Tag Archives: #Glendale

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix AZ February 2022 – Wraps ‘N’ Curry, The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen, Cucina Tagliani, Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery

Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started with my dog Louie. He was elderly and diagnosed with aggressive cancer. We were told to only expect him to live 3 months more or maybe up to six. Louie couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed. eating and also enjoyed going out to eat so I took him out to eat as often as I could. Instead of the 3-6 month diagnosis Louie made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat when I can.

There are many things to know about dining out with dogs. One thing is that not all patios are dog friendly. You usually see a “Dog Friendly Patio” sign. If you don’t see a sign you must call the restaurant to find out if it is ok to bring your furry friend. It is also best to dine at off times and avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. It’s best to avoid people because some people out there really hate dogs and other people might be allergic to dogs. It’s best to avoid other dogs because dogs like to bark at each other and this can be a disturbance and you might be asked to leave.

When dining out with dogs here in Phoenix you have to consider the temperature because your dog is not as heat tolerant as you. Dogs wear fur coats, they can’t sweat and dogs also absorb heat up their paws. All people and dogs have different heat tolerances. In general 90 degrees F and higher is. too hot to dine out with dogs. When there is any doubt it is always better to keep your furry friend heathy and leave them safe at home.

Do you know that most food and drink that you consume can be harmful or even TOXIC to your dog? You need to get a list of safe foods and foods to avoid from your veterinarian. Usually a small lean piece of un-sauced meat is a safe bet. You should also bring a doggie water bowl with you so your dog can have some water.

Now that you have made to the restaurant patio with your dog you need to know that there are rules to dining out with dogs. Dogs must be close and by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT permitted to sit on restaurant furniture or eat off of restaurant plates.

Wraps ‘N’ Curry is an Indian fast food but made from fresh casual located in North Phoenix. They offer wraps on fresh made to order wraps, fresh baked other breads, and Indian dishes. They recently got a community patio at the strip mall near the restaurant so we took the dogs there.

Today I got the goa fish curry.

I think it’s tasty. I lick the sauce off of the fish for the dogs because some of the spices might not agree with them.

My husband had a spicy chicken wrap………sort of……He asked them not to put the sauce on…….but they did anyway.

It was dressed with mint mayo (and my husband won’t eat mayo) so he only picked at it and left the fresh made bread because of the mayo. (he ate something when we got home)

www.WrapsNCurry.business.site

4221 W Bell Rd PHX AZ

602-866-1907

Another restaurant that we went to was The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen in North Scottsdale. They are a craft American kitchen. They have a very nice dog friendly patio and the food is very good there. They also are a distillery too! One of their dishes that my husband LOVES there is the muffuletta and had it several times already. It’s served on house made herbed focaccia and he got it with their tasty house made potato chips.

I had the fish and chips….but without the chips and substituted a salad.

The Craftsman vodka crust on the fish is shattering crisp and fresh cod is the flakiest cod that I have ever had. The dogs enjoyed the cod ass well as some parts of the muffuletta.

www.TheCraftsmanAZ.com

20469 N Hayden Rd Scottsdale AZ

480-401-1102

We also went to Cucina Tagliani in North Glendale. They are an. American Italian Restaurant. They offer sandwiches, salads, build your own pasta dishes and offer more vegetable sides than most places that are similar. They also offer pizzas, pork ribs, a few steaks, some other entrees, and more.

I got a strawberry chicken salad.

The chicken was a little dry today but my dogs didn’t mind.

“Wining!!!!” “We get MORE chicken when it’s dry!” “WHOOHOO!”

My husband got the Stromboli today.

“Stromboli is always a good choice.”

“We are ready for some more chicken!”

www.CuucinaTagliani.ccom

17045 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ

602-547-2782

We also took the dogs to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They specialize in serving the Banh Mi Baguette sandwiches and offer around a dozen different varieties. They also offer other Vietnamese favorites except for pho.

Today I got the curry chicken with rice.

