Crujiente Tacos

Taco restaurant · Camelback East

Crujiente Tacos

Taco restaurant · Camelback East

3

3961 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018

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Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
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Crujiente Tacos by null
Crujiente Tacos by null
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Highlights

Gourmet tacos with unique flavor combos & craft cocktails  

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3961 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 Get directions

crutacos.com
@crutacos

$30–50 · Menu

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3961 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 Get directions

+1 602 687 7777
crutacos.com
@crutacos

$30–50 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 17, 2025

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@eater

15 Top Taco Destinations in Phoenix

"Although chef Richard Hinojosa’s menu features Mexican food standbys such as guacamole, grilled street corn, ceviche, and tacos, only a few of them are conventional. Hinojosa gets a little wild (in a good way) with the tacos, combining unusual ingredients to excellent effect. Crowd favorites include crunchy lamb tacos (with cotija, pickled red onion, cabbage, jalapeño, and what he calls “birria sauce”) and strip steak tacos (with soy-pickled shimejis, fresh horseradish, karashi mustard, and cilantro mojo), but the taco that steals the show, is the Korean fried chicken, combining compressed cabbage, pickled jalapeños, gochujang (Korea’s salty, spicy ketchup), and mojo de cebollin (an herb-y garlic and green onion sauce) with crunchy, spicy chicken." - Nikki Buchanan

https://phoenix.eater.com/maps/best-tacos-to-eat-phoenix-arizona-restaurants
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8 Warming Soups to Try in Phoenix

"This famous pozole is a seasonal favorite that’s commonly used to celebrate the holidays in Mexican culture, which makes it ideal for slurping through the chilly winter weather. It’s made with a deep red, savory broth with pork, hominy, lime, onion, jalapenos, and cilantro, slowly simmered to create a rich, unforgettable taste." - Jamie Killin

https://phoenix.eater.com/maps/best-soup-phoenix
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Best Nonalcoholic Cocktails in Phoenix, Arizona - Eater Phoenix

"This taqueria puts just as much care into its beverages as it does its award-winning tacos, and its nonalcoholic cocktail is no exception. The CRU’sin Together is crafted with the botanical flavor of elderflower and sweetness from tropical passion fruit, muddled with strawberries and a fresh squeeze of lemon." - Jamie Killin

https://phoenix.eater.com/maps/best-nonalcoholic-cocktails-phoenix-bars-mocktails-sober
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Lata Assudani

Google
Great tacos and cocktails but just a little overpriced. They recently added a couple of new items on their menu, would love to go back and try those. Also wish it was possible to sub soft tortilla for the hard shell tacos. The shredded meat in all three was delicious! My favorite was the steak taco but for $11 I expected it to be a little bigger. Overall great spot for gourmet tacos.

Setha Ponce

Google
Excellent tacos! We got the beef, pork, pork belly, lamb, and fried chicken. All were really good. A bit of spice but not too much! I’m glad we got to experience this place before it waved goodbye!

Regina Sica

Google
these tacos... wow. Delicious and the margs are FRESH. The only down side is that they are a little expensive, even during happy hour. We intentionally went between 4-6 to get HH at the bar thinking it would help our wallet. There was only 1 Marg on HH - the basic which again was delicious but still $9 when originally i ts $11. There were also only 3 tacos on HH - crispy beef was our fav. We also wanted to try the others but had to pay full price. Korean Fried chicken is a must try! it's tucked in a shopping center so don't miss it! Service was attentive, friendly and quick, Robert behind the bar is a master at his craft and clearly knows how to make an amazing drink. Heather was also a treat, easy to talk to, gave amazing recommendations and super friendly without being overly in our space. The coconut marg was super popular the night we were there. The spicy marg they always asked how spicy you wanted it which I appreciate, and my fav was the fresh mint + cucumber (i forget what its called) but wow was it good. These margs are dangerous in the fact that they go down so smooth. Would give it 5 stars if the price was a little better.

