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Mi Comida Restaurante Latino
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
4221 W Bell RdPhoenix, AZ 85053
(602) 548-7900
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
80 reviews for Mi Comida Restaurante Latino
Review Highlights
"The Ecuadorian tamale was especially delightful."
(in 30 reviews)
"We had Seco de Pollo and Bandeja Paisa."
(in 3 reviews)
"I am definitely hooked on the coconut flan."
(in 10 reviews)
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80 reviews in English
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Review from Nick R.
Glendale, AZ
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mi Comida is EXCELLENT. I've been a dozen times or so (used to be called Mi Cocina Mi Pais, which means my kitchen my country).
The food is 5 stars but be ready to explore when you get there. Not much is typical about the menu. Even the beers are not what you normally see.
There are 3 different types of ceviche. The one with white fish is the star bur all are great.
You must, MUST, get the Ecuadorian tamale. It is wrapped in a banana leaf and just to die for. They are darn big and run about $2.50.
My wife almost always gets the chicken stew. So simple and so yummy. I have a hard time staying away from the Bandera. It is a Colombian collection of rice, sausage, fried egg, plantains, beef and an arapa (a little cake of masa). Yikes is it good.
The fish wrapped in a banana leaf is also wonderful.
Every dish on the menu is a star. I'd recommend you stay away from the empanadas and traditional Mexican style tamales. Not because they are bad, but only because there are other much more defined stand outs on the menu.
There are only 5 tables inside and it is located in a strip mall behind a Taco Bell. Don't be fooled by the location.
Don't go here if you are in a hurry. You must relax and enjoy. Only one person cooks and only one person serves.
The Chef/Cook/Owners husband or son will be your waiter. The husband is hard to understand but it just adds to the charm. The son is soft spoken and great.
The chef is classically trained and worked at the Four Seasons for many years before she started this restaurant making the food she loves and grew up with.
Mi Comida is a special place. -
Review from Rudy W.
Oakland, CA
at first I was skeptical about the place. but will give it a try anyway.
it took forever for our food to come in, because we didn't order the lunch special but order a tons of authentic food. 2 appetizer and 2 main dishes. unfortunately I can't pronounce or remember the name of the items we ordered. but the food was amazing. you have to ask for their special salsa. awesome. I asked for 2nd, and they say. well. we sell these and don't give out to customer. lol.
anyway, the sour fish was ok. but the tamales is not your average mexican tamales. and don't call their food mexican food. because they are not.
what we ordered was colombian food and they were goood. and the purple drink was good as well.Listed in: Best Phoenix
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Review from Paula L.
9/30/2011
I'm not used to finding delicious food in a strip mall. I'll have to get over that now that I no longer live in Chicago.
When we arrived yesterday evening we were the only people there, but it quickly filled up. I thought the restaurant served Mexican food and was pleasantly surprised to discover Peruvian, Ecuadorian and Colombian influences. Total we had arepas, tamalas and Peruvian carne asada and we very pleased.
The only con is that the service is slow. Our waiter was an older gentleman who moved at a slower pace. When you think about it....what's the hurry? -
Review from James M.
Phoenix, AZ
1/28/2012
Simply Amazing. Being a vegetarian, there aren't many Hispanic restaurants that cater to my dinning morals. Mi Comida veers away from this sad trend and offers exquisite vegetarian options which include plantains, lentils, vegetable flan (delicious), and more. The food is surprisingly healthy and there is only vegetable and olive oil in they're goods.
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Review from Daren C.
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Real Deal great food here.
I have held off on my reviews as I only have been there 2 times. The first time I tried what you would call a sampler platter. It had a little bit of everything. I scarfed it down and was wanting more!
The second time was for lunch. I had an Empanada trio. Each one was so unique and flavorful I wanted more again.
The staff is great, friendly and willing to talk for a bit if not too busy.
This is a N Phx treasure for sure. -
Review from Mike y.
Chicago, IL
4/6/2011
I really had an enjoyable dinner here.
The waiter/owner (I'm guessing) was awesome. He was cracking jokes with us and was really fun. So what did we have? Now he was the only guy running around in this little restaurant (maybe like 6 or 7 tables) so he was plenty busy. Yet, he was still pretty attentive of our table. The guy was hilarious though... definitely made the meal more enjoyable.
This is what I remember having (it's has been about 3 weeks since my trip to Arizona):
Inca Cola and the columbian pop as well... I split half a can of each with my brother. Not too bad... both were kind of too sweet for me.
The Tamale Sampler platter:a red, green and Ecuadorian tamale. The Ecuadorian tamale was really tasty. The pork and vegetable combination in that tamale really went together well. The others were Mexican style, which I felt were good, but readily available at other restaurants.
The Queen Arepa was delicious. Definitely worth a try.
There was a shrimp dish that was kind of like a gumbo. I wish I remembered what it was called. Did not disappoint.
Lastly, we had some sort of fish dish in a banana leaf. I didn't really like the flavoring of the fish. I guess it was just an odd mix of spices that I didn't find too appealing.
