Delicious food and outstanding service as usual! The queso fundido comes to the table in the form of molten goodness! read more

Barrio Queen - Queso Fundido - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Normally fantastic but if you eat outside, beware! Typically you have to deal with birds hovering and sh**ing on your food but now they have a bug infestation in their tree so your table, chairs, plates, drinks and food are crawling with critters. Nothing like the feeling of ants biting you and crawling over you while you eat. The food and service are great though, they just need to get this issue fixed and fast!! read more

I came here for my birthday. Our server was very sweet. The food at this establishment is delicious.

Pretty expensive but damn delicious. Those burritos are magical and I still think about them. My friend had her birthday party there and it was a great time! read more

You could forgiven for thinking Barrio Queen and Barrio Cafe are one in the same. That was after all the original game plan that chef Silvana Esparza had when she opened the first of what would be numerous Barrio Queen locations in Scottsdale. But shortly thereafter, Esparza's business partners Linda Nash and Steven Rosenfeld decided to take the burgeoning chain in a different direction, compelling Esparza to step aside and focus exclusively on her flagship Barrio Cafe (which remains a phenomenal iconic spot). Much of the menu at Barrio Queen retains the look of Barrio Cafe, but with a far more expansive variety. Variety can be good, but it can also take a restaurant's focus off of the important things. With all this in mind, I stopped in for an early Thursday dinner. There's actually three (soon to be four) Barrio Queen locations in the valley. Being my office is closest to Desert Ridge, I chose this one. You'll find it embedded in the Desert Ridge Marketplace just north of the 101 freeway, east of Tatum Blvd. The restaurant takes up a sizable footprint with seating for upwards of 200 between the inside and outdoor patio seating. Summer time means I was dining in this go around and it was fairly busy during happy hour. As I mentioned earlier the menu is vast, so you can be as ambitious as you please. But for my first visit, I decided to mostly stick to basics. After the requisite chips and salsa however, I opted to order the Queen's signature drink. The Barrio Paloma. To my surprise, its prepared fresh table side right in front of you. Maestro Dobel Reposado tequila, salt, and fresh squeezed grapefruit, orange and lime (literally, they squeeze it right there). Served in a rather elegantly painted clay cup. Delish. Now then back to the basics I spoke of. So many meats to choose from. Only so many I can fit on a three taco platter. So I go with a couple of reliable standbys, carne asada and cochinita pibil. And then I opted to go with one that Queen likes to brag about. Their pork chile verde taco. The meats get my thumbs up, but it was actually the tortillas that were a bit disappointing. I'm used to street tacos with soft but firm tortillas that hold everything together. These tortillas were soft but basically disintegrated after one bite. So a messier taco trio then usual. For dessert, I flipped the script and went a decidedly non-traditional route by choosing their Dulce de Leche Creme Brûlée. Basically a small bowl of sweetened caramelized goats milk topped with crystallized sugar, cream and a wafer. I doubt I'd find this anywhere in Mexico, but I loved it. I'm a sucker for good dulce de leche and lots of it. I'm not sure the crunchy sugar topping was really necessary, but a delicious dessert in any event. Total cost for the drink, food, tax and tip came to $46. As other Yelp reviewers of Barrio Cafe locations in the valley had warned me, the prices here are the expensive end. Or at least expensive relative to what Mexican food lovers have grown to expect. I don't mind paying extra for next level Mexican food (something chef Esparza is legendary for in this town). Can you get better tacos for a cheaper price than Queen? Yes, yes you could. Though as I said, the meats here were as good or better than most taquerias I've been to, plus the Paloma and Creme Brûlée were great standouts for me. Next time I come here I'll venture more into the non-taco array of choices. The valley has no shortage of great Mexican and chef Esparza still owns the top spot in my book. Queen may not ring authentic for some, but for a slightly more upscale Mexican dining outing, it offers plenty in the way of fun and flavor. read more

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I took my family to dinner at Barrio Queen in Surprise a few nights ago. it was busy so I didn't mind the wait for the dinners to arrive. 4 of us were served our dinners and the other two dinners arrived after we finished ours. Unacceptable! The two dinners that arrived late were not fit to eat. The chili powder was so intense that my family members couldn't eat it. I asked to see a manager and when the managers finally arrived, they said they could make them something else. 4 of us had already eaten and we had a concert to attend. it was a horrible experience that cost me 200.00. We won't be back Barrio Queen! Also have your kitchen taste their product! read more

