El Nopalito

Visited El Nopalito on a trip to Arizona from Florida, and wow—what an experience! We were on the hunt for a fire taco spot and specifically craving fried nopalitos. Turns out that’s not exactly a standard item… but the amazing owner made it happen anyway. And when I say BOMB—I mean we’re still talking about those tacos and nopalitos! The meat was incredibly tender and perfectly sautéed—clearly made with love. The hospitality, kindness, and genuine care they put into their food and service made the visit unforgettable. Ever since getting back home, our local taco spots just don’t hit the same. We each had about six tacos (would’ve kept going if we didn’t have a flight to catch!). Please, do yourself a favor and visit this place. Bring business here—you won’t be disappointed. Can’t wait to come back on my next trip!

This is truly a hidden gem in PHX. Family owned and operated. The food is homemade and you can tell. I had the torta Cubana, it was delicious. The service is great, they make you feel like your a regular. I can't wait to go back.

DO NOT LET THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING FOOL YOU!! March your happy little tush inside and experience this amazing hidden gem of the PHX metro area. Why PHX are you not shouting about this place from the rooftops?! Mole enchiladas with chicken is AMAZING. The mole is made fresh with real ingredients and a spice blend direct from Mexico. THIS ID WHAT REAL MOLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE! The service is amazing. Friendly, welcoming, inviting! Don't let the look of the place fool you. I felt so welcomed and so cared for by my waitress. The hibiscus beverage is sssooooo good! It's a must have!! The chips and salsa were also extremely good. The salsa is a bit hotter than most Mexican restaurants which is amazing. It's packed with plenty of flavors and just the right amount of heat! The street tacos were great as well! The pastor was my favorite! The flan is made in house and is definitely a must have while here. Shame on you PHX for not advertising these guys better!! What an amazing small restaurant full of authentic flavors and an amazing gem in the area!!

I authentic Northern Mexican food - Best of Phoenix for Tacos & El Nopalito - from The Arizona Republic News Papers - dining section.

The Taco de pastor was recommended by the sweet older lady and it was so good! Perfectly seasoned. I just needed a snack for me and my 3 yr old and he loved the Carne asada. It's good quality meat and great flavor, horchata is homemade and not to sweet! I'd come back 👌 The tacos didn't even leave the parking lot 😋

How hard is it to find places like this?.?. Very very good, only thing is, better to eat on a table than in the car.. So much flavor and greatness can't be contained...trust me..Great employees serve the best food and this is the perfect example..

I stopped in for a California Burrito to go and got some excellent service. The woman who took my order made sure to bring me both salsas to try while I waited to see I wanted red and green. She also got me a glass of water and explained how everything there is made fresh. The burrito was excellent and I would 100% return. Really great spot.

Barbacoa de borrego is one of the best I’ve tasted! Their consomé is 🔥 Horchata is delicious. Love this place and I come here often. Highly recommended.

The food is good for the price is reasonable plenty of parking the lady upfront rude A f really crappy attitude but the food is good though

Food and service was great, the people here are so sweet! The setting is very comforting, reminds me a lot of my mom's cooking.

Si quieres ir a que te critiquen y por un mal servicio este es el lugar horrible service tbh lady at the counter was talking shiii cuz I smel like tree didn't even like the food eather

But my review is 3.5 stars. 3 stars for the food, the half star because the prices are good for what you get. Now to get into it, I ordered the quesadilla with chxn for my kids, carne asada plate with beans and rice, chicken tacos, and Mexican enchiladas. The quesadilla both my one year old and four year old loves. I tasted it, it wasn't spicy but flavorful and they could eat with no troubles. So four stars there. The carne asada plate was for me, and I was pressed with the portions but the steak was SO overcooked. It was very dry and I had to add salt to it for taste. I liked the price but I see why it's priced at that and I won't be buying it from here again. Nope- alito that's for sure. The tacos were good except you pay 3 dollars just for one taco..... They weren't that good. I thought for 3 dollars you get three that's how small they were. The Mexican enchiladas were standard tasting and a very nice portion for the money spent. I love they deliver through doordash and had discounts available. Was it horrible? No. Will I be back? Most likely not. Carne asada is my favorite and it was kind of a let down.

