5 stars for a neighborhood fast foodish dive? Yup. Carne asada is great here of course, but really, I love being a 4 minute walk from some of the best Birria de Chivo ever. Big chunks of lamb, little chunks of fat, in a spicy, soupy broth. Great head, too. By that, I mean I love their cabeza taco. Plus, they are open late.
(5)
Josh A.
This place doesn't look like much on the outside and you'll have to disregard the white foldable tables and chairs as you walk inside....but the food is AMAZING. This is Sonora Style Mexican food so keep that in mind. Here are my ratings: MEAT: I had the Carne Asada tacos. The carne asada meat was perfect. It had a slight mesquite smokiness and very flavorful. The type of meat was Ranchera, which is the ideal type for asada tacos. The meat was cut against the grain, perfect! Tortillas: The tortillas are the best! They're made on site....flour tortillas. Not that cheap stuff you get at the store with tons of preservatives. This is the real deal...fresh and tasty. Salsa: The salsa is good. But it could be great. I favor the really spicy stuff so for the average salsa person...it will be good. Extras: They line the inside of their tacos with Frijoles Puercos. These are great beans that have ham, pork and a few different types of cheeses mixed in. If you've never had these type of beans...you've never had beans! I love how they just add a little to the tortilla and then the meat on top. It's enough to add even more flavor to the taco but no so much that it overpowers the meat. They have your basic cucumbers, salsas, onions and cilantro set up. You have to try this place...it's the best tacos in Phoenix!!!
(5)
Matt G.
Prologue: On March 19, 2013, I read an article on the Phoenix New Times website, listing the top 10 burritos in Phoenix Metro. I hadn't tried one of them. Being the founding member of the "Because Burrito" lifestyle, I took it upon myself to try every last burrito on the list. So began my journey... So began... THE BURRITO BUCKET LIST Volume 1 This morning I was sitting in my little cube, thinking about how I could convince Jesse to have lunch at Asadero Toro, so I could knock the first burrito off my list - the classic carne asada. Just as I was collecting my nerves for my proposition, Jesse emailed me. She was feeling ill, and would need to go home early. God's glorious light shined down upon me and I knew that fate and I both had the same shit-eating grin plastered on our dumb faces. After dropping Jesse off at home with a sandwich, I peeled out and beelined it straight to Asadero Toro. When I entered the establishment, the first thing I noticed was the salsa bar. Red chili, tomatillo with avocado, and molcajete, along with key limes and some other stuff (sorry, I'm primarily a salsa hound). This was not the variety I've seen at some other restaurants, but if it's good shit, I only need one type. I walked up to the cashier, looking at the menu, faking like I was trying to make up my mind. I was pretty nervous about beginning my burrito adventure, and I'm sure it was noticed by the woman behind the counter, as she stared at my twitchy face with eyes drowning in unease. Finally, she broke the silence. "Are you ready?" "Carne asada burrito." The words gushed from my mouth. Suddenly her face changed, as if she suddenly understood the goings-on in my head. I paid and told her my order was to go, and she handed me a small Styrofoam container to hold my salsas. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME. I was in love. Long have I wallowed in the misery of having to balance my many salsas in the same bag as my burrito. This was a very welcome development, and I quickly gathered my salsas - two reds, one green, one molcajete, two limes just in case. I got back to work with my burrito bag held close and promptly walked to the courtyard to feast. I tore the top half of aluminum foil from the underlying burro, and took a BIG ASS BITE. Immediately I noted the buttery flakiness of the tortilla and the slight crisp the meat had to it. These guys know how to grill asada. The New Times had told me it was nothing but "straight-up meat," and they came correct on that. Straight-up, well-cooked, quality meat. I tried all of the salsas, but I stuck mostly with the red, as it was the spiciest, the most flavorful, and chunkier than most reds I've had, which I found was to my extreme liking. It was greasy, but the kind of greasy I can get down with. At the bottom of the burro I ran into a small pool of greasy meat, and the grease dripped down my chin with each generous chomp. I could have done with a little extra drainage prior to wrapping. But hey - the whole thing was a bundle of great, and I can handle a little extra grease. I got up and collected the remains of my burrito carnage, and the coworker sitting behind me said, "Boy, that was fast." I responded, "Apparently you haven't seen me eat before." Good job, Asadero Toro, you have given me a new favorite carne asada burro. And so far, New Times is one for one. Asadero Toro Carne Asada Burrito - 9/10
(4)
Adrian R.
The food was good ...the price is okay to me because back i would have got this for a lot less but for where am at it's good and much better than the state fair food.....and there open late that's a super plus ...just think there a bit rude that's all
(2)
Stephanie F.
Very good food!!!!!
(4)
Dolores G.
This place is legit. Don't expect much from the area or the neighborhood. But when you go in the staff is courteous and the place is clean. I was just driving wanting to try something new. I had passed this place several times. But what caught my eye was the painted sign on the window "Birria de Chivo" and Menudo served all week. Wow, most places only serve menudo on weekends. I pulled into the lot and decided to look them up in Yelp to see what if anything others had experienced. Looked good. I ordered 2 days worth of food. The torta de carne asada, and the birria de chivo (shreaded goat meat in a lightly seasoned broth) and a large horchata. She asked if I wanted the torta meal with beans and rice or just the torta. I replied just the torta. She also provided me with a small sandwich style container for putting in veggies from the salsa bar and said if i needed another to just ask. I helped myself to the fresh sliced cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, wedges of key lime and pickled onions on the bar and filled a few small cups of salsa. The red was spicy with a vinegar base. The green was quite tasty as was the pico de gallo. The birria came with corn tortillas and small containers of fresh onion and cilantro. Again this was served as a caldo (sans veggies) but that is what you toss in the onions, cilantro, lime juice and some salsa. Yum! The torta was huge. Warning it doesn't come dressed. I was expecting the mayo, avocado, tomato to already be on this. But luckily I had picked up all the fixings at the salsa bar to make it work. And boy did it work. The pickled onions, cabbage, pico, avocado crema, salsa verde....Mmmm....
(4)
Elizabeth S.
Great place. Went on a quiet Monday Husband had the asada combo and I had a bean cheese burrito. All was excellent. Table or counter service. Very informal s styrofoam plate type of place -- but food was wonderful. We will be back.
(4)
Eli Z.
Update: I used the restrooms and they were very clean!
(5)
Evan B.
This ain't no place for one looking for gringoized Mexican food. The menu has mostly torats and tacos, what it does not have are chips or many veggie options. The inside is surprising nice for the area and type of place. The salsa bar is great, with pico de gallo, picante and even a guacamole dip and cabbage. I had a small cheese quseadilla and it was fine, my co worker had a torta with rice and beans he really enjoyed. I want to say more but with a lack of non meat options and a Spanish only menu I had a bit of a hard time here. If you want a Mexican food adventure and eat meat give it a try.
