El Encanto Mexican Cafe

El Encanto Mexican Cafe is a longtime, independently owned Cave Creek favorite on Cave Creek Road, praised in Phoenix Magazine's dining coverage for consistent Sonoran-style Mexican cooking. It is known as much for its setting as its food, with a patio that looks out over a duck pond.

Local guides mention dishes such as carne asada, green chili burritos, and huevos rancheros. Yelp listings put it in the moderate price range. Menus and hours change, so confirm before you go.

What people mention first about El Encanto is the setting, a hacienda-style courtyard with a pond, ducks, and turtles that reviewers say barely feels like Arizona. The pollo fundido, steak fajitas, and carne asada tacos are the recurring favorites, though a few reviewers note the tamales and ceviche can be inconsistent, so the fajitas and tacos are the safer first order.

Often mentioned for

• Sonoran-style Mexican
• Carne asada and green chili burritos
• Patio with a duck pond view