Restaurants Atoyac Estilo Oaxaca

I have a hard time deciding what to get every single time we go! (Luckily everything is $ 1-​$ 2 so getting five tacos is no big deal!) All of the tacos are generally on corn tortillas, dressed with fresh cilantro and onions.
The fish tacos are my favorite, but the chicken, and al pastor are great too. They serve their tacos with a side of grilled onions, peppers, and fresh limes.
The cashier/​waitress is the same girl every single time and she is always super nice and helpful when you have questions.

The best tacos in Phoenix. Fish, pastor, steak, awfully good.

By far one of my favorite places in the greater Phoenix area. The food is cheap but very good. The staff has always been friendly whenever I have visited and have never batted an eye whenever I have asked for more salsa (I always do).
The spicy burro is very good and you can actually taste the flavor of the meat which was a nice surprise as it seems most places tend to hide low grade meat with overly flavored sauces. As mentioned in other posts, the tacos are small but that isnt such a bad thing. It gives you the chance to try a lot of different kinds.
Even if you dont live in the area, this little place is worth the drive. The only issues are that its not very easy to find and parking can be in short supply if its busy.

Best tacos I have had in a long time. I had the carne asada they were moist and flavorful. BF had the al pastor tacos he said they were the best tacos he had ever had. The meat was marinated and very juicy. The friends with us loved the rice and beans which I didn’t have. They also said the horchata was the best the have had. Very small quaint taco stand with good inexpensive food.

Came from Northern California to see my new granddaughter and dad brought us here to have the best pastor taco I have ever had! Will definitely make this a must do when back in town! *****

Used to love this place, and finally decided to give the new place a try. Ordered fish and chorizo tacos to go.
First negative: was reluctantly greeted by a teenager girl. Didn’t even acknowledge me until a guy she was talking to pointed to me, she then finally greeted me. Definitely miss the warm greeting of the tall bald guy!
The fish tacos were decent, the fish was more oily then I prefer. The chorizo tacos were horrible, to be honest. It was salty and had an unappetizing flavor. I hope it was an off night. I’ll try again in a year (if still around).

I jumped up and down when I found out Atoyac reopened! I ordered carne asada, fish, and AL pastor tacos with a molote and a churro. The al pastor here used to be amazing and it’s still good. The carne asada and fish tacos were okay just not memorable. I felt like they were a little stingy with the salsa. Skip the molote if you ever come here. Definitely order a churro if you know what’s good for you. I’d come here more often if I lived closer it beats Filibertos but I won’t go out of my way to eat here. It’s just not the same!

My cousin took my son here who loved it so much he kept begging us to take him back and boy are we glad we did.
The general area is a little shady and the building has seen way better days but the food is so good. We usually order the tacos which run about $ 2.00 each and are small. I can eat 3, my son can eat 6. My husband had the Mexican hot dog and swears that its the best one he has ever had in Phoenix.

Not so great. The place is pretty, the server is very sweet (with limited English) and the margaritas were good. But the food was bland. Arepas were dry and nit as flavirful as we’ve enjoyed elsewhere. Maybe our shared appetizer and two different entrées were a misorder or maybe it was a bad day? At these prices, I exoect better tasting food.

Whoah, SUCH A GOOD FIND. Right up there with the best Mexican I’ve had in Arizona. Everything I’ve ever had… And I’ve had everything has been amazing. The staff is always super nice too. The pastor is the absolute best! Their taco salad is even ridiculous, everything is so fresh. Check out this whole in the wall spot ASAP!

I tried visiting the previous incarnation of Restaurants Atoyac Estilo Oaxaca (RAEO) on my last visit to AZ in the Spring of ’14, but –to my disappointment– they had closed suddenly due to an apparent kerfuffle between the owners? But, like the venerable Phoenix rising from the ashes, RAEO was reborn to similar critical acclaims by the Unilocal community. Being a bit of a Taco aficionado, I had to see what was doing and if all the hype was worthwhile. Here’s the scoop:
Tacos:
Al Pastor– Probably the most uninspiring of the three meats I sampled; dry, bland and no sweetness that I usually associate from Al Pastor. 2*
Tripas– Best of the bunch, as the Tripas were crunchy, tasty and not gamey at all. 4*
Carne Asada w/​Mole– Pretty surprised to see a Mole Taco on the menu, but –then again– they do have «Oaxaca» in their name. The Carne Asada had a nice beefy flavor, but was barely spiced up and the Mole was also just OK; it lacked the layers of flavor and complexity that a good Mole should have. 3*
Churros– Very tasty Churros that were hot, fresh and they put some kind of glaze that really kicked them up to the next level. 4.25*
Horchata– Again their Oaxacan roots show through as their Horchata comes served up with Pecans and Cantaloupe to give it an almost dessert-​like quality. That’s not to mention that it might be the best Horchata I’ve ever had! Smooth, Cinnamony, creamy and the texture/​flavor of the toppings really put this thing out of this world. 5*
Service & Ambiance– The lady taking our order at the front was nice enough, but seemed clueless about the menu and was constantly having to check with the back anytime we asked a question. Maybe she was new – who knows? I’m not from PHX, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out RAEO is in a bit of a Ghetto-​fab neighborhood. All you have to do is look at their neighbors; Smoke shop? Check. Dollar Store? Check. Check Cashing? Check. Divey-​looking bar? Check. It’s confirmed. Ghe-​to-​the-​tto… 2.5*
Value– Their prices are on the lower end for street tacos ($ 1.25/ea), but they might be the smallest I’ve encountered. I know they’re not supposed to be huge, but usually three will fill me up, and after eating three of theirs I was still hungry. Next time I’m getting five… 3*
This might be a situation where the hype surrounding RAEO might’ve gotten my expectations too high, because I was not impressed with the tacos and found them to only be mid-​range. With that being said, I would still come back for the Tacos if only to get at some more of that white drank! Mild recommendation on the tacos, but highly recommended to get your sweet tooth fix. ¡¡¡Órale!!!

