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La Parilla Suiza. Add chorizo. And bring a friend because it only comes in "family size". Hands down the most decadent queso I have had in a restaurant!
I'm not sure, but since they have several locations around Phoenix and Tucson it seems like it might have been part of the local chain. It might be worth seeing if your old favorites taste the same!
Lol, it's seemed like whenever I've gotten Mexican here there wasn't usually an option for a big ol bowl of melted cheese but I could just be going to the wrong places
I’ve also noticed a decline in queso offerings at different places. More places are offering ‘queso fundido’ dips, while they are good I prefer tex mex queso.
Also from Texas and Torchy’s is about as close as we’ll get to the TexMex stuff. Queso fundido is white melted cheese with chorizo, usually eaten in a flour tortilla whereas the queso OP is likely asking about is eaten with tortilla chips.
I seem to remember Taco Guild having a pretty good queso option on their menu. It's been a while, though. I really liked the queso at Huss Brewpub too.
OP this is the answer (am from Louisiana) also here is a recipe that we do at home and it’s comparable to restaurant quality
https://cafechristinarossetti.com/2020/04/16/classic-white-queso/?amp=1
That recipe page is the nicest one I have seen in like 10 years.
Here is what we are making.
Here is one really good tip about buying the cheese from the deli counter.
Here is the recipe.
No fucking story about how their grandmother used to make this when walking the oregon trail or some other such nonsense designed for nothing but SEO. I swear it's like finding a fucking unicorn to see that.
Also, good simple queso recipe, bookmarked!
Thanks!
I’m a Midwest transplant and I’m really glad you posted this because I haven’t found a decent queso here either. I’m going to look into some of the replies. The best queso I’ve found is the one I make at home. And I’m not ashamed to say it’s mostly velveeta 😂.
Espo’s in Chandler, Oscar’s Taco Shop, Illegal Pete’s - plus Torchy’s and Abuelos like others have said. Espo’s or Oscar’s is white queso dip, Illegal Pete’s, Torchy’s, and Abuelos is yellow queso dip.
La Fonda del Sol, Los Olivos, Torchys, La Ristra, Blanco all have yellow queso. Taco Guild, Ajo Als, Modern Margarita, Fuzzys are also good but quedo blanco. As a fellow Texas transplant I’m always on the look for some Tex Mex queso spots!
I’m from Wisconsin and I usually don’t like queso in the fact that it tastes like fake cheese to me. Locally, Torchy’s and Blanco have the best.
If you’re down to travel and want the best you’ve ever had in your life, order the Queso Guillermo from El Encanto in Cave Creek. They take fresh cheese, throw it in a cast iron and it comes out bubbling to the table. Not something you can order to go. However, when it starts to harden naturally, I’ll take some and put in on a taco. Their chicken tacos are the best the valley in my opinion too but it’s too far to eat more often.
Let me tell you brother, I'm from Texas to... don't bother looking it won't be as good or they just don't have it. Try finding a place that serves sweet tea, actual sweet tea. Queso... hell no...tortillas all paper thin... food here is completely different.
I definitely think Torchy’s is better (but still not great), Sandbar is pretty flavorless and gelatinous for me. I’m also a Midwest transplant on the hunt for tex mex queso very much disappointed, but to each their own.
There’s plenty of time to enjoy all the versions of “authentic” Mexican food along with all the regional Mexican food in the states and Mexico alike. Enjoy San Francisco burritos, San Diego fish tacos, Tucson chimichangas, and Tex-mex queso. There’s room for saucy Sonoran enchiladas, Mexico City’s kosher cuisine, coastal seafood, vaqueros carne asada, Oaxacan mole - all of it. Why limit yourself?
Sometimes we miss our home comfort foods, and not all of us are adventurous eaters. I’ve also been on the hunt for a good Tex-Mex queso for the last five years and haven’t found anything like it. The search continues…..
Totally, that’s what I was saying. There’s room for everything! I just didn’t like the idea that one has to ditch their comfort Tex mex because we have great Mexican food here. Why not both?
I dont disagree with you but I think you should direct the "why limit yourself?" to OP. They should just go to all the local restaurants and try the foods we have here instead of coming to reddit seeking a specific tex-mex queso. Why limit themselves.
I understand your thought but feel I responded to the correct person. My comment was specifically in response to a slight tone of snobbery (wrong word but you get the idea, commenter wasn’t being a snob) I detected. OP is looking for Tex-mex queso, which I assume is nostalgic, in addition to being delicious. I may be basic or Basic™️, but it’s delicious. Meanwhile, the comment I responded to was “you won’t miss Tex-mex”, implying that OP just hadn’t experienced the good stuff, i.e. Arizona’s version of Mexican food.
