La Santisima

Traveled home for the first time in one year, and my first stop was La Santisima. Everything we ordered hit the spot, and their famous salsa bar took every bit to the next level. Whether you are a local or visiting Phoenix for the first time, I recommend you add La Santisima to your routine.

I’m obsessed with their creative tacos and amazing salsa bar! The flavors are bold and authentic, and it’s the perfect spot to satisfy my taco cravings.

The megalythic sculpture near the entrance is an appetizer to an eye buffet of the Mexican culture. And the waterfall of flavors cascading in just the salsa alone... Is an endless whirlwind experience that you can not deprive your soul of. We dance in and out of thousands of fat food and fancy dine in establishments. However, it is the unforgettable ones that have us shifting through emotions like a roladex with the food we find. The drinks we share. The faces we forget and their smiles. leaving a lifelong impression in our memories. Thank you for the laughter and tears you gave to my Soul's stomach...

I come here once or twice a year for mix and match tacos. The food is always excellent. The salsa bar is great. The horchata is good. The service is fine.

The tacos at La Santisima are out of this world! They have unique flavors, and their salsa bar is the best in town. It's my favorite spot for a casual but amazing meal.

The people working during our visit were super nice. Our server had a contagious joyful spirit, and the margarita I order was amazing. However, I want to review it higher but unfortunately I can only give the place 3-stars because the food was simply lacking. The salsa bar is a great option to try new things, but I didn’t enjoy a majority of the options. The food was by no means bad, it was fine, but that’s it. Nothing special, unfortunately, as I was hoping. Also, It’s true the menu is complicated and hard to read for non-Spanish speakers, but I mean… you’re at a Spanish restaurant… not sure why other reviews make that a big deal. Our server joyfully talked through any questions and explanations on the menu.

Overall, a disappointing experience. While the food was decent, it didn’t stand out. The salsa bar had variety, but unfortunately, everything tasted rather bland. The service was especially poor, which was surprising given how empty the place was. I’ve seen other reviews mentioning automatic gratuity being added to the bill, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that happened here too—it certainly didn’t seem like anyone would tip voluntarily for the service we received. The quesadilla was okay, but lacked enough meat and cheese to justify the price. The Al Pastor was underwhelming, though the jamaica drink was a standout and definitely the highlight of the meal. If you are going to make aguish menu, be prepared to explain it.

Christian our server was the best! The food was amazing! The art work, decor and location super! Cocktails were delicious! We had the Cadillac and the blue demon 😈, the blue demon margaritas featured chili and salted rim, that complimented the blueberry margaritas. Both margaritas were strong and really well made! So many many good food options, any way you could imagine. In a taco, burrito, an enchiladas or a salad! The meat or vegetarian choices were numerous. Like being at a top notch New Jersey diner, the menu was endless! Every single thing we ordered was spectacular! A huge salsa bar too to choose from, like 25 different salsas, ranging from super hot to mild, many fruit salsas too. All really amazing!

Friends, La Santisima is the SPOT!! Amazing ambiance, great food, great salsa bar. Many different flavors, options, and sauces. The Menu here is huge, see pictures!!!! Jenny our server is amazing and customer focused, making sure everything is perfect. Will definitely return, super impressed!!! Grade: A+++

Not gonna lie, I had no idea why this place was this hyped up on Reddit. Food was alright, but everything was just crazy style expensive. Honestly, the free chips were the best part of the meal. Maybe there was something else on the menu that everyone else goes crazy for but for me it was just pretty run of the mill. Kudos for the large salsa bar tho, so many different ones to try, that was genuinely pretty cool.

Decent spot for Mexican food Food: we ordered takeout from here! They limit you on how many salsas you can take which I did find interesting! I got the special chicken quesadilla. The quesadillas here are made from this fried, very doughy tortilla! So it is very different than what you would expect! I thought it was good, but it didn't have much meat at all, which was disappointing Service: good and fast Ambience: we didn't stay to eat but the spot looked really nice and spacious

I have eaten here only once so far. I'll definitely be back. This restaurant has some amazingly good food. The black mole tacos are to die for...but I'm getting ahead of myself. The ambience is interesting. I'm not sure how to describe it. I encourage you to check it out yourself. We had great service. Our server was friendly and attentive. I'm not a tequila drinker so I can only say that the list of tequilas they serve is impressive. Back to the food. It was all very tasty. I highly recommend giving La Santisima a visit.

