Joyride Taco House
5202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85012
Joyride Taco House Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5202 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ, 85012 - Phone (602) 274-8226
- Website https://www.joyridetacohouse.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Xandon K.
We are slightly obsessed with Upward Projects so last year we took a road trip out to Gilbert to check out their newest concept: Joyride Tacos. You can imagine how excited we were when we heard they were opening a location here in Central Phoenix, just a couple of miles from our home. By opening weekend the staff seems to already have the routine down. We were quickly greeted when we walked in the door, and received excellent service throughout the night. Drinks were good, but our favorites of the evening were the chips and salsa (one of the key elements for any Mexican restaurant), and the chicken enchiladas! I don't think I could say enough good things about the enchiladas. Excellent!! We had another stop planned for the evening so we skipped dessert, but we will definitely be trying it on a future trip. Our one complaint would have to be our table. We were unfortunate enough to be sat at one of three small tables for two. The tables are in a row and all right next to each other. We felt cramped and a little like we were joining our neighbors dinner party. All the other tables in the restaurant looked great though, next time we will make sure we aren't sat there.
(5)Mark E.
Love this place. Service is good, food is great, nice atmosphere (I love what they've done with the building). The habanero salsa is the best hot salsa I've ever had. It actually has an amazing flavor and then BAM the heat kicks in and kicks your butt.
(4)EveElise B.
Just got home and read some of the reviews for Joyride! I agreed with most of them! There were great things about the food and some not so great things. I absolutely loved the chicken burrito!!! It was so tasty and the tortilla was perfect...crispy but soft! The white sauce with it was wonderful!! The black beans were bland and did not impress at all. I also got the tortilla soup but it had a funny taste to it. Not sure about that. I did enjoy my house margarita though! The service was great, but we were asked if everything was ok by 3 different people and if we liked out food by two of the staff (a little much). The ambiance and decor was beautiful. I guess I wasn't impressed enough to rush back there, but I could go back (maybe).
(3)Amber P.
I haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Gilbert location, so I came in with high expectations based solely on my stellar experiences at the other Uptown restaurants. Today was the hard open, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. I love how the staff rotates between Windsor, Parlor, Postino's, and now here. Upon arrival, we were greeted with fresh tortilla chips and deliciously spicy fire roasted salsa, and served our beers shortly thereafter. We opted for the ceviche appetizer to start, and damn! I'm a ceviche addict, and theirs rivals Hula's in awesomeness. Fresh shrimp, tomato, avocado, cucumber, onion, the obligatory lime juice, and... jicama. Jicama! Quite a satisfying crunch. For our entree, my accomplice and I split the El Capitan torta- a fresh toasted bun with carne asada, salsa, avocado, and shredded lettuce. The torta COULD be piled a little higher, based on the size of the bun, but the flavors were stellar, fresh, and just plain freaking delicious! We closed the meal out with fresh churros with chocolate dipping sauce, but I was much too full too eat more than half of one! Rest assured, Joyride is now on our roster of neighborhood restaurants to bicycle to. I'm in love!
(5)Lisa B.
We loved our service! Definitely a team oriented place. Daniel H. the manager was brilliant. He filled in when our handsome server Cory was preoccupied by other tables. The food and especially the cocktails were delicious! My mom went the night before and got the ensalada fila and it was spectacular! Thank you for a wonderful first experience, I will be returning soon xoxo
(5)Andrew C.
Not bad for american-mexican food. Honestly it was a toss up between 3 & 4 stars. I went with 3. The veggie burrito was good with meat added but the tacos needed a little extra something......especially the fish taco. I also didn't really care for the salsa, not bad but i expected more.
(3)Derek T.
Went back for lunch with friends. The service was much better. Still a bit slow but they were very busy. The food still great! They really did a great job making my experience much better this time around! Thanks!
(4)Amy L.
Very fresh ingredients with house made everything! The vibe is cheerful and friendly with a hipster edge. Beautiful patio with fireplace and they are dog friendly. The baja taco is crispy and satisfying.. The grilled shrimp taco has a great barbecue flavor. You are guaranteed a great meal here!
(5)Steve S.
Ate here with a large group of people in my industry. The service was prompt and the food was delicious. The chips and salsa were perfect. Awesome patio and great happy hour prices.....
(5)Kate A.
This place was really great. I loved all the tacos I tried and the atmosphere is really open and colorful. They have huuuuuge booths that are a great place to bring friends. I was there on a day when I had a party of 10-15 at any given time. The server was great at accommodating our group - we were able to pay with several credit cards + cash as long as we divided up the items ourselves. The only reason I wouldn't give this place 5 stars is because when I called to make the reservation for 10, the manager gave me grief that my party would be arriving & leaving at varied times, and pushed back because 'the restaurant is busy at 4:30'. At 4:30 when I arrived, half the restaurant was empty and there wasn't a wait until shortly before 6:30, when we wrapped up and left. I was disappointed at the attitude that a party of 10+ wouldn't be welcomed with open arms. On a positive note, the drinks are fantastic and the open doors made this a perfect place for a spring get together.
(4)K H.
The best Chips and house fire-roasted Salsa!
(4)Tony K.
Their salsa has a nice kick .We ordered their wacamole was a nice portion and the chips were plentiful. Their servers are very friendly and always attentive. We had their lunch special which is salad plus choice of two tacos we had the shrimp which was very flavorful
(4)Christopher T.
Hmm, I am kind of torn on this one. Big thumbs up to Upward Projects for the renovation on the building. The vibe and the decor are top notch. I only wish the food matched the building. The drinks are very good - Blood Orange Margarita was very good. Also, a few good Mexican beers on the menu. As for the food, I was not really impressed. The nachos were okay, but not great. The ceviche was overwhelmed by the lime. I had "The Beast" burrito enchilada style. It had an underlying sweet taste that was simply unappealing. I am sure that there are great things on the menu; however, the items on that picked would not be on that list. N*joy
(3)Shawna L.
Joyride is right around the corner of my house and I will definitely be back again! The staff was friendly as as soon as my roommate and I walked in the door and the bartenders were really helpful in guiding us through their menu. I have seen a better beer selection but the Short Rib Quesadilla was phenomenal!!
(4)Jason C.
The newest member of the Upward Projects family! They have a pretty good selection to chose from ranging from cute little tacos to big burritos. All of their food is fresh. If you order 3 tacos you get a side free, the tacos range about $3 to $4 so your looking at about $9 to $12 for a taco platter. I ordered two chickens tacos and a fish taco with a side of rice. All were really good. Like their brothers, Winsor & Federal Pizza, if you visit before 6pm for happy hour (everyday) you can get a pitcher of beer (a good selection including local) for $5. The service was really friendly, and the brownie that topped off my meal was delicious. The seating is comfortable with a great outside area complete with fire place for those very small winters.
(4)Elias A.
Came here for dinner with my wife on our way to a 4th of July party. The entrance is kind of hard to find from the parking lot. But then again, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. This place is much bigger than the one in Gilbert and from the looks of it much hipper too. The place has somewhat of a 70's discotheque feel to it but without the stale cigarette/alcohol smell. My wife had a strawberry agua fresca which was awesome. They bring chips and a roasted salsa to the table which is awesome. I ordered the chicken fila salad which was amazing. It's kale with jicama and crunchy green beans. Sounds weird but just do it and you won't be disappointed. My wife had the chicken tinga that was very good as well. Make sure you ask them for the green salsa. It really makes your plate. They have a patio outside that looks like it'd be awesome to sit in when the weather is nice. At the end of the day, the service was great which always goes a long way for me.
(5)Eva M.
I have to give 5 stars just for the tacos. They have the best tacos I have ever had (I have tried a lot). Every single one is good but my favorites are the chicken, braised beef and ahi tuna. Misters outside are a plus. They have valet and located in between 2 other good restaurants, postino and a pizza place (can't remember the name).
(5)Chase B.
I was one of the lucky attendees at the Devour event this past weekend (which was awesome) and had this awesome taco. That's how it all started. A simple fish taco that blew me away. I visited the original Joyride Taco Shop out in Gilbert several months ago when they first opened but it fell off my radar. How silly of me. So one taco was not enough and I found myself up the street after Devour closed up shop and I definitely was not disappointed! What an incredibly beautiful restaurant! Chowed down on the Chilaquiles - enjoyed some cucumber mint aqua frescas (with vodka - so cool that they offer it with your choice of spirit), ate way too many chips, and shuffled into a cab that the staff was more than happy to call for me. The service was stellar, the food was amazing, and the ambiance after the weekend rain was incredible. (I still can't believe that I ate an entire meal after Devour - my waistline definitely does not thank me. Ahh gluttony . . . .)
(5)Troy Z.
The tacos are delicious. A little bit pricy but the atmosphere makes up for it. The nachos with carnitas were fantastic as well. I'll be back.
(4)Sam M.
I loved it! I couldn't make up my mind and asked the server to surprise me. He brought me nachos and they we the best I have ever had! The drinks were also made great.
(5)Ciera S.
Great spot to get a bite! The lunch special is such a deal, two tacos and a salad. The restaurant is so pretty and put together.
(5)R E.
Son and I met my wife for lunch, so glad we chose Joyride! GREAT service and fantastic food, not much else to say. Wife and I tried burritos, one chicken and one "Beast" (carne asada). The boy had a Baja Fish taco and a "Standard" taco (chicken and a bunch of other good stuff!) Everything fresh and tasty! Overall fantastic experience, go there!
(5)B K.
Had a great lunch yesterday. The atmosphere is awesome and our server was friendly and attentive. The food was the best!!! Tacos were all awesome. I can't wait to come back try them all. Highly recommend this place!!!
(5)Jennifer B.
Cinco de Mayo. Epic Fail! First time here. Been waiting 1.5 hours for our order of carnitas tacos. Really? Too bad. I've heard good reviews"........
(1)Manu A.
Really nice place, great outdoor space and excellent service. Their ahi tuna tacos are above and beyond. Be sure to try their orchata, really good. My critique will be to be more consistent with the side dishes method of preparation. They never tasted/looked the same.
(4)Gayle L.
Absolutely delish! Fun, creative and a very lively restaurant. The menu was inventive and everything we had was outstanding. The restaurant was very busy but we were able to get in on a Saturday night without a reservation for our party of 3. Go visit, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Jennifer O.
Joyride is a little bit of a mixed bag. When we arrived for happy hour the place was hopping. We were seated outside (without them asking if that was alright first, but it was alright...). When asked if it was still happy hour, the hostess replied 'is it before 5?' a little snarky.... but ok. The service overall was slow and somewhat inattentive, but they were busy so they have an excuse at least. The food and drinks, on the other hand, were very tasty. We ordered drinks, I asked what was better between the horchata with alcohol or the blood orange margarita.....well, they were out of the horchata, so marg it was. The marg was large, tasty, and at only 5$ on happy hour, I was a happy camper. The husband had the pineapple aguas frescas... this was less delicious. It just tasted like pineapple juice and alcohol... not bad, but not wonderful. The salsa was just subtly spicy and full of flavor. The husband and I shared 3 tacos - fried fish, chicken tinga, and the pork. I would say the best was the fish, very light and crispy, followed by the pork, and then the chicken (which was fine, but was supposed to be spicy and wasn't really). Because we ordered 3 tacos, we got a side. Our server wasn't sure if they were out of rice (early in the afternoon?), but they did have it. It was fine, pretty standard rice, but the green salsa that was served on top was very tasty. The food was very filling and it was affordable, so I will most likely visit again!
(4)Jennifer L.
While the dessert was fabulous, the service was not what I would've expected from such a nice restaurant... One of our waiters brought us the wrong drinks, the other one came back only once out of the 2 hours we were there, and a third waiter filled my glass with water and pored it all over our table and kept going. Three stars for the food and zero stars for the rude service...
(2)Hillary B.
The chips and salsa were tasty, loved the salsa! We ordered the nachos and they were even better! The chips were amazing. I ordered the braised beef and red chili tamales and L.O.V.E.D. them!!! They were so awesome! As were the pinto beans, and I am NOT a pinto bean fan! They had incredible flavor. My husband ordered three different fish tacos, he said the shrimp one was OK, but the other two he loved! He's a picky eater, too! My daughter is the pickiest of eaters, but she loved the chicken out of her taco. I ate the beans and tortilla and thought, even for being super simple, had a ton of delicious flavor. The service was slow towards the end, miserably slow, but the servers and the hostess were all super friendly and funny. Loved the ambiance, too. We sat outside and it was great! Kiddos loved running on the grass (as no other patrons were out there at the time). All in all, it was a nice evening with very tasty food! Loved it, thanks Joyride!
(4)Carlos R.
The tacos are pretty good. Basic soft tacos. Today i tried the chilaquiles and they were ok. Not the chilaquiles I'm used to. Basically layered tostada shells with chicken and a little sauce in between. The service is very good and all of the servers were very polite and attentive. It's convenient from where I live so will come back.
(3)Jessica C.
Phoenix has so many choices as far as Mexican food goes--one of the better choices is Joyride. Well, I wouldn't say it's the best Mexican food in town, but I will say it is worth the trip. The ambience is excellent. I love the teal and burnt orange colors and the retro/modern decor. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and out. There are plenty of large tables for bigger parties, so this makes a great place to bring your friends. Drinks are pretty good. I have tried the house margarita, high roller margarita, and the pineapple agua fresca. I will say the house marg is just 'meh'. The other two are tasty. I have tried the chicken tinga, carne asada, and braised beef tacos. All three are good, but none blew me away. I would recommend the black beans as a side. They are very tasty! Overall, this is a great place to drink, munch on chips, and maybe eat a street taco or two. I see it more as a hang out a few hours after dinner or a late night dining option. It's definitely a fun place and I will be going back regularly!
(4)Kaytee K.
Jason was our server we came on a Monday evening with our good friend and my boyfriend. absolutely excellent food every single time. Also excellent service every single time Jason is the section to sit in! one of the most chill servers to have and knows a lot about his beers as well. Come see Jason at joyride! Amazing food!
(5)Shaq D.
Solid effort from Upscale Projects. Not "authentic" Mexican, per se, but really good takes on tacos, enchiladas and sides. Great craft beer menu, much like Federal Pizza next door. Pleasant & upbeat servers. A bit pricey for street tacos but $2 Taco Tuesday is the cure for that. We had the Standard, Pork Adobado, a couple of Crispy Fish and Carnitas tacos, as well as a chicken enchilada. Tacos are creative builds and flavorful. We'll be back.
(4)Shaina P.
Seriously disappointed. First time here about a month ago and I was underwhelmed across the board. We were seated immediately on the patio and water and chips/salsa appeared quickly but everything after that was missed. Took a long time to be greeted by a server and even longer to get our appetizer-shrimp ceviche. App included full size pieces of shrimp that should have been diced up. Tables that arrived after we did received their food first. I ordered the machaca burrito served enchilada style with red sauce. My boyfriend got The Beast burrito. When The Beast is smaller than a Chipotle burrito and contains less meat, the name should probably be changed. I tried both & wasn't impressed with either. Everything was just okay. Which would have made this a three star review except for one problem. They never cleared any plates or glasses. Every time they would bring us a fresh drink or the next "course" they would leave the former dishes on the table. It was a small table so we were running out of room. We asked one of the many servers (they work as a "team" -a concept I still don't understand because it doesn't seem to work, at any restaurant, and the tip likely gets split but what if one person is excellent and another on the team is terrible?) to clear the table, he said he would "be right back"...he never came back. Walked past us a few times but clearly had forgotten our request. They still weren't cleared when we paid the check! There must have been 10 used dishes on the table when we left. I don't plan on returning to Joyride. Too many other great restaurants nearby, Windsor and St. Francis among them!
(2)Carly W.
I love joyride! I have been there a few times and everything I order is delicious. I loved the enchiladas and had a yummy margarita. The chips are great and the salsa is my favorite. It has great flavor.
(5)Mary K.
Cool vibe, great service. But the food is expensive and not that good. Today I had the "The Beast" burrito: carne asada. It was saucy and tasted like teriyaki beef--so sweet! Come on you guys! That is not how you make carne asada. I will say that the tortilla soup is delicious ... but for real tacos and burritos, I'll go to Phx Burrito House or Mi Patio.
(3)Brittny S.
Went to Joyride on a Friday night. Cool vibe, nice patio area with a server to get you cocktails and chips while you wait for your table. Pros: awesome decor, patio. Yummy chips and salsa. Reasonable prices. Braised beef taco was solid. Cons: Taco's came out cold, nothing hot about anyone's entree's. A touch too loud Nachos were ok, was expecting more flavor. I'd be willing to go back on a week night and try this place again!
(4)Slipknotnyc S.
Similar to Gallo Blanco, it's style over substance here. Maybe it's just my palate, but there's nothing more discouraging then knowing what something is probably going to taste like before you even order it: sickeningly sweet margaritas and inedible, salty food. I love Mexican food, but very picky having grown up in So Cal. Even so, I thought I'd give an open mind. We started with some guac, which for $8, came served in a tiny dish and was riddled with brown pieces. We sent it back for another only to find brown pieces (surprise) folded under good pieces. The staff informed us "this happens after sitting out for a few minutes". A few minutes?? Oxidization occurs after a few hours hours...not minutes. Yuck. I know guac. Come on. I then ordered the Lola Salad (striving to add some greens to this meal) which was mostly quinoa (how did I miss "grain" in the description...sorry, "Lola GRAIN salad". I then reluctantly (anticipating another bad experience with a similar item at Gallo Blanco) ordered the "Beast Burrito" which ultimately confirmed that it was conceived for the menu by very small eyes. Chipotle gives you a hardier serving...this was a below average size. I didn't understand what was so "beasty" about it. This turned out for the better as it contained predominately black and refried beans in addition to a bit of over cooked, drowning-in-salt marinade-based carne asada. There was a nauseatingly sweet taste (fire roasted salsa??) and it was luke warm. It was very much like Gallo Blanco's carne asada burrito. And my worst peave, BROWNED tortilla to give it a hard, card board like texture. WHY? WHY must you do this? The whole thing screamed "left over". I couldn't finish it. Blah. The only thing that my mind could imagine being worse is if it had been deep fried into a chimichanga!!! Overall, predictable and not great food. I'll give it another try some other time, but messing up guac is really annoying and not being able to finish an entree because it's so gross just made it worse. Hard to find places that don't pander to the point of exhaustion...I don't think you'll get a better experience at say Blanco Tacos either. Overly thought menu items that just don't deliver. Sorry, better luck next time. If I can muster up the nerve to go back.
(2)Lizzie B.
Tried Joyride for the first time on Tuesday. I loved it. Their salsa was amazing and they have a really good selection of draught beer. I had the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. What made me especially happy were the really nice options for vegetarians. This can sometimes be difficult at Mexican restaurants. I asked our server (we sat at the bar) about suggestions, and she said that anything with their signature veggie mix was good. I chose the enchiladas, which also had goat cheese, and they were AWESOME. The veggie mix was delicious and not boring, the creaminess of the goat cheese, and just the right amount of heat (I selected red sauce) made a killer and satisfying combination. At $9.00 the portions were more than generous, but my companion and I worked together to finish them up. This will definitely be my new go-to spot for Mexican in this neighborhood. Again, they only lose one star for the parking situation. I'm never keen on forced valet, because I rarely have cash to tip.
(4)Kristen S.
Great server - great food. Tried the cucumber serrano margarita - it was fantastic.
(5)T M.
Sorry this one is a miss. Love Postino's and Windsor, but Joyride is not too good. Food was really disappointing. Tacos were so average and service so so. Maybe my expectations were too high. I think I'll stay with America's taco shop.
(1)Michaela O.
Ahi tacos are incredible. All the fish is fresh never frozen. The staff is super friendly and the music doesn't suck (usually). Today I made a minor (solicited) complaint about a taco and the staff went WAY out of their way to make me happy. The chef himself brought me a new taco, they knocked it off my bill anyway and even gave me a free drink. I always sit at the bar, so I can't comment on the wait staff but the place looks like they only hire attractive tattooed people. No complaints here. Drinks appear to be strong too... Still typing.
(5)Youri L.
I might be harsher than some but to break down my review I'll give Joyride a 4 if not a 5 out of 5 for the atmosphere something I always find important but a 3/5 for the food (after my initial visit). I've known been a total of 3 times at the time of this review and can't say there isn't anything to dislike. I had heard about Joyride more and more from friends mentioning it on their FB walls and Instagram pics and finally made it there on a weekend. The place was quite packed but not so much that we had to wait to be seated. A nice and diversified group of patrons was there (families, 20 and 30 somethings groups of friends). Great mix.I've since come back. In terms of food I can't say anything about "The Standard" their chicken soft taco as well as the "Baja Fish" (I tend to lean on the milder side of things). I've had the Mexican street corn and black beans for appetizers and they were very good. The soft tacos are delicious, the waiters great and the whole mix makes for a place that you'll want to come back to.
(4)M G.
Went here for the first time today. Not bad, but I wasn't amazed either. I ordered three tacos and they came with a choice of a free side dish. I opted for the black beans. The beans were delicious. The carnitas was my favorite taco. Good pork flavor and the avocado slice complimented it well. The crispy fish taco was alright. The fish itself was good, I just would have preferred it with a corn tortilla, and the condiments on it didn't really do anything for me. The carne asada was my least favorite. The meat was bland. It didn't taste like it was marinated or anything. The complimentary salsa that came with the chips was tasty but the chips themselves were too salty for my taste. They were pretty crowded and busy, but service was ok. The restaurant has a nice open layout and they do play decent music, but I was annoyed by flies during my meal. I sat inside but they had all the doors open since the weather was nice and I had to keep shooing them away from my food. Kind of annoying. Overall this place wasn't bad, but I wasn't blown away by the food either. I don't think I'd go back on my own, but if someone invited me to go there with them, I wouldn't decline.
(3)RM K.
Waited to review until all the freshness had worn off. Great experience - except for parking.. but this whole area is horrific for parking. Awesome, cocktails had the Moscow mule ala Joyride -- yummy... ... really great and unique food.
(4)Deena H.
The absolute best food ever!!! The drinks are the bomb! Pineapple Mojito is my favorite!!!! LOVE this place!!! The patio is a great place for happy hour!
(5)Kendrick W.
Stopped by with a large group of friends celebrating a birthday. We were all riding bikes, this place is made for this. We sat outside, it was beautiful day. Had a couple pitchers of the Black Market beer. It was very good. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Davis B.
This place is better than Blanco. The Beast is a must-try as well. Be sure to have it enchilada style!
(5)Ben B.
The house margarita was great. Not too sweet. The salsa was nice. Spicy enough. Guacamole was fresh but not exactly Barrio Cafe awesome. The food was pretty good. I'm sure they'll keep tweeking it. I had the cochinita pibil taco which was a little bland. The service and the vibe are terrific. Lots of energy and everyone having a great time.
(4)Joe B.
Enjoyed an excellent lunch today. Service was attentive without being bothersome, food was outstanding. Lunch special of two tacos and a side salad was delicious. Awesome to see great LOCAL places doing it right.
(5)Denise M.
Disappointed. The decor is beautiful but the food is bland. Disconnected service. Parking is a nightmare! The manager is very sweet and tried to correct everything from mistakes on our order to mistakes on our bill but the food isn't good enough to return.
(1)Ted C.
Great tacos, great atmosphere. Looking forward to returning to try more dishes. My friend had the enchiladas and they looked fantastic. Good appetizers too. So much better tasting than Taco Guild!
(5)Jim S.
Great food in a hip & fun place! Try a sampler of fish tacos and their creative specialty drinks for a great change to your boring dinners out.
(5)Nathaniel E.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. we got lucky and found a parking spot along the street but they have purchased the lot just south of the building with extra parking spots. our wait to sit was only a few minutes although I would anticipate a longer wait during the busy hours. Staff was very friendly and on top of getting us drinks while we waited for our table. Loved the atmosphere here, and I don't know what it is about the Upward Projects but they always play great music. You get complimentary chips and salsa to snack on while your picking out your food. The salsa was very good. We ordered 3 tacos which were all fantastic and they came with a side, we chose the grilled vegetables. Oh my, simply delicious. I will be bring friends here next time.
(5)Molly B.
I have one main criteria for rating any sort of "mexican" restaurant, and that is how they prepare the chicken. Unfortunately, this place failed my test. The chicken in the tacos merely tasted like chicken, and it was a sizable hunk of fairly dry breast that I had to chew through. With all the stuff included in the taco, I still found myself reaching for the cholula to give it some moisture and taste. My tablemates had "heat" issues with the salsa that came with the chips and I have to admit I couldn't dunk as freely as I like. A burrito ordered came smothered and I mean smothered in a green chili sauce (looked like typical salsa verde and not green chilis). He had to scrape it all off. So, the end result is I will probably not go back. We were forced there by the huge crowd across the street at Postinos and apparently Joyride is owned by the same folks. I guess if you charge high enough prices the undiscriminating crowd here in Phoenix will just assume it must be great. Not me!
(2)Chandra L.
Staff/Managers could use a huge imporvement. Food is excellent but customer service is seriously lacking. My office placed a rather large order (15 people) the day before we needed it, and we were told to call back with payment, even though we were prepared to pay right then. We then called back 3 more times, and were told that the manager was not available, to try back again later. We called the next morning to try and pay for our order AGAIN, and surprise surprise, it was never even written down. It's now about an hour before we need the order to be ready. We order out often, and our business is usually much appreciated, but they made it seem like a huge hassle. We will never order from here again.
(2)Manda L.
Really great service here. Everyone is very attentive and super nice. We tried the 2 tacos and side salad happy hour deal. We tried the carne Asada, shrimp and one of the pork options. The shrimp was definitely the favorite. The chips and salsa aren't our favorite, but I think we will definitely give it another chance and try something else.
(4)Nicole O.
This place is really beautiful. I love the decor and ambiance. It feels nice and easy. The carne asada is sweet and delicious, the salsa and chips fantastic, the fish tacos rocked but the street corn was odd and mediocre at best. And I love street corn. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Theresa R.
If you love Postinos, Federal and Windsor you with LOVE LOVE this place. On our way to Postino's for lunch on Saturday we saw this huge crowd at a new place across the street and decided to try it. Everything was delicious, especially the blood orange margarita and the service was great. Definitely will be back!
(5)David S.
Dated unadventurous menu. Service was good. Food wasn't bad but wasn't memorable and we will probably not go back anytime soon. We were hoping to find a cool spot in central Phoenix and it was just O.K. Would love to see them take a few risks with the food with not only this restaurant but their others as well.
(3)Drew G.
It was Ok.. I thought they were Unorganized .. and its hard when every server asks you if everything is OK,, I am a fan of hard shell Tacos ,, I did like the Standard taco
(3)Camille B.
One of the best customer service experiences in a restaurant ever! Thank goodness for good servers & bartenders to guide me through my traditionally awkward journey to a new eatery. Upon existing my car I do remember saying "ah, shit they're playing techno, do you want to go somewhere else?" Also weary because the dirty word "hipster" was used to describe the place. But ALAS! The drinks were fantastic and I'm overly pleased with the beer selection. I personally got a cucumber mint tequila "juice" and loved it! I'm looking forward to trying out the different combinations of flavors and liquors (hey there's a logical excuse to drink more!). Food was fantastic as well. I ordered the standard the Baja fish tacos. They are served up in taco stands and I could have managed to polish off one more. The flavor combinations are classic enough to please a skeptic and creative enough to satisfy the more adventurous such as myself. The date got a chimi-style carne Asada burrito and claimed it to be the best he's had in Phoenix this far. And that says a lot, trust me. His burrito and my tacos had fresh sliced avocado to top off our foodie perfection. Even the restrooms were an aesthetically pleasing experience. Prices were reasonable, and like I said, our server and other employees eased our social anxieties and earned their 25-30% tip to boot. I will quote, "If this is a hipster place then I guess I will join them."
(5)Tanner H.
