Macayo's Mexican Food - Scottsdale

We came in, not many people, midday on a Monday, had to wait to be acknowledged and seated. We were served by the bartender. She was awesome!! She was fun, knowledgeable, great at making drinks and was happy to give suggestions on something I had not tried before (there). The queso was delicious and sooo hot, exactly how we wanted. Chips and salsa were good. The food was hot, fresh and and cooked perfectly. Atmosphere was relaxed, fun and not at all rushed. We never had to wait for anything, once we sat down, our server was on top of it. We really enjoyed the meal.

02-18-2026 We chose this restaurant for a ladies’ celebration because we love the green corn tamales with Baja sauce. Decided to try something different. Chili rellano, cheese enchilada, beef burrito, Baja chicken enchiladas, etc. Our waitress and the manager aimed to please. They were very attentive. I have been a loyal fan of Macayo’s for 50+ years. First time ever being disappointed in the food. Everyone in our party said they were disappointed in their meals. My chili rellano and enchilada were slathered in flavorless red sauce. Another said her tortilla was tough. Black beans had no flavor. In talking with others that have recently been there they shared the same comments. What has happened?!

Macayo's is your pretty standard Mexican restaurant. We got the Signature Sampler to try a little bit of everything, and the green corn tamale bites were the real winner there – something different and really tasty. The combo fajitas were decent, the steak was nice and tender, which is always a plus. But I felt like it could have used a little more seasoning. The mini chimichangas were fine. Our server wasn't around much, probably because they seemed a little understaffed that day. Honestly, with so many other amazing Mexican food options around here, I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come back. But hey, if you happen to be in that shopping area and just need to grab some food, maybe if it's not too crowded, you'll have a better experience than we did.

Food kinda like cafeteria food, but the service is where it falls short. Wait to be seated and not quite attentive enough to know that you have finished eating and would like a check. Was here over a year ago, service was the same and not good. But the food was great. This time a year later, food ok and service the same.

This Mexican restaurant offers a decent dining experience with a solid selection of classic dishes. The food is generally flavorful and well-prepared, but it doesn't quite reach the level of "exceptional."