The Mission

We were recently in Scottsdale on vacation and had dinner here. We LOVED it! The place is very cute (you would never know it from the outside, which is a little «sterile» looking), the staff is so friendly and welcoming and the menu was packed with so many things we wanted to have, that we know we just need to come back again soon to get it all in. The service is good, the ambiance is fun, the prices are excellent for the portions.
We had a little of a lot of things, but our favorite was the table side guac, and also the corn. We loved the pork tacos in the soda marinade (I know I am butchering the name) and wished we had two orders!
This place is a must if you are in Scottsdale.

The Mission is our go to restaurant when we have friends visiting from out of town — best Mexican food hands down! Ordering the Street Corn is an absolute MUST! The table side guac is also worth the price — delicious and made fresh to order.
The only downside of The Mission is that it’s so popular — it can be very difficult to get a table — plan ahead and get a reservation!

I was recommended this place by a local thought I’d give it a try. The service was ok place was super crowded they set us outside right next to the air conditioner which was not ideal even when it’s 90 degrees out. I ordered the flank steak by the time it got to me it was cold because the food took forever to come. For the price you pay the portions were small. Only great thing was the fresh guacamole.

I am an avid Mexican taco fan. But these street tacos blew It out of the park. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ll be able to go to my usual street taco place anymore due to the change in my expectations!
So so so tasty, rich in flavor, the perfect mixtures.
We ordered a couple of different flavors (I’m regretting not trying the seafood) and had one of each. I couldn’t tell you which was my favorite. (The steak did stand out)
Another good sign of a good Mexican restaurant is their chips and salsa. I almost filled up completely on chips and salsa because they were so hard to resist! The table side guac wasn’t bad either. But I am through and through a Barrio queen quac lover.
We were completely stuffed but celebrating a birthday. Well the pineapple upside down caramel bite of heaven changed my life and I would consider going back just to fill my sweet tooth cravings!
Definitely go check it out if you’re a Mexican food lover!

My absolute favorite restaurant in the valley, with the best menu and take on modern Mexican cuisine. They always do their best to accommodate us, and go above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need. I love their pork shoulder tacos, and their cola lime pork belly is the best appetizer in the world!!! Street Corn off the cob could be a meal all its own, and the chorizo Panchetta is such a delicacy. Short Rib, chicken and skirt steak tacos rival the best in town, their Creekstone filet is unbelievable. If you’re feeling brave, ask for a side of their ghost pepper sauce, it’ll change your life!

Always at the top of my list when I have out-​of-​town company. I don’t exactly remember my last meal there but whatever it was makes me want to return. Excellent wait staff — and a great wine list
When in Scottsdale start here

Best guacamole, make sure you order the table side guac and the pork belly appetizer. So much to choose from, I wish I had a bigger appetite. The cocktails, service and flavors were great. The restaurant is very cute and attractive. Location was perfect, near the Saguaro hotel and plenty of parking nearby.

Had lunch in the bar there last week during a business trip to the area. However, the first impression, from the outside, made me hesitate slightly. Primarily due to the somewhat sterile look of the place adjacent to a beautiful old church.
Glad I followed the Unilocaler’s advice and went on in to be greeted warmly and noticed the uniqueness and beauty of the interior. The service at the bar and recommendations for lunch were very nice.
I had the on-​demand, handmade guacamole which very good. I followed the chips and guac with the short rib barbacoa tacos. I was leaning towards the mahi mahi tacos but then… I can have those almost anywhere. The tacos were the right choice, thanks to Ruthie the bartender’s recommendation.
I would certainly look forward to visiting The Mission again during my next visit and I’d would give one of their sister restaurants a try too.
My 2 cents.
Greg T.

The best… and I mean {*BEST*} margaritas and guacamole I’ve had in Scottsdale thus far.
I’ve visited twice, both on Saturday afternoons, and both times I had reservations and was thankful I thought ahead. I can’t wait until their back patio has their liquor license again and will be lining up for that ambiance my fellow reviewers say is absolutely beautiful!
There so do many different occasions I would come here for… drinks at the bar, lite eats with friends, a special dinner, brunch… you name it The Mission is perfect for it.
You must get the table side guacamole, it’s perfect. The brisket torta {with egg} was my favorite food so far. Their steak tacos and rock shrimp tacos are also delicious but the brisket was the meds winner for me… not sure what you want? Too many good options? Your waiters will Not leave you astray with food for drinks.
Two visits, 5 Stars both times. I will be back. No question.

Ate at The Mission on two recent Phoenix trips, once in restaurant and once delivered to my hotel. Both times it blew me away! I don’t know what they put in their food, but my tastebuds can’t get enough. I’m almost considering a move to Scottsdale from Seattle just to be closer to The Mission. Fish taco fans rejoice because theirs are some of the best. And the duck empanadas are not to be missed. Seriously, why is this place so good?
I suppose I should also mention that service was great and atmosphere delightful.