Great food, service, and atmosphere! My new favorite Mexican place in town. Carne asada taco and crispy fish tacos are amazing. Upward projects, you once have done it again. Thank you
(5)gerry s.
parking is a mess...food...so so..they seem to think their salsa is the bomb..but the flavors just don't quite hit the spot. The concept is great and the atmosphere is good.. even the bar seating (which is extensive) is comfortable) Service could be much improved...come on it took forever to get a bottle of beer....the burrito...carne asada.. not much flavor..meat was tough and the various other ingredients just didnt play well with each other...very dry...when I want a burrito grilled on one side..I will say so.. ..overall I think they are trying to hard....
(1)Anna N.
Awesome chips and salsa, and a great experience at the bar! The bar itself is really unique and they get drinks quickly and are very personable! Great selection as well!
(5)Anthony K.
The place looks very hip, surprisingly they were not that busy at 12.pm the waiter was friendly and kept the chips coming , we ordered the harbernero sauce which was hot .the wait was long but the food was good
(3)Shelly L.
The staff was very friendly & attentive. My tacos were great and we really enjoyed the atmosphere! We will be coming back soon! It is very rare to get such great service only a week after a new establishment opens.
(5)Amy H.
Met a friend there for an early dinner. It is decorated beautifully. The light fixtures are fabulous. My friend was running late but they sat me on the patio anyway. The server did seem a little irked that my other party was tardy. She kept coming by a bit too frequently to ask...So I ordered 2 citrus agua frescas that were very refreshing and not too sweet. Then feeling bad that I hadn't really ordered anything yet, I ordered some guac and chips. It was perfectly fine guacamole....not the greatest I've had, but there are some unusually good guacamoles in this town. There was jicama in it, which was interesting. When friend arrived, we ordered the grilled corn or eliote with cotija cheese and paprika and a sauce called White Magic. I think it's an amped up mayonnaise. The corn was excellent. Had a real grilled, slightly charred taste that I love about it. I had a trio of tacos, one shrimp, one pibil, one braised beef. They are the small street tacos which have become so popular. With a trio of tacos you get a free side. I asked the server what the beans were spiced with and she said in a kind of spaced out voice, "I don't know....salt?" That made us laugh. My friend ordered a carne asada torta and was quite pleased with it and I had the shrimp taco left to take home. The shrimp were fresh and cooked well, the braised beef taco was awesome and the pibil was just fine. And those beans? Meh...I think the sever was right about the spice being salt. The only real problem with Joyride is one wants to sit on the patio but the chairs are the most uncomfortable things I have EVER sat on in a restaurant. I kept looking longingly inside to see the comfy chairs those diners were sitting on. It was a long dinner and my butt still hurt the next morning. They are cute yellow metal things though. But perhaps Joyride should rethink the function following form thing and invest in something a bit less torturous. I will just know to always sit inside in the future. They open the whole side of the restaurant so you can get tables close to the edge of the patio and have the al fresco experience. All in all, a solid meal. Definitely worth a return visit.
(4)Aba J.
Can we bring back traditional service please?!! This place had the potential to be a very nice experience but the service was terrible. They have decided to not assign a specific server to your table but rather have all staff chip in to order, clear tables, bring out food, like they do in Chinese restaurants, with disastrous results! Plates of grilled corn, soup, burritos kept coming to our table, no one knew who had what plate and being the large table we were, you can only imagine the havoc with constant unnecessary interruptions. It seemed like none of the tables were numbered as is usually the business model in most restaurants to help staff know which table to bring food to. It was amusing at first but awful, add to that I looked at my bill and was shocked to find out my regular priced margarita, at about an ice filled tumbler's worth cost 9 dollars each! Even paying for the bill was a tedious, the lady did not know who had what and had to go back and do the splitting all over again as we sat there for about 20 minutes just waiting to leave. The manager then came out after our bidding and apologized, and gave us a bunch of vouchers. Get it together people!
(2)Gary B.
Last week we thought we would give Joyride Taco another try, after all we really liked the food and drinks. WOW what a difference!! The food is still great, and the service has had a major upgrade. We noticed the waiters concentrated on the guests, and other staff had been added to do cleanup, etc.
(5)Bill J.
Good food and atmosphere. Crispy fish taco is great, ahi fish taco was very flavor able service was fast with lots of thoughtful follow-up. It's a nice spot, give it a try!
(4)Genie M.
I am giving this place a three because it is beautiful inside. However, I did not have the best experience as far as service goes. It took 20 minutes to get water. Plus, valet only.. really? The food was ok. The main thing that I didn't like is you couldn't tell which hipster was your server . Confusing because they dont have any kind of uniform. They did give us a $10.00 coupon because we had bad service. So... eh.
(3)Jada S.
Not too bad. I was gifted a night out from a friend who raved about the food here. We brought extra money since we planned on having a few drinks (we can walk there), but didn't need it. $40 fed us both, with appetizers, dinner, drinks, and dessert. The only complaint I have is that I was really looking forward to a "Pickled Cucumber Salad," since pickles are just pickled cucumbers, I was excited to see what this creation was. It's just cucumbers with some vinegar drizzled across the top- not very creative. Also, after we cashed out, our waitress never came back. I think they have a weird wait staff situation going on, because they all seem pretty flighty, running around all nilly-willy and bothering other tables. Maybe it was just busy, but I prefer to have less people interrupting my first night out since having a baby... just sayin'. I expected the pretentious hipster vibe, but I think they did a nice job with this place, it's more eclectic than that. There's a very peaceful feeling under the trees and in the open air that get's lost when the chatter of nearby tables becomes yelling to hear over the music. So, if you're like me, go on an off night and sit on the patio, look into the trees, and have a relaxing frothy beverage. It's an A-OK place to be, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.
(3)Sharon M.
I go to Happy Hour with my coworkers here and it's okay. I'm GLUTEN-FREE due to a diagnosed wheat allergy, and there are VERY few things I can eat here. The service (and perhaps the kitchen staff) is iffy and does not understand issues of cross-contamination with food allergens. My server there the first time went to ask the chef what I could eat (and I said "severe wheat allergy" several times) and came back telling me I could eat the chips among a few other things. I ate ONE chip and my mouth started itching. I called him back over and asked if they used a shared fryer for wheat/gluten-bearing and wheat/gluten-free products and he came back saying that they did fry the chips in the same oil as the wheat-filled churros That's allergen cross-contamination 101 and anyone in food service in this day and age should think/know about it and communicate that to customers. Had I not known by hard experience to take a tiny bite and go slow no matter what my server said, I would have had to Epi-Pen myself. Infuriating and totally unnecessary. And, if Joyride would simply use a dedicated fryer for its chips, I'd be able to eat a lot more -- including the yummy-looking chips and salsa and their amazing-looking nachos. As is, there are two or three tacos I can supposedly eat. I stick with the Standard taco because it's never made me sick. The food taste and quality is uneven - one time I had a fantastic one, full of fresh, sweet corn kernels. Other times the taco has been okay, with hardly any corn. Proportions of ingredients change, affecting the taste -- perhaps because of the availability of fresh ingredients? All in all, I go because I like hanging out with my friends from work. But I wouldn't choose to go back on my own with my husband or family. It really annoys me when good restaurants who COULD make their menus more food-allergy friendly don't and when poorly-trained staff make recommendations that could really hurt people.
(2)Michael G.
great atmosphere, good food wasn't too impressed with the salsa though.
(4)Vanessa G.
AMAZING! I have been here twice and in my humble opinion, this place is pretty close to having the best tacos in Phoenix. Their flavors are really defined in each of the taco selections. The size of the piece of Ahi Tuna in my taco was impressive, I'd say at least an inch in diameter. The specialty cocktails are innovative and refreshing. The decor is fun and hip and the place just has a good vibe. This is definitely a wonderful place for date night or lunch with the office crew. I will probably visit here monthly!!
(5)Jesse E.
Absolutely love Joyride. Both times I've been there, the service has been good, staff has been laid back yet attentive, and the food? Exactly what the doctor ordered! Excellent margs, a nice deviation from your basic margarita, but nothing too bizarre or fancy. Great tacos (check out $2 taco tuesday!), and truly inspired flavor and ingredient combinations. Definitely worth a return visit, and another, and another.
(5)Eridan A.
update: regional manager contact me and apologies for the incident, this make me believe they really care for their customers and their standards are high, I definitely will give another shoot to this place. the quality of the food is fresh and taste is good.
(5)Emily L.
This place was recommended by someone at work so I thought for sure it would be good, but I wasn't all that impressed. The atmosphere and décor is just trying way too hard to be retro and hipster. Im pretty sure you have to have an arm sleeve or at least 4 visible tattoos and 2 facial piercings to work there, but the service was over all pretty good. Drinks were refilled very quickly and the food was brought out promptly. Although, my boyfriend and I came in on an early sunday afternoon and were sat next to a huge group of loud women getting drunk which seemed like a poor choice considering the place wasn't half full. Even the way too loud music couldnt drown out the ladies having a good ol time. The food itself was good, just not anything more than that. We got the tuna for an app and it tasted like it wasn't very good quality. The enchilada wasn't that impressive either. Not sure if we will give this place a second chance, despite hearing good things about it from coworkers.
(2)A S.
Yummy food with a great, fun atmosphere. I practically drank the salsa--using the chips as mere scoopers, ha. Try not too fill up too much on chips because the tacos are great. I sampled so I could try more! Street corn was SO WORTH IT! Splurge baby! You'll become addicted to it. I really enjoyed the non-alcoholic drink options. It was fun and refreshing. Don't leave without that banana dessert thing. The name escapes me but the memory of it (in the cute presentation) remains! My feeling is enjoy it all! It's a great, friendly place to eat with friends!
(5)M M.
Awesome location. They have a great establishment up and running. Ahi taco was very good. Staff was very helpful especially Troy.
(5)NW S.
Place was slammed. Service was good but the tacos came out cold and the carne asada was burned. Decent place for drinks in trendy atmosphere.
(3)Brett H.
What a JoY! We went at 8:15 on a Friday night so of course it was packed. We were quoted a 45 minute wait which is normal in Phoenix. The bar is huge with plenty of seats and easy to get a drink. However, even better is the patio on the north side of the building, that is separate from the dining patio, and perfect for waiting. There is plenty of seating, a few table, and a server dedicated to making sure you never are thirsty! We found 3 seats right away, and they brought us a basket of fresh chips and salsa and waters to start while we looked over all the drinks. Within minutes we all had margaritas in our hands and we were happy. Very smart move Joyride. The 45 minutes flew by because we could converse and drink and munch on chips the whole time. We were greeted with the same friendliness when we were seated at our table in the dining room. Again, waters and fresh chips and salsa right away. Our drinks from earlier were effortlessly transferred to our dining bill, so there was no urgent need to close out with one server before being sat at our table. We changed up our drinks inside and were impressed by each one we had. All of the nectars and juices are house made which makes the drinks very fresh. No bottled mixers or syrupy concoctions. The house margarita was perfect. Not sweet or overly tart. Just refreshing. The Blood Orange Margarita was a little sweeter but also delicious. The Key Largo was something else. Very pina colada-esque but better. Whatever they used to rim the glass made the drink. Everyone was impressed. The food was very well done. We stared with street corn, which was flavored well, but will probably be even better when corn is actually in season. It just didn't have the sweet and juiciness that you get from corn on the cob in late summer. Our friend had the tortilla soup with chicken which she said was fantastic and perfectly spiced. We all had tacos of course, although I was very tempted by the chilequilles. Next time, maybe for lunch! My favorite were the shrimp tacos. Huge shrimp, great flavor, and NOT breaded! The baja fish tacos were fantastic as well. Finally a place that does grilled fish tacos well in Phoenix. The braised beef taco was tender and juicy as well. The tortillas are homemade and amazing and much larger than your typical street taco. Here is the one complaint I had about the food. The side dishes were not up to par. We had the pinto beans and the rice. Both were pretty forgettable. I am very surprised by this because Windsor, also an Upward Project restaurant, is known for their sides. (hello Joe's church potatoes and mac n' cheese). So next time we will try some other sides in hope of finding something better. The sides are included when ordering 3 tacos, otherwise you really don't need them after all the chips and tacos! We usually skip desert because we are rarely impressed by restaurant deserts, and I for one would rather have another basket of chips and salsa. I am a salt guy, not a sweets guy. BUT, Better Than Betty's was one of the best desserts I have had at a restaurant in a really long time. It was perfect to share by the way, even by 3 people. The brownie was incredible...chewy inside and slightly crusty outside and just the slightest hint of spice that made it less Betty Crocker and more Nacho Libre! Then there was a layer of caramel that was divine. It had to be homemade. And a huge scoop of dulce de leche ice cream that was definitely homemade. As soon as we tasted it we knew they must have made it across the street at Churn. If you have been there you know what I am talking about. That smooth creamy homemade ice cream that is so dangerous because it is walking distance from my house. Perfect. Oh, and the candied pecans were a bonus. They almost had a caramel corn flavor to them. Anyways, the combination of flavors left us all speechless. So if I had to make a recommendation for diners, it would be cocktails, 2 tacos each (which is very hard to narrow down from your choices) skip the sides, and dessert is a must! The place looks great and I can't wait for spring when they open up all the sliding windows and doors. We have tried Taco Guild as well (see my review) and Joyride is 10x better and way more fun. I forgot to mention the service. Everyone was so friendly and fun. The servers inside at our table, and outside on the patio, were very helpful with recommendations and explanations. We were never without drinks or chips and salsa or water. Super attentive and just a great, laid back, easy vibe that is normal from these 4 neighborhood restaurants on this corner. That is why we love them and keep coming back! (it helps they are all walking distance too!)
(5)Amy K.
Being a supporter of Locally owned and operated establishments, I love visiting all of the Upward Project restaurants. On Saturday night, my boyfriend and I planned a date night that started at Joyride Central. The retro/vintage décor was cute, but unoriginal and clashed with the 90's alternative music that was playing (Beck, Goo-Goo Dolls, Bush, etc). The entire staff was very attentive to our table....to a fault. We had 8 different people come by our table within a 30 minute period. We were interrupted so many times that we weren't able to enjoy a conversation between the two of us. I ordered a specialty cocktail that was mediocre and so I changed my drink order to be a glass of wine. I wasn't quite finished with my glass of wine when someone placed the bill on our table. So much for enjoying a relaxing date night. The food is delicious (I ordered the Enchiladas) but I'm disappointed with my dining experience. I wish I had gone to Postino Central instead.
(2)Amanda L.
While I am not willing to spend $3+ on an inauthentic street taco, I am more than happy to have someone else take me here and pay for me to eat a delicious (if inauthentic) street taco. (Let's remember, once again, I am a broke college student.) The incredibly hip modern-American atmosphere with just a bit of kitschy beachiness to it is a wonderful nod to the decor finesse of all Upward Projects' styles. I ordered the tortilla soup and split a quesadilla with the rest of the table as well. The quesadilla was tasty, and so was the soup (the soup was really spicy.) I tasted my friend's rice. It was very rice-like, but lacked flavor. Our waiter was also really slow at filling our water glasses. I probably won't suggest going here, and will most likely contest going here if I have to pay for myself, but if someone else is paying, I'll give it another chance. Take my review with a grain of salt: I really really like authentic taco places where you have to speak Spanish and drive south of the tracks. If you like Americanized street tacos, you'll probably like this place. Go ahead. Give it a shot. Pro tip: Definitely give the salsa a chance. It's delicious.
(2)Jasmine C.
One word: NACHOS This place by far has been a favorite since relocating to Phoenix... I've always been impressed by the quality of this chains food (Postinos, Windsor, Federal Pizza & Churn) but this place was an absolute treat! When they brought out the salsa, I was highly impressed by the speedy service.. I ordered the nachos with carne asada and whew! I was blown away.. The abundance of avocado (I'm an avocado whore) and the tender/flavorful carne asada was out of this world. If you like spicy I highly recommend the habanero salsa (for an additional 1.99).. Yum! In honor of this review, I'm going to get some nachos now;)
(5)Kristen A.
service = great. super attentive but not bothersome. all the staff were friendly. originally we were told it would be a 45 minutes wait (understandable for a friday night), but were called after maybe 20. it wouldn't have mattered if we had to wait the full length of time because the patio is cool and comfy and we were immediately served chips, salsa and waters. drinks = fantastic! loved my blood orange marg, but i was lusting after my boyfriend's pineapple mojito. so. good. food = excellent. we tried the veggie, crispy fish, shrimp, braised beef and carnitas tacos and all were great. we also got rice and beans for our sides and split an order of the mexican street corn as well. highlights were the crispy fish, braised beef and the street corn! vibe = super hip and trendy. i liked the decor and the bathrooms had cool sink knobs (i'm weird and always judge restaurant bathrooms).
(4)Cameo W.
Great lunch spot. Chips and salsa are delicious. The open patio feels like vacation... Lots of fun! I tried three different tacos and can't decide which is my favorite.
(5)Nora V.
I haven't had one thing here that sucked. I've had questionable service once but because of the style of service someone else quickly stepped in & made it all better again. I love tude of the staff. All very chill & helpful to give you their take on what they like. which I like. I also love that they had Four Peaks Ode Lay & loved it even better before 5 as it was happy hour priced. Sadly they are out of that now & are serving another Four Peaks beer which I will try when I stop stomping my feet about the Ode Lay loss. :)
(5)Danica K.
First off - their margaritas are on point. Secondly, who doesn't love bottomless chips and salsa. Other than astronomical wait times on Taco Tuesday's, usually the wait isn't too bad. They have a convenient text message based waiting list/app which is helpful. One Busser in particular is AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE at always keeping my water full (I drink a lot of water). If you're part of the world that's okay paying more than $3 on a taco - you need to try their delicious creations!! Free side with 3 or more tacos too I believe- which is also a nice way to have a full meal. It looks cool, it is cool, and they take good care of you! Good drink prices for happy hour!
(5)Marybeth M.
Visited during happy hour. $2 tacos. The standard tacos are very tasty! Carnitas and adobada tacos yummy too, but can't compare with yumminess of the standards. Friends say the shrimp tacos are bomb also. Tacos are street taco size. Fun little hipster place with good food and great service. Clearly a favorite of many locals.
(5)Gabriela T.
Went to this spot a few months ago, had seen some pictures on Instagram someone posted. Tacos looked delicious in the picture. So as a craving(I was 5 months pregnant) we decided to go immediately. Loved the place, decorated very nicely. But if I am going to a restaurant that is rated 4 stars on yelp! I figured food would be amazing. Unfortunately it was not the case. Their shrimp tacos tasted a lot like charcoal and were cold. Definitely not tasty at all, couldn't really taste the shrimp flavor. Had their fish taco which seriously? Fish taco with a flour tortilla? Was awful... These tacos were simply not good at all. And were very small for the price. Their horchata had a good flavor; but they give you a small cup and very little ice. You finish it before your meal gets there. We had the cheese y mas. This was delicious. But as an appetizer I guess it would be a nice place to go just for a couple drinks and an appetizer. Other than that I don't recommend this place to go out and have a good dinner.
(2)Kazi H.
I'm FINALLY writing a review for this place! I come here often as shown by my check-ins....so often to where some of the employees wave when I walk in; embarrassing, I know. My favorite day to come is Tuesday! Why?! Because of TACO TUESDAYYYYYY!! Taco Tuesday means that you get delicious melt in your mouth $2.00 tacos (try the crispy fish) aaaaand $5.00 margaritas! Now, I personally dislike margaritas or anything that contains tequila, except for the ones here! I love the margs here, especially the raspberry-ancho. You can't taste the tequila, but that devil will sneak up on ya after your 2nd drink. But why stop at 2, right?! I also love their lunch special! 2 tacos and 1/2 for $9.95?! Count me in. All their salads are pretty delicious so I can't choose just one! The staff is really nice and friendly and The prices are good. What else do ya want?! Stop reading and go get yourself tacos.
(5)Kaitlyn W.
This place is so cute! I had the Prickly pear margarita and it was delicious! Next time I'm going to try the watermelon margarita. Looks so good. I had the fish tacos. My favorite was the Baha fish taco. The shrimp taco and crispy fish taco were also excellent. My fiancé's favorite was the carnitas tacos. The salsa is fantastic as well. Just slightly spicy and chips are served warm. Yum! It was a little loud in the restaurant, however it was a lot of fun. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Laura F.
I love this trendy restaurant! They serve authentic Mexican food - zesty dishes that use the perfect Mexican spice blend. The Tortilla soup is a must have! The carnitas tacos were served with a green salsa, avocado and cilantro were tasty - you get a free side if you order 3 tacos. We also had the Mexican Sweet Corn as an appetizer - so good! The servers were friendly and attentive.
(5)Kristin W.
I'll keep it short and sweet... Carne Asada and Crispy Fish tacos....yes!! Sub corn tortilla for the flour on the fish. $2 tacos after 2pm on Tuesdays, and from 2pm to 6pm weekdays. There are actually SOOOOOOO many specials. $5 drink specials until 5pm like the other Upward Projects establishments, but some specials until 6pm. Service is hit or miss but it's better than Windsor, that's for sure.. Sit at the bar as long as there is more than one bartender. We've never had an issue until the one time there was only one guy doing everything. Pineapple mojitos....that is all.
(4)Chloe H.
I went here with a group of 7 and a set of twin infants. We sat on the patio. The manager and server were quick and very accommodating. Table service was fast on a Sunday night. The carnitas were amazing; the pork adobada was awful-- too salty and...gritty? It was strange. The server was generous in taking it off our bill. Roasted veggies has a spicy creamy sauce on them I didn't like, but I ate around it. I sampled the Orange cucumber salad, and it was refreshing. They make a decent Bloody Mary; based on feedback from the rest of the group, the margaritas and mojitos were a group favorite. The misters were turned on per our request, and the babes were happy and cool. Parking is godawful, but it's not easy to find it on Central on any given day.
(4)Shannon B.
Pretty fun modern Mexican place with specials. Parking: The location is near Postino, Federal Pizza, and Windsor, and parking can be a pain. There are plenty of lots, but these places can get busy. There's a lot across the street near Windsor if the lots near Joyride are full. Location: Just north of Central and Camelback - a quick walk from the light rail station at this location. Specials: There are happy hour specials from 2-6pm with pretty good deals and $5 margaritas. Food: The food options are good. The guac is always delicious. The happy hour tacos are only $2 but are made with a pre-made mix. I asked for no peppers, but the server said the mix is already made. The chips/salsa are just OK. The salad options look pretty interesting but haven't had one before. I ordered the Mexican corn for something new - pretty tasty! Service: Usually good, though I've only been here twice. The crowd is similar to the other Upward Projects restaurant crowd. Sign up for the Upward Projects coupons for a free app, though I'd use the coupon at Postino
(4)Ceci A.
The. Best. Tacos. I've tried a few tacos in my day. It usually consists of driving to a stand somewhere on an intersection where car exhaust penetrates your nostrils and the local bums are looking at you as they salivate after your every bite. Enter Joyride. All the delicious flavors of your local stand without all the unwanted toppings! Amazing drinks! Awesome service and crew! And the funnest eating environment. I highly recommend their braised beef tacos and the serrano cucumber margarita! OMGizzle! Fo shizzle!!
(5)Christopher B.
Love, love, love this place! Never a bad time or meal!! Want good food, atmosphere, location, price and laughs? This is where you need to be then.
(5)Brandon H.
The service was absolutely amazing, food was great and the service my waitress hailey was well knowledable. I will be coming back.
(5)Ella M.
Absolutely in love with this place! What a great happy hour! I met a good friend there and we both had a spicy margarita...ok, we had more than one! I had 3 tacos and cannot decide on my favorite...ok, the mole! hahaha I'm really bad at making decisions! Considering celebrating my birthday here next month...that's how much I loved it!
(5)Haneen O.
Okay they are so nice here. I came to use my free dessert coupon for my birthday and I received complimentary chips and salsa after I was seated. I ordered the brownie dessert and it was pretty darn good! Very rich: homemade brownie topped with dulce de leche ice cream, goat milk caramel and walnuts. I wish I would've taken the rest to go but I had to rush back to work. I would definitely come back and try food from their menu, their tacos sounded yummy and try had a few vegetarian options which is nice. I liked that it wasn't super busy when I went, which was during peak lunch hour.
(4)Jessica H.
The customer service is unparalleled to any other Mexican restaurant I've been to. Their happy hour is 11-6 which is an alcoholic's haven...not saying that's me, but I truly enjoy this place. If you are ready to indulge in light Mexican cuisine try their Pork Adobada taco or the Carne Asada Nachos, by the way... Happy hour food prices are amazing! They even have a healthy side option such as the orange cucumber salad. The point is, this place is a must especially during happy hour.
(5)Evan B.
The trendy Mexican/taco scene is heating up in phoenix. and at 3-5 per small taco wouldn't you want to be in the game too? Step in to a overly retro 60's themed inside, from the lamps to the wallpaper you would think you are in Austin powers. The patio is nice despite the terrible metal chairs. You will be greeted by the obligatory chips and salsa, but it is nice that they don't charge extra for this staple. The menu has salads tacos burritos and tortas. For vegetarians its pretty much salads, a taco or a burrito. For the best value go for the burrito it is full of great items like mushrooms and roasted veggies all for $8 they will even make it a heart friendly chimichanga for no extra charge. I tried a trio of tacos that included a side for a grand total of $14. They were good but more of an appetizer than a meal. Luckily there were more chips to gorge on.
(4)Kristina M.
I'm in town visiting a friend of mine, and last night we dined here on here suggestion--so glad we did! The hostess let us know it would be about a 30 minute wait, but let us know we could grab a seat on the patio and order drinks and appetizers. (Or grab a seat at the bar - they're first come first serve. But it was pretty full.) I love the atmosphere here! Very "Art Deco" in my opinion.. Funky wallpaper, awesome lighting/glass work around the bar, headlights on the walls that lit up as it got dark! The staff was all very friendly and helpful, and brought candles to all the tables as the sun was setting outside. Not to mention the 3 or 4 extra large doors they had open, giving the whole place a very laid-back vibe. We opted for a spot on an outside couch, and were welcomed with chips and water. Before we had a chance to order anything, we were getting seated! (10-15 minutes) Our waitress was a doll, and recommended the blood orange margarita. It was strong (I love a strong drink) and was perfectly sweet. Definitely a winner. The chips were really good, they tasted fresh! The salsa was excellent as well, but too spicy for me to try more than a few times. I had 'The [Chicken] Enchiladas' and they were tasty! It's too smaller enchiladas that equal the size of what you'd except the size of one to be, served with half red sauce and half green sauce - very cool! The enchilada itself was delicious, very flavorful and the meat was juicy. The red sauce was my favorite - full of flavor and a little bit of kick. The green sauce fell a little flat for me, I found it somewhat bland - which was a major bummer because green sauce is my jam! I appreciated that it wasn't smothered in cheese, like you usually see in American versions of Mexican food. I would be a regular if I lived in town. Great food, vibe, service, and prices!
(4)Tara B.
This is a hard review to write but all the more necessary. We legitimately enjoyed the service, food, and margaritas we received; however, we were taken aback by the additional charges to our bill. In short, we had additional charges totaling $26 that we brought to our server's attention which he rectified by giving us two free margaritas that equalled $18. We ate the difference but were conflicted after we were: 1. Charged for an extra drink we didn't order, 2. Not comped a drink that was promised by our waiter after we had waited over 15 minutes for it, and 3. Charged regular prices on 2 margaritas that we ordered during happy hour. Overall, we will likely return but plan to be much more vigilant with regard to our check.
(3)Lorenia W.
We came to try the tacos, but they messed up our appetizer order so to correct the order we kept the carnitas nachos and they still gave us the carne asada nachos. Soooo we got too full to order anything else. We'll have to come back for the tacos because I'm confident they'll be as delicious as the nachos were! Both dishes were flavorful, the meat was tender & not chewy, And the portions were huge - enough to share for 4 people. The cheese didn't get dry, the creme wasn't too runny, it was simply tasty! We also had the almond horchata w/rum in it. DEE-LISH-OUS lol
(4)Jessica L.