Such great food and service Our server was so nice, literally top tier customer service. So glad we met Angel who's granddaughter sang us happy birthday read more

My wife was adamant of one thing, as I headed to Phoenix: I *must* get tacos. That close to the Mexican border? Access to those great ingredients? Tacos were mandatory; avoiding them simply wasn't an option. As such, I decided to order in from Barrio Queen, a joint not far from my hotel. While they had a number of standard options there, there were a few notable choices available at BQ that made up my mind for me. Putting in my order online, I settled on a mix of familiar flavors and new ones. Al pastor? Absolutely. Carne asada with chorizo? Of course. But, I also included a chicken taco, braised with relleno peppers and onions and served with chorizo and crumbled queso. And, rounding out the meal, I opted for an order of yucca fries, something I Honestly, I expected to enjoy the carne asada the most, but wow--the chicken utterly surpassed any expectations. Savory and bursting with flavor, I could have eaten 4 of those by themselves. All three of my tacos were delicious, but the chicken one was by far the best. My one nitpick about my meal might be that traditional soft tacos are typically double-wrapped--two tortillas, rather than one--so my later tacos started to fall apart as the meal went on. Even then, it was a delectable knife-and-fork job! If you have a chance, absolutely get into Barrio. Order a smattering of tacos, and I don't think you could possibly go wrong. Enjoy! read more

We ate at the Desert Ridge location. We split the Queen enchiladas with shrimp and the brisket enchiladas. In place of one of the black beans sides, we ordered chipotle mashed potatoes. Everything was awesome but the potatoes weren't warm. The brisket was slightly sweet but also spicy. Good combo. The Queen enchiladas were good with jumbo shrimp served on the side. We came on a Sunday night and they were pretty busy. Be prepared to wait. They don't accept reservations. read more

Food was awful...and I hate say of the dead pictures all over. But the food was un acceptable. I have crossed this one off my list

What a miserable excuse for a restaurant..the margaritas were awful ..mainly sweet and sour mix only, the cerviche resembled some tiny shrimp soup, and that too was disgusting..the quesadilla were crafted lik a burrito..who east a quesadilla like a burrito, no flavor, and awful sides..I would not recommend this crap hole to my worst enemy..run do not walk..and the location should be occupied by a REAL mexican restaurant.shut the lights and go home! read more

Love the decor of their bustling taco watery. Great vibe and quickly seated. Had the taco 3. Way.. Full of meat and loved he egg on top. Chips and salsa served were hot and tasty Girlfriend had the Arizona burrito Very tasty. Will surely be back read more

Food is decent, not great but good enough. Place is fun with cool decor. Would come back soon.

Interesting place, if you can get a seat. The place was very busy, so maybe that is why service was slow. We ate a lot of chips and salsa as we had to wait quite a bit for our food to come. Overall, was good, but I would really want to come back and see if my experience with the wait staff was any different, or if this place is only busy because of the mall. read more

We had angel as our server and he was wonderful! Very funny and great with our daughter. Margaritas were delicious and service was excellent. We will be back soon! read more

DEVYN!!! The best bartender and help!!! She made our experience SO FANTASTIC! I brought my best friend along with me for Taco Tuesdayand also for our first time in. It was exactly what I was hoping for! The tacos were eye rolling and so flavorful! I was dying inside of pure happiness and joy! THAT GUAQ THOUGH! legit worth every penny! Also- CORN CHOWDER! Whaaa?! This soup was insanely flavorful! My taste buds were all about it! Lastly...... the house margarita is something to rave about! The best margarita I have had! Devyn got me all pumped for the other fabulous drinks to try out next time I come in! Can't wait!!! Waiting for that Arizona summer to come in for all the goodies at Barrio Queen!! Thank you DEVYN and to all the staff!!! read more

This is our all time favorite restaurant in Arizona! Our family is from Oregon and whenever they come to town, we have to make a stop here! The chips and salsa are the most perfect and satisfying chips and salsa I have had at any Mexican restaurant. The chips are made of flour (I think), so they literally melt in your mouth. Maybe not gluten free- I'm not sure? Whatever they do, it's magic. I try a new dish almost every time and I have never been dissatisfied. My current favorite is the barrio pollo burrito. Simple, yet the most delicious burrito I've ever had. I can't stress enough how great of a job they do here. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, good for groups, excellent service and delicious drinks as well. I got a drink I wasn't in love with and the waitress replaced it with a fresh margarita for no extra charge. Just awesome. We will be back. Again, and again and again! read more