(3)
Hector M.
One of the best if not the best authentic carne asada in town...!! You won't be disappointed...!!
(5)
Adam P.
Was working in this area of town and was starving. Thank god for the yelp app. Reviews were right on the money. I got 2 carne asada tacos on flour tortillas. This place is legit!!! Was truly surprised once I entered the business. It was clean and the staff was friendly. If I'm ever back in the area I will return. Thanks yelp nation for steering me the right direction.
(4)
Melissa Y.
Don't miss the carne asada! I love the carne asada mini quesadillas.
(5)
TJ L.
Married to a pure blooded Sonoran master chef so I rarely go out for Mexican food. However, I was craving a morning fix of some authentic Mexican and Asadero absolutely blew my fricken mind.. A lot of Mexican places in AZ claim to have carne asada but it tastes downright nasty. Asadero absolutely made me foodgasm over their carne asada and cabeza burritos. Highly recommended if you ever venture out to the downtown area and you need a quick, authentic fix.
(5)
Bacon B.
So, I was house sitting in the area and was looking for something different for lunch. Pizza was out of the question, and I wasn't in the mood for Chinese. When I found Asadero Toro on Yelp, I about freaked out! Since I wanted something out of the ordinary, this place offered up some awesome options. Aside from the quesadilla chica (which was pretty standard), I ordered two lengua tacos and two cabeza tacos. While I was waiting for my order, I filled up a dish with shredded cabbage, limes, cucumber and radishes as garnish for the tacos. After returning to the house and dogs I was watching, I dug in. Both meats were perfectly cooked and amazingly flavorful! I'll definitely be back. But at just over $12, it did seem a bit expensive for lunch that wasn't downtown. And the cashier threw away my receipt without offering it to me, so kind of dick.
(4)
Mark T.
I only had a burrito, but I loved everything about it. The tortilla was awesome, I think they make it in house. The chicken was grilled, clean, not greasy. The burrito came plain, you can add pico/sauce from salsa bar. Note: they do not have fountain drinks, only cans / Mexican coke
(5)
Milton K.
If you are a carne asada fan, this is your place! Only other thing I tried was the barbacoa which was meh, and the flan which was GOOD! Asada seems to be their famous item, so I will be back to try that again soon, as it was very tasty.
(3)
Eric L.
Really great place for carne asada. Asadero Toro takes the minimalist approach and it works well. The carne asada tacos and burritos just come with two things: carne asada and a tortilla. From there you can go to the salsa bar and add what you want to taste. To get away with this you have to have good carne asada and this place does. It has a nice balance of spices. Most places either add too much or too little. The salsa and pico are fresh. If you order the rice and beans you can get them inside the burrito if you want. One thing that I didn't like: can sodas. I tend to drink a lot of fluids when I eat and going through cans kinda sucks. Other than that it's a place worth checking out. Really easy access, easy parking, fresh, and cheap (under $10).
(4)
Michelle M.
Say yes to the salsa bar!! I would buy their salsa by the buckets if I could. I also had the Asada burrito and it had amazing flavor. We live about 45 minutes away from this place, but we will definitely make the drive back out here.
(5)
Jeff S.
Very good carne asada. They serve it in tacos, burritos or plates including rice and beans roasted jalapenos and roasted onions, YUM! They also have Mexican sodas that are made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, which tastes way better. They also have a fresh salsa and vegetable bar which is really good. Delete reason to grade down from 5 to 4 would be that rarely and I mean rarely the steak is somewhat tough. But when that happens or just send it back and they replace it for me.
(4)
Karla C.
Stopped by to get a late taco dinner. Is clean and is cooked to order. Good selection of salsas and fresh vegetables. I am delighted and will back soon. Too bad is not open late, this is much better than the 24 hr Mexican joints.
(5)
Natalie H.
This place is awesome! Its in the middle of no where but they have fresh, amazing tortillas and great carne asada. Love the fresh salsa bar and the toppings they offer. The only downside is that unless you speak Spanish, the staff doesn't really acknowledge you. Good thing once my bf noticed this he started speaking in Spanish and they perked right up. ;)
(4)
Claybirdie R.
Picked up burritos for the drive home. Excellent! And also very clean bathrooms lol. Area is run down (across from fairgrounds) but interior of restaurant is well-maintained.
(5)
Jim C.
If I didn't have some specific dishes I wanted, I would give this place 4 stars. The positives are that the place is authentic and the people are very friendly. The tortillas are wonderful in the extreme. What I didn't like is that they have no chips. Who goes to a Mexican restaurant knowing there are no chips? I would have brought my own. Second is that they had no enchilada. The asada was very tasty and the rice and beans were perfectly good but not memorable. Still this place is much better than a standard Mexican chain.
(3)
Victoria K.
Because I'm a genius and thought the fair had opened at 10 or 11 on Thursday I ended up being on McDowell and 19th Ave an hour before they opened. Since it was hot and I was thirsty, started walking down McDowell...and discovered this place. Decided to go inside and saw tortas and decided that I was going to eat lunch here as well as just get something to drink while waiting. The torta was about $6 and was pretty big. It was full of nice meat, avocado, and other good things. I also had gotten a tostada for about $2 but wasn't overly impressed with that. Either way, I decided to check in on yelp when I was waiting for my food (which wasn't long) and saw that it was a 4.5 star place... and I totally approve. I'll be back when I want a torta!
(4)
Lucky T.
I cannot talk bad about this place, now I have other favorite Mexican food spots but this place is open late and deliver fast. So for us late not munchers, us to tired to make a meal, and us I need something to soak up this liquir look no farther , this is the place. The meats , are actually well seasoned and taste fresh . I haven't had a bad experience in that department . its a great place price wise really cheap and you get a a lot for your buck. Now the only thing working against this place is the location. But trust me its safe for all my favorite snow flakes out there, the surrounding area is no longer bad. I also think a sign would help but the food , is great. Now the interior could use a redesign if I am being honest. I order to go based on this. Go get a meal and trust me its worth the order.
(4)
Cathy C.
!delicious¡ one of the better Mexican fast food joints around. The food is tasty ( beans are a little watery for my taste but I know people like him like that) however I've tried most things on the menu and everything is very good.
(4)
Evelyn W.
When my fav tacos are not available this is a great place to eat. The tacos are delicious and if you order drive thru they are very generous with the ingredients for the tacos. The horchata is the powder mix kind, I wouldn't order it again. Also, the steak quesadilla although good flavor hardly had steak so I wouldn't order it again. Let's put it this way it had the equivalent steak of 1 small taco.
