This past Saturday afternoon we stopped by a Latin Grill in a strip mall in Chandler, just minutes from Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and it ended up being one of those hidden gems you almost don't want to tell people about... but absolutely should. The crew is primarily from Venezuela, and the owner, Mike, who we had the pleasure of talking with, is originally from Mexico and moved here from Southern California around 2013/2014. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was just as impressive as the food. My sons actually found the place on a YouTube channel, so we decided to swing by before heading to church and then Top Golf. I'll be honest -- when we walked in I was surprised the place wasn't packed. After tasting the food and experiencing Mike's hospitality, I honestly can't understand why there isn't a line out the door. We ordered two chicken quesadillas, nachos with carne asada and al pastor, two chicken empanadas, horchata, and churros with ice cream. My two sons are very picky when it comes to quesadillas, and both of them said these were the best quesadillas they've ever had. The tortillas were crispy but not overdone, the meat was tender, and the rice and beans were seasoned perfectly. The nachos were easily big enough for two people, and both the carne asada and the al pastor were phenomenal. The chicken empanadas were amazing as well, and now we can't wait to go back and try the other proteins they offer. One thing worth mentioning is that everything is house made. At one point Mike brought out his salsa matcha for us to try and... wow. He really should bottle and sell that stuff. This nutty, spicy Venezuelan chili oil was incredible. It wasn't overpowering at all -- it complemented every dish perfectly. I could honestly eat it on everything. They also cater, and they sell breakfast burritos daily at the gas station on the corner (I believe it's the Chevron). We'll definitely be trying those soon. The restaurant itself is very clean -- dining area, kitchen, and even the bathrooms. That always says a lot about a place. Needless to say, this has officially become our new go-to spot. My kids were already asking if we could go back later that night. We will definitely be back to work our way through the rest of the menu. read more

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My husband and I stopped by Achiote Latin Cuisine for a casual date night dinner. The restaurant is small but very clean. We were welcomed when we walked in & given a quick run down of their menu. It's very straight forward with options of tacos, burritos, empanadas, arepas, bowls, etc. I selected the Pabellon bowl with grilled & shredded chicken. It had rice, black beans, cheese and plantains in addition to the chicken, and came with garlic sauce. My husband got the Don Achiote taco plate with carne asada, chicken, & pork; it comes with a side of garlic white rice & pinto beans. We also got a bean & cheese empanada to share. All items were simple but very well executed. Their garlic sauce is really very good and made the bowl taste delicious. I'd recommend all three items. They have pick up & delivery options on their website, if you want to order online. It wasn't busy when we went so the food came out pretty quick. Overall, a solid choice. Stop by if you're in the area. We'll be back to try an arepa soon. read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Pabellon Bowl with grilled chicken & shredded chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

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This place might be my favorite Latin food place to go!! It looks so simple from the outside, but don't be fooled the food is PACKED with flavor! The sauces are truly unique and so delicious!!! I wish they sold it by the bottle! The owner always there and he is so kind and friendly. I hate seeing this place have empty tables because I feel like people are missing out! Seriously! Come try it! Easily one of the best Latin meals I've eaten!!! read more

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We were warmly welcomed upon arrival by the employee. There's three tables for 4 and four tables for 2. The dining area was clean. Two parties were ordering ahead of us when we arrived, but we didn't have to wait too long for our food. 25ish minutes maybe? The Don Achiote Taco Plate did not disappoint! I got it with shredded chicken, al pastor, and carne asada. The proteins were tender, tasty, and not salty. My favorite was al pastor. My wife got the same tacos without the fried cheese, which was definitely worth the extra $1.50! Gonna try the Pabellon Bowl and churros next time! read more

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What a great hidden restaurant for tacos! Arrived for lunch. Somewhat busy. We placed our order first and seated ourselves. Clean tables and bathroom. Our food took a bit longer to come out however it was worth the wait. I got the classic tacos with each of the proteins. The salsas were perfect with just the right amount of heat. My favorite was the beef empanada! Sweet and savory goodness! I'd order that again. We'll be back! read more