Service was fast and friendly. Food was everything we had hoped for! Fresh, tasty, authentic. Very authentic. Disfruta!

This is truly a hidden gem in PHX. Family owned and operated. The food is homemade and you can tell. I had the torta Cubana, it was delicious. The service is great, they make you feel like your a regular. I can't wait to go back.

Small place. Decor is minimal, doesn't make sense. Service was good. Have to pay $1 for chips and they were stale. The wait for our food wasn't long. Mole is sweet, menudo was okay, got the caldo de res its not on menu it was a special, the vegetables were mushy they cooked the soup too long, had no flavor, meat was not all there. The panbaso was really good, recommend. Will not be revisiting this place.

Best street tacos in town. Their meats are so well seasoned! Family owned business and they are always friendly. Ive been coming here since 2010.

I've been coming here for a couple years now and I love everything on the menu. It's my go to place for Mexican breakfast. I'm a huge fan of the chilaquiles with eggs on top, comes with beans as well. If I'm going for lunch then I'll usually get the enchiladas. It's a very authentic place with a home style feel!

Small place but large heart in the kitchen. Enchilada's were the best I have tasted in a long time! Great service, great atmosphere! Very friendly staff!

This place is a top tier taco place here in the valley. The staff have been there for over a decade and do a great job.

El peor menudo huele feo sabe feo y los chilakiles también saben mal y el servicio de la mesera súper mal genio nunca regresaremos

Super bad experience!!! Never again will I go to this place!!! Saying my bolillo bread was just grilled not burnt. food has no flavor what so ever and our carnitas burrito only had two small pieces of meat. When I tired telling the owner about the bolillo and burrito she said the bolillo is grilled not burnt and we go off portions owner so called owner offered me to get a discount, nope sorry I will not need your discount because I will not come here again FYI owner and cashier are super rude as well !!!

It bothers me to see that someone reviewed this Mexican food spot and claimed that the rice has no flavor. Totally false. For authentic Mexican rice, it's on point. You want 30 ingredients in your rice like Chilis, go to Chilis. If you want straight-forward, great tasting Mexican food, you go to El Nopalito. I had the dorado chicken tacos (fried corn tortilla to make hard shell tacos) rice, beans, salsa and paid under $7. The tacos were perfectly crispy, simple flavor in the chicken and topped with a shredded lettuce/tomato salad with quest freso and drizzled sour cream. Just like my mama would serve it. The food is always consistently good, prices are right, and the ladies are always so hospitable. It is an easy go-to for me, when I'm missing my mama's rice and beans. The place is small, but it was full of taco lovers of all kinds. All I've enjoyed my 4 visits at El Nopalito were the street tacos & dorados - I'll try the enchiladas on the next run.

I jumped in for a quick bite to eat. Quick and easy. The sauces were hot (a little too hot for me, but hey I am white) but good. Would definitely come back. Felt authentic as well. +5

Stumbled into this Establishment as motel hotel was nearby and I did not want the standard fast food joints. I had there tacos. They are like street Tacos at $1.25 each. They were absolutely delicious. I ordered a couple more after my first four. So good. Just the basics on the inside, nothing special but nothing needed to be either. The waitress was very attentive during the entire time. Go enjoy this place.

Holy crap this place is good! So good, it may have taken my new #1 spot (in my heart) for my favorite Mexican Food Place. Pros: - Spicy is actually really spicy. - Food is really good! - Service is very good too. Already making plans to come back...

I have to agree with Dan in saying that the staff didn't seem too excited to be here on the weekend. I came in on a Saturday for a quick lunch before running errands and I was pretty excited after the rave reviews that I read. Unfortunately, as soon as I was seated and started munching on the chips, I was disappointed. They were bland and a bit cold. I didn't let that totally bash my excitement though; I just salted them a little and enjoyed. The salsas were interesting; they were very fresh tasting, but lacked any sort of explosive flavor that I was expecting (The red is much better than the green). With the bland chips, it wasn't much of a pairing, but with the salted chips, I was pleased. For lunch I ordered an al pastor burrito and a barbacoa sope. The burrito was awesome! I actually really liked that it wasn't huge. What it lacked in size, it made up for in flavor. The barbacoa on the other hand, wasn't as good. On the menu it says that barbacoa is only served on Saturday and Sunday. This is apparently because El Napolito's barbacoa is made with lamb. I've had plenty of barbacoa before and I was expecting to be blown away...especially after having some great al pastor, but I wasn't. The meat was really gamy, like really gamy. Salsa and a little salt were needed to make my sope enjoyable, and that was a shame. I would return to El Napolito, but there are loads of great little Mexican places in the area that I'll be stopping by first.