My husband got the beef banh mi (the beef really is very good here…….It’s tender like filet mignon but it is really ribeye)

Portions are very large (and prices are low) so we have plenty to share.

We always enjoy going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

2340 W Bell Rd PHX AZ

602-843-3637

Well that was Dinning Out With DOGS inn Metro Phoenix for February 2022. We hope that you’ve enjoyed and we hope to see you next month!

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Chilli King Asian Take Out Food Glendale AZ – Worth a Fork! Very Flavorful and also the Ultra Spicy Food

Chilli King is a tiny postage stamp sized family ran Asian Take out restaurant located in Glendale a couple miles from Old Town Glendale. This restaurant is mainly for take out but does have four small tables inside that are for dining in. They offer a mostly American – Chinese Take Out menu with some other Asian additions like Thai coconut curry, Korea spicy chicken, Singapore rice noodles, fried eggs and tomato, and spicy boiled beef or chicken. Soft bottled and canned beverages are available. There is also a children’s menu of orange chicken and honey sesame chicken.

pretty much the whole inside

We ordered and I was told that I can upgrade my steamed rice to fried rice or chow mein. So. we picked one of each so we could try them…….Latter I read on the menu that steamed vegetables are an upgrade too! We paid at the front desk and sat ourselves at one of the tables.

Shortly our food arrived safely packed.

We tried the crispy chicken dumplings.

They were tasty and didn’t seem greasy at all and came with dumpling sauce for dipping.

My husband tried Szechuan beef.

The beef is tender and is developed with flavors…..It is a little spicy but not nearly as spicy as the Korea spicy chicken.

This is very spicy and delicious…..(also an ultra large portion………)

Here is the fried rice and chow mein.

The chow mein is extra mild so it can go with everything. The fried rice has a good amount of egg in it and is accented with a few peas here and there…..it’s a little different…..maybe a little tomato-ee?

We went back and ordered some take out.

Take out has some rules here that might not be explained to you………..They don’t start making your order till you pay……That means if you are are doing take out you need to pay by credit card…..Or you will have to wait a half hour or so if you pay by cash when you get there.

For Take out we tried the…..

Sautéed vegetables with added chicken and steamed rice.

Coconut curry chicken with steamed vegetables

Spicy water boiled chicken with chow mein.

Everything was very flavorful and delicious!….The portions were extra-super large…….You. get two thru more servings…………The spicy boiled chicken was very spicy and really great! It was far better and far more spicy than the last one I had at Mekong Plaza somewhere. (But I think the owner at Mekong mellowed it down when he looked at me……IDW that happens… but that kind of thing has happened to me several times)……I guess I just look like a person that can’t handle spice and heat…..Or maybe the type of person that would complain about spice and heat???????????

I have to say Chilli King Asian Food is Worth a Fork! Everything was very flavorful and they offer the Ultra Spicy! Prices are low and portions run extra large.

Worth A Fork!

www.ChilliKing.US

4721 W Olive Ave Glendale AZ

623-440-1900

I do note that hours on their website and hours on menu do differ both are different and do differ from actual hours….It seems that they did change their hours a few times. I recommend to call them for their hours. At the time of my visit they open at 1:00 every day.

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

La Satisima Gourmet Taco Shop Glendale AZ – Over FIFTY Tacos and MORE!*****THIS LOCATION NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS

*******THIS LOCATION NOW CLOSED ******La Satisima Gourmet Taco Shop has two locations in Metro Phoenix Arizona. One location is in Phoenix and the other location is by Old Town Glendale Arizona. The Old Town Glendale location isn’t a fancy place but it is decorated in a day of the dead kind of theme.

Ordering isn’t impossible but it can be kind of difficult deciding on what you want………because…… On the menu are over FIFTY different tacos that you can get into five different STYLES (cazuela((bowl)), burro, lonche ((sandwich)), quesa ((Mexican mesa like calzone)),and then can UPGRADE each style to something else……enchilada style (sauces +), entrijolada (refried beans+), mariachi taco (crispy & soft+), taquetzin protein style (crispy cheese outer).