All in all, a really awesome meal, even though I wasn't a fan of the fish. I would definitely go back whenever I'm in Phoenix. -
Review from Arlin B.
12/17/2010
If your blink twice while looking for Mi Comida Resaurante Latino on Bell and 43rd Ave you'll miss it!! This place is small and not very appealing on the outside. But it's what's on the inside that counts and this place is no exception. What an awesome little "Ecuadorian Gem" of a place this is!
Mi Comida reminds us of some of the best Peruvian, Argentina and Columbian restaurants we used to go to in Miami but without all of the flair and the high prices. This is truly a mom and pop, locally owned restaurant serving up delicious South American dishes. This place is very small and quaint with some personality. They do fill up during lunch and dinner, so you may want to come early to get seated right away.
I was excited to see they serve several traditional South American dishes and delicacies which are somewhat similar to but also very different than traditional Mexican food. I was excited to try their shrimp and fish ceviche served the same way we get it in our favorite Argentina/Columbian restaurant in Miami, which is in a large goblet, tons of flavor and spice, enough to serve two. It was fantastic!
We had to try their tamales which are a little different than the traditional Mexican tamales. I recommend getting their Tamales Sampler which consists of a red shredded beef tamale which was excellente' ~ wound up ordering a couple to go, a white green chili with queso tamale, also excellente' and their Ecuadorian tamale which had pork, tomato, carrots and cheesy goodness wrapped in a banana leaf. This tamale is worth making a second trip back on the same day ~ lunch and dinner!
My friend had their Seco de Pollo ~ chicken stew which was a wonderful dish and a chicken empandas for an app. She loved it. Friend #2 had their shrimp stew for an app and their Bandela Paisa with chorizo, carne asada, plantains, rice and other goodies. The carne asada was tender and delicious with just the right amount of heat and sauce. It too was excellente'.
Their menu offers several options so don't be afraid to ask the server about the dish before ordering. Try their empandas, tamales or ceviche as an app or pick several different ones as a meal. You can't go wrong here! You will leave satisfied, happy and already to planning what to eat on your next visit.
I'm always a little cautious when I read reviews from people I don't know that state things like "this is the most authentic food..." especially when it's ethnic food and the writer is whiter than me. Who knows, these writers may be from Ecuador and somewhere in South America, but what I do know is the food at Mi Comida Resaurante Latino taste as good as or better than some of the best South American restaurants I've been to.
They keep it simple with tons of flavor and lots of love! I hope to see you there.Listed in: Mmmm... Mexican
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Review from Chelsea W.
Glendale, AZ
9/16/2011
Such a unique, quaint place to eat with authentic Equadorian Food. The service is slow but only because the owner prepares each gourmet meal by herself while her son waits tables. Very good service, delicious food, and all in all a wonderful experience! Would recommend Mi Comida to anyone!
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Review from Jon F.
Peoria, AZ
3/2/2011
How does anybody stop at the Taco Bell across the parking lot?
Great food, great prices. I rarely order beef, except here. The appetizers are delicious and filling, perfect for a quick lunch by themselves. The tamales are some of the best ever. Don't come if you're in a hurry, but if you understand that the service will be slow, you won't be disappointed because it's very friendly. It's a small place, but I've never had to wait for a seat. One of my favorite restaurants in town. -
Review from Jason H.
Gilbert, AZ
My wife is Peruvian, so we were both very excited to try a new South American restaurant. The place is very small, with just about six tables, but they are also short-handed on staff--be prepared for slow service and excellent food.
The menu is primarily Ecuadorian, Peruvian, and Colombian, but is peppered with dishes from other nearby countries such as Argentina. We tried several traditional dishes, including churrasco (steak w/ eggs, fries, plantains, and rice), ceviche de pescado, empanada de pollo (chicken pastry), sango de camarones (shrimp in a peanut soup), and chicha morada (refreshing Peruvian purple corn drink). Everything was expertly prepared and came out piping hot from the kitchen. It felt like a home-cooked meal.
There aren't many non-Brazilian South American restaurants around, which makes Mi Comida that much more valuable. It's on par with Contigo Peru in Mesa, which is another one I'd highly recommend. Mi Comida has character, serving up authentic traditional dishes the way they're done back home in a cozy atmosphere. It is not to be missed.
Call ahead to ensure they're open--they have odd business hours that tend to change.Listed in: Best Comida Latina
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Review from Mike L.
Phoenix, AZ
1/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I only give five stars to places that I have been multiple times and been consistently impressed by both the products and the service. It has to be a place that I would absolutely recommend to anyone, any time. It has to be, dollar for dollar, a better overall experience.
Mi Cocina, Mi Pais (their name before some ridiculous chain bearing the same name threatened a law suit) unquestionably fits the bill, and was my regular restaurant during grad school. I have brought several people to dinner here only to have them leave in gushing awe. The food and service are simply soulful.
It's a challenge to find something that I didn't like there, but I found they are especially good at the slow cooking stuff - stews and the like. The highlight for me is their sanduche de puerco - a slow cooked pork sandwich served with their incredible and noteworthy aji (a salsa so flavorful and addictive that it deserves a special place of honor).