I haven't been to this place in probably 10 years since it was a tiny little restaurant in a strip mall. I loved it then and decided to come for lunch and was pleasantly air at both the new location and the upgraded menu. The ambiance is amazing - between the art and the swing seat at the bar. I love the vibe And the menu has been expanded with a ton of really cool Mexican inspired tacos and food that are really unique. They even have a separate vegan/vegetarian menu. The tacos we ordered were all flavorful and the meat was perfectly cooked. Shark tacos, mole-based tacos, Argentinian beef. So many interesting combinations. And best of all, they still have the amazing salsa bar that I remembered. Lots of good spicy options if you like it hot like I do. And last but not least, service was friendly and efficient. Still love this place, and maybe even more than I used to.

Buenos Días Ardillas!! Here with another one (far from Khalid). Swung by a spot I've been to before, just never posted about it. La Santisima has some unique items on the menu, a large variety of tacos to choose from and quite the menu. From table to table, here's what I had. Frijoles Santisima - My favorite appetizer here, Pinto Bean Dip with Oaxaca Cheese, Chiles and Mexican Herbs. Highly recommend. Carne Asada Burrito - Nothing snazzy. Beef, Rice, Pinto Beans and Guacamole Salsa. It was alright. 3 Tacos - I ordered the Baja Sur Shark (Beer Battered Shark, Rice, Pinto Beans, Cabbage, Mayo, Cilantro Salsa and Pico de Gallo), Chilango Suadero (Brisket, Rice, Pinto Beans, Onion, Cilantro and Tomatillo Salsa) and La Nueva España Pork (Chicharrón Prensado, Pinto Beans, Pico de Gallo and Salsa de Árbol). All good but nothing great. 3 Tacos - Al Pastor Cauliflower (Oaxaca Cheese, Pineapple, Onion, Cilantro, Red Salsa, Avocado Salsa, Sour Cream & Queso Cotija), Specialty Veggie (Toasted Oaxacan Cheese, Mushrooms, Poblano Peppers, Onions, Spinach, Garlic & Clintro Salsa) and Mazatlán Marlin (Smoked Marlin, Veggies, Oaxacan Cheese, Cabbage & Cilantro Salsa). Guacamole - Always have to try the Guacamole, the spin in this was added Jicama, Mango and Cranberries. Sounds sweet but it wasn't, actually worked out. Horchata - Family recipe loaded up with Fruits and Pecans, different for sure but I thought it was okay. Pricey Horchata though. I'll be honest, this isn't one of my favorite taco places, they do have a lot of options and other food to try besides tacos. It's not bad but it's not great, for me. The restaurant is cool, lots of neat art, good music. Service was okay. But. Give em a go, maybe you'll like it. Just wasn't my jive. Aho!!!!

This place had really good reviews and we wanted an authentic AZ experience. Pluses- definitely the decor. 5 stars! Super cool dia de los muertos motif. The guac was really good and I liked the salsa bar. I didn't like the carne asada taco. It really was disappointing. The shrimp taco was quite tasty. Really liked the beans and rice but the portion was rather small. The menu is really overwhelming and I think if they rewrote it/ basically said these are all the options but you can have them as tacos, burros, etc it would be easier to follow. It's literally the longest menu I've ever seen! Also there was only one waitress so it took kind of a while to get things. Overall positive experience but some things could be better.

The variety of hot sauces blew my mind! I loved them all. I also had the Al pastor tacos which rival any I've had in Mexico City! The mole sauce was delicious too on top of my quesa. All washed down with a lovely horchata!! I will miss this meal back home.

This is our favorite hidden Mexican gem! We love the Cabo shrimp tacos. Their quesa masa and their queso fundidio with steak. The tortillas are home made and unmatchable. Truly a phoenix staple we come here monthly.

My son was in town and one of the places we had to hit up before he went home was La Santisima, so off we went! I have been a fan for years, so if you haven't been here yet, you really need to go! We arrived during lunch time and got a table right away. Service was great and friendly. The salsa bar is fresh and has a great selection. One of my favorite go to is the chicken Oaxacan Black Moie Taco, its shredded chicken simmered in this amazing sauce of blend of spices, chilies, nuts, Oaxacan dark chocolate. The mole here is one of my favorites in the valley. So dang good! I have tried almost all their tacos, they even had vegan/vegetarian that are all tasty as well. Go get you some tacos!

