Inspired by co-owner Jorge Cota’s extensive travels through 23 of Mexico’s 31 states, Mochilero Kitchen is a family-owned culinary gem with locations in Peoria and North Scottsdale. The restaurant’s menu reflects Cota’s culinary adventures, guiding guests through the vibrant country with every dish.
Locally-owned and -operated by brother-and-sister duo Jorge Cota and Meliza Miranda, Mochilero Kitchen has become a culinary institution in the Valley. The restaurant serves up traditional Mexican plates with a modern twist inspired by Cota’s travels across Mexico (mochilero means “backpacker”).
“The menu and recipe development for our restaurant was inspired by the cooking techniques, towns, and markets I saw during my trips,” says Jorge Cota, co-owner of Mochilero Kitchen, in a press release. “Our goal has always been to create a dining experience that not only satisfies hunger but also brings joy and a sense of adventure to everyone who walks through our doors.”
Each dish at Mochilero Kitchen is crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients—nothing is ever frozen. This commitment to quality ensures that the menu is always seasonal, with the current offerings capturing the essence of summer. These include menu items like aguachile, with marinated shrimp and scallops, jalapeno, serrano, lime, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and micro cilantro; pulp achiote, with octopus a la parrilla marinated, grilled, and served with crispy potatoes, onion, and aioli; duck mole, with confit duck, mole negro, pickled escabeche, peanuts, and crispy plantain; and a carne asada salad, with carne asada, mixed greens, grilled onion, and a cabernet dressing. Resident items on the menu are also available year-round, including an assortment of tacos, ensaladas, enchiladas, bowls, tortas, burritos, mariscos, and main platos.
Staying true to the authentic Mexican flavors, the drink lineup at Mochilero Kitchen includes cocktails, cervezas, wines, and specialty margaritas. Perfect for cooling off this summer, the menu highlights seasonal sips like the Agua Loca, a fruity blend of muddled lime, watermelon, Blanco tequila, agave, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice; the Orange Creamsicle Margarita, with reposado tequila, orange juice, cream of coconut, lime, and Cointreau; and for those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Cucumbrero, featuring jalapeño-infused tequila with cucumber, melon juice, and agave nectar.
Mochilero Kitchen in North Scottsdale is open Tuesday to Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Peoria location is open Monday to Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For more information, visit mochilerokitchen.com.
Peoria
6791 W. Happy Valley Rd., Ste. 100
Peoria, AZ 85383
Scottsdale
14850 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Ste. 117
Scottsdale, AZ 85260