This place is the best! I go here at least twice a week. The owner is really nice and always comes out to say hi. I also appreciate when the kind girl remembers you and what you ordered last. It’s a place to get a great lunch, dinner or even have tacos for breakfast! Have you done that? I have done that here, its the best here.
FYI: DONT use the restroom. It looks like the building is crying. I think it might be from a leaking pipe. It isn’t a sign of the quality of food.

Great street tacos! The chicken tacos are fabulous. Even better are the fish Tacos. The service was fast and the price wasn’t too bad. Definitely a place to go for good tacos.
Taco Tuesdays offer $ 1 Chicken or Pastor Tacos.

Use to love this place but my previous 3 or so visits have been disappointing, they’ve changed the menu and added a couple of new items which is fine by me, but during my last visit I ordered a asada pizza and when I got home there was a different type of meat on there. I called the establishment in which the cashier assured me it was in fact asada but you don’t come to the same place for years and suddenly don’t know how your order is suppose to taste. I tossed it in the trash along with the rest of my food because like I said this wasn’t the first time my order had been messed up.
It’ll be a while before I head back over here

A solid spot for Mexican that’s a cut above many other restaurants. When you walk in, you see an open, modest kitchen and a plain seating area. You’re not here for the scenery, you’re here to shove some tacos in your face!
Here’s what I tried:
Horchata: Not often I see little cubes of cantaloupe and pecans in this beverage. Very sweet and enjoyable, but I’m accustomed to a bit more of a kick in mine… like nutmeg or something. I was also disappointed that while the menu said «aguas», this is the only one they have. No melon, pineapple, tamarind, or hibiscus tea. Bummer. At least it was only $ 1.80
Fish tacos: batter was pretty bland, and the smidgen chipotle mayo didn’t help much. My dining companion actually added salt to this! Definitely needed to get bailed out by the grilled onions to taste complete.
Burro al pastor: A tad bit on the sweet side for me, but the grilled serranos sure did make this good. It was a solid, heavy burrito that was more filling than it looked.
Overall, this is a very inexpensive place with tons of options. I’ll be back to try something new like the carne asada and chorizo burrito, or maybe see what their quesadillas are all about. I like my Mexican to have a little more of a kick, but the sides and salsa can remedy that. I’d definitely go here over the –bertos in the area.

You like fish tacos? Go here. That’s all you need to know. Sure, the building ain’t pretty, and the surrounding area is sketchy and hard to get to because of light rail construction.
But eat some of the fish tacos (I recommend eating them there, takeout isn’t as good) and you won’t go anywhere else for a fish taco.

Shrimp tacos are delicious!!! We tried the spicy taco with carne asada for the first time… so yummy!!!
Make sure to get a side of onions and jalepenos! However our total tab was $ 36.
10 tacos, 2 sodas, side of rice and beans.

Buried Treasure
Urban lore often directs one to look among the rubble of dubious boroughs for the finest of flavor. People have likely driven by Restaurant Atoyac Estilo Oaxaca for years, without stopping, overlooking this diamond in the rough. I had. Having won the Phoenix New Times Best «Rising From the Ashes» Award; there is more than meets the eye to this otherwise humble establishment.
Just beyond the rush hour traffic lay explosions of flavor in fish, al pastor, chorizo, and mole tacos. Heading back to the counter for seconds; the shrimp, carne asada, and chicken tacos reverberate the same savory blasts. Excavate through the ice that once chilled some of the finest horchata in the valley and resurrect the remains of cantaloupe and pecan.
Regardless of opinions on the curb appeal, the inside is always clean, inviting, and pleasant; indoor and patio seating. The striking young lady at the counter is friendly and accommodating; offering onions, peppers, and sauces. Accept them, then find a place to sit with safety straps; it’s about to get exciting.