Mi Cocina, Mi Pais is the sort of place that happens when owners take pride in their food and see their products as a reflection of themselves and their home.
Recommended. -
Review from Jan S.
6/14/2011
Haven't been here in years since it changed from mi cocina mi pais but the charm is still there. Cute and tiny mom-and-pop place with friendly albeit limited service. The menu is more geared towards comfort-food latin american staples - ceviches, empanadas, stews, and sides such as plaintains and rice. Solid choice if you're in the area...
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Review from Marilyn P.
Phoenix, AZ
8/9/2010
Hands down! Best Ecuadorian food in Phoenix . . . okay maybe the only Ecuadorian food in Phoenix but still it is phenomenal. We ordered the goat stew and the plantain ball soup with shredded beef. Both of us could not stop salivating over each spoonful and bite. The stew sauce for the goat was amazing and the goat meat was very tender. They served 3 large slices of plantain that was the sweetest plantain I have ever eaten. They only serve the plantain ball soup on the weekends and so we were happy to have ordered it on Sunday. The broth was so good that it was drinkable on it's own. The food took a little longer than expected, but it was so worth it as the cook seemed to have made both dishes after our order. No pre-made stew or soups left to boil and serve.
I will definitely be back to try other dishes. I am so mad that I did not find this jewel of a restaurant earlier after living 5 minutes from this place for the last 4 years. My goal is to hit this restaurant at least once a week and try everything on the menu. I love you Mi Comida!
Mi Comida is a restaurant that Phoenix desperately needs. Good food, great staff, and everything is homemade. Their food alone has inspired me to plan a trip to Ecuador. -
Review from Mariusz R.
Phoenix, AZ
5/29/2011
Absolutely love this place. Its very difficult to see from the road and doesn't look like anything special once you're inside but the food is phenomenal. It tastes like what your Ecuadorean mother would make if you had an Ecuadorean mother. It's a completely family run restaurant, the son and the father work the front of the house while the mother handles everything back in the kitchen. Have been here many times, have tried most of the stuff on the menu and plan to keep coming back here for many years to come.
As a warning, this is hardly standard American fare and I've noticed other reviewers coming in disappointed because the food isn't Taco Bell or On the Border. This is hearty and authentic South American food, something you'd be likely to find in Ecuador or Peru and done very well at that. -
Review from Toni S.
Phoenix, AZ
Wow, the food here is so good and very cheap. Our Family ate here under $20 and had so much food left over. Plan on waiting a little bit for your food as everything is cooked fresh as you order it. But it is definitely worth the wait. Everything we ordered was delicious. We asked the owner / waiter what to recommend & tried a variety of items. The tamales & beans we the best restaurant tamales I have ever had, they will keep us going back for more!
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Review from John P.
Phoenix, AZ
1/16/2011
My ten point scale rating
Food - 5 (average)
Ambience - 1 (poor)
Service - 1
Price - 5
The January issue of Phoenix Magazine lists Mi Comida as one of the 85 best restaurants in Phoenix and I think this may have overwhelmed the kitchen and waitstaff. The waitstaff and the kitchen I think are comprised of one poor old gent, the owner I suspect.
I ordered the fish ceviche, beef empanada, chicken empanada and the churrasco Peruvian style. The ceviche was not bad, but it was so tart that it really caught me off guard, it tasted of grapefruit and lemon juice. I challenge anyone to order the beef empanada and tell me it does not smell and taste like dry cat food. This comment may anger some, but I stand by it. Before you send the hate mail, just taste it for yourself. The churrasco was very average in every way by any standard. The over easy egg was fried perfectly, and the plantains tasty enough. Unfortunately the flank steak was very tough and a bit dry. I was expecting to be blown away, but this was just huevos rancheros with a side of crinkle cut fries and plantains.
I have read in some reviews about the delightful color of paint on the block walls, but what struck me most was the unbearable fluorescent lighting and unsightly ceiling panels. This restaurant strongly resembles a Ralibertos, or Eribertos except for the wooden tables.
The "service" was unbelievable. Upon walking through the door, there is no one to greet you, there is no signage directing you to seat yourself or to wait to be seated. It is your job to grab a table and if the place is full, as it was in my case, you just have to stand around looking uncomfortable for a while. As I said, this is a one man show, and if all six tables are full, you may not see your first drink and appetizer for 45 minutes, and you might not get the entree until an hour and a half after being seated. Other Yelpers have commented that the service is slow, but this was so much worse than slow, it was brutal. I spent almost three hours in Mi Comida, which was like spending three hours in a Ralibertos. -
Review from Alli c.
Tempe, AZ
11/17/2011
This place is amazing! Though there are few tables, meaning you may wait up to an hour for a table, the food is well worth the wait. The carne asada is incredible, so simple and yet so flavorful, and the tamales are absolutely delicious.This is definitely a restaurant worth your time but make sure to go there with plenty of time to spare.
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Review from Jim H.
Peoria, AZ
12/10/2010
Let's be honest... the place is tiny... has lousy hours... doesn't accept credit cards... has a boring decore... slow service... no music... and you get served by an old toothless Ecuadorian man wearing a see-through guayabera......
