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  • ArizonaWalsh
  • azBrian
La Tolteca
Jackie Mercandetti 

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1205 E. Van Buren Phoenix, AZ 85006

602-253-1511 

Website 

4 User reviews Write A Review

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  • Mexican
    Sun 9am-7pm, Mon-Sat 9am-8pm
    $, $$
    All Major Credit Cards
  • Casual
    Takeout, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly
    Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
    None
  • Not Accepted
    Lot Available
Description

They threw in everything but the kitchen sink with La Tolteca, which is a bakery, restaurant, and market all in one. Whether you work or study nearby, have to stick to a budget, or simply like to explore ethnic cuisines, it's a don't-miss stop within a stonesthrow of downtown. Pick up some pan dulce from the panadería, stock your pantry in the grocery area, and get an eyeful of the sprawling menu at the counter. We're fans of the decadent chilaquiles, overstuffed carne asada tortas, and sopes heaped with juicy pastor (spiced pork). Get it to go, or hang out in the colorful mural-filled dining room.







Back to TopAwards | Visit the Best Of Website

  • 2011 | Best <i>Panader&iacute;a</i>

    To call La Tolteca the best panadería (a.k.a. Mexican bakery) is just the tip of the iceberg when describing this Phoenix establishment. The dulce de leche churros (sugary cinnamon sticks filled with sweet caramel filling) are just one of the reasons we keep coming back to this sweet little bite of Mexican goodness. Handmade tortillas, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats fill the bakery cases, which seem to go on for miles. Along with the baked goods, La Tolteca also offers fresh... More »

  • 2010 | Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant, Central Phoenix

    Ambitious is the word that comes to mind when we think of La Tolteca, an affordable spot close to downtown that goes the extra mile to give customers the Mexican food they crave. Love tacos and burritos Sure, they've got 'em, from basics like carne asada and shredded chicken to more exotic fillings like tripa (tripe), lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head). La Tolteca does huge tortas on fresh telera (there's an in-house bakery here, natch), sopes, quesadillas, tamales, and a slew of combo... More »

  • 2009 | Best <i>Panader&iacute;a</i>

    We're not sure which is more fun: walking into La Tolteca to catch a whiff of fresh bread and the mouthwatering selection of baked goods displayed in cases at the front of the restaurant, or walking out with a bag full of fragrant confections that we'll inevitably devour as soon as we hop in the car. We're talking huge cookies, macaroons, rolls, fruit-filled empanadas, tortillas, and irresistible tres leches cakes, available in regular sizes and party-worthy sheets. No matter what kind of... More »

  • 2008 | Best <i>Panader&iacute;a</i> (Bakery)

    Whether we're craving a simple sweet treat or need to order up a festive special-occasion cake, La Tolteca's our go-to spot. It's a given that we stock up on fresh corn and flour tortillas, of course, but there's so much more to tempt us -- it's just impossible to walk past the row of illuminated display cases filled with huge Mexican cookies, pan dulce, empanadas, flan, and churros. Something always stops us in our tracks, despite our best attempts to head to the adjacent counter for a... More »

  • 2007 | BEST TRES LECHES CAKE

    We have a very good friend who's a very good cook, and recently, she let on that she's been perfecting a recipe for tres leches cake. We put in an order for our birthday, but 'til then, we will continue to worship La Tolteca's version. Tres leches means "three milks," indicating the main ingredients: condensed, evaporated, and whole milk. All together, you've got one rich, delicious cake, so moist it's hard to tell where the icing leaves off and the cake begins. Dear friend, you have big... More »

  • 2006 | BEST TRES LECHES CAKE

    Does anyone in this town remember the Guggy's surprise cake At this point, we're pretty sure we dreamed the whole thing up, but we have vivid memories of birthday cakes purchased at Guggy's coffee shop (there was one at Scottsdale Fashion Square, back in the day when that was still an outdoor mall) made of thick, rich layers of cake layered with sweet frosting and some sort of nutty, chocolaty filling -- the "surprise." Fantasy or not, we've fulfilled our longing with the Mexican version o... More »