Who wouldn't want to try a restaurant that has been designated Best of Phoenix for tacos by the Phoenix New Times, with tacos that cost only 99 cents each? I came to this small restaurant one mid-afternoon to sample four of their taco offerings: pastor, asada, longanisa, and carnitas. A complimentary small basket of tortilla chips and two bowls of salsa (red and green) preceded my sampling, and these were pretty generic. The tacos were tasty but a bit on the dry side, except for the moist carnitas. I washed these down with iced horchata; it was mild and pleasant. Not spectacular, but not a bad meal either, and all for only $6.50. I'd definitely come here again if I'm in a taco mood and find myself in the area.

It's fairly authentic as far as enchiladas go, but it's a simple hole in the wall. It's affordable and the construction guys eat here too, so it's for real. The menu is not as fancy as the yelp link, but the menu has a lot and there is beer in the fridge. It's not a fancy relaxing restaurant vibe, so I just ordered my enchiladas to go. I wish I had realized that it was just middle of the road food as the salsa verde was pretty mild and it was supposed to be hotter than the red. Oh well, it was cheap! Leas than $12 for 3 enchiladas with rice and beans.

so heads up on this place - it is TRULY a hole in the wall....stuck in a small strip mall, it doesn't look like much of anything. But OH man is it good and authentic. Their tacos are divine! Microscopic, but divine. Their mole is in the top two in the US. Their chips weren't as fresh as I'd have liked, but their homemade salsa actually had kick (something that restaurants in the Bay Area are afraid of....it's almost like being in Utah sometimes) (ok, vague....anyone who's had salsa in UT will get that). Their beer is cold. Their service is friendly. A definite thumbs up, and a definite fan.

A group of us came in for lunch. What started out with 5 of us ended up with about 10 of us as other members in our group found us. The staff was very accommodating in putting tables together. They were very friendly and got chips, salsa and water and drink orders out very quickly. Orders were pretty quick. She even had separate checks for all of us even though we didn't ask. Food was very good for the price. I had the carnitas burrito which came with rice and beans. It was all very tasty and good. Staff is friendly, food is good, and pretty fast service. Would recommend if your staying in the area and have no car.

Everything is made from scratch Salsa, tortillas all the meats!! This women put her heart and soul into every dish ..The place doesn't look like much from the outside... So stop in you'll be glad you did... Real Mexico city style. Don't forget the street tacos maybe the Best in town

Real Mexican food does not, I repeat does not have cheddar cheese! So, if you wish to taste authentic and homemade Mexican food this is the place. I have been a loyal customer for over 6 years. Bringing my entire family and friends to El Nopalito and they too loved the food. The morning waitress is kind and attentive. She has excellent service. You won't be disappointed if you know real Mexican food.

Repeat after me: you are here for the street tacos. Street. Tacos. All of the small, dollar tacos are not only a steal but some of the savoriest, juiciest tacos in the Valley. This gem was pointed out by a Mexican local, for which this gringo is eternally grateful: we eat here almost once a week! Newcomers to Mexican cuisine may be surprised to find cabeza (server said it is cow cheeck?) as an option, but it's our favorite by a mile. Others include the shredded pork and shredded beef. Although not explicitly on the menu, you may be able to order shrimp tacos for a few dollars more. If you can, you MUST. Then prepare for the revelation of your life as you enjoy the juiciest grilled shrimp you never knew you could have. Helpings are generous and staff is curteous. You can easily gobble 4 as a meal, though the men like to indulge in 6-9...in any case, it's easy enough to order a sampling and find your groove. Bonus: Complementary salsa verde is a nice kick with the right amount of lime.

Food was alright. They're smart with serving a salsa first on your table then asking if you want chips for a dollar. Other than that, Service was just a bit slow.

I got here at 7:09pm and the lady told me that they closed. It says online and on yelp that they close at 8pm i would understand if it was 7:45 but really 7:09. She refused to serve us so we left won't be coming back. There customer service sucks!