That said... the food is absolutely phenomenal and the pricing is great...... which makes the place completely worth the trip!
I went with two buddies and we ordered 15 different menu items, to split, and each tried two different Brazilian beers...... didn't run into a single bad dish on the menu... and left 22 bucks a piece (including a generous tip that was undeserved)!
Summary: definitely try this place for the food... just don't go for the atmosphere!Listed in: Cigar Patios in the Valley!
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Review from vegegirly C.
Phoenix, AZ
1/9/2011
After much anticipation my husband and I finally tried Mi Comida last night. I am so glad we did!
We got there about 8:30 and the place was packed with a small group of people waiting for a table outside. (No other place to wait.) We waited for about 15 minutes, while trying not to stare at the what everyone is eating outside.
When we were finally seated we waited another 15 minutes to get our order taken. The only person running the front of the house is a very cute older gentleman with a heavy accent. So service was a bit slow... After he took our order we waited patiently for our beers. For about about another 10 minutes. The man realized he forgot our beers, apologized, and went and grabbed them. But seriously, this man is so damn sweet it is hard to get mad at him. His smile melted any annoyance that was building up inside of us.
Our food finally came. I ordered the green chili and cheese tamale, the plantain and cheese empanada, the vegetable flan, and a side of beans. The tamale and empanada were excellent. Very flavorful. I didn't like the vegetable flan though. The texture was a bit off, like molded baby food. And I should of asked about the beans, because they had pork in them. (I'm a vegetarian.) My husband happily ate them. He said they were delicious. My husband ordered a ceviche plate and a pork empanada. He said it was great.
We will definitely be back. The menu is huge and we can't wait to try some new dishes! -
Review from Brian K.
Phoenix, AZ
1/8/2011
I've only tried their Ecuadorian Tamales and La Bandeja Paisa, but if the rest of their food is half as good as those two things, this place is still 5 stars. The Ecuadorian Tamale was especially good.
How people can walk into the Taco Bell when this place is right behind it, is beyond me.
First time trying plantains as well. I'm a fan. -
Review from Andrew B.
12/29/2010
I love South American cuisine. Central and South America are in my mind the only regions that can compete with the Indies for the most amazingly deep flavors. I love how casually sweet, spicy, tangy and savory all interplay. To me, soul food is less about richness as the result of copious amount of butter, but rather heartiness as the result of complex-yet-unpretentious spices and flavorings. The mere mentioning of aji me want to salivate and cry at the same time. I. Love. South American cuisine.
I also love small hole-the-wall restaurants with rundown interiors and friendly service, and I covet restaurants businesses run by immigrants families who are proud of their heritage. The moment my friends and I sat ourselves at the slightly beat up wooden table, I thought to myself, "This restaurant is perfect." Cute old man working front of house; proud wife/mother cooking in the back. This restaurant is like the "Christmas Shoes" of restaurants -- ingeniously constructed to pull at every single one of my heartstrings.
...And that's why writing this review kills me.
We started off with the sampler of tamales, which all came out hot and tasty. The Ecuadorian tamale was especially delightful. The pork was moist and full of flavor -- definitely a great note to start on. I noticed they had Inca Kola. Another plus! Off to a great start!
Unfortunately, the entrees dropped the ball big time. I ordered the mahi mahi stew with yucca root; my friend Elaine got the Ecuadorian churrasco, and my friend Ravi got Mi Bandera(?). I will chalk it up to the fact that it was a tad bit busy and the server/owner was kind of all over the place, but it seemed as though our food had been waiting for a while before being presented to us. The pork on Ravi's plate was lukewarm and dry, as was the "steak" (which appeared to simply be a thin slice of top round) on Elaine's plate. Both had some flavor, but the flavors weren't particularly vibrant. The churrasco in particular could have used a boost.
My fish was fine. The broth was very tangy, but I'm a vinegar-lovin' Filipino, and so I like things on the tangier side, but other than the few pieces of fish and yucca, there wasn't much more to the dish. It needed a bit more substance; it seemed almost as though it was meant to be served with a plate full of rice. On the plus side, the plantains were cooked perfectly.
I want to believe that the mistake was ours, and that we ordered the wrong entrees for our palettes, but the sad truth is that my friends that night and I are very forgiving diners with adventurous palettes, andMi Comida disappointed us. The novelty of South American cuisine in Phoenix makes this restaurant worth a look and I truly do wish the restaurant the best, but based on this experience, the chances of me returning are pretty slim. -
Review from Sonia M.
Peoria, AZ
5/27/2011
Horrible service!!! We waited over 3 hrs for our food and never came. I do not recommend this place at all! It's too small and not very clean! All the positive comments must be from family members because there is NOTHING positive about this place!
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! -
Review from Maria S.
Phoenix, AZ
1/16/2011
We went here for dinner last night. After leaving our house in CenPho around 6:30, we arrived home around 10:30. Traffic was normal.