Gina

Google
great service & atmosphere. tacos are unique, ceviche lacks flavor however. great selection of beers & spirits

Jessica Cons

Google
Delicious tacos, fantastic service and yummy margaritas. Make sure to add your name to the waitlist list via Yelp, or you'll do it at the door when you arrive. The hostess and our server were wonderful! I have to eat gluten free due to celiac and they were very knowledgeable. Thanks for the great food and service!

Paul E Sunday

Google
The Happy Hour food and drinks are amazing. All the tacos are hand crafted with expertise and precision. These are good-sized tacos for those who are very hungry. The chips and guacamole are great, as well as the queso dip with chorizo. I will warn people that the beef taco is made with a very hot sauce, so if you need to ask for a mild version, do not hesitate to ask, and they will always accommodate your request. They open at 4 pm, and you need to beat the rush to get a table or a seat at the long bar. The restaurant itself is not very big, so seating is not guaranteed. They do not accept reservations, but they do have a waiting list for the experience. The bartender is highly attentive to your needs if you sit at the bar. The margaritas are excellent. I've had the pork, lamb, and beef taco. All of them are delicious. During Happy Hour, you get $1 of listed tacos and $2 off most appetizers. The parking lot can be a little tight, so plan ahead. I recommend the ceviche or the queso with chorizo to start. Please enjoy this neighborhood gem.

Kristine June

Google
Delicious tacos!! Yum!! I especially loved the fried tacos but they were all delicious, especially the pork tacos! 👌🏼❤️ The bartender made an awesome margarita for me!! Will definitely come back for more! Very cute and classy decor. Beautiful bar. Great comfy seating. Even the bathroom doors have fun art on it! They have an awesome happy hour too!! Next time I will come back for more tacos and margaritas of course, but also the cheese and chorizo, Mexican corn and guacamole are on my list!!

Ryan Kelley

Google
Happy hour 4-6 and 9-close. Pricey side of taco world but good flavors. Happy hour isn’t much but if you go on a Monday for $8 margs or other day of the week they have a deal is bang for your buck. The lamb CRUjiente taco had awesome flavor and the crunch of the tacos is something you don’t get often or rarely. The salsas had delicious flavors and heat. The margs are good and the service was great and on point.
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Thomas G.

Yelp
Food, service and vibe were great - highly recommend! Yes the tacos are expensive but well worth it. It was fun to order ala carte and experience the menu slowly. Server was very nice and consult coming by our table to check in. Pictured are the tempura shrimp taco and the coconut margarita.
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Harika S.

Yelp
An absolute gem of a spot for Taco lovers! From Fresh tortilla chips and the salsa trio, ceviche to tacos everything was delicious. Love the ambience in an unassuming strip mall setting. Absolutely amazing latin inspired tacos, so flavorful! Korean fried chicken taco is a must try as well as the potato taco. Do not skip the rotating selection of handmade empanada for dessert! Highly recommend
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Erika W.

Yelp
CRUjiente Tacos has quickly become one of my new favorite taco places. I've been there twice and enjoyed it immensely. We wanted to try their reverse happy hour, which is said to start at 9 PM to close. I checked their website and even went on their social media to see what was going on food and drink-wise. There was no mention of them being closed. The hours were listed along with the info on their reverse happy hour. So we headed over there (about 35 minutes from our home). Upon arrival, we were extremely disappointed to see a note posted on the door saying they were closing at 9 PM. I wish that was stated on either their website or at the very least their social media page. While extremely disappointed with how this was handled, I will still give them a 5-star rating because my other two experiences were over-the-top incredible. Service has always been top-notch with great recommendations. The grilled street corn and guacamole are delicious starters served with warm chips. My go-to tacos, which have impressed me, are the crunchy beef, crunchy pork, and garlic roasted mushroom served on a soft corn tortilla. I had the house margarita, which was delicious. We will be back, but next time we will call first!!!
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Brittany H.