(3)
Ali J.
This place is AMAZING! Good taste great and the salsa is rich in flavor. Anyone looking for a good Mexican food place to eat, come here!
(5)
John B.
This was my rebound dinner after a horrible first experience at Whataburger. What-a-difference. The carne asada and pollo were delicious but the barbacoa was kinda eh. And what was the story with the salsas? They're set out on the three shelves of a rolling cart, some low enough that you have to crouch down to serve yourself. I realize that you guys were near closing but that's just too close to the floor for my taste. The salsa thing puts 'em at risk for loosing a star but after such horrible food at Whataburger this place tasted like food from Heaven. 2013 #3 / 365
(4)
Anthony R.
Seriously something special. Living in Arizona you know there's a million taco shops on every corner. I stumbled to this place because a friend lived near, and must say this is by far one of my favorite taco shops! The tacos carmello is really something special. Flour tortilla with white cheese and carne asada!! Don't sleep on these. Also I feel like you can tell a lot about a place by there beans, and they have some of the best beans in Phoenix. The prices are great and anytime you go into a ethnic restaurant and lots of people of that ethnicity eating there, you know it's official!!
(5)
Andrew T.
This place is fantastic! I've worked in the area for over a year and had no idea it was even here. The food is remarkable! I had the carne asada burrito which was very flavorful and not greasy at all. The tripas (taco) was cooked to perfection, as well. I will definitely be coming again. Highly recommended.
(5)
Deby M.
This place is great! Nice people working here and amazing food. I had a taco de legua, carne asada and Tripa. My favorite is the Tripa. Just perfect!!!!!
(5)
Saleem M.
Great Taos and close to the airport! I'm not a big fan of corn tortillas, so I was really impressed to find this authentic Mexican restaurant offer flour tortillas. I highly recommend the carne com queso (beef and cheese) or their tender babacoa (shredded beef)
(5)
Luis O.
Good food and good price! The food here is Mexican for real, no doubt about it. Also the drinks are great, I you are going for the first time the asada molcajete and horchata are highly recommended, the flour tortillas are hand made at that moment so be sure to ask for some of them.
(5)
Kristine M.
This place is the very definition of whole in the wall but it is a fantastic lunch spot. A friend and I decided to have lunch here one day and we knew the moment we found it that it was either going to be really great or really bad. The restaurant itself is pretty much only open for lunch and is in a place that is not a typical place for a restaurant, meaning that it's probably a little sketchy there at night. It was an average size restaurant and maybe a little on the smaller side. This is a no frills down to the point Mexican food place. Our waitress really did not speak much English which for me is a good sign. We ordered the make your own Carne Asada plate that came with rice and beans. The tortillas were fresh and home made and the steak was seasoned amazingly. I had very few charred or chewy pieces. The beans were too die for and the rices was the standard Mexican rice that my grandma showed me to make. This place was a legit home made mexican food restaurant and the service as great but a little slow (which was understandable because the place was pretty packed). The prices were great for lunch. My friend and I got out of there with a little under $11 each. The chips were pretty standard and nothing special and the salsas were pretty generic but still very tasty. I really enjoyed every bite of my meal and I would go back again and again if I had a lunch partner and had a little bit more lunch time!
(5)
Chad M.
I came here because of the article I read in a magazine. I ordered the $7.50 carne asada burrito that came with rice and beans. Loved the tortilla. The carne asada was good. I'd give it a 7 out of 10 and would come back again to have it. Rice was simple but had good flavor. Beans were good too. The salsa bar was full of many things. I tried the pico, the hot sauce and the chunky green salsa. Each was very good. The inside was extremely clean as was the restroom. Staff was very friendly and very helpful and cleared the table. I would definitely come back again.
(5)
Derek S.
Asadero Toro is a wonderful Mexican food restaurant in Phoenix! The Carne Asada is incredible and the homemade tortillas delicious. A wonderful and quick staff always brighten my day when I visit.
(5)
Kay D.
A weekly staple for the bf and I... He loves the carne asada and I always do the chicken plate. Absolutely wonderful, the staff is always consistent and so nice... Ps the green avocado sauce is to die for, I could bathe in it.. Like everyone else says, don't be scared by the outside appearance.
(5)
Fami D.
We went in for lunch today after reading Yelp reviews and a fellow foodie buddy assured us this is THE place to go for authentic flavors. If you are looking for the real thing and want something totally different from the 'Mexican food' chains, this is the place for you. Both carne asada plate and carne asada burrito were delicious. The condiment station loaded with fresh lime, salsa, pickled onions, cabbage and pico de gallo really added to our already flavorful meals. Even though I don't speak hardly any Spanish at all, friendly and attentive staff patiently answered all my questions. Food came out fast while my corn tortillas were still steaming hot and in big portions. I would probably try the tacos a la cart next time so I can try a few other things. Grilled onion that came with the Plate was so sweet and balanced out the spiciness of the roasted pepper. What a treat it was! I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Pancho V.
Hmmmm not sure why a place like this that seems to be in a busy area of a large City Phoenix had NO reviews?, oh well guess I get first!. I've had my share of bad Mexican food through Arizona but that stops here at Asadero Toro, they have a nice selection of meats along with the usual Tacos, Burritos, Tortas, Platillos and Caldos incliding Birria de Chivo, some of the food we had was as follows. Burrito de Barbacoa - (forgot photo) I was a little pissed when I saw the $7.00 burrito that was so small, the menu also said it had beans and when I cut it open to take a photo I saw no beans!, I opened it up and told the lady it had no beans and she showed me that it did, well.......when they say beans it's re-fried beans that they spread very sparingly on the tortilla like mayo on a piece of bread for a sandwich, almost invisible!. The barbacoa was good not the best I've had but the burrito leaves you still hungry and not worth $7.00. 2.5-Stars Taco/Flour de Carne Asada - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… They do tacos in flour and corn tortillas, the carne asada was very flavorful wrapped in what seems to be hand made flour tortillas, some delicious tacos yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… 4-Star Taco/Corn de Carne Asada - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… If you see the little layer of brown on top the tortilla this is the beans, this is what was on the burrito and barely noticeable in a burrito, even on the taco it's not enough to give it flavor so not sure why they do this?, but taco was very good yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… 4-Stars Birria de Chivo - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… For those who don't know what this is, it's a goat meat soup that when made right is delicious and this one was very good. The caldo or broth had a nice flavor and was fat free *(meaning they must strain off the fat from the caldo) good job!, the meat was tender and flavorful with very little fat yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… I'm picky about the birria that I like but this one was very good 4/4.5-Stars Stay away from ordering a burrito!, other than that we were very satisfied with all the food eaten here and glad to finally have some good Mexican food in Arizona "The Racist State"
(4)
Stephen G.
