If you're in Downtown Phoenix and want Mexican food that doesn't feel like a chain, Céntrico is the place to know. It's been running since 2017 at 101 N 1st Ave Suite 110, and the name is no accident: it's built around being a central, everyday neighborhood spot rather than a destination you plan your whole day around. The kitchen leans on Oaxacan tradition, and the claim that everything is made by hand isn't just for show — the two sauces poured over the enchiladas are made in-house, which is where a lot of the character comes from.
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The menu is built for whatever time of day you happen to walk in. Lunch and dinner are the main events, with a taco list that runs through asada, pescado, tinga, vegetal and gobernador, plus an antojitos section with cinnamon-dusted churros, guacamole al momento and house chips. Beyond tacos, there's a chop salad and red chile pozole, and a 'sandwiches and more' section that covers chicken club, chili verde, carne asada burritos, potato flautas, shrimp empanadas and both chicken and birria beef enchiladas. On the weekends, the brunch menu takes over with chilaquiles verdes, migas and a San Carlos breakfast burrito. A full bar rounds it out, with a particular focus on tequila and mezcal.
One of the things that makes it easy to drop into is how the hours shift. It's open for lunch most of the week, but on Friday and Saturday it stays open until midnight, which is when the downtown crowd tends to drift in for drinks and late plates. Sunday mornings are for brunch, with the kitchen opening at 10am. If you're coming in with a group, it's worth knowing the space is set up for it: there's a private room with its own bar, the main dining room, the bar itself and a wraparound patio, with capacities ranging from 35 to 70 depending on the room. The staff adapts the dining options to the size of the group, so it works as well for a small get-together as it does for something larger.
People tend to be happy with it, too. It sits at 4.8 stars across more than 1,200 reviews, with the birria beef enchiladas and the vegan taco plate getting specific shout-outs, and several people pointing to the sauces as the highlight of the meal. A few notes for planning: the address is 101 N 1st Ave Suite 110, the phone is 602-254-8226 and the website is centricophx.com. It's the kind of place that fits in whether you're grabbing a quick midday plate or settling in for an after-work drink, and because it's locally owned and operated, it has a personality that's hard to find in the more corporate parts of downtown.
