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    Cocina Chiwas

    4.1 (239 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    COCINA CHIWAS ATMOSPHERE

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    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.

    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.

    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

    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.

    Taco de papa
    Damian P.

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

    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!

    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
    Renata L.

    I hate to give it only three stars, but as being well known for having some of the best Mexican food in town, the expectation was high. The service, ambiance, and live music were top notch, but the food was a let down. The birria quesadilla was just ok, the flavor or the meat tasted of regular "pot roast". The mole in the chicken thigh with polenta was overly salty and the polenta had a strong hard cheese aftertaste that pairs better with Italian cuisine. The chile in the mole had a nice taste to it, but the subtleties of the different notes of a mole were missing or hiding with the saltiness. The taco ribeyes were on the smaller side, and while I appreciated the handmade blue corn tortillas, the fillings didn't really wow us. We don't mind paying for higher prices, but since the food was nothing spectacular, I don't see us coming back. I wanted to love this place, maybe we can come back just for some drinks and the music.

    Pork shoulder and chile relleno
    Luciana V.

    The birria quesadilla is a must! I tried the pork shoulder with beans and corn tortillas, my husband ordered the chile relleno - both dishes were flavorful and seasoned perfectly. I tried the piña colada - disclaimer it's not blended, but it was tasty. Very nice flavors going on with that drink. The atmosphere is modern and picturesque- I love all the desert touches throughout the establishment. Server Edgar was great, attentive yet chill. Looking forward to returning.

    Bloody Maria and Avocado Toast

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Wow. I'm a fan of Tacos Chiwas, so was excited to try Cocina Chiwas. Very happy I did. Great food and environment.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    What a gem! Food was yummy and service was outstanding (Michelle was our server). Will definitely be back.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    the food was amazing. service was really slow. we ate outside and the vibes were amazing. elote was my favorite part of the meal

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Came here for dinner with my family and had an amazing experience, the service was great and the margs were the best!

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    3 years ago

    Food was mid, service was fine, ambiance was lacking. You guys really need to work on the menu.

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    3 years ago

    Great food, drinks and service. Wonderful new little place that will be packed once word gets out.

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    3 years ago

    Loved it. Limited menu right now but great food, fabulous cocktails and service. I would recommend reservations.

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    3 years ago

    Best new restaurant in Tempe hands down. Super convenient location being next to a metro train stop

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    3 years ago

    The pork belly is great, highly recommend. Start out with the elote, you won't regret it. The staff and owners are also incredible!

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    Page 6 of 6

    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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    So my husband said these are the best tacos he has had and his favorite of any we have had in…read morePhoenix. I felt different. First of all, eating anywhere in Tempe, starts with a frustrating time.... Trying to find parking and having to pay to park. I don't understand why restaurants don't have parking for customers. Idk maybe I don't know where to look. Second, it's hot AF in here. I feel sorry for the guys cooking. It's 105 today and the restaurant is so small, it's probably impossible to keep cool during the summer. Finally, the food. It all tastes very fresh! NO SEED OILS is amazing. I feel like I have won something when I find a restaurant that uses olive oil and beef tallow to cook in. Best corn tortillas I have had for sure. We basically tried one of each taco. (Although some of the tacos we ordered were wrong, so we just kept adding) not a big deal, because they were delicious and we loved them. I felt like the carne was chewy but my husband loves chewier meat. The taco with the marlin was my favorite. And the one that came out kind of like a cheese crisp. It's loud in here and again the space is very small. They do not serve wine at all. But yummy margaritas! The bartender is working solo and working hard! She busted her butt and did an amazing job. And smiled the entire time. She was awesome

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    Anayas

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    Hubby & I had dinner here last Friday night. It t a minute to be greeted & seated, but not bad…read more Hubby ordered his favorite beer & I ordered sangria. Hubby's beer was good. My sangria was good as well. However, the amount you get for around $8.50 is a joke. Its a small glass with just a little bit in the glass. The chips & salsa were good. The spicy salsa is the opposite of the one you would think is spicy out of the two, so pay attention. Hubby got a combo with a tamale & ground beef burrito with rice & beans. He said everything was good. He also ordered a side of guacamole. I thought I got a picture of the guacamole & sour cream. It's crazy how much they charged for them. They were the small plast condiments containers, but they charged almost $5 for the guacamole. I don't remember the extra cost for the sour cream, but it too was way too high for the tiny size. I got a chicken chimichanga with grilled chicken instead of the shredded chicken which came with rice & beans. It was all good. Our server was friendly & did a good job. We loved the decor. It reminded us of being in Mexico. The table & chairs are really cool too. I wanted to love this place, but the cost of the sangria, sour cream & guacamole are just too high for me to justify coming back.

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    Taquitos Jalisco

    Taquitos Jalisco

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    Taquitos Jalisco absolutely delivered…read more I came in hungry and left questioning whether I've been disrespecting Mexican food everywhere else. Everything that hit the table looked amazing, but the taste somehow still exceeded expectations. The birria ramen was hands-down the star--rich, flavorful, and loaded with tender meat. You know it's good when you catch yourself taking "just one more bite" ten times. The burritos were huge and stuffed like they actually care about feeding people, not just filling a tortilla with rice. The carne asada was juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. The tacos were also legit--fresh cilantro, onion, cabbage, and meat that actually had flavor (way too many places forget that part). The rice and beans were classic comfort food, and even the aguas frescas were ridiculously refreshing. What really stood out though was that nothing felt lazy. Every plate looked made with intention. Portions were generous, food came out hot, and the salsas had actual kick. Taquitos Jalisco feels like one of those spots you find once... and suddenly you're making excuses to go back. If you're debating whether to stop here, this is your sign. Go hungry. Would absolutely come back.

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    Order at the counter and they bring the food to you
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    El Jefe Tacos

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    Kitchen open late
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    Food was exceptionally flavorful and seasoned well. We ordered the ramen, tacos, and the Phoenix…read moreroll. We went to here as they were one of the late night spots still open. *This along with a hibiscus drink (large) and a cola! Approximately 50$. * Service was simple, kind, order at the register- type of spot. Ambiance wasn't busy for a Sunday night but the vibes were there, and I can imagine they get busy and can handle a lot with the seating options they have.

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    El jefe box

    Cocina Chiwas - mexican - Updated June 2026

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