ADDRESS: 20221 N. 67th Ave., Glendale, in the Legends Shopping Center on the northeast corner of 67th Avenue and Loop 101.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-376-6270.

HOURS: 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNERS: Jennifer and Dino Kodofakas.

CUISINE: Fast-casual Mexican.

ADDRESS: 20221 N. 67th Ave., Glendale, in the Legends Shopping Center on the northeast corner of 67th Avenue and Loop 101.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-376-6270.

HOURS: 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNERS: Jennifer and Dino Kodofakas.

CUISINE: Fast-casual Mexican.

MEXICO CITY — Christopher Kostow foraged in the open stalls of the Mercado San Juan, the most gourmet of Mexico City's crumbling, pungent public markets, as vendors hawked: "This way, this way! What can we offer you?"

An old favorite restaurant spot is getting new life with New Mexican-inspired cuisine.

Blue Adobe Grille (144 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, [480] 962-1000). The carne adovada plate is the highlight of the New Mexican dishes found at this award-winning establishment. There’s an excellent selection of Southwest infused seafood as well, including lobster tamales with mango salsa and raspberry chipotle. $$

El Palacio’s Mexican Restaurant in Chandler is celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain with a homemade salsa competition, live mariachi bands, dancing provided by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli and a kids activity zone. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Xico — a nonprofit arts organization.

It sits in plain view on supermarket produce stands, hardly hiding but often overlooked. Tucked among orange habaneros, polished tomatillos and voluptuous red bell peppers, the jicama looks like a dusty old stone.

Let’s just cut to the chase: Cantina Laredo is one of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at this year.

There's a Red Lobster at Times Square in New York City. If that sentence sends you into a rant about what's wrong with society, this story isn't for you.

Long before Emeril — long before even Julia Child and James Beard — America had its first great cooks: American Indians.

Pancheros Mexican Grill, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant, is opening Jan. 29 in Chandler, and they’ll sell $1 burritos to mark the occasion.

When most people think of New Mexican cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is chile peppers. So you might be surprised by Blue Adobe Grille, which has been serving tasty but not necessarily spicy New Mexican food for nearly a decade near downtown Mesa.

Lucha libre wrestling, surf music, cooking demos, a mariachi contest and thousands of $2 tacos characterize this event, taking place at Salt River Fields, where more than 50 teams compete for National Taco Association prizes.

Wine dinners are old hat. Tequila dinners aren’t uncommon. And we’ve even managed to wrap our minds around the gourmet donut and craft beer pairings at Il Vinaio in downtown Mesa.

A Mesa restaurant is hoping to offer connoisseurs of Mexican food and drink a not so party-hardy way to ring in Cinco de Mayo.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28 support the Chandler Center for the Arts by eating breakfast, lunch or dinner out. Through the “Eat Your Art Out” campaign, participating restaurants will help fund programs at the arts center by donating a percentage of the day’s proceeds.

On the heels of the recent announcement of the second phase of restaurants soon to be brought to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the first phase is underway with a host of establishments already open.

Chandler police say a male victim was shot inside a Serrano's Mexican Food restaurant near Arizona Avenue and Frye Road Saturday evening.

When El Palacio Restaurant & Cantina owner Anthony Serrano saw some of his customers eat ten to 15 tacos a piece during his regular $1 Taco Tuesday nights, he started wondering how many tacos a person could inhale in just one sitting.

ADDRESS: 28615 N. El Mirage Road, Suite 102, Peoria.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-433-9815.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNERS: Chef Charles Schwerd and Chris Ricke.

CUISINE: Arizona Mexican (Mexican comfort food).

SEATS: 155 in the main dining room; 40 in private dining room; 75 on patio.

ADDRESS: 28615 N. El Mirage Road, Suite 102, Peoria.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-433-9815.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNERS: Chef Charles Schwerd and Chris Ricke.

CUISINE: Arizona Mexican (Mexican comfort food).

SEATS: 155 in the main dining room; 40 in private dining room; 75 on patio.

ADDRESS: 28615 N. El Mirage Road, Suite 102, Peoria.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-433-9815.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNERS: Chef Charles Schwerd and Chris Ricke.

CUISINE: Arizona Mexican (Mexican comfort food).

SEATS: 155 in the main dining room; 40 in private dining room; 75 on patio.

Julian Wright is owner of La Bocca Pizzeria + Wine Bar, 699 S. Mill Ave, Tempe. (480) 967-5244 or www.LaBoccaPizzeria.com