Very nice clean little authentic taco shop with welcoming staff and delicious, fresh Mexican food. The street tacos are fantastic and I recommend ordering one of each to try! Price is very cheap too. Good for lunch or dinner.

No. Just... NO. I was in a hurry and remembered something about el Nopalito having 99 cent tacos. Awesome! No. Horrible. Epically horrible. My server was sweet, but as I was waiting for my food, I couldn't help but notice a sour smell. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, so I thought, oh, maybe it's the guy at the next table. As I munched on the free chips and salsa (yay!) I noticed they both tasted odd. Not like they were going to make me sick, but just.. something was off about them. The red salsa literally tasted like tamarind (love tamarind, but not in my salsa) and the green salsa had an almost cheesy flavor (like cotija). And then came my tacos. 99 cents each. They were so bad, I couldn't even force myself to finish them. The asada was in big, tough pieces. Pastor was literally chunks of ground pork. Green chile beef was practically inedible. The seasoning was so off on everything, and the salsas they provided just made it worse. As I was trying to choke it down anyway, I noticed a sour smell coming off the plate my tacos were on. Nah, it couldn't be, I thought. Then I smelled the plate. OMFG. No... No... I can't. Never again. Spare yourself. It's not worth it, even for 99 cent tacos!

I've had breakfast and the tacos. The food is really good and the price is very reasonable. They also have some big Micheladas that are delicious. I'll be going back more often. Staff is very friendly as well

While my friends were in Rocky Point for spring break (yes, this still happens after college), me and my man were having some serious taco stand cravings. There's this place I have been meaning to try forever, I tell him. As soon as I said "Hole in the wall mex joint" he was enthusiastically driving in their direction. As soon as we stepped in and we were the only gringos in there, I knew we were in for a treat. The senoras who were working were so sweet to us, brought us out the complimentary chips and salsa, and guided us on what tacos were the best. We each got 3 different ones to try, and my favorite that day was the cabeza (who would have thought!). After an order of guac, 2 drinks, I was almost embarrassed that the bill was so cheap - like I was getting away with some kind of crime by not paying more. It was more than reasonable. The man was so impressed that he went back the following weekend to surprise me with takeout breakfast in bed. The senoras recognized him and made him feel so welcome and special. On weekends, they serve this lamb soup, in fact I saw a few familias feasting on the soup the prior weekend, and she sat him down and gave him a hefty sampling complete with all the fixings on the side, along with chips and salsa while he waited for his takeout order. He brought me chilaquiles which were awesome, and he had a breakfast burrito which was not as fat as your typical drive by, but I thought that the ingredients tasted fresher. Either way, this has become a place in the rotation for sure.

Boy am I glad I went here! Don't let the modest store front fool you. Not only was the feel inside the seven-table dining room intimate, but it also made you feel like a local who was in-the know. It's one of those places that feels like a hidden secret from the never ending rush of the city. Our waitress was very sweet and greeted us promptly as we entered through the glass door. We sat right up front, and were brought simple paper menus displaying the myriad of authentic Mexican dishes available at El Napolito. The highly affordable, and seemingly endless choices between 'a-la carte' tacos and burritos, and combination dishes could be smelt cooking in the tucked away kitchen as we perused the menu. We started with something to drink. I ordered the Apple Soda which is imported from Mexico and was absolutely AMAZING. I wasn't in the mood for an alcoholic beverage, but there was a variety of bottled beers that I could see in the stand up cooler behind the cash-wrap for those wishing to imbibe. I ordered the Rolled Taco combination plate. I had three rolled tacos (basically chimichangas). They were filled with shredded chicken and deep-fried, then covered with cheese sauce, and lettuce. Rice and re-fried beans were served as sides, and a slice of avocado was the garnish. It was an amazing, authentic meal for a truly outstanding price. The waitress was very attentive throughout our whole meal, and made us feel as if we were in her family kitchen. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. Truly a five star experience!

