Thin steak grilled hard over a hot mesquite fire, then chopped small and rolled into flour tortillas or served as a plate. It is the main beef dish of Sonora and of the Arizona taquerias that grew from it.

Sonora is cattle country, and beef is its main meat. Visit Arizona describes carne asada as thin sails of steak grilled hard over a hot mesquite fire, then chopped small. The cooking crossed the border with Sonoran families, and Tucson and Phoenix now sell it from taquerias, trucks and sit-down rooms as tacos, burros and plates. A Tucson food guide notes that everyone claims their grandparent's version is the best, so no single origin story exists.

Where to eat Carne asada in Scottsdale

4 editor picks for Carne asada in Scottsdale, ranked by editorial score. All Scottsdale signature dishes · Carne asada across every city.

  • Los Olivos Mexican Patio

    Order A cheese crisp to start, then the Mexican Flag Enchiladas with both red and green sauce.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Ajo Al's Agua Caliente Plaza

    Order The smoked street tacos and a Mexican pizza, with a frozen margarita.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Habaneros Mexican Grill & Cantina

    Order A breakfast burrito in the morning, or tacos with the jalapeno margarita later in the day.

    Habaneros Mexican Grill & Cantina in Scottsdale is a family-owned, fast-casual room cooking breakfast burritos, tacos and margaritas from scratch.

    DetailsDirections

  • Jalapeno Inferno

    Order The Tuesday three-taco plate with shredded machaca beef, in a soft or hard shell.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

Book food experiences in Scottsdale

Scottsdale's Original Food Tour★ 5.0 (373)

Viator · 2 to 3 h

Scottsdale's Original Food Tour

A food tour is the perfect way to explore the history and culinary scene of any city. Let Arizona Food Tours show you the way with our famous "Scottsdale's Original Fo...

fromUSD 108 Check dates

See all 257 food experiences in Scottsdale

Make it at home

Serves Serves 41 hrEasy

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds skirt or flank steak
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Mesquite lump charcoal
  • Flour tortillas, salsa, guacamole and lime wedges, to serve

Method

  1. Rub the steak with lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper and leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. Burn a chimney of mesquite lump charcoal until covered in gray ash and spread it under a grill grate set as close to the coals as it goes.
  3. Grill the steak 3 to 4 minutes a side over the hottest part, until charred and 130F inside for medium-rare.
  4. Rest 5 minutes, then chop small across the grain.
  5. Serve in warm flour tortillas with salsa, guacamole and lime.

Editor tip. Season simply and keep the fire hot; the mesquite smoke is the seasoning, so heavy marinades only get in its way.

Common allergens: Gluten.