The place was full when we arrived a little after 7, but a table became available 10 minutes after we arrived. Save for a party of two, none of the people sitting in the restaurant had food. Understandably, we were last in the queue for a full house, but we didn't even get drinks until 8:30. That means we had to sit under fluorescent lights with nothing but a screaming baby to soothe our nerves. It felt like waiting for your name to get called in an emergency room.
Over the course of the evenng, three other parties arrived after we did, and their wait for food and drink was not as long. I understand that timing is everything and we probably came at the worst possible time. That said, after reading other Yelpers say that service was slow, we had no way of knowing that "slow" meant we would wait more than an hour for drinks, more than 1.5 hours for appetizers, and about 2 hours for food. Under fluorescent lights. With a boor or two yelling nearby.
Am I complaining about service? No, because the old man that ran the joint did all that he could. He was as sweet as can be. It just may be that a little place like this cannot handle all the business from all the buzz.
The Ecuadorian fish ceviche was unbelievably good and hearty. Seco de chivo (goat stew) was tasty. Love the plaintains. The merlot was surprisingly good (no burn going down despite the low price tag of $4.50/glass). We had 3 kinds of empanadas -- two were okay, one was not good. Hubby's steak was flavorful but tough.
The food is worth the price and I strongly suspect that the kitchen performs better when the place is not packed to the gills. I would come back if I am nearby, but a taco from Taco Bell beforehand would probably improve matters. -
Review from Iain B.
Phoenix, AZ
2/24/2010
Agree with everyone on here, this is some really good food. Very laid back un-asuming place inside another strip mall on Bell Road. Ah what treasures lie hidden in a strip mall....
We were greeted by a friendly young man who took our order right away, I ordered, well I don't quite remember the name, but it was steak pieces with french fries and onions, and rice. I was fooled by the mild salsa that came with the chips and said, "hey can you make my dish spicy?" The server said no problem, and while the dish was very fresh, my mouth was on fire, and I touched my eye and it was like pepper spray or something. I love hot food, I can eat Los Dos Molinos Abogado ribs for example with little problem, but this stuff kicked my butt!! It had little red peppers in it that I have never experienced before. HOT!! I kept remembering Deb's review:"....this is not Mexican food....". No kidding, next time I will get it milder. My eye burns still.....
Wife got a milder flat pan steak dish with lentils and rice. She praised its freshness. We also split a red beef tamale (they were only like $2) so it was just a sample but decent.
They only have 6 tables in there! And they had to change their name due to copyright infringement from a restaurant in Texas according to the young man. Either way, we will be back for sure. Good stuff!! Something tells me there is more burn to come, perhaps tomorrow if you know what I mean? Beware! They can really spice it up if you ask them too. I met my match at Mi Comida....
Fresh ingredients, nice people, and a nice change from Mexican food.
Recommended! Don't touch your eyes if you touched those little red pepper things, that is for sure!! -
Review from Ryan C.
Mi Comida is a new name for an old favorite.
~
Mi Cocina Mi Pais hasn't changed their staff or ownership, just their name.
~
I guess it was too hard for gringos to pronounce.
Well, ¿Qué te hace pensar que este güero no sabe la buena comida?
A brightly colored, spotlessly clean, and intricately decorated interior make you feel festive and also homey at the same time, as soon as you walk in from the strip mall, Taco Bell drive-thru-facing exterior.
A friendly greeting, a bit of menu consultation, and a basket of chips with a spicy but perfectly balanced salsa was soon in front of me.
My sandwich was piled high with thick, moist slabs of roasted, marinated pork that had the most savory flavor. It came with a delightfully tangy dish of julienned red onions, pickled in vinegar, on the side.
I used up all of those yummy fuscia onion slivers on my sandwich de puerca; after a tiny sample, however, I left the pico-like salsa fresca alone -- too much heat for this nortero -- but it was a cornucopia of color and texture and flavors!
¿Qué te hace pensar que este güero no sabe la buena comida?Listed in: The Anti-Chain Reaction, The BESTest's
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Review from Mi C.
Irving, TX
1/23/2011
Nice family owned restaurant with delicious South American food.
I'd highly recommend it -
Review from Wes N.
1/15/2010 ROTD 7/28/2010
Loved it! Unique Ecuadorian/Peruvian/South American food with good flavors, excellent presentation and a good variety.
The vegetarian plate comes with veggie flan doused with cheese sauce, grilled plantains, a mound of rice, lentils in a tasty sauce and a fried egg over easy, cooked oh so right.
For those of you who aren't in the know, mash down the rice mound, salt it up, then throw the fried egg on top. Chop it up and feast! I love me some fried eggs & rice and they make the ingredients perfect here.
If you're looking for some unique flavors & food combinations that are sure to impress, check this place out! -
Review from Deb L.
1/9/2009
First off this is not a Mexican food place. I overheard a customer trying to compare and it's not the same. The food at Mi Cocina Mi Pais is South American with most entrees being Ecuadorian . The owner is Ecuadorian but realized many dishes from Columbia, Argentina and Peru were similar.
In fact we talked to the gal next to us who is Colombian and was so excited to find food from home.
The food was very delicious and we are planning on going back and trying other dishes. I loved my fish in Banana Leaves lots of orange, yellow and red peppers with a light white fish. Tasty with a side of white rice and bananas fried like chips.
