CRUjiente Tacos Believes in Elegant Maximalism
When I think of street tacos, I think “easy to assemble.” Y’know, you’re on the street selling tacos, so you probably want to keep it as simple as possible—a few meats, the same toppings on everything, some salsas. CRUjiente tacos doesn’t believe in any of that. Instead, they preach the gospel of the maximalist street taco. One that might have Korean fried chicken on it, or big hunks of sliced steak. Somehow they’re not messy though—these are elegant maximalist tacos. They’re complicated, but you're not going to have sauces and crud all over your face at the end.
Where: Arcadia
Website: crutacos.com
Reservations: Yelp, but it’s to get on the waitlist. For large parties, you can call to get a real reservation.
Found On
CRUjiente Tacos Has 6 Yumpoints
APR 26, 2024
Foodists Awards: 2024 Finalists
BEST DISH IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - Grilled Street Corn
RESTAURANT TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR - Carlos De La Cruz
FEB 21, 2024 / SARA CROCKER
Phoenix New Times: 10 great spots to sip margaritas in metro Phoenix
At the Arcadia taqueria and cantina CRUjiente Tacos, the neighborhood gets a namesake drink. The Arcadia Margarita combines tequila, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno, house agave syrup and fresh lime. CRU’s bar team also is infusing unique flavors, including cinnamon, coconut and a version with passion fruit and serrano.
JAN 22, 2024 / HUNTER WREN MIELE
Tasting Table: 16 Absolute Best Taco Spots In Phoenix
As the grand champion of the Arizona Taco Festival two years in a row, CRUjiente Tacos has a lot to brag about. Its menu is eclectic yet unpretentious, boasting an array of taco options that feature a fun and unconventional Korean-Mexican fusion of flavors. Try the Korean fried chicken or the red curry grilled pork belly taco for an innovative take on a dish you know and love.
JAN 16, 2024 / Bahar Anooshahr
AZ Central: 100 essential restaurants in metro Phoenix: The best places to dine in 2024
This modern taqueria is the brainchild of chef Richard Hinojosa and oenophile and sommelier Jason Morris, who is the former co-founder of Quench Wines. CRUjiente offers chef-driven crunchy (crujiente) and street tacos and some of the best margaritas in the Valley.
JUL 25, 2023 / LAUREN MILLINGTON
Female Foodie: 10 Best Tacos in Phoenix
The fusion tacos at CRUjiente are the most out-of-the-box on this list, combining influences from multiple cuisines. In fact, the only thing keeping them true to the taco is the tortilla holding it together. For the purists in the group, stick to the tacos in the Crujiente, or crunchy, menu section for a more classic taco. For the more adventurous eater, try one of the fusion tacos that made CRUjiente famous. Go for the Korean fried chicken with crispy chicken, pickled jalapeños, a compressed cabbage reminiscent of kimchi, spicy gochujang, and an herby mojo de cebollin sauce.
JUN 21, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Eater: 15 Top Taco Destinations in Phoenix
Although chef Richard Hinojosa’s menu features Mexican food standbys such as guacamole, grilled street corn, ceviche, and tacos, only a few of them are conventional. Hinojosa gets a little wild (in a good way) with the tacos, combining unusual ingredients to excellent effect. Crowd favorites include crunchy lamb tacos (with cotija, pickled red onion, cabbage, jalapeño, and what he calls “birria sauce”) and strip steak tacos (with soy-pickled shimejis, fresh horseradish, karashi mustard, and cilantro mojo), but the taco that steals the show, is the Korean fried chicken, combining compressed cabbage, pickled jalapeños, gochujang (Korea’s salty, spicy ketchup), and mojo de cebollin (an herb-y garlic and green onion sauce) with crunchy, spicy chicken.
APR 24, 2023
Foodists Awards: 2023 Foodist Award Winners
BEST WORLD FLAVORS