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i love supporting small businesses and this restaurant has some great food and super friendly staff. Stopped by on a whim with no expectations. You can tell they have recently opened but there is plenty of seating and very clean. I got a shredded beef burrito and a trio of tacos to try. We got a taste test of the shredded chicken and shredded beef before making our decision, and I love samples! The shredded beef is really tasty! The horchata is alittle too sweet for my preference, but I also am not a fan of super sweet drinks and food. The burrito was super delicious, next time I'll ask for no rice, again just my preference. Really great prices and really yummy food. Cant wait to see how this new establishment develops! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Taco trio - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

Excellent food and customer service. Reasonably priced and delicious. I got the shredded chicken empanada and it came other this insane green garlic sauce. Also tried the carne asada burrito-very good! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Shredded chicken empanada. 5 star! - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

I saw the food on social media and had to come visit this place. I ordered the arepa pabellón. Filled with shredded beef, black beans, cheese, sweet plantains, rice, and it had so much flavor. This by far was my favorite, especially for the price. Not to mention very filling. You can't beat $11.00. Hanz provided great customer service. And as my first time visiting the restaurant he really went above and beyond. This Mom and Pop restaurant was definitely worth the drive and I'll certainly be coming back to this location. I hope this restaurant continues to thrive!! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Arepa pabellón $11.00 Oh so good!!! - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

Best empanadas I've ever had. Very flaky and crispy. Chips were done of the best too, with a great crunch to them. It's hard to find arepas around here, delicious. And the owner was the nicest guy, Mike. Our very picky daughter loved the Carne Asada, highly recommended of your kids are the same. Papelon and this cranberry chili sauce were surprise finds, we loved it all. read more

Such welcoming staff! She truly cared about the business and told us everything for our first visit! Great pride. YUM spicy salsa and hot meat. I loved the carne asada burrito read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Carne asada quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

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Absolutely amazing service, flavor, quality and you get what you pay for! We tried the bacon breakfast burrito, shredded chicken empanadas, carne asada arepa and had three tacos (chicken, al pastor and carne asada) HIGHLY recommend!! Churros were a nice sweet treat after all the delicious savory options we got. Mike and his staff are friendly and welcoming! Definitely a must try spot!! ALSO!!!! Get the green garlic sauce, I call it my golden sauce, it's so damn good on everything, you won't regret it!!!! read more

We went today after trying one of their breakfast burritos at the grand opening of 10:19 coffee. We got one carne asada arepa, two shredded chicken empanadas, one Al pastor taco, one grilled chicken and one carne asada. This has been the most delicious food my wife and I have had since moving to Arizona. Their garlic green sauce is spectacular!! The service was amazing and Mike the owner is so nice and friendly. If I could give this restaurant more than 5 stars I definitely would. I can not wait to go back!! read more

Forst time going we enjoyed everything. Flavor was nice, but when we went the 2nd time there were issues. Food arrived at the table cold. Sadly we won't return. read more

Fabulously fantastic! I absolutely recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Mexican food! They absolutely deserve 5/5 stars and more! Their food is very healthy, and how do I know? Well their Tortilla chips weren't covered in salt, the Empanada wasn't greasy, and even the drink was mildly sweet. I tried the Venezuelan Empanada (with Carne Asada) and the Nachos. The Jamaica drink, made with Hibiscus tea, was also spectacular The empanada combo came with beans and rice that tasted great, again not mega salty like everywhere else! The owner was super friendly and welcoming as well. The restanrant was clean and organized. Will defiitely go back. read more

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Mucho gusto Achiote! What a pleasant surprise sampling Venezuelan meets Mexican cuisine. This spot isn't your typical fast-Mex taco shop. Just about everything on the menu is hand made, the flavors were exceptional, service was attentive and the food creative. Highly recommend the savory fried beef empanadas, the house special arepas with beans, beef and plantains were delicious, and the pork adobada tacos were tasty. This place knows how to make roasted salsas that compliment the food. If you have a sweet tooth the horchatas and churros are great ways to finish the meal. read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Papelon 16oz strawberry melon horchata - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

