Vaquero's Is A Tiny Restaurant In Arizona That Serves Delicious Mexican Food
By Tori Jane|Published March 12, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Arizona is well known for its stellar Mexican cuisine. It seems like everywhere you turn, you’ll find two or three local joints that are perfect for any time the cravings strike. It’s not a secret, though, that some restaurants truly stand out. Some of them are so good that we just can’t help but go back again and again. One such restaurant is so good that people literally drive a couple of hours from Phoenix just to experience it, or they wander down from Flagstaff to see what it’s all about. Rightfully, it’s one of the highest-rated (and least appreciated!) restaurants in the Copper State. If you’re seeking the best Mexican food in Arizona, you might want to give Vaquero’s a shot.
Approaching Vaquero's Grill and Cantina on Main street in Jerome, Arizona, you begin to get a sense of the atmosphere of the place.
It's nestled in a row of shops that range from art galleries to homemade fudge to a pin-up boutique, but you can't miss it. It's the only restaurant on the stretch of sidewalk in which every day is Dia de Los Muertos.
When you walk in, you're blown away by the array of color, decor and atmosphere the little place has.
It's small - it only seats a few people at a time, and more often than not, there's an hour's wait or two, but trust us when we tell you just how incredibly worth the wait it is.
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The food served up at this delightfully New-Mexican restaurant is truly as delicious as it is beautiful.
The chefs put each plate together with care and attention, down to each detail - even if you modify or substitute items, they've got you covered. The chips and salsa are crafted in-house, and they burst with flavor in every single bite.
Adorning the walls and ceilings are countless paintings and intriguing trinkets by local artists; they all center on one theme: the macabre.
But, it's more a celebration than anything else, much in the spirit of the Mexican holiday it's clearly inspired by. The chairs are all hand-painted and as a result, they're beautifully unique. Every inch of the restaurant is art; unfortunately, its beauty wasn't always appreciated. Years ago, this place had been called something else, and the owner packed up and left without a word overnight, leaving the employees of the previous restaurant without their final paychecks (and with no warning, either).
The town of Jerome rallied around the staff and raised enough money to pay them their final checks.
It didn't take long for someone else to take up the helm and re-open the place, hiring many of the old staff back and keeping the ambiance of the original. To this day, the restaurant does immensely well - plus, they took the fascinating atmosphere of the previous place and cranked it up to 11.
The menu is nearly perfect; it's almost impossible to pick just one or two things to gush about.
It certainly seems as if you just can't go wrong with this place, no matter what you choose. Our favorite thing, though, is probably the Burro Vaquero, which is a red chile, shredded beef (or chicken!) burrito that probably weighs a pound. It's huge, and super-filling, but it's so good that you won't want to have to quit eating it! People (including this author) drive up to Jerome from Phoenix just to have lunch here. Trust us when we say it's definitely worth it!
Vaquero's Grill and Cantina also boasts a pretty diverse (and delicious) drink menu, full of cocktails, margaritas, beer, wine, and tequilas.
This restaurant is ridiculously well-rounded; excellent atmosphere, excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent service aren't often things you'll just happen to stumble upon very often, but it seems extra-sweet to find when it all boils down to some of the best Mexican food in Arizona.
Vaquero’s is open seven days a week; from Monday to Thursday, it’s open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m; on Friday and Saturday, it opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays, it’s open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Your best bet is to visit in the middle of the week when the wait is not likely to be too overwhelming. For more information including the menu, more pictures, and plenty of shining reviews, visit their Facebook page.
Want an entire road trip filled to the brim with the best Mexican food in Arizona? Check out this article!
Have you ever visited Vaquero’s in Jerome? What’s your favorite menu item (or are there just too many to mention)? Tell us all about it in the comments!
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