Acclaimed Arcadia chef lands at Scottsdale resort

Fans of chef Richard Hinojosa can now find him cooking again — and at a much larger property.

The former co-owner of the acclaimed Arcadia restaurant CRUjiente Tacos is now the executive chef at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. Hinojosa joined the resort, which sits southeast of Lincoln Drive and Tatum Boulevard, in December. 

The role marks a return to resorts for Hinojosa, who ran CRUjiente with Jason Morris until May 2025. In that time, their work garnered visits from Food Network star Guy Fieri and an inclusion in the book “American Tacos: A History and Guide.” After nearly nine years in Arcadia, the restaurant owners were unable to reach new lease terms with the building owner. Fans of the restaurant watched a frustrating drama play out slowly. After learning of the closing in April, they showed up in droves that extended service into May before, ultimately, having to say goodbye.

“That was a closure that we weren’t hoping or planning on doing. Unfortunately, it is what it is,” Hinojosa says. “When that was coming to be, I had looked a little bit into what I was going to do next. And as much time as I’ve spent over the years in standalone restaurants, I’ve spent more in hotel resorts.”

A new start and a ‘fresh set of eyes’

Hinojosa’s career has included local stints at Mary Elaine’s (The Phoenician’s former fine dining restaurant) and Wigwam Resort & Spa, as well as at Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado, and the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. He says he enjoys the “entirety of the hospitality experience” that resorts offer guests.

At the Omni Scottsdale, Hinojosa oversees four restaurants: the Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant Prado, the Arizona-Mexican Taqueria Centro, lounge Mbar and the quick, casual Crave Café. 

Right now he’s focused on getting acquainted with the resort and its cooks. He praises the resort’s chefs and says he doesn’t intend to overhaul any of the restaurant menus. But he says he will look for opportunities to, in his words, “play a little bit.” 

“It’s really just a matter of a fresh set of eyes,” he says.

So far he’s not planning to put any of his CRUjiente tacos on the Taqueria Centro menu.

“It’ll definitely be a little bit of an influence,” he says. “Whether or not it’s an exact recipe from that, probably not. But we’ll see where some of those things might pop up.”

If he does incorporate specials or pop-ups featuring past CRUjiente items, Hinojosa says he’ll put out the word to diners. 

“The good news is, we’re also not that far away,” he says.

He hopes to entice diners to stop in for one of the wine- or spirits-pairing dinners he has in the works. Hinojosa is a Level 2 certified sommelier loves the interplay between food and wine.

“Being able to create a complete dining experience that progresses throughout the evening with a multitude of paired wines is my personal favorite way to dine,” Hinojosa says. “It’s also one of my favorite ways to cook.”

Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia

4949 E. Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale