Where to Find Authentic Sonoran Food in Phoenix

Sonoran food — the cuisine spanning southern Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora — is Phoenix's native culinary tradition. It's different from the Tex-Mex that dominates chain menus: flour tortillas from Sonoran wheat, caramelo burritos with mesquite-grilled beef, chiles roasted rather than processed. Bacanora on South Central is the most prominent practitioner of serious Sonoran cooking in the city. Chef Rodney Bovara's menu is built around the region's culinary traditions with a reverence that's apparent in every dish. The wood-fired proteins and handmade tortillas are the right entry points. Carolina's Mexican Food on 10th Street has operated since 1968 and makes what many consider the best flour tortilla in Arizona. The burritos are enormous and priced accordingly for a place that hasn't inflated with the neighborhood around it. Elote Cafe in Sedona — worth the drive — has elevated Sonoran cooking into fine dining without losing its essential character.