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    Cocina Chiwas

    4.1 (244 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    COCINA CHIWAS ATMOSPHERE

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    Mole Chiwa - Crispy Chicken Thigh, Creamy Polenta, Mole,
 White Wine Reduction, Pickled Red Onion,
 Sesame Seeds, Salsa Macha
    Tom O.

    Three of us went here to try the restaurant week menu at my daughters insistence. She had been telling us it is a highly touted, consistently high rated restaurant known for its flavors and such so we make the long drive to Tempe. The food was just plain excellent. Wow, what a surprise. I probably expected something else but the choices we made kept blowing me away. The starter we had, Roasted Beets with Greek yogurt/honey crema, crushed pistachios, was something I could have eaten all night. For the meal the Ceviche and Elote as starters were both stars. I ate both and couldn't decide which was better as both were packed with flavor. Our main courses, Mole Chiwas and Ribeye tacos were both fantastic. I've never had better Mole and I am old as H and have had it many times. The presentation/plating of the food was outstanding as well. Our server, Magdalena, was so helpful and enthusiastic I thought she was an owner or family member! In my view you MUST eat here.

    Elote quesadilla
    Ashley T.

    Went here for "taste in Tempe" and didn't realize I had driven past this place a couple times when heading to Tempe. Just like az restaurant week we were given 2 appetizer options, 3 entree options, and 2 dessert options. My friend and I both had the chorizo fundido, I had to have this cheesy goodness option but I will say it was pretty spicy! I had to excuse myself to get some tissue from the bathroom to dab at my watery eyes. I didn't care though, I kept eating it! For the entree I had the elote quesadilla, it was actually so bomb and I wish I had the stomach capacity to eat it all there because I knew it would get a little soggy sitting in a takeout box. I ate what I could and got it to go, for a quesadilla the flavors were actually pretty close to the cup of elote I usually get outside Walmart. My friend enjoyed her Al pastor taco but was surprised at the deconstructed look of it at first. She still tore it up. Last was the Carlotta's, they were really good but after all the food we had just eaten, we only got a couple bites in before calling it quits. Overall this place is lovely and in a beautiful, not necessarily easy-to-spot, location (which I think just makes it more alluring). Reservations highly recommended!

    Pulpo
    Garret F.

    I was really looking forward to my dinner reservation at Cocina Chiwas and although,overall, I had a decent meal, my expectations were much higher than my experience. Oysters- this was my favorite dish. If this was all I had I would have rated my experience much higher. Tuna crudo special- flavors were good but the tuna had way too much connective tissue and was hard to eat. Pulpo- octopus is something I'll always order but will not order this one again. Under seasoned, not balanced. Very hard to eat. I really didn't understand the upside down concept but I gave it a try. Prices- on the high side for what you get and considering the overall experience. Service- excellent. Maria was warm and authentic.

    Salmon Tostada
    Sarah B.

    Had a large party here Friday night. The patio was a perfect spot for us. Have a good selection of drinks and the server was very friendly. The salmon tostada was very good and the rice is amazing.

    Bean dip
    Bailey L.

    Cocina Chiwas has been on my list for AWHILE. I love some of their other concepts (Taco Chiwas is life), so it's honestly overdue for a visit here. My husband and I met some friends for an impromptu dinner date on. Friday evening. We caught an earlier time slot. My friend thought they made a last minute reservations, but alas...they did not hit the final confirm button, but upon showing up at around 5:45 they were able to fit us in. It really was not that busy yet and their patio was open, but as its heating up we were grateful to get an inside booth. The inside dining room is intimate with an open kitchen concepts. They have a lovely moody vibe with wood tones, greenery and a modern spanish touch, which I really liked. Their booths are roomy, able to fit six comfortably. I don't think they could accommodate much larger groups, perhaps outside or seperate tables, but perfect for date night or small group for sure. Ou friends had been there before and love to eat family style like us, so we really let them roll with it for the table. I started with a Trip to Chile for my cocktail, one of their house specialities - PERFECTION. I love a egg white froth, and this cocktail delivered on flavor, freshness and I understand why its a fan favorite. you also don't find pisco too much, so fun change of pace. Its really not very spicy, but just enough to scratch the itch. My husband who usually doesn't lean towards a cocktail like this, loved it and got it for his second round over his usual bourbon preferences. For the table we had: the burrata salad, wood fire elote, wood fire quesadilla, chile rellenos, their pinto bean dip & I cannot recall the name (& its not listed on the online menu) but a shrimp and jerky starter. The standouts were the burrata salad, the quesadilla and chile relleno, oh and of course the bean dip! Everything though was fabulous. So much flavor, beautifully plated, VERY generous on the cheese and the overall portions were great. I noticed on past menus they had a ceviche or aquachile, which is really what or experience missed. The shrimp dish we got was meant to be that, but honestly just did not hit the mark and personally was the only thing I would not get again. We ended the meal with their tres leches carrot cake. Still delightful, but a bit different then Taco Chiwas (unless they changed their recipe) and had more of a bread pudding consistency. It was tasty, but not a repeat for me, just a tad too dense compared to their sisters concept. Service was great. They were all on top of of water, offering drinks, clearing plates and overall a very smooth and great experience. Overall consensus, It will definitely be part of our date night rotation, they continue to bring quality and fabulous flavors in all their concepts and Cocina Chiwas is no exception. I look forward to having a few repeats and trying some new options when I visit again.