This place is amazing. I grew up in California, and didn't think I'd find good Mexican food again after leaving. It's awesome. They even make their own tortillas. If you've never had freshly made tortillas, you have to try them. They are so much better than what you can buy in the store. Plus, they give you roasted onions, cabbage, salsa, and cucumbers with your meal, and the roasted jalapeno is delicious.
(5)
Lisa M.
This is definitely the place for a quick bite to eat. I love their garnish and salsa bar and I can honestly say I had the best carne asada tacos in downtown Phoenix! Everything was Cheap, fast, and delicious. I am definitely going to frequent this place.
(5)
Stacey K.
We have lived in Encanto Park for several years however never stopped in this place. As previously mentioned - the place looks a little scary from the outside! We saw the Yelp reviews and thought what the heck? The menu has a wide variety of dishes. We had the chicken taco, the barbacoa and carne asada burritos. Everything was seasoned well. The barbacoa is cooked in some type of red chili sauce. The carne asada was a bit fatty however flavorful. The small flour tortillas come out hot off the stove. They are great! We also discovered they carry bottled Coke and other sodas from Mexico. I loved the condiment bar with the various salsas and toppings which included limes, cucumbers, radishes, and cabbage. The pico de gallo and guacamole sauce were my favorites. Unlike America's Taco where you are given a tiny bit of everything on the side, this place is a free for all! The interior was immaculate! The decor is not great. Plastic chairs and tables. The front counter gal could not answer any of my questions. The server though was extremely nice - especially considering our two year old dumped a plate of rice on the floor! This place reminds me of Wishell's donuts down the street. The exterior is terrible but inside they have the most heavenly donuts and croissants! The place sells out by 8 am! You would never know by looking at it from the outside. Lesson learned - don't judge a book by it's cover.
(4)
Matt L.
If you happen to get lost and wander by the gun show at the Coliseum, be sure to stop here. A little whole in the wall of a former Wendy's, this place rocks the steak taco world. My favorite is the "jaz". Carne asada + cheese + peppers/onions = yum!!! The barbacoa and chicken tacos are tasty, but I wouldn't say they'd knock you off your feet. Definitely go carne asada and defintely try this place.
(3)
Nadia C.
Well, this is the real deal when you want a taco or tostada. It's the EXACT food you will eat in Mexico. Exact. I ordered the asada. Beef on a corn tortilla that is made there-- a real tortilla. Then you go over to a salsa, quacamole, hot sauce, cucumber, cabbage and radish, onion bar and fix it up how you like. The 5 stars is for the food, the ambiance and setting is not anything special. In fact, it is a bit of a turn off , but very clean. It's in an old Wendy's I think. The food is so delicious, it doesn't matter!!!!!!
(5)
Tracy K.
Asadero Torro has catered my work's Christmas party for the last two years, and I've come to equate the celebration of the coming of lil' baby Jesus to a full tummy of tasty Asadero Torro tacos. I think JC would give thumbs-up to these heavenly tacos. The beef is sooooo flavorful, the corn tortillas sooooo yummy, and all the "extras" darn right essential for a complete and delectable meal. Even the refried beans and rice are awesome. And since they are close to where I work, I don't have to wait another year to devote my taste-buds to their delicious food. Amen!
(5)
Andrew V.
I'd give this place an extra half star if I could, just because it used to be a Wendy's. I think this is probably as close to "authentic" as you're going to find. They have all the usual suspects of a Mexican joint: tacos, quesadillas, and of course the salsa bar (I think this was a remnant of when Wendy's had salad bars, remember that? circa early 1990s). The service is good, and the food is delicious. I would suggest a giant (and they are giant) chicken quesadilla, with a bunch of guacamole on the side. The cheese is melty and delicous! I would avoid the steak as it is quite tough, but to be fair I've never had good steak from a good mexican restaurant. And they have Mexican Coke in glass bottles, which usually always makes me go back for more.
(4)
Jane A.
I agree with Nadia's review. The food is excellent. We had the carne asada for two and there was plenty of food. Very fresh and tasty. The people who work here are friendly as well.
(5)
Armando S.
The barbacoa is great and the tacos de carne are excellent. My business is not far from there and we get lunch there quite a bit. The beans are always phenomenal. It's the kind of place you'd drive not thinking of stopping in, but it's worth it.
(5)
Maria S.
This is as close as you can get to Authentic Mexican Sonora food. The owner is from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico (my father is also from there) and this place definitely compares to the taco stands in Hermosillo. It is clean and nice inside. They have an awesome condiment bar. There's variety of salsa's and pico de Gallo. They also have grilled jalapeños (upon request on some orders and others it comes with it). The carne asada is delicious and the best. Although, the barbacoa is not far behind. The rice and beans are very good. The flour tortillas are better than the corn tortillas. The staff is very nice and helpful. The service is fast and reasonably priced. During lunch hours they have daily specials for only $5.95 (includes a beverage, rice & beans) and changes daily. It's definitely worth going!!!
(5)
Tracy M.
I enjoyed my visit to Asadero Toro. The decor is minimalist, folding chairs and tables in an old Wendy's and a small bar with salsas and pickled vegetables on ice. You gotta get carne asada at an asadero, I thought, and it was a good choice. It comes served on a plastic tray much like you'd find at a school cafeteria, I felt special though as the other patrons got styrofoam plates :) The food was delicious, solid tortillas, and they even gave me a char-grilled onion quarter.
(4)
Matt H.
Asadero Toro may not be much to look at (outside or in), but they serve high quality Mexican food. The menu may look a bit daunting to a gringo, but the employees have always been very nice and helpful when I had a question. The setup is casual with a small salsa bar that contains sliced cucumbers, shredded lettuce, lime halves and pickled onion slices. For liquid refreshment, you can get a cold bottle of super sweet Mexican Coke or even Mexican 7-Up (that's something you don't see every day). Condiments and drinks aside, the main reason to come here is -- the meat! Tacos are nice, but I usually pick one of their huge burritos with lots of savory beef stuffed in a huge, fresh tortilla. The carne asada is wonderful, as is the birria de chivo (a goat stew). Their meat tastes as if it's been stewing in juices all day, making me wonder if they leave it bubbling in a huge vat overnight. One thing I like about Asodero Toro is that they have items that use the, ahem, offbeat parts of the cow. Recently I tried the beef tongue burrito, which was great. Perhaps one day, when I feel REALLY brave, I will try that cow's head burrito.
(4)
Eddz G.
Don't let the outside scare you away, best Sonoran Tacos in town! Abd by Sonoran I mean flavorful grilled beef. Try the Parrillada.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Adam M.