On Friday we had a very casual, delightful lunch at Achiote Latine Cuisine. My husband found it on Yelp and I saw that Yelpers Joyce and Michael already had posted glowing reviews. The owner welcomed us inside and we read the menus. While deciding two other customers came in and were ordering what they liked on their previous visit. Impressive for a spot that just opened a month ago! The manager noticed that we were newbies and went to the kitchen and brought us samples of three meats they offer. I thought I would favor the carne asada (steak) over the chicken and al pastor (pork) but in this tasting I did not. The chicken was the winner for me! Winner, winner chicken dinner! The seasoning of the achiote spice is what I like! The garlic rice and beans were subtle but nice sides on my Don Achiote Taco lunch special. $12. The incredibly kind owner brought all three of the salsas to our table so we could sample each one on our entrees. The vegetarian nachos $11.99 were very good my husband said and the owner also confided that he has embraced a vegetarian lifestyle too. Personally, I still like my meat- although the soy chorizo was pretty tasty on the homemade tortilla chips! To top it off, a few complimentary churros were brought to us. When they are hot, fresh and the sugar is just beginning to melt so is my will power to resist these delicious fritters! LOL Mmmm, crispy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside! Five stars but I can sum it up with three F's. Flavorful, friendly and ready for future visits! read more

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Support local mom and pop restaurants. They opened in July 2024. Small but flavorful menu. They have 7 tables inside 4 built for 2 guests and 3 for 4 guests. No alcohol. Coca Cola fountain machine. I usually order to go. They cook to order so expect to wait a few minutes but worth the wait. read more

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As a Colombian craving arepas, Venezuelan arepas are close enough to feel like home--and Achiote really delivers. This place is very good! The service was great, and the arepas were absolutely delicious. Definitely coming back! read more

WHAT IS ACHIOTE? Achiote is another name for annatto seeds (Bixa orellana), and achiote paste is the Mexican condiment that gets its main flavor from annatto seeds. I stopped to Achiote Latin Cusine a whim. I got the pork burrito bowl, and it came with 3 mini churros! ACHIOTE has only been open for 1 month, and it is a strip mall off of Ray. I have to tell you I just got what they recommended for me. O, my delighted taste buds went to heaven! Bowl consisted of onions, cilantro, pork carnitas (chopped up really well, no pieces to big), pinto beans, cheese, and rice. Now I tried this when I got home nice and hot it was delicious! But I want starving, so now comes my midnight snack.... Even cold, this bowl had flavor! I was amazed as this is never the case! To my supprise 3 Churros! CHURRO CHURRO CHURRO! Amazing, tasted freshly cooked, not oily, but light a cinnamon and sugar ( I like more cinnamon and sugar on mine, my preference only) I found Achiote by accident and you should too! Family owned, family pride! Go today!! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Happy Fresh Churro Bundle - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

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This small restaurant at Cooper and Ray is wonderful! We wish we would have tried it sooner. We asked the owner what he recommended and let him pick for us. Everything was unique and delicious. The arepa was filled with tender shredded beef that had great flavor. The plantains were a surprising sweet addition. The carne asada might be the best I've ever had and the chicken was great too. The empanada was crispy with a slightly sweet exterior that paired well with the shredded chicken inside. Also had strawberry agua fresca and churros to finish. We will be back for sure! read more

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I was so excited to see someone on IG share about this spot being Vegan-friendly and couldn't wait to come check it out (especially being close to home). It's a small little spot in a strip mall with a few tables and everything is made to order. The vegan items (and other secret menu items) are on their IG page, so don't miss out on checking it out to see everything they have to offer. I do recommend putting all the items on the menu in the restaurant though as not everyone is on social media, and you miss out thinking they only have a few taco items. I got the vegan bean & cheese arepa, vegan potato & cheese arepa, and the choco flan, and the hubby ordered the three taco plate with one of each meat option. I was in heaven after the first bite of the arepa. I miss being able to get arepas & empanadas like I used to with my family in NY, so this was awesome to be able to enjoy a stuffed arepa and know it was vegan. The rice reminded me of how my abuelita used to make it and the beans were well seasoned. The potato one was just as good with well seasoned and slightly crisper potato chunks! The cheese on both could have been more melty but I know how hard that is with vegan cheese. The hubby enjoyed the tacos and said the carne asada was his favorite as the seasoning was spectacular. He also enjoyed the rice and beans (especially since it's white rice as he has never liked Spanish rice at Mexican spots). The choco flan is divine. Rich and moist cake and light airy whipped flan on top, and the caramel drizzle just brought it all together. I will definitely be back and hope there's a vegan empanada on the horizon! Monica was spectacular assisting me as soon as I walked in, guiding me to the vegan menu, suggesting the choco flan, and bringing the food out to us. Whether you order to go or dine-in, you can't go wrong. Service and food on point! read more

