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Macayo's Mexican Kitchen
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Macayo's Mexican Kitchen
22 reviews in English
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Review from Michael H.
Sacramento, CA
1/27/2012
A friend took me here when I was in Phoenix and my first impression was of a Mexican TGI Fridays. It wasn't a bad thing. and since I'm a truck driver ANYTHING but the truckstop fast food would have been good.
We arrive just as they seat a party of eight, and with no hesitation were greeted by a friendly hostess and taken to a table. The table arrangement was a little cramped for me (but then again I'm just under 6' and a couple tortillas shy of 280) and my buddy is in the same range. After a while it felt cozy enough.
Our waiter, I want to say his name is Ernesto, was quick to present himself and ask if we wanted drinks. Now, I'm a trickdriver and like to play the part, I made a comment about my Corona with no fruit and take it like a man-straight and he responded with something to the fact that he hasn't quite made it there yet and needed a few more years to season himself to man status. Ok, this guy's got personality I thought. My buddy and I are a bit rambunctious and Ernesto didn't shy away from it. He joined in on our fun. His service was spot-on in my opinion to the point that I mentioned it to my buddy. Ernesto was very attentive to our needs. The beer was half-empty "another beer?" or "more chips?". He even brought all three levels of salsa.
Now on to our food. The menu was simple and efficient, only 4 pages if I remember correctly, and I decided on the chimichangas de Macayo (carnitas). I'm such a sucker for carnitas, I freely admit, but these were top notch. I would go so far as to say better than grandmas back in California. The molé was good, not overpowering, and a great sauce for this plate. The beans and rice were simple and complimenting as they should be. Oh, and the actual chimichanga itself was huge, pushing upwards of 20oz maybe more and my fork was sufficient enough to cut through; no knife needed. The food was also hot all the way through and not just the outer layer.
The cost was a bit pricey as our bill was $37 and change for two dinners and two beers, but I would say worth the price. The service and food made the 25% tip an easy choice. I'd be happy to goback -
Review from Caylin G.
Phoenix, AZ
12/13/2011
2 words...baja sauce!
Also, Mary the bartender is awesome. She always remembers my order.
I come here often with m boyfriend and we love it!
Great happy hour prices too. -
Review from Susan D.
11/1/2010
-An acceptable chain restaurant to take "out-of-town" visitors for (overpriced) sit down Mexican food with tacky decor.
-Expensive! Almost $11 bucks for a carne asada burrito???? Really?? For that price, I could had bought like 2 or 3 burritos at any "...Berto's" type place in the Valley!
-Refried beans are bland and thick like drywall putty.
-$1.98 for a small side of guac OR sour cream with your meal.
-Salsa not as good as it used to be...tastes like chunky watered down tomato soup with added preservatives (mostly ala sodium benzoate) . You'll be consuming a tin of altoids afterwards from "salsa breath".
-Loud background music. I shouldn't have to talk super loud over the blaring music, was I in a nightclub or restaurant?
-Service was ok. Servers seem to scowl when you request MORE chips & salsa.
-Parking is plentiful.
-Separate entrance in the back for take-out. -
Review from Ricky C.
Buckeye, AZ
9/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The food is average, the prices are a little high, the salsa is okay, the service, is mediocre, but the balloon guy is great!
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Review from Tricia F.
Youngtown, AZ
9/29/2011
We usually go at lunchtime and it is always very good. They have the best chips and salsa, great service and great prices on lunch specials. This is one place I really never get tired of going to again and again.
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Review from Mike K.
Tacoma, WA
4/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here on vacation for spring training at the reccomendation of my Mom and Sister. The food was spot on, and friendly service at a great price, good size portions too!
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Review from Jen M.
Monterey, CA
6/26/2008
I love this place! Every time I go back home I have to stop by. I usually am only a fan of cheap fast Mexican food but this place is definitely special. The fajitas are especially great, try the shrimp.
The drinks are awesome and they have some of the best collector cups ever. I have the coconut carved to look like a monkey (a drink cup goes on the inside, even has a hole in the lid for a straw) and my husband/brother/dad all have the ChaCha Margarita cup (they like to call her ChiChi because she is anatomically correct). I think you get a discount if you bring the cups back.
The sopapillas are to die for. So soft and covered in honey and powdered sugar. I always end up getting it all over myself but it is OK because then I get to lick it off later.
The interior is pretty cool, looks like a feisty Mexican cantina, including wooden birds and mariachi mannequins. There is usually a balloon guy wandering around who will make you a seriously cool balloon animal/hat/whatever you want for a few bucks.Listed in: Mexican!
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Review from Michael L.
Phoenix, AZ
8/14/2008
This location in Goodyear is the only location I will eat from. The people are always friendly and the service is good. It is clean as far as I can see. The food is decent enough that we do go on occasion.
I have been to other locations and found them to be awful but Goodyear is spiffy doodle with me. -
Review from Chris W.
8/13/2008
eh, no thanks!
It is just american-ized Mexican food and there is something in their cooking (spice/oils) that tends to not agree with me later so we have stopped going. -
Review from Brandy C.
Phoenix, AZ
3/22/2011
Our family has been Macayos customers since they were called Woodys! We absolutely love Macayos. Our personal favorites include the Baja Burro and Baja Chimi.
Unfortunately, we did not have such a great experience at this particular location. The food was great, but the service was lousy. Our waitress was unfriendly, pushy, could not handle multi-tasking, would not get refills (had to ask for them), and overall she was not what we are use to at Macayos restaurants. We were very disappointed after a nice long day at Luke Air Force for Luke Days. -
Review from Risa A.