Tried this place on a lazy Sunday evening at the recommendation of other reviews, and I would say what others have said is pretty accurate. It is very authentic, looks like a total dive from the outside, and it's in a Hispanic neighborhood. But, the tacos here are great! Now, just to be clear, these are street style tacos, they are small, but they are only $0.99/each, which seems pretty reasonable. I ordered an adobada, al pastor, carnitas, and a shredded beef with red chiles. Each were very good in their own unique ways, the meat was good quality and everything had the appropriate amounts of seasoning and flavor. The adobada was the standout in my mouth, so much that I had to go back and order another one! I also had a side of rice and beans, which were good, but nothing out of the ordinary. So far so good, right? The only slip up this place maybe has, is that my girlfriend, that was with me, who doesn't eat meat, was not overly impressed. She got a bean and cheese burrito and a shrimp taco. The shrimp taco looked good, and she said everything tasted alright, but she was not wowed, like I was, about the quality of the tacos. She did enjoy the beans and rice though. So, this place might not be the best veg friendly location, but I'm not really going to take off for that, because it is very authentic, and veg friendly isn't necessarily what they are trying to do. They are trying to make good, traditional tacos, and that they do that very well. They also serve beer here, and I love the way it's served. Your bottle or can is brought out with a mug that is frosted, salted, and has lime juice in the bottom. Speaking of bringing you the glass, the service is wonderful. Our server was very friendly, patient, nice and helpful. All in all, if you are looking for a good taco shop, nothing fancy, and authentic, this might be your best bet. Or at least it is from the places I have been so far...

I thought the food was pretty darn good, especially for the price. I got 3 tacos (cabeza, al pastor y adobada) and a carne asada sope. Wife got something very similar. All that plus a beer for $16. The waitress was really nice, I mean service wasn't 5 stars but didn't expect it to be when you pull up to this joint. Nothing to complain about except the smelly rags they used to wipe the tables next to us.

$0.99 tacos - generously sized and very tasty. The fact that you can sit down at this price is amazing - who cares about the lack of decor. To top, service was very friendly. We went for lunch on a Sunday and it was packed. Lamb's the weekend special so we order the lamb soup and the grilled lamb taco. The shredded lamb in the taco tasted more boiled than grilled - we surmised that this was the reason for the tasty lamby soup. We ordered a few tacos and liked the al pastor the best. The dry-rubed spices had completely infused into the meat which combined with the smokiness of the charcoal grill made it one of the best al pastor we'd had. Also liked the horchata - most places make it too sweet - this one was just right allowing other flavors to come through. If you want more details, Seth has a great review with pictures on his blog "Feasting in Phoenix": http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=223

Let me start by saying that I love tacos. I eat lots of tacos. When I get hungry one of the first things to cross my mind is tacos. That said, I love El Nopalito for their tacos. I'm pretty picky about my tacos. I don't really like dumb-ass flour tortillas, dry tacos, unseasoned meat in a taco, taco bell is not tacos, the list goes on. I prefer authentic Mexican street tacos. That being said, El Nopalito is the one place in town I feel like I am getting the most authentic street taco that I have been able to find in Phoenix. The only reason I am not here more often is the commute is a bit much as I live in the East Valley. However, if I am anywhere near the area it is almost mandatory to stop and have at least a taco or two. I recommend trying all of the tacos though my favourite has to be the cabeza (it sounds creepy but is buttery and delicious). It does help if you speak Spanish as it will make ordering and asking any questions you may have easier.

Service and food is excellent. $3.99 for a good sized burrito served with rice and beans on the side is a great deal. Or 99 cent tacos (these are the Mexico "street" style ones served on a soft flat corn tortilla). All their food is very authentic. The Al Pastor (seasoned grilled pork and onions) is my favorite and is the best I've ever had. Whether it's in a burrito, taco or torta, I absolutely love it. The sodas are the kind you'd get in Mexico.. they import them in the glass bottles. I've always liked these better than the plastic bottle type you get in the states. The Mexican ones are sweeter and less carbonated. Great place, and they have beer too.

Nopalito is a great little taco shop that is cheap cheap cheap. The chips and salsa are AMAZING, quite possibly best in the valley. Mehi cokes are also muy delicioso. But for a taco shop that is based solely on it's meat, Nopalito falls a bit short. This place is super authentic and their burritos are a tortilla filled with meat and.....meat. Beans and rice on the side. Super authentic sure, but not so great if the meat in the burrito, or the taco for that matter, isn't the greatest. If Nopa invested a bit more time into their preparation, and the meat they served was better, this place would easily be 5 stars. I will however, eat here again.