Easily some of the best tacos in the phoenix area!
I’ve been here before they briefly closed, and since it opened up again and have noticed no change in quality. The Fish tacos are top-​notch. There is a good amount of fish, and a light batter — not too heavy, and never overcooked or tasting like oil, which I’ve experienced elsewhere. The Carne Asada, Pollo, and Al Pastor are all great as well. I’ve tried the quesodilla with meat here as well, and its amazing! The horchata is pretty much the best I’ve had, and I always get horchata anywhere its available!
Some tips — Say yes to the onions and peppers, say yes to the pecans and cantaloupe in the horchata, and make sure to drink the horchata from the top — not with a straw — to make sure you get some of this with the horchata.
The exterior looks questionable, but don’t let that turn you away, the meal more than makes up for it!

I went back here not realizing I’d been here before… but I think it went by a different name? Tacos Atoyac? My review is somewhere on the old page. Well It wasn’t until I was on 19^th that I realized I was heading back to the same place. Since I was starving and its right around the corner from my dentists office, I decided to give the place a second try. Nope, same old problems.
Got the:
*Carne asada tacos (1.50) — tiny portions, meat tastes funny to me like its been mixed in with other meats, which I suspect anyway since they probably use the same grill to cook everything. Still, I haven’t had that issue at most Mexican restaurants I go to. And the meat is also dry with some rubbery pieces.
*Fish tacos (1.50) — tiny portion and the batter is just utterly bland. Rubios has better fish tacos. I don’t care for the sauce they put on it either.
*Spicy chicken tamale (2.25) — good portion size but comes with very little meat and kind of dry.
*Horchata– its ok, almost has a milky, buttery taste to it. Not enough cinnamon IMO.
I know 1.50 sounds cheap, but for the size and flavor, I don’t think its worth it. Location is as hole in the wall as you can get in a very shady part of Phoenix. Even at 10am I still felt uncomfortable getting out of my car. And the construction around there is atrocious, although that is not their fault. They are building tracks for the lightrail to come through here. Service is friendly though.
I really wanted to like this place but I don’t think there will be a 3^rd chance, especially with Taqueria Los Yaquis so close to here (too bad for weird hours though).

Jenny and I hit up RAEO because we recently moved to the area so we just MUST try the local food joints. I typically prefer to cheat east, not west, of our place but when you’re talking about good mexican food in a little hole in the wall next to a tobacco shop in a we buy gold shopping center, you’re going to have to give up on location (doubt they are planning to expand into Kierland or anything). I do wish they were open later but, as I pointed out about the location, I can’t fault them for their hours.
Anyways, the food is good and the service is legit. We haven’t decided yet if it will be our new «bring out of town visitors here for the good mexican food that is near our place» mostly because of the ambience. It’s great for me, fine for Jenny when she’s really in the mood for good mexican, but you know how visitors get. Maybe we’ll take our most casual friends — definitely not a place to meet the parents for the first time.
Recommend the hot dogs and you can’t go wrong with any of the tacos. Fish tacos here are better than most places but their carne asada is great for those of you who like to play it safe with a classic order.

This place was so good I just had to bring my room mate to show her what really good Mexican tacos and Horchata tasted like.
This time around I got to try their Spicy Chicken Tamale and of course some tacos and a side of Horchata to accompany it. Also decided to dine in.
The Tamale was good, moist masa but not too thick or dry. The chicken actually had a bit of heat, but so flavorful. The tacos were amazing just how I remembered them.
Full 5 stars for the owner (?) who asked if I wrote the review that had a missing taco and said they would give me one on the house. Which I didn’t feel was necessary, but was so nice. I ended up tipping them for it anyways.
The food here is amazing and miss my local eateries in San Jose, California so much because the flavor of the food is so similar.
Great tacos, cheap prices and I give props to establishments who do take the time to read reviews here.
Thank you Atoyac, I’ll definitely be back for more Taco Tuesdays!
P. S. My room mate had never had Mexican food– besides Taco Bell and Chipotle (which you can hardly call Mexican/​inspired) but she thoroughly enjoyed this new cuisine and left satisfied!

No hay ninguna cosa en todo México que se llama «perro caliente.» Especialmente en el estado de Oaxaca. En que exactamente están pensando ustedes? My previous review still stands. Thank God Dan is gone. All the other reviewers. .. don’t gush about things of which you have no personal knowledge or experience. Like when I go into pizza joints en Michoacán o Guerrero and the Mexican nationals tell me that this is the «best pizza in the world» and it is «just like NY or Chicago.» Uh, no it isn’t, and you don’t have room to judge or gush. And if you don’t understand what I wrote above, you REALLY don’t have room to judge. .. either me, or the menu, or the taste/​quality of the food. Best of luck to the new owners/​management (?) but to anyone who hasn’t been here. .. don’t believe the Unilocal hype, because that is all it is. .. hype from people who think they know better but really don’t. If you really want good tacos (that will actually fill you up at a decent price) go to one of the many Los Favoritos locations across the valley.