I rarely write reviews, but what I experienced last night prompted a much deserved 5 stars from me. Service and food were excellent. I stopped in around 9:30pm. I didn't dine in because I was exhausted from a very long week. So I pulled up, went inside and asked for a menu. The place was very full - always a good sign. The woman who was at the door made me feel super at home even though I was just ordering to go. She explained that I could walk up to the bar and place my order (it was right in front of me) or she could take the order no problem. I wasn't starving, so I just ordered two tacos: The Standard (chicken plus the works basically), and Carne Asada. She explained if I got a third taco then a side came free, but I knew I wasn't hungry enough so I declined. She then asked if I would like a water or anything while I waited. I appreciated the offer but my dog was waiting in the car and I needed to go back outside. Moments later I went back inside and the same woman immediately attended to me saying my food was ready to go. To my surprise, they included a full bag of chip and a large salsa container with my two tacos!! I'm so glad they did because the chips were crisp and light and the salsa was INCREDIBLE. Now, I'm not going to be able to adequately describe these tacos. But I can tell you, I've had a LOT of tacos in my life. The Carne Asada taco was the best carne asada taco I've ever had. I'm not over-exaggerating. The steak was cooked with a perfect char to tender ratio. The amount of steak was very pleasing for a small taco: I could have used a second tortilla (not a complaint)! The toppings perfectly complimented the steak and didn't overpower it. The other taco I got was good too, but the Carne Asada was out of this world good. I'm probably going back tonight...seriously. I can't wait to actually dine in next time. I saw the list of margaritas on the menu and I'm eager to have one with my next Carne Asada taco.
(5)Victoria S.
After work drinks with the girls! We love the Blood orange Margarita! Served by everyone that works there. Hard to decide who our actual server is, there was problems with the communication that way. We seem to get alot of apologies from the servers telling us that it was shift change and that was the problem for the long delay in getting our drinks. Personally, if it wasn't for going out after work with the girls, i wouldn't be coming here. Not a fan of the way they work things. Love the guacamole and the chips and salsa. Not a lot to chose from regarding gluten free options.
(3)Veronica C.
Loved the cucumber Serrano margarita! So delicious. Service was great and I was on the patio. Atmosphere inside is so adorable. Food is just okay to my Californian taste in Mexican but for Arizona Mexican it's really good. Loved the corn and the bomb black beans.
(4)David F.
I am not one to complain but hands down the worse service I've encountered in a long time. Was told an hour wait and an hour later they told me it would be another hour. Took 30 minutes for anyone to acknowledge our party and take an order. Food came before drinks. Moved inside to our table and waited over 40 minutes for a beer. Billy the manager was great and the only reason I'd give this place another shot. It's a great concept but such awful service leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth
(2)Larissa G.
Imagine that Jonathan Adler decided to make a taco shop in Phoenix, Arizona, and you've got this place. There isn't enough parking for even the lunch crowd, and I got there a little after noon on a Friday. They were already on a wait list for tables, but I was dining solo and easily got a spot at the bar. I loved the geometric turquoise wallpaper and giant gold lamps, but wondered if the tacos would be as excellent as the interior design. I opted for the lunch special and got a glass of lemonade because I was working that afternoon (although looking back, I should have made it a margarita!). The lemonade was fresh squeezed and refreshing, and a cool breeze came through the open restaurant as I waited for my food, which made me feel like I was on vacation... although coming to the southwest from the northeast in February is a vacation even if I had to work the whole time! The server at the bar - a curly dark haired skater-looking girl with backwards hat, was extremely friendly. I heard her recommend the quinoa salad as a side to the women next to me, and I am so glad I was eavesdropping! I got the salad as well as two tacos - The Standard and a carnitas taco. Everything was ridiculously good with juicy tender meat and slices of avocado on top. I don't think I left a crumb on the plate. It was a perfect, quick, and economic lunch, coming it at just over $10! Plus, chips and salsa come for free. I highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)Stephany K.
This place is amazing! Far drive from where I live but it's worth it! Tacos are amazing, chips and salsa are delicious and the staff is always beyond helpful and attentive. One of our favorite stops for some yummy food! The drinks are also good.
(5)Trevor A.
Atmosphere, Vibe, Staff, Music - Thumbs up. Fresca's refreshing. I like this place, just not a big fan of the food... one of our crew from both evening visits stated "Great vibe, till you get the food". Your taste may be entirely different. Regardless I'll likely be back... Let me tell you how to have a good time here all the way around... Start at the bar and wait to get a booth inside near the bar (especially in winter). Enjoy the free chips/salsa. Stick to the standard Taco's - they are pretty good. Don't have expectations for the sides. The people at Upward Projects I think have a lot going right at this place. Winter notice: The outside patio surrounds the seating with door entries at several points. This past visit we were seated next to a door to the main patio - it was being opened over and over with the cold winter air coming in. After the door was propped open a couple times I told them I would let them in when needed (and the parties around us thanked me - they were feeling the cold too). I think I might rate this a 4 during another season :).
(3)Daryn B.
This place is so damn good. That's kind of all I have to say. Definitely recommend. I love all the upward projects restaurants but this is my favorite. The interior design of the place is genius. And branding is impeccable. Keep up the good taco work!
(5)Chris H.
After driving past this place since its opening I figured a visit is finally in order. We had 6 people in our party and it took a while to get seated, which was expected. The table was not wiped down when they came to get us so there was a scramble to get it cleaned off (even though it was "ready"), but eventually it was clean and read to eat at. The chip and salsa seem endless and are slightly addictive. Service can be a bit awkward as its hard to tell the patrons from staff as the staff have no set uniforms. I ordered the fish street tacos, which were very good, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. The Churros were for desire, not a favorite as they seemed a bit dry and I was not a fan of the dipping sauce. We were not rushed out after dinner and had some time to talk and get caught-up, which was nice. All-in-all its not a bad place if you like this type of concept.
(3)Bob G.
Great happy hour specials. I am still not over my margarita, I tried the mango mandarin and it was probably the best margarita I have ever had. Tried the cheese y mas and it was great! Loved the salsa too! Tacos were $2 on the happy hour menu, we sampled everything plus the braised beef. Everything was on point and I can't wait to come back!
(5)Tricia F.
Taco. Tuesday. Need I say more? Several of their tacos are $2 a pop and $5 margaritas! I strongly recommend the battered fish paired with a delicious cucumber serrano margarita (or 3). Be sure to arrive early as the wait can be up to 45min/hour but well worth it. THe staff has always been incredibly friendly and attentive. Parking is also a bit of a struggle on tuesdays but I'm not sure about any other days of the week. Patios are inviting and comfortable- in fact, I would prefer sitting at the patio rather than inside. Will continue to come back to Joyride as a loyal and happy customer!
(4)Daniel O.
This is currently my favorite taco house in Phoenix. Great atmosphere, great service and best of all - GREAT tacos! My wife loves the "Beast Burrito". We're lucky to have this place around the block from our house! The only complaint I have is the limited parking. They get very busy and on Friday nights and weekends. On busy nights, you have to valet or park across the street. Not that big of a deal, but I just can't see valeting my car for tacos... Weekdays aren't as busy. Enjoy! This is a place not to be missed!
(5)Leslie M.
Let's go on a Joyride! There was a time that I tried to get on this ride for dinner, but there was an hour wait! I thought, "Seriously? Is this ride worth it?" I came for lunch the other day and luckily, there was no wait (a big sigh of relief). The restaurant was so freaken cute! We were given complimentary chips - and the chips weren't too bad. I am a little picky on the types of chips I get at restaurants. The guacamole had sea salt on it - my preference is that they can do without it. You can order three tacos, and get a free side. However, I opted to get two tacos only - the shrimp and the carne asada tacos. They were yummy. Now I can see why this "ride" is a "joyride" - great trendy atmosphere, ambiance, vibe, and good food. I would definitely ride this ride again!
(4)Ivan Q.
Heard great things about this place and saw their Gilbert location get featured on the news one morning, so decided to finally give them a try. I went in on a Tuesday, and sat through a 35 minute wait time, so to me this was a good sign this place will be good or they were giving away Free tacos for Taco Tuesday, either way it was good. I was not disappointed the tacos were great!, fresh ingredients, very well seasoned and marinated meats. I really like that they put their own twist on each taco and add the right toppings, seasonings, to make it that much better. When you don't even need to add the hot sauce you know is good stuff! Plus the service was great, I will be back for sure!
(5)Brittany M.
So yummy! Happy hour is definitely a must and my favorite tacos are the standard, crispy fish, and pork. The drinks are a little too sweet for my liking but the food and the atmosphere are so great!
(5)Brandon G.
This is how a restaurant should operate. Amazing staff, amazing food, amazing atmosphere, and amazing rolls of toilet paper with their logo stamped on it. Gabby, Daniel, Ashley, Jeremy (501), all take care of us very well every time we visit! Even the new faces working there make us feel at home. If you come to town, are planning a trip to uptown, or just need a nice place to dine with friends without hassle, please come take a Joyride! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Jessica B.
Joyride was like dying and going to taco heaven! Tried their braised beef and carne asada tacos and they were amazing!! I love that you get a side if you order three tacos. I also tried their watermelon margarita which also was pretty tasty. The ambiance was nice. Candle at the table was a nice touch. Very modern feel to it. Server was super friendly and helpful in the ordering process for us first time goers. I definitely will be back!
(5)Kevin P.
I really like Joyride. I like the enchiladas with half green half red sauce, I like the hip colorful casual vibe, and I most definitely like the margaritas - oh the margaritas. I just don't know if I actually like the tacos...I've never tried them. Therein lies my only complaint with Joyride (and gourmet taco places in general). The tacos just never seem like they are worth the price (unless you are here on a Taco Tuesday night or I suppose have self control and don't need 5-6 tacos like me...) The free chips and salsa are a nice touch and the service is usually outstanding. Like I said, the food is delicious! I promise I'll try the tacos eventually...
(4)Pete H.
Amazing food. Simply the best Mexican food in midtown. Bartender new how to make a great cocktail.
(5)Ryan J.
The hipsters at Upward Projects have stolen Nana's old family recipes, awesomely re-purposed another old Phoenix building, and given us a reason to head up Central Ave for a Friday happy hour. in the same vein of other trendy taco joints like Diego Pops, Taco Guild, and Milagro Grill.
(4)Maddy B.
Buckle up because you're in for a truly joyful ride. This restaurant is the whole package. Starting from the first glance, you'll love the fun decor and oversized booths. The service is not just attentive (my water glass was never less than half full) but they are friendly and people you'd want to hang out with- my friends invited our server Ivy to our next taco night. The food will not let you down either. The guacamole is incredible. I enjoyed the crispy fish tacos loaded with guacamole and their magic sauce. The braised beef were melt in your mouth deliciousness. My friends topped off their beast burritos in no time, but I would stick to their tacos. While they might not be authentic street tacos, they are fresh, tasty and will fill you UP. They have great taco Tuesday deals with 2 dollar tacos. They also have everyday 5 dollar drinks before 5!
(5)Fahira C.
I am a huge fan of all Upward Project restaurants. Joyride is a new addition to my list. I ordered in. The person over the phone was super nice and helpful, which made my ordering experience that much easier. Picking up was a great experience as well. Fast, with great customer service. Food was nicely packed so when we got home, everything was kept fresh and temperature of food was excellent. Food was delicious. I do not know what I was fan of more, enchiladas or tacos ;) They have advised us that now they have a happy hour every Tuesday. We attempted twice already; however, the wait was petty long. We will keep trying as I would like to experience of dining in the restaurant. It has perfect location. Parking is well situated. I highly recommend it!
(4)Michael W.
Beast Burrito | Crispy Fish Tacos | $2 Taco Tuesday's | Great Location | Cool Atmosphere | Great Staff #centralphoenix #upwardprojects
(4)Dale B.
Sitting here at the bar looking at the young families that come in for some food. Everyone has a good time, kids, parents, staff... Bar people...open to conversation about...whatever. Bar staff...always make you welcome...why would you NOT want to be here?
(5)Dan O.
Solid tacos. Good salsa. Nice guac. Great atmosphere. PS: Try the shrimp and Asada tacos.
(4)Trent K.
Tacos were quite tasty but the price is high for the tiny portions. Service was excellent.
(4)Jen K.
Our party of four decided to try Joyride's Happy Hour and have an early dinner. We arrived at 4pm on a Saturday and were seated immediately. They offer their regular cocktails (not bottom shelf) during happy hour for $5. I had the Cucumber Serrano and it was the perfect blend of smooth and spicy! We enjoyed the house salsa while waiting, which had plenty of kick while still bursting with flavor. We ordered standard tacos, battered fish tacos, shrimp tacos and the nacho plate. Each dish was fresh and perfectly balanced. The white magic sauce makes the nachos out of this world! There is also ample bar and outside seating. I will definitely go back the next time I visit Phoenix!
(4)Joanna S.
Found this place on yelp. It has a hip vibe and was very crowded at 1 pm on a Saturday afternoon. Music was annoyingly loud, but we were among the older patrons. Following our server's advice, I ordered the pork adobada and carne Asada tacos. DH ordered those two plus the crispy fish taco. It took an extremely long time for our plates to arrive. No employee bothered to tell us our food would eventually arrive. They give you chips and salsa as soon as you sit. Salsa looked good but was boring with no distinct flavor. DH said his meal was perfect. Unfortunately mine was not. I was given the Adobada and another taco. I asked my husband if the second taco looked like his fish taco and he said no. I am super careful because I can get anaphylaxsis from cod or snapper. I looked for a server, any server, but could not get anyone's attention for a few minutes. After staring at it I finally bit into a tiny corner of the taco. It was definitely fish. No anaphylaxis, but a slight itchy allergic reaction. It took a few more minutes of waving my arm to attract the attention of a server who took the dish away. Finally, our server came over since I had no food. We told her I was given a fish taco. She knew I ordered the pork and beef tacos. She said she would check on my replacement plate The new plate came with no apology and the tacos were great. They each had a unique flavor with a nice balanced, yet interesting mix of spices. It's very sad that neither server expressed concern over the mix up. People who do not have serious allergies often do not understand that they can kill someone by serving the wrong food. I stop breathing if I eat certain fish or peanuts. No offer to do anything except bring me what I ordered after my husband finished his tacos. Also, the menu said one free side order if you order three tacos. The server did not mention that to DH. Then, when the waitress brought our change she shortchanged my husband. He tipped her, but maybe should have skipped the tip so she might realize the service was very poor. No stars for service and 5 stars for food. If I lived in Phoenix I would probably eat here because the food is that good. I think they probably have other servers who care more about doing a good job. However, I haven't tried other Phoenix restaurants of this genre so maybe there are better ones.
(2)Jaena J.
This place has the BEST fish tacos! The service is Phenomenal and the atmosphere is super cute! The happy hour is great too, with $2 tacos and $5 margaritas you can't go wrong!
(5)Anne W.
LOVED this place! Great tacos and even better margaritas! I plan to go back often!
(5)Courtney P.
Update.... They no longer carry the ahi stack or the ahi. :-((( this one was of the top three meals I've had in Phoenix (native) and I am bummed. I've never had anything else there because I couldn't abandon that dish. They cut the menu in about half ;(. The service was still great and so was the prickly pea margarita, but my salad was horrible. I couldn't eat more than a few bites because I was gagging. It had those crunchy peas they have in certain trail mixes that might appeal to some but to me it was like dirt. The weird dry mushy pinto beans at the bottom didn't help. I will come back for drinks and nachos but the ahi made this place.
(3)Vinette G.
From the minute I stepped out of my car and saw the wall art that said, "Work hard & be cool to people," I knew this was going to be an amazing place. The door this was next to seemed more like a back entry but either way, I was still greeted with smiling faces and helpful people. It wasn't busy so the host gave us a choice of sitting indoors or outdoors. We chose outdoors since it was incredibly nice out. Our server helped us out with drinks right away. We were celebrating so we went with a pitcher of beer to start, but I do love the option or ordering a, "short one," here. It's just a choice a lot of places don't really offer anymore, so kudos for that Joyride! Moving along, I ordered a crispy fish taco and the Mexican street corn. Both really, really good and super tasty next to our beer choice. I highly recommend at least one crispy fish taco while you're here! But let's get back to the design of the place. Like all of the uptown restaurants, it's got it's own flavor of trendy design. Be sure to check out the wall next to the bathroom, it's interactive. When I was there, it said, "In this life, I will..." and guests can contribute whatever they want to the wall. Oh, and it you're chewing gum, make sure to use one of their cute little gum things (in the sugar caddy) to dispose of it before you eat. They are so cute! My only regret is that we got here a little before Happy Hour and had not realized it until after we ordered, but that's our bad. I'll be back for it! Really amazing place! Check it out for yourself!
(5)PJ G.
So let's start with Margarita's. My girlfriend may divorce me unless I figure out the recipe for the blood orange margarita. I have one suggestion as a foodie, braised beef tacos. It's like going to grandma's house in a taco shell. If it was my house, I'd serve these with poblano mashed potatoes and a dollop of sour cream. Joyride nailed this one! #boom #braisedbeeftacos #tograndmashouseinatacoshell
(5)Mike L.
My wife and I stopped in for an early dinner on Father's Day and were glad we did! Loved the casual vibe and I'm sure when they open up the windows (too hot in June so they were closed) it's an even more perfect atmosphere for tacos and margs. Speaking of margs I'm not a huge fan but I had a sip of my wife's blood orange marg and it was ridiculously good. The street corn was right up there with the best I've had and we loved the braised beef taco (we also shared the crispy fish and the standard which were good but the beef was by far our fav). Can't wait to go back for taco tuesday!
(5)Milo N.
What a funky fun place! Inside is huge, patio is huge. The staff is awesome, the guac is the best I have had. Beer selection was average but overall this placed rocked! I had an amazing salad that was wonderful! As a first time patron they treated me very special. I will be back there soon!
(5)Chris Q.
Yesterday was my first experience at Joyride. I had shrimp and grilled fish tacos and tortilla soup. The tacos are amazing! The soup was good but not great but still worth trying. The atmoshere and food make this a great place to eat.
(4)D. Michael C.
Seriously good Happy Hour spot! Lunch specials are amazing, and only $10 which was more than enough to fill me up. Friendly and attentive staff - even when the place is packed.
(5)Sam S.
I was recently invited to a gathering here which I was thrilled about due to many great experiences at joyride. We sat on the patio near the beautiful fireplace ready to enjoy our fall evening with friends. I'm loving the music here! Our server was Trevor and he repeatedly let us down through the evening. He was super slow to take orders and we had been sitting quite a while before he welcomed us or even took drink orders. When ordering, I inquire if they have Chambord. He does not know but says he will check- he takes all the drink orders and when everyone gets drinks around us we do not see any for us. When he runs by a few minutes later I ask "no Chambord?" Which he gives me deer in the headlights... I'm like "just give me the house margarita!!" The guy next to me gets his 2nd margarita before I get my first. He does finally explain the bar is backed up- but still takes no ownership or makes any apology. A simple "thank you for your patience" would have made a world of difference. Just the servers knowing what spirits and liquors they have in stock would be great!!!!!! The nachos were quite good as well as the chicken, crispy fish, and shrimp tacos. Unfortunately the rice & beans came out way after the tacos were eaten. Of course when it comes time to pay trevor tries to give me card to some random guy... Who tries to give a card that says Samantha to a guy? Trevor is a lackadaisical finger pointer with the memory of a goldfish. As a business manager I would not have him interacting with clients.
(3)Steve W.
Freebie salsa was fruity and spicy - habanero? Tasty! Was talked into the Beast burrito, fried and smothered in a cheese sauce - definitely won't make THAT better myself! Tacos pricey at 3-4.50 each, but good. Service awesome, cool, hipster staff and crowd, not pretentious. I'll be back
(4)Ken O.
First time here and not the last. The corn was Amazing can't wait to return for more. The music is great the scenery quite unique and entertaining. It is a happening and busy place.
(5)Tennille B.
This place was just ok for me. The drink meme was limited, nachos short and staff was rude. We sat outside which is a better option on a Friday as you get a personal waitress...the bar is still slow.
(3)Tiffany B.
My favorite restaurant in Central Phoenix! The first time I came in I mentioned i was new to town so the manager sent over an order of nachos on the house. I have since been back MANY times and have had an awesome experience so far. For tacos my faves are the baja fish, crispy fish, but the best is the standard. The chicken burrito is surprising with an amazing blend of flavors and the sidewalk chilaquiles are amazing. Great margaritas, not super strong but only $5 on happy hour. Taco Tuesdays are great for cheap tacos. Joyride uses group service so the wait staff is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, I have enjoyed very different experiences from the bar, to the main restaurant, to the patio. A MUST for anyone looking for small bites and great drinks.
(5)T D.
Visiting from Austin, TX! Wanted to check this place out last Xmas but they hadn't opened yet. You had to know this was my first stop in town once the hangover from the drive was gone. Went with my boy Bry and little one E! LOVED that they were kid friendly and offered a menu and the bonus upon delivery of his meal. A temporary tattoo was a fabulous bonus! Bry and I had 3 tacos each. Loved the build out! Upward does a great job paying attention to detail and branding. That's no secret. Loved their standard margarita (we had two each). The Pork taco was great! Service was awesome as EVERYONE in the building was attentive to our needs! HUGE plus in my book being a restaurant owner. Chips and Salsa - okay. Fish Taco - flavorless. Other tacos were okay. This place gets high marks for service and overall concept. You always want to feel transported when you dine out. I was truly happy with the destination I landed in. Its one ride I would take again and again! Keep it up Joyride and cannot wait to visit you again later in the week!
(4)Sharon M.
We come here every Sunday for the best "high roller"margarita in town. The service is always A plus, music is great and the food is delish!!! YeeHawwww!!
(5)Scott W.
Met here for Smunch right about opening time. Without even getting in to the food the feel of the place was great. Spring was in the air and the doors were open to the patio with more seating out there. Our service was great the whole time for a party of around 10. We had a large enough group several items on the menu got tried. I had the enchiladas and they let me have one of each. They were both good. Normally they serve it with both red and green sauce, next time I would ask for all red as I preferred it. The salsas and guacamole were great. The only thing lackluster to me was the beans. Of those that had tacos it seemed like the fish came in last with shredded beef winning the day. All of them were good, just in different degrees. This is just a wonderful spot to gather on a spring day in Phoenix.
(4)Crystal D.
Great atmosphere, service was excellent, stopped by about 40 min prior to closing and no one ever made you feel rushed. The reason for this review is the cucumber orange salad! It was delicious, I know it's considered a side but it was amazing. I was meeting up with friends and wanted something light it exceeded my expectations. The veggie taco was quite delightful as well.
(4)Gary W.
Cinco de Mao lunch. Busy and on top of it! Had Nachos. Really great taste with "blanco sauce". My friend, who does NOT eat Mexican food.... Enjoyed his combo plate. Upbeat vibe! Everyone from hosts, bartenders, and bussers were friendly and attentive. The manager was working with the crew. I'm in the food business and don't leave reviews often. Looking around here, the experienced staff were engaged with each other (teamwork) and anticipating needs of guests! Must say, very happy with my visit!
(5)Kyle S.
This family of a restaurant always exceeds our expectations. They all share in the responsibility of making sure we are comfortable. The wait was slightly shorter than quoted but the waiting area with misters made life easy, even with the infant. There was a second overflow wait area with similar accommodations on the other side of the bar. Someone brought us waters and chips while we waited. A server came buy to grab our drink order. Once we had our table the host met us on the walk over there and our tab was combined without question. EASY! This happens every time we come in. The food was perfect. Bean burrito and rice for the little one, enchiladas for myself and tacos for the lady. Had a little elote as a snack and life was good. Love this place.
(5)Jason G.
The food and the service here are amazing. I got the Bandit Plate and my friend got tamales. The flavors were perfectly balanced and incredible. We got the brownie with dulce de leche ice cream and is one of the best desserts I have ever had. The chips were fresh and the salsa has just the right amount of heat. Trevor is an terrific server - attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Everyone from the hostess to the bussers were all very polite and helpful. I would go back in a heartbeat - if the rest of the food is as good as what we had, you would never go wrong.
(5)Ginny T.
Nice ambiance, pleasant service. Everyone pitches in to make sure customers are hydrated & fed (warm chips/salsa). We ordered a standard taco (slow roasted chicken), carnitas (pork) taco, fish taco, and the braised beef taco along with black beans. All of which were quite yummy. I also tried their Cucumber- Serrano margarita - refreshing with a kick of heat - loved it! Overall a nice experience. Check it out :)
(4)Brad S.
I came with my wife and baby at 230 and ordered 3 tacos and it came with a side I never got the happy hour menu and I really wish the waiter informed that it was happy hour before I ordered. Besides that my server was really busy and I could tell. But the food was amazing 5 stars. That happy hour menu is one of the best I've ever seen. The atmosphere is fun and trendy kind of had that 80's cool vibe.
(4)Sergio V.
So if you have been gere, more than likely you have come back ... but next time sit in a booth or table .. bartenders have too much going on that they miss you until 15 minutes later. Good beer deal before 5 pm. ... but sit at a table/booth and you'll get better service.
(3)Jayne G.
Had an awesome lunch here today. I got the machaca burrito and my husband got the beast burrito chimi style. I recommend their burritos. The chimi style means deep fried burrito. You can also glaze your burritos with cheese!! Awesome! This is my second time here and I remember not enjoying their tacos last year so I didn't order them this time.
(5)Nicki E.
I'm so thankful Upward Projects - the restaurant-building brand that brought the Valley favorites such as Postino, Windsor and Federal Pizza - finally opened a Mexican food joint with their Gilbert spot Joyride Taco House. The Central Phoenix version debuted last month, and I went there this weekend to sit on the colorful expansive patio in this gorgeous Valley weather. The décor and menu at Phoenix's Joyride is the same as the Gilbert location. I love Joyride's chips and salsa. The salsa is the perfect level of spiciness, while the chips are thin. They're the perfect way to start your meal. At both locations, I ordered the Veggie and Goat Cheese Enchiladas ($9) - they were just so darn good the first time! They come smothered in both red ancho chile and salsa verde sauce and are bursting with that delicious goat cheese. It's a really massive entrée, but I still ordered a side of rice ($3) and black beans ($3) - am I the only one who thinks rice and beans need to complement every Mexican meal? That is actually probably the one thing I would change here: make the entrée portions smaller (for example, one enchilada was plenty for me), and add rice and beans to meals. As it is now, I received two complete meals with what I ordered - at only $15, that's not bad, either.
(4)Pamela V.
Fun, hip, yummy & local! Crispy fish tacos + mango margarita with chili salt = awesome happy hour!
(5)Jesse H.
Love this restaurant. I went with a group of friends for Taco Tuesday. We were a group of 9 and they seated us super quickly which was amazing. They have $2 tacos and $5 margaritas! They were DELICIOUS! Our server was Carn and she was the best, so patient and so nice. I will definitely return, no doubt. Especially for Taco Tuesday. The environment is great, it's a little noisy, but not too bad at all and they were playing the best music. If you haven't been yet, go! They're right next to Postinos and Federal Pizza, which I will be trying next!!
(3)Trisha W.
Yummy in my tummy! Enjoyed every bite of the chips & salsa they bring to the table, the guac, the quesadilla with peppers & onions...delicious and I can't wait to go back! Ps, the service was great, friendly & quick (in a good way!).
(5)Abby B.
Went there the other day with my family that was on town... 9 of us. Didn't know it was happy hour but man that sure worked out awesome for us. Two dollar tacos and five dollar margaritas and pitchers. We all ate and drank a lot and for 9 adults it was only 115$ that's amazing. Love it!
(4)Ashley Q.
Love this place! Attentive staff, always thoughtful and great service and food. A definite must! I can always count on a good experience here!!!
(5)O T.
Specifically, the tacos and atmosphere are great!
(4)Cameron Q.
Meh. Chips and salsa are good, as far as street tacos and the majority of the food, it's alright. The atmosphere is what sells this place.
(4)Tyrone F.