Great Mexican food! I don't use 'great' about everything and I'm picky about Mexican food. This was my 2nd visit to El Nopalito and won't be my last. The $0.99 street tacos are legit as well as the Alambre dish. This was the first time I placed a take out order and I must say that the way everything was packed was well thought through and stayed together and stable on the ride home. Oh, the Horchata is really food too. Refreshing and not too sugary.

I am debating between 3 and 4 stars for El Nopalito. I think it settles perfectly on 3.5 at least for right now. The Good: * The tacos were very good - whether they warrant the prestigious New Times best of PHX? I have to disagree on that. * Service was quick, our food came fast and it was fairly busy at the time. * Their menu has an English side for those who are less adept at differing Sopas and Sopes. * It's CHEAP! Two very full people left only spending a total of ten bucks. * The salsa was SPICY. Sometimes it seems to be tough to find places that take the risk of offending people with sensitive taste buds. The Meh: * Maybe it was just b/c it was Sunday, but our server didn't really seem happy that we, nor she, were in El Nopalito * They may have been the smallest tacos I've ever had. That being said, they were only a buck. * El Nopalito is located so close to so many great restaurants that it'll be tough to justify skipping some of those. * The chips for the salsa were lackluster at best. Overall I had a good experience. I think the description of the three-star review as being "A-OK" is perfect for El Nopalito. I'd return, but there are a few spots that I would have to give my return business to first!

One of if not the best torta Cubana in town. For a little coin it's almost to much food to finish.

This place is cheap and great! Best pastor tacos in Phoenix for the money!

One of my favorite Mexican spots. They give chips and salsa with red and green salsa!! I normally get horchata which is like any other horchata. Kind of a limited drink selection with bottled soda. I normally get the Mole the first time I went it was good but lately it's been kind of skimpy piece of chicken and brothy mole sauce so I decided to try the Cubana Torta usually comes with fries but the beans are my favorite thing about this place so went for the beans and rice instead. They normally give me a plate of rice and beans for my little one as well without asking I think is nice. Place is always filled with it's regulars, everyone is always happy and smiling too. Def is a nice hole in the wall. Don't let the outside discourage you. Street tacos are good! Chicken well and marinaded as well.

Wow! What a find! My good friend Rob was to drunk to drive after 5 free rum and cokes from the Embassy Suites Managers Reception...we used Yelp and found this place. It was 0.1 miles from the hotel. The food rocked! Carne Asada, Guac, Beer and Flan...this is living! Rob upset me though by eating my last bite of Chicken Encihlada...jerk!!! That was so uncool! I now have trust issues with Rob! If you are looking for good cheap Mexican and staying at the Embassy Suites this is the place to eat!

Pricier than your standard Mexican comfort food place, but still on the cheaper side. Burritoes come with a little salad and rice. I had the best bean and cheese burrito of my life here. And, they serve coke in glass bottles, from Mexico! Definitely recommended if you are in the neighborhood.

Always perfect every time I go over the last few years.... Today was no exception. Delicious Tacos. Yum Yum Yum. So I felt today that I would give you the 5 Star Review that you deserve. :) My coworkers that I've introduced to your place now love it to...... Anyone reading this review should know, go before 12pm if you can because they get packed quickly with the local lunch hour. The restaurant is always clean, family owned and operated, truly authentic, and great customer service. When I walk in, she remembers every time that I will want a Horchata and Tacos without having to even say a word. ;)

Just finished my lunch (chicharron gordita/1 carne asada and 1 pastor taco), it was yummy yummy. You know it's good if an older person is in the back cooking. Definitely going back

The tacos rock. Great salsas and great Ice Tea. My new favorite spot. Clean and nice inside.

Let me tell you a story about a time i went down to Mexico... eh maybe not... not appropriate for yelp But let me do tell you about taking a venture through Mexico right here in phoenix. I love and I mean I LOVE tacos. I enjoyed lunch here today with some coworkers and had the al pastor burrito and al pastor tacos. Holly goodness batman!! Tacos are like right from the streets of Mexico, they are delicious! The al pastor was awesome flavor and really good. The burrito was also very good, the handmade light flour tortilla was perfect. The only problem? I couldnt eat more... I will definitely be back and My search for a great taco has come to end end