Yelp
The vibe was cool. The bartenders J and Robert gave good recommendations. The guac and chips were good (spicy). We also had the Korean chicken tacos they were yummy. The potato taco was okay. And beef and pork tacos they were good.
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Patty B.

Yelp
1st...our server, Heather, from sit down was awesome! Great personality and down to earth, very welcoming! Food was excellent and the menu leaves options for any taste buds including cocktails! We tried multiple drinks and tacos! Everything is fresh and handmade! As recommended by Heather, crunchy beef taco is a must (not your avg shredded beed taco), also had the fried chicken taco, so good! Pork belly, was yummy. Mushroom had great flavor but I think it would have been better with a little thinner blue corn shell. Oh and...the hand pie...give me 10! I will def be back!
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Anthony H.

Yelp
Food was really good. Great ambiance with lighting and vibe. I enjoyed the service and really liked the drinks for happy hour
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Dwayne O.

Yelp
CRUjiente Tacos This has been on my list for some time, located in the former bar/restaurant "The Grind". Reviewed and visited by Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Stopped by on a wim looking for something to eat around 8 pm on a Tuesday (Taco Tuesday). Was crowded and was behind another couple, ironic thing was we starred at 2 empty tables for four, the couple ahead of us was seated in a half circle booth and then we were later seated in one of the 4 seat tables. Go figure. We ordered Tacos and the Queso, the only taco discount on Taco Tuesday are the hard shell tacos with $1 off. We ordered the beef taco, hard shell, which comes with cheddar jack cheese, pico de gallo and house hot sauce which I declined. Have to say, I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend. Also ordered the soft tacos- Korean Fried Chicken that had cabbage, pickled jalapeños, gochjang and mojo de cebollin, pretty good depends on your taste buds. Last taco that we ordered was the grilled pork belly which had fingerling potato salad, red curry, green onions and jalapeños. Was delicious but I thought it was 3rd best of the three. The Queso comprised of chorizo, roasted poblano, onion and cilantro with chips. Good combination, the dish the queso was served in was very thin, didn't seem like a whole lot of queso. The decor in the restaurant seemed exactly like it was when it was "The Grind" Besides the wait to be seated, service was good, the restaurant at 8:30 pm seemed to clear out quickly. Overall, glad I finally got to try the restaurant, if you are there to be seen, this is your place, otherwise it was a slight disappointing.
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Hallie S.

Yelp
My friend and I went here on a Monday night and it was busy, but no wait. We had the guac and chips, margarita for marg Monday, and each had two tacos. I loved what we ordered. The potato taco was spicy and delicious! The fish taco was outstanding. This is a cute, moody place and would be perfect for a date. We sat towards the back and it was perfect to sit and chat. I would definitely eat here again!
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Aryanna K.

Yelp
Want a cute date night? This is the spot to go!! When you walk in it's very dark and has a romantic vibe to it. It feels more upscale, but nothing you need to dress up for. There are about 10 tables, and then a very long bar tables. Four of us sat super comfortable at the booth! The menu is a smaller menu and they do not allow for any modifications. We started with the grilled street corn ($13) with chips. It was full of flavor and my taste buds were dancing! Each bite had so many flavors that worked perfectly together. I would come back just for that appetizer. We also had the salsa trio which had a green salsa which was spicy and flavorful, then we had a red salsa which was a lot flavorful but not my favorite, then there was a avocado salsa and everyone at our table loved it! ($8) Then we ordered the queso which was very delicious as well. It had a sweeter flavor to them but worked perfectly with a salty chip. We also had the ceviche that was made with halibut and it was so flavorful and delicious as well. ($16) Then we ordered two beef hard shell tacos ($8 each) and they were the BEST; most flavorful taco I have ever had. From the flavorful, moist meet to the toppings with so much flavor my mouth was watering and excited for more. My wife ordered the Korean fried chicken taco and she said it was really. It had a nice crispy to it, but next time she probably wouldn't get too much coleslaw. We also ordered two non spicy white peach margaritas ($13) they were the strongest margarita I have ever had. I asked for a little extra juice to sweeten it up. I would love to come back, I just wish they had to go containers for the salsas and dips. It is a little bit on the pricier side but for a date night it was a special treat.
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Jessica C.