Braised beef taco and fried fish taco!! The restaurant opened recently and I think it's gonna be one of the new trendy places to go to this year. It was very busy when 4 of us went and waited about a half hour on a Friday night. It was our first time there and the ceviche really stood out so we tried to order that but the server said they sold the last one, but recommended the tuna stack. It was good, and makes me curious what the ceviche would be like. So, they have this deal in the menu, when you order three tacos, you get a side for free. I chose the braised beef, the fried fish taco, and the chicken taco with a lime aioli sauce and the rice on the side. I didn't like the chicken at all, but the braised beef was juicy and succulent and yum!! My friend also states the grilled fish taco was great too! But he didn't like the carne asada, it was too sweet, he said. He also ordered pinto beans as his side but the server said the last one sold out too, so he settled for black beans The servers were all really busy but still very Attentitive. I took off a star because of the food that wasn't available and because when a different server brought out our food, they only brought 8 tacos and I said we ordered nine and we had to straighten it out with the original server first before they brought out the last taco. Just a tiny hiccup in an otherwise seamless night. They also have unique drink choices. They have these juices from freshly squeezed fruits which can be served with alcohol. I tried the cucumber mint with gin and it was very refreshing!
(4)Yvette J.
3.5 stars... started my night out here while attending a foodie happy hour event. A drink and appetizers were included in our ticket. The food that had (nachos and a chicken quesadilla) was eh..not good..not bad..just eh... the guacamole saved my night there...chips and guacamole was really all I needed and once it was gone so was I. I don't drink but ordered my "free drink" that came with my ticket and ordered the pineapple mojito. Knowing I was giving it to a friend anyways I took one sip and it was way too strong and bitter..and it wasn't the i don't drink so it was strong kind of bitter..it was just bitter. My friend thinking I was just being dramatic tried the drink and had the same reaction and at the same time we both said..it's like it has tonic water in instead of club soda or soda water...she took another drink to make sure. Went back to her watermelon Margarita which she says was fabulous and I went back to water...guacamole ran out and so did we...round the corner to souther rail...eh...
(3)Gina C.
Waitstaff is awesome, caters to 8 yr old requests :) food and ambiance wonderful too!
(5)Amy Q.
Went here for a business lunch and so glad this was the spot chosen! I love their lunch special which is choice of soup/salad and two tacos of your choice. This is the perfect amount of food. This time I had the crispy fish taco and the carne asada taco then the Ensalada Fila salad. I ate every last bite of it all. The side salad or soup is a very generous portion as well...all that for $9. The service is always great and they do really pay attention to the lunch hour time crunch. I cannot wait to go back and try more items!
(4)Karn H.
I love this place!! The food is great the garden variety burrito is so good. The way the bar is set up is so nice . It's a really cool spot to sit and hang. And they have the best specials!!!! 5 till 5 and taco Tuesday!!!! What more you need
(5)Mike S.
I returned thanks to the courtesy of the project manager and this time I was eating meat . The fish and shrimp tacos were pretty good , rice and beans still need a little work but was overall satisfied with the food atmosphere and great management to customer service .
(3)Amber M.
I couldn't stop saying how good my food was during my meal! I enjoyed my chimichanga, my margarita and was in love with the lamps! Our waiter even treated us to Mexican corn... although I don't like corn, I ate some because it was so thoughtful! We need a Joyride in LA!
(5)Lisa Monique C.
For my first time, I decided to go full out. I ordered a pineapple agua fresca, a carne asada quesadilla, and three carne asada tacos with joy rice. Chips and salsa were complimentary. My pineapple juice was great! Just the right amount of sweetness! Chips and salsa were okay. It needed more spice and flavor. The salsa tasted sweet to me. My carne asada quesadilla was BOMB! Probably the best food item I ordered. I got my meal about 35 minutes later. The waitress took forever with everything and I didn't like the tacos. The meat had a teriyaki flavor to them topped with some more sweet salsa. I disliked them very much. The rice was better than the tacos, but still tasted off. The decoration was nice. The atmosphere was clean. The best way I could describe this place was "Mexican food with a hippie twist." If that's what they were going for, they nailed it. This place would not be my first choice or on my list to go to again.
(1)Neko S.
The ambiance was awesome! Had a couple tacos, baja and carnitas, excellent taste. The shrimp ceviche was citrus rich. Did a pitcher of their market beer. Dined on the patio, quick service.
(5)Ruben G.
Loved the friendly staff. Food was great. Have to love the carne asada. Will defenetly comeback for more.
(5)Barnabas L.
It was okay. I had high hopes since the other restaurants there from the same owner are well established. I also prefer authentic mexican food, this is more new gourmet mexican, wasn't bad just not my preference. I did only get a burrito which was mighty fine in its own right. Would i come back? Yes. Do i crave it? No
(3)Shigeru Y.
I don't care much for their menu, but the carne asada (steak) quesadilla I ended up ordering was HUGE and very tasty! The waitress was attentive. The leftovers were great. Oh, and parking here was surprisingly easy in their lot (no need to go to the overflow across the street). However, I will never go back here as the music was turned up to a deafening level and was blasting some type of screaming-as-lyrics type noise "music" that was painful. The restaurant was also packed, so people were yelling OVER the yelling "music" which made me want to just leave, which I would have if I wasn't with my mother (who thankfully is getting a little hard of hearing and so was saved from some of the horrendous experience). I feel a weekend lunch is supposed to be a relaxing affair, and not feel like a night club! If this was management-approved music, and not some employee's iPod plugged in to the sound system, I disagree with their "mood/environment" choice and will just have to stick with Federal Pizza next door.
(2)Sunny B.
I've been to Joyride a few times now and Upward has done it again. They have built a little Monopoly in my hood and I couldn't be happier. Both times I have been here I rode my bike, they have ample bike parking and a big patio. The bar is gorgeous with the stained glass vases and the concept of the restaurant is very laid back and open. I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time here when I can pull myself away from the Windsor. I also love that they honor the Upward tradition of $5 till $5 on pitchers and wine. The tacos are street style and with so many street style tacos shop these days it is hard to find something phenomenal on the menu. That being said though everything I tried was very good. The carne, the nachos and the salsa will all keep me coming back for more. I'd love to see them do brunch!
(4)Vince S.
Loved the Happy Hour menu. The Crispy Fish and Pork Adobada tacos were tasty and the Cucumber-Serrano Margaritas were killer good. All in all, a great spot with great food, great service and a fun vibe!
(5)Lori S.
We love Joyride and had only been to the Gilbert location until today. The service (Vanessa and a nice gal who wanted to buy my necklace-lol) was great. I tried the cucumber Serrano margaritas which were awesome (not too sweet and rimmed with a chipotle salt) and the tacos of course were amazing, Yum!
(5)Kay K.
Hands down the best street tacos I have ever had. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Great date spot.
(5)Sarah M.
Wow, this place was seriously amazing! My friend and I went after work for Happy Hour and because we remembered their tacos at the Devoured festival. Our server Taryn was also super sweet and friendly, and answered all of our questions. I ended up getting the crispy fish taco, which turned out to be the best taco I've ever eaten! Also, because we got there before 4pm, we got to take part in their lunch special, (2 tacos and a small bowl of soup or salad for $10)! I also got a $5 Mexican 75 cocktail and it was so good, I didn't even realize I'd had the whole thing in less than 5 minutes! Definitely added to my list of favorite places, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Colleen L.
Service is brutal!! Although friendly and seem helpful we sat on patio Tuesday Nov 25 for late lunch and it was 20-30 minutes before our bar drink arrived, water glasses empty and or waiting for straw or ice cubes. Over an hour and a half passed and I had to flag down a guy to see about ordering !! God took forever and waitress was nowhere to be found. When I was sat on patio I saw five other tables Sat at the same time!! No help to patio waitress To get water, drinks or orders . I had a waiter come up to our table three times asking if the food in his hand was ours and each time we said no but wished as our waitress had not been to our table to take order!!! Every table on patio had to demand check as the waitress was no where to be found to deliver it! ( u have cameras !! Watch them!!) Upward project has a lovely concept of Pooling tips And everyone taking Care of the table/ customer but what happens way too much is The one waiter thinks the other waiter has it! Bar service at Windsor is Five Stars and patio only at central - key players make experience awesome and what what I have grown to know over the last five + years
(1)Cyn V.
Thanks you Upward Projects...you make it so hard to go back to work after hanging out at your cool and hip Mexican joint. I feel like I'm on a Mexican vacation when I visit here and all I need is a sombrero and a cabana boy. I love getting away from work and coming back here for lunch. Great decor and amazing patio to enjoy when the weather is perfect. Now let's talk about the tacos... Lots of a great variety to choose from. My favorite are the crispy fish and the braised beef street tacos. Can't go wrong with anything you order here. The salsa also has a great kick to it. Make it your next lunch stop or hot spot... It will leave you and you belly happy and satisfied.
(4)Zach H.
What a great combination of great food and service! It was an unexpectedly busy Sunday, 8/16, night yet the manager handled it like a pro. As is was my birthday my Father had come in earlier in the day asking to reserve a table and the manager said 'no need, we will have plenty of space tonight'. Whoops...Yet the Sunday night manager rectified everything quickly and with a smile. The food was delicious, and this is the second time I have been here and they are 2 for 2. I have no doubt they will be 3 for 3 after my next visit for some of those nachos and a beast burrito....also Victory IPA on tap, nice work.
(5)Anu M.
The food and the service were great. They have tasty vegetarian options, which is very exciting to me. This will definitely be a place I regularly visit.
(5)Loren C.
I love this place - great decor, awesome music, friendly wait staff and tasty food and cocktails. We brought some Joyride virgins with us and they loved it. The highlights were Pork Carnitas, Chilaquiles, pinto beans and Guacamole.
(4)Andrea S.
Way better than Blanco if you're looking for Americanized Mexican food. The salsa isn't spicy enough that they bring out with the chips, but ask for the habanero instead if you like spicy food and they will gladly oblige. I have never had an issue with service. Always been prompt and polite. The tacos are great and the food is moderately priced. Nice ambiance too. Perfect spot for a date night or girls' night out.
(4)Alison T.
Pretty delicious! We've tried the gilbert location when they first opened and liked it, so we knew it would be good. We came here with another couple to have some drinks and tacos. And boy did we have those drinks and tacos! Lol $58 dollars later, full of tacos and with a tipsy boyfriend it was time to head out. We tried the carnitas, shrimp, carne asada, and crispy fish tacos. All of them were seriously good. My malibu and pineapple drink wasn't something I'd order again...it tasted like I was drinking flowers, it was odd. But my man drank that along with his two long island iced teas which he said was different but still good. Fyi, in the 5 years we've been together I've never seen this man order anything but a good quality beer, so that was strange! After some hilarious and raunchy wonderings of what "white magic" was (remember, tipsy people) we learned it was a delicious lime aioli-baja type sauce. MmmmmMm. Also their chips and salsa are sooooo good! We basically all filled up on that before dinner. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is that their sides are very disappointing, nothing special about them at all and everything is a bit pricey here. We'd definitely be back. This is a perfect place for yummy food while you're having some drinks with great friends.
(4)Mitchell R.
This place was good! Chips and salsa never bore me. Don't expect to get the authentic Mexican tacos from here. But the flavors were tasty, great combinations. Would definitely go back on a Tuesday. $2 tacos. One happy camper! :)
(5)Bill O.
Great setting. Inspired food. Generous portions. Really good music. Friendly, approachable team. Will be back.
(5)+TheGeneralofHope +.
This restaurant was retro 1960's in decor and super fun! The food was superb and the service was phenomenal! I highly recommend this establishment. I went there for lunch but it looks like they have a great happy hour as well. A solid 5 stars!
(5)Brittany W.
Excellent happy hour tacos to fuel a day of bike riding. $2 tacos and endless chips served by friendly staff, and with quality ingredients. Easily made vegan friendly for those seeking dairy and meat free options.
(4)Beverly N.
Most everything is cooked in house making the options for dietary restrictions is easy to accommodate. Nice selection of gluten free food. I live in florida and found joyride online and emailed them requesting information on gluten free options and the manager emailed me back with a very thorough and nice response. The staff was AMAZING, so friendly, wish I could frequent this establishment all the time!
(5)Brian J.
Being from the east coast I was hoping to get some really good authentic Mexican food. I'm not sure I found that here, but what I did find was fabulous. Great retro styling and a lively atmosphere make for a comfortable setting. I had time on both of my visits to try a couple different Aguas Frescas my favorite was pineapple with tequila. Highlights were, the pork taco and tortilla soup. Both were amazing! The cucumber salad gets an honorable mention as well. The could have been a little better, was the Baja fish taco. It was a bit boring in taste. If I'm ever back in Phoenix I will be stopping back for a great time.
(5)Monica A.
Awesome place! The food and drinks are delicious and the staff is friendly:) definitely will return! They have courtesy valet fri night be sure to bring cash to tip the guys!!
(5)Andy A.
One of my new favorite spots here in Central Phoenix. The Space: So happy that Upward Projects has added the necessary parking lot among their complex of restaurants along central avenue. Granted there's the Valet available for Joyride but I'm sure none of the valets are enjoying parking an old 96' Geo Prizm :P There is street parking available as well for those of you not wanting to valet if the parking lot is full across the street. The overall space is fun, energetic, and retro. Beautiful geometric tile work along the walls, fun lighting fixtures above the bar and on the walls, a beautiful patio with fireplace, and a glass wall open during the winter months to create a true indoor/outdoor dining experience. Much of the inside of the restaurant is taken up by a large wrap around bar with several booths and tables set up around the perimeter. Service: During most of my experiences I have had excellent service! Staff usually contributes to the laid-back, fun atmosphere by getting comfortable with guests at the table and engaging in conversation - not just taking our order. Every once and a while (primarily when the restaurant is slammed) service tends to lack a little - for understandable reasons. Food and Drinks: Most speciality cocktails are regularly priced at $9. The cocktails are generous pours and mostly tequila based. Fun cocktails including a cucumber-serano drink. Food has always been excellent! From the variety of delicious tacos to choose from to the large burritos the food has always been on point. My personal favorite is the Nachos with Chicken Tinga - certainly more food than one person needs but I can never stop myself!! Head on over to Joyride for a fun, casual dinning experience with everything to offer: atmosphere, service, food, and drinks!
(5)Laura H.
I have now been here twice. Both times with groups 6-10 in size. I love the restaurant group for their fantastic decor and mood, but the service is TERRIBLE! Both times now it has taken 20+ minutes to get a drink. Our waitress tonight never asked if we wanted appetizers (which we did because they are fantastic). Drinks were never refilled. I had to flag her down to order a second drink. I wish I ever got her name so she could know how horrible she was. The tacos are very good. I had a sandwhich tonight and regretted it. I would go back to tacos next time. They are overpriced for what you get, but they have great flavor. The appetizers are all fantastic. I don't know if I would even order of the real menu anymore. I want this place to be so much better, but it just isn't.
(3)Cynthia Q.
I like flavor and the carne asada had ZERO flavor. The restaurant is very nice and the spiked agua fresca was awesome. BUT the food has no flavor. Good for drinks not for food. Chips and salsa are ok.
(1)Austin B.
Creative tacos that are flavorful and fresh. Thoughtful cocktails that pair nicely with many entree options. Staff is laid back and casual which sets a comfortable mood for the restaurant. My first visit I ordered enchiladas which was a poor choice as I did not enjoy them very much. However, the second time that I have been there, I ordered a variety of tacos and I was very satisfied. Additionally, the build out of the restaurant is funky and cool.
(5)courtney c.
Been here twice and had horrible service each time. First time, we waited 45 minutes before a server came to our table to get our drink order. We had to get up and flag someone down. Then of course after that, we had multiple servers coming up asking if we had been helped yet... I think it's because they pool tips and don't have table sections... They all are either redundant or no where to be found. Second time I went it was one of the strangest experiences I've ever had... Ever. We were asked THREE times by multiple servers if we had a safe way to get home,but instead of them asking it that way, they gave us long dance-around-the-issue schpeels about the community and how they want to keep it safe. We told em we were light railing home and lived down the street.... they were obviously worried about us drinking and driving. Even after that, thy still failed to being us our last round... Without actually telling us they were cutting us off. We each had three drinks and dinner and had been there for three hours. Then we had to get up and ask for the bill TWICE because no one ever came back to our table after three of them had bomboarded us with questions at separate times.
(1)David L.
The decor stands out, like the over sized glass vases behind the bar, large Art Deco globular lights and majestic mahogany used in our round table is outstanding. The bench seat, means we get to sit close. I love that. Well done. Joyride is part of the Federal Pizza, Postino, Windsor, Churn owners that are branching into Mexican food. Tonight I started with a Green Flash Summer Saison bomber, $12. Brewed in California, a 4.5% true to style, Saison. French farmers would serve their workers this style, hence the low alcohol level. I love the unfiltered, rustic nature, damn good! My babes got a margarita $9 Next came chips and a green salsa. I enjoy these like I haven't eaten in days, so good. Our entree was the roasted chicken burrito. Absolutely superb.
(4)Jessica Z.
Paleo language is a difficult one to translate to Mexican food. While much of the cuisine is beans, rice and cheese much of it is also fresh and full of flavor. Joyride offers an impressive taco menu. I was nervous to ask if I could order sans the taco shells- oh and sans cheese- oh and gluten free. Our bartender immediately reassured me it was NO PROBLEMO at all to accommodate my needs! I had three kinds of tacos the way I wanted along with a side of fresh guacamole and cucumber+orange salad. All freshly made and full of fresh herbs and veggies. Gracias Kate and Joyride!!
(4)Erin H.
I ate at this location and the one in Gilbert while on a business trip to Phoenix. Both times were home runs! Service is spot on, ambiance is excellent (don't let the word hipster scare you!), and the food is fantastic. Our server at this location was Trevor and he was so great... helpful and personable! I would eat here every time I'm back in Phoenix! Get the brownie sundae... it will change your life!!
(5)Ashley T.
Blood orange margarita is amazing! The tacos were good except no one at our table liked the shrimp taco. I can't wait to try this place again! Great salsa and atmosphere.
(4)Kassee B.
Drinks were ok. I asked for not very sweet but a spicy Cucumber Serrano so my drink was quite sweet w no heat. I just got tequila for the second one for 10 bucks. I ordered the veggie burrito to go with no aioli , put it on the side. Nothing came out on the side so I confirmed w my server there was no white magic (lime aioli ugh mayo) but I got home and it was smothered with it. So disappointing. I ate it and now feel ill because it just taste like mayo on a burrito. Exactly what I did not want. Also our bill was padded with an extra drink we didn't have. I won't be back. Nice atmosphere cool vibe.
(2)Erin W.
Joy for Joyride! I'm obsessed with the food, especially the "standard" taco, which is really sort of a misnomer because there is nothing basic about it. It's flavorful and divine! Nothing here is greasy or overdone-- the food is fresh and light but very, very tasty. I also love the carnitas taco, and the cheese dip appetizer is to die for. It's topped with fresh jalapenos, other peppers, and tomatoes/ onions. Soooooo yummy. The atmosphere is casual, fun, and very social. I also love that it's a Mexican joint but they play great indie tunes. No mariachi! My only complaint about the layout is the seating in the lounge patio where you wait for your table. There are these little poof seats that put your arse right at the same height as the table and they're uncomfortable. Yes, this is a very picky little thing but I'm trying to keep myself honest and not just give an all-glowing review. If you love fresh and light Mexican food, give Joyride a try!
(5)Jaime T.
Food was awesome..it took our server a minute to get to us...but they were busy..so not a big deal..highly recommend the blood orange margaritas and raspberry ancho margaritas
(4)Michael Z.
We have been to joyride about 5 or 6 times since becoming vegetarian. Food is wonderful and the service is typically good. They have a wonderful vegi taco and there salsa is very tasty. Top all of that off with the pinto beans and it's a wonderful meal. I took my mom for Mother's Day and the parents were very impressed. This is a must visit place.
(5)Jeff M.
Not a bad place, just not up to par with their other offerings like Windsor and Federal Pizza. I've been twice now, and tried several of their tacos. I think the Cochinita Pibil was my favorite so far, and the sweetness of the pineapple made it stand out. None of the tacos were bad, but no other ones particularly stood out. On my first trip I had the Cucumber Serrano cocktail, which I quite liked. On the second trip I went with the house margaritas, which were pretty nice by house marg standards. The decor was nice, and the service was good both times, so no real complaints there. But if you're in that area looking for a tasty, relaxing bite and a drink I think you'll do better at Postinos overall.
(3)Emina L.
I returned to the Joy Ride tonight after trying it out last week for the first time & I received amazing service tonight. The staff tonight was excellent, knowledgable, & my tortilla-less & cheese-less burrito was on the house. Thank you. Lets rewind back to last Saturday though, when I tried Joy Ride for the first time. Before I agreed to meet up w/ my family there I called to see if Joy Ride had vegan options, I was informed that they did & I made my way to the restaurant. We had a lovely waitress that late afternoon & prior to ordering I wanted her to be aware that I was a vegan, meaning I do not consume meat, dairy, or any animal byproducts. She went over the menu w/ me & recommended the veggie tacos, she said they would be an excellent choice for me as the white/magic sauce was vegan. I was so happy to hear that I had options. I had asked her what kind of tortilla comes w/ the tacos & she said corn but They also have a flour tortilla options which also fit my dietary needs, per waitress. Perfect. I ordered one taco as the veggies are pre-stir fried & they were unable to accommodate to my request asking for them raw, which was okay. I was satisfied w/ my one taco, I even picked some of the cucumber salad from my brother, which was a nice touch to my meal as well. I was pretty happy. Tonight I learned that my lovely waitress was rather uneducated & spoke out of her a_s. I went back tonight on a casual date w/ my boyfriend who had just finished a 12 hour day at work. I wanted it to be all about him tonight & I thought Joy Ride would be perfect for both of us since he has never been there before. I went in & decided to go w/ the same order I had last time, since I was already reassured last Saturday of what my vegan options are. For some reason, something told me to make my waiter aware of my dietary restrictions prior to ordering. As I told my waiters that I was vegan, we had two, one of them recommended the tacos for me but w/o the white/magic sauce, my eyes lit up, "Why not, is the sauce not vegan friendly?" He informed me that the sauce has egg whites & it is NOT vegan. I decided not to say anything b/c it was my b/f's night. Our other waiter came back to see if we were ready to order, I informed him I would take the tacos w/o the sauce & I will take it in a flour tortilla. He then informed me that the tortilla contains lard. Oh my. Then I spoke up. I informed him that when I was here last week, I was misguided & misinformed & that I had consumed both the tortilla AND the sauce. He was so apologetic & I can tell he was concerned. BUT, like I said, it was my b/f's night, I'm done being mad for the damage that has already happened. I ordered my food as I stated earlier & my b/f left happy, that's all I wanted. As to the Joy Ride, I will not return. I do NOT understand how LIGHTLY a persons dietary restrictions are taken. I am a vegan by choice but I also do have an allergy to egg, I even have a doctors note which is why I cannot receive a flu shot for work. I don't remember how I was feeling after I left the restaurant last Saturday so I doubt that little sauce had a major impact on me. Thank goodness. I do not have an allergy to dairy or meat, so consuming the tortilla was not harmful to me other than the fact it is against my beliefs. There could have been more damage should I have consumed more, or maybe if I ordered more than one taco, or if my allergies were more severe. It's unbelievable to me how restaurants take this so lightly & how staff can just so confidently answer something that they are not aware of. I'm VERY disappointed but this is not the first time this has happened to me. I also doubt it will be the last time. I feel like I just want to be DONE w/ some of these restaurants. Joy Ride, I am very done w/ you. I do thank the wonderful staff for the service TONIGHT & I appreciate their knowledge, as for the other girl, she doesn't deserve her job.
(1)Catalina C.
Amazing tacos! ! You get a free side with an order of 3 tacos. I had the carne, standard, fish, Shrimp, adobada and carnitas. The cucumber and orange salad is super fresh and tasty. James the bartender was friendly, helpful and nice. Definitely try the pineapple mojito, fresh and not super sweet.and if you like Margaritas try the blood orange. And close it off with some churros and add the caramel sauce. Won't be disappointed! !
(5)Erin O.
Whos got two thumbs and really likes this place.. This guy! I didnt give it a 5 star because it really takes alot to.... wait. I dont have to justify my Yelps to you or anybody! ;0) Went with the kiddies. Yummy Guacamole.... (could be a slightly bigger dish.) Its great place. We had fast service. Pricing is reasonable. Atmosphere was cool. Im a big fan of places that dont have uniforms on the staff. This is one such place.
(4)Steve V.
This is a real cool place to take a pit stop. This is the old Aiellos Italian restaurant (a place I really liked) and I have to tell you they did a fantastic job of converting it. Top notch, complete with co-ed bathrooms. The happy hour is very appealing as well, and I would say this is a great place to stop in and have lunch (or what the heck, start your friday night). Chips and salsa were very tasty, and the guacamole dip (with sliced jalapeños - brilliant)! Good five dollar pitcher specials (sorry, I am never one of those helpful people that can quote you what the time frames are) but I think 11-5). But worth looking into. Couple things I will say on the negative side (yeah I know, wish ever review could be positive and amazing), the cheese-mas dip (basically cheese queso) was okay, but NWTC (not worth the calories in my opinion). Tacos - if you love tacos and are really a connessieur, you might not love these. The crunchy fish taco was okay, but really just like eating a fish-stick on a tortilla if you know what i mean. Good, but not a huge fan. The other tacos (carnitas, chicken tinga, and baja fish) were so-so, didn't seem to be served very warm and for me, just lackluster taste overall. Alcohol - I tried the "hi-ball margarita" (supposedly their version of the cadillac as I was informed) in my opinion is (how can I say this nicely) not the greatest value. Try one and see if you agree. I think they need to up their game in this area. So at the end of the day, I love the location, love what they have done with the place, great vibe, staff is friendly and very energetic, MUSIC ROCKS (possibly best in town, loud but I like it that way) and so I find myself a big fan, but looking for a go-to meal that I can call my own. Yes, I will be back hunting for that in round 2 and open to any great suggestions. And by the way guys, you need to sell some cool t-shirts (love bright colors, great to promote your brand), and give discounts to bike riders. We like to ride our bikes with friends!! Have fun, and find your sizzle! Attorney Steve, the business and real estate lawyer. attorneysteve.net
(4)Kelly M.
So I previously posted a excellent review, but I will have to rescind that review for my dinner experience. We had a less than enthusiastic waitress who was rude. This was clear as she sighed after every request and made it seem like it every request was super inconvenient. We weren't impressed by the salsa so we asked if they had other salsas. She brings out three and never mentions that she is charging us two dollars for every small bowl of salsa. We didn't like any of these any better than the first (but were charged $6 for the three salsas). Because I had had such a good experience before, I was hoping my friend would be equally impressed and love the food. We ordered the Bandito thinking that would be plenty of food for us to share. It was and it was delicious, but we were disappointed that we were charged $2 for every plate of four small corn tortillas when it's clearly evident that four is not enough. (Also not told about this charge). For desert, I decided to spurge and get the churros. Churros were average, but you'll want to skip the chocolate and Carmel sauce ( which has no resemblence of a sweet taste and tastes a bit what I would imagine battery acid to taste like). I was shocked at the bill and decided to pay it and leave. We were not told about multiple additional charges on my bill. I was not in the mood to argue, but my friend was and the manager did a good job of attempting to make it right. Joyride has great food. Still bad services overrides any desire any desire to come back to this restaurant and I will not be back.
(3)Jackie M.
You let me down, Yelp! For the first time ever, Yelp has been way off on this one. Like some of the other reviewers, I too am obsessed with Upward Projects restaurants. Which was why I was even more excited to see this new place getting great Yelp reviews. And as we walked in, the ambiance got my hopes even higher. Here's why we are never going back: -Over 30 minute wait, and they don't serve anything but chips and salsa in the cocktail area. It was even more frustrating to see empty tables inside during the entire duration of our wait. Poor service on the patio. -When we were seated, no one greeted us for 5-10 minutes. Very odd, a server finally came up and asked if we were "still doing alright?" Umm since we've been here for over 45 minutes, were ready to order. -Food came up quick but was mediocre at best. A beer I ordered when the food arrived wasn't brought until everyone was done eating. Attitude from the waitress when I sent it back. -At some point during our meal, a waiter approached us confirming he had given the card back from our tab on the patio. We told him he hadn't so he said he would look for it. -While waiting for our bill, at least 4 people asked us if we wanted more chips and salsa. No, but wed like the bill! It finally came but the waitress didn't even make eye contact so we couldn't tell her they still had our card!!! Another 5-10 minutes we finally flag down another server and ask her to find our card. She brings it and takes it with the bill. Several minutes later we see her arranging a table for a large party and wonder where she put our bill. Then our waitress comes and asks where the bill is, and as were pointing out the other server a 3rd server drops it off. This place is certainly some kind of ride! What a mess. Won't be going back.
