Beef cooked over live mesquite fire, the way Sonoran ranch kitchens and Arizona parrillas do it, with a sweet, resinous smoke and a hard char. Sliced to order and eaten with tortillas, salsa and lime.
Where to eat it: 2 restaurants across 1 city.
Visit Arizona counts mesquite-fired grills among the trademarks of Sonoran cooking and says grilling over mesquite wood or charcoal is common for meat, fish and vegetables in restaurants, taquerias, trucks and backyards. The tree is far older as food: Archaeology Southwest records that people ground its pods into flour and that the Tohono O'odham calendar names a month for the mesquite bean harvest. Old Town's Pistoleros Parrilla, founded by brothers drawing on the traditions of Nogales, grills its steaks the same way.
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Tip from the editors. Let the mesquite burn down to coals before the steaks go on; flaming fresh wood leaves a bitter, sooty flavor.
Pistoleros Parrilla in Old Town Scottsdale is brothers Luke and Jake Kory's Sonoran steakhouse, cooking meats over live wood fire and mesquite smoke.
OrderThe mesquite-grilled meats, taken to the table to share.
TipThe lounge stays open later: until 00:00 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and until 01:00 Friday and Saturday.
Mesquite Fresh Street Mex on Shoeman Lane in Old Town Scottsdale sells grilled street tacos until 03:00 Sunday to Wednesday and 04:00 Thursday to Saturday.
OrderStreet tacos with your choice of meat, cheese and toppings.
TipThis is the Old Town branch of a Valley taco brand; its hours run later than the North Scottsdale branch, which closes at 21:00.
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
More cities are in research. Want mesquite-grilled steak covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.
