Modern Mexican flavors meet vibrant nightlife in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
Enjoy creative dishes like enchiladas, chicharrones de ribeye, and papa tacos, made with fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Sip on handcrafted drinks such as the Mojavito, designed to complement the vibrant atmosphere and food offerings.
Accommodate large parties in a spacious, dimly lit setting with indoor and outdoor seating, ideal for gatherings and celebrations.
Share tasty starters like guacamole, salsa trio, and chips, perfect for socializing over drinks.
Experience a lively vibe with great music and energetic staff, especially popular during weekends in downtown Phoenix.
TASTY ENCHILADAS, yet small portions. Typically a enchilada dish comes with rice & beans or some sort of side. Unfortunately, Chico Malo's enchilada order comes with only two medium-size enchiladas and nothing else. I was so lucky to order chips because I would've been completely unsatisfied with this visit. The flavor of my green/red enchiladas was great, however it was missing that extra touch. Chíco Malo prioritizes decoration and presentation, over quantity. However, I believe in a balance of quantity, quality, and presentation. The food isn't the cheapest as it's in a nice location of DT Phoenix so I'm expecting a little more bang for my buck. Service was decent, out server was chill guy. He thoroughly explained the menu and gave us good recommendations. The alcoholic drinks were tasty, I think this is more of an appetizer and booze spot after a trip to Mortgage Matchup. The restaurant is huge, dim, and full of space for large groups. It’s inside Cityscape and is full of action during the weekends. Outdoor seating is available.
We stopped in for a beer & had the salsa trio. The guac was decent & the salsas were really good. The kids who work there were really nice. I would definitely come back to try actual food. O and the place is super cute !!
A perfect restaurant for the area that it’s in. High value and tasty food, a young and energetic staff, ambience that fits the scene, and a whole lot of attention to detail. A few nit picks include a broken OpenTable integration (they didn’t have our reservation in their system even though there was a confirmation email with correct date and time shown to them), guacamole that is WAY too spicy (full spiced jalapeños), and slightly forgotten about our server a few times. However, throw it in with an InKind gift certificate and you can’t beat this spot when you’re going out on the town.
Last minute date night stop for a cocktail and small bite .. got the chicharrones de Ribeye & guacamole.. excellent choice!! Had a “no personality” bartender at previous spot and was refreshing and pleasant to have Kloe wait on us. Greeted us so professionally and welcoming, made great suggestions and made us feel as is we knew her. Would definitely come back and request her! Drinks were excellent also.. had the Mojavito. Yum! Corn tortillas as home made and to die for!!!
Came last night to dine in and had a great experience overall. The service was attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere was lively with great music playing throughout the night. The food was definitely the highlight — everything we tried was flavorful, especially the papa tacos, which were absolutely delicious. The only downside for me was the drinks; they looked great but tasted a bit bland compared to the food. Still, Chico Malo is a fun spot with tasty dishes and a vibrant vibe — definitely worth a visit if you’re in downtown Phoenix.
Chico Malo is a lively Mexican restaurant and bar located in Cityscape, downtown Phoenix, offering a dynamic dining experience with a focus on creative, flavorful dishes and handcrafted cocktails. Known for its energetic atmosphere, spacious indoor and outdoor seating, and attentive service, it's the perfect spot for date nights, group gatherings, or casual drinks. While some note smaller portions, the food—like enchiladas, chicharrones de ribeye, and homemade corn tortillas—receives high praise for taste and presentation. With a 4.4/5 rating from over 2,700 reviews, Chico Malo blends modern Mexican cuisine with a vibrant social scene.
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