Yelp
Delicious tacos, fantastic service and yummy margaritas. Make sure to add your name to the waitlist list via Yelp, or you'll do it at the door when you arrive. The hostess and our server were wonderful! I have to eat gluten free due to celiac and they were very knowledgeable. Thanks for the great food and service!
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Carly W.

Yelp
This taco spot is tucked away near Arcadia Lite. It's not a huge restaurant by any means, but I personally liked the intimate space. If you consider yourself to be a foodie with a love for tacos, I recommend you try this place at least once. The flavors are so beautifully combined and the menu offers you lots to choose from. The main drawback here is the pricing of their menu items-I ordered 2 tacos, a margarita and chips and dips and the bill was so expensive. The servers we interacted with seemed busy and didn't interact with us too much, but I genuinely think we caught them on an off day.
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Kris L.

Yelp
Really enjoyed their gourmet tacos. I had the garlic mushroom and seared chicken, both were excellent. They come on blue corn tortillas. I also had the guacamole which was nice and chunky. My only critique was the chips come in a paper bag and are too salty. Due to the salt I would not get these again. The bartender was excellent. They do not have any mocktails on the menu but he made me a mock margarita and it was very good. Prices are higher but the tacos are very unique and if you sit at the bar, some of the tacos are discounted a bit, as is the guacamole.
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Dolores D.

Yelp
They have happy hour all day Wednesday. We got two mocktails. I got the strawberry 1 and my friend got a spicy 1. Mine had a bit of spice but it was good. We got guac to start. It was delicious. They give you the chips in a brown bag which me and my friend thought it was weird. We asked for a bowl and the worker gave us a weird look that we asked for a bowl. We wanted it for the chips. I got the skirt steak and it was delicious. Also got the Korean chicken and that was horrible. Like the first bite was horrible then the second bite was good and it was horrible again. My friend got a steak taco and a fish taco and she liked them both.
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Dahee K.

Yelp
Fun and lively atmosphere! Service has always been great, I love their happy hour and variety of different taco options. The drinks are well made, I always order a spicy strawberry margarita with sugar rim. Definitely a great spot for taco Tuesday's!

Lisa A. B.

Yelp
Food is delicious, service is friendly and ambience is casual. Love this neighborhood joint! We go there almost weekly for tacos and margs! Highly recommend.
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Shawna H.

Yelp
This place was a disappointment. From the terribly slow service to the menu items we could not order, we were not impressed. The restaurant had good vibes when we walked in but the server would rather chat it up with her coworkers than actually serve our table of three so we were put off quickly. (I will say another server attempted to pick up her slack, which was nice.) I ordered the chicken Caesar and was told they didn't have it. Then my son ordered a taco that the server said they "ran out of" earlier so he chose another item and it, too, was not available. At that point I asked her to tell us what else was off the menu tonight since she didn't tell us right off the bat. She proceeded to rattle off two more tacos that we could not order... Reminder ... this is a taco joint. But the skirt steak taco, the pork belly taco and the shrimp taco they could not serve us at 7:30 pm on a Thursday night. How does a place known for tacos run out of the ingredients to make 1/4 of the tacos they offer? And then how does the server keep letting you order tacos that she already knows she can't serve you?! Absolutely astounding.
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Peggy N.

Yelp
All the tacos are unique and delicious! The chips and salsa are delicious and spicy! The whiskeys and tequila selection is extensive. We sat at the bar and had excellent service. I love the small space, it's cozy and comfortable. I especially love that they use the Yelp waitlist feature! It's so much easier to make plans when you can time your dining. This was not my first time dining here and it won't be my last!
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Gabriel P.

