18 Essential Mexican Restaurants in Phoenix

"Named for the olive trees that Scottsdale founder Winfield Scott planted back in the day, this atmospheric, old-school Mexican restaurant, owned by the Corral family for 75 years and counting, was saved from the wrecking ball by Barry Goldwater’s secretary, who considered it a Scottsdale landmark — and she was right. The traditional AZ-Mex food offers few surprises, but it’s still tasty and satisfying — particularly the green corn tamales, steak picado, zippy red salsa made with chile de arbol, and the cheese crisp, an Arizona signature fashioned from homemade flour tortillas." - Nikki Buchanan