My hubby ordered carne asada Argentina style , very spicy which he adores. He also had chunky fried plantains . Everything was great.
The place is small but the Host/ waiter / Owner's Son did a great job serving the 4 groups of people . The decor is bright and it's obvious they have a passion for what they do. This place is sandwiched in a small place in a strip mall but don't let that throw you off stop by and give it a try for something deliciously different.Listed in: The local places you gotta go…, West Side Wonders
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Review from Michael D.
Tucson, AZ
The world has finally presented me with an easy choice. After years of wandering through life, decisions half-made or made wholly wrong, a simple and easy direction has shown itself to me: I have to move to Ecuador.
Quite honestly, if the food here is representative of the native regional cuisine, I'm just going to buy a ticket, pack my cat, and head down there. Feel free to pick over my belongings.
Almost completely hidden from view, this tiny hole in the wall of a restaurant sits, waiting for those looking to find it. The decor is bright and charming; inviting without feeling like it's trying to be ethnic. The tables are comfortable and huge. I had actually thought they were a bit over sized when we first sat down but, well, then food started to arrive.
We were started with the obligatory chips and salsa. And while they may not have been much to look at, these slightly greasy chips and sweetly spicy salsa are very tasty. This little appetizer was soon followed by a plate of empanadas and a sampler of their tamales. Now, I love tamales, so I was probably looking forward to this most of all. These three (a Mexican red, a green, and an Ecuadorian) were not only beautifully crafted and presented, but they were some of the best quality I'd ever eaten. If it's your first time here and you like tamales, don't pass that sampler up. The red might not have been the most stunning, but the green is the perfect blend of cheese, pepper, and corn. The Ecuadorian tamale was just unlike any tamale I've tried before. Wrapped in a banana leaf, there was just more filling to it than I'd ever seen in your standard tamale.
The main dishes followed in good time. Again, the presentation on this food is just stunning. If I had ever dreamed about being a food photographer, I'd probably start my portfolio here. The brisket I had ordered was covered in what I can only term as a "salsa" of peppers and various other vegetables. Combined with the meat that was tender enough to cut with a fork and the avocado slices, it was just a sublime meal. A combination of flavors that I had honestly never experienced before.
I've had (I think) real Mexican, Spanish, and a variety of other types of food. The cuisine here is distinctly in it's own category. I think that's what draws me back to it most: a delightfully inviting, yet wholly unknown, palate to explore. -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Chandler, AZ
1/7/2011 1 photo
The food is fresh and natural tasting. It's simple in ingredients, but complex in flavor. It's not loaded with cheese or heavy sauces. It feels light but filling.
The restaurant is small and charming. It was busy the afternoon we lunched there and ended up waiting an hour for the food. We didn't complain, though, because it seemed as if they were short of staff and our server was elderly. -
Review from Todd B.
Glendale, AZ
12/7/2009
My kitchen, my country, my oh my what a great little offbeat restaurant this is. Amidst a dying strip mall area on Bell Rd in northwest Phoenix you'll find an authentic Ecuadorian/SouthAmerican place that has food that will make you want to go back for more,.
It's a family run ethnic restaurant that's very small and quaint. Not hard to drive by, or not see it from the road as a Taco Bell is directly in front of it. I really don't know why people would go to T-Bell anyway with Mi Cocina a few feet away. I guess some people don't know better.
The menu has many different choices to choose from and if you have any questions ask the server/owner's son and he'll gladly help. I'm a fan of the tamales, pork empandas, and shrimp ceviche. Oh and I forgot the dessert. As you're dining there the desset case is just over an arms length away screaming at you every minute. I'm not a sweets person and even I gave in and tried some delightful indulgence.
This is one of the best "finds" to be found in the Phoenix metro area! -
Review from Matthew K.
Phoenix, AZ
5/29/2008
This place is gonna cost me about $2,000. ---- Back story, I was backpacking around South America a few years ago and spent a few weeks in Ecuador. Loved it. Great place. Of course I ate Ecuadorian food but don't remember much about it. Now after eating at MCMP I figure it's gonna be about $2,000 for me to go back to Ecuador and try the real stuff again so I can compare the two.
Anyways, loved the oatmeal drink. It tasted like pineapple juice with a hint of spice or cinnamon. Chips and salsa were standard issue. The two dinners we had were very good. One was like a spicy carne asada, the other was sort of a combo plate with beef, beans, two types of plantains, sausage, egg, rice and chichron.
Our entrees were fine, but I'm really excited to try the other items on the menu. Empanadas, tamales, and the chiviche looked really good.
This place has about 6-8 tables that's it. Only one person to serve everyone so if the place is packed expect a few more minutes for everything. -
Review from Abe S.
Phoenix, AZ
7/31/2010
Mi Comida is a blast because of just how varied its menu is. Ecuadorian, Argentinian, Colombian, Venezuela, Mexica, Guatemalan, I know it goes beyond that. A little bit of everything and a lot of great stuff. I can personally vouch for the churrasco and the empanadas. If you want to try something fun and small grab a Queen Arepa... a unique combination that's pretty awesome (lime mayonnaise, pork and peas if I remember right).
