A Sizzling Anniversary Celebration at Bacanora! We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at Bacanora in Phoenix, and what an unforgettable experience it was! The moment we walked in, the lively vibe and cumbia music set the tone for an amazing night. Our server was outstanding, taking the time to explain the menu and making excellent recommendations. The kitchen staff's friendly demeanor added to the warm atmosphere, and it was impressive to see them expertly cooking on an open fire grill.
The food was truly exceptional. We started with the Embered Elote and bone marrow, and it was love at first bite. The smokiness and lime combined to create a masterclass in umami flavors. In fact, it was so good that I wasn't even done and ordered another one to go! The cucumber salad was a refreshing contrast, with the perfect kick from the salsa matcha.
The Pollo Asado was a showstopper – a monster dish that had everything we needed to enjoy. The half chicken was cooked to perfection, juicy and full of flavor. The quesadillas, papas, rajas, tortillas, and frijoles all complemented the dish perfectly.
Hands down, this was a 10 out of 10 meal. We're already counting down the days until we can come back and experience the magic of Bacanora again. If you're looking for an authentic, delicious Mexican meal in a lively atmosphere, look no further. Bacanora is a must-visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Boor
Awesome again! Amazing food and service. Keep making good memories!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alondra Rios
I’m so upset I was so excited to try this place so I came for my bday . Unfortunately nothing about this place felt worth it . Expect to wait even with reservations, the menu was very underwhelming, our drinks took forever , and mind you the place is tiny so it didn’t take long because it was busy it took long because the bartender was talking to her coworkers I kept seeing her talking and talking and I had to ask my waitress for my drink. The ceviche portion was so small for $30 , the short rib plate was so underwhelming I literally didn’t understand the hype nor price point of this place. I will never be back. Birthday dinner ruined.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
ben Smith
First off the restaurant can seat only 30 people that why it's hard to get it. We got the $300 ribeye and it was a little tough for me to justify spending $300 on it. They said it was a dry aged prime steak but it didn't taste like a dry aged steak at all. I've had them before. Salsas and the sides they give you with the steak are really good. Flour tortillas are really good too. Overall cool spot just not a prime steakhouse. Just keep that in mind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Daisy
Had such a great experience at Bacanora! The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the food was absolutely delicious — every bite was packed with flavor. You can feel the good energy in this place. Definitely one of my new favorite spots!
Food and service was fantastic. Just be aware that your wallet will be about $100 short per person.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Juanita Parra
The food was so delicious I could not believe how all those flavors came together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Gamber
Phenomenal. Got the New York Strip, Elote, and some dessert. Everything was delicious. Staff were great as well! If I could rate this place higher I would.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Galloway
Overall decent little spot, not the best in the area but certainly far from the worst. Prices are a bit steep in my eyes, and that is probably the only thing that will prevent me from coming back.
Parking is a hassle in this area, so be prepared to walk further if the area is busy.
The size of the place is way too tiny to really enjoy myself. Because of this, the noise level is amplified and conversation is a tad more difficult than normal. Its also hard to spread out at all, everything seems so close together. There is a time limit you can remain there due to the size as well.
The food is good but its not good enough to overcome the price, restaurant size, and parking hassle.
If they upgrade to a larger space, it will help them tremendously in my eyes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Shannon
Bacanora is a fantastic spot! We sat outside and it was beautiful—great energy and views. The mesquite-grilled flavors live up to the hype, and the service was warm and attentive the whole time. Perfect place to enjoy amazing Sonoran food and a lively Phoenix vibe.
Is it overpriced? Absolutely. Does the price point match the ambiance and the location? Absolutely not. However, our food was delicious. The strip and the short ribs were perfectly cooked. The portion size of the salads was definitely on the small side, but delicious nonetheless. And the service was outstanding complemented by strong and well crafted cocktails. The moral of this story is that if you can tolerate the price then this place is well worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Michelle Dellino
Phoenix has a food scene that is so good -- and Bacanora is among the brightest stars. Tucked away on a colorful corner of Grand Avenue, you want to make the trip. The food here has been next level when we have been. I cannot say enough good things. The chicken is way more than enough to share and the quesadillas that come with it themselves are worth it. The steak is also first rate and elote is also a must do. You're going to get a lot of food so be ready to share to try a few things. The service is friendly and fast (you have 90 min only, but that's not been a problem that I've experienced). Overall the food is the standout - the wood fire cooking is insanely flavorful. The vibe is unique. And you need to book your table now.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pollo Asado, Bone in Ribeye Steak, Salad, Fried Elote, Side of Tortillas
Susan Valiquette
Just so completely wow!!! Just book even if the only reservation is at 10:00 pm. Foodies will love and recommend. Portions are perfect for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maxx McDude
Super underwhelming for the price. Had the hamachi crudo and the elote with bone marrow for starters which were both solid. The pescado was good but not $64 good. The short ribs tasted like sugary cinnamon beef. The atmosphere is casual which is cool but it’s not cozy or comfortable. And our server was really, really bad. I couldn’t find one reason why I would pay a premium to dine here.
I highly recommend Espiritu in Mesa - similar menu but so much better - and Pa’La if you’re into wood fired cooking.
TLDR: regardless of the bad experience we had with the service, the food wasn’t special enough for the price tag.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
chelsea oland
Absolutely one of a kind! I have been wanting to visit for months but I live out of town and got lucky with a walk in on a Saturday. The host was so accommodating finding us a last minute spot. Best to get yourself a reservation though! The food felt like an experience and we loved the atmosphere and Bacanora team.
