History
Carne asada is the heart of Sonoran ranch cooking, where families grilled thin-cut beef over mesquite for tacos, burros and weekend cookouts. Arizona inherited the tradition directly from northern Sonora, and the Valley's neighbourhood grills built their names on it. The best versions char the beef over open flame and serve it with the region's oversized flour tortillas, salsa and grilled onions.
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Common allergens: Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 700g skirt or flank steak
- Juice of 2 limes and 1 orange
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt, half tsp black pepper
- Half a bunch of cilantro, chopped
- Flour tortillas, salsa and grilled onions to serve
Method
- Mix the citrus juice, garlic, salt, pepper and cilantro and marinate the steak for 30 to 45 minutes, no longer or the acid toughens it.
- Heat a grill or cast-iron pan as hot as it will go, ideally over mesquite or charcoal.
- Pat the steak dry and grill 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare, looking for a hard char.
- Rest the steak 5 minutes, then slice against the grain and chop into rough cubes.
- Warm flour tortillas on the grill until just blistered.
- Pile the chopped beef into tortillas with salsa and grilled onions.
Tip from the editors. Get the grill hot enough to char the edges fast; carne asada wants smoke and a hard sear, not a slow cook.
Where to eat carne asada
Carne asada in Phoenix
Asadero Norte de Sonora ★ 4.4
Asadero Norte de Sonora on 16th Street is a neighbourhood Sonoran grill, turning out mesquite carne asada wrapped in house-made flour tortillas.
OrderCarne asada tacos on the giant house-made flour tortillas.
TipClosed Wednesdays; the grilled chicken is as good as the beef if the asada line is long.
Bacanora ★ 4.8
Bacanora in Phoenix is Rene Andrade's wood-fired Sonoran room on Grand Avenue, the kitchen that won the 2024 James Beard Best Chef Southwest award.
OrderAnything off the open flame, finished with chiltepin Andrade hauls from his family's Sonoran ranch.
TipThe room seats about 32 and books out fast; reserve well ahead or aim for an early weeknight seating.
Tacos Huicho ★ 4.2
Tacos Huicho on Thunderbird Road is a Sinaloan-style taqueria known for vertical-spit al pastor, carne asada and tortas, with a busy north Phoenix taco line.
OrderAl pastor tacos carved off the trompo.
TipCash-friendly and quick; the al pastor is the order, with pineapple from the spit.
Cocina Madrigal ★ 4.3
Cocina Madrigal in South Phoenix is Leo Madrigal's from-scratch Mexican room, plating handcrafted tacos and homemade enchiladas with house specialties.
OrderThe handmade enchiladas and a plate of the day's specialty tacos.
TipOn 16th Street near the Wood Street tracks; weekends fill, the patio is the cool-month seat.
Carne asada in Scottsdale
Los Olivos Mexican Patio ★ 4.2
Los Olivos Mexican Patio in Old Town Scottsdale is a four-generation Sonoran restaurant open since 1947, known for cheese crisps and Mexican Flag Enchiladas.
OrderA cheese crisp to start, then the Mexican Flag Enchiladas with both red and green sauce.
TipTortillas and salsas are made by hand; ask for the Blue Room or the inside patio when you are seated.
Ajo Al's Agua Caliente Plaza ★ 3.8
Ajo Al's Agua Caliente Plaza is the Scottsdale branch of a family-run Sonoran-style Mexican cafe with smoked street tacos and Mexican pizzas since 1986.
OrderThe smoked street tacos and a Mexican pizza, with a frozen margarita.
TipOn Shea Boulevard; the other Scottsdale branch is on 90th Street, and the site lists Taco Tuesday and happy hour menus.
Habaneros Mexican Grill & Cantina ★ 3.8
Habaneros Mexican Grill & Cantina in Scottsdale serves breakfast burritos for $8.99 and enchilada plates with rice and beans for about $12 and $13.
OrderA breakfast burrito at $8.99, or two cheese enchiladas with rice and beans at $11.99.
TipBreakfast tacos at $7.99 and burritos at $8.99 are served on the early menu; the kitchen opens at 08:00 on weekdays.
Jalapeno Inferno ★ 3.8
Jalapeno Inferno on Scottsdale Road in north Scottsdale serves Sonoran Mexican food, with a take-out cantina nearby, and three tacos for $11.99 every Tuesday.
OrderThe Tuesday three-taco plate with shredded machaca beef, in a soft or hard shell.
TipThe dining room is at 23587 N Scottsdale Rd; the take-out kitchen and cantina is at 7605 E Pinnacle Peak Rd.
More cities are in research. Want carne asada covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.