Like many have said, don't go if you're in a hurry. Everything may take quite a while, but when your food comes out of the kitchen, you'll see the care that's been put into it. Often the plates look like artwork! Very colorful, carefully arranged... and really good food. -
Review from Nathan S.
2/12/2008 1 photo
Do not...I repeat DO NOT, go here expecting mexican food....This is not your run of the mills strip mall bertos as it may at first glance appear from the front.
I have been meaning to try this resturaunt for some time and finally made the leap; taking my cousin along who has spent a few years in ecuador so I might get some advice on what to order; though it turned out that we ate just about a little of everything so it didn't matter.
She jumped around with excitement at all the authentic ecuadorian knick nacks and doo dads decorating the shelves and walls.
The flavors of the food were indescribably big and we both jumped aound the plate changing which was our new favorite food based on what we had taken a bit of last. from the Ceviche to the cookies and drinks; nothing disappointed even one bit.
This is my new favorite resturaunt, number one reccomendation and the first place I will take any out-of-towners from now on! -
Review from Kevin H.
1/22/2008 1 Check-in Here
Great family run small operation. Usually Father or son waiting tables, and Mom in the kitchen. A solid 4.5 stars.
I have eaten most everything on the menu, and must say that nothing has disappointed, it is consistently the same every time, and the price is right as well.
From the ceviche(add the popcorn!), to the tamale sampler, spicy carne, shrimp stew with plantains, to the tasty pork in mi bandera, hominy and lots of crispy starchy goodness. Slow cooked brisket has great depth of flavor. Coconut flan cake is good as well.
This is not fast food however, so be patient after ordering!! It will take a while to get your food, but well worth the wait. Enjoy your chips and salsa and I don't know, talk to your fellow diners??? Never had an issue understanding any servers. -
Review from maggie r.
Glendale, AZ
5/8/2008
Mi Cocina Mi Pais
My Kitchen My Country
Ecuadorian cuisine at it's finest.
This place is only a few miles from my home, but I'd never heard of it. How's that possible? Well, I'd never heard of a little website called Yelp until a few weeks ago either. Thanks to Yelpers I have discovered a hidden gem in my hood.
The restaurant has been around for 5 years and the first year it was open (2003) it was voted best new restaurant by Phoenix Magazine - well deserved. I was not familiar with Ecuadorian food before this dining experience, but am now an adoring fan.
Tried the following:
Sobrebarriga Bogotana (yes I had to write these down): Oh my god, melt in your mouth delicious brisket stewed in flavorful tomato/onion stew. Boiled potatoes served in a sour cream onion sauce.
Bandeja Paisa: A smorgasbord of items. Rice, beans, carne asada, chorizo, plantains, fried egg, avocado + more. This is the perfect dish if you want to sample a lot of items.
There is AT LEAST 10 more items I saw on the menu that I want to try. Can't wait to return!
The only downfall is the place is tiny - I mean really tiny - 6 tables tiny. Lunch weekday was no problem, but I'd bet the weekend peak hours will require a wait. -
Review from Jacob L.
Phoenix, AZ
1/14/2010 4 photos
Homey, Delicious, Unique.. All words that come to mind when I think back on my dinner here.
First off.. they do take reservations for party's of 5 or more. However a reservation at this small place really just means a bump up in line. Do not go expecting to sit and eat right away. Its a small place.. and is popular enough to keep it busy with at least one or two groups waiting outside during the weekend dinner rush.
This place is run by a husband/wife team and I can only assume the younger gentlemen was also part of the family. Can you beat food prepared by someones mom/grandma? Maybe if yours is from the region your menu is from. Otherwise I highly doubt it.
The Food:
Bandeja Paisa:
This is what I came for. After watching Anthony Bourdain chow down on this in the Columbian episode I HAD.. HAD.. HAD to have this. Chorizo, chicharones con carne, fried eggs, fried plantains, plantain patacones, arepa, beans, avocado, carne asada and rice. The only way this could have been better would be to have more of it! How do you make bacon better? You leave the pork back on it and deep fry it. Even with my cold everything tasted amazing.
Empanadas:
We had three types chicken, beef, pork.
Chicken: Was in more of a flaky, buttery, pastry type shell. I would say this was more of a pot pie in a portable package.
Beef/Pork: Both of these were more traditional. My taste buds were a bit off so I had a hard time telling which was which. One of them was slightly sweet and FREAKING AMAZING. I could have sat and ate a dozen of those. I believe it was the pork one that was sweet.
Seafood Soup(Sorry don't remember the name):
I'm not a fan of things with fins unless they are in a fish tank ;) My friend has this soup. I was a little worried because it smelled VERY VERY fishy and supposedly the only seafood in it was shrimp. To me when a shrimp has a very strong fish smell that's bad news. I have a feeling it was a fish based stock and that's where the aroma came from. Either way he really liked it.