(1)Erin R.
I had plans to go with a friend to Joyride last night. Yesterday afternoon, I read a review of Joyride in the Phoenix New Times, and it was less than enthusiastic. It basically said that the atmosphere was cool, but the food was all pretty bland. Unfortunately, I have to say that I agree with the reviewer. I arrived around 6:45 on a Wednesday, and there was a 30 minute wait. My friend and I sat at the bar, and the bartender was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a great table that was kind of half inside and half on the patio. The weather was perfect last night, so I definitely enjoyed that. We started off with chips and guac. I read one Yelp review from yesterday that raved about the chips and guac, and, I honestly have no idea why. The chips were very bland, as was the guac. I LOVE good chips and guac, so I was disappointed. I wasn't crazy about the salsa either, which I also thought was bland. Although the New Times review specifically had talked about the fish taco being soggy and fishy, I tried it anyway b/c my friend had ordered them at the Gilbert location and said they were the best fish tacos ever. Well, there must be some disconnect between the two locations, because this fish taco was nothing to write home about. It wasn't soggy, but it was definitely on the fishy side compared to other fried fish tacos I've had, and the white sauce that they put on it was basically flavorless. I also had a carne asada taco, which our waitress said was her favorite. It was pretty good, but nothing special...definitely better than the fish, though. Finally, I had a side of the street corn. I am very picky when it comes to Mexican street corn, and this wasn't great. I don't know what it was, but it almost tasted like mayonnaise. Usually I love the creamy sauce that comes on street corn in restaurants, but I wasn't feeling it at Joyride. I would really like to give Joyride 2.5 stars, but I can't, so I'm rounding up for great service, cool atmosphere, and for the fact that none of the food was awful. I don't think I'll go back, though. Yes, it's a cool atmosphere, but, if I'm going to have to wait half an hour on a Wednesday, I want great food as well. Plus, it was so crowded that my friend and I almost had to yell at each other. I ordered pretty much all the same things at Gallo Blanco last month and was blown away, so I think I'll head there instead next time I'm craving tacos and street corn.
(3)Megan H.
Love this place!!! Love everything on Central!!!! Loved every drink I have tried so far...there spin on the Moscow mule is delish. I have only tried the tacos so far...crispy fish, shrimp and ahi. Very good!! This place will be a regular stop for us I'm sure of it!
(5)Kelsey W.
Had a wonderful experience at Joyride with my girlfriends this weekend! They accommodated a large party and everything was delicious - I had chips/guac, a carnitas taco, and the baja fish taco (my fav). Everyone loved their Moscow Mules (and variations) but I couldn't resist ordering the horchata YUM. Our server was great and the manager Dan is extremely friendly. We will definitely be back!
(5)Libby B.
I wanted to like this place. I love all the other spots from the group who did Joyride. The fresh chips and salsa were good! But the salsa verde we ordered wasn't. I ordered the almond horchata aqua fresca, but they were out. Okay, fine. So I order citrus. Nope. Pineapple? Sorry. The waiter was great and comped the mango one I finally ended up with. The service really was good here, albeit the bar was incredibly slow. As in, took 10-15 minutes each time we ordered drinks. So, onto the food. I got three tacos: carne asada, crispy fish (server's recommendation), and the chicken tikka. The best was the asada. It had a really good flavor and had that same smoked salsa they'd served with the chips. Too many raw white onions. Sadly, it was cold, as were all of my tacos. The chicken tikka really could have been great, but it was cold. The flavors were there, though. The crispy fish: yuck. Fish was cold and flavorless, the sauces had no taste. Wholly disappointing. I had the black beans for my side. They desperately needed salt and some seasoning. My boyfriend got the Mexican slaw. It too lacked flavor. All in all, I was disappointed. I adore Federal and Windsor, so I had high hopes. I definitely see room for improvement. I hope they get better, but I won't be trying again.
(2)Nikki C.
Best food!!! GREAT PRICES!! just a fun place to go!!
(5)Jen L.
We love Joyride Taco House! The staff is excellent and the food is always great! I would recommend the shrimp ceviche, I think it's the best in town! Our waitress at our last visit (Ashley) was fantastic, she really went above and beyond. From our experience, this location is a little less busy than the Gilbert one, which means quicker service.
(5)Matthew G.
Food is 5 stars Atmosphere is 5 stars Music playlist is 5 stars Services ruined it all for me. This seems to be a trend with central Phx restaurants. Maybe it is a vibe I don't understand? We are all about relaxing, but I still expect my drinks to be filled in a timely manner. We got things done quicker by asking random servers that passed by, rather than our server doing it. Will try again and get the stars up hopefully.
(3)H S.
Between friends have been many times, always had a great experience until today, during lunch hour. Regardless of what happened their customer recovery was amazing (Preston at the bar) without being asked for.
(4)Noor B.
I am becoming a big fan of Upward Projects. I love Windsor, Federal Pizza, Churn, and Postino. Now I can add Joyride to the list. Parking is much easier with the addition of the lot next to Windsor. You can also park along the street right next to Joyride if it isn't peak meal time. There's several doors around the perimeter of the building; someone will gladly point you to the host/hostess. You can sit at a table, at the bar, or at a community table. Restaurant is large, has nice geometric patterns on the walls, and there's interesting light fixtures by the bar. Chips and salsa: thin crispy warm chips yum, and delish spicy salsa Cheese y mas: lots of nice fresh toppings on a bed of warm queso; simple flavor and really good Veggie and goat cheese enchiladas: a little limited on the veggies in the enchiladas, and a lot of goat cheese so if you aren't a fan, get chicken. Also, no sides. That being said, the verde sauce is tangy and delish, and everything is well seasoned for a delightful harmony of flavors in your mouth. The beast: made it enchiladas style with verde sauce. Delicious, tender beef and a nice mix of beans and avocado inside. Good drink specials, as with all the Upward Projects restaurants. I can't wait to try the agua frescas and margaritas.
(4)Brent N.
Went to Joyride Taco House for the first time last night for Taco Tuesday! Took a seat at the bar which is always my first seating preference. The bar tender offered up a recommendation which I went with. Had 3 tacos; carne asada, pork adabado and Baja crispy fish, plus a heaping bowl of guacamole garnished with slices of fresh Serrano chilies. My friend had four tacos which included an extra carne asada! Excellent bar and although the bar tenders were busy they took the time to chat with us which made us feel very welcome but most importantly the G&Ts were well made. We Got there around 5 pm, there was already a nice crowd with positive energy. I really liked the food here, great flavor and good variety. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
(5)JR A.
Ok, I am not a drinker and this place has an enormous bar in the middle, but the food was outstanding! We did the fish tacos and whether fried or grilled they were both outstanding. Loved the cucumber and orange salad with pumpkin seeds, and the guac was superior to most. They brought is some comp frescos because the waitress had missed us, and all three flavors were amazing. My fav the cucumber mint. Great vibe and decor and when he service started it was he best. Oh yeah, did I mention the roasted salsa - Wow!
(5)Sandra G.
Loved the carne asada and fish tacos. The cucumber serrano margarita is the best. We did have to wait a while to be seated but it was all worth it.
(4)Gil G.
Went for the first time Sunday. Had a great meal, wonderful food and top notch service. Never did a drink go empty. Very attentive without being intrusive. Will be back!!!!
(5)Aaron S.
Went for lunch with some friends today. We were seated quickly, and things only got better from there. Our waitress, Marla, was the best server I've ever had! They kept the chips and salsa and drinks freshly stocked at all times, and were really timely with our food order. I ordered the Beast burrito with the carne adovada and it was amazing!!! When we were ready to leave Marla got us all fresh drinks to go. The food was awesome, the service was great - I'd recommend it to anyone!
(5)Peace D.
So I know I have written reviews about this fun place before but every time we go we take different friends with us and they want to go back again and again AND AGAIN.... now we are just part of this fam....We love this place.. ambiance is unbeatable.... tacos rock, drinks outstanding.... people are AWESOME!!!!!!!!
(5)Frank O.
The best creative, fresh and delicious southwestern/baja Mexican style food in The Phoenix Metro Area I'm partial to the vegetable burro add grilled shrimp. Get that and you're tastebuds will thank you.
(5)Carly R.
Excellent service during our weekday lunch! Tacos and soup were tasty and reasonably priced.
(5)Jordon H.
4.5 (but can't put that.) Why the 4.5 and not 5 you ask, well cilantro was slightly in my girlfriend's taco after she stated she didn't want it. Service awesome-check! Food awesome-check. I got 'the beast' burrito and it was GREAT. She got the fish taco-alright. Not knocking her socks off but good enough to suit for a little snack. So come in, give it a try. Cool atmosphere, good staff (as I see so far, very attentive) so worth a try. Cheers!
(4)Leslie B.
Recently celebrated the end of summer with a large group of kids and adults at Joyride. The beer was icy cold, the Blood Orange margs were to die for and the food was amazing. Our server was super attentive and offered great suggestions. The manager checked in occasionally as our group was so large....appreciated. Would have taken some pics of the food but it was gone too fast. We will be back for sure!
(5)Lucy N.
Good food, great atmosphere, fun patio. Watermelon margarita was refreshing and not syrup sweet. Justin the bartender provided excellent service, he was attentive and helpful to us as first timers. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Kelly M.
Joyride Taco on Central ave. Thought I'd try something different and ordered the veggie enchiladas. OMGoodness off the charts with flavor. The ends were a little crunchy, just like I like it. For $10, it was too much food to finish. This was a "To Go' order that was ready in ten minutes. Came with a side of chips and salsa. YUM YUM YUMMY
(5)Valerie M.
I'm a huge fan of the company that created Postino, Windsor, etc so I had no doubt that Joyride was going to be less than fabulous. Wrong! The restaurant is very cute and the drinks were great but that's about it. The food is overpriced and bland. We shared queso dip as an appetizer, and I had a fish taco with "bomb" black beans. The fish taco wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I expected more for the price. The black beans were boring as well. I would skip Joyride and head to Otro Cafe or Blanco Tacos at the Biltmore.
(2)Ruthie C.
I had a business lunch here last week and it was great. I had their Shotgun Lunch Special - two tacos and tortilla soup for under $10. It was more than what I could eat so that was a great value. The flavors were quite good and I appreciate that a number of their offerings are gluten-free and well-marked in the menu. The staff was impressive. I told them that I was meeting people and we needed to be able to talk, she selected a table that let us sit closer to each other. And when one of my dining companions knocked a glass bottle of hot sauce off the table and broke it, the staff was over in the flash and cleaned it up in under two minutes. I really love that the owners. who have several restaurants in the area, bought a lot and turned it into extra parking.
(4)Stacie B.
Christopher (danger dog) is awesome! This was my first time here at joyride and he is one of the best servers I've had. Ask for this guy! The food is great!
(5)Melissa D.
Went here for the first time for Taco Tuesday during Happy Hour! Meaning, they have 6 different tacos to choose from that are only $2 each AND margaritas, mojitos, and pitchers of beer for only $5! They give out chips and salsa to everyone, which were pretty good. I ordered 2 crispy fish tacos, the standard taco, and their blood orange margarita. Boyfriend ordered a crispy fish taco, the standard taco, the pork adobada taco, and their joyride (a standard) margarita. Both of us liked their crispy fish tacos the best! I was happy with my blood orange margarita. Not too sweet but still some fruity flavor. Boyfriend always gets classic margaritas, and he was satisfied with theirs. In comparison, his didn't seem as strong as mine in terms of tequila. The total of our meal came out to be $24, which is cheap considering we purchased alcohol! The service was good. It was Cinco De Mayo when we went, so we thought it might be busy. The place was pretty busy, but we didn't have to wait to be seated! They were very quick to bring us chips and salsa and take away our eaten chips and salsa and grace us with a new basket. Very friendly. Also, the atmosphere is very fun and retro; very colorful! Overall, we would definitely come here again for Taco Tuesday and Happy Hour! We really like fish tacos, but I don't know if I would pay $4.25 for a single fish taco that isn't very large. Margs were good, food was good, and service was good!
(4)Taylor H.
Second time in a row having Jason as our server. Hands down, the best server I have had anywhere. Before these last two times we have had less than stellar service and he has completely changed everything for us. The food is terrific and that is mostly why we continue to come back but because of Jason it's now our number one pick when we dine out.
(5)Eva U.
Food is very good! I Love trying new things every time I come in. The tacos are delicious - I've tried the braised beef and the chicken tinga both very good and spicy, and the guac is a MUST have! The cocktails are refreshing, especially the agua frescas. The restaurant has a fun retro vibe and a fabulous patio area to enjoy these rare cool evenings. I have been very impressed with service, especially management. The manager is so personable and came to check in on our large group from the hospital and thanked us for coming in...just really thoughtful and for that I am adding a star to this 4 star place and giving them 5.
(5)Dee G.
Really disappointed in the food here. Enjoyed our meal at the Gilbert location when it opened and thought this location would be just as good when it opened, but it was super average. I will go to the other Postinos owned restaurants in the area before I come back here.
(3)Nicole B.
I just left Joyride taco house and could not be more pleased with the food and exceptional service. I frequent Upward Project Restaurants and the service tonight was better than I could ever expect or have had! Justin was our server and he took great care of us! The chips and drinks were never short and the tacos we ordered were out of this world! I loved the carnitas, pork and shrimp tacos with the Asian slaw. The food was cooked to perfection. I would highly recommend Joyride to anyone interested in great tacos, awesome drinks and incredible service! To make your experience even more 5 star ask for Justin for your server!
(5)Jennifer S.
Another great addition to Central Phoenix! I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor of this place...wouldn't furnish my house this way, but totally appreciate and love it! The staff was super friendly and helpful with suggestions. The food was great - we tried 6 different kinds of tacos and ordered a few sides too. The agua fresca was amazing...combo of pineapple and strawberry - yummy!
(4)KC F.
Excellent service Lori server took an excellent care of us, knew her menu and recommended phenomenal items. If you haven't been here definitely try it it's worth it. :)))))five star.
(5)Michelle R.
The tortilla soup was just plain delicious. I also had some of the nachos with spicy pork and jalapenos and I am pretty sure they were the best nachos I have ever had. The service was below average though. The waitress was not very attentive so we had to keep getting up and asking if we could order food or for more lemons/limes. We came back later and did some shots of tequila and they were extremely expensive... but they were delicious. I would go back.
(4)keith w.
Could I give 5 stars? Maybe, but as I refine my yelping, I've become more selective on doling them out, which is not fair because earlier in my yelp experience I gave them out like a drunk sailor on shore leave. So factor that in. I will say we had an awesome experience at Joyride and I will go back. The service was excellent from the front desk on. A sweet hostess, super cool waitress and a gentleman who I believe was the manager all attended to our group with the type of genuine sweetness I find lacking in most of these concept driven Hipster employed venues. This paved the way for an excellent night as it put us in the mood to enjoy the food and atmosphere. We loved the space, and really loved the music which made it hard not to tap toes too (and with speakers in restroom's we joked that we might have had an after party dance club in there). The food was serviceable, braised tacos were out favorite and nothing was bad per se, but really it was the overall experience we enjoyed and the food hit the spot. My only negative was that I rarely eat sweets, so we got churro's and i'm spoiled being from LA where I can get them so soft and fluffy and flaky and delicious, these seemed like carboard by contrast.
(4)Mister S.
Really delicious food,I strongly recommend their chilaquiles. I could eat them everyday and never get tired. The Horchata is also amazing it is refreshing, home made and with an almond taste to it. They also have excellent service, It does get packed during rush hours of dinner and lunch but that is because the food is top quality and the wait is never too long.
(4)Kate B.
I am loving this place and am already excited to go back to try more! It is right across the street from Postino's, which is one of our faves. The night we went here, we literally tossed a coin to see which restaurant we should go to, and Joyride won. I'm so glad we went because I was very pleasantly surprised as soon as I walked in the door. The decor, colors, lighting were all fabulously 1960's style, but strangely enough has a very clean modern feel to it as well. We were seated in a booth which looked out on the welcoming patio with a fireplace. I ordered one of the freshly infused waters and the enchiladas and the bf ordered the machaca burrito. After downing our delicious chips & salsa, our food came and the presentation was (almost) as delicious as it tasted. I am an enchilada fiend and order them almost every time at a Mexican restaurant. I loved that half was drenched in mole sauce, the other half in verde salsa. I wasn't a huge fan of the verde sauce, I have to admit. It was a little too thick and peppery. My boyfriend's burrito came cut into two halves and was delicious! We will be back for sure. Their happy hour and lunch specials look great.
(4)Susie P.
We put Joyride to the ultimate test - Taco Tuesday on Cinco de Mayo! It was EXCELLENT! Of course there was a wait, which was to be expected. We weren't the only geniuses going for Mexican on Cinco de Mayo! The service outside while we were waiting was spot on! Drinks kept coming, along with the chips and salsa. When we were seated our server was happy, excited and in a genuinely great mood. Then you could really see how the entire place was all in! The hostess was running food, servers were delivering drinks and managers were clearing tables! And the food, top notch as always. No sacrifice in quality and no eternity wait times. Awesome place and fantastic experience!
(5)Chantel C.
My favorite west coast dinner destination. This place instantly makes you happy. Get a margarita and a taco or two and you are set. Relax inside or out. Taco Tuesday is absolutely the best. Enjoy!
(5)Tammi T.
Hands down my favorite place to go for Happy Hour. Also, a great date place. I guess this would be considered a Hipster place but I just love the atmosphere, the food, the beer and the excellent staff. Absolutely never disappointed with service or food quality. Plenty of outdoor/indoor seating. $5 beer pitchers. Braised beef and crispy fish tacos are my faves and highly recommended. Love, love, love it!
(5)Marissa D.
I was actually a little let down when I went to Joyride. There is a location by my house that is ALWAYS busy so I decided to give this one a try when I saw this in the area. The employees seemed very busy and didn't really connect well with each other. The food was pretty good. Nothing I would crave in the future. I got a shrimp taco and a chicken taco and they were pretty good. Maybe it was just the time of day I went in but I expected more based on the large crowd I often see.
(3)Halle M.
Okay so the food tasted very yummy and the atmosphere is hip and loud music. But I got the WORST FOOD POISONING of my life from this place. Sadly I won't be returning.
(2)Erin S.
LOVE this restaurant! First of all, visually speaking, the restaurant is so fun, colorful, and just pretty. Great staff who are ALWAYS so friendly! :) My kids (5 and 3 years old) LOVE going there for the yummy chips and food and LOVE the temporary tattoos they get with their meal ;) The drinks are delicious as well. The carne asada nachos are the BEST as well as their tacos (duh). Highly recommend!
(4)Cathy C.
Met up with my brother & a friend. Had high hopes...but the theme... Not even sure how to describe it I guess "Mexican fusion" restaurant Is the food is so bad. I truly dont understand what is so difficult about basically making tacos rice & beans. My tacos were ok. The beans were served cold & tasted like hormel out of a can so...sent them back. We sent back the "salad" not even sure the description matched what we got. The service....for what you pay..was eh & I HATE that you cant tell who does or doesn't work there. I realize Phoenix is a casual city for the love of God matching t-shirts the name of the restaurant on it so I know who you are might be nice. One of the worst part is where you have to stand to wait ... Seriously in the doorway? The drinks were good though. I might give it one more try maybe it was an off day? But nobody I know has given it rave reviews
(1)John S.
Came here basically just for the brownie and dessert. The person with me got the pineapple mojito which was really good and really strong didn't get a chance to try the tacos but would come back here to give them a chance. Apparently another restaurant postino's is right across the street so if you don't like the menu you have you have other restaurants within the facility that you can check out without having to drive to another location.
(4)Robert S.
Met up with my fellow Lyft drivers last night, 8/27/14. Probably close to 30 in our party. The staff didn't have any issues with a group this big. They were very attentive, cool, and quick with the orders. Server recommended the nachos, they were awesome!! The best part was the music. I don't know if they're using Pandora or Slacker but it was bad ass! From what I heard we'll be having our meetings there weekly :-)
(5)Vegegirly K.
Aghhhh... I really hate to give this a 3 star review. I wanted to love Joyride. My friends love Joyride. I love all the other restaurants in the Postinos family. I had a lukewarm experience with Joyride. We went with a large group of friends. Started out with cocktails and chips and salsa. I had an aqua fresca with gin. It was good but light on the gin. Salsa was boring. We then ordered our food and another round of drinks. I ordered the veggie burrito and a beer. My husband ordered tacos with a side of beans. My veggie burrito was just okay. It wasn't bad but I have had much tastier. I was excited about the "white magic" sauce that came in it but it seemed non-existent. I doused a lot of hot sauce on my burrito. My husband liked his tacos a lot. We both thought the beans were very bland. My beer? Well, it took 40 minutes to come out. I have a hard time with the value at Joyride. Mexican food should not be this expensive... if it is then it should be very special. I wasn't feeling it. I love the atmosphere, servers were nice. They comped the beer they almost forgot. I am willing to give Joyride another try.
(3)Karyn A.
I met a friend here for lunch, she lives in Arcadia and I'm in Glendale, so we usually end up in Central Phoenix since it's about the same trip for both of us. Upon pulling into the parking lot I was already impressed, because unlike most places in the area, Joyride seems to remember that people do, in fact, drive cars, and have a decent size parking lot with spots you can actually get into. I drive a Honda Civic and have had trouble squeezing into spots places around here before. I work in the central phoenix area, and so I've noticed a few of the restaurants in the area are...well, let's not sugarcoat it they're overrun with judgemental hipsters who give you the side eye if you don't appear to be as hip as them. Never once in Joyride did I get a douchey hipster vibe from the staff. The guy who sat us and there were I believe two people who waited on us were super nice, very warm and friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. And now we get to the best part. THE FOOD. I love food. I'm a fat kid at heart. I also love tacos. They asked us if we wanted to start with the queso dip and I was like, um yes please you can do no wrong when it comes to things with cheese. I was skeptical of it at first because I'm not a huge fan of super spicy stuff and it had jalapeños on top but once I dug in I was sold. It did have a nice kick to it but it wasn't hot just for hots sake. It was a flavor hot. We both got the three taco deal where you buy three tacos and get a side. I got black beans and she got the orange cucumber salad. Both amazing. The Carne Asada taco was pretty much the best thing I'd put in my mouth all day. The fish taco was a close second. The carnitas was also delicious but by this point I was too full to enjoy it properly but it was so good I ate it anyway. Price wise it's decent. You're obviously going to pay more here than you would at like taco bell or something but for the queso dip, three tacos & sides, and a Corona each it was like $44. I feel that's a fair price for the quality grub you get. So yeah. Go there.
(5)Chuck Z.
this place was base camp for us n a recent visit to Phoenix, luckily it was the first place we stopped at and we loved the food, the service and the very generous drink specials. The pork tacos and carne were both delicious and well presented. Atmosphere was fun, and a real nice room, too.
(5)Jessica C.
I love fish tacos and I must say they make the best crispy fish taco. When I want Mexican food I want to taste that authentic in it and OMG that carne asada both me and my brother said it was the best tender meat spicy and sweet so good. I highly recommend the Mexican slaw and the crispy fish taco yum! I will be going back soon to take other friends and to have a hard drink ;) Thanks for the joyride!
(5)Caryn S.
Awesome fish tacos and it was happy hour on Tuesdays so it was $2 for 2 tacos, great deal!! The place had a hip vibe and my waiter Jason, was very friendly! The service was a little slow, but it got busy pretty quick so I didn't mind. I'm only visiting, but I would definitely come back!!
(5)Roxanne G.
Fell in love with JoyRide in Gilbert where my gf lives so thought to check this one out since I reside in Phx. Why do I always get a Pepsi when I order a Dr. Pepper? 3 times in a row.. Smh. Carne Asada tacos taist different then Gilbert JoyRide, why?
(3)Mark C.
Living in the Phoenix area, there are no shortage of Mexican food options. To stand out, you really have to be doing something interesting. From an aesthetics standpoint, Upward Projects is definitely bringing the goods by creating a Mexican cantina/taco stand with a hip urban vibe. As for the food? Well, that could use some work. Came here on a lunch date on Saturday. The place was busy, but not totally full. We elected to sit out on the patio on a beautiful day. The service we received was prompt and friendly throughout. Seeing how this is Joyride Taco House we figured we'd find out if the tacos would indeed stand out. Each of us got the same three tacos: The Standard (a chicken and avocado mix), Carne Asada, and Shrimp. The shrimp was good, the carne asada was adequate (though I've had better), and the standard was kind of disappointing. The biggest letdown for me were the tortillas. They were very dry and stale tasting. Did not taste fresh made at all. My side of Joy Rice with Salsa was also pretty average. In terms of ambience and service I was not disappointed. The building looks great with a cool bar area and a great laid back outdoor patio. Upward Projects has done a great rehab of this old building. But I've had much better tacos at nearby neighborhood spots like Tacos Atoyac and Gallo Blanco. If Joyride's tacos can eventually reach that standard or better, then they'll work out just fine. For now, the quality has room for improvement.
(3)L L.
Hostess great, seated in 15 min on a Saturday night for a group of 6 - not bad at all. Bar had some open space so we waited there. Food: Great, Tacos were very very tasty. Drinks: I was excited to try their margaritas and they were just OK, I was not wowed unfortunately. Ambiance: Great, patio and open doors. Not too loud. Service: Great as well, never felt rushed or anything. Our served seemed a bit stoned, but hey, he didn't eat my food nor mess up anything so all OK. I would have given it 5 star if: Margaritas kicked a$$ Tacos were a bit cheaper
(4)David S.
Ask for Adrian! She is feisty and fun! I did my favorite test of a Restaraunt. The blind order! Adrian selected my meal fearlessly. She was not allowed to ask me any questions, just put in her choice. Only a well trained server with great management and terrific chef can deliver on this challenge! Better to show you than tell you what was delivered. See the attached picture. Great outdoor/indoor mex venue. Young vibe. Food is unique and worth trying! Service is paced and fun. Juice beverages are on trend and fuzzy! A perfect Arizona evening dinner.
(4)Wendy H.
Awesome place, great food, fun atmosphere and fun bartenders. Makes for a great place to meet friends and relax. Great guac and the tacos are worth the drive.
(4)Russell H.
We were seated 5 minutes to 6 pm and they honored the happy hour prices so we tried 1 of each! It is nice to have someone who likes the opposite of you so I loved the veggie and fish tacos and she carried on about the fried fish, beef and pork. The blood orange margarita hit the spot as well. Great service, fast and friendly.
(5)Josh M.
This was my first visit here and It was a good one. I started out with the lunch special of two tacos and a soup. For the tacos I had a crispy fish and a carne asada. I added the tortilla soup as well. The carne asada was pretty decent. I've definitely had better. It was a little dry and burnt on some pieces but good flavor and just enough spice with the salsa they add. The crispy fish however was really good. Great crisp on the breading and the sauces they add give it a great overall taste. I would for sure get multiples of these again in the future. Now as for the soup I had it was lacking in a lot of areas. It came out just slightly over warm temperature which was my first turn off. I also had next to no chicken in it with mostly broth and a lot of veggies. Missing something as far seasoning but I couldn't pin point what it was. I just know I've bad much better at other Mexican restaurants. All in all a good lunch experience and I will be back to try some other items.
(4)Matt D.
I love this place. The food is very tasty, the prices are quite moderate, the staff is upbeat and attentive. When the glass wall is open to the patio, it doesn't get any lovelier. Suggestion: The street corn is amazing. Have them take it off the cobb. Much easier to eat and it's incredible.