    Andrea H.

    Cocina Chiwa is an absolute gem and dare I say, I enjoyed more than sister restaurant, Bacanora. Every bite here is bursting with flavor and creativity. We started with the elote corn, and wow -- it was smoky, creamy, and perfectly charred. One of the best I've had. The burrata salad was a surprising standout -- the combo of velvety burrata with roasted squash and sweet potatoes was both comforting and refreshing. The carnitas tacos were Juicy, tender pork with bold seasoning, nestled in warm blue corn tortillas...3 of them.. So simple, so perfect. They hit all the right notes. Vibe? Chill, stylish, and full of good energy. Service? Friendly and fast. Cocina Chiwa has that magic mix of great food, great people, and great atmosphere. Can't wait to go back.

    Short rib
    Ben H.

    Originally tried to go to sister restaurant Espiritu on a Saturday night without a res. Unfortunately they were not able to seat us, but lucky for us, a direct shot on Main/Apache12 minutes away Cocina Chiwas. I've been to Tacos Chiwas before. In my honest opinion, I thought it was overrated, but Cocina Chiwas is on a different level. Its Bacanora collaboration is on display instantly, as only a whiff of the mesquite grill as I stepped in. Multiple menu options sounded amazing: we chose 3- the elote (which if you've been to Bacanora, you know), birria quesedilla , and burrata salad. I equally loved them all. I've never had a short rib I didn't love, but to be completely honest, this bone in, shareable dish was a little fattier and tougher vs what I like. The accompanying rissoto or farro? Was great as well. Great experience, cool area, trendy spot which look like it was built from pre- fab / sustainable materials. I'd definitely recommend

    Pork chop-bland and dry
    Sylvia C.

    Our family was in town visiting from Fort Worth, Texas. Our daughter-in-law loves Mexican food. We saw this restaurant on the show Check Please! and thought we would give it a try. Disappointment cannot begin to tell you how we felt! The appetizers started off strong, but it went all downhill after that. There were five of us and neither of us liked our entrées. I had the pork chop and I found it to be dry and somewhat flavorless. My husband had the pork belly and he sent it back because it was way too done! Our daughter-in-law had the Carnitas and she was not thrilled with them either. The grilled oysters for our appetizers were lit. The bread was fantastic. And the corn Elote was also very good. But the entrées had a lot to be desired. It was almost as though they were trying to do too much and they forgot to season their food. The presentation was nice, but it lacked flavor. When you think of Mexican food, you think of bold flavors and we did not get any of that.

    Delaney H.

    Excellent service at the bar from Mike and Brennon tonight. Everything was delicious and they even made me a special birthday drink. Highly recommend dining in at a table and especially the bar!

    Cocktail
    Yu W.

    The food is decent, but I probably wouldn't return. First off, there's ample parking behind the restaurant--just be sure to read the sign carefully to check when free parking is available. The interior is stylish and upscale, which set high expectations. However, I was taken aback by the menu prices. Don't get me wrong--I don't mind paying a premium for fresh seafood, sushi, or a high-quality steak, but $26 for a small portion (I believe it was around 8 or 10 small pieces) of pork belly felt excessive. If you pay $26 to a Korean restaurant, they will fill your stomach with a lot more pork belly that your stomach will be about to explode. Our server was friendly and nice. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, but in my experience, it doesn't feel like a Mexican spot.

    Sophie K.

    This place is awesome! I love their atmosphere, it's cozy and romantic, and their food is yummy! My friends and I got to try grilled elote, fried pork belly, quesadilla and everything was so good. I especially loved elote so much, perfectly grilled and the sauce was the bomb. Fried pork was super crunchy and grains came with it was satisfying. And quesadilla, it was cheesy and the meat was soft and flavorful. Can't wait to come back and try their other food!

    Taco de papa
    Damian P.

    Best taco de papas in town. Delicious food, good service, and a modern yet warm ambience.

    Carnitas tacos
    Meily A.

    We initially wanted to go to Espíritu but the place was packed so we decided to come here. I am glad that happened because otherwise we would have missed out. Even though they have been opened for a bit and it's been on my try list I had not made it down to Tempe to try it. We had an early dinner around 6 pm and the place wasn't busy. We were seated right away. Service was good and fast. We shared a few appetizers and they were all a hit. I loved the burrata salad and the elote the most. My husband and I shared the short rib and although it was tasty it was probably my least favorite out of all the things we tried - I think it was a little too fatty for my liking.

    Great ambiance

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    Ask the Community - Cocina Chiwas

    What is the parking situation?

    You can park in the lot behind the restaurant with no issues. We had zero problem with parking but lots of problems with the restaurant LOL.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Cocina Chiwas - mexican - Updated August 2026

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