Fillet with Fried Potatoes(Again didn't catch the name of this. Sorry for the major fail):
This was a grilled fillet sliced in a dark sauce with "fried potatoes" which in this case were french fry's. Looked a little odd to me but my friend loved it.
Ecuadorian Tamale:
So after reading the other reviews I decided to skip on the red and green as they seemed to be standard Mexican tamales. Could I be missing out? Maybe but I was there for home field advantage cooking. So I got the Ecuadorian tamale. This was cooked in a banana leaf. I was having a hard time getting the banana leaf flavor but the rest of my party assured me it was there. Again.. stuffy nose :(
Flan de Coco:
Wow.. two of my favorite things in one, coconut and flan. This was pretty good. I can't say it was earth shattering but the coconut was not overly sweet. The "syrup" had a nice deep caramelized flavor. The flan had a nice texture. I have had better but it was nothing to complain about.
Plantain Torte:
This was not what I expect and in a good way! They had mushed up the plantains into more of a pumpkin pie like texture. I believe it was also mixed with either a blueberry or blackberry as the color was slightly blue and it had a hint of one of those two berries. This was my favorite out the the two. It was the perfect sweet. The texture was very nice. It didn't give me that instant insulin shock affect from a sugar laden dessert.
I will be back! Sadly I'm not sure when because I have many many other places to try but I'll get back there sometime. There were still a decent amount of things on the menu I would have liked to try out.
Pros:
Super tasty food prepared by someones equivalent of your grandma.
Very friendly service.. Think dinner at a aunt/uncles house.
Wide variety from many Latin American areas.
Cons:
Only thing I can come up with really is the wait. This is more of a personal thing. I really don't like to wait for a seat somewhere. I believe you should be able to make a reservation and be seated within 5 minutes of arrival. But considering this is a mom and pop place, the type of place I would rather see everywhere instead of these chains, I can learn to live with a wait :)
I feel its a tad on the pricey side for a mom and pop. -
Review from Andrew W.
San Diego, CA
5/1/2009
To parapphrase the newspaper review that proudly stands on the counter of this quaint restaurant, "Don't come here, because if you to start coming regularly, this place is small enough where there won't be enough room for me."
Delicious!
The food is great, the prices even better. 3 Large Empanadas for $5.95? It can't be beat.
The Ecuadorian Ceviche is a wonderful dish to order and share. It comes in a large heavy glass goblet, almost theatrical, but if you want to impress some people, this is definitely fun to order. -
Review from Natalie W.
Chandler, AZ
4/19/2007
Love ethnic? Already tried Thai, Moroccan and Tandoori? Looking for a new culinary adventure? (Isn't that a lot of question marks?)
Then might I suggest a visit to Mi Cocina, Mi Pais, for a culinary tour of Ecuador, along with its southerly neighbors, Colombia and Peru.
Mi Cocina, Mi Pais is a cheerful, mango-painted little corner in a Phoenix strip mall. There's only a handful of tables, so you may need to plan to wait or order to take-out.
There are plenty of familiar-ish dishes, such as tacos and tamales.
But to really get the full impact of the restaurant, but you should try one of the more unique choices here. Such as, shrimp and plantains, ceviche, or aji chile wrapped in banana leaf.
More reasons to visit? (And more question marks?) The portions are huge, and the prices very reasonable. -
Review from ben h.
7/20/2009
The restaurant is perfect for people who conflate all food south of our border with Mexican food (as if it weren't bad enough that people conflated all of Mexico's food with one, imaginary "Mexican" food - but I digress!).
The menus is varied, with plenty to please carnivores, omnivores, pescatarians, and vegetarians.
Everything we tried was great, starting with the oat drink. The only experience I've had with avena was at a Costa Rican place in Chicago - they served it milk-shake style. Here, the drink was light and refreshingly sweet, tasting like a healthier pineapple juice.
The Mexican tamales were the best I've had in Phoenix - fluffy and savory, with just the right touch of cheese and peppers. I can't wait to try the rest.
Entree-wise, try to order something with the aji salsa. It's like a little pico de gallo from hell - spicy to the extreme, but not in a stupid novelty hot-sauce kind of way. The spiciness is part of a delicious ride that will highlight the rich flavors of the rest of your dish.
I tried the shrimp-stew - which was delicious without being overly rich. There was a flavor that was familiar and strange all at the same-time. It was like meeting your long-lost mother, and then having her cook you the comfort food you would've grown up on if you hadn't been separated from her at birth.
We also had the plato sin carné. This is not the standard beans-rice-sad-salad vegetarian option that a lot of places serve up. There was a hearty lentil concoction served with perfectly cooked rice, an over-easy egg, perfectly cooked plantains, and - the crown jewel - some sort of vegetable mush-pudding concoction that the menu referred to as flan, covered in a little bit of what tasted like hollandaise sauce and served on a crisp lettuce leaf.
The varying textures and tastes of the flan/lettuce/sauce combo - which was nothing like the custard-y dessert I normally associate with the word - tasted even better as cold leftovers.
For who isn't normally inclined to drive from central Phoenix to the northwest corner of the city, Mi Cocina Mi Pais is perfect for a date night when combined with the dollar theatre a mile or two down the road.