(4)Cynthia G.
This is the second time I've indulged at Joyride. The staff was fab. I think we had at least 4 people check in on us. Drinks were yummy. I had the cucumber tequila sort of spicy margarita. My friend had the pineapple mojito. Both were fun and tasty. The battered tacos are great, with big piece of fish and proper accutramontes. I've also had their veggie tacos and was pleasantly pleased. For the meat eaters, the braised beef was scrumptious. The kiddos enjoyed quesadillas, chicken tacos, and beans with rice. They have a kids menu that isn't listed, just ask for the kids selections. And the aqua frescas were yummilicious.
(5)Holly R.
This was are first time there, I am the pickiest person when it comes to food, atmosphere and good customer service. This place went above all expectations. My daughter ate all of her food which is very rare, and the (I'm guessing the manager) made my daughter a hot chocolate wich they don't even serve. My chicken burrito was amazing, the cheese dip was amaaazing. The coffee and chocolate ice cream brownie were fantastic. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect and always was there right on time. Not to mention the decor was beautiful. We will be coming back many more times. Thank you joyride
(5)Ryan R.
We randomly picked out a place for lunch while headed north for a raft trip, and holy guacamole! This is one hell of a spot! The atmosphere is 1960's meets open air Mexican cantina. Whoever designed this joint needs a medal. It's funky, clean, and makes one want to consume the delicious drinks that are both affordable and aesthetically pleasing. The food was great. Get the guacamole. It's worth it. We had a group of 8, all different tastes, and there was not a single plate that wasn't delicious looking. Great service. Well worth getting off the beaten path, but don't take my word for it. Try it out for yourself.
(5)Raquel A.
Alright.. I've officially become a bit of a regular here, dining here for Sunday lunch and during the work week. Consistent food quality and friendly, attentive service inside I stand corrected on my first impression!
(4)Josie G.
I been to this place couple of times now and I'm hook. Food is very good. I enjoy happy hour on taco Tuesdays. I recommend carnita tacos and roasted corn along with bloody orange margarita.
(5)CHERYL M.
Would give 5 stars but it was SO loud. Great food & really good sangria. Portion size was perfect (I had the 2 tacos). Flavorful but basic. We were told it would be an hour wait (Fri night), but our party of 4 was seated within 15 minutes. Our server was brand new & very good & friendly. Pretty fun place.
(4)Lenny G.
Great first impression. Sat at the bar with a friend. We came in just for margaritas (which were very well prepared) but then we decided to have a couple tacos. My friend had the fish taco and I went with the chicken taco. Honestly, they were the best tacos I've ever eaten, by far. Definitely coming back.
(5)J N.
Already my fourth, or is it fifth, visit here... And for good reason! The tacos are great :) Even after this many visits, I still haven't had a chance to try them all... Or all of the margaritas... I keep re-ordering favorites from the last time ;) Some of those include the carnitas, braised beef, crispy fish, and Baha fish tacos... Do yourself a favor and order three just to get the free side of black beans or roasted vegetables tossed in the guajillo pepita salsa. One trick I plan to try next trip is to order them one or two at a time to ensure they are hot when I'm ready to much 'em down as I discovered after the first two, I needed a slight breather. That gave the Baja taco too much time to cool off. It was still delicious but would have been even better right off the grill. All the toppings are fresh and crisp and will vary by the taco, but come in deliciously hand made corn tortillas instead of the mass produced machined ones you'll find elsewhere. Add some guacamole or ceviche as a starter and you'll have PLENTY to feed you AND a friend... Just like other Upward Projects restaurants, they do Happy Hour all day until 5pm with $5 pitchers, coctails, and wine... Quite the deal :) And just like the other locations, they've done a great job with their employees. They are all VERY well versed in their products, preparations, and customer service skills... You will feel very well taken care of. My advice... Wear your stretchy pants ;)
(4)Lindsay V.
Favorite restaurant. Gilbert location was amazing as well, almost better experience than the central location but just about tied. Amazing drinks and food. Glad to see Mexican food modern and yet still a little traditionally represented. Experience is great at the bar or a table, from the first time they set the chips and salsa down!
(5)Tina T.
I am so excited that this place joined the neighborhood. When we stepped foot in, I was immediately wowed by the décor....it is just gorgeous and visually pleasing. The staff were very friendly, even when we were standing around one of the many entrances not sure where the hostess stand was. No joke, there are like 4 ways you can enter from the outside. I ordered a house margarita (not a fan) and the chilaquiles. The dish was very good....definitely a fan! The chips, guac, and salsa were good. Since I did not like my margarita, I switched with my husband who had the blood orange rita. Way better. The food took a really long time to come but it was a nice surprise when the manager or owner came to the table to apologize without any mention from us. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place and everything that came with it!
(4)Samantha L.
This place is a gem. My boyfriend and I ate here during a quick day trip to Phoenix and we will definitely be back. The staff was friendly and the tacos are so worth the trip. The establishment was very lively and welcoming. Highly recommend.
(5)Deana H.
so after my last review which mind u I said I would be returning back and enjoyed myself there... Management still contacted me offered me gift card to return bc I wasn't fully satisfied w tacos I got.. wow first of all such amazing hospitality. So of course I accepted and went again and this time we had even more fun I love this place bartenders are so cool and knowledgeable and laid back. I ve never been a "regular" anywhere bc I like to try different things too much and no place has I guess has drawn my attention enough but I think joyride did it... Im just in a good mood when I'm there everyone's happy staff and guests. I Ordered cucumber margarita that was really good..I love anejo tequilas and Mackenzie suggested a new one I hadn't had b4 that i really liked. I think my first visit it was just some flook or it was my taste buds bc I tried carnitas again on my nachos and were amazing i kinda consider myself a nachos and carnitas expert bc I'm obsessed w both and I order both a lot! In addition got st corn my fiancé is Mexican loves corn and a chef and he loved it!! I don't care for corn too much but damn I woke up thinking abt it today is all I need to say I guess and I don't even like corn!! So good on the cob and chz maybe lime on it idk but super good so I definitely definitely recommend this place it's chill fun and good food and service can't ask for anything more :)
(5)Lezlee H.
Joyride is a perfect combination of delicious food, awesome decor, good service and, if you'll excuse the hippie descriptor, "good vibes". It's cool to see so many people's bikes (think beach cruisers, fixies and Schwinns...not Harleys) outside the restaurant. The restaurant opens almost completely to the outside patios so that the indoor/outdoor feel on a perfect Arizona evening is obviously only going to enhance your experience. The agua fresca I had was delish and we tried a sampling of tacos, appetizers, sides and dessert all of which met or exceeded expectations. The prices are great as well. Of note, the guac is on point, the battered fish taco is tasty tasty and the mandarin and cucumber side salad is bomb.com (who'da thunk?) Shout out to our excellent waiter Justin who was enthusiastic, efficient and most importantly, very nice! Joyride was indeed a joy.
(5)Carlos C.
I was just passing through Phoenix when a local retailer mentioned to try this place out. We came in to be greeted nicely and seated quickly. A somewhat trendy taco bar with lots of different flavors on the menu like the blood orange margarita and some interesting salsas. We had the queso which was pretty good but since I had just left Austin it wasn't up to the standard of which I had before, still we devoured it since we're from LA and can't even get mediocre queso.. We had a trio of taco plates in which I had chicken and carne asada, my girlfriend tried the fish (which she sent back because it was too fishy) and another suggestion from the waiter which were both amazing. Ambience was nice for a Tuesday evening and we got served fairly quickly. I would definitely say to come give a try but it's a little too fancy for my liking. I enjoyed the food but I am such a nut for legit street food and taking the gamble on what I get. I would still go here for their great food and polite staff though.
(4)Samantha U.
Finally getting around to writing a review after going here so often! I always order the standard and the tinga tacos. The black beans are awesome too. My boyfriend gets the fish tacos, which he says are amazing. The cocktails are delicious and potent. I usually go for a pineapple mojito or blood orange margarita. We just discovered that Joyride has a great deal on Taco Tuesday- $5 margaritas and select $2 tacos. However, they are much busier due to the awesome dinner deal. You have to plan on waiting to get seated, if you can't snag a seat at the bar.
(5)Kristi M.
I really wanted to LOVE Joyride after hearing all the hype. Did I LOVE it? No. Did I like it? Yes... The decor and atmosphere is fun and trendy. The chairs and booths were all comfy. HUGE bar area which I thought was great. Service was really good. We had two different ladies waiting on us. They were both friendly and attentive. Drinks and food were okay. I got the blood orange margarita. At first sip I was like "Wow this is great!" After a few more, it started to get SO sweet. I could barely finish it. I ordered the crispy fish, shrimp and ahi tacos. The crispy fish was actually really good but the other two were rather bland. The ahi was dry. I got black beans as a side and they were also very bland (I added some salt myself.). They give you complimentary chips and salsa in the beginning but it's a fire roasted salsa. If you want any other kind besides fire roasted you have to pay. Also, I wish they had a couple tvs at the bar area. We wanted to meet up with some friends to watch the USA soccer game and would have stayed here, but ended up going to a different restaurant to watch it since Joyride didn't have any tvs. I will probably return to give this place another chance and maybe try some different things. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars but the food just didn't knock my socks off.
(3)Jen B.
The service is bad and it always takes a while for them to acknowledge you even when it's not busy. On my last visit I ordered the chicken burrito and it didn't taste fresh and I could barely eat it because it was soaked in enchilada sauce, my fiancé agreed that it tastes like the stuff you buy from a can. I've given this place way too many chances and I only write this review because I got sick right after eating there and the next day I am still sick..
(2)Nancy H.
My co-worker and I decided to grab a table on the bright and cheery front patio, filled with sunshine yellow chairs. We immediately appreciated the fact that they saved the two substantial trees that helped to block the noise from Central Avenue. Now down to business. We were greeted by our server, who quickly brought our beverages, crunchy chips and salsa for starters. For lunch I ordered the "Lunch Special" which was a choice of 2 tacos (served on made-to-order corn tortillas) and choice of soup or small salad for around $10. I chose the Shrimp Taco (with grilled shrimp, Mexican slaw and pico gringo), the Carnitas Taco (shredded pork, tomatillo salsa, cilantro & onion) and the Rhythmic Beet Salad (mixed greens, beets, papaya, avocado, goat cheese, toasted pepitas, cilantro & scallions in a honey champagne vinaigrette(recommended by our server). Everything was DELICIOUS! And although I had plenty of food, I found myself wishing that I could order more just to try the great-looking combinations. Every taco has slightly different ingredients. Not just a change in the protein, like most traditional Mexican restaurants. They also don't come with the heavy grease and mountains of grated cheddar cheese that you'll find on the majority of valley tacos. Each item was light, fresh and yummy! The service was prompt, friendly and courteous too! I can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu. I'll be sure to take my camera for pictures too.
(4)Carol S.
We loved Joyride for several reasons. First, the service was prompt and attentive. There seemed to be more people waiting on our table than most restaurants. The attitude of everyone working there was great. We were greeted by all employees with a smile and everyone said good bye. This is a reflection of outstanding training and management. The food was fantastic. Our party of seven each ordered something different. Explanations and recommendations by the server were appreciated. The food arrived promptly and was fresh, hot, and tasty. The next time we visit Phoenix, this restaurant will be on our list of places to eat. Kuddos, Joyride!! :)
(5)Lola S.
Came here for some tacos after our usual hangout just next ops to the south didn't fill us up (well, with food. Booze, yes). Place was packed. This is a trendy hipster place with $4 street tacos and $9 margaritas light on liquor. I am a small female and I easily ate 3 tacos. Tacos came with a side at no charge. I ordered the orange cucumber salad which was obviously made the previous day. Soggy, definitely not fresh and I believe the orange slices were canned. Our bill was almost $70 and I felt like my husband and I had nothing special. I saw a roach inside as we were leaving. The beautiful huge tree out front and fun string lights would be my most compelling reasons to return.
(3)Christine P.
Upward has sure did it again. Great concept, love the high top chairs. Love the whole vibe to this place. :) Chip and salsa??!!? Yuppppp. Keeep them coming this wayyy. Hehe Great selection of hot tea :) I enjoyed my garden burrito. OMG! The mushroom though. Idk what they marinate it with. It was so soft yet chewy and so tasteful. The customer service was okay. I had to ask three different ppl for water and napkins. :/ bur other that, I'll be coming back.
(4)Kandis H.
The ultimate experience.. From the minute we walked in.. Greeted by Vanessa who had a friendly upbeat attitude.. Seated and served promptly with ice water, chips & salsa! Exactly what you want when it's 109 degrees outside on a Saturday. She told us about their $5 drink happy hour- we were IN! Serrano Cucumber Margarita, blood orange margarita, pineapple mojito, & high roller marg! All the drinks were outstanding!!! We had a cup of the tortilla soup and added a spoon full of salsa.. So delish! We each had the 3 tacos with a side.. All of our tacos were fabulous! My husband is mexican and he was even impressed!! So you know it's good!! The service was top notch!!! On point, period! All in all --- a Hip Mexican joint with Great food!!! Cannot wait to go back!!
(5)Heather P.
This is a fun place on Central where the old Humpty Dumpty used to be. Kind of a fun interior of retro colors and shapes in a cool new vibe. You don't have just one waiter but the whole crews waits ob you and therefore the service is attentive. The menu is fun - street tacos, salads of local ingredients and some tasty agua frescas. Terrific cocktails and the the place was full of urban hipsters so it2one of the in places in town. I don't understand the name though.
(4)Kalyan R.
I have been to this place several times and I really like this restaurant a lot. Really like the ambiance and the great service always with a smile as it should be. Really like their Crispy Fish Tacos, shrimp, Carne Asada and the Braised beef tacos, did try their Serrano Cucumber Margarita and it is a treat. Definitely want to check out their Taco Tuesday deals!
(5)Linda A.
Great ambience. Seating indoors and outside. Very friendly and attentive service. Fish and pork tacos terrific and great salads.
(4)Melissa H.
To be fair, we came here because we had been told no more wine at Postino's across the way so perhaps we were a little grouchy already. The atmosphere is cheery and bright. The servers are pretty and helpful. The food is good just not what I'd crave of think of when I think of Mexican food in Az. Example: queso ordered and no spice whatsoever. This is the perfect place to take your hipster friends from the Midwest who would be a little to squeamish at the idea of going to South Phoenix for the original Los Dos Molinos, or simply and won't handle spicy food. On the positive side, a good place to take friends who are vegetarian, a lot more offerings than your typical restaurant.
(3)Mercedes R.
We (spouse and kids) love it there. And they totally welcome kids - LOVE that they have organic milk to give the kiddos. My toddler loves the beans and nachos. The chiliquiles and enchiladas are good.
(4)Jesus M.
First the salsa given with chips is really great. As far as the atmosphere its very beautiful and modern with a street art vibe. The food is exceptional, some of the best tacos in town. It's a bit boughie but it works for this place, they come at you with fancy trays for your tacos and they Deliver.
(5)Eva L.
Joyride is so darn good! I have to start it that way, because lets face it, its true! I always get a Key Largo to drink (this is my favorite drink anytime I go to Joyride). Its so yummy and delicious that you cant just have one. Ive had the Crispy fish, carne asada, shrimp & chicken tinga tacos. Now I am the type of person that doesn't need a fancy taco, basically because there are a lot of things I cannot eat because of my stomach. So that being said, I ordered the above tacos with no cabbage, no mexican slaw & no white magic. Trust me, they didn't even need it. These tacos are would be good with just the meat and tortilla, must be those corn tortillas. Joy rice with tomatillo salsa & the bomb black beans are also good. But, do yourself a favor and order the orange cucumber salad, trust me you will love it! If you have been to Joyride and did not get dessert, YOU NEED TO GO BACK and order Mo's Definitely Oh and I cant forget, the service is always outstanding!
(4)J S.
OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD!!! Five stars isn't enough for this place. No joke. The tacos feature delicious hand-made corn tortillas, fresh pico, fresh guac, and they're exquisitely seasoned-- including the veggie ones that are so good they'll satisfy even the most picky meat eater. Delicious sides include the must-have cucumber orange salad, and desserts feature fresh made ice cream from sister-business "Churn" across The street. The staff? On the ball and attentive are understatements. They're also extremely friendly and accommodating-- especially for a joint this busy. Topping it off is a retro-modern atmosphere coupled with wicked good music. Wrap it all up with a cozy-lit full bar and almost unbelievably reasonable prices for a place this good, and anyone with a discriminating palate and taste for tacos and legit margaritas should be coming here weekly -- if not more often!
(5)Rachel C.
I've been back three or four times since my first review of Joyride. I'd like to say it is just as good each time . . . but you know, I think it gets better and better! Oh, the blood orange margarita and guacamole lived up to their usual reputations, but I swear every entree I try is better than the last one I had. Today it was crispie fish tacos (2) & a vegetable taco, with a side of orange cucumber salad. OMGoodness it was so good. Service was even better than usual (and it is always good!)! Christian, supurb bartender, waited on us. Thanks, Christian, for making our Sunday lunch so enjoyable!
(5)Robert C.
We had lunch at Joyride yesterday. Absolutely amazing. Fabulous service, fun atmosphere and the tacos were off the charts. I had the Carne Asada, chicken Tinga and Ahi tuna tacos. All were amazing but my favorite was the Chicken Tinga. I would highly recommend this spot. I will certainly be returning soon.
(5)Rachel S.
Really tasty new taco joint in town! Servers are really friendly and they have great beer on tap. Love the atmosphere here. Their chips and salsa are A+ and they just kept slingin em our way. For every 3 tacos you get, you can get a side for free (hells ya) so if you're with a group, I say order a shit ton of tacos and try all the sides you can. I had the Cochinita Pibil and Shrimp tacos, I've had better Pibil but the shrimp was incredible. I've heard great things about the ahi taco and veggie ones too. I also got to try the beans, slaw, and orange/cucumber salad. All very good. Also, valet parking which is nice.
(4)Rosie T.
Decided to try this place out with my boyfriend on Cinco de mayo since they were offering $2 carnitas tacos all day. Like all upward project restaurants, it has very cool, hip vibe with a decent size patio...definitely looked like a cool hangout spot to grab drinks with friends. Unfortunately I will not be returning as the food was nothing impressive & service was terrible. The only thing we did like was the complimentary chips & salsa. The tortilla chips were thin & crispy & the salsa was a nice, fresh roasted tomato salsa. So we tried the carnitas tacos...it was decent but nothing I would come back for. I've had way better street tacos elsewhere like Los Taquitos. So If you're looking for authentic tacos, this is not the place. As for the terrible service, maybe they were short staffed or that it was cinco de mayo but we came around 9:30-10:00pm (late dinner) and the restaurant was not that packed but a simple "sorry we're short staffed but we'll do our best to attend to your needs" would have sufficed & we could have forgiven them for their slow service, not refilling our water or the fact they constantly walked pass our table without acknowledging us. Will not be coming back & definitely will not recommend this place to our friends.
(2)Cindy F.
Fish tacos were good but small. I cannot for the life of me figure out why these uppity taco places think they can charge $5 for a taco the size of my palm.
(3)Ashley N.
Tried Joyride today for the second time. First time I did take out and really liked the braised beef taco. Was not a fan of the chicken taco. This time I joined a business contact there. They weren't very busy but the service was rather slow. Our server was really nice but I think she was preoccupied on something in the kitchen. I'd recommend Joyride as it's in a great spot for work downtown.
(4)H M.
Came here again to see if anything had changed, Nope . Servers are slow and blame the bar for being slow , which we saw drinks waiting to be served by servers still at the bar. I brought my aunt and friend , I feel bad for bringing them here. There is way better places in downtown phoenix to eat. Don't waste your time here, cause obviously they don't care about yours.
(1)Joshua K.
Wow... The only word is wow... Great food, no scratch that, AMAZING food AND the best service we have had in a very long time. Let's just say that they made a mistake on my wife's burrito, and realized it before they even brought our food out. They then informed us of the mistake, and had a new fresh burrito out within what seemed like 3 minutes. A big thanks to Daniel and Vanessa for making our night out even better. You guys rock!
(5)Michelle A.
Ice cold mugs, tiny pitchers, beer. What a great way to start after a long hike on a chilly Sunday afternoon. The warm chips and tasty salsa were immediately brought to the table. Next came our waiter, a newbie to Arizona from Arkansas, with a cute southern drawl, easy demeanor and not bad on the eyes, either. But most importantly, he was SO attentive. Especially since one of our diners is gluten-free, lactose intolerant. He guided us through the menu, made great recommendations, even went back to confer with the chefs to be sure everything was done correctly. We each ordered the taco trios, an array of different smells, proteins, veggies graced our table. Each of us having a favorite. It was topped off with warm, sugary churros accompanied with a chocolate dipping sauce, on the house for our birthday boy. We will definitely be back. We enjoy that part of town, seeing old buildings (used to be Humpty Dumpty's Restaurant) coming alive. Oh, and ask for Jeremy. Hope he sticks around.
(4)Lizena Z.
I did not want to write a review based on my first experience but now that I've gone twice I have to put in my ten cents... First off, I love the decor and love their bar. I'm a big fan of Upward Project but this place isn't my cup of tea...the first time I went it was opening week. One of the owners spilt a glass of water on me but they compensated by giving our table a complimentary appetizer. We had the ceviche and am glad it was complimentary because it did not taste that great. I ordered one of the burritos and asked for enchilada style...the sauce was sweet. How can chile sauce be sweet?!? The rice was not cooked and the beans were bland....since it was opening week I decided not to judge the place by my first meal.. We decided to give it another try. The food again was lackluster. And the service was great at the beginning but after they dropped off our food we never saw our server again. Thank goodness they have other options that I enjoy. Just wished Joyride would was more authentic with the flavors...
(3)Chandra J.
Went to Joyride for the first time with a couple of friends last Friday for happy hour and had a wonderful time. It is a unique and hidden gem nestled between Postino's and Federal Pizza. The food and service was amazing and I enjoyed all of the food and drink recommendations made by the servers. I definitely recommend the pineapple agua Fresca with vodka added, the chicken burrito, and the bottomless chips and salsa (the chips are a little salty, but can be easily washed down with a agua Fresca or another one of their tasty beverages!) All of the servers made us feel welcome, wanted, and appreciated. I plan on returning again soon for another happy hour with friends!
(5)Christina S.
I loved the atmosphere, music, and décor! I enjoyed the Cucumber Serrano margarita. It was refreshing and had a little kick to it, but was not overpowering. I had the "Mix Tape" salad with papaya and prickly pear dressing, it was amazing! The service wasn't the best, but overall everyone was nice. I would eat at Joyride again!
(4)Jeanine B.
If you guys want the best customer service at a restaurant this would be it! First, they made a double order for someone's tacos so they gave us the extra. Then when they found out it was our first time here, they gave us a free dessert that was to DIE for! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was so great! Will definitely be coming back many more times!!!
(5)Allie K.
Love this place! Such a cool and unique atmosphere in a city full of Mexican restaurants. They have s great waiting area for when there is a rush, and provide chips and salsa for you while you wait. Drinks are pricey but FANTASTIC I got the cucumber mint fresca and it was amazing. My fiancé got the strawberry fresca and he liked his as well. I would stick to ordering the tacos on the menu, the standard and crunchy fish were our groups favorites. Best appetizer is the guacamole, it's handmade and very tasty! I wasn't a huge fan of the salsa they give with the chips, but you can order a different kind for 2 dollars so it's not too bad. Service is usually very friendly and very low key which is nice. The valet parking truly is complementary which is nice in a city where parking sucks. We're more likely to visit the gilbert location since we are in the east valley but if we lived closer we would come back frequently for sure!
(5)Ryan P.
The feel of this new Upward Projects concept is amazing! Mid Century Modern with a Mexican twist... so unique. The people working here are very friendly and the despite being a newer place, the service doesn't seem to have kinks to be worked out, which is nice. The food is very good, with the exception of a couple "just ok" experiences. The drink specials, and atmosphere keep us coming back for Sunday Fundays and weeknight dinners!
(5)christina g.
Never a bad experience. Great staff and wonderful food!
(5)Darcy C.
We went to Joyride with some friends for Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon. Upward Projects does it again with this amazing place. The layout and decor is done perfectly with no expense spared. It is a fun joyful atmosphere that is lively by not too loud. Our waiter was very friendly and outgoing as he suggested drinks to our group. I had the strawberry Aguas Freshcas with rum and my husband had the Mazatlan Mule. We also shared the Better than Betty's chocolate dessert which was the perfect way to end Happy Hour. I am sure we will be back for Happy Hour and maybe try out some more of the food next time too.
(4)Sara C.
I like it. The ambiance and decor are awesome. The drinks are great and different, I like picking the different soda flavours and pairing with an alcohol. The food is good, I think I need to try more things to get a better impression. The tamales I had were over steamed was soggy on the end but dry everywhere else. Need to try the tacos.
(4)Michael G.
Amazing margaritas....yes $9, but worth it. Tacos are perfect and the guacamole is yum. What stands out is the service.....best in Phoenix.
(5)M B.
Good service, good beer, good decor. Not good tacos! 3 of my friends agree with this rating!
(3)Cheryl G.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the atmosphere in this place! It's got a super funky retro vibe with vintage decor and what seemed like it could have been the James Brown Pandora station. We only had drinks at the bar but the cucumber cocktail was perfectly balanced, refreshing and slightly spicy- a must have! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I am sick of places that try to fancy up Mexican food, I usually end up wishing I would have just gone to a taco shop. I will definitely go there on my next trip to Phoenix and I will at least try the food so I can give it a fair assessment.
(4)Nikki F.
I loved this place! Went for a late Saturday lunch and the house was rocking. Hostess said 20 minute wait, but with a nice large bar we were able to find two open seats right away and avoid the masses who were lingering. I really dug the decor, and there looked to be lots of outdoor patio space to enjoy too. The house salsa was super flavorful and the chips were the wonderfully thin and crunchy type that I can't get enough of with my Mexican food. I ordered the Baja fish, Chicken Tinga and Cochinita Pibil tacos with the cucumber orange salad side. All of the tacos were great, but that simple, perfect salad was shear perfection. I want some now just thinking about it! Couple of good draft beer choices and what appeared to be a pretty extensive bar. I plan a return sometime soon for a specialty coctele or two! Joyride, ya done good.
(5)Laura S.
I wanted to like this place; I love the other restaurants in this conglomerate. Let's start with the good: the deco is great as well as the atmosphere. The service is excellent. Salsa and chips tasty. Draft beer selection pretty good. The not so good: Mexican street corn- boiled not grilled. Mexican rice- too soft and bland. All tacos we had - shrimp, standard and chicken also bland. I'm not sure if it's the lack of salt, spice or if it's the flavor of the soft taco. Something wasn't right. We will probably try this place once more but if the food is not more flavorful- that will be the end.
(3)Mark M.
Food was good but there was a mistake with the original pitcher of beer for my wife. This was corrected but obviously took time and then when the check arrived it contained the mistake pitcher as well as the correct one. We had 4 pitchers in total but were charged for 5, took a little more explanation than necessary but eventually I was thanked for pointing out that I was being overcharged. In a class establishment at this point I would have expected not just the removal of the beer we did not have but either a comp on one of the other beers or removal of a higher priced beer instead. That didn't happen so the tip was $4 light to reflect my displeasure
(2)Melanie W.
First time here, came later at night (around 7) and we sat outside cause the weather is amazing. Awesome setting! Super nice people BUT we waited about 30 minutes for someone to take out order and then 20 minutes for the ticket and we only got a taco each.... We just say there waiting for almost an hour. Overall the tacos were delicious and we will definitely come back:):)
(4)Raul S.
