I Ate at Tortas de Fuego: A Strip Mall Surprise in Arizona That Should Be on Everyone’s Dining Bucket List

Not too long ago, my partner found himself living in Sedona, where he discovered a Mexican restaurant that he absolutely loves. He waxes poetic about its strong margaritas and how the bartender uses half of a lime when making each one. The food is excellent, too, he assured me. While I have lived in the Phoenix area for well over a decade, I have tried numerous Mexican restaurants and have my favorites. But I was willing to try my partner's favorite, Tortas de Fuego, when we took a day trip to Sedona recently. This strip mall Mexican eatery was certainly a surprise, and I look forward to returning for more.

Located next to a nail salon in a tucked-away strip mall set back from AZ-179, Tortas de Fuego is a family-owned restaurant specializing in authentic Mexican cuisine. The family moved from Mexico City in 1990 and brought their delectable Mexican dishes to West Sedona. They have since opened two additional locations — one in the Village of Oak Creek and another in Cottonwood. My partner and I went to the one in the Village of Oak Creek.

Upon entering, I was delighted by the bright splashes of color on the walls and chairs, as well as the vibrant artwork adorning the walls. I was instantly excited to sit at the bar with my significant other and pore over the vast menu, which featured an overwhelming number of items, all of which sounded too delicious not to try.

First thing to order, of course, was a margarita. While my partner chose a traditional margarita with a salted rim, I ordered one of the special drinks — a cucumber lime margarita with a Tajin rim on the glass, The bartender assured me this particular margarita was "refreshing." We watched as he handcrafted our drinks, complete with fresh-squeezed lime. And guess what? The cucumber lime margarita was refreshing!

For dinner, my partner, who has been here many, many times before, ordered his favorite — a pork adovado burrito. Loaded with pork, pico de gallo, sour cream, and avocado, he typically eats half and takes the rest home, as it's so filling.

Since it was a Tuesday and I love tacos, I decided to make a "Taco Tuesday" for myself and ordered two tacos à la carte — a shrimp taco and a pollo asado taco (sans cilantro and onions), complete with a side of rice and beans. The filled handmade corn tortillas were incredible! All in all, I enjoyed the margarita, tacos, and ambiance at Tortas de Fuego. Now, would I come here again? The answer is absolutely!

Have you tried the delicious Mexican cuisine at Tortas de Fuego in the Village of Oak Creek before? If not, you should add this surprising strip mall restaurant to your dining bucket list! For hours, locations, and to view a menu, visit the Tortas de Fuego website. You can even order online!

Looking for things to do in Sedona? I know, I know — there are so many sights to see and things to do in town! Check out some of our Sedona travel tips to help plan your next day trip or weekend getaway.