  • 2005 | BEST PLACE TO FIND AUTHENTIC MEXICAN COOKING SUPPLIES

    We thought we'd died and gone to Libertad Mercado in Guadalajara when we discovered the Mexican cookware, utensils and supplies stocked at La Tolteca, a combo bakery, deli, restaurant and meat counter on East Van Buren done up in bright, serape-esque colors. If you can tear yourself away from La Tolteca's long glass bakery cases filled with fragrant pan dulce, freshly deep-fried churros and whipped-cream-topped tres leches cake and are not deflected by its fabulous meat counter and eat-in... More »

  • 2004 | BEST MEXICAN BAKERY

    Lunchtime at La Tolteca is as busy as Van Buren gets -- during the day. La Tolteca is a bright and cheery superstore, a bakery, restaurant, butcher shop and supermarket where you can buy tamarind candies, dried Jamaica flowers, beer, fresh cucumber juice and beef tongue. But the way La Tolteca is designed, it's the panaderia, or bakery section, that customers must file by first -- gleaming glass cases with pan dulce, multicolored cookies and fresh fruit, guava-filled empanadas, churros,... More »

  • 2003 | BEST TACOS

    Eating at La Tolteca is like eating in a Mexican market, because actually we are eating in a Mexican market. This place is part Hispanic grocery store, part kitchen accessory store, part bakery, part butcher shop, part fast-food takeout counter, part sit-down restaurant. The music is loud and boisterous, the servers are cheerful chatterboxes, and, most important, the food is amazing. We stop in for tacos whenever we're in the 'hood (okay, it's not a glamorous 'hood, surrounded by used-car... More »

Back to TopCritic News & Reviews | Write a Review
  • All About Achiote

    All About Achiote

    By Dominique Chatterjee | Wed, March 28, 2012

    Here in the Southwest, chances are pretty good that everyone's had their fair share of Mexican food. But as much as we all love to eat the stuff, how much do we really know about the flavors that we'r... More »

  • Where Am I Eating?

    Where Am I Eating?

    By Shannon Armour | Fri, April 29, 2011

    Having to relive this painful food disaster is difficult. I'm actually sorry that you have to see this. The menu at this Tempe restaurant said "shredded chicken in a crispy tortilla smothered in a ze... More »

  • Cafe: La Tolteca

    Cafe: La Tolteca

    By Jonathan McNamara | Thu, September 16, 2010

    We've been known to travel great distances in search of Mexican pastries. Perhaps that's why we almost drooled right through the Cafe page while reading this week's New Times. Food Critic Michele La... More »

  • La Tolteca: a Market, Panaderia and Restaurant All In One Central Phoenix Location

    La Tolteca: a Market, Panaderia and Restaurant All In One Central Phoenix Location

    By Michele Laudig | Thu, September 16, 2010

    Dig deeper. The wealth of little Mexican restaurants and markets along 16th Street has long been a pet subject of mine, but CenPho has much more to offer than just the options along that main drag. To get to some of the really good stuff, you hav... More »

  • 24: Chilaquiles at La Tolteca

    24: Chilaquiles at La Tolteca

    By Michele Laudig | Tue, September 14, 2010

    Hungry yet? We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valle... More »

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Back to TopUser Reviews & Comments | Write a Review
  • ArizonaWalsh
       (0)    (0)

    ArizonaWalsh | AZ | 31 Reviews

    | Tue, April 3, 2012

    The prices for what you get here are a good deal but I find the food mediocre. The first time I was here I ordered a chicken burrito and it tasted like tons of vegetable oil and the meat looked a bit pink. I came back and got beef nachos and had a better experience than with the chicken (and the portions were so large I couldn't finish my nachos) but it was still meh.

  • azBrian
       (0)    (0)

    azBrian | Mesa, AZ | 13 Reviews

    | Wed, October 5, 2011

    Food was alright, but it took forever to get my food... which wasn't anything complex (just chicken, rice, beans).