I stumbled upon Joyride during their soft open and was graciously invited in for dinner and drinks. Ate almost everything and drank a lot and it was free. Amazing ambience and great people and music and servers. The food was amazing, we were blown out the water. Especially the Veggie Taco's, Im a meat guy, but the Veggie Taco was out of this world. Oh man we loved it. My BF and I decided we were definitely going back. We went back a second time. The ambience was still amazing and lively and we sat down,and ordered drinks and food and were so excited bc we talked it up. And the waitress was so awesome. The food came, and there was something off. The food went from a 10/10 to an 8/10. 3rd time i went with some new friends who were excited to go bc of how much we talked it up. The ambience and people were lively, great staff and ordered the food and drinks and the food came and it was like "what the heck is happening", it was a 7/10. Friends looked at me like "Youre at culinary school and you eat at a lot of places around the world and this is what you like?" 4th time Again the ambience and staff is great and lively, but the food wasnt great. I didnt enjoy it at all. No one did. it was a 6/10 Finally the 5th time, same, great ambience but the trio salsa was gross, and the food, i wanted to just scarf it down to leave. I wanted to ask for the Chef, but the food has been consistently gross. We decided to stop going.
(2)Debi W.
Well, I'd read some great reviews so I was excited to try it. The decor was great and the service was awesome too, but the prices and the food leave alot to be desired. We boyfriend and I got there at 530pm. The chips and salsa are complimentary, but the salsa was thick and tasted like they used alot of chili powder. My boyfriends loves salsa and he couldn't even eat it. I compare all my salsa to my favorite at Mi Patio, and I haven't found anything that compares to it, so I wasn't expecting anything better, but this salsa was really bad. We both ordered a margarita. The drinks came in a standard size bar glass. I also ordered just one taco...a shrimp taco. The big surprise was the bill...$9/ea for the margaritas...and $4.25 for the taco. I felt like I just threw $30 out the window. Oh, and there's NO happy hour. I was told the happy hour was from 11a to 5pm. What?? Yes, it's hip, yes, it's cool...and I don't mind paying for great food/drinks, but it was definitely not worth the high prices. The margaritas would've been priced around $4.25 at any other mexican joint and that tiny taco should've been about $1.25! The tortilla was the size of a small pancake and had just 2...yes 2...shrimp inside..we each got a bite. I'm still kicking myself for paying that kind of money for nothing special!
(2)Jeff B.
Awesome environment. Stellar food. Amazing playlist. I enjoyed the Baja taco and grilled fish taco... Very tasty and great service.
(5)Lian E.
When you initially walk in it is hard to spot people who work there (they don't have uniforms) but someone will find you! Great food and for a great price. The servers are also extremely helpful and friendly.
(5)Becca C.
Love this place! It's fun and fresh and appealing in every way. This restaurant group is the best. Love love the tacos here and the beachy 70's California feel of this place and awesome service. Easy to share a meal with your spouse or friends because you can literally decide how much to get- how many tacos, what sides, etc.
(5)Jason B.
This is one of our regular stops. Whoever designed this little cluster of restaurants did it right. Besides the great food the place looks awesome and just has a good vibe. We have tried damn near the entire menue and hevent been disappointed yet. By far the best waiting staff around. You will not be ignored.
(5)Roxanne P.
Upward project has done it again. We went to Joyride Sunday,early afternoon and had a great experience. Greeted by a friendly young lady, taken to a table,brought us a high chair for our 15month old daughter. Right away our server, Lori, came over quickly with chips and absolutely delicious salsa. I had been to another new taco restaurant the night before, but the salsa at joyride is far, far more flavorful. We order right away, nachos, recommended by Lori. My husband loved them! I order carne asada torta it was absolutely perfect. My husband got chicken tacos. Very good. Lori also told us that Joyride has a kids plate. Perfect! A another helpful young lady brought over a adorable kid friendly plate with two chicken tacos, fruit and I order a side of bomb black beans, which my daughter loved! Great service, everyone who works there was very friendly and seemed eager to please there customers. I can't wait for our next visit back to Joyride.
(5)Lance D.
My last and final comments on the matter: I gave them credit for being honest, however with that comes with FILLING THE OBLIGATIONS you make during our call. Clearly, once you thought I was placated you simple slid me back over into the ignore pile. Shame on you Upward Projects....... It wasn't that HARD just do what you say your going to do, less people will get angry if you do. Lance
(1)Michael K.
Joyride has been a staple in our Lyft driver community! The food is great and has been able to accommodate our large group on many occasions with ease! We all appreciate your excellent service. I enjoy all of your other restaurants as well!
(5)James M.
Finally made it to this place. Every time I've noticed the place, it has a good sized crowd on the patios and it looks like a good time. Kind of fell short. The Mexican food is like a tex-mex fare which really isn't what I look for in Mexican food. In fairness, that's my preference and there's probably quite a few people who look for this speciality of the Mexican food class so just expect that kind of menu. The ceviche was pretty good though.
(2)Alfie N.
Went here with my girlfriend last night and had a good experience. Hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. The number one thing that stood out to me was the ambiance in the place. Really cool looking decorative design in this restaurant. The vaulted ceilings above the bar really pop. Our drink orders were taken in only a few minutes and our food orders were taken shortly after. We ordered a combination of different tacos. The fish, veggies, and shrimp tacos are delicious. Overall, this place does a good job! Pros: -Great food -Good service -Reasonable prices -Awesome ambiance Cons -I believe I left my card there and still waiting to hear back
(4)Gabriel R.
Ok first greet by the hostess great smile and since we were a party of two didn't want to wait for a table. Dinner rush. So we sat at the bar. The bartender was supper awesome sorry forgot his name but very helpful and recommended some nice drinks with our meal. The drinks were on point and the tacos were bomb! I must say tho they keep throwing the warm chips at salsa at me and I would have been full of of those!! Great spot! Great atmosphere 3 thumbs up if I had a third hand :)
(5)Kiana W.
I love Joyride Taco House! I work about a block away, and my boyfriend and I live about five miles from the restaurant. We come here at least once a week. The food is always spectacular, there's a great happy hour, the atmosphere is upbeat, and the staff is very attentive.
(4)Richelle L.
We had a great experience at Joyride taco! We went on a Friday for lunch after hearing about it on the radio. The location is central and the restaurant decor is fun and casual - a great fit with all the hip new restaurants in the area. Our food was delicious! The elote corn appetizer was great and the churros dessert was amazing. But the service was truly what sets this restaurant apart. Our server was friendly and attentive, and at least 2 of the managers stopped by to check on how our meal was. In fact, I guess our main course took longer than usual to come out (although I didn't really even notice) and the manager picked up our entire bill! That's great customer service. We will definitely be back!
(5)Libbi J.
Great Mexican food in Central Phoenix. I haven't been here when it's too busy, which always seems to be the case at other Upward Projects restaurants. So I'm happy to have Joyride be my new go to. I can find parking, get good drinks, good service, delicious tacos etc, and the best churros I've ever had. (the cheese y mas is a must try but dangerous for the dairy intolerant) They have a lot of open doors windows, so depending on the weather it can get a bit chilly and they keep it kinda dark. But otherwise, we've been very happy with our dining experiences here.
(4)Matthew O.
Salsa was very good. The Enchiladas I had were not very good. Was not at all impressed with the cochinita pibil tacos, they were not like any I have ever had before.
(2)Dee E.
Joyride was more like a 10 car pile up. No flavor. Meh!
(1)Mr. S.
Great concept, fantastic food and warm, open, laid back feel. If I lived close, this could very well become my regular watering hole... Their spin on Mexican fare is pretty damned good. Everything my friends and I had was awesome. I highly recommend the crispy fish tacos and the blood orange margarita! The parking is a tad weird, but it should not be enough to deter you.
(5)Lynne C.
Plan on taking ear plugs so the concert style music does not make one deaf. Forget having any conversations unless you use sign language . The staff is helpful but it wasn't their fault the the fried fish tacos were not a big hit. The fish was strong and smelled before arriving at the table, and were over cooked. The shrimp tacos had no flavor, but I find that everywhere. The beef ones were good and the black beans . After going to Tacolicious in San Francisco nothing in Phoenix really stands up to what they should taste like.
(1)Joel D.
Staff is always friendly and welcoming. Food is great and the drinks are consistently flowing! Everyone needs to come here.
(5)Garon M.
Great set up, bright and happy colors. Energetic waiters and waitresses. This company knows what they are doing when they open restaurants. The tacos are amazing and their twist on mixed drinks is quite interesting and unique. Highly recommended.
(5)John F.
Love this place, great decor, food - while not traditional Mexican, is very tasty and reasonably priced as are the drinks. We stopped in the first time just for drinks and they kindly gave us chips and salsa and kept giving us more and the service was very attentive. Close to the light rail grid for easy transport. I feel like I am on vacation even though I live here so they have succeeded in my mind!
(5)James K.
Came here for dinner, tried the blood orange cocktail first... Way too syrupy. Tasted fake. Not a fan. Ordered the Ahi tostada for appetizer, and weren't pleased either. The pineapple on it tasted like it was fresh from a can. Dessert-like sweetness. Not very good. We actually decided to head to another place for our entree. Quite disappointed, because we're all big fans of postino and Windsor. Won't be back here anytime soon. On the upside, the service and atmosphere were great.
(2)Bethany M.
Love, love, LOVE this place! Great atmosphere, delicious food and ridiculously friendly staff! Everyone that works here seems to love their job and their smiles are contagious- I will definitely be back!
(5)Amanda D.
I like this place despite the fact that most of my friends told me never to go here. However, I like it mainly for the atmosphere and cute decor. I went here for lunch last weekend expecting mediocrity and was pleasantly surprised, but mostly by the atmosphere and decor. The food is mediocre. There are definitely better Mexican and/or Southwestern food spots in Phoenix, but the patio and location are great. Service was just okay, but that is to be expected from most places in Phoenix these days anyway. Our server was nice, but looked as if she was on her way to the YMCA to workout. Not a deal breaker, but she definitely did not dress the way I would have expected for the decor. It just did not match and that was the first thing that I noticed. She wasn't overly friendly nor was she standoffish. She was just okay, and I got the feeling that is the standard for this restaurant. I know that this place is a part of a grouping of restaurants owned by the same people and this is definitely one of my favorites of their pursuits. Their cocktail list was really good, and, again, the ambiance was good. Would I come back? Yes. But, probably not for a while and not until I scoured Phoenix for a better alternative. Yet, it is close to my house so they will have my business again solely because of proximity and the fact that is was average relative to other spots close to me.
(3)Peter B.
Wow...really disappointed! After reading such stellar reviews thought I was in for a real treat...nothing could be further from the truth: truly awful tacos... salsas gringoesque...over-priced drinks...horrendous sides (salty pintos too small cucumber salad). Eager staff, but not well-trained. This is the kind of place Seftel will rave about...sorry, this is strictly "turista"!
(1)Art C.
Place is beautiful inside and out. Food is mediocre at best. I might have returned for the atmosphere if it not for the supposed owners and management. I was having lunch on the patio and had SEVERAL screaming kids climbing a tree RIGHT next to my table throwing rocks and screaming. When I notified management I was informed those were the owners kids and he couldn't do anything about it. He bought my meal instead. I said thanks but that's not what I want. I want to relax and enjoy my mediocre food in peace. I am completely turned off that the supposed owners would let their children disturb their customers dining experience. And even more turned off that the problem wasn't fixed. I will not be returning.
(2)Maddie G.
Yum! My husband and I came here for a quick, early dinner. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Taco and the Chicken Tinga Taco. My husband ordered the Chicken Burrito, which I had a couple bites of. The flavors of each were so different from the other, but equally scrumptious. Not to mention, you can never go wrong with free chips and deliciously spicy salsa. This place not only has delicious food, but the atmosphere and set up are great! I definitely want to come back at night to enjoy the lights, fireplace and drinks.
(5)Allie S.
"meh" gave it three stars for the great ambiance and nice service, but food was a little lack luster.
(3)David S.
Let me start by saying, I would have rated Joyride a 4, but for one significant fact--the mixed drinks are a poor value. Nine dollars for a small glass that is filled with 75% ice just doesn't cut it. To top it off, they arrive with short straws (Disney made the 2nd and 3rd stories of Main Street buildings progressively smaller so you would think they were taller) which causes your drink to disappear even faster. When we ordered a third house Margarita and requested less ice, the bartender limited the ice but simply poured the drink shorter. I guess they have to pay for the exquisite decorations and furnishings somehow! Joyride is cut in the new mold of restaurants intended for both seeing and being seen. Where the value of the meal you pay for is significantly in the theater of the atmosphere. Something you can't take home with you. That said, there's a lot of theater here, and it is very well done. Everything exudes quality. From the chairs, comfy and styled, to the decorations. Not a stone appears to have been unturned to create and resurrect images, colors and shapes evocative of childhood memories residing in the deepest recesses of baby boomer brains. It is outstanding. And the food is a decent value as well. I had the carne asada burrito and my wife had the chicken tamale. Both very good and ample. the chips are great and the service attentive. In fact, I would say that the staff was a cut above the (low) average set by Fox Concept restaurants. Everyone from the greeter/hostess to the waitstaff and manager were solicitous and genuine (well as genuine as they have time to be). These are real people with a mission and vision instilled by the owners...not bimbos and bimbettes schooled in the fine art of maximizing (restaurant) revenue, minimizing expense and maximizing tip income. So, Joyride delivers more than most theater restaurants: good value in food (both cost and quality), great surroundings (visually and in terms of comfort) but you pay for it in the cocktails. I suppose an alternate strategy would be to rely on beer. Or, if you don't drink beer, have one cocktail at home before coming over (but who wants to make a margarita at home, especially on a Friday night after work)...I have never found homemade ones to be that great. Joyride does offer a taller glass for an additional two dollars. Which I suppose has the amount of alcohol that the $9 one should have. Also, as an earlier review warned, avoid the double trio of two person tables sandwiched together at either end of the lovely round booths. You will feel uncomfortable and untethered as the wait-staff traverses these thoroughfares (a feng-shui moment). Even though you do end up paying more...you don't feel quite as cheated as at the other "theme" restaurants.
(3)Crys W.
Great family friendly place!! The atmosphere was really nice, whether you sat inside or outside. The food was great and the cocktails were delicious!
(4)Alicia G.
Food was deeeeliisshhhh. The only thing is their menu is pretty strict. They don't have anything else you can add to your meal, you can only take things out. No substitutions. Other than that it was delicious! There is inside and outside seating as well as awesome indoor decor. We shall be back!
(4)Brian T.
What, what a great find! I usually am on top of the new restaurants that are opening in the area, but somehow this one got by me. Wifey spotted it the other day and we decided to check it out yesterday. It just opened on Tuesday, so it was perfect timing. The location is great, it's located right next to Postino on Central. The decor is done awesome, very urban but warm if that makes sense. The restaurant was very busy but seemed to run like a well oiled machine. We were seated pretty quick, they have a nice patio and tons of indoor/bar dining options. We started with a few cocktails, traditional margarita and I went with the blood orange margarita. Wifey wasn't over the moon about her traditional margarita, was a bit flat but my blood orange margarita was great. they have a well rounded menu with tacos, tamales, tortas, burritos and a few specials. They also have a short list of apps/shareable plates. we started with the guacamole, which was done perfect. I opted for 3 tacos: Fried fish, braised beef and this spicy chicken. They were all great, my fave being the braised beef. I also got the Mexican street corn, which was delicious. Wifey got the Chilaquiles, and LOVED her dish. They even have a kids menu for my daughter, which is always welcome. All in all, great good, superior service and perfect location. I'll for sure be back!
(5)Victoria M.
I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food is here. I had heard mixed reviews, so I was sketchy on trying it out. I went with a large group of friends and started out with a variety of different appetizers. The guacamole and queso dip with chorizo were bomb!! Yeah the tacos are pricey, 3-5 dollars but honestly that's any price for a taco in the central-downtown phoenix area. I ordered the standard taco and also the crispy fish taco. Both were good. (crispy fish was my favorite) My boyfriend ordered the chicken torta and that was tasty and flavored very well. The pineapple aguas frescas with tequila was definitely a good choice too. Staff was friendly and attentive. Overall, I had a great experience and I will be back!!
(4)Juju P.
Fun place to lunch with girlfriends! We came on the third day open and enjoyed studying the new menu, finding something delicious for everyone. I love the ensalada fila -- although I struggle to remember the name of that salad -- it is first on the list. It's a great kale salad. Add a crispy fish taco and it is the perfect lunch! They serve the tacos family style (I.e. all orders on one plate) and this threw us off a bit. The ingredients of the tacos are fresh and delicious but we noticed the awesome home-made tortillas. Lots of attention to detail here, Desserts are fabulous! Save room for the brownie.
(5)Michelle M.
Try the crispy fish tacos they are delicious! They are perfectly battered and crispy and garnished beautifully.The carne asada quesadilla was very good as well. I love that you can also get all the chips and salsa you'd like without it costing a few extra bucks. Skip the burritos though. They taste like the enchiladas that Pollo Loco just added to their menu. Definitely not worth the $8 price tag. And last but not least, the drinks! My mouth just waters at the pure thought of them. I'm personally not a fan of margaritas but man oh man! The drinks were stirred and executed perfectly!
(5)Chris V.
We gave this place a second chance and had lunch last Friday. I tried the chicken tamale, which you think it would have shredded chicken. Unfortunately, I only saw poblano, corn and one small piece of chicken. Even if there was chicken, the tamale was just okay. I liked the side grill veggies more than the tamale.
(2)Mara L.
Good meal. Multiple servers. Comped without asking for a large portion of bill due to service delays. Friendly and yummy.
(4)Ersula O.
Lee is an awesome bartender
(4)D K.
Food was pretty good, not fantastic. Music was so loud that a normal conversational tone was not sufficient. Not sure if I'd recommend it, not bad...not great. Go next door and get a pizza.
(3)Nate H.
Great place for a quick lunch or afternoon cocktail and apps. Food is outstanding, drinks were also quite nice. HH til 5pm every day, means $5 cocktails, pitchers of beer and glasses of wine. Local/seasonal beers featured on draft. Interesting 'aquas frescas' cocktails can be ordered virgin, as well. Love the building/setup. Great patio to while away the weekend afternoon. Glad it moved in, I'll be here frequently.
(4)Mary C.
As with the other Upwards Project restaurants this is a win. It may not be authentic Mexican food but it is good. The decor is a lot of fun. The seating is very comfortable. That was the first thing that was mentioned. The booths were big and comfortable with plenty of room. The music is fun and upbeat. Now to the food. The chips and salsa are great and they just keep coming. We got the nachos which we could have finished with and had a great night. My mother in law got the vegetarian burrito and said she would love to come back and get some more. My husband and I got the 3 tacos and they were each very good, not authentic but still good. My daughter had had the chicken tacos in the past so decided to have the burrito and ate every bite. If she only kind of likes something she will eat some of it but when she eats the whole thing it means she really likes it. The orange cucumber sale was a big hit. The black beans were ok the rice was not so good. For dessert we had the churros and the banana pudding. My husband knowing full well that I am allergic explained how delicious the pudding is. The churros come with a chocolate sauce that has a hint of spice to it. I have already been there twice and plan on returning.
(4)Gary G.
Love this place - the decor is awesome and the tacos are fantastic. I loved the grilled Mahi taco with the habanero salsa. Their chips and salsa are delicious, and they have Negra Modelo on tap. Need I say more?
(5)Amy J.
Went to Joyride hoping for a casual taco and a good marg. The restaurant was packed and super noisey. The food was very mediocre. I ordered the beast burritto which sounded tasty on the menu- carne asada, beans, avacado, and two types of salsa. What they delivered to my table was not so appealing. It was a burrito consisting of 99.9% dry, unflavorful meat, hardly any salsa, beans, or avacado. I ordered a margarita which was very ordinary. The biggest reason I am rating the restaurant so low is because of the rediculously loud music blaring in the restaurant. The place was packed and noisey to begin with and then add the crazy loud music and it made the place almost unbearable. The decor and renovation were done very well. Unfortunately the medicore food and horrible atmosphere will keep me from coming back.
(2)Lynn M.
Good - not great, although my 13 year old loved his burrito. The food was O.K., nothing I would crave or go back for. Everyone we came in contact with was very nice and attentive but I personally prefer having one server. We had 3 people asking the same questions 3 times over.
(3)Natalie M.
These are the best tacos I've ever had! The only problem I had was with the service. There was only one waiter, though there were two people cleaning. The food came out 10 minutes after we ordered, but when it came, my brother and I agreed that it was worth the wait. We came for a light lunch, so we got two tacos each. They are individually priced, so you need to think about how much you want to eat. I got the carne asada and the standard tacos. They were perfectly made and I was enjoying them so much! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants some high-quality Mexican food.
(4)Kristin B.
I'm so happy I finally made it to Joyride last week!! The patio is awesome!!! The restaurant has a unique vibe that draws you in and makes you smile! The food is pretty good. We're not talking gourmet here - its simple eating, but the flavors are good and its definitely worth checking out. The Mexican Street Corn is AWESOME!! This is definitely one of my new weekend spots for some daytime fun!!
(4)Renee L.
I've been here about 5 times and I'm finally going to yelp it! This place is one of my favorite spots to relax. On a Friday, I want to go out to a trendy spot with fresh food! This is the place. In this part of town you can't be sub-par. And Joyride meets the mark! The atmosphere is warm and easy. The staff all have smiles on their faces and everyone seems to be having a great time working. Food is great; despite previous reviews, I never had a bland bite. My shrimp taco had two pieces of over cooked shrimp and the third piece was perfect. Consistency would have been reviewed with 5 stars... I'm still in love with Joyride! In fact, I can't wait to get back!
(4)Ruth L.
Great atmosphere. Great price, great salsa and tasty tacos. We plan to go back soon.
(5)Jamie M.
Went to Joyride today and really had a wonderful time. Their salsa is fantastic and I wasn't even to the bottom of the chips when they brought me a refill of chips and salsa. The food is fresh and just the right portions and lots of vegetarian options available. I recommend the Mexican corn from the starter menu and the pineapple Fresca! Joyride's Happy Hour specials are the best just like all the Upward restaurants. I hung out there with a few friends for an hour or two without pressure to leave or order more. I will definitely frequent Joyride.
(4)Valentina B.
Went to Joyride for the first time on Sunday, around brunch time. Sat at the bar, ordered a cold Negro Modelo - they only offer it on draft. Staff was very friendly and engaging. The place is super cute, love the outside patio, good blend of background music. For the food, I started with guacamole, chips and salsa - all were tasty. The salsa had a nice kick. Tried the shrimp, fish and ahi tacos. The shrimp was flavorful, fish appeared slightly under cooked - so that lost points. The ahi was by far the winner - amazing actually. Will definitely go back, thrilled to see more restaurants in Central Phx.
(4)Noel S.
Good restaurant concept. Great vibe. Would have given 4 stars but valet parking only. Fresh ingredients. Went here for Easter lunch and had no problems getting in and there was plenty of parking that I couldn't park my own car into. You can get plenty of food for under $10 but most likely will go over 10 per person especially if you're getting alcohol. House margarita was tasty. No need to go top-shelf, but that have that too. Overall a bit on the pricey side for Mexican, but you're paying for location and the swank ambiance. The free salsa is good. I tried the un-free habanero salsa (they let me try it for free thankfully) and didn't like it. So before you buy the un-free salsas ask for a taste.
(3)Jason G.
Great experience at this restaurant! I brought clients here for a work dinner on a busy Wednesday night. We were a party of 7 and had a short 10 minute wait, eventually getting a table on the patio facing Central Ave right in front of the fireplace! They cranked up the heaters, not knowing half the party was in town from Chicago and quickly turned them down at our request. The blood orange margarita was excellent, not too sweet but smooth. We had the cheese y màs (a chunky queso dip) which was awesome, along with ceviche (very good, light and not too acidic) and the guacamole (alright, but not in my top 5). The chicken enchiladas were very good with red and green sauce, spicier than I expected. The staff was attentive but not overbearing kept waters full and cocktails coming. I'd definitely pay this place another visit.
(5)Courtney D.
Good service, good atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices. The salsa is really tasty and I'm loving the veggie enchiladas. The tacos are good, not awesome. The kids love it and I'm excited to try more of the menu
(4)Brandi B.
Great food, friendly staff, and another cool restaurant from upward projects. Family style tacos but also perfect individual lunch portions.
(5)Elisha D.
lame food.lame drinks.
(1)Natalie M.
These are the best tacos I've ever had! The only problem I had was with the service. There was only one waiter, though there were two people cleaning. The food came out 10 minutes after we ordered, but when it came, my brother and I agreed that it was worth the wait. We came for a light lunch, so we got two tacos each. They are individually priced, so you need to think about how much you want to eat. I got the carne asada and the standard tacos. They were perfectly made and I was enjoying them so much! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants some high-quality Mexican food.
(4)Kristin B.
I'm so happy I finally made it to Joyride last week!! The patio is awesome!!! The restaurant has a unique vibe that draws you in and makes you smile! The food is pretty good. We're not talking gourmet here - its simple eating, but the flavors are good and its definitely worth checking out. The Mexican Street Corn is AWESOME!! This is definitely one of my new weekend spots for some daytime fun!!
(4)Renee L.
I've been here about 5 times and I'm finally going to yelp it! This place is one of my favorite spots to relax. On a Friday, I want to go out to a trendy spot with fresh food! This is the place. In this part of town you can't be sub-par. And Joyride meets the mark! The atmosphere is warm and easy. The staff all have smiles on their faces and everyone seems to be having a great time working. Food is great; despite previous reviews, I never had a bland bite. My shrimp taco had two pieces of over cooked shrimp and the third piece was perfect. Consistency would have been reviewed with 5 stars... I'm still in love with Joyride! In fact, I can't wait to get back!
(4)Ruth L.
Great atmosphere. Great price, great salsa and tasty tacos. We plan to go back soon.
(5)Manda L.
Really great service here. Everyone is very attentive and super nice. We tried the 2 tacos and side salad happy hour deal. We tried the carne Asada, shrimp and one of the pork options. The shrimp was definitely the favorite. The chips and salsa aren't our favorite, but I think we will definitely give it another chance and try something else.
(4)Nicole O.
This place is really beautiful. I love the decor and ambiance. It feels nice and easy. The carne asada is sweet and delicious, the salsa and chips fantastic, the fish tacos rocked but the street corn was odd and mediocre at best. And I love street corn. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Theresa R.
If you love Postinos, Federal and Windsor you with LOVE LOVE this place. On our way to Postino's for lunch on Saturday we saw this huge crowd at a new place across the street and decided to try it. Everything was delicious, especially the blood orange margarita and the service was great. Definitely will be back!
(5)David S.
Dated unadventurous menu. Service was good. Food wasn't bad but wasn't memorable and we will probably not go back anytime soon. We were hoping to find a cool spot in central Phoenix and it was just O.K. Would love to see them take a few risks with the food with not only this restaurant but their others as well.
(3)Drew G.
It was Ok.. I thought they were Unorganized .. and its hard when every server asks you if everything is OK,, I am a fan of hard shell Tacos ,, I did like the Standard taco
(3)Bill J.
Good food and atmosphere. Crispy fish taco is great, ahi fish taco was very flavor able service was fast with lots of thoughtful follow-up. It's a nice spot, give it a try!
(4)Genie M.
I am giving this place a three because it is beautiful inside. However, I did not have the best experience as far as service goes. It took 20 minutes to get water. Plus, valet only.. really? The food was ok. The main thing that I didn't like is you couldn't tell which hipster was your server . Confusing because they dont have any kind of uniform. They did give us a $10.00 coupon because we had bad service. So... eh.
(3)Camille B.
One of the best customer service experiences in a restaurant ever! Thank goodness for good servers & bartenders to guide me through my traditionally awkward journey to a new eatery. Upon existing my car I do remember saying "ah, shit they're playing techno, do you want to go somewhere else?" Also weary because the dirty word "hipster" was used to describe the place. But ALAS! The drinks were fantastic and I'm overly pleased with the beer selection. I personally got a cucumber mint tequila "juice" and loved it! I'm looking forward to trying out the different combinations of flavors and liquors (hey there's a logical excuse to drink more!). Food was fantastic as well. I ordered the standard the Baja fish tacos. They are served up in taco stands and I could have managed to polish off one more. The flavor combinations are classic enough to please a skeptic and creative enough to satisfy the more adventurous such as myself. The date got a chimi-style carne Asada burrito and claimed it to be the best he's had in Phoenix this far. And that says a lot, trust me. His burrito and my tacos had fresh sliced avocado to top off our foodie perfection. Even the restrooms were an aesthetically pleasing experience. Prices were reasonable, and like I said, our server and other employees eased our social anxieties and earned their 25-30% tip to boot. I will quote, "If this is a hipster place then I guess I will join them."
