Manuel's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina | Bell Rd — Restaurant in Phoenix

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟+ Manual’s Mexican Restaurant – A True Hidden Gem!

If you’re anywhere near this area and haven’t been to Manual’s Mexican Restaurant, you’re truly missing out on one of the most authentic and delicious dining experiences around. I had the pleasure of stopping in recently, and from the moment I walked in, I could feel the warmth — not just from the kitchen, but from the people.

Let’s start with the service: our server, Eric, was exceptional. He was attentive without being intrusive, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and made us feel like part of the Manual’s family. You don’t find service like that everywhere — it made the meal that much better.

Now, the food — absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the Steak a la Ranchero, and I can say without hesitation it was one of the best ranchero-style steaks I’ve ever had. The steak was grilled to perfection — juicy, tender, and loaded with rich, smoky flavor. The ranchero sauce was bursting with depth — perfectly spiced with just the right kick, balanced with tomatoes, onions, and peppers that tasted fresh off the vine. Every bite had a perfect combination of heat and heart.

The rice and beans on the side were far from an afterthought — clearly made with love, and full of flavor in every spoonful. The tortillas? Fresh, warm, and homemade — they brought the entire dish together.

And let me not forget to mention their breakfast — because yes, I’ve been back, and their morning menu is just as impressive. From huevos rancheros to breakfast burritos and chilaquiles, everything is made fresh and served hot. It’s the kind of place you could start and end your day at and feel like you made the right choice both times.

If you’re lucky enough to live in this area, Manual’s should already be your go-to. If you’re just visiting — make time to eat here. This isn’t just another restaurant — it’s an experience, one filled with flavor, heart, and hospitality. I’ll absolutely be coming back —...

The food here is amazing and although I have been going here foryears and would always rate this place five stars I had an experience on Friday that I would not want any of you to have to go through to give them a one star. I placed a to go order and it all started when they mixed up the orders and charged me for somebody else's order that was less than my actual order. I did not realize it was the wrong order until they brought out the food and realized I had not ordered that. Mind you they had already charged my card the $9.00 and then proceeded to tell me they would void that charge and charged me again for my correct order which I paid for. I still have yet to see a credit in my account for that other person's order so basically I paid that other person's order. Then a few days later I discovered that the person that rang me up for my order added a $4 tip that I did not authorize, my bill was for $19.17 which I authorized but I was charged $23.17. so between being charged for the wrong order and then the added fraudulent activity they placed on my card that is enough for me to to give me a one-star rating. I went in tonight and spoke to a manager by the name of Lewis who basically told me there was nothing he could do because he wasn't there the day that it happened and I showed him my bank account where I was charged a different amount than what I signed for on my receipt and he said I don't know how that happened I said I do somebody added a $4 tip that I did not authorize which is fraud.I will be working tomorrow to get this corrected if they correct it I will have an update if not then this still holds true and I warn all of you to check your receipts to make sure they are not committing fraud on your bank account like they did mine. Now I have to get in touch with my bank and dispute the entire charge if they don't resolve this...

I am not impressed by this restaurant whatsoever. After being here multiple times and having my son and daughter-in-law‘s rehearsal dinner for their wedding at this restaurant, we decided on a Thursday to come in and celebrate Christmas as a family on 12/21/23. Much to our dismay, we had a server that was not very good; she could not keep track of the orders. I was the first to order, and I never received my food because she never put it in. It wasn't exceptionally busy but she was clearly overwhelmed. The food took forever to come out and the margaritas 45 minutes. My daughter-in-law was given a margarita that we have no idea what was in it. She only drank about half, and she was drunk or drugged or something. She could not stand up. She fell, getting out of the car. She couldn’t eat her dinner and did not feel OK until the next day. We had her drug tested, but they said that it was over 12 hours, and if something were put in her drink, it wouldn’t be found after about 8-10 hours. We should have just taken her to the ER like we talked about the night before. Live and learn I guess. But we will never be back. A shame since this was her favorite restaurant. On Friday 22/22 when we called the restaurant to let them know what had happened, they were not concerned at all. The first person on the phone said they would give us the manager to speak to, and the second person that we spoke with said they weren’t the manager at the end of the conversation and would let the manager know, even thinking it was funny, but nobody called us back. I think that is poor management, and it reflects on the business. At the very least Call back and give yourself some deniability and make sure that your customer is doing OK. Be apologetic, and have some compassion even if you feel it isn't your fault. Such a sad...