Besides tacos there is more. There are salads and many specialty entrees like Baja Sur Baby Shark, Mazatlan Marlin, Oaxacan Black Mole Chicken, Mexico City Style Chicken Tinga, Cochinita Pibil, Nogada Tacos and MORE!!!!

They start you off with complimentary chips and then you hit the very special and unique salsa bar.

There are LOTS of salsas here. Some of the salsas might be strawberry, peanut, pecan, sesame, cactus, chipotle, avocado, tomatillo.

Since there is over 50 tacos on the menu chances are that you are going to try a taco or two or more.

Marlin (left) and battered whitefish tacos (right)

On my most recent visit they made the marlin taco very different see below.

I think my marlin was accidentally coated with tamarind salsa? Under the cheese the fish is coated with something that was dark brown….Liked the above marlin taco better. (and the below marlin taco better)

Smoked marlin and chicken mole tacos

pork, chicken tinga, basket taco plate with rice and refried beans

Vegetable stuffed quesa (tasty. like a taco. tasting calzone)

On my recent visit I tried 4 tacos and it was one or two tacos too many for me….(I was stuffed and I didn’t even eat it all)…..My favorites tonight were the cauliflower mole taquetzin style crisp cheese jacket (lower left side) and the chicken tinga (lower right) both were delicious and flavorful. Wasn’t a good day for the fish tacos I tried. The pastor maui maui taco on the upper right would have been delicious if the fish was fresher tasting….I just really didn’t like the smoked marlin the way they made it today….Shame because I used to think that I tasted the very best marlin tacos outside of Mexico I used to get here. I’ll go back but might not get fish tacos next time.

My husband is a bigger eater than me and had 4 tacos wit rice and beans.

He had the chorizo in the taquetzin cheese jacket and said that it was very good. He also had a different chicken taco, one of the beef tacos, and a pork taco. He liked them all but didn’t all of them were the ones he ordered.

The restaurant has a really big menu with lots of options. The food that comes out might differ slightly from description.

www.SatisimaGourmet.com

*******UPDATE*******THE GLENDALE LOCATION NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS ********VISIT THEM IN PHOENIX**********

5932 W Glendale Ave Glendale AZ

623-939-3292

Featured on Food Network’s Diner’s Drive -Ins and Dives.

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix AZ – January 2022 – Squid Ink Sushi, Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante, Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery

Dining out with dogs in metro Phoenix is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started with my dog Louie. He was elderly. He was also diagnosed with aggressive cancer. We were told he only had three – six months to live. Louie couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed eating. I took him out to eat as often as I could. Today I take my current dogs out to eat when I can.

There are several things to know about dining out with dogs. One thing is that not all restaurant patios are dog friendly. Usually a sign is posted that reads, “Dog Friendly Patio.” If you don’t see that then you have to call the restaurant and inquire. You also need to know that it is ALWAYS BEST to dine at off times. You need to avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. You need to avoid people because some people hate dogs and other people are allergic to dogs. You want to avoid other dogs because dogs like to bark at each other and if that happens then you might be asked to leave. Here in Arizona it often gets too hot to dine out with dogs. Your dog(s) is NOT AS HEAT TOLERANT as you are. They wear fur coats. They can’t sweat. They also absorb heat up threw their paws. All people and pets do have different tolerances for heat. Generally 90 degrees and up is too hot to dine out with dogs. When there is any doubt just leave your furry friend home. Did you know that most food and drink that you consume can be harmful or toxic to your dog. You must get a list of foods that are safe and what to avoid from your veterinarian. Usually a small lean piece of meat without sauce is usually a safe bet.

There are some rules for restaurant dining. You dog or dogs must stay close to you and be by your side. at all times. Dogs are not to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates.

I called up Squid Ink Sushi inn North Peoria (#UpperWestSide) and they said that they were dog friendly so we went there. Of course they offer sushi but they also offer seasonal menus that always have something interesting to try. Some of my favorites from past menus were the Scottish salmon bowl and the wagyu steak salad. Today I saw Thai chicken fried rice.