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Churro Fact: Churros are an integral part of Spanish gastronomy and they are consumed throughout Spain. They are widely regarded as a hangover cure and therefore, they are most commonly associated with the Sunday breakfast... In fact, they are a popular breakfast food in Spain." ― travelersuniverse.com More reason to move to Spain, right? Anywho! Came here with Michael W. and ordered myself some chicken al pastor nachos to share. The kind cashier had told us they had been open for a few days, having moved from a food truck to this brick and mortar, and yay! Great bites all around. While enjoying my nachos with both the red and green salsa, the cashier came over and brought along a green sauce that has the consistency of avocado crema but is actually made from various vegetables. It tasted great on the nachos. I also appreciate how they fried their own tortillas for the nachos as well. As for dessert, she brought some churros over on the house (although we had been planning to order churros after our meal so it can be freshly fried). These are the kind of churros you want. Crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. You can get them served with ice cream and/or drizzled with something sweet. Congratulations to Achiote Latin Cuisine and welcome to the Chandler community! Wishing y'all much success. I'll be back. I want a quesadilla and some flan next time. read more

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BEST FOOD IN GILBERT!! I was visiting Arizona from LA for some personal matters and while staying at an Airbnb with Venezuelan hosts, I came across this spot on Yelp. This place is Venezuelan and Mexican, the reviews were all amazing so decided to give it a try. From the moment I arrived I was impressed the place is spotless, everything looked impeccable, and I even got to meet the owner. He was extremely kind, took the time to chat with me about his business, and even offered me a complimentary drink after my purchase. You can really tell the food is made from scratch with so much care. I ordered Venezuelan empanadas and when I brought them back to share with my Venezuelan friends, they said these were the BEST empanadas they've had in the US, they felt like they were back home in Venezuela. That says it all! The next day I went back to try one of the bowls, and wow absolutely delicious. This place is a true gem. Excellent food, welcoming owner, and an experience that left me so happy I'll definitely return whenever I'm in town. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Instagram works. I saw them over on 'gram-town and I knew I had to stop by. Tacos and churros? Yes please! We shared the chicken al pastor nachos ($10.99), Don Achiote taco plate with carne asada ($13.50), and the nice cashier gave us some churros on the house for dessert. Woe, every bite was really good. All the meats had good flavor and the portions were just right. It's usually pretty easy feeling like a grease ball after having some nachos but these were perfect. I enjoyed the chicken. As for the churros, it was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Chef's kiss. I'll be back for more churros and tacos. read more

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Solid find! We got the don achiote plate with one of each taco. Everything was great, the al pastor was the definite winner though. Pineapple makes all the difference. Also really liked the garlic rice. The Jamaica was tasty, churros were served straight out of the fryer, super fresh. We will definitely be back to try the arepas! Restaurant was also extremely clean and service was great. Just go try it! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Don Achiote Taco Plate - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

Warm, friendly owner in a cafe with excellent service. I had the arepa pabellon. It was the perfect meal with my favorite ingredients including perfectly cooked plantains, incredibly seasoned beef and black beans. The homemade sauces were the perfect additions. Friendly service and amazing food! They also do catering! read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Arepa Pabellon - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

Surprisingly I have not had a ton of Venezuelan food but now life is complete. Arepas!! Are you kidding me right now? Stop what you are doing and get down there. Oh and do yourself a favor and get the Tres Leches. I like literally turned into a valley girl and like literally lost my mind. Literally. Great family owned restaurant that deserves the support of our community. Get down there now. read more

Once we walked in, Mike greeted us and was very helpful with making recommendations for food we should eat. (We haven't been to many South American restaurants and having someone helpful made the difference) While we were waiting for our food, Mike gave us a few samples of drinks to try out. The best thing that we ate was the Arepa and I would recommend giving it a try if you are unsure what to order. The Service was great, the food was phenomenal, and even through the cooking was a little long, it's expected to take a little while to cook something that isn't reheated. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a new South American place to eat. read more

Fabulous food and service. Everything came out fresh and hot! I love sweet fried plantains and they were 10/10. Shredded chicken nachos were made with juicy chicken and the chips were hot and crispy. The garlic sauce adds even more flavor so definitely get that too. Churros to top off an affordable and delicious dinner for our family! We will be back. read more