Yelp
Will find myself craving Cruniente, always a good choice. The food, service, and vibes are always good here. Happy hour & specials are great too, it gets busy but call ahead or check the waitlist!
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James S.

Yelp
Incredibly hospitable and welcoming staff, great tequila and drink selection, but the tacos didn't live up to the hype for me. I hadn't been in for a few years, but having the restaurant appear on Triple D, it peaked my interest again. Again, great place to hang with friendly people & have one of many tequila's, but that's about it...
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Lenore B.

Yelp
This is a cracking taco spot in Arcadia and you'd do well to make rez for parities of 5 or more. If you're under that, get on the waitlist and yes, it's worth waiting for. With Latin roots, this buzzing spot serves up a wonderful twist on tacos and cranks out some potent, pretty cocktails. The space is narrow with a great looking bar & throws a very hip vibe. The exposed brick evokes cozy vibes and you'll want to linger and enjoy what Crujiente has to offer.
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Kelli K.

Yelp
I thought CRUjente was great, especially the service we got at the bar during hh on a Thursday. The margarita was solid - if you like a spicy Mezcal marg they do a nice one here. I also loved the guac and salsa trio. The tacos were really good, but definitely overpriced. Nothing we had as far as the tacos was *that* amazing to justify the cost. I did like the plating though, and they were all tasty. I'd definitely come by again for drinks and food on hh, but probably not for regular dinner service.
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Darryl C.

Yelp
Music too loud, which causes the people to talk louder. Hard to talk at a table without yelling over people. Mix up on seating and seated a 2 before us as a 2., but that can happen. 5 pm already out if 4 menus items. Meat tacos good, potato taco so so. Small but cool and clean interior.
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Elle F.

Yelp
To be fair I'm not a taco fan- but trying to be as unbiased as possible! Would I go back? Sure! They have a WIDE selection of delicious margaritas, the tortilla chips are delicious, and the service is friendly! This would be a great spot for a group meet up etc. The only reason it's not my favourite is solely because I dont like a dinner composed of all friend foods- it seems unavoidable here if you want to try their signatures: the guac, salsa -SPICY, and the queso all come with fried chips (yes they are delicious but you can't just have one)! The tacos, a large variety but again found majority of the options came with the protein being fried. The Caesar salad was good but not amazing as others felt but this could also be because I lost my tastebuds on the super spicy salsa!
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Kat V.

Yelp
Mushroom taco is my new favorite! The day we went they had crab taco and it is so delicious. We each got 4 tacos with various different kinds of meats and veggies, and we were full and happy. We came when they just opened on the weekend and we just found out that it was too early to get the dessert. We want to try their desserts so we will go back.
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Peter J.

Yelp
Every time I go I'm amazed with the service and quality of food. One of my top 5 restaurants for sure. Recommend this to all my friends that come into town looking for a unique experience and great food.
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Benjamin H.

Yelp
One of my favorite restaurants in the valley. Food and service is always great. They have the best chips/queso of all time so don't sleep on the appetizers. All tacos are good! I've had the KFC, pork belly, steak, chicken and fish. Hard to say which one is my favorite honestly. My gf loves the steak and the beef. Make sure to check yelp beforehand if your going on a Tuesday or Friday or Saturday cuz u can join waitlist remotely! Love this place
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Elena N.

Yelp
Sme of the best taco's I've ever had!! The mushroom taco was my favorite! The ceviche and guacamole was delicious.
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Nathan C.

Yelp
Best bite of food in Phoenix by far! We go to all sorts of places from casual to mid-range to even high-end places and CRUjiente is always my favorite.
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K M.

Yelp
Delicious tacos and an amazing margarita at the bar. Happy hour all night, bartender was very attentive and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. Busy with a waitlist for a table, but bar seating was fine.
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Chau N.

Yelp
The best tacos in AZ for me. Found this place in pandemic time. Ordered take out but foods were great. Could never stopped eating here. Cute place, great staff
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Amy L.