Consistently great. After my third visit over ~1.5 years here in PHX, I can confidently say this is one of my "go-to staples" for Mexican food. What's great? -The food. Solid tortilla chips as well as the carne asada and brisket burros -Ambiance is fun, artsy, and unique. -Large parking lot (big plus in Midtown) -Service is friendly and attentive -Unique salsa bar (strawberry-based salsa?) -Menu with a lot of options - now with a dedicated vegan section *just make sure to confirm all the items (like the cheese on the side items) are vegan or omitted. What's not great? -Burros are light on the meats -Food can take a while to come out of the kitchen

I'm not sure if I've just been living under a rock or why I haven't been aware of this place having vegan options!! The location in downtown Glendale is closed so don't drive over there if maps shows it as an option! (Made that mistake and had to drive another 25 min to the correct, new address) The waiter was really kind and let me know the vegan cheese options they had and were reassuring about making it modified. The only thing is that the refried beans are made with chicken broth so if they ask black beans or refried beans after ordering something made vegan, it's because the refried beans are NOT. Staff let me know after already ordering the refried beans which is why I crossed it out in the picture as I can't review that lol. Tons of salsa options, great decor. Will be back!

We hadn't planned on coming here but the deli just up the street is closed on Sundays so we have it a try. Amazing Mexican food! They have a huge salsa bar and the menu is huge! Tacos, burritos, cazuelas and tortas. Anything you want in any format. I had the queso fundido with chorizo. Yes, it's an appetizer and comes with huge hand made flour tortillas. And it was still a lot of food. Definitely a great starter or full meal. My husband had the Chile en Nogado cazuela. He ate every bit and couldn't say enough good things about it. He got it with chicken. We have had the horchata in the past. It's delicious, but we skipped it today.

Went here for a family birthday party. What a delight! I love Dia de Los Muertos art and this place was chock full of original artworks, including paintings and ceramics. I also love authentic Mexican food. The food was amazing. The menu is huge so take your time with it, especially if you are prone to plate envy (as in "I should have got that!"). But you can always come back for more. Each dish comes with multiple protein and preparation options. I got the La Santisima Specialty plate with shrimp and emolada style. It was great. They didn't skimp on the portions, either. Service was great. There were 10 of us there and the waitress didn't miss a beat. The place was packed. I recommend reservations. The place is easy to find and has a decent size parking lot. They also sell some art and kitchen items in the restaurant. They are at 4117 N 16th street in Phoenix. You enter the parking lot off of 16th street.

Great place, great decor, food is incredible. Service was ok. The menu is frankly overwhelming lol- Never seen so many options! Will be back next year

I went here with my partner on a Friday at 5:00, thinking it would be crowded because of the weekend and happy hour - but we were one of two couples instead. I thought it was odd with it being happy hour, but I accepted that we "beat the crowd." There were three female waitresses, a male bartender, and an older woman putting out waters and utensils. The three waitresses and bartender were only interested in standing at the corner of the bar and scrolling on their phones. I was ignored and it felt very intentional. The food here was weird. The music was odd (they don't even pay for premium so enjoy the commercials). And I was only offered once what I wanted to drink: a margarita. For the next hour, I watched my empty margarita glass and the minutes ticked for happy hour to end. They never asked how our food was and they never asked if we needed anything. My single star goes to the older woman that gave us waters and utensils. She was the only one working in an appropriate manner and she deserves a raise if she has to work with these four. Don't come here - go literally anywhere else.

Read a lot of positive reviews of La Santisima, but outside of the guacamole I don't have a lot of positive sentiments to share. We came on a very slow day and while there was plenty of staff, none of them seemed to want to serve us. The prices are pretty low, so maybe this was to be expected. The food was just not good. Maybe we got the wrong things. I had the pink mole and could not eat more than a bite. It's supposedly a specialty, but my issue is I don't think the mezcal fully cooked off in the dish and it effectively tasted like eating tequila. With the other ingredients in the dish I thought it would have more flavor. The only positive during our meal was the guacamole, very good. I will also say the restaurant is colorful and in a central location. That part is nice, I enjoyed the art.