YES! I've been building this place up in my head for many months. When you do that, you set yourself up for a let down. Not this time! After looking at the menu for 20 minutes--waiting for the rest of our party--I finally picked the Pollo en Mole Poblano. I'd never had mole before, and I didn't expect it to be so sweet. I was fine with it by about the third bite. I also ate a bowl of the salsa with chips. The salsa had a perfect heat level. I tasted the California enchiladas with chicken, also. Quite good. I'm pumped about the prospect of going back, and I'll be able to go to the Arrowhead location next time. And the dozen or more times after that to get the menu covered. And the couple dozen more after that to refine my decision for favorite dishes. Divine food. I can't wait! read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. I actually like Barrio queen I have know people who have worked for the company and I've eaten there a few times, all fine experiences! But the way their corporate office has responded to the threats against their locations during these protests is pathetic. Their neighboring restaurants, BJ's, Islands, etc. are all closing at 6pm in accordance with mall closures and heavy police presence. Barrio Queen is staying open until 10pm regardless of the fact that there have been such credible threats to the area that police will not let anyone inside the entire mall area. Making it impossible for guests to go to barrio queen, and in turn putting their employees in danger for absolutely no reason and hardly any revenue. Be better. read more

This place is a hit or miss. The food is delicious, anything you order of the menu. The guacamole is so good and they prep it right in front of you. We have been here several times but the last time was upsetting. The service was horrible last time. We waited a long time to order drinks which came after our food. They brought us chips and salsa but not plates and no utensils. We ate that for 30-40 minutes and then they came back to take our orders. Honestly by that time I didn't even want to order appetizers so we went straight to the dishes. My vegetables were cold when they brought our food out so late. I'm very disappointed and not sure if we will come back. The ambience is nice, food gets 5+ and service gets 0 stars for last time. read more

Had a fun experience at Barrio Queen today with my daughter. Angel Q was our awesome server! Angel went over menu options for us both and it's was delicious. We had green pozole with handmade corn tortillas and split a chorizo bean burrito. Pineapple margarita were the best. read more

Went there recently for a quiet dinner for my husband's birthday. After several previously good experiences, this will be the last. Both the hostess and the server clearly didn't want to be there or seem to really understand what their jobs were. The hostess barely acknowledged us and guided us aimlessly to the patio, where we eventually chose a table, took the menus from her, and sat ourselves. On a quiet weekday night, it took about 5 minutes for our server to come with water, which was fine, but my mention of my husband's birthday went unacknowledged (for a second time). The meals were okay, but the portions had been cut back compared to other visits (only 3 shrimp on a large salad??) The desert we ordered was awful. Burnt, overcooked flan. Yuck. We then had to wait a while for the bill, and when it did finally arrive, we were anxious to pay and leave. After waiting, again, and getting frustrated, we paid with cash and handed it off to the only person in the entire restaurant who was smiling - the bartender. With so many other choices for places to eat in the valley, we definitely won't waste our time and money here again. read more

Angel Q. was phenomenal. You don't find service like he had on a busy Saturday afternoon in Scottsdale anymore. If you go in, ask for him!

This place was FANTASTIC!! First of all the margaritas are delish, especially with the chili salt rim! That was the best. Second, my smothered chicken burrito was delish. Good, tender chicken with plenty of flavor. The green Chile salsa and crema were perfect on it. It is a saucy, messy, eat with a fork burrito. My girl friend got the grilled fish tacos which also looked amazing. Chips & salsa were great too. The other cool part was the live music, outdoor patio, great server, and fun decor! Would be a great first date but was awesome for a night with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile! Not sure about restrooms or seating inside. read more

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Good food. Nice casual ambiance. Service was great as well. I'd certainly come back.