5 stars for a neighborhood fast foodish dive? Yup. Carne asada is great here of course, but really, I love being a 4 minute walk from some of the best Birria de Chivo ever. Big chunks of lamb, little chunks of fat, in a spicy, soupy broth. Great head, too. By that, I mean I love their cabeza taco. Plus, they are open late.
(5)Josh A.
This place doesn't look like much on the outside and you'll have to disregard the white foldable tables and chairs as you walk inside....but the food is AMAZING. This is Sonora Style Mexican food so keep that in mind. Here are my ratings: MEAT: I had the Carne Asada tacos. The carne asada meat was perfect. It had a slight mesquite smokiness and very flavorful. The type of meat was Ranchera, which is the ideal type for asada tacos. The meat was cut against the grain, perfect! Tortillas: The tortillas are the best! They're made on site....flour tortillas. Not that cheap stuff you get at the store with tons of preservatives. This is the real deal...fresh and tasty. Salsa: The salsa is good. But it could be great. I favor the really spicy stuff so for the average salsa person...it will be good. Extras: They line the inside of their tacos with Frijoles Puercos. These are great beans that have ham, pork and a few different types of cheeses mixed in. If you've never had these type of beans...you've never had beans! I love how they just add a little to the tortilla and then the meat on top. It's enough to add even more flavor to the taco but no so much that it overpowers the meat. They have your basic cucumbers, salsas, onions and cilantro set up. You have to try this place...it's the best tacos in Phoenix!!!
(5)Matt G.
Prologue: On March 19, 2013, I read an article on the Phoenix New Times website, listing the top 10 burritos in Phoenix Metro. I hadn't tried one of them. Being the founding member of the "Because Burrito" lifestyle, I took it upon myself to try every last burrito on the list. So began my journey... So began... THE BURRITO BUCKET LIST Volume 1 This morning I was sitting in my little cube, thinking about how I could convince Jesse to have lunch at Asadero Toro, so I could knock the first burrito off my list - the classic carne asada. Just as I was collecting my nerves for my proposition, Jesse emailed me. She was feeling ill, and would need to go home early. God's glorious light shined down upon me and I knew that fate and I both had the same shit-eating grin plastered on our dumb faces. After dropping Jesse off at home with a sandwich, I peeled out and beelined it straight to Asadero Toro. When I entered the establishment, the first thing I noticed was the salsa bar. Red chili, tomatillo with avocado, and molcajete, along with key limes and some other stuff (sorry, I'm primarily a salsa hound). This was not the variety I've seen at some other restaurants, but if it's good shit, I only need one type. I walked up to the cashier, looking at the menu, faking like I was trying to make up my mind. I was pretty nervous about beginning my burrito adventure, and I'm sure it was noticed by the woman behind the counter, as she stared at my twitchy face with eyes drowning in unease. Finally, she broke the silence. "Are you ready?" "Carne asada burrito." The words gushed from my mouth. Suddenly her face changed, as if she suddenly understood the goings-on in my head. I paid and told her my order was to go, and she handed me a small Styrofoam container to hold my salsas. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME. I was in love. Long have I wallowed in the misery of having to balance my many salsas in the same bag as my burrito. This was a very welcome development, and I quickly gathered my salsas - two reds, one green, one molcajete, two limes just in case. I got back to work with my burrito bag held close and promptly walked to the courtyard to feast. I tore the top half of aluminum foil from the underlying burro, and took a BIG ASS BITE. Immediately I noted the buttery flakiness of the tortilla and the slight crisp the meat had to it. These guys know how to grill asada. The New Times had told me it was nothing but "straight-up meat," and they came correct on that. Straight-up, well-cooked, quality meat. I tried all of the salsas, but I stuck mostly with the red, as it was the spiciest, the most flavorful, and chunkier than most reds I've had, which I found was to my extreme liking. It was greasy, but the kind of greasy I can get down with. At the bottom of the burro I ran into a small pool of greasy meat, and the grease dripped down my chin with each generous chomp. I could have done with a little extra drainage prior to wrapping. But hey - the whole thing was a bundle of great, and I can handle a little extra grease. I got up and collected the remains of my burrito carnage, and the coworker sitting behind me said, "Boy, that was fast." I responded, "Apparently you haven't seen me eat before." Good job, Asadero Toro, you have given me a new favorite carne asada burro. And so far, New Times is one for one. Asadero Toro Carne Asada Burrito - 9/10
(4)Adrian R.
The food was good ...the price is okay to me because back i would have got this for a lot less but for where am at it's good and much better than the state fair food.....and there open late that's a super plus ...just think there a bit rude that's all
(2)Stephanie F.
Very good food!!!!!
(4)Dolores G.
This place is legit. Don't expect much from the area or the neighborhood. But when you go in the staff is courteous and the place is clean. I was just driving wanting to try something new. I had passed this place several times. But what caught my eye was the painted sign on the window "Birria de Chivo" and Menudo served all week. Wow, most places only serve menudo on weekends. I pulled into the lot and decided to look them up in Yelp to see what if anything others had experienced. Looked good. I ordered 2 days worth of food. The torta de carne asada, and the birria de chivo (shreaded goat meat in a lightly seasoned broth) and a large horchata. She asked if I wanted the torta meal with beans and rice or just the torta. I replied just the torta. She also provided me with a small sandwich style container for putting in veggies from the salsa bar and said if i needed another to just ask. I helped myself to the fresh sliced cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, wedges of key lime and pickled onions on the bar and filled a few small cups of salsa. The red was spicy with a vinegar base. The green was quite tasty as was the pico de gallo. The birria came with corn tortillas and small containers of fresh onion and cilantro. Again this was served as a caldo (sans veggies) but that is what you toss in the onions, cilantro, lime juice and some salsa. Yum! The torta was huge. Warning it doesn't come dressed. I was expecting the mayo, avocado, tomato to already be on this. But luckily I had picked up all the fixings at the salsa bar to make it work. And boy did it work. The pickled onions, cabbage, pico, avocado crema, salsa verde....Mmmm....
(4)Elizabeth S.
Great place. Went on a quiet Monday Husband had the asada combo and I had a bean cheese burrito. All was excellent. Table or counter service. Very informal s styrofoam plate type of place -- but food was wonderful. We will be back.
(4)Eli Z.
Update: I used the restrooms and they were very clean!
(5)Evan B.
This ain't no place for one looking for gringoized Mexican food. The menu has mostly torats and tacos, what it does not have are chips or many veggie options. The inside is surprising nice for the area and type of place. The salsa bar is great, with pico de gallo, picante and even a guacamole dip and cabbage. I had a small cheese quseadilla and it was fine, my co worker had a torta with rice and beans he really enjoyed. I want to say more but with a lack of non meat options and a Spanish only menu I had a bit of a hard time here. If you want a Mexican food adventure and eat meat give it a try.
