PHOENIX — Chances are if you have lived in Phoenix for a while you have likely heard of Comedor Guadalajara, eaten there, or have had someone recommend it to you. The family-owned Mexican restaurant has been part of Phoenix's restaurant landscape for more than 50 years.
"My grandfather started it. Over 50 years ago, he started it. It originally was under a different name and a different location, not too far from where we’re at now," said Stephanie Hiller, who handles the restaurant's marketing and social media. The restaurant is now located south of downtown Phoenix off Central Avenue near the Interstate 17 and the day-to-day is managed by Hiller's mother, aunt, and uncle.
Despite its name, the menu is focused on Sonoran-style Mexican food versus dishes you may find in Guadalajara, Mexico. "I think my grandpa liked the city of Guadalajara so he named it that," Hiller said, laughing.
Shortly before Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey implemented his stay-at-home order, Comedor Guadalajara temporarily closed their doors.
"Safety-wise, the owners thought this is what was best for the employees," she said. "Their health, they’re older, and we have a lot of staff that are at risk because they’re older-aged so we wanted to make everyone was safe and we didn’t know what to expect."
During that time, they continued to pay their 70+ employees, Hiller said.
After a month of being closed, they reopened a couple of weeks ago for to-go orders. Now, instead of having people dine inside their restaurant, they've set up a drive-thru in their parking lot where people can pick-up orders that have been placed over the phone.
"I always tell people, it is worth the drive. It’s our family recipes. It was my grandmother’s recipe, my grandfather’s recipe that’s there. There’s nothing not authentic about this," she said. "It’s not like a drive-thru Mexican restaurant. We’re definitely more of an authentic dine-in."
She said they have shortened their menu to focus on their staple items, including tacos, burritos, enchiladas, as well as their seafood dishes. For families, she recommended their "Parrilladas de Tres Carne" (three meats grill), which includes three grilled meats, rice, beans, chips, salsa, and tortillas.
They've also had to reduce the amount of staff they bring back and shorten their hours.
To order food, they recommend calling the restaurant. If it is busy, please keep calling, Hiller said. Their phone number and menu can be found here, https://comedorguadalajara.com.
IF YOU GO:
Comedor Guadalajara
1830 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85004
602-253-8299
https://comedorguadalajara.com
We're Open, Arizona: We know this is a tough time for a lot of people in our community, including local restaurants and businesses. As local spots continue to serve takeout, look for ways to safely do business, and give back to our community, we want to share their stories. Visit abc15.com/open or email us at OpenInAZ@abc15.com.