Ah the ambience of cacophonous blasting tunes like a Soderbergh soundtrack, the romantic hustle and bustle of sitting near a kitchen watching servers amble to and fro like hockey players during shift changes, the allure of being feet away from the prep station of the guacamole carts, the culinary joy of brittle greasy chips, cardboard like tortillas, flavorless chewy two bite tacos for $ 12 — all while basking in a cavelike décor.
Next time I’ll take $ 100, walk down the street to Wadaa and feed all the people at Whiskey Row some wicked good real street tacos.

The Mission has great tacos and margaritas. I don’t recommend getting the seafood (scallops) though. We smelled them as they were bringing them to our table. I can’t believe we were still served them because of the scent alone. Nonetheless, my husband who doesn’t want to send anything back ate them. They were raw on the inside which made them chewy. I don’t know about you but I’m not exactly into chewy and smelly food.
Other than that, the service is pretty good and the food is decent.

Amazing dining experience! I chose The Mission as my birthday destination because I wanted to try the food so bad! They not only delivered the goods, but managed to blow my mind at the same time.
I had been hatching «my mission» to visit The Mission for quite some time. It began after sampling their Peruvian Clam Stew at a Unilocal party. Though it was a mere shot glass of a sampler, I was hooked. The mixture of spicy chorizo, briny clam goodness, and sweet coconut milk forever lingered on my palate only to tattoo my brain with a flavor memory that could not be satiated. Until now.
My dining compadre and I started with the tableside guacamole. It is the perfect balance of everything good that should go into guac. My server almost forgot to top it with toasted pepinos, but I mentioned this and got my dose. We moved to the Peruvian clam stew, but had them split the order in half so we could each sample it… and save room for a meaty entrée. It was everything I had dreamed about and longed for ‘lo these many years. Another nice touch is the sweet corn niblets that were sprinkled throughout the dish, providing a burst of sweetness to the rich complexity of the chorizo and clam broth.
Our entrée was equally fantastic. Slow-​cooked pork shoulder tacos. The handmade mini tortillas are presented on a heated salt rock! A generous hunk of fork-​tender pork shoulder plus grated cotija cheese, diced red onion and fresh cilantro comprise this build-​your-​own street tacos ensemble. It really is a generous portion that feeds two, as claimed on the menu.
I might have let it slip to our tableside guacamole preparer that it was my birthday. Our waiter picked up on that and brought over a complimentary dessert that was the coup de grâce. Warm bread pudding in a salted caramel sauce with a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream… Decadent without being overly sweet. This dessert again demonstrates the deftness with which The Mission balances flavors and textures. Pumpkin seeds provided some crunch and pomegranate gems gave just enough of a contrasting pop of tartness amidst the sea of delicately sweet caramel sauce.
Needless to say, I had a fabulous birthday, due in no small part to the otherworldly meal I had at The Mission. I will continue to dream about this food until the next time I am summoned. And then… should I choose to accept it… I will embark upon another holy mission in search of deliciousness…

The Mission is fine dining in the quintessential casual Arizona atmosphere. Fine dining means exceptional food with exceptional service at exceptional prices. Fine dining also often means the entrees are small but the flavor combinations and quality will be unique and worth it.
The table side quac has a few unique twists like creamy garlic, chipotle sauce, jalapeños and green peppers and pumpkin seeds but since it’s table side, you can specify what you do or don’t want in it. We kept the chipotle sauce out, minimized the garlic and had the red onions on the side so only my husband ate those. It was tasty and perfectly suited to us.
I had the Mahi Mahi tacos. Yes, they’re tiny but the quality was high and the flavors were a unique blend that worked very well. My husband had the tecate skirt steak tacos. The steak was very tender and flavorful. We would both order them again.
We both had water with our meal because it was hot and we felt dehydrated. As expected the water tasted fresh instead of the usual AZ «I just licked a rock» water that many restaurants serve. As we were paying, they were giving out their house blueberry lemonade alcoholic drink for free. I had one. Again, drinks are small and the flavor was fresh.
The bill for quac, water and 2 taco platters was about $ 50. I mention this not because I was surprised but because other reviewers expressed shock. We were both impressed enough with the flavor and quality of our small plates that we agreed we would come back for dinner some time, recognizing we will probably drop $ 100 on entrees alone, and double that if we have appetizers and dessert. As mentioned above, the service was excellent — prompt, frequent and friendly

My friend chose this restaurant on a whim for her birthday lunch, and definitely no regrets here!
We went there on a Saturday during brunch expecting a long wait but they got us seated within ten minutes!
What we ordered:
Table side Guacamole: excellent and fresh!
Street Corn: went along nicely with the guacamole
And then for our main entrees we each shared:
Mahi Mahi tacos: one of the best mahi mahi tacos I’ve ever had!
Crispy Rock Shrimp tacos: average but still good
Tecate Skirt Steak tacos: different from what we expected but was delicious!
For drinks we had the strawberry banana margarita.
Service was friendly and polite. We didn’t even tell them it was my friend’s birthday because we didn’t think that they did anything special for birthdays, but when our waitress saw my friend’s birthday card on the table she had dessert immediately sent out for the birthday girl when we told her it was okay.
Overall, great food, great service, great ambiance. Would definitely come back again!