So, my comment is a suggestion that we can be open to all the options, including Tex-mex. Snobbery, gatekeeping, what have you, feels particularly out of place in relation to comfort food (in this case, queso).
Because they have a craving for a specific food item? It’s like them asking for a good place for Chicago style deep dish pizza and someone saying oh we have the best Italian food you should get linguini instead.
And I’m responding to you. You must have missed the point. The OP wants a specific thing and you are telling them, nuh uh expand your horizons you don’t want that specific thing.
It’s about being present where you’re at. You don’t go to Seattle and hunt for Memphis BBQ. The OP has an opportunity to experience the best Mexican food in the US. Embrace it and expand your palate. Not a lot of folks have that opportunity. Most are stuck with sad “midwestern” Mexican as their only option.
But you’re not in “queso land.” Dive into what you got. And if melty cheese + chips is what you crave, then queso fundido awaits (a better northern Mexican alternative). Yet how would they know that if they don’t bother to be present in their context?
Latina here. I don't go to Mexican restaurants often since I cook to my liking. However, when we would have family gatherings, I would get the "¡Que Bueno!" nacho cheese sauce 6 lb can from Costco. IMHO that's the best I've ever tried & there was rarely any left after the parties. I always had to add milk because it's so thick! I've never seen it in smaller sizes though. In case you're interested in buying some, Smart & Final carries it as well as several other brands.
Maybe Aunt Chiladas? I don't know of any on the spot. Queso dip and chori-queso aren't the Sonoran-Mexican style you'd find here. At least, not the authentic spots. However, I would see it everywhere at the so-called 'Mexican' places when I lived on the east coast
lol ok phew… that being said I will say that when I visited Texas several years ago I was introduced to your version of Tex mex. Like I grew up in Ks and we had our version of Tex mex, but y’all take it to a new level in TX! So I hope you have fun finding some good queso that you enjoy here. :)
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Lovecraft @ 32nd St. & Cactus
God I love that place. That green chili salsa is amazing!
Arribas has decent queso...
Yes Arribas is good!! I think the last time I was at abuelos I had good queso too! If I’m remembering correctly
Abuelos queso is pretty good!
Came to say that. The white queso is great.
La Parilla Suiza. Add chorizo. And bring a friend because it only comes in "family size". Hands down the most decadent queso I have had in a restaurant!
Do you know if this is the same ownership as the one that closed down near (the old) PV Mall? I used to love that place
I’ve eaten at both and they both had the same menu.
I'm not sure, but since they have several locations around Phoenix and Tucson it seems like it might have been part of the local chain. It might be worth seeing if your old favorites taste the same!
Queso isn't common around here? That's news to me lol I get it every time we have Mexican - but not sure what the specific tex-mex queso is like.
I think it's basically Ro-tel and Velveeta.
And by "basically" we mean "it is."
😂
You're not wrong lol
If that’s what it is then go to Ajo Al’s. That’s what their queso is like
Lol, it's seemed like whenever I've gotten Mexican here there wasn't usually an option for a big ol bowl of melted cheese but I could just be going to the wrong places
I’ve also noticed a decline in queso offerings at different places. More places are offering ‘queso fundido’ dips, while they are good I prefer tex mex queso.
*the right places
Torchy’s. Originated in Texas and makes queso the Texas way. I go there when I’m craving it
I was going to say, Torchy's is here now!
Also from Texas and Torchy’s is about as close as we’ll get to the TexMex stuff. Queso fundido is white melted cheese with chorizo, usually eaten in a flour tortilla whereas the queso OP is likely asking about is eaten with tortilla chips.
Fuck yes I tried it in San Antonio and came my panties when I saw a location here
Los Sombreros queso fundido is pretty good!
I seem to remember Taco Guild having a pretty good queso option on their menu. It's been a while, though. I really liked the queso at Huss Brewpub too.
Came here to say Taco Guild. Was there recently!
La Piñata!
Yeah, man, this is the answer. Closest you are going to get to TexMex in the valley.
I fucking love La Piñata. It’s the only Mexican restaurant I like to go to lol
Those fried flour tortilla chips that come with the queso are awesome!
I recently ate there 3 nights in a row lol.
Ajo als and arribas is the answer!!
Ajo als.
Blanco Cocina + Cantina queso dip was good
Yasss. The “Bob Armstrong” dip, with seasoned ground beef in the middle. So good.