Yelp
Sat at the bar for fabulous service margaritas and apps. The passion fruit Serrano margarita was phenomenal! Very fresh.
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Brandon S.

Yelp
This one goes on our 'favorite restaurants' list. Delicious tacos and adult beverages, cool space, friendly and efficient service. Will be back.

George E.

Yelp
In Phoenix and saw a recent episode of Check Please Arizona on television. They highlighted 3 different establishments and Crujiente Tacos was one of them. They are just around the corner from our house and we have not been there in years. Tonight, we gave them a shot since the show made them look very good. Crujiente Tacos was packed on a Thursday night, no doubt from the show highlighting them. We waited for 25 minutes like several other people who also viewed the show. The establishment has a vibrant young crowd and very friendly staff. We were seated and ordered the pork belly taco, Korean fried chicken taco and the garlic roasted mushroom on a blue corn tortilla. The pork belly was good, moist, flavorful and not to fatty. The Korean fried chicken taco had cabbage, pickled jalepeno, and gochujang sauce. It was done perfectly and I could of had several more. The star however, was the garlic roasted mushroom on a fresh blue corn tortilla with cilantro and a jalepeno lime aioli. It blew us away. We are glad that we gave them another chance. The food was delicious, tasty and packed with great flavor. Parking here can be a challenge but Crujiente Taco is worth the wait. Treat yourself to this small but well done establishment.
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Taylor S.

Yelp
Our group of 3 was seated right away on Friday night around 7pm. The restaurant was popping from the residual happy hour guests but quieted down a bit as time passed. I love a good taco and margarita, and Crujiente Tacos did not disappoint! I chose the lamb crujiente and the pork belly taco. The crujiente taco is what they are known for, obviously. It is a hard shell taco filled generously with meat and pickled veggies. Loved the tender, flavorful lamb. Their soft shell tacos offer more fusion flavors and are made with homemade blue corn tortillas. I enjoyed my pork belly taco, but felt it was a bit small for the price and lacked the complete textural experience that the crujiente taco gave me. I forgot which specific margarita I ordered, I think the signature? I enjoyed it, as the tequila was strong and overall the drink was not sweet. The salsa trio appetizer was great too for $6. One of the salsas is especially spicy which we appreciated. Service was good and attentive. Overall, I would probably only return for happy hour or if I lived closer by. Definitely stick with the crujiente tacos.

Catherine S.

Yelp
We had dinner there tonight and being our first time at the restaurant, were excited to try out the menu, as the reviews were all good. We ordered our drinks and appetizer, very good. Then we ordered our tacos, they were out of the skirt steak and seared chicken at 4:30 in the afternoon, which was strange. We changed our order, I ordered 2 fish tacos, my husband ordered the pork belly and beef tacos. The fish was fried in old oil and an old pan, all I tasted was the oil and the flavor of the halibut was destroyed. My husbands tacos lacked any seasoning and flavor. Needless to say were very disappointed and when you spend $80 for 4 badly constructed tacos, an appetizer and 2 drinks, I feel that the management needs to do better in their efforts to stocking a complete kitchen and get more help in the kitchen to service their patrons.
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Jacque K.

Yelp
Always great quality food and so flavorful We love the creative menu they are not just your typical tacos. It's our favorite
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Horacio G.

Yelp
I frequently visit CRU, but in my most recent visit with four other friends we had a very odd experience. We were sat at the very far high top near the restrooms and for whatever reason an electric fan was on the floor. It had gone undetected until when we finished and began to make our way outside. My friend had stepped off of her chair and began to take a step when she suddenly tripped over it and injuring her toe (high heels). She managed to catch her balance but as we looked to see what she tripped over we were left a bit confused as to why the staff would create such a hazard. Mind you my friend is an attorney. Anyways watch for hazards back there.
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MT H.

Yelp
Best bar for the best margaritas and small plates! Everything is so delicious! The food is very authentic! It gets crowded so we wait to dine after happy hour!

K F.