Good Mexican with great selection of tacos and quesadillas. Menus is broken up by pages according to the vehicle you want your food in, eg taco or quesadilla. Then you pick the flavor and sometimes the protein you want. I loved the black mole sauce and the al pastor was tasty too. Good array of additional salsas to choose from and an impressive drinks menu. Funky artwork all over the walls and swinging chairs at the bar.

I've struggled with whether to write this review for several days, primarily due to how unsettling the experience was. Having visited La Santisima before and always enjoyed it, we were thrilled to check out their new location. I arrived with my sisters around 2 PM, and the waiter, Anna, was exceedingly rude. She displayed impatience while taking our order. When my sister inquired about salsa, Anna pointed to the taco bar in a dismissive manner. She attempted to take our drink orders, but when she noticed we needed more time, she simply said she would just get us water and walked away. To our shock, she began badmouthing us to another staff member in Spanish, assuming we couldn't understand her. When she returned to our table, I confronted her, stating that she should be cautious about making derogatory comments about customers when she doesn't know if they understand Spanish. After reading other reviews, it's clear that many others have encountered similar issues, suggesting that management is indifferent to the behavior of their staff. I'm deeply disappointed and can't fathom returning in the future.

The salsa options here are everything! It makes it unique and creative. The food is authentic and delicious .

Loved their fresh chips, jamaica rose shrimp taco and sopa Azteca. Their horchata is unique and tasty. My husband got their michelada and the quesas al pastor which he said was fantastic. We came after their lunch and before dinner. The service was a little slow and we never received our guacamole. To be fair the server seemed like she had a good amount of tables and then more came in. The decor is unique and ambiance is great. We're looking forward to coming back.

Found a decent Mexican spot! Great service and a nice atmosphere. The guacamole was flavorful and delicious. It wasn't too much where we could get full too :) The chicken bowl mole was rich and smokey with just the right amount of spice. The asada taco was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. The Mahi Mahi Santisima Special taco was delicious!! The beans and rice were also delicious. The only disappointing things we had was the Margaritas and the salsa bar. The Tamarin lacked any real flavor and they both were pretty weak. The cups were tiny and really couldn't get any salsa.

The food here is fantastic! Everything we ordered was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. The devour is unique and artistic. Only complaint I could possibly have is it was a bit too warm inside but that's Phoenix.

SALSA HEAVEN! I love the variety of salsa here! The salsa bar is well stocked and kept clean, which is a good sign. Unfortunately they only provide 1 bowl of chips for free, so keep that in mind before you gobble them all up. The guacamole is amazing, with unique additions of fruit and perfectly seasoned with lime and salt. The food here is a bit price though, but you do get good quality food for the price. I tried the chorizo con papas, Baja baby shark, and the green chili tacos. They were all large, especially the shark! This is a great restaurant to bring tourists to, to give them a large variety of meats and salsas to try while in Arizona.

Stopped in for some lunch on a weekend and it wasn't too busy so we got to sit down right away. The service was friendly and fast. I liked the guacamole but it seemed more like an avocado pico de gallo, if that's even a thing. The chips were great though and I enjoyed the selection of salsas. I also git 3 tacos which were all delicious : the specialty chicken, tiger shrimp, and chicken mole. There were so many different tacos to choose from and I can't wait to try a bunch of the others. Definitely a solid choice for tacos and the service made it easy to get in and out when we were in a hurry, although I wouldn't have minded staying and trying more of the food.

100% worth the hype. Best tacos I've had in Phoenix so far. Also appreciate that they brought my takeout order to my car and charged my card there. This is a place I'd bring visitors to impress them with Mexican food. Tacos we got, in order of how much I loved them: La Santisima specialty with steak Mariachi loco birria El gaucho Argentine steak Chile en nogada beef Chicken tinga Carne asada

Our party of four enjoyed the guacamole, with its delicious citrus tang, and the bean dip with melted cheese atop. We also enjoyed the very crisp, fresh-tasting corn tortilla chips. For mains we had a mariachi burrito, a shrimp and cactus taco, a pink mole vegan taco with mushrooms, a chile en nogada taco with cauliflower. another vegan taco, another giant burrito, and a side of calebacitos. We variously tried and enjoyed the strawberry, peanut, 7 Chiles, and jicama salsas. Every bite was delicious and it was a filling meal. The biggest winner was the chile en nogada taco with cauliflower. Service was okay. The atmosphere is "Dia de los Muertos" all year 'round.