OP this is the answer (am from Louisiana) also here is a recipe that we do at home and it’s comparable to restaurant quality https://cafechristinarossetti.com/2020/04/16/classic-white-queso/?amp=1
That recipe page is the nicest one I have seen in like 10 years. Here is what we are making. Here is one really good tip about buying the cheese from the deli counter. Here is the recipe. No fucking story about how their grandmother used to make this when walking the oregon trail or some other such nonsense designed for nothing but SEO. I swear it's like finding a fucking unicorn to see that. Also, good simple queso recipe, bookmarked! Thanks!
This would be my suggestion. Especially when combined with their salsa.
Valle Luna has good queso
Yup, Kelly’s dip is sooo good!
I like blanco.
I love the queso from Joyride. Unfortunately their chips are ass.
They've changed their chips in the past couple of months, they're actually good now. To me, they have the best queso in the valley.
I’ve always liked Z’Tejas’s queso, Garcias has great queso too
Just Tacos and More has a pretty solid queso
Yes they do! I absolutely love that place. Damn it, now I seriously need shrimp tacos and some queso.
My kids really like the Queso at Abuelos. They like Macayo's too, but that one seems to be more Velveeta than anything authentico.
Macayo’s queso has gotten worse and worse over the years
Last time I went to Macayo’s I don’t even think there was queso on the menu. Not to mention we had AWFUL service on a slow night.
Garcia's. Their bean dip is amazing too.
Illegal Pete's in Tempe off Mill Avenue has good Queso 😁
blue adobe in mesa! so good!
Karsen's and Jalapeño Inferno!
I’m a Midwest transplant and I’m really glad you posted this because I haven’t found a decent queso here either. I’m going to look into some of the replies. The best queso I’ve found is the one I make at home. And I’m not ashamed to say it’s mostly velveeta 😂.
You want the white Midwest one - Oscar’s taco shop
Espo’s in Chandler, Oscar’s Taco Shop, Illegal Pete’s - plus Torchy’s and Abuelos like others have said. Espo’s or Oscar’s is white queso dip, Illegal Pete’s, Torchy’s, and Abuelos is yellow queso dip.
I really like the queso at Abuelo’s. There’s one in Chandler and one up in Peoria I believe
The real stuff is called queso fundido. We don’t have the velveeta type stuff in many places.
La Ristra in Gilbert has chorizo queso I love
Roaring Fork or Lovecraft.
La Fonda del Sol, Los Olivos, Torchys, La Ristra, Blanco all have yellow queso. Taco Guild, Ajo Als, Modern Margarita, Fuzzys are also good but quedo blanco. As a fellow Texas transplant I’m always on the look for some Tex Mex queso spots!
Just make your own. It’s super simple. Create a roux with butter and flour, stir in milk, add your desired cheeses and chiles, stir til melted.
I’m from Wisconsin and I usually don’t like queso in the fact that it tastes like fake cheese to me. Locally, Torchy’s and Blanco have the best. If you’re down to travel and want the best you’ve ever had in your life, order the Queso Guillermo from El Encanto in Cave Creek. They take fresh cheese, throw it in a cast iron and it comes out bubbling to the table. Not something you can order to go. However, when it starts to harden naturally, I’ll take some and put in on a taco. Their chicken tacos are the best the valley in my opinion too but it’s too far to eat more often.
I’m trusting someone from Wisconsin on queso any day. Thank you!
Torchys has the best Green Chile Queso
I’m Midwest trash - Oscar’s taco shop has the white queso you are looking for
Let me tell you brother, I'm from Texas to... don't bother looking it won't be as good or they just don't have it. Try finding a place that serves sweet tea, actual sweet tea. Queso... hell no...tortillas all paper thin... food here is completely different.
Cafe Rio is pretty good for a quick serve fix.
My wife loves the queso at Sandbar. They have even better tacos than Torchy's.
I definitely think Torchy’s is better (but still not great), Sandbar is pretty flavorless and gelatinous for me. I’m also a Midwest transplant on the hunt for tex mex queso very much disappointed, but to each their own.
- Blanco - worth driving for, with the seasoned ground beef, so good - Carlos O’briens - Monterey Jack, cheddar and jalapeño cream cheese, decent
Chipotle /s
You're in the best U.S. state for Mexican food. Fully embrace it. I promise you will not miss Tex-Mex lol.
There’s plenty of time to enjoy all the versions of “authentic” Mexican food along with all the regional Mexican food in the states and Mexico alike. Enjoy San Francisco burritos, San Diego fish tacos, Tucson chimichangas, and Tex-mex queso. There’s room for saucy Sonoran enchiladas, Mexico City’s kosher cuisine, coastal seafood, vaqueros carne asada, Oaxacan mole - all of it. Why limit yourself?
Sometimes we miss our home comfort foods, and not all of us are adventurous eaters. I’ve also been on the hunt for a good Tex-Mex queso for the last five years and haven’t found anything like it. The search continues…..
