text: If there is one thing I have learned by living in Arizona all these years it is that no two Mexican restaurants are exactly alike That is a good thing if you love adventure especially when you run across a gem like Brushfire Tacos Y Tapas because there is literally no place like it nnBefore I get into the review I should tell you what I think makes good Mexican food I love fresh ingredients unique combinations and interesting flavors I have friends who judge Mexican food strictly by heat but I would rather taste everything I am eating I am not trying to prove my tongue is made of cast iron I want to take my time and taste every ingredient in every bite And of course great customer service is a must because it can make a good meal a really great experience nnThats what I like about Brushfire It is a tiny little drive thru restaurant that is really unique I think it is actually designed out of old shipping containers and I thought that was pretty cool It is small with a walk up window and a couple of stone picnic tables in the back for seating It is not the typical taco stand that we see on every street corner in the Valley It is a little more upscale and you will see that in the menu offerings the fresh ingredients and on the times I have visited in the friendly customer service nnWith a menu that features tacos and tapas you would probably expect it to be in a nicely decorated traditional sit down restaurant But this is more sidewalk fare sold mostly a la carte and served in styro containers and cups Like I said it is a little different nnSo in reading some of the earlier reviews I can see how some people are thrown by this place If you are expecting a typical taco stand the prices will be a little higher and if you are expecting a traditional dining experience you might be put off by sitting outside or eating out of a takeout bag I have to admit I was not sure what to expect on my first visit but to me Brushfire is really the best of both worldsnnTacos run about each but even in a styrofoam package this food looks and tastes amazing How they make a taco look appetizing in a styro container is an art in itself Lots of fresh ingredients and subtle flavors make each bite one to savor If you are a first timer start with a flight and try the empanadas a light flaky deep friend pocket of chicken and veggies served over a bed of lettuce and sour cream with spicy mayo on the side You may be tempted to customize your order but on your first visit try going with everything as described because these are subtle flavor combinations that really go together A flight includes a drink and chips and your choice of salsa try the Verde a medium salsa with an avocado base or the Brushfire medium salsa for a little more kick for about nnMost adults will want a couple of tacos especially if you want to explore the menu I have tried the pork served el pastor bbq style with pineapple pico and cheese Add a little of their Wildfire or Inferno salsa if you want to bring the heat but try one bite without first to see what is going on inside the flour tortilla Same goes for the chicken taco marinated in cilantrolime grilled served with pico cheese and some really great guacamole Each came with a slice of lime on the side Perfecto Other taco options include shrimp veggie and steak but I love the pork and chicken so much I am having a hard time getting to those maybe on my next visit nnIf you are a light eater you can get by on a flight chips and a drink but if you are like me and get caught up in sampling all the options you can expect to spend over for two tacos a little tapas chipssalsa and a drink I am hoping in the future they come up with options for two taco or even a three taco flight to help customers really have fun with the menunnIf you have the kids in tow there are menu options for them ranging from some of the tapas offerings from the croquettas ham and cheese croquettes the kids burrito or quesidilla Do not forget to save room for the churros with choco dipping sauce on the side nnThat being said this place will not be for everyone but seriously you can say that about every Mexican place in Arizona Ask any three people what their favorite Mexican restaurant is and you will get three different answers That is one of the perks of living here so get out there and start trying new placesnnTraditional taco stands will still have their legions of fans who carry hot sauce in their glove box Those nice traditional Mexican places will still enjoy their customers that want to make a night of it But for me this place does the trick And judging by the continuous line in the drive thru on our visits the word seems to be getting around Glad to see people coming out to support local restaurants