My husband had the 8oz wagyu burger with havarti cheese, shoyu onions, truffle mayo (on the side for him), arugula, on a Noble challah bun with fries.

We did alright at Squid Ink Sushi.

www.SquidInkSushi.com

9947 W Happy Valley Rd Peoria AZ

623-561-7747

We also dined at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale, (Arrowhead, #UpperWestSideAZ). They are an Italian Restaurant that also serves Neapolitan Pizzas.

“I wonder what will I eat today?”

I went with the branzino special.

“I’m here ready to eat”

I received two grilled branzino filets (plenty to share) and a big serving of vegetable studded risotto.

“May I have some please?”

My husband went with the chicken pizziola.

The dogs got some of that too!

“Your turn to feed me now!”
“We enjoy going to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante”

www.BottegaRistorante.com

19430 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ

623-777-1868

We also went to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They serve most of your Vietnamese favorites except for pho. They specialize in serving the Vietnamese baguette sandwich called the banh mi and offer it in around a dozen varieties. Today. we had a pork noodle bowl and a chicken noodle bowl.

We were all very pleased like we usually are. My husband eats the whole bowl. I think it’s a lot of food. For me and the dogs it really is two meals.

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

2340 W Bell Rd Phoenix AZ

602-843-3637

The next week it was unusually cold and windy or Phoenix so we took the dogs threw a Culver’s Drive Threw (a national chain) for a butter burger.

Wee fed them outside on the Culver’s patio real fast.

That was dining out with DOGS in Metro Phoenix for January 2022. We hope that you have enjoyed and we hope to see you next month.

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

A Little Taste of Charley’s Sports Bar in Glendale AZ

Charley’s Sports Bar is a neighborhood type pub located in the Arrowhead section in North Glendale Arizona. Besides offering breakfast and an all day menu of various dishes (soup, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and more) they also offer off track betting, and events such as cornball, trivia night, karaoke, and Friday, Saturday night live music. They have also been awarded The AZCENTRAL official community award for 2021 Best Desert West Valley.

It’s not a fancy place and looks similar to other pub restaurants. They do offer patio dining. Inside are traditional tables, high tops and bar seating.

The atmosphere is energetic and loud.

My husband tried a red Irish beer called Smithwicks that he liked and I had a Patron margarita that seemed pretty good.

They had a lot of appetizers on the menu. I saw a lot of the usual things like wings, sliders, fried foods. I thought the corned beef hash street sized tacos sounded the most interesting so we started with that.

These I wouldn’t get again or recommend only because ours were served completely cold. But everything afterwards was very good!

I didn’t try the chili but my husband said it was very flavorful and also spicy.

The salmon salad is a little different but good. It’s nicely grilled and glazed with a mild chipotle orange glaze that isn’t overpowering to the fish and salad. The Atlantic salmon. is grilled to a perfect medium rare in the center. The greens are adorned with candied pecans and chunks of blue cheese.

My husband tried the 13 hour pulled pork sandwich with fries (slaw on the side at his request)

The flavorful tender pulled pork is on a rich brioche bun with some pickles. The fries are hot and fresh.

That was a little taste of Charley’s Sports Grill in Glendale AZ.

www.CharleysSportsGrill.com

8110 W Union Hills Dr Glendale AZ

623-322-3593

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Bar Food at Arrowhead Grill in Glendale AZ is Worth a Fork!

The Arrowhead Grill is a steakhouse located in the Arrowhead section of North Glendale Arizona. I generally don’t dine at steakhouses but a good bar menu from a steakhouse can lure me in.

Here is the indoor bar seating. I only saw high top tables for the bar seating.

They also offer outdoor bar seating at high top tables.

They offer glasses of luxury wines.

And on the other end of the spectrum they also have reduced prices for Happy Hour 3pm-6pm everyday where well drinks and house wine only runs $5,99 each.

They ask if you would like a bread basket even at the bar tables.

