Best Mole 2011 | Asi Es La Vida | La Vida | Phoenix
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Best Mole

Asi Es La Vida

While Oaxaca claims to be the land of seven different moles, here in the Valley, we're pretty much stuck with one: black mole. Mexican chocolate, lots of chiles, sesame, and tomatillo are blended together to create a complex sauce that's savory and just slightly sweet. But with well over 20 ingredients and a laborious daylong prep, it's a complicated sauce to make and difficult to master. When the craving hits us, we just head to Asi Es La Vida. That way we don't have to slave over a stove all day to enjoy a delicious platter of enmoladas or mole chicken, smothered in a rich and tangy chocolate-based sauce that leaves us practically licking our plates.

Best Panadería

La Tolteca

Jackie Mercandetti
To call La Tolteca the best panadería (a.k.a. Mexican bakery) is just the tip of the iceberg when describing this Phoenix establishment. The dulce de leche churros (sugary cinnamon sticks filled with sweet caramel filling) are just one of the reasons we keep coming back to this sweet little bite of Mexican goodness. Handmade tortillas, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats fill the bakery cases, which seem to go on for miles. Along with the baked goods, La Tolteca also offers fresh meat and produce, handmade cheeses and tamales, and some of the best fast Mexican grub in town. It's a great place to grab a quick lunch and, no joke, the burritos are as big as a grown man's arm. The fresh salsa bar alone is worth stopping in for. Come for the churros, but make sure to try at least one of everything else.

Best Raspados

Oasis Raspados

Raspados are the Mexican version of the rainbow snow cones that have become a little slice of Americana. But instead of being bland, rock-hard sugar bombs, raspados are packed with chunks of fresh fruit. Tempted? Look no further than Oasis Raspados for a super-fruity concoction in such familiar flavors as strawberry, mango, or watermelon. After you've tried the basic fruit flavors, expand to tamarind, horchata, or walnut. Add some sweetened condensed milk or a scoop of ice cream for a bit more decadence. And if you've got the cojones, try a chamoyada (shaved ice drenched in pickled chile fruit sauce). It's a spicy, tangy twist on an otherwise super-sweet treat.

Best Old-School Paletas

Realeza Michoacana

Sick of the rock-hard snow cones and corn syrup popsicles from your local ice cream man? Pack up the kids and take them to Realeza Michoacana instead, where they'll get a fresh fruity treat instead of an over-processed, syrupy sugar high. Paletas contain loads of fresh fruit in exotic flavor combos that your local ice cream truck probably doesn't bother stocking. They have familiar fruit flavors and more exotic tropical tastes, like guava, tamarind, and horchata. There's also a "cocktail" paleta if you're feeling the need for a midday frozen margarita, or snag a mango chili paleta with chunks of fresh mango mixed into a salty, lime-infused, chilly treat.

Best New-School Paletas

Paletas Betty

We won't name names, but someone we know is really into Otter Pops. Yes, those rainbow-hued sugar-water packets from our youth. Ugh. Clearly, this gentleman has never wrapped his tongue around a platano paleta. That's bananas Foster with homemade caramel and añejo rum to you, mister, and it freezes out all the ice pop competition. We have lusted after the gourmet Mexican popsicles sold in places like Los Angeles and New York but wondered how they would fare in Chandler. Quite nicely, apparently, because Betty Alatorre De Hong opened her second paleta shop on Mill Avenue this summer. Now we'll have two places to get nuez (roasted pecan), sandia (watermelon with fresh mint), and cereza (brandied cherries in sweet almond) paletas. Be sure to check Betty's website; flavors change daily.

Best Aguas Frescas

Los Reyes de la Torta

Tirion Boan
Aguas frescas literally translates to "fresh waters" in English, and Los Reyes de la Torta has "the kings" right in its name. So naturally, when it comes to aguas, Los Reyes reigns supreme. Enjoy an impressive variety of jewel-toned aguas reminiscent of Kool-Aid, minus the sugar high and neon food coloring. Try the jamaica, a bright red hibiscus flower drink, or the classic watermelon. And if you're feeling a bit naughty, snag a strawberry, mango, or guava cremosa, laden with smooth cream. A tall glass of something cold and fruity can be instant relief from a blazing summer day, and the regal Los Reyes de la Torta certainly delivers.

Best Spiked Aguas Frescas

Gallo Blanco

Robrt Pela
The only way to make the fresh cantaloupe and watermelon (among others) juices at Gallo Blanco — the restaurant at the hipper-than-thou Clarendon Hotel — is to add a healthy shot of tequila or vodka. So that's just what we do. It's very responsible: We're getting our vitamins. This is a healthy way to imbibe, right? Be sure to do so with Gallo's killer guacamole and chips. Hey, stop judging. Avocado is a super-food! And at least we're soaking up all that booze.

Best Margarita

Los Dos Molinos

Lauren Saria
There always is a wait, the staff isn't the friendliest, and the food is hot enough to burn every single taste bud from your tongue, but we keep finding our way back to the patio of this South Phoenix hot spot for its kick-ass house margarita. It isn't infused with lavender, there isn't a trace of rosewater, and the tequila hasn't been blessed by a holy donkey from the depths of Mexico, but the housemade margs deliver with a not-too-sweet, perfectly sour base blended nicely with puree of real strawberries, raspberries, and limes. As for the tequila — there's enough of it in these suckers to literally put you on your ass after just one. You think we're joking — let's see if you can remember your dinner after two.

Best Specialty Margaritas

Cien Agaves

Jamie Peachey
Cien Agaves lives up to its name, with 100 different types of tequila on hand, but it's the way Cien Agaves makes use of that tequila that really has us hooked. Prickly pear, hibiscus, cucumber, and mango margaritas all grace the menu, and they're all worth lingering over with a basket of chips and salsa on the side. We recommend the habanero lime margarita if you're feeling particularly adventurous. It's an intriguing combo of frosty citric sweetness and a slow burn that keeps you coming back for more. Or you can split the Gigante, a 56-ounce mega-size marg, if it's going to be one of those nights.

Best Margaritas by the Pitcher

Mi Patio

Meagan Simmons
Colorful piñatas hanging from the ceiling and plastic parrots on the wall are all you need to see to know that Mi Patio's pitchers of margarita may not be made with top-shelf ingredients. But who wants to waste high-quality sipping tequila when your margs will be paired with decadent, deep-fried, cheese-smothered Sonoran food? The pitchers of margarita from Mi Patio are the pitch-perfect accompaniment to the menu. We recommend pairing your half-gallon of marg with the Appetizer Supreme, a feast of chimis, flautas, nachos, and gyros meat. Yep, we said gyros. It's the perfect post-work escape or weekend treat for a group, and it's cheap enough not to break the bank.

Best Of Phoenix®

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