This place is pretty much the level up above AWESOME when it comes to their robust menu. My only complaint would be there's so much to choose from and there's only so much you can eat !!! So, the remedy to that is to come back more often and try something different. Although I'm a creature of habit and once I fall in love with one item, I keep going for that "known quality" rarely deviating and testing new things. I'd come back to try other items here 'tho because the menu descriptions are well written to seduce me to take chances. I also tried 4 different items and was satisfied with each and every one of my choices. I'll say this about the pricing and portions. I ordered 4 tacos and I finished them all, but if on a budget or a casual meal, I think I could get away with ordering 2 tacos to get satisfied, and that's a testament to the value and portions given here. So, maybe next time I order 2 first, then order more or other things as I go along. The service was fast and friendly. The decor was stunning. Parking was easy in their lot.

"DELICIOUS MEXICAN, MOUTHFUL ADVENTURE!" -Customer service: customer service was a 10 out of 10 I didn't have any problems just a lot of good recommendations. The waitress was smiling and she was very helpful. -They were very attentive, gave us lots of water and asked us if we need anything. Gave good recommendations! The guacamole was amazing. It met my expectations and I would definitely order it again. The salsa bar is a must try if you have not tried the sauces the strawberry one is really good and the green ones are pretty good as well and the radish and the jicama. All in all my experience with a positive one the tacos were really really good. The Mole tasted very traditional and homemade, the Al Pastor was not that good it was dry and didn't really have a lot of flavor. The Santisima was really good. I'd like the addition of the peppers, the cheese and the onions and the meat was very flavorful all in all I love this place. It is a bit overpriced, but you get what you pay for.

Food is pretty good. They have a ton of taco options. I just went with the lunch menu tacos. It was 3 tacos and a small side of rice and beans for $15. They are famous for their horchata which was okay. They have a super extensive salsa bar and free chips are included. Guac is fresh and tasty but small. During lunch you have to order at the counter and then you get regular service after you are sitting. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has nice background music. Overall it's a solid spot, being Phoenix I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to go here since we have so many options. However, if you are in the area give it a go.

Great food with a salsa bar. Such a great spot and always one of my favorites. However, after the new move it has gotten much slower. Used to be a hole in the wall taco shop.

Food was not very good, service was good and ambiance was fun with lots of cool art and swings at the bar. the house tequila shots were good and cheap!

Love the salsa bar, the vegetarian options, and the atmosphere. However, I think it's really overpriced for the portions. Also hate that they charge for chips after the first bowl. I've been a few times and always enjoy it, but it's getting hard to justify the price.

Love it! Where to start? Fun restaurant with lots of art pieces to look at. Service is good, though they do get busy! Salsa bar is full of any and every variation of a salsa you'd want to try. So much fun to be had by your taste buds! For all my vegans, yes, yes they are vegan friendly! I tried several vegan options and I'm impressed. I really enjoyed the mole, spectacular experience for the taste buds. I love it and I'd come back again & again!

Variety of options at La Santisima. Protein or Vegan? Traditional corn tortilla shell or protein style with a cheese shell? And so much more. The menu is detailed, the food is delicious, and the service is good. Can't ask for anything mor other than more food :) The tacos are up there in price. I had 4 tacos one protein style which is an additional $1.50...my bill was over $25. They are gourmet so no complaints.

easily one of my favorite spots. salsa bar gives you all the freedom to explore the flavors they have to offer. staff is very accommodating and attentive. best margs. absolutely love their tacos and even the rice and beans are so tasteful. beautiful art all around, cool swings at the bar, beautiful entry door.

Used to visit frequently at the old space as it was closer to my work. Really like the new space and decor. The food was outstanding as usual. Service was quick and informative. Salsa bar had unique and flavorful salsas with a range of spiciness. Would recommend this space for a great meal. Potions are large.