Yelp
Unique, boutique like spot to grab some amazing tacos or tapas. The guacamole and chorizo queso are both delish. I haven't ventured to trying anything else on the menu other than the beef tacos, they're that good. The staff is welcoming, attentive and personable. Feels more like a local spot with your friends than just another restaurant. They have a large, elegant bar with about 20 stools for open seating, hightop tables and booths. Everything about this place ties together for a casual vibe with high quality food and service.

Natalie C.

Yelp
Highly recommend trying this spot. Great food & service. Love the use of the Yelp wait list feature. Really spicy tacos!! Love it. Great drinks too. Good coming here before Phx Rising soccer games. Cheers!!
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Glen L.

Yelp
Read an article about the best dishes in the Valley that incorporate mushrooms and the Garlic Roasted Mushroom Taco at CRUjiente Tacos ranked. Mushrooms? Garlic? In a taco? Sign me up! CRUjiente Tacos is located in a nondescript strip mall in Arcadia that I've passed a million times. You'd have no idea that it's there. One word of warning: the parking lot is small. If you want to make it in for the 4:00 pm Happy Hour (there's also a reverse Happy Hour from 9:00-close) or are planning to meet someone here, I would recommend arriving early or taking a car. While I was standing outside (they don't open the doors a second before 4:00), a neighborhood local told me that the tacos were worth the wait and strongly recommended the Korean Fried Chicken tacos. The staff is incredibly welcoming when you arrive, and I was impressed that they offer Happy Hour specials throughout the restaurant and not only the bar. I did end up opting for the bar seating -- those chairs are comfy! The bartenders work pretty much non-stop mixing drinks, especially their signature Margarita. There is a chalkboard near the door that lists specials, and some of the seasonal drinks (Thai Margarita!) actually sounded quite interesting compared to what was on the menu. Likewise, the wines that are available by the glass are unique (mostly from Spain), and you won't likely find them in other places around town. The ambiance itself is sleek. Truly, from the outside, this looks like a hole in the wall, but when you step in, it's like being transported. It's really sexy, to be honest, and would rate as a perfect date night spot. Another thing I didn't expect to find here? A view of the mountains from the inside. This place really has it all. Salsa Trio: I loved the chips. Super thin, perfectly salted, and warm. It was a little odd that they are served in a brown paper bag (maybe it's easier to keep warm?). Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of the three salsa options. They were OK, but none was too distinct. I liked the Habanero the best since it was the spiciest. Kudos to the staff for offering another bag of chips to help us finish our salsas (I passed). Garlic Roasted Mushroom Taco: This is what you came for. This features an all-star roster of salubrious fungi, including juicy portobellos; earthy shiitakes; and meaty maitake mushrooms. The kitchen starts by tossing the mushrooms in a garlic and olive oil purée and roasting them at high heat to caramelize. They then set them atop a house-made blue corn tortilla spread with local Crow's Dairy chèvre whipped with a purée of parsley, cilantro, and jalapeño. It's topped with dots of jalapeño aioli to lend some heat and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro to brighten. I liked this very much. I would possibly ask in the future if I could swap out the blue corn tortilla with a flour tortilla. Somehow, the combination of the mushrooms and the blue corn makes this somewhat heavier than it needs to be. Korean Fried Chicken Tacos: Per the suggestion of the passerby, I ordered these next. A very generous portion of fried chicken that was juicy and crisp. Honestly, I could have just eaten the chicken! The added kimchi made this all the more authentic. This is a great example of Asian-Mexican fusion cuisine. On a future visit, I would skip the salsa trio and opt for the guacamole. I also saw that the strip steak taco features mushrooms. And the crunchy beef and crunchy lamb tacos looked exquisite! There are plenty of reasons to come back and do a deep dive into the menu. The staff had great synergy, and it was obvious that they liked working together. One of the managers came over and checked in with me and when I said I was embarrassed that I hadn't been in before, he said they are definitely a hidden gem despite being open for six-plus years. Service here is above average.
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Cristina F.

