Los Sombreros, a Scottsdale institution since 1994, brought its popular concept to the Central and Camelback area in 2019, when the new owners opened their second location in the Uptown Phoenix shopping center. After temporarily closing at the end of 2020 for little over a year, the charming restaurant located inside the brick house-style building at 3rd Street and Camelback is now back in business. Los Sombreros has its roots in the deep flavors of Oaxacan-inspired cuisine and has earned a cult following not only for its food but also for its incredible cocktails (hint: try the Steve-a-Rita) and laid-back ambiance plus some of the best patios in town.
Los Sombreros Uptown welcomes guests with a bright bold mural of “Los Lola” on the side of the building and a charming walkway leading to a hefty wooden door. Grab the iron handle and step inside to be greeted with a fresh welcoming interior and a trendy uptown vibe. Rope lights with exposed bulbs drape over banquette tables upholstered in brightly striped hues, and the boldly tiled bar leads the eye to twinkling pendant lights and shelves of tequila and mezcal. Passing through the restaurant leads to the door to a covered patio, dotted with white and green tiled tables, flanked with potted palms and cooled with misters. (The patio’s star lanterns and twinkle lights after dark set the scene for date night or cocktails with friends.)
Next up is the menu. Those who like to make lunch their heartiest meal of the day will not be disappointed. Wood-fired house specialties include all-natural, hormone-free carnitas — marinated for six hours, slow roasted for six hours, then finished on a wood-fire grill for those charred crispy edges. Like things saucy? The Puerco en Chipotle takes those same carnitas and bathes them in a chipotle-tomatillo sauce then tops it all off with Oaxaca cheese, onion, tomatoes and cilantro. Owner Kurt Riske says if he had to choose his last meal, it would definitely be the Pollo con Espinacas, an airline chicken breast and sautéed spinach over their house-made chipotle crema sauce, topped with cilantro crema, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and queso fresco.
“For those who have not experienced our food, I think they will have a whole new appreciation of what Mexican food can be,” says Riske. “Our traditional fare stays true to Oaxacan-style cuisine and is a refreshing change from the style of Mexican food many Arizonans are accustomed to.”
Los Sombreros recently introduced a breakfast menu, available only at the Uptown location from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rounding out the options for those craving chilaquiles or huevos rancheros at noon. Other items on the breakfast menu include Avocado Toast served on oven-grilled toast and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and queso fresco, and Crepas con Frutas, a colorful dish of crepes served with strawberries, mango salsa and whipped cream. Papas + Chorizo showcases potatoes and roasted poblano peppers in chipotle tomato salsa topped with cilantro crema and queso fresco, topped with two over-medium eggs. Finally, the Pollo Fundido is a can’t-miss deep-fried chicken burrito topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, chipotle crema and queso fresco.
On the lighter side, the Oaxaca Tomato Salad features a tempting stack of sliced tomatoes layered with jalapeno discs, thick creamy Oaxaca cheese and diced onions, drizzled with a vinaigrette. New shareables dishes are a great way to try a few tapas-style items like the Sopes, homemade masa, fried and filled with refried beans, chipotle tomatillo salsa; and carnitas, topped with tomato, cilantro, avocado, queso fresco and chipotle crema; or the Crispy Taco Platter, which includes a crispy potato, a crispy chicken taco and a crispy carnitas taco.
Once discovered, Los Sombreros is sure to become a regular on the lunch rotation.
322 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix • (602) 601-6390
2534 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale • (480) 994-1799
1976 W. Southern Ave., Mesa • (480) 534-6742
Puerco en Chipotle All-natural, hormone-free pork — marinated for six hours, slow roasted for six hours, then finished on a wood-fire grill for those charred crispy edges — served over chipotle-tomatillo sauce topped with Oaxaca cheese, onion, tomatoes and cilantro and accompanied by two sides $20 |
Tomato Oaxaca Salad Freshly sliced tomatoes stacked with thick shreds of Oaxaca cheese, radishes, jalapeños, onions and cilantro and brightened with a homemade vinaigrette $10 |
Sopes Homemade masa, fried and filled with refried beans, chipotle tomatillo salsa and carnitas, then topped with tomato, cilantro, avocado, queso fresco and chipotle crema $12 |
Photos courtesy of Los Sombreros
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