  • phoenixnewtimesbestof
       (0)    (0)

    phoenixnewtimesbestof | Phoenix, AZ | 315 Reviews

    | Wed, May 6, 2009

    Whether we're craving a simple sweet treat or need to order up a festive special-occasion cake, La Tolteca's our go-to spot. It's a given that we stock up on fresh corn and flour tortillas, of course, but there's so much more to tempt us — it's just impossible to walk past the row of illuminated display cases filled with huge Mexican cookies, pan dulce, empanadas, flan, and churros. Something always stops us in our tracks, despite our best attempts to head to the adjacent counter for a burrito. Tres leches cake, in particular, is one of our biggest weaknesses. Soaked with sweetened milk and layered with gooey fruit filling, it's sponge cake with an irresistibly rich, creamy texture. They sell it by the slice, but what the heck — we like the sheet cake version. When we show up at a party bearing one of those tasty treasures, people treat us like rock stars.

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People Who Like La Tolteca

Back to TopMenu
Main Menu
A La Carte
$6.25
Soft Beef Tacos (3)
$6.25
Soft Chicken Tacos (3)
$4.80
Crispy Beef Tacos (3)
$5.00
Crispy Chicken Tacos (3)
$5.95
Beef Enchiladas (3)
corn tortilla rolled around seasoned beef. topped with sauce and cheese
Appetizer Trays
Trays for 20 May Be Ordered with As Little As Two (2) Hours Advanced Notice. Quantities of Fifty (50) with As Little As Twenty Four (24) Hour Advanced Notice. Orders for Over One Hundred (100) People Requires At Least Fourty Eight Hours Advanced Notice.
$34.99
Mexican Chicken Wings (50)
$65.99
Mexican Chicken Wings (100)
$110.99
Mexican Chicken Wings (200)
$45.99
Stuffed Shrimp (50)
Appetizers
$7.95
Mexican Chicken Wings (8)
hot or mild
$6.95
Six Stuffed Shrimp with Monterrey Jack Cheese
$5.95
Stuffed Jalapeos (6)
$2.95
Quesadilla
cheese
Beef & Steak Especialidades
$13.50
Tampiquea
rib-eye steak with rice, beans, salad and flour tortillas.
$13.50
Beef Steak Ranchero
rib-eye steak topped with hot sauce. served with rice, beans and tortillas.
 
La Tolteca Especial
beef tips served with fried beans, rice and flour tortillas.
$12.50
Carne Asada
well-marinated rib-eye steak served with beans, guacamole salad and flour or corn tortillas
$9.95
Tacos De Carne Asada
chopped, marinated beef served on three corn or flour tortillas. served with onions, beans, pico de gallo and cilantro green hot sauce.
Bulk Sides
$10.00
Guacamole Dip, One Pound
each pound serves about 6-8 people
$9.00
Bean Dip, One Pound
each pound serves about 6-8 people
$10.00
Cheese Dip, One Pound
each pound serves about 6-8 people
Burrito Bars
Bars for 20 May Be Ordered with As Little As Two (2) Hours Advanced Notice. Quantities of Fifty (50) with As Little As Twenty Four (24) Hour Advanced Notice. Orders for Over One Hundred (100) People Requires At Least Fourty Eight Hours Advanced Notice.
$119.99
Ground Beef Burrito Bar for 20 People
bar includes seasoned sauteed ground beef, soft flour tortilla wraps, grated cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and salsa.
$172.99
Ground Beef Burrito Bar for 30 People
bar includes seasoned sauteed ground beef, soft flour tortilla wraps, grated cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and salsa
$266.99
Ground Beef Burrito Bar for 50 People
bar includes seasoned sauteed ground beef, soft flour tortilla wraps, grated cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and salsa.
$479.99
Ground Beef Burrito Bar for 100 People
bar includes seasoned sauteed ground beef, soft flour tortilla wraps, grated cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and salsa.

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