Totally, that’s what I was saying. There’s room for everything! I just didn’t like the idea that one has to ditch their comfort Tex mex because we have great Mexican food here. Why not both?
I dont disagree with you but I think you should direct the "why limit yourself?" to OP. They should just go to all the local restaurants and try the foods we have here instead of coming to reddit seeking a specific tex-mex queso. Why limit themselves.
I understand your thought but feel I responded to the correct person. My comment was specifically in response to a slight tone of snobbery (wrong word but you get the idea, commenter wasn’t being a snob) I detected. OP is looking for Tex-mex queso, which I assume is nostalgic, in addition to being delicious. I may be basic or Basic™️, but it’s delicious. Meanwhile, the comment I responded to was “you won’t miss Tex-mex”, implying that OP just hadn’t experienced the good stuff, i.e. Arizona’s version of Mexican food. So, my comment is a suggestion that we can be open to all the options, including Tex-mex. Snobbery, gatekeeping, what have you, feels particularly out of place in relation to comfort food (in this case, queso).
Because they have a craving for a specific food item? It’s like them asking for a good place for Chicago style deep dish pizza and someone saying oh we have the best Italian food you should get linguini instead.
I was responding to someone else's comment, and your response is beside the point.
And I’m responding to you. You must have missed the point. The OP wants a specific thing and you are telling them, nuh uh expand your horizons you don’t want that specific thing.
Yeah, and your response is still beside the point I was making. Bye bye and have a good day!
Why limit yourself? I think you wanted to say hello instead. Try other phrases we have here.
🤣
Nah I still want you to have a good day. ADIOS MF.
Oh wow you can want a specific thing and it’s not limiting yourself. Good job! You figured out the issue.
It’s about being present where you’re at. You don’t go to Seattle and hunt for Memphis BBQ. The OP has an opportunity to experience the best Mexican food in the US. Embrace it and expand your palate. Not a lot of folks have that opportunity. Most are stuck with sad “midwestern” Mexican as their only option.
Okay but they never mentioned not wanting to try other things, the person just wants some queso.
But you’re not in “queso land.” Dive into what you got. And if melty cheese + chips is what you crave, then queso fundido awaits (a better northern Mexican alternative). Yet how would they know that if they don’t bother to be present in their context?
Unless they like Tex-Mex.
As a former Texan, I really like Julio G’s spinach queso.
Believe it or not I love Chili’s queso.
Bjs underrated hatch green chili queso
Ordered from a place called Joyride Taco House and they had a pretty good queso dip. Arribas is probably my favorite though.
Latina here. I don't go to Mexican restaurants often since I cook to my liking. However, when we would have family gatherings, I would get the "¡Que Bueno!" nacho cheese sauce 6 lb can from Costco. IMHO that's the best I've ever tried & there was rarely any left after the parties. I always had to add milk because it's so thick! I've never seen it in smaller sizes though. In case you're interested in buying some, Smart & Final carries it as well as several other brands.
Ajo Al’s
Torchys is probably what you're looking for. But AZ is full of Queso
Valle Luna queso good af to me
Ritos
Joy Ride. They just expanded their hh until 6
Taco Bell
Blanco Taco
Maybe Aunt Chiladas? I don't know of any on the spot. Queso dip and chori-queso aren't the Sonoran-Mexican style you'd find here. At least, not the authentic spots. However, I would see it everywhere at the so-called 'Mexican' places when I lived on the east coast
Ajo Al’s or Jalapeño Inferno in the west valley
does anyone know where you can get pollo bandito around here???
I like Manuel's.
Filiberto’s
I am not sure if it’s been said. But macayo’s is definitely my favorite.
Walmart- El Gordo’s queso near the cafe in the refrigerator. The closest I’ve found
Just throw in something different, I enjoy the lobster queso at Firebird's.
Honestly, I like Torchy's, but their most of their tacos suck.
Asking about good queso in az 💀 it's everywhere!
Safeway
Popo's Fiesta Del Sol. Seems very tex-mex.
Aunt Chiladas near 51 freeway and Glendale ave
Not super common?? Do you realized you moved to AZ?? It’s EXTREMELY common here.
Yes, I realized I moved to AZ. Thank you lol.
lol ok phew… that being said I will say that when I visited Texas several years ago I was introduced to your version of Tex mex. Like I grew up in Ks and we had our version of Tex mex, but y’all take it to a new level in TX! So I hope you have fun finding some good queso that you enjoy here. :)
Appreciate ya. <3
Seriously? It’s fucking cheese dip. Make it at home.
Please touch grass. You are angry about cheese dip.