The bread basket contained four different kinds of bread.

As far as bar menu goes one of the best bets might be the A.G. burger ($22.99 or $12.99 Happy Hour)

All the burgers are made of prime beef trimmings ground in house. The A.G. Burger is considered their best burger and is made from ground tenderloin (8oz.). That is topped with a 6oz. prime rib and crispy fried onions, cheese, mayonnaise, and a horseradish cream sauce on a toasted eggy bun.

Some of the other bar offerings are crab and cheeseburger sliders, crispy green beans, lamb chop fondue, bone in prime rib, a cheese plate, salads with steak or salmon, lamb chop, a mixed grill plate, 1/2 chicken, petite prime rib, and a surf and turf.

A.G. salad with salmon

The A.G. salad with salmon is among the best salads that you can find in the immediate area. Everything is very fresh tasting. The salad is lightly dressed and the salmon is prepared medium/medium rare. The creamy goat cheese pecans, cranberries, and super sweet slices of pear make this salad more of a treat.

This was a little taste of bar food at Arrowhead Grill in Glendale AZ.

Worth a Fork!

Worth A Fork!

www.ArrowheadGrill.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Mac Shack – Casual Fresh Pasta Restaurant Glendale AZ – Newly Opened

Mac Shack is a casual fresh pasta restaurant recently opened in north Glendale Arizona. The pasta is fresh made daily. They offer a variety of pastas with meat, vegetarian, vegan, and also offer build your own pasta pans. Other offerings are a few salads, bread, kid’s meals, marshmallow cereal bars, and soft beverages.

It’s small and casual inside.

There’s an artwork of Anthony Bourdain on the wall.

You order and pay at the counter. There is only a few tables and a couple seats at the counter.

the pasta machine is on the counter. There is a fresh tray of pasta that was just made.

Your order is fresh made for you and takes around twenty five minutes to prepare.

They bring our salad and pastas at the same time.

Cesar salad

The Caesar salad isn’t fancy but it is very large and is fresh and crisp.

I tried the pasta pan called Happy Valley (orecchiette, roasted garlic oil, olives, sun dried tomatoes, parmesan, capers, fresh basil, artichokes, and spinach)

My husband suggested getting the large size…..Nobody can eat a large…..I was able to do like almost a third of this pan. It’s good but they were overly generous with the olives….and too light with the basil. Mine stayed piping hot the whole time we were here.

My husband tried the cheesy mac’s bbq (elbows, cheese sauce, pulled pork, onion, pickle, cheddar blend, scallions, Ritz crumbs, bbq drizzle.

This one was gooey and cheesy. It’s not as piping hot as mine.. He likes it. My husband is a big eater…..and loves to eat pasta. Even he could only eat half.

Went back to just to try the plain mac-n- cheese called the Mac Shack and took out the small size.

It’s cheesy with melted cheddar and crumbs on the top. Could use a little seasoning for adults but it just right for kids.

Doesn’t cost much to dine here and it’s better than fast food. (most large pans are around $15. and they can certainly feed at least two people)

Mac Shack – Newly Opened in north Glendale AZ #UpperWestSide

www.MacShackAZ.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Some of the Destination Lunch Places in Metro Phoenix AZ

There are several different kinds of restaurants out there. Most go under the categories of neighborhood restaurants….and neighborhood restaurants also are very good restaurants. We LOVE neighborhood restaurants……….but…… Some restaurants out there are destination restaurants. Destination restaurants serve the FANTABULOUS dishes. These are the restaurants that you drive across town for. We lost some of our destination lunch restaurants like Tarbell’s Tavern, Christopher’s and Vincent Market Bistro possibly due to the pandemic. Some restaurants have cut back lunch service to limited days. It is important that we still have some destination lunch restaurants. These restaurants are great for a special lunch out. Some only offer lunch on the weekends. Maybe you want to impress a friend or a relative. Maybe you want a special lunch for an anniversary or a birthday. Or maybe it’s for just because…….

Here they are in no particular order.

