Massive Jungle-Themed Mexican Restaurant Coming to Phoenix Metro

We will have to wait and see how the food turns out.Photo byTai's CapturesonUnsplash

Decor plays a powerful role in the overall enjoyment of a restaurant. While food will always remain front and center, it is the design and look of a restaurant that can make up for some culinary shortcomings. There is a reason tiki restaurants proved so popular a decade (or more) ago. For the majority of establishments, the food was so-so and the drinks were pumped with sugar, but the vibe of the business was fun and made you want to return. Hoping to capitalize on both decor and menu, a new restaurant is coming to metro Phoenix in the coming months and wants to ensure guests leave with the same desire of wanting to return. 

A few months ago, Anoche Cantina in Tempe closed. The business wasn’t around for long, as patrons turned their back on the uninspired menu as well as the atmosphere that felt like every other college student-inspired hangout. However, a new restaurant taking its place hopes to change all of that. 

Jaguar Cantina will move into the vacated space of 640 South Mill Avenue (B110) in Tempe in early 2025. The longer delay is due to the extensive renovations that will be pumped into the building. The new restaurant and cantina will be a Mexican restaurant, but showcase a jungle theme. The idea is to mimic some of the popular hangouts and restaurants found around Cancun and other touristy destinations in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsular. 

Ultimately the success of Jaguar Cantina will hang heavily on how well the theme is executed as well as the menu itself. While one can help make up for the other’s lacking, little can be done if both fail to inspire. In this instance, based on the location, the size (which is over 4,000 square feet), and the hassle of parking, Jaguar Cantina will need to have better-than-average Mexican food, because if there is one thing metro Phoenix won’t support, its so-so Mexican cuisine. Especially when dealing with the other elements involved. 

Hopes are high for Jaguar Cantina though, as owner Julian Wright is behind other locations, including Pedal Haus. For anyone who has been in the area for some time, they might remember his original foray into the world of Mexican restaurants with Canteen Modern Tequila Bar (it opened back in 2011 and closed two years later). Hopefully, for both him and visiting patrons, Jaguar Cantina will thrive where the previous Mexican restaurant failed.