(3)Hector M.
One of the best if not the best authentic carne asada in town...!! You won't be disappointed...!!
(5)Adam P.
Was working in this area of town and was starving. Thank god for the yelp app. Reviews were right on the money. I got 2 carne asada tacos on flour tortillas. This place is legit!!! Was truly surprised once I entered the business. It was clean and the staff was friendly. If I'm ever back in the area I will return. Thanks yelp nation for steering me the right direction.
(4)Melissa Y.
Don't miss the carne asada! I love the carne asada mini quesadillas.
(5)TJ L.
Married to a pure blooded Sonoran master chef so I rarely go out for Mexican food. However, I was craving a morning fix of some authentic Mexican and Asadero absolutely blew my fricken mind.. A lot of Mexican places in AZ claim to have carne asada but it tastes downright nasty. Asadero absolutely made me foodgasm over their carne asada and cabeza burritos. Highly recommended if you ever venture out to the downtown area and you need a quick, authentic fix.
(5)Bacon B.
So, I was house sitting in the area and was looking for something different for lunch. Pizza was out of the question, and I wasn't in the mood for Chinese. When I found Asadero Toro on Yelp, I about freaked out! Since I wanted something out of the ordinary, this place offered up some awesome options. Aside from the quesadilla chica (which was pretty standard), I ordered two lengua tacos and two cabeza tacos. While I was waiting for my order, I filled up a dish with shredded cabbage, limes, cucumber and radishes as garnish for the tacos. After returning to the house and dogs I was watching, I dug in. Both meats were perfectly cooked and amazingly flavorful! I'll definitely be back. But at just over $12, it did seem a bit expensive for lunch that wasn't downtown. And the cashier threw away my receipt without offering it to me, so kind of dick.
(4)Mark T.
I only had a burrito, but I loved everything about it. The tortilla was awesome, I think they make it in house. The chicken was grilled, clean, not greasy. The burrito came plain, you can add pico/sauce from salsa bar. Note: they do not have fountain drinks, only cans / Mexican coke
(5)Milton K.
If you are a carne asada fan, this is your place! Only other thing I tried was the barbacoa which was meh, and the flan which was GOOD! Asada seems to be their famous item, so I will be back to try that again soon, as it was very tasty.
(3)Eric L.
Really great place for carne asada. Asadero Toro takes the minimalist approach and it works well. The carne asada tacos and burritos just come with two things: carne asada and a tortilla. From there you can go to the salsa bar and add what you want to taste. To get away with this you have to have good carne asada and this place does. It has a nice balance of spices. Most places either add too much or too little. The salsa and pico are fresh. If you order the rice and beans you can get them inside the burrito if you want. One thing that I didn't like: can sodas. I tend to drink a lot of fluids when I eat and going through cans kinda sucks. Other than that it's a place worth checking out. Really easy access, easy parking, fresh, and cheap (under $10).
(4)Michelle M.
Say yes to the salsa bar!! I would buy their salsa by the buckets if I could. I also had the Asada burrito and it had amazing flavor. We live about 45 minutes away from this place, but we will definitely make the drive back out here.
(5)Jeff S.
Very good carne asada. They serve it in tacos, burritos or plates including rice and beans roasted jalapenos and roasted onions, YUM! They also have Mexican sodas that are made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, which tastes way better. They also have a fresh salsa and vegetable bar which is really good. Delete reason to grade down from 5 to 4 would be that rarely and I mean rarely the steak is somewhat tough. But when that happens or just send it back and they replace it for me.
(4)Karla C.
Stopped by to get a late taco dinner. Is clean and is cooked to order. Good selection of salsas and fresh vegetables. I am delighted and will back soon. Too bad is not open late, this is much better than the 24 hr Mexican joints.
(5)Natalie H.
This place is awesome! Its in the middle of no where but they have fresh, amazing tortillas and great carne asada. Love the fresh salsa bar and the toppings they offer. The only downside is that unless you speak Spanish, the staff doesn't really acknowledge you. Good thing once my bf noticed this he started speaking in Spanish and they perked right up. ;)
(4)Claybirdie R.
Picked up burritos for the drive home. Excellent! And also very clean bathrooms lol. Area is run down (across from fairgrounds) but interior of restaurant is well-maintained.
(5)Jim C.
If I didn't have some specific dishes I wanted, I would give this place 4 stars. The positives are that the place is authentic and the people are very friendly. The tortillas are wonderful in the extreme. What I didn't like is that they have no chips. Who goes to a Mexican restaurant knowing there are no chips? I would have brought my own. Second is that they had no enchilada. The asada was very tasty and the rice and beans were perfectly good but not memorable. Still this place is much better than a standard Mexican chain.
(3)Victoria K.
Because I'm a genius and thought the fair had opened at 10 or 11 on Thursday I ended up being on McDowell and 19th Ave an hour before they opened. Since it was hot and I was thirsty, started walking down McDowell...and discovered this place. Decided to go inside and saw tortas and decided that I was going to eat lunch here as well as just get something to drink while waiting. The torta was about $6 and was pretty big. It was full of nice meat, avocado, and other good things. I also had gotten a tostada for about $2 but wasn't overly impressed with that. Either way, I decided to check in on yelp when I was waiting for my food (which wasn't long) and saw that it was a 4.5 star place... and I totally approve. I'll be back when I want a torta!
(4)Lucky T.
I cannot talk bad about this place, now I have other favorite Mexican food spots but this place is open late and deliver fast. So for us late not munchers, us to tired to make a meal, and us I need something to soak up this liquir look no farther , this is the place. The meats , are actually well seasoned and taste fresh . I haven't had a bad experience in that department . its a great place price wise really cheap and you get a a lot for your buck. Now the only thing working against this place is the location. But trust me its safe for all my favorite snow flakes out there, the surrounding area is no longer bad. I also think a sign would help but the food , is great. Now the interior could use a redesign if I am being honest. I order to go based on this. Go get a meal and trust me its worth the order.
(4)Cathy C.
!delicious¡ one of the better Mexican fast food joints around. The food is tasty ( beans are a little watery for my taste but I know people like him like that) however I've tried most things on the menu and everything is very good.
(4)Evelyn W.
When my fav tacos are not available this is a great place to eat. The tacos are delicious and if you order drive thru they are very generous with the ingredients for the tacos. The horchata is the powder mix kind, I wouldn't order it again. Also, the steak quesadilla although good flavor hardly had steak so I wouldn't order it again. Let's put it this way it had the equivalent steak of 1 small taco.