A Sizzling Anniversary Celebration at Bacanora!
We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at Bacanora in Phoenix, and what an unforgettable experience it was! The moment we walked in, the lively vibe and cumbia music set the tone for an amazing night. Our server was outstanding, taking the time to explain the menu and making excellent recommendations. The kitchen staff's friendly demeanor added to the warm atmosphere, and it was impressive to see them expertly cooking on an open fire grill.
The food was truly exceptional. We started with the Embered Elote and bone marrow, and it was love at first bite. The smokiness and lime combined to create a masterclass in umami flavors. In fact, it was so good that I wasn't even done and ordered another one to go! The cucumber salad was a refreshing contrast, with the perfect kick from the salsa matcha.
The Pollo Asado was a showstopper – a monster dish that had everything we needed to enjoy. The half chicken was cooked to perfection, juicy and full of flavor. The quesadillas, papas, rajas, tortillas, and frijoles all complemented the dish perfectly.
Hands down, this was a 10 out of 10 meal. We're already counting down the days until we can come back and experience the magic of Bacanora again. If you're looking for an authentic, delicious Mexican meal in a lively atmosphere, look no further. Bacanora is a must-visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome again! Amazing food and service. Keep making good memories!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m so upset I was so excited to try this place so I came for my bday . Unfortunately nothing about this place felt worth it . Expect to wait even with reservations, the menu was very underwhelming, our drinks took forever , and mind you the place is tiny so it didn’t take long because it was busy it took long because the bartender was talking to her coworkers I kept seeing her talking and talking and I had to ask my waitress for my drink. The ceviche portion was so small for $30 , the short rib plate was so underwhelming I literally didn’t understand the hype nor price point of this place. I will never be back. Birthday dinner ruined.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
First off the restaurant can seat only 30 people that why it's hard to get it. We got the $300 ribeye and it was a little tough for me to justify spending $300 on it. They said it was a dry aged prime steak but it didn't taste like a dry aged steak at all. I've had them before. Salsas and the sides they give you with the steak are really good. Flour tortillas are really good too. Overall cool spot just not a prime steakhouse. Just keep that in mind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Had such a great experience at Bacanora! The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the food was absolutely delicious — every bite was packed with flavor. You can feel the good energy in this place. Definitely one of my new favorite spots!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pollo Asado, Guacamole, Calabazas
Food and service was fantastic. Just be aware that your wallet will be about $100 short per person.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was so delicious I could not believe how all those flavors came together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal. Got the New York Strip, Elote, and some dessert. Everything was delicious. Staff were great as well! If I could rate this place higher I would.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Overall decent little spot, not the best in the area but certainly far from the worst.
Prices are a bit steep in my eyes, and that is probably the only thing that will prevent me from coming back.
Parking is a hassle in this area, so be prepared to walk further if the area is busy.
The size of the place is way too tiny to really enjoy myself. Because of this, the noise level is amplified and conversation is a tad more difficult than normal.
Its also hard to spread out at all, everything seems so close together.
There is a time limit you can remain there due to the size as well.
The food is good but its not good enough to overcome the price, restaurant size, and parking hassle.
If they upgrade to a larger space, it will help them tremendously in my eyes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Bacanora is a fantastic spot! We sat outside and it was beautiful—great energy and views. The mesquite-grilled flavors live up to the hype, and the service was warm and attentive the whole time. Perfect place to enjoy amazing Sonoran food and a lively Phoenix vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Is it overpriced? Absolutely. Does the price point match the ambiance and the location? Absolutely not. However, our food was delicious. The strip and the short ribs were perfectly cooked. The portion size of the salads was definitely on the small side, but delicious nonetheless. And the service was outstanding complemented by strong and well crafted cocktails. The moral of this story is that if you can tolerate the price then this place is well worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Phoenix has a food scene that is so good -- and Bacanora is among the brightest stars. Tucked away on a colorful corner of Grand Avenue, you want to make the trip. The food here has been next level when we have been. I cannot say enough good things. The chicken is way more than enough to share and the quesadillas that come with it themselves are worth it. The steak is also first rate and elote is also a must do. You're going to get a lot of food so be ready to share to try a few things. The service is friendly and fast (you have 90 min only, but that's not been a problem that I've experienced). Overall the food is the standout - the wood fire cooking is insanely flavorful. The vibe is unique. And you need to book your table now.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pollo Asado, Bone in Ribeye Steak, Salad, Fried Elote, Side of Tortillas
Just so completely wow!!! Just book even if the only reservation is at 10:00 pm. Foodies will love and recommend. Portions are perfect for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Super underwhelming for the price. Had the hamachi crudo and the elote with bone marrow for starters which were both solid. The pescado was good but not $64 good. The short ribs tasted like sugary cinnamon beef. The atmosphere is casual which is cool but it’s not cozy or comfortable. And our server was really, really bad. I couldn’t find one reason why I would pay a premium to dine here.
I highly recommend Espiritu in Mesa - similar menu but so much better - and Pa’La if you’re into wood fired cooking.
TLDR: regardless of the bad experience we had with the service, the food wasn’t special enough for the price tag.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Absolutely one of a kind! I have been wanting to visit for months but I live out of town and got lucky with a walk in on a Saturday. The host was so accommodating finding us a last minute spot. Best to get yourself a reservation though! The food felt like an experience and we loved the atmosphere and Bacanora team.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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