Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina — Restaurant in Phoenix

I am blown away at the "Karen" reviews on here. Yet they seem very familiar to the haters that left bad reviews from the restaurant that occupied this spot before. Folks this Manuel's a family chain that has been in the valley for many years. It is good food, the staff has always been nice, the manager, Lino, is a top notch guy.

I don't drink much but my wife loves their margaritas and if you've been to any other Manuel's then there's not a lot of difference other than the atmosphere, large bar are unique.

One lady said the tables were 'stacked on top of each other'...I give her review a zero...are you 500lbs? This is one of the dumbest low reviews I've read. Then there's a old miser claiming meals are $30-50 a person...Folks this is Mexican Food...not Mastro's...I love the carnitas dinner because it's primarily protein and a lot of it...$18 as one of the more expensive items on the menu. Another review wined about the TV's being refused to be changed to other sporting events. Listen, I eat at this place at least once a week and this has never happened to me or anyone I know. Maybe you were rude or didn't actually ask, you were just mad that they didn't know automatically you wanted something different.

When I see KAREN type reviews on a place it immediately makes me want to support at a higher level.

For those not familiar with this area, it sits just outside Paradise Valley (officially) but is in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve area. Over the years I've seen so many stuffy, up tight PV hate on this location. I've never been able to pinpoint why the building or builder would be hated but it doesn't matter what is put in here it is hated on by KAREN'S and their beta husbands since...

This is a new location for Manuel's Mexican food replacing the former restaurant Taphouse. I've eaten at Manuels for decades in their various locations and am hoping this location is successful. Service was very good without being overly attentive. Food was hot and timely. Quality of the food was good. Ive always liked their pico de gallo and their hot sauce they served with warm tortilla chips. The chimichanga I had was tasty although a little overcooked as the carnitas filling and the tortilla ends were tough. Tasty enough because I ate the whole thing! We only drank iced tea as this was a lunch but the tea was freshly made ( I truly hate old tasting tea). Love having this in the neighborhood and will come back again! Returned for another lunch this time trying a modified vegan taco salad. Manuel's is not known for vegan foods however the serve staff was willing to make a couple modifications with more beans and vegetables without the meat, cheese and sour cream. The results were very satisfying!! I do wish they had more...

This location gives me a sliver of hope. In a world where basic service seems to have died, the service here amazed. Nothing fancy, but thoughtful, competent, and pleasant to a tee.

The food is solid sonoran style mexican - very good, but that’s not what makes this place great.

We came in on a busy Friday night, and we sat in section with a 10 and 8-top who had started not too long before us. Figured service would be a challenge. No biggie.

But we were wrong. 1st, the runner/busser came by with chips/salsa - and seeing how busy the server was, made a point to come back and offer waters while we waited. Then, another server came by and noted he’d be helping out since thing we so busy and took great care of us.

Seamless. Simple. Perfect.

I’d like to find out who the managers are - and hire them. Seriously. Old school quality service in day and age dominated by incompetence and entitlement. Would love to know the magic formula.

Note: Heriberto Jr. - you’re a rock...