Mi Amigo Ricardo — Restaurant in Casa Grande

Reviews are very subjective (you may love what I hate and hate what I love) so here is a bit about me: I love potatoes, rice, pasta, and starchy foods in general. I like chicken and turkey. I hate most seafood, but I grew up in Utah and there really isn’t access to fresh seafood there. (I had fresh white fish that was well prepared in Roatan, Honduras and loved it). I dislike pork. I am so/so on beef. I like most hard liquor and mixed drinks (except, tequila is not great). I do not like red or white wine. I hate even the smell of beer (I hear it is an acquired taste, but with so many alcohol alternatives I see no reason to bother to acquire a taste for it). There is no particular nationality or style of food and cooking that I dislike. My favorite vegetables and fruits are corn, avocados, red raspberries, peaches, and black raspberries. There is no food better than garden ripe, fresh picked fruits and vegetables. I have a low tolerance for capsaicin (Spicy peppers) and prefer 2,500 or lower on the Scoville Scale (think jalapeño, poblano, bell pepper vs Serrano or Habanero). I prefer food a bit on the bland side, where my husband prefers a lot of salt and spice.

Food Tried: Green Chili Burro, Cheese Enchilada, Mazatlan Combo, Green Corn Tamale, Nachos Caliente, Guacamole Crisp

Authentic: I saw many reviews about whether or not the food is authentic. Probably mostly by people who haven’t spent any significant amount of time in Mexico. I have not, so I will not weigh in here.

Appearance: 3/5 Looked okay, but not great to me. The guacamole was brown in many spots. That is such a disappointment that I had to knock the score down. I suspect that they don’t add the citrus needed to prevent oxidation, but that is just a guess of the cause.

Smell: 4/5 Nothing off putting at all, but the smell didn’t draw me in and make me want to eat it either.

Service: N/A I had takeout

Taste: 2/5 A bit bland for my taste (and I actually prefer my food a bit bland and don’t tolerate heavy spice well so if you love spicy food it will seem very bland to you rather than a bit bland). The flavor that stood out to me the most was cheese and it tasted like it was all cheddar. I love cheeses, but don’t particularly care for cheddar.

Will I eat food from there again: pass, not for me - I saw some other reviews mention it was bland, but thought I may like it anyways as I like my food a bit bland, however, I too found it too bland.

Recommendation: If you love cheddar cheese and don’t mind food that a person who prefers food on the bland side found a bit bland you will probably like it. I have heard it is a local favorite so you may want to give it a try at least once, but I did and it...

Ok.

I've been driving past this place for 6 months. With half the family out of town, my son and I finally decided to take the plunge, do restaurant roulette and place our bet on "Mi Amigo Ricardo."

With roulette, most of the time you lose. Sometimes you get your stake back, but rarely do you win big.

But win big we did with this establishment.

Great food: I had the beef fajitas and my son had a few items from the ala carte menu. All of the food was hot and tasty. The usual chips and salsa did the trick. As a matter of personal preference, i like a thicker / chunkier salsa but the flavor was good and there was a respectable spice to it once you gave it a chance to hit.

Great service: During the dinner rush, it never felt like we were being ignored. The food arrived to the table quickly. Drinks were kept full.

Great prices: Less than $33 for dinner for two after taxes before tip. With drinks. And I had fajitas. Taco Bell dinner for two would cost more and been half the value. It has been a (long) while since I was shocked at a bill from an eatery and had that be a pleasant shock. It is almost pre-Covid pricing.

But, because nothing in the world can be perfect and actually last...

If pressed to find a fault, the only thing that I can gripe about is the dated decor. The establishment has the patina of tools that have been loving used for a long, long time. You can tell that for years, people have kept on coming back, time and time again. And the establishment feels "loud. A fairly open seating area and a lot of hard, flat surfaces makes for a noisy environment.

But if everything was new and shiny, I'm willing to bet that the prices would be new and shiny too and I'm willing to accept "patina" in exchange for avoiding "poverty."

So, Is this the place you take the snotty, status driven relatives from out of town in an attempt to wow them with the unique charm that is Casa Grande?

Probably not and that will be their loss.

Is this the place you take the family when you want good food, no dirty dishes / messy kitchen to contend with after dinner and a wallet that has some money left in it when you are done?

Hell yes.

Will we be back?

Once again, Hell yes. ...

If I could give Mi Amigo Ricardo 10 stars, I would. Actually—let’s make it 100.

This isn’t just the best Mexican food in Arizona—it’s a full-blown experience. From the moment you pull into the plentiful parking lot (yes, parking is never a problem), you know you’re about to step into something special. Whether you’re rolling in with the whole family, planning a romantic date night, or hosting a private event, Mi Amigo Ricardo hits every single note—and then some.

Let’s talk about the food: Every bite is a flavor explosion. Think handmade tortillas, perfectly marinated carne asada, enchiladas that melt in your mouth, salsas that sing, and margaritas that should honestly be world-famous. I’ve been all over Arizona and tried every taco, tamale, and tostada out there—and nothing comes close. Ricardo and his team aren’t just making food. They’re sharing love, culture, and tradition, one unforgettable dish at a time.

The atmosphere? Warm, vibrant, and full of heart. You’ll feel like family the moment you walk in. Whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, or a casual Tuesday night, the staff makes every visit feel like a celebration.

I don’t know how they do it—but Mi Amigo Ricardo has created the perfect blend of authentic cuisine, genuine hospitality, and great vibes. It’s the kind of place you want to tell everyone about, but also secretly keep to yourself because it’s that good.

Ten stars. A hundred. Whatever the scale is—it breaks it. This is the crown jewel of Arizona Mexican food. Mi Amigo Ricardo, te amo.

(And trust me—once you try it,...