(3)Ali J.
This place is AMAZING! Good taste great and the salsa is rich in flavor. Anyone looking for a good Mexican food place to eat, come here!
(5)John B.
This was my rebound dinner after a horrible first experience at Whataburger. What-a-difference. The carne asada and pollo were delicious but the barbacoa was kinda eh. And what was the story with the salsas? They're set out on the three shelves of a rolling cart, some low enough that you have to crouch down to serve yourself. I realize that you guys were near closing but that's just too close to the floor for my taste. The salsa thing puts 'em at risk for loosing a star but after such horrible food at Whataburger this place tasted like food from Heaven. 2013 #3 / 365
(4)Anthony R.
Seriously something special. Living in Arizona you know there's a million taco shops on every corner. I stumbled to this place because a friend lived near, and must say this is by far one of my favorite taco shops! The tacos carmello is really something special. Flour tortilla with white cheese and carne asada!! Don't sleep on these. Also I feel like you can tell a lot about a place by there beans, and they have some of the best beans in Phoenix. The prices are great and anytime you go into a ethnic restaurant and lots of people of that ethnicity eating there, you know it's official!!
(5)Andrew T.
This place is fantastic! I've worked in the area for over a year and had no idea it was even here. The food is remarkable! I had the carne asada burrito which was very flavorful and not greasy at all. The tripas (taco) was cooked to perfection, as well. I will definitely be coming again. Highly recommended.
(5)Deby M.
This place is great! Nice people working here and amazing food. I had a taco de legua, carne asada and Tripa. My favorite is the Tripa. Just perfect!!!!!
(5)Saleem M.
Great Taos and close to the airport! I'm not a big fan of corn tortillas, so I was really impressed to find this authentic Mexican restaurant offer flour tortillas. I highly recommend the carne com queso (beef and cheese) or their tender babacoa (shredded beef)
(5)Luis O.
Good food and good price! The food here is Mexican for real, no doubt about it. Also the drinks are great, I you are going for the first time the asada molcajete and horchata are highly recommended, the flour tortillas are hand made at that moment so be sure to ask for some of them.
(5)Kristine M.
This place is the very definition of whole in the wall but it is a fantastic lunch spot. A friend and I decided to have lunch here one day and we knew the moment we found it that it was either going to be really great or really bad. The restaurant itself is pretty much only open for lunch and is in a place that is not a typical place for a restaurant, meaning that it's probably a little sketchy there at night. It was an average size restaurant and maybe a little on the smaller side. This is a no frills down to the point Mexican food place. Our waitress really did not speak much English which for me is a good sign. We ordered the make your own Carne Asada plate that came with rice and beans. The tortillas were fresh and home made and the steak was seasoned amazingly. I had very few charred or chewy pieces. The beans were too die for and the rices was the standard Mexican rice that my grandma showed me to make. This place was a legit home made mexican food restaurant and the service as great but a little slow (which was understandable because the place was pretty packed). The prices were great for lunch. My friend and I got out of there with a little under $11 each. The chips were pretty standard and nothing special and the salsas were pretty generic but still very tasty. I really enjoyed every bite of my meal and I would go back again and again if I had a lunch partner and had a little bit more lunch time!
(5)Chad M.
I came here because of the article I read in a magazine. I ordered the $7.50 carne asada burrito that came with rice and beans. Loved the tortilla. The carne asada was good. I'd give it a 7 out of 10 and would come back again to have it. Rice was simple but had good flavor. Beans were good too. The salsa bar was full of many things. I tried the pico, the hot sauce and the chunky green salsa. Each was very good. The inside was extremely clean as was the restroom. Staff was very friendly and very helpful and cleared the table. I would definitely come back again.
(5)Derek S.
Asadero Toro is a wonderful Mexican food restaurant in Phoenix! The Carne Asada is incredible and the homemade tortillas delicious. A wonderful and quick staff always brighten my day when I visit.
(5)Kay D.
A weekly staple for the bf and I... He loves the carne asada and I always do the chicken plate. Absolutely wonderful, the staff is always consistent and so nice... Ps the green avocado sauce is to die for, I could bathe in it.. Like everyone else says, don't be scared by the outside appearance.
(5)Fami D.
We went in for lunch today after reading Yelp reviews and a fellow foodie buddy assured us this is THE place to go for authentic flavors. If you are looking for the real thing and want something totally different from the 'Mexican food' chains, this is the place for you. Both carne asada plate and carne asada burrito were delicious. The condiment station loaded with fresh lime, salsa, pickled onions, cabbage and pico de gallo really added to our already flavorful meals. Even though I don't speak hardly any Spanish at all, friendly and attentive staff patiently answered all my questions. Food came out fast while my corn tortillas were still steaming hot and in big portions. I would probably try the tacos a la cart next time so I can try a few other things. Grilled onion that came with the Plate was so sweet and balanced out the spiciness of the roasted pepper. What a treat it was! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Pancho V.
Hmmmm not sure why a place like this that seems to be in a busy area of a large City Phoenix had NO reviews?, oh well guess I get first!. I've had my share of bad Mexican food through Arizona but that stops here at Asadero Toro, they have a nice selection of meats along with the usual Tacos, Burritos, Tortas, Platillos and Caldos incliding Birria de Chivo, some of the food we had was as follows. Burrito de Barbacoa - (forgot photo) I was a little pissed when I saw the $7.00 burrito that was so small, the menu also said it had beans and when I cut it open to take a photo I saw no beans!, I opened it up and told the lady it had no beans and she showed me that it did, well.......when they say beans it's re-fried beans that they spread very sparingly on the tortilla like mayo on a piece of bread for a sandwich, almost invisible!. The barbacoa was good not the best I've had but the burrito leaves you still hungry and not worth $7.00. 2.5-Stars Taco/Flour de Carne Asada - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… They do tacos in flour and corn tortillas, the carne asada was very flavorful wrapped in what seems to be hand made flour tortillas, some delicious tacos yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… 4-Star Taco/Corn de Carne Asada - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… If you see the little layer of brown on top the tortilla this is the beans, this is what was on the burrito and barely noticeable in a burrito, even on the taco it's not enough to give it flavor so not sure why they do this?, but taco was very good yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… 4-Stars Birria de Chivo - yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… For those who don't know what this is, it's a goat meat soup that when made right is delicious and this one was very good. The caldo or broth had a nice flavor and was fat free *(meaning they must strain off the fat from the caldo) good job!, the meat was tender and flavorful with very little fat yelp.com/biz_photos/LrA0… I'm picky about the birria that I like but this one was very good 4/4.5-Stars Stay away from ordering a burrito!, other than that we were very satisfied with all the food eaten here and glad to finally have some good Mexican food in Arizona "The Racist State"
(4)Stephen G.