Omaha, NE
6/16/2009
This is an Arizona standard. They have many locations throughout the valley. Great place for good casual Mexican with your family. Very Catina looking interior decor, somewhat commercialized. Not your hole in the wall place. I eat here with my mom, dad and husband every time I'm back home. Good service, very neighbor friendly...prob. because I always run into someone from high school.
Great for groups too (I had my rehearsal dinner at the Ahwatukee location.) -
Review from Reed N.
3/12/2010
I was not a fan.
They used an anaheim chili in the relleno... BIG mistake. It is poblano or nothing, people!
I also tried a green corn/green chili tamale. Too sweet. Not enough green chili. Just meh.
They did have a good habanero based salsa by request... unfortunately, like most Mexican joints these days, the chips you used to dip in the salsa sucked by all measures.
Another Mex restaurant disappointment. A pattern has definitely developed. -
Review from Amber G.
Updated - 7/23/2010
Never...ever...again. There is too much other good food around town.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/26/2008
The only times that I have gone here was because we had a family gathering and some nut always picks… Read more »
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Review from Jr. B.
Kīhei, HI
12/31/2009
Macayo's has gone down hill over the years, quality of food doesnt seam to be the same. Happy Hour is good along with the chips and salsa.
Howere this can be a good place to go with a large family. -
Review from Katie O.
Goodyear, AZ
8/14/2008
The deal with Macayo's is they took a family owned restaurant that at one point in it's history had really go Mexican food and made it into a slap the food on the plate, put the wait staff in ugly shirts, and charge way to much for nasty Mexican food! If the price was in the area of say Taco Bell I would think it was ok but for the price you pay the food is nasty....take it or leave...I would leave it.
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Review from Jon S.
Avondale, AZ
5/27/2008
Nice! I have been here two times now and both were fantastic. Sadly i have gotten the same thing both times so i can not say if everything is good but from how good what i did eat was i would say there isn't any real chance of it all not being fantastic.
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Review from Bill R.
Little Falls, NJ
6/5/2010
Just another mediocre chain restaurant..
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Review from Pk g.
Goodyear, AZ
7/15/2009
My wife and I go to Macayo's for happy hour. The food is always fresh. We usually sit at the bar and the service is fast and friendly. We will return many times in the future.
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Review from Stacey H.
4/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love Macayo's but not this location. Went in the other night and the service was terrible. The food was so so and the whole environment just seemed like we were bothering them by being there. Every staff member we encountered was rude. We sat outside on the patio which is dirty for being a restaurant especially. Happy to go to many of the other locations but won't be returning to this one.
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Review from Becky M.
Queen Creek, AZ
8/22/2010
WORST MAYCAYO'S IN THE ENTIRE VALLEY!!!!
Took my parents here a couple of months ago to thank them for babysitting the rugrat for a long weekend. It has gone so donwhill that they should just close this location and cut their losses!
First, there were 5 adults and 2 children in our party and they gave us only 1 bowl of chips and salsa, which they finally brought to us after about 10 minutes. Our drinks took another 20 minutes and I am not exaggerating one bit. The margaritas were something like $15 a piece and were awful!!! They just tasted "off" and I could tell they used cheap alcohol even tho it was supposed to be a premium 'rita. Second, the place was hotter than a bear's ass! There was more sweat at that table than at a Red Hat Society reunion! Then I noticed the prices on the menu have totally shot up, while the portions have gotten smaller. That might have been tolerable except that the food was terrible. The only flavor that came thru was salt. Lots of salt. I felt like a damn horse at a salt lick. Everyone's food was so awful that none of us took home our leftovers, and that is unheard of in the group I was with. During the whole experience, the server was terrible; he got our drink orders and food orders wrong, we had to wait forever and a day for iced tea refills, he spilled food, he brought out part of the order then brought out the rest like 5 minutes later, and he had total attitude the whole time!! He acted like he was the best server in the world and we were assholes for expecting better.
Then the bill came and the terrible food I just ate nearly came back up!! 2 margaritas, 5 adult entrees and 1 kids entree was $160 before tip!! For lunch!! I do not remember this place costing that much.
Macayo's I am sad to say that you have lost a long-time customer after this ridiculous experience. You got so secure in your standing as a Valley favorite that you have let your food and service progressively go downhill over the past few years and I am officially done with you! -
Review from Anderson S.
Los Altos, CA
5/20/2009
My second time at Macayo's, menu seems to be hit-or-miss. I ordered the lunch special chicken taco, chicken enchelada, and beans. Enchelada was fine, but the taco was deep fried with too much cheese. Last visit was better, but can't remember the entree.
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Review from Janna S.
Encinitas, CA
9/5/2009
Disgusting!!! Worst place ever! It was dirty, loud, obnoxious and just plain gross. My tortilla soup was not even real tortilla soup it came with cabbage, celery and beef broth which is so weird. The fajitas came with green chilies instead of green peppers...maybe they ran out or something but that was bizarre. The lettuce was brown, tomatoes were old, my avocado and guacamole were brown too. So so so terrible. I can't believe we paid to eat there and I really don't know why we stayed. As soon as I walked in and saw the cheesy decor and the balloon man pestering patrons for tips, we should have ran for the door!
Risa if this is an Arizona standard then I'm never eating Mexican in AZ again :)