I hadn't been to Barrio Queen since the Spring of 2022. (Snowbirds). My husband and I were both very excited to return for some of our favorite Mexican dishes. Sadly we were VERY disappointed. They have cut their menu in half and removed one of favorites. The Marasco, a seafood enchilada. I ordered shrimp tacos; there was one piece of shrimp in each taco. Wow!! Don't over exert yourself. Obviously, we will not be returning. read more

This is now our absolute favorite go-to places. Today's experienced it was especially great. Angel waited on us, and made us the most amazing guacamole with pomegranate seeds. I let him pick my meal which was an absolute treat. From start to finish, spectacular. read more

If I could give the service here 10 stars I would! Our Server Jose Angel greeted us with a warm welcome & kept the chips & salsa coming (they are very delicious) he kept checking up on us to make sure we were doing good & if we needed anything else! his customer service is amazing! Definitely will come here for the food but mostly to have him be our server again! read more

Disappointed, that sums up my experience. And it all has to do with the food quality and cleanliness of the place. Starting with oil dripping chips on a flavorless sauce , corn on the Cobb with only pepper on top and the highlight of the meal , the amazing flavorless sea bass on a greasy plate with finger stains all over next to watery lemon flavored rice (due to the fact that they put so much sauce or whatever goes under the fish , that is just went all over the place into everything else) ... the fish needed salt and was overly cooked and dry. Food showed lack os skills or any intention of being edible , I'm just guessing they're shopping for chefs at Taco Bell. Last time I eat here. Hope they get it together , it seems like people love terrible Mexican food because it was extremely busy. read more

If you are looking for authentic Mexican food OR just basic Mexican food with FLAVOR look elsewhere. If you are, however, looking for a bland illusion of Mexican food prepared to cater to the mainstream clients who can't handle spice, come here. We ordered the veggie tacto, the nopalitos (cactus) taco, and the chicken with mole. ALL very very bland, to the point that we had to ask for salt and pepper (no point in asking for hot sauce here!). Even the salsa they offer at the beginning had no flavor. Don't let the name, the outside decor, or that this place has lots of reviews fool you. Pay attention to the geography and the clientele. While this restaurant may be successful at satisfying the dominant demographics in the area, it will disappoint you if you have had any decent Mexican food in your life outside Scottsdale/ this particular area of Phoenix. read more

Started out Mother/Daughter day of shopping with a visit to Barrio Queen at Desert Ridge, it's easier to shop on a full belly, Moms first time at this place and it did not disappoint. We started with Angel offering a beverage which we chose from the beautiful cocktail menu., after looking over a menu that me want to return often because the choices were hard to nail down we settled on comfort food from or childhood. Angel was quick to check on us often and a joy to have as a server. Always quick witted with a genuine effort to give us an experience we will remember for quite a while. When we return and we absolutely will we would love to have Angel be our server again. He was a delightful addition to our day and truly appreciated. read more

No I won't be calling you. Just not worth the effort. Next time I pass by I will check out your floor.

It was freezing in this place , we asked the bartender if we could either turn the air off or down she explained to us that they already have turned it up . She than explained that her manager loves it at 65 degrees and begs them to turn it up . As a guest we had to leave and not have dinner because we were so uncomfortable . read more

My dad brought me here, after constantly raving about it. This place was beyond expectations, the food and the service were equally amazing! It's been a while since I've been to a restaurant this good, where the service was just as good, or even better! Thanks you to our wonderful server, Angel! Hands down one of the best dining experiences ever! read more

No bueno... service was so slow. I think we were sitting for 15 minutes before anybody came over to even get our drink order. And I was super thirsty too. The food was very overpriced and not so full of flavor. I think I asked for salt three times and never did get it. Will have to skip barrio queen for Barrio Café!!! read more

Great food! I got the Chile en nogada and it was delicious! Our server Angel was absolutely amazing and got our food out quick! We will definitely be back! Exceptional service! read more

Had a great dinner with the best server, Angel..Food was delicious, and Angel was extremely attentive. Been here many times but this was the best server. read more

Had a great time at Barrio queen! Service and food were fantastic. Our server Angel was very helpful and friendly. Will definitely dine here again. read more

Eh. Lost some of it's pizzazz. Not as good as I remember. Service was great. Atmosphere (we sat on the patio) was very nice.

Food is pretty good, but the service does not match the food. Servings are small but good. We had some tacos. The meat was good quality with excellent flavor. For a starter, we had a pork quesadilla - the tortilla is superb and the pork fantastic and the cheese excellent. The chips and salsa are top-notch as well. The chips are freshly made, not bagged and the salsa is right on the money: a little spice, not flaming hot, and loaded with flavor, just a bit smokey. The Churros are among the best Mexican desert around. Fresh, warm, with just a hint of crisp on the outside with the perfect amount of sweetness. The patio is very nice, they have lots of umbrellas, but you have to be OK with birds swooping around your head most of the time. The service was very slow and not attentive. Friendly, but ineffective. read more