This place is amazing. I grew up in California, and didn't think I'd find good Mexican food again after leaving. It's awesome. They even make their own tortillas. If you've never had freshly made tortillas, you have to try them. They are so much better than what you can buy in the store. Plus, they give you roasted onions, cabbage, salsa, and cucumbers with your meal, and the roasted jalapeno is delicious.
(5)Lisa M.
This is definitely the place for a quick bite to eat. I love their garnish and salsa bar and I can honestly say I had the best carne asada tacos in downtown Phoenix! Everything was Cheap, fast, and delicious. I am definitely going to frequent this place.
(5)Stacey K.
We have lived in Encanto Park for several years however never stopped in this place. As previously mentioned - the place looks a little scary from the outside! We saw the Yelp reviews and thought what the heck? The menu has a wide variety of dishes. We had the chicken taco, the barbacoa and carne asada burritos. Everything was seasoned well. The barbacoa is cooked in some type of red chili sauce. The carne asada was a bit fatty however flavorful. The small flour tortillas come out hot off the stove. They are great! We also discovered they carry bottled Coke and other sodas from Mexico. I loved the condiment bar with the various salsas and toppings which included limes, cucumbers, radishes, and cabbage. The pico de gallo and guacamole sauce were my favorites. Unlike America's Taco where you are given a tiny bit of everything on the side, this place is a free for all! The interior was immaculate! The decor is not great. Plastic chairs and tables. The front counter gal could not answer any of my questions. The server though was extremely nice - especially considering our two year old dumped a plate of rice on the floor! This place reminds me of Wishell's donuts down the street. The exterior is terrible but inside they have the most heavenly donuts and croissants! The place sells out by 8 am! You would never know by looking at it from the outside. Lesson learned - don't judge a book by it's cover.
(4)Matt L.
If you happen to get lost and wander by the gun show at the Coliseum, be sure to stop here. A little whole in the wall of a former Wendy's, this place rocks the steak taco world. My favorite is the "jaz". Carne asada + cheese + peppers/onions = yum!!! The barbacoa and chicken tacos are tasty, but I wouldn't say they'd knock you off your feet. Definitely go carne asada and defintely try this place.
(3)Nadia C.
Well, this is the real deal when you want a taco or tostada. It's the EXACT food you will eat in Mexico. Exact. I ordered the asada. Beef on a corn tortilla that is made there-- a real tortilla. Then you go over to a salsa, quacamole, hot sauce, cucumber, cabbage and radish, onion bar and fix it up how you like. The 5 stars is for the food, the ambiance and setting is not anything special. In fact, it is a bit of a turn off , but very clean. It's in an old Wendy's I think. The food is so delicious, it doesn't matter!!!!!!
(5)Tracy K.
Asadero Torro has catered my work's Christmas party for the last two years, and I've come to equate the celebration of the coming of lil' baby Jesus to a full tummy of tasty Asadero Torro tacos. I think JC would give thumbs-up to these heavenly tacos. The beef is sooooo flavorful, the corn tortillas sooooo yummy, and all the "extras" darn right essential for a complete and delectable meal. Even the refried beans and rice are awesome. And since they are close to where I work, I don't have to wait another year to devote my taste-buds to their delicious food. Amen!
(5)Andrew V.
I'd give this place an extra half star if I could, just because it used to be a Wendy's. I think this is probably as close to "authentic" as you're going to find. They have all the usual suspects of a Mexican joint: tacos, quesadillas, and of course the salsa bar (I think this was a remnant of when Wendy's had salad bars, remember that? circa early 1990s). The service is good, and the food is delicious. I would suggest a giant (and they are giant) chicken quesadilla, with a bunch of guacamole on the side. The cheese is melty and delicous! I would avoid the steak as it is quite tough, but to be fair I've never had good steak from a good mexican restaurant. And they have Mexican Coke in glass bottles, which usually always makes me go back for more.
(4)Jane A.
I agree with Nadia's review. The food is excellent. We had the carne asada for two and there was plenty of food. Very fresh and tasty. The people who work here are friendly as well.
(5)Armando S.
The barbacoa is great and the tacos de carne are excellent. My business is not far from there and we get lunch there quite a bit. The beans are always phenomenal. It's the kind of place you'd drive not thinking of stopping in, but it's worth it.
(5)Maria S.
This is as close as you can get to Authentic Mexican Sonora food. The owner is from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico (my father is also from there) and this place definitely compares to the taco stands in Hermosillo. It is clean and nice inside. They have an awesome condiment bar. There's variety of salsa's and pico de Gallo. They also have grilled jalapeños (upon request on some orders and others it comes with it). The carne asada is delicious and the best. Although, the barbacoa is not far behind. The rice and beans are very good. The flour tortillas are better than the corn tortillas. The staff is very nice and helpful. The service is fast and reasonably priced. During lunch hours they have daily specials for only $5.95 (includes a beverage, rice & beans) and changes daily. It's definitely worth going!!!
(5)Tracy M.
I enjoyed my visit to Asadero Toro. The decor is minimalist, folding chairs and tables in an old Wendy's and a small bar with salsas and pickled vegetables on ice. You gotta get carne asada at an asadero, I thought, and it was a good choice. It comes served on a plastic tray much like you'd find at a school cafeteria, I felt special though as the other patrons got styrofoam plates :) The food was delicious, solid tortillas, and they even gave me a char-grilled onion quarter.
(4)Matt H.
Asadero Toro may not be much to look at (outside or in), but they serve high quality Mexican food. The menu may look a bit daunting to a gringo, but the employees have always been very nice and helpful when I had a question. The setup is casual with a small salsa bar that contains sliced cucumbers, shredded lettuce, lime halves and pickled onion slices. For liquid refreshment, you can get a cold bottle of super sweet Mexican Coke or even Mexican 7-Up (that's something you don't see every day). Condiments and drinks aside, the main reason to come here is -- the meat! Tacos are nice, but I usually pick one of their huge burritos with lots of savory beef stuffed in a huge, fresh tortilla. The carne asada is wonderful, as is the birria de chivo (a goat stew). Their meat tastes as if it's been stewing in juices all day, making me wonder if they leave it bubbling in a huge vat overnight. One thing I like about Asodero Toro is that they have items that use the, ahem, offbeat parts of the cow. Recently I tried the beef tongue burrito, which was great. Perhaps one day, when I feel REALLY brave, I will try that cow's head burrito.
(4)Eddz G.
Don't let the outside scare you away, best Sonoran Tacos in town! Abd by Sonoran I mean flavorful grilled beef. Try the Parrillada.
(5)