Gallo Blanco Café & Bar
401 W. Clarendon Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85013
602-274-4774  
http://www.galloblancocafe.com

It had been awhile since I had been to Gallo Blanco at the base of The Clarendon Hotel in central Phoenix but after a Saturday afternoon of riding the bikes it was a perfect stop. Our group of four started out with the Queso Fundido appetizer. Buttery white melted oaxaco cheese (I was told once good Mexican food doesn’t involve yellow cheese and I believe that to be true) with chorizo and a pile of chips. In my opinion it’s the best queso app in town, you can order a vegetable version but what’s the fun in that? Also worth noting on the appetizer menu is the Elote Callejero, a roasted cob of corn with cortija (hard, white) cheese crumbles and paprika. That stood as the entrée for one in our group and if you want to do the same you can find it at happy hour prices too. It counts as one of the best happy hour goodies you’ll find in this town.

Two of us went for Chilaquiles Verdes, a traditional Mexican breakfast or brunch that you can get all day at Gallo. Crispy tortillas layered in a chili verde sauce with chicken (vegetable version available) and that tasty oaxacan cheese. It’s topped with a couple of eggs; I took mine sunny side up. There’s not an overabundance of Chilaquiles served in this town but if you can find a better version please clue me in. My wife ordered the Carne Asada Burrito made with grilled ribeye, she unabashedly called it the best burrito she’s ever had.

If you’re tired of overly fried entrees topped off with half a bag of melted Kraft “Mexican” cheese passed off as authentic, you owe yourself a trip to Gallo Blanco. You can even dip your toe in with a visit during happy hour where you can get the above mentioned apps as well as five different tacos from their taqueria menu. Quesadillas and guacamole are also available on the HH priced menu.