If you have spent any time in the Valley, you have likely run into Taco Boy's. It is a locally owned Mexican chain with a presence across the Phoenix area, and the thing that sets it apart is how it cooks: everything goes over an open fire of mesquite charcoal. That is not just a detail for the menu; it is the whole point. The high heat seals in the juices and nutrients while rendering off the excess fat, and it leaves the meat with a smoky, salty finish that you will not find at a place using a flat-top grill. It is the kind of cooking that rewards a little curiosity about what is on the menu.
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That curiosity is easy to satisfy because the menu is built around a few core formats. Tacos are the obvious starting point, and they are priced at $3.79 or $3.49 depending on the protein you choose from carne asada, pollo, tripa, cabeza, pastor, and barbacoa. Burritos run $11.99 or $10.99 and come with a salad bar, protein, and beans and cheese. If you are in the mood for something a bit more substantial, the platos land between $10.99 and $11.99 and come with a salad bar, five tortillas, and your choice of protein. For something lighter, there are quesadillas in small and large sizes from $4.99 to $11.99, and vampiros run $3.49 to $3.99. If you are feeding a group, the family pack is $34.99 for a pound of protein and fifteen tortillas.
Sides and drinks round things out. A plate of beans is $4.99, fajitas are $5.99, cebolla asada con jalapeño is $1.99, chips are $3.99, and orders of flour or corn tortillas are $0.99 each. To drink, bottled sodas and Jarritos are $3.49, aguas frescas are $4.99, fountain drinks are $2.99, beer is $4.99, and micheladas are $11.99. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options as well, so it is not a one-size-fits-all menu. The most popular items tend to be the carne asada, cabeza, tripa, and pastor, and the pastor-asada burritos get a lot of love.
Finding a location is easy. In Phoenix, there is the Downtown spot at 620 East Roosevelt Street, the I-17 and Dunlap location at 9016 N Black Canyon Hwy, the 32nd St and Thomas one at 2949 N 32nd St, and the 91st Ave and Camelback location at 9055 W Camelback Rd. There are also two spots in Tempe, one on S Rural Rd and one on Mill Ave. Hours are consistent across the board: Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to midnight, with some sources pushing that to 1:00 AM on the weekends. Online ordering runs from 10:00 AM to 9:40 PM. Delivery, takeout, and catering for family and corporate events are all on the table, so you do not have to sit in.
Beyond the food, a few things make it an easy stop. It is pet-friendly and kid-friendly, there is parking available, and it is veteran-owned. The ratings back up the reputation, with the 32nd St location sitting at 4.5 stars on Uber Eats from more than 600 reviews and the chain as a whole averaging between 4.4 and 4.6 stars across more than a thousand reviews. Whether you are in the mood for a quick taco or a full meal with the family, it is a reliable, locally owned option that does one thing well.
