy. White shirt wearers— be cautious it’s messy 😂
HORCHATA
When we say too much mouth feel, do you know what we mean? There is too much texture to the horchata, as if you are drinking a tasty sandy milk. THE FLAVOR IS GOOD, but it isn’t something you have to get here. Maybe opt for a bottle of coke.
LOCATION
Love the location. It’s centrally located, and probably the best taco shop near the downtown area. Located around 19th street and McDowell, Chiwas has a great patio with three or four farm tables allowing different parties to chat and share their appreciation for some Phoenix tacos.
Parking seems to be the only issue here during peak lunch hours. They have parking on both sides of the building and a few spots in back. I also think you can park by the building next door, but you have to pull back out onto McDowell, which is heavily trafficked.
CURRENT RANKINGS:
Tacos Chiwas
Restaurant Atoyac Estilo Oaxaca.
Tacos Sahuaro (Demoted due to a consistency issue*)
Tacos Huicho