The Craftsman (lunch Fri, Sat. Sun.) in North Scottsdale offers some expectational cuisine. When you taste just even a salad you know that it isn’t ordinary. It’s the highest freshest quality.

crunchy quinoa salad with chicken
Craftsman muffuletta with fries
shipwright ahi salad
tomato and melon burrata

www.TheCraftsmanAZ.com

We have Elements at Sanctuary (lunch Mon., Tue., Wed., Thurs., Fri.) in Paradise Valley with celebrity chef Beau Macmillan. The menu is ever changing and seasonal. But you are sure to find a variety of appetizers a special of the day, bento boxes, a very good exceptional chicken dish, and pastry chef quality desserts.

bento box
house made cavatelli with duck confit
seasonal chicken thigh dish
five spice beef tenderloin
chef crafted dessert

www.SantuuaryCamelback.com/dining/Elements

Ocotillo (lunch Sat., Sun. subject to change) is a restaurant and more. It is technically also a coffee bar, cocktail lounge, wine bar, event space and park. They offer a mostly American menu laced with global cuisine. The menu offered is a large brunch menu of mostly sharing plates of salads, vegetable plates, sweets (breakfast), light plates, savory plates. I counted over 20 different plates to choose from. The menus are seasonal and do change. Also the hours change. Before the pandemic Ocotillo offered a great lunch everyday. Currently brunch is offered on the weekends of mostly lunch sharing plates.

house smoked salmon plate
crispy chicken meatballs
tandoori chicken salad pita with tomato watermelon salad
vanilia roasted pear with goat cheese and bitter chocolate with mint
smoked brisket on parmesan polenta, fried egg, crispy onions, brisket jus
Japanese fish and chips

It’s easy to see why Ocotillo is a destination restaurant.

www.OcotilloPHX.com

Superstition Downtown Meadery (lunch 7 days a week) in Phoenix offers chef crafted food and award winning meadery (ancient honey wine). They offer sharing boards, small sharing plates and large sharing plates and food and mead pairings.

12 mead sampler $24.
piri piri chicken & warm cannelli bean salad
gorgonzola. & herb butter skirt steak
blondies with cocoa nibs and Marion berry mead sauce whipped cream

www.SuperstitionMeadery.com

Another one of the top destinations for a special lunch would be the small restaurant in Carefree called Confluence (lunch Wed. Thurs., Fri., Sat.) They serve ever changing seasonal menus of elevated modern cuisine….You can order appetizers, lunch, and don’t miss dessert….because the desserts are equally amazing as the food.

Some of the amazing detailed and delicious lunches from Confluence that we tried were- –

kampachi crudo appetizer
miso braised beef cheek (don’t miss out on any beef cheek you ever come across from Confluence) (this was only on the lunch menu maybe one week)
Wagyu pastrami sandwich
cubano sandwich
BBQ chicken sandwich, celery root, spicy pickle, beet greens, smoked onion mayo, on a house made fontina roll (This might have been the most delicious sandwich that I have ever eaten anywhere)
buttermilk fried chicken with broccolini, grits and chili tepin honey mustard
mixed fruit granite
spiced plum with black pepper oat crumble, sake poached cherry, candied manderanquat, mint, matcha creme anglaise
chocolate mousse
smoked toffee risotto, spiced pear, cocoa nibs, hazelnut, mint

www.RestaurantConfluence.com

These are some of the destination restaurants of metro Phoenix for lunch.

In no particular order-

The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen – (Fri-Sun.) North Scottsdale

Elements at Sanctuary – (Mon-Fri) Paradise Valley

Ocotillo – (Sat-Sun) Phoenix

Superstition Downtown Meadery – (7 Days) Downtown Phoenix

Confluence – (Wed-Sat) Carefree

Some Honorable Mentions

PA’LA – Downtown (Tue-Sat Lunch)

Twist Bistro – North Scottsdale (Tue-Sat Lunch)

Campo Italian Bistro – Scottsdale (Sat-Sun Brunch with Lunch plates)

Chula Seafood Uptown – Phoenix (7 days)

Pane Bianco – Phoenix (Mon-Sat)

Pomo Pizzeria – Scottsdale (7 days)

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Bonita’s Mexican Restaurant Glendale AZ – Birria Ramen & MORE!