I haven't been back here in over a year then ordered the el gaucho burrito. It was mostly rice with barely any beef or flavor. Was very disappointing. This place is not what it used to be. I understand cutting costs but to serve a whole burrito filled with rice to a person ordering to go is just wrong. Service was lacking but I remember that always being the case years ago. So that was to be expected. This used to be my favorite burrito spot. But I can confidently say I will never be back here again.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Phoenix. Great salsa bar and delicious options. Awesome decor . Highly recommend,

It was such a nice restaurant. Beautiful atmosphere, the bar had so much cool tequila bottles and they had swings for bar stools. A lot of authentic Mexican art and sculptures around that added to its authenticity. It felt very "day of the dead." We ordered the birria, Jamaican rose, and arrabe tacos and they were very good. You can also add on rice and beans to the plate. I also got a horchata which was different than any horchata I've had before, it was very good and huge! service was awesome too, the menu was a bit confusing so the waiter did a good job of explaining it to us.

If you're looking for just tacos this is a pretty good option! I don't recommend for you to pay extra for takeout rice and beans, they're stingy with the portion size. However when dining in they're a little more generous, and I was disappointed with the service, as the staff was not very friendly. Overall the tacos were good, hope you all have better luck than me!

Recently visited La Santisima with family and found the overall experience to be mixed. There are certainly highlights such as the self serve salsa bar with unique samples to taste. Several stood out to include a strawberry salsa. We ordered both soups (beef and chicken), very rustic and a bit oily/greasy. The cheese appetizer was enjoyed. Fried fish sandwich was outstanding with fresh baked roll. Other entrees were worth trying. Black Mole is dense, flavorful and enjoyed and pink mole is a unique dish altogether. We did enjoy the fact that there are several options to choose from in each menu category. Overall, our family enjoyed the dining experience but nothing stood out as wanting to rush back to try again.

Heard about this restaurant & was highly recommended. So my family & I went to try this restaurant. The horchata was very very good & teased very authentic. I also tried their mole chicken tacos they were also very good & delicious. We also got a few other appetizers. Over all it was very good just the price was pretty high. But will definitely be back

The food is delicious, the artwork is beautiful, and the staff is wonderful. I will be going back... for a long time

Overall experience was great. Ambiance was fun with local paintings covering the walls and service was efficient. The variety and flavor at the salsa bar was awesome. Chips came out warm and were crispy. The trio tacos can easily make 6 tacos with the amount of filling you're given. The horchata is delicious and so large, it could be shared by 2 people. 2 tacos plates with a horchata, totaled $70, which seems borderline pricey, but the portion are fairly generous. While the menu can be overwhelming with so many choices and combinations (50+ meat options for tacos) it makes you want to come back and try something else. Looking forward to coming back and something new next time I'm in town.

I'm late to the game but when I came before they were closed. So glad we were able to make it and the food hit on all cylinders for the family. The variety of the salsa bar was good and complimented all of our taste buds (which were all over the place) after coming back from vacation in Mexico for 10 days. Lots of taco options so went with the Taco plate that allows you to mix & match 3 Tacos and is served with Rice & Beans... & if you follow me & my reviews, then you know I had a few Margaritas to begin!!! All total we had 9 Tacos between us ranging from the classics (along with a Burro) Al Pastor & Carne Asada while venturing to try the El Gaucho ( steak), the Mayan Cochinta (slow roasted pork), Cabo Tiger (Shrimp), and a few others. The nice thing is the menu has a breakdown of all the tacos so don't worry to memorize what I wrote! All were on point & officially in my rotation for myself and when friends & family are visiting!

Food here is incredible. There is an extensive menu with a lot of options and ways you can customize. There is also a large salsa bar. Must try the strawberry salsa and the jicama salsa. They were delightful surprises. We sat at a table but the bar looks really fun with swings as seats.

One of kind, original menu. Art. First visit here in Phoenix. I just had to go to a government office and get fingerprinted, which was a whole totally new experience. So was looking for something take my mind off experience and kind of make up for it. Excellent.

Vegan & Vegetarian options - tons! Not only is the atmosphere fun and authentic, the food is TOP 10 to my favorite dishes ever. I had the Stuffed Poblano and it was to die for!! I was so full, but I couldn't waste it! The chilantro margarita is also incredible. Not spicy in my opinion, honestly. SOOO GOOD. Will absolutely come back and this will be one of the first places I think of when I want to take people somewhere to eat