Came in for dinner and the girl working was really friendly and helpful. I ordered the pabellon arepa and it was a great combination of flavors. The shredded beef and shredded chicken empanadas were also great. read more

Tacos were delicious, the cheese on the tortillas was so yummy. My favorite was the chicken but my daughter loved the carne asada. The black beans were soooo flavorful and the rice was not what I would expect normally but I enjoyed it! The churros with ice cream were perfect. The owner is very kind, and the shop is nicely decorated. This place deserves more recognition! Go try it out if you're in the area. read more

Achiote Latin Cuisine - Don Achiote Taco Plate , 3 Churros - Mexican Near Me - Chandler, Arizona

I discovered Achiote Latin Cuisine when I was browsing Yelp for somewhere nearby that I could eat at. The place still seemed new but already had very good reviews. I went during the evening on a weekday and there was plenty of parking available in the strip mall where it was located. The restaurant itself wasn't too big, probably had less than 10 tables and each table can seat about 4 people. This seems like a more casual spot to eat at. As I walked in, I saw they had some vegan friendly options such as their arepas and vegan chocoflan on their paper flyers near where you ordered. I thought it was pretty cool that they have more inclusive food options available to people with dietary restrictions. Besides that they also breakfast items available (only from 11 AM to 1 PM) and then tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and desserts. They mainly have three meats: carne asada, al pastor, and chicken (for breakfast they have bacon instead of al pastor). Though they don't have a lot of meats to choose from, they seem to prioritize quality over quantity, so you can expect all of their meats to taste amazing from what I've seen. Since I went during the evening a lot of the desserts were gone by that time. The person right before me ordered the last chocoflan in the fridge. So next time I would defintely go earlier so I can try some desserts before it runs out. For their drinks available, they have a variety in their fridge and then they also have the common fountain drinks available. I got the classic bowl with al pastor, which costs $8.99. It also came with three churros. The wait for the food was about 10-15 minutes but worth every minute. I didn't eat at the restaurant itself and took it togo instead and even by the time I got home, the food was still hot and fresh. The bowl had a lot of meat and flavor and if I wasn't starving, I could have portioned it out and saved some for leftovers by adding more rice to it. The churros were covered in cinnamon and sugar and were super crisp and delicious. Everything I ate was far above average, especially for the price I paid. I saw that they also have Too Good To Go listings available and they are almost always sold out. This must mean this place is pretty popular amongst those who choose that. So for people who want to try out the place but aren't sure, you may want to get a surprise bag from Too Good To Go and see if you like it. It is always a good way to try new foods and prevent food surplus in the community. Overall, I would definitely come back to try the other options available. read more

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Had the shredded beef empanadas the flavor was sooo delish the spices that it had were superb!! Plus add the green garlic sauce made in house read more

We were in for a wedding visiting from St. Louis and saw the great reviews of this restaurant. It did not disappoint. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was spectacular and the ambience is a small restaurant. It was very clean and the owner was very helpful and helping us decide what to try. I'm convinced everything is delicious. read more

The staff is so friendly. I drove from tucson for work and stop here for dinner after seeing your post. The meat has so much flavor the Empanada's shell was so crunchy and the inside was so soft . I only wish you got a side of salsa with the side of guacamole cream. This is definitely worth the drive. read more

Food excellent Service, excellent Ambience, excellent ***** Hard to believe this was a food truck I've been to food truck turned into restaurant before, but this result was amazing Yes, they have empanadas! (And they are very filling) I highly recommend the DON ACHIOTE tacos with their delicious fried cheese corn tortilla. Don't forget the churro you can look at the photo, but it doesn't do justice Que Rico Que Bueno, Que Vuelvo read more

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10/10!! Business owner is such a kind and passionate guy. Food is authentic and delicious! Definitely recommend

Great service, great food! I had the shredded beef arepa and Al pastor tacos with rice and beans, everything was so delicious! Can wait to come back and try more items! read more

Genuinely some of the best food i've ever had. To make it even better the customer service was great, the owner himself was a good chat and funny guy. The vibes of the restaurant itself is chill, everyone is happy and enjoying the amazing food. read more

Their empanadas are top-notch! The salsa tastes better than any place I've been in the valley.