Great spot! Came here for lunch and split:
Table side Guacamole: great!
Street Corn: amazing– asked for it off the cob so that it wouldn’t get stuck in my teeth!
Brisket Torta: ok, brisket was a bit dry
Pork Shoulder Tacos: tasty but not much meat
Our service was good, the patio was beautiful and the food was tasty. I’d come back for sure!

Hard to find a reservation here on Open Table on the weekend, so Monday was the day. We were there early, too — 530. Place was empty inside, and outside just a handful of tables. My wife is constantly jabbing me about worrying too much about long waits, so I got more razzing this time. But that would soon change.
We started with the guacamole. It is pricey, but very good. I recommend going with the spicy, but tell them to lay off the salt and the garlic.
For cocktails, my wife got the Blood Orange, i got the Cucumber Jalapeño on the recommendation of our server Canton (sp?). I’m a sucker for cucumber margaritas, and this one did not disappoint. I wanted a pitcher! My wife was not as thrilled with her Blood Orange, but she loves Grand Marnier in her margs. For her second, she went with the house marg and had them add Grand Marnier — Bingo!
Dinner was outstanding. Simply delicious!
My wife got the braised short ribs. Very good, well-​balanced and plenty to take home. We got a side of the street corn and it was also very good, although my one complaint for the night was that the corn was literally swimming in the aioli. I’d recommend a lighter touch on that. I’d also recommend a little more of a toast to the corn. But, seriously, it was STILL really, really good.
I got the Flat Iron Steak, and it was server medium rare. Frickin’ delicious! What a great beef taste, and not too chewy — although, like all flat irons, be sure you are ready for a bit of a fight when you eat this cut of meat. It’s not a tenderloin cut. But what a great meat taste. The sauce on top was also delicious.
We took a pass on dessert, although the fried bananas looked very good. I also have to mention that the chips and salsa were a bit disappointing. The chips were generic thin, thin chips and the sauce was a chipotle salsa. Would have loved some house made chips and a fresh pico de gallo.
But those are quibbles. This place ROCKS! And for a couple of people who live almost within walking distance of one of the hottest Mexican places in the Chicago Suburbs, Bien Trucha in Geneva, we have to say this place is a CLOSE second to BT.
We’ll be back!

What a cool spot! The location alone is almost worth the visit. Back patio is best.
Started with the guacamole and suggest you give it a whirl. They make it table side with the whole gambit of ingredients added to your liking (cilantro, lime, onion, jalapeño, pumpkin seeds).
The tacos are their speciality and I found the steak tacos to be well marinated and balanced.
Dessert was legit too — pumpkin bread pudding and espresso churros were the best part of the meal.

The Mission is so beautiful and authentic looking from the outside. Inside, it’s «shabby chic» meets St. Mary’s Basilica with votive candles burning, crystal chandeliers and whitewashed furnishings. There are interesting and unusual seating areas throughout the dining room. My favorite — tables near a cozy fireplace in the front courtyard — so comfortable and inviting. The patio, where we sat was quiet and comfortable as well. This place gets six stars for ambiance.
Service was top notch too, Tony served us and others filled in when he got pulled to another table. The tequila and wine selection was large and varied. We started with a few signature margaritas and mojitos. The prices seemed reasonable based on the portion sizes we saw being distributed around the room. The menu is small but filled with interesting options from the standards to the sublime.
We began with the obligatory guacamole, made table side, and an order of Mexican street corn. Both were uniquely flavored with unexpected ingredients (who puts pumpkin seeds in guacamole?!? — I will from now on!).
We were already getting filled up on the great chips and mole-​like sauce they put on the table so we kept it light and ordered tacos for our main courses, short rib, skirt steak, mahi mahi on top of small hand made corn tortillas — loved them all. We ordered a few sides too — papetes with chorizo and chipotle grits (unbelievable flavor and texture!). We finished our meal with the pumpkin bread pudding and coffee, beautifully served in a French press. The bread pudding was good but in my opinion, the only part of the meal that didn’t excel.
I will tell all my friends about The Mission, any trip to Scottsdale should include a visit.

Incredible Mexican food in Old Town Scottsdale! The restaurant itself is charming with a great patio in the back. We came with a party of ten and our waitress was very attentive.
As many reviewers have already mentioned, make sure to order:
1) Table side guac ($ 12) — filled with jalapeños, cilantro and yummy Cotija cheese
2) Street corn– served on the cob so it can get a bit messy but so worth it!
3) Barbacoa tacos– comes in an order of three and was quite filling. I loved the crunch from the cabbage, tang of the bread & butter pickles, which all harmonized well with that savory meat! Delicious