Yelp
Wow! Was this place good! Doesn't look like much since it's in mini "strip mall" but when you get inside it's a whole other vibe. Definitely recommend for date night or night out with friends. It's nice, sleek, modern and cool. For food most of the dishes were sold out but we were able to try the "tacos crujientes" and the Korean fried chicken taco. The lamb and pork crunchy tacos were the bomb but the KFC and beef crunchy taco were okay/ not as good as the others. Our server was attentive and was helpful at recommending drinks. Wouldn't name this my #1 taco spot but definitely a top 5 for date night + drinks.
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Francesca C.

Yelp
Drinks are delicious and the food is so well curated.. make sure to make a reservation because the place is not the biggest and obviously the food is good so the line/wait is long!
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John C.

Yelp
Good Service - nice ambiance and excellent tacos !! The chorizo cheese is tasty- lamb
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Travis T.

Yelp
I had a nice time visiting this little gem in Arcadia not too long ago. CRUjiente Tacos offers up a variety of innovated street tacos and crunchy (or "crujiente") tacos. These tacos are bomb. In addition to tacos, they have other Latin-inspired cuisine items like ceviche, street corn, guacamole, salsa trio with chips, soups, and salads. Think fresh ingredients with bold flavors. The tacos crujientes have such a nice crunch to them. A couple of choices I went with were the pork belly and Korean street tacos. The Korean taco came recommended from a friend and it didn't disappoint. The gochujang added a nice flavor and a little heat to the fried chicken. All of my tacos were quite good. Drinking a can of Modelo Especial made me want to be on some beach in Mexico having some late night street tacos. CRUjiente tacos has a nice selection of whiskey, mezcal, and tequila cocktails. Definitely try the Apple Hand Pie if you have room for dessert. This place may be a bit small, but the atmosphere is quite lively. Check out happy hour for discounted prices.

Tina R.

Yelp
The food was Excellent and the staff were fabulous and knowledgeable about the food and drinks, with lots of great recommendations.
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Kaycee T.

Yelp
Great atmosphere and excellent food!! Cocktails were great too- Taylor was our server and she was fabulous!!! We will definitely be back!
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Omari D.

Yelp
Thanx fellow Yelpers for your reviews as I was in search of a new taco spot while in the area and was fortunate to find this place. Was able to reserve a spot online ahead of arrival and when we did arrive we only had about a 5 minute wait which was great. The selection of tacos is pretty wide and diverse so make sure you ask the server to walk you through. We manage to go with the potato taco as a recommendation (not my favorite) but I will say the standouts were the Korean fried chicken taco, crunchy lamb, and steak one. Plenty of cocktail options as I went through a few Tequila's which I enjoyed.. Indulged in the Pina Guava Margaritas, Passion Fruit & Serrano marg, and of course the Grand CRU Marg. Guacamole & chips (gonna need another bag of chips) and the queso served us right.. Looking forward to returning will make sure that I used to call ahead to minimize the wait time. They can also set up for some larger parties towards the back
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Luis S.

Yelp
**experience during covid-19 ** no restrictions enforced. Found this place thanks to a yelp event in mezcal week. First let's start with parking spaces. If you have a SUV or truck it might be a tight squeeze for parking spots. The place is very nice and it seems the seats at the bar got more cushions than the ones at the tables. The place was pretty packed so we ended up at the bar which seemed like the smarter choice. You are able to eat and drink at the bar if you choose to. We ordered the queso, pork tacos, beef tacos, potato tacos, and the korean tacos. The queso: This was nice because you get your own little bag with chips for the queso which had a little chorizo that made it real good. The tacos: so first off the tortilla used for the pork, beef, and potato tacos is a hard shell. The one for the Korean tacos is a normal soft tortilla. The Korean and the beef have a small amount of spice. I also found a funny named beer that was pretty good. It's called "ta weno" which is slang for "it's good" in Spanish. Will be back to try the rest of the menu.