Filiberto's Mexican Food — Restaurant in Mesa

What I see with this location is a lot of opportunity. Despite many people describing the same problems (which I've experienced as well), the company rep who responds seems to show concern, but nothing about this location changes. This location is notoriously ran poorly with a skeleton crew, lack of management presence (I've seen a manager present once in four years), a run down out of date building that is in desperate need of modernization, a very inconsistent product, and overall poorly ran unit. Sad thing is, this location has so much opportunity being located just across the street from a beautiful Dana Park plaza and opposite of Val Vista Lakes. Do they truly believe that a run down store is appropriate for this neighborhood? In the heart of central Mesa, yes but this is the last place you want a restaurant looking old and dirty. This happens to be one of many reasons that even on taco tuesdays lunch and dinner alike the store is pretty much empty.

I write this because I enjoy Filiberto's and this so happens to be the closest location to where I live. I am in the industry, have managed corporate restaurants, and would like to see who ever owns this location to step up and make an actual change for the better. My personal experiences with this store I have been keeping track for some time now. 7 of 10 visits end up in at least one problem with my order. You ask for 4 sauces specifically in the drive through, you get 2-3 almost every time. The sauces are often half filled, makes absolutely no logical sense for them to not fill the sauces. I often have to get out of my car and go inside after the drive through to get more sauce. I get the carne asada burrito often. 70% of the time, there is way, and I mean way too much guacamole which pretty much ruins the balance of the recipe and is almost inedible to me. On the other occasions it is either balanced or once in a while there is too much beef and that can be equally as bad and hard to eat. Also I live less than a mile from the location in the Val Vista Lakes and every time I get the carne asada burro in the drive through, I have to reheat it in the microwave by the time I get home.....less than a mile away. That concerns me personally as to the temperature they are keeping their carne asada steak at on the line. I must say though, I've never gotten sick as a result which is good. The line cooks are very inconsistent and it appears that on Taco Tuesday, they love to lessen the mix in the chicken tacos. Isn't that a day that you want to make that taco shine? the financial balance comes in this taco being ordered more often during the rest of the week. Why would I want to order a chicken taco for more, when what I get on taco day is not an accurate representation of the product? The one thing they have fixed over the past couple of years is they have been hiring front end staff who speak English as their first language and spanish as well. This has resulted in "better" communication and interactions with them while ordering. They most definitely need some more training on how to be more personable and friendly, not rushed (that's a result of the owner understaffing), but still a positive move. These are but a few examples of many issues I've had at this location. Why do I keep coming back? it's close and I shouldn't but I'm in the industry so I understand that it's not the employees fault.

The store needs an overhaul in many ways. If you were to keep it appropriately staffed, and keep your employees well trained and busy, the result would far succeed the small amount you are saving by understaffing it. Have an actual manager who is actively participating in the operation, then you might wind up with a better product, service and happier guests.....end result,...

I've eaten at this place for years since I am often up late and it is very close to where I live, and it has been massively on the decline. My Arizona burrito is constantly cold when I get it. Tortillas are frequently hard as though they have gone stale. the beef in the tacos are often totally over cooked to the point of being burnt to a crisp.

I'm also very sensitive to spices and this is the only Fili B's that I have been to which puts jalapenos in the pico de guyo, so I have to constantly fish them out while I eat. Every other Fili B's I've been to does not add such spices into their pico.

The quality of the staff has varied over the years. But I've had them mess my order up, and then tell me that they did it correct, even when the ingredients are listed right in front of them on the menu. I've also literally had them not heat my beans before at all.

I now drive well out of my way to some of the other Filibertos in the valley as the convenience of how close this one is does not outweigh how frequently poor the quality of the service and the food is.

I'd recommend going to the one near Stapley and Main. Great service, the food tastes fresh and well cooked, and the few times they have messed my order up, they have corrected it and partially refunded my money for wasting my time. I highly recommend that one and would avoid this one like the plague.

** Update: Ate there a few times in the last months given I am up late and nothing is open near me sometimes. They are still spotty as ever. Got one well made burrito, and a few that made me feel nothing but regret. I will now always trek further rather than gamble on the quality of their staff on any...

What can I say about Filibertos. This place started it all for me. My true love of drive through Mexican dives, my love of huge tortillas, and of course, carne asada burritos! Before this place I grew up on standard Arizona style Mexican dishes at home. Beyond that, my only other outside source of Mexican food was Taco Bell on the way home from scout camps...But one fateful day my friend told me about this new place called Filibertos. We drove there and I purchased the first of many burritos from this little hole in the wall. As I lifted this masterpiece of food consisting of a massive tortilla, steak, pico and guacamole to my lips, I was in awe of its size. I looked at it, and it stared back at me...our gazes met. Was this what I had been missing my whole life? It only took one bite of this massive carne asada burrito to become a life long fan. I was hooked. I like other Mexican places, but to me, Filis carne asada is the standard when it comes to drive through Mexican food. I crave it nightly! Since then I was eventually introduced to my new second favorite, the Arizona burrito....Steak, potatoes and cheese! All wrapped up in an enormous package...You had me at hello! These are soooooo good. Not much tops them. The chimichangas are amazing, and I think a lot of people probably get them with carne asada for a few bucks more. It is so worth it.

Night or day, I know Filibertos will be there to grant my every Mexican food fantasy...