Bonita’s is a small casual Mexican Restaurant located in Glendale Arizona. They are open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer a varied menu of breakfast burros, combos that include rice and beans (priced $7.50-$11. subject to change), assorted appetizers like miniature chimis, soups, all kinds of different tacos (street sized priced at only $1.50 subject to change), burros, birria ramen, children’s menu, desserts, limited alcohol, and more!

Bonita’s is on the end of a strip mall.

There are two menus to order from. One is on the side wall.

They also have a menu on the wall behind the counter that you order from and pay at.

You get a beverage or order a margarita, pick a table to sit at and they run your food to you when it is ready.

$5. margaritas…..pretty strong…not bad for $5.00

Today we ordered street sized tacos of carne asada, pollo asada (chicken), carnitas (pork), adobada (pork) and a birria taco (beef).

Everything was at least good. Today we liked the carnitas, adobada, and the birria tacos best of the tacos we tried on this day.

Mexican style rice and refried beans.

The other stand out was the Birria Ramen. We actually liked this better than the birria taco because it seemed more flavorful than the taco….We think the cheese mellowed the flavors in the taco.

You should know that birria is a spicy Mexican stew that is painstakingly made and is considered to be a special dish. Often Birria is served at special occasions and holidays….This is really flavorful and delicious…The beef is infused with flavors and is falling apart tender…This is really good. The noodles are just ramen style…I do note that I don’t know if other Mexican Restaurants take the birria ramen further with the noodles or add a marinated egg but this is pretty cool for North Phoenix.

Gotta go back and try fish tacos, chili relleno and maybe fried ice cream next time.

Went back!

This time tried a fish taco.

The tortilla is warm and the fish is extra crispy and this does have good flavors with the chipotle cream sauce.

Tried a chili relleno.

The chili relleno is not a beauty here but was made with a fresh poblano pepper and is stuffed with melty mild white cheese. The relleno is very lightly battered and you do have the choice of red or green sauce.

My husband had a carnitas fajita burrito. He said the carnitas wasn’t as fatty today but was still good. The guacamole is nice fresh and chunky like it should be.

It sure didn’t cost much to have dinner here. Our two tacos, relleno, burrito and two margaritas were only around $35.

On both visits service was efficient and welcoming.

The dishes that we are most likely to come back for (so far) are –

birria ramen, carnitas, adobada, fish tacos, chili relleno, guacamole, and $5.00 margaritas

Bonita’s is worth a try if you find yourself in the area. It sure doesn’t cost much to dine here either.

WWW.BonitasPHX.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Haldi Indian Cuisine – Newly Opened in North Glendale AZ #UpperWestSide

Haldi Indian Cuisine recently opened a second location in north Glendale Arizona in Arrowhead. The original Surprise Location was awarded by Phoenix Magazine for BEST IN THE VALLEY for Indian Food. Haldi Indian Cuisine offers North and South Indian dishes. They also offer beer, wine, sodas, tea, coffee, mango lassi, basic cocktails and more.

Today we tried vegetable samosas.

They came with tamarind and cilantro sauce. Very tasty. Anyone would like them.

We also shared spicy chicken curry and vindaloo chicken (also spicy). They came with a bowl of fluffy basmati rice studded with cumin seed.

We ordered #4 out of 5 for heat spiciness. It was hot but not as hot as #4 from other places that we have been. ……We had lots of rice and tasty sauces left over so we took them home. .(OMGosh..the next day these not so hot with heat #4’s turned into #5’s and grew with lots of heat almost too much heat…WOW)……….The sauces both were very fragrant, delicious and were made with lots of exotic spices. The white meat chicken in both could have been more moist.

Haldi Indian Cuisine has recently opened in North Glendale AZ

www.HaldiAZ.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth