Phoenix’s Best Mexican Restaurants | Eater Phoenix

"Charcoal‑grilled chicken (pollo al carbón) is a rite of passage among iconic Mexican dishes. While it’s common throughout Mexico, Phoenix has no shortage of spots serving it. Kiss Pollos goes straight to the source — bringing Sinaloa‑style grilled chicken to South Central. The meat is marinated in red chile and a proprietary spice blend, grilled until the skin blisters, then chopped fine so every bite carries smoke and depth. The bare‑bones counter‑service setup feels pulled straight from a street corner in Culiacán. Order the chicken by the plate or tuck into tacos, tostadas, or the Flip Taco — a sandwich‑tostada hybrid stacked with beans, cheese, and crisp tortillas. It even offers a fried chicken slider (often just the kids’ or picky‑eaters’ option at taquerías) but here the crust crackles and the meat stays juicy; it’s served with seasoned fries. Then there’s the Kiss Papa: a mound of potatoes piled high with chicken and cheese, alongside warm tortillas. Proof that when grilled chicken is treated with care, smoke, and soul — it doesn’t need to be anything more." - McConnell Quinn