Cali Taco Restaurant Opening Soon in Avondale

New taco restaurant is opening soon.Photo byJarritos Mexican SodaonUnsplash

There’s no denying that Phoenix is one of the go-to destinations for Mexican food in the country. If you asked 100 people for their favorite taco restaurants in the Valley you’d probably get 100 different answers. And yet, for whatever reason, Phoenix is seen as a launching point for external Mexican and Tex-Mex food chains. When expanding, Arizona is almost always one of the first states to see the expansion. For better or worse, if there’s a new Mexican taco chain in the works, it will come to Phoenix. However, what you might not know is that one of the newest brands in Arizona tacos is designed to look like it is from California, but in reality, it started right here in the States. 

If you assumed CaliTaco was from California you would not be the only one. However, regardless of the name, CaliTaco is an Arizona taco restaurant that is now expanding in metro Phoenix. The restaurant itself does not claim to have any connection with the neighboring state, though the name might confuse some. In reality, it is more of a way to stand out in an already congested marketplace. 

The brand-new location is the third of the franchise as it opens in Avondale, which is good news for anyone in the area who doesn’t want to drive east into the Valley and deal with traffic. 

CaliTaco is both a corporate-owned and franchise-owned restaurant. Three of the Valley locations are owned by corporate, while the other half are independent franchises. 

The restaurant is probably best known for its tacos de maiz and the Cali Fries. The Cali Fries are loaded with your choice of meat, plus refried beans, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, sour cream, and guacamole. Basically it’s loaded up nachos with fries instead of chips. As for the tacos, you can choose between tacos de asada y cabeza, tacos de pollo, alpastor and carnitas, mulitas (double-sided tortilla with melted cheese), and queso tacos maiz. 

If you are a fan of the ever-popular birria tacos (because who doesn’t like dipping their tacos?), you’re in luck, because it is on the menu with shredded beef, refried beans, cheese, onions, cilantro, guac, and sour cream. 

The new location does not have an official opening date (other than “soon”) but it will open next to the Harkins Movie Theater inside of the Gateway Pavilion off of the intersection of west McDowell Road and North 99th Avenue.