(5)Tanner H.
Great food, service, and atmosphere! My new favorite Mexican place in town. Carne asada taco and crispy fish tacos are amazing. Upward projects, you once have done it again. Thank you
(5)gerry s.
parking is a mess...food...so so..they seem to think their salsa is the bomb..but the flavors just don't quite hit the spot. The concept is great and the atmosphere is good.. even the bar seating (which is extensive) is comfortable) Service could be much improved...come on it took forever to get a bottle of beer....the burrito...carne asada.. not much flavor..meat was tough and the various other ingredients just didnt play well with each other...very dry...when I want a burrito grilled on one side..I will say so.. ..overall I think they are trying to hard....
(1)Anna N.
Awesome chips and salsa, and a great experience at the bar! The bar itself is really unique and they get drinks quickly and are very personable! Great selection as well!
(5)Anthony K.
The place looks very hip, surprisingly they were not that busy at 12.pm the waiter was friendly and kept the chips coming , we ordered the harbernero sauce which was hot .the wait was long but the food was good
(3)Shelly L.
The staff was very friendly & attentive. My tacos were great and we really enjoyed the atmosphere! We will be coming back soon! It is very rare to get such great service only a week after a new establishment opens.
(5)Amy H.
Met a friend there for an early dinner. It is decorated beautifully. The light fixtures are fabulous. My friend was running late but they sat me on the patio anyway. The server did seem a little irked that my other party was tardy. She kept coming by a bit too frequently to ask...So I ordered 2 citrus agua frescas that were very refreshing and not too sweet. Then feeling bad that I hadn't really ordered anything yet, I ordered some guac and chips. It was perfectly fine guacamole....not the greatest I've had, but there are some unusually good guacamoles in this town. There was jicama in it, which was interesting. When friend arrived, we ordered the grilled corn or eliote with cotija cheese and paprika and a sauce called White Magic. I think it's an amped up mayonnaise. The corn was excellent. Had a real grilled, slightly charred taste that I love about it. I had a trio of tacos, one shrimp, one pibil, one braised beef. They are the small street tacos which have become so popular. With a trio of tacos you get a free side. I asked the server what the beans were spiced with and she said in a kind of spaced out voice, "I don't know....salt?" That made us laugh. My friend ordered a carne asada torta and was quite pleased with it and I had the shrimp taco left to take home. The shrimp were fresh and cooked well, the braised beef taco was awesome and the pibil was just fine. And those beans? Meh...I think the sever was right about the spice being salt. The only real problem with Joyride is one wants to sit on the patio but the chairs are the most uncomfortable things I have EVER sat on in a restaurant. I kept looking longingly inside to see the comfy chairs those diners were sitting on. It was a long dinner and my butt still hurt the next morning. They are cute yellow metal things though. But perhaps Joyride should rethink the function following form thing and invest in something a bit less torturous. I will just know to always sit inside in the future. They open the whole side of the restaurant so you can get tables close to the edge of the patio and have the al fresco experience. All in all, a solid meal. Definitely worth a return visit.
(4)Aba J.
Can we bring back traditional service please?!! This place had the potential to be a very nice experience but the service was terrible. They have decided to not assign a specific server to your table but rather have all staff chip in to order, clear tables, bring out food, like they do in Chinese restaurants, with disastrous results! Plates of grilled corn, soup, burritos kept coming to our table, no one knew who had what plate and being the large table we were, you can only imagine the havoc with constant unnecessary interruptions. It seemed like none of the tables were numbered as is usually the business model in most restaurants to help staff know which table to bring food to. It was amusing at first but awful, add to that I looked at my bill and was shocked to find out my regular priced margarita, at about an ice filled tumbler's worth cost 9 dollars each! Even paying for the bill was a tedious, the lady did not know who had what and had to go back and do the splitting all over again as we sat there for about 20 minutes just waiting to leave. The manager then came out after our bidding and apologized, and gave us a bunch of vouchers. Get it together people!
(2)Gary B.
Last week we thought we would give Joyride Taco another try, after all we really liked the food and drinks. WOW what a difference!! The food is still great, and the service has had a major upgrade. We noticed the waiters concentrated on the guests, and other staff had been added to do cleanup, etc.
(5)Jada S.
Not too bad. I was gifted a night out from a friend who raved about the food here. We brought extra money since we planned on having a few drinks (we can walk there), but didn't need it. $40 fed us both, with appetizers, dinner, drinks, and dessert. The only complaint I have is that I was really looking forward to a "Pickled Cucumber Salad," since pickles are just pickled cucumbers, I was excited to see what this creation was. It's just cucumbers with some vinegar drizzled across the top- not very creative. Also, after we cashed out, our waitress never came back. I think they have a weird wait staff situation going on, because they all seem pretty flighty, running around all nilly-willy and bothering other tables. Maybe it was just busy, but I prefer to have less people interrupting my first night out since having a baby... just sayin'. I expected the pretentious hipster vibe, but I think they did a nice job with this place, it's more eclectic than that. There's a very peaceful feeling under the trees and in the open air that get's lost when the chatter of nearby tables becomes yelling to hear over the music. So, if you're like me, go on an off night and sit on the patio, look into the trees, and have a relaxing frothy beverage. It's an A-OK place to be, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.
(3)Sharon M.
I go to Happy Hour with my coworkers here and it's okay. I'm GLUTEN-FREE due to a diagnosed wheat allergy, and there are VERY few things I can eat here. The service (and perhaps the kitchen staff) is iffy and does not understand issues of cross-contamination with food allergens. My server there the first time went to ask the chef what I could eat (and I said "severe wheat allergy" several times) and came back telling me I could eat the chips among a few other things. I ate ONE chip and my mouth started itching. I called him back over and asked if they used a shared fryer for wheat/gluten-bearing and wheat/gluten-free products and he came back saying that they did fry the chips in the same oil as the wheat-filled churros That's allergen cross-contamination 101 and anyone in food service in this day and age should think/know about it and communicate that to customers. Had I not known by hard experience to take a tiny bite and go slow no matter what my server said, I would have had to Epi-Pen myself. Infuriating and totally unnecessary. And, if Joyride would simply use a dedicated fryer for its chips, I'd be able to eat a lot more -- including the yummy-looking chips and salsa and their amazing-looking nachos. As is, there are two or three tacos I can supposedly eat. I stick with the Standard taco because it's never made me sick. The food taste and quality is uneven - one time I had a fantastic one, full of fresh, sweet corn kernels. Other times the taco has been okay, with hardly any corn. Proportions of ingredients change, affecting the taste -- perhaps because of the availability of fresh ingredients? All in all, I go because I like hanging out with my friends from work. But I wouldn't choose to go back on my own with my husband or family. It really annoys me when good restaurants who COULD make their menus more food-allergy friendly don't and when poorly-trained staff make recommendations that could really hurt people.
(2)Michael G.
great atmosphere, good food wasn't too impressed with the salsa though.
(4)Vanessa G.
AMAZING! I have been here twice and in my humble opinion, this place is pretty close to having the best tacos in Phoenix. Their flavors are really defined in each of the taco selections. The size of the piece of Ahi Tuna in my taco was impressive, I'd say at least an inch in diameter. The specialty cocktails are innovative and refreshing. The decor is fun and hip and the place just has a good vibe. This is definitely a wonderful place for date night or lunch with the office crew. I will probably visit here monthly!!
(5)Emily L.
This place was recommended by someone at work so I thought for sure it would be good, but I wasn't all that impressed. The atmosphere and décor is just trying way too hard to be retro and hipster. Im pretty sure you have to have an arm sleeve or at least 4 visible tattoos and 2 facial piercings to work there, but the service was over all pretty good. Drinks were refilled very quickly and the food was brought out promptly. Although, my boyfriend and I came in on an early sunday afternoon and were sat next to a huge group of loud women getting drunk which seemed like a poor choice considering the place wasn't half full. Even the way too loud music couldnt drown out the ladies having a good ol time. The food itself was good, just not anything more than that. We got the tuna for an app and it tasted like it wasn't very good quality. The enchilada wasn't that impressive either. Not sure if we will give this place a second chance, despite hearing good things about it from coworkers.
(2)A S.
Yummy food with a great, fun atmosphere. I practically drank the salsa--using the chips as mere scoopers, ha. Try not too fill up too much on chips because the tacos are great. I sampled so I could try more! Street corn was SO WORTH IT! Splurge baby! You'll become addicted to it. I really enjoyed the non-alcoholic drink options. It was fun and refreshing. Don't leave without that banana dessert thing. The name escapes me but the memory of it (in the cute presentation) remains! My feeling is enjoy it all! It's a great, friendly place to eat with friends!
(5)M M.
Awesome location. They have a great establishment up and running. Ahi taco was very good. Staff was very helpful especially Troy.
(5)NW S.
Place was slammed. Service was good but the tacos came out cold and the carne asada was burned. Decent place for drinks in trendy atmosphere.
(3)Brett H.
What a JoY! We went at 8:15 on a Friday night so of course it was packed. We were quoted a 45 minute wait which is normal in Phoenix. The bar is huge with plenty of seats and easy to get a drink. However, even better is the patio on the north side of the building, that is separate from the dining patio, and perfect for waiting. There is plenty of seating, a few table, and a server dedicated to making sure you never are thirsty! We found 3 seats right away, and they brought us a basket of fresh chips and salsa and waters to start while we looked over all the drinks. Within minutes we all had margaritas in our hands and we were happy. Very smart move Joyride. The 45 minutes flew by because we could converse and drink and munch on chips the whole time. We were greeted with the same friendliness when we were seated at our table in the dining room. Again, waters and fresh chips and salsa right away. Our drinks from earlier were effortlessly transferred to our dining bill, so there was no urgent need to close out with one server before being sat at our table. We changed up our drinks inside and were impressed by each one we had. All of the nectars and juices are house made which makes the drinks very fresh. No bottled mixers or syrupy concoctions. The house margarita was perfect. Not sweet or overly tart. Just refreshing. The Blood Orange Margarita was a little sweeter but also delicious. The Key Largo was something else. Very pina colada-esque but better. Whatever they used to rim the glass made the drink. Everyone was impressed. The food was very well done. We stared with street corn, which was flavored well, but will probably be even better when corn is actually in season. It just didn't have the sweet and juiciness that you get from corn on the cob in late summer. Our friend had the tortilla soup with chicken which she said was fantastic and perfectly spiced. We all had tacos of course, although I was very tempted by the chilequilles. Next time, maybe for lunch! My favorite were the shrimp tacos. Huge shrimp, great flavor, and NOT breaded! The baja fish tacos were fantastic as well. Finally a place that does grilled fish tacos well in Phoenix. The braised beef taco was tender and juicy as well. The tortillas are homemade and amazing and much larger than your typical street taco. Here is the one complaint I had about the food. The side dishes were not up to par. We had the pinto beans and the rice. Both were pretty forgettable. I am very surprised by this because Windsor, also an Upward Project restaurant, is known for their sides. (hello Joe's church potatoes and mac n' cheese). So next time we will try some other sides in hope of finding something better. The sides are included when ordering 3 tacos, otherwise you really don't need them after all the chips and tacos! We usually skip desert because we are rarely impressed by restaurant deserts, and I for one would rather have another basket of chips and salsa. I am a salt guy, not a sweets guy. BUT, Better Than Betty's was one of the best desserts I have had at a restaurant in a really long time. It was perfect to share by the way, even by 3 people. The brownie was incredible...chewy inside and slightly crusty outside and just the slightest hint of spice that made it less Betty Crocker and more Nacho Libre! Then there was a layer of caramel that was divine. It had to be homemade. And a huge scoop of dulce de leche ice cream that was definitely homemade. As soon as we tasted it we knew they must have made it across the street at Churn. If you have been there you know what I am talking about. That smooth creamy homemade ice cream that is so dangerous because it is walking distance from my house. Perfect. Oh, and the candied pecans were a bonus. They almost had a caramel corn flavor to them. Anyways, the combination of flavors left us all speechless. So if I had to make a recommendation for diners, it would be cocktails, 2 tacos each (which is very hard to narrow down from your choices) skip the sides, and dessert is a must! The place looks great and I can't wait for spring when they open up all the sliding windows and doors. We have tried Taco Guild as well (see my review) and Joyride is 10x better and way more fun. I forgot to mention the service. Everyone was so friendly and fun. The servers inside at our table, and outside on the patio, were very helpful with recommendations and explanations. We were never without drinks or chips and salsa or water. Super attentive and just a great, laid back, easy vibe that is normal from these 4 neighborhood restaurants on this corner. That is why we love them and keep coming back! (it helps they are all walking distance too!)
(5)Amy K.
Being a supporter of Locally owned and operated establishments, I love visiting all of the Upward Project restaurants. On Saturday night, my boyfriend and I planned a date night that started at Joyride Central. The retro/vintage décor was cute, but unoriginal and clashed with the 90's alternative music that was playing (Beck, Goo-Goo Dolls, Bush, etc). The entire staff was very attentive to our table....to a fault. We had 8 different people come by our table within a 30 minute period. We were interrupted so many times that we weren't able to enjoy a conversation between the two of us. I ordered a specialty cocktail that was mediocre and so I changed my drink order to be a glass of wine. I wasn't quite finished with my glass of wine when someone placed the bill on our table. So much for enjoying a relaxing date night. The food is delicious (I ordered the Enchiladas) but I'm disappointed with my dining experience. I wish I had gone to Postino Central instead.
(2)D K.
Food was pretty good, not fantastic. Music was so loud that a normal conversational tone was not sufficient. Not sure if I'd recommend it, not bad...not great. Go next door and get a pizza.
(3)Nate H.
Great place for a quick lunch or afternoon cocktail and apps. Food is outstanding, drinks were also quite nice. HH til 5pm every day, means $5 cocktails, pitchers of beer and glasses of wine. Local/seasonal beers featured on draft. Interesting 'aquas frescas' cocktails can be ordered virgin, as well. Love the building/setup. Great patio to while away the weekend afternoon. Glad it moved in, I'll be here frequently.
(4)Mary C.
As with the other Upwards Project restaurants this is a win. It may not be authentic Mexican food but it is good. The decor is a lot of fun. The seating is very comfortable. That was the first thing that was mentioned. The booths were big and comfortable with plenty of room. The music is fun and upbeat. Now to the food. The chips and salsa are great and they just keep coming. We got the nachos which we could have finished with and had a great night. My mother in law got the vegetarian burrito and said she would love to come back and get some more. My husband and I got the 3 tacos and they were each very good, not authentic but still good. My daughter had had the chicken tacos in the past so decided to have the burrito and ate every bite. If she only kind of likes something she will eat some of it but when she eats the whole thing it means she really likes it. The orange cucumber sale was a big hit. The black beans were ok the rice was not so good. For dessert we had the churros and the banana pudding. My husband knowing full well that I am allergic explained how delicious the pudding is. The churros come with a chocolate sauce that has a hint of spice to it. I have already been there twice and plan on returning.
(4)Gary G.
Love this place - the decor is awesome and the tacos are fantastic. I loved the grilled Mahi taco with the habanero salsa. Their chips and salsa are delicious, and they have Negra Modelo on tap. Need I say more?
(5)Amy J.
Went to Joyride hoping for a casual taco and a good marg. The restaurant was packed and super noisey. The food was very mediocre. I ordered the beast burritto which sounded tasty on the menu- carne asada, beans, avacado, and two types of salsa. What they delivered to my table was not so appealing. It was a burrito consisting of 99.9% dry, unflavorful meat, hardly any salsa, beans, or avacado. I ordered a margarita which was very ordinary. The biggest reason I am rating the restaurant so low is because of the rediculously loud music blaring in the restaurant. The place was packed and noisey to begin with and then add the crazy loud music and it made the place almost unbearable. The decor and renovation were done very well. Unfortunately the medicore food and horrible atmosphere will keep me from coming back.
(2)Lynn M.
Good - not great, although my 13 year old loved his burrito. The food was O.K., nothing I would crave or go back for. Everyone we came in contact with was very nice and attentive but I personally prefer having one server. We had 3 people asking the same questions 3 times over.
(3)Danica K.
First off - their margaritas are on point. Secondly, who doesn't love bottomless chips and salsa. Other than astronomical wait times on Taco Tuesday's, usually the wait isn't too bad. They have a convenient text message based waiting list/app which is helpful. One Busser in particular is AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE at always keeping my water full (I drink a lot of water). If you're part of the world that's okay paying more than $3 on a taco - you need to try their delicious creations!! Free side with 3 or more tacos too I believe- which is also a nice way to have a full meal. It looks cool, it is cool, and they take good care of you! Good drink prices for happy hour!
(5)Marybeth M.
Visited during happy hour. $2 tacos. The standard tacos are very tasty! Carnitas and adobada tacos yummy too, but can't compare with yumminess of the standards. Friends say the shrimp tacos are bomb also. Tacos are street taco size. Fun little hipster place with good food and great service. Clearly a favorite of many locals.
(5)Gabriela T.
Went to this spot a few months ago, had seen some pictures on Instagram someone posted. Tacos looked delicious in the picture. So as a craving(I was 5 months pregnant) we decided to go immediately. Loved the place, decorated very nicely. But if I am going to a restaurant that is rated 4 stars on yelp! I figured food would be amazing. Unfortunately it was not the case. Their shrimp tacos tasted a lot like charcoal and were cold. Definitely not tasty at all, couldn't really taste the shrimp flavor. Had their fish taco which seriously? Fish taco with a flour tortilla? Was awful... These tacos were simply not good at all. And were very small for the price. Their horchata had a good flavor; but they give you a small cup and very little ice. You finish it before your meal gets there. We had the cheese y mas. This was delicious. But as an appetizer I guess it would be a nice place to go just for a couple drinks and an appetizer. Other than that I don't recommend this place to go out and have a good dinner.
(2)Kazi H.
I'm FINALLY writing a review for this place! I come here often as shown by my check-ins....so often to where some of the employees wave when I walk in; embarrassing, I know. My favorite day to come is Tuesday! Why?! Because of TACO TUESDAYYYYYY!! Taco Tuesday means that you get delicious melt in your mouth $2.00 tacos (try the crispy fish) aaaaand $5.00 margaritas! Now, I personally dislike margaritas or anything that contains tequila, except for the ones here! I love the margs here, especially the raspberry-ancho. You can't taste the tequila, but that devil will sneak up on ya after your 2nd drink. But why stop at 2, right?! I also love their lunch special! 2 tacos and 1/2 for $9.95?! Count me in. All their salads are pretty delicious so I can't choose just one! The staff is really nice and friendly and The prices are good. What else do ya want?! Stop reading and go get yourself tacos.
(5)Kaitlyn W.
This place is so cute! I had the Prickly pear margarita and it was delicious! Next time I'm going to try the watermelon margarita. Looks so good. I had the fish tacos. My favorite was the Baha fish taco. The shrimp taco and crispy fish taco were also excellent. My fiancé's favorite was the carnitas tacos. The salsa is fantastic as well. Just slightly spicy and chips are served warm. Yum! It was a little loud in the restaurant, however it was a lot of fun. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Laura F.
I love this trendy restaurant! They serve authentic Mexican food - zesty dishes that use the perfect Mexican spice blend. The Tortilla soup is a must have! The carnitas tacos were served with a green salsa, avocado and cilantro were tasty - you get a free side if you order 3 tacos. We also had the Mexican Sweet Corn as an appetizer - so good! The servers were friendly and attentive.
(5)Kristin W.
I'll keep it short and sweet... Carne Asada and Crispy Fish tacos....yes!! Sub corn tortilla for the flour on the fish. $2 tacos after 2pm on Tuesdays, and from 2pm to 6pm weekdays. There are actually SOOOOOOO many specials. $5 drink specials until 5pm like the other Upward Projects establishments, but some specials until 6pm. Service is hit or miss but it's better than Windsor, that's for sure.. Sit at the bar as long as there is more than one bartender. We've never had an issue until the one time there was only one guy doing everything. Pineapple mojitos....that is all.
(4)Chloe H.
I went here with a group of 7 and a set of twin infants. We sat on the patio. The manager and server were quick and very accommodating. Table service was fast on a Sunday night. The carnitas were amazing; the pork adobada was awful-- too salty and...gritty? It was strange. The server was generous in taking it off our bill. Roasted veggies has a spicy creamy sauce on them I didn't like, but I ate around it. I sampled the Orange cucumber salad, and it was refreshing. They make a decent Bloody Mary; based on feedback from the rest of the group, the margaritas and mojitos were a group favorite. The misters were turned on per our request, and the babes were happy and cool. Parking is godawful, but it's not easy to find it on Central on any given day.
(4)Shannon B.
Pretty fun modern Mexican place with specials. Parking: The location is near Postino, Federal Pizza, and Windsor, and parking can be a pain. There are plenty of lots, but these places can get busy. There's a lot across the street near Windsor if the lots near Joyride are full. Location: Just north of Central and Camelback - a quick walk from the light rail station at this location. Specials: There are happy hour specials from 2-6pm with pretty good deals and $5 margaritas. Food: The food options are good. The guac is always delicious. The happy hour tacos are only $2 but are made with a pre-made mix. I asked for no peppers, but the server said the mix is already made. The chips/salsa are just OK. The salad options look pretty interesting but haven't had one before. I ordered the Mexican corn for something new - pretty tasty! Service: Usually good, though I've only been here twice. The crowd is similar to the other Upward Projects restaurant crowd. Sign up for the Upward Projects coupons for a free app, though I'd use the coupon at Postino
(4)Ceci A.
The. Best. Tacos. I've tried a few tacos in my day. It usually consists of driving to a stand somewhere on an intersection where car exhaust penetrates your nostrils and the local bums are looking at you as they salivate after your every bite. Enter Joyride. All the delicious flavors of your local stand without all the unwanted toppings! Amazing drinks! Awesome service and crew! And the funnest eating environment. I highly recommend their braised beef tacos and the serrano cucumber margarita! OMGizzle! Fo shizzle!!
(5)Christopher B.
Love, love, love this place! Never a bad time or meal!! Want good food, atmosphere, location, price and laughs? This is where you need to be then.
(5)Brandon H.
The service was absolutely amazing, food was great and the service my waitress hailey was well knowledable. I will be coming back.
(5)Ella M.
Absolutely in love with this place! What a great happy hour! I met a good friend there and we both had a spicy margarita...ok, we had more than one! I had 3 tacos and cannot decide on my favorite...ok, the mole! hahaha I'm really bad at making decisions! Considering celebrating my birthday here next month...that's how much I loved it!
(5)Haneen O.
Okay they are so nice here. I came to use my free dessert coupon for my birthday and I received complimentary chips and salsa after I was seated. I ordered the brownie dessert and it was pretty darn good! Very rich: homemade brownie topped with dulce de leche ice cream, goat milk caramel and walnuts. I wish I would've taken the rest to go but I had to rush back to work. I would definitely come back and try food from their menu, their tacos sounded yummy and try had a few vegetarian options which is nice. I liked that it wasn't super busy when I went, which was during peak lunch hour.
(4)Kristina M.
I'm in town visiting a friend of mine, and last night we dined here on here suggestion--so glad we did! The hostess let us know it would be about a 30 minute wait, but let us know we could grab a seat on the patio and order drinks and appetizers. (Or grab a seat at the bar - they're first come first serve. But it was pretty full.) I love the atmosphere here! Very "Art Deco" in my opinion.. Funky wallpaper, awesome lighting/glass work around the bar, headlights on the walls that lit up as it got dark! The staff was all very friendly and helpful, and brought candles to all the tables as the sun was setting outside. Not to mention the 3 or 4 extra large doors they had open, giving the whole place a very laid-back vibe. We opted for a spot on an outside couch, and were welcomed with chips and water. Before we had a chance to order anything, we were getting seated! (10-15 minutes) Our waitress was a doll, and recommended the blood orange margarita. It was strong (I love a strong drink) and was perfectly sweet. Definitely a winner. The chips were really good, they tasted fresh! The salsa was excellent as well, but too spicy for me to try more than a few times. I had 'The [Chicken] Enchiladas' and they were tasty! It's too smaller enchiladas that equal the size of what you'd except the size of one to be, served with half red sauce and half green sauce - very cool! The enchilada itself was delicious, very flavorful and the meat was juicy. The red sauce was my favorite - full of flavor and a little bit of kick. The green sauce fell a little flat for me, I found it somewhat bland - which was a major bummer because green sauce is my jam! I appreciated that it wasn't smothered in cheese, like you usually see in American versions of Mexican food. I would be a regular if I lived in town. Great food, vibe, service, and prices!
(4)Tara B.
This is a hard review to write but all the more necessary. We legitimately enjoyed the service, food, and margaritas we received; however, we were taken aback by the additional charges to our bill. In short, we had additional charges totaling $26 that we brought to our server's attention which he rectified by giving us two free margaritas that equalled $18. We ate the difference but were conflicted after we were: 1. Charged for an extra drink we didn't order, 2. Not comped a drink that was promised by our waiter after we had waited over 15 minutes for it, and 3. Charged regular prices on 2 margaritas that we ordered during happy hour. Overall, we will likely return but plan to be much more vigilant with regard to our check.
(3)Lorenia W.
We came to try the tacos, but they messed up our appetizer order so to correct the order we kept the carnitas nachos and they still gave us the carne asada nachos. Soooo we got too full to order anything else. We'll have to come back for the tacos because I'm confident they'll be as delicious as the nachos were! Both dishes were flavorful, the meat was tender & not chewy, And the portions were huge - enough to share for 4 people. The cheese didn't get dry, the creme wasn't too runny, it was simply tasty! We also had the almond horchata w/rum in it. DEE-LISH-OUS lol
(4)Jessica L.
I rarely write reviews, but what I experienced last night prompted a much deserved 5 stars from me. Service and food were excellent. I stopped in around 9:30pm. I didn't dine in because I was exhausted from a very long week. So I pulled up, went inside and asked for a menu. The place was very full - always a good sign. The woman who was at the door made me feel super at home even though I was just ordering to go. She explained that I could walk up to the bar and place my order (it was right in front of me) or she could take the order no problem. I wasn't starving, so I just ordered two tacos: The Standard (chicken plus the works basically), and Carne Asada. She explained if I got a third taco then a side came free, but I knew I wasn't hungry enough so I declined. She then asked if I would like a water or anything while I waited. I appreciated the offer but my dog was waiting in the car and I needed to go back outside. Moments later I went back inside and the same woman immediately attended to me saying my food was ready to go. To my surprise, they included a full bag of chip and a large salsa container with my two tacos!! I'm so glad they did because the chips were crisp and light and the salsa was INCREDIBLE. Now, I'm not going to be able to adequately describe these tacos. But I can tell you, I've had a LOT of tacos in my life. The Carne Asada taco was the best carne asada taco I've ever had. I'm not over-exaggerating. The steak was cooked with a perfect char to tender ratio. The amount of steak was very pleasing for a small taco: I could have used a second tortilla (not a complaint)! The toppings perfectly complimented the steak and didn't overpower it. The other taco I got was good too, but the Carne Asada was out of this world good. I'm probably going back tonight...seriously. I can't wait to actually dine in next time. I saw the list of margaritas on the menu and I'm eager to have one with my next Carne Asada taco.
(5)Victoria S.
After work drinks with the girls! We love the Blood orange Margarita! Served by everyone that works there. Hard to decide who our actual server is, there was problems with the communication that way. We seem to get alot of apologies from the servers telling us that it was shift change and that was the problem for the long delay in getting our drinks. Personally, if it wasn't for going out after work with the girls, i wouldn't be coming here. Not a fan of the way they work things. Love the guacamole and the chips and salsa. Not a lot to chose from regarding gluten free options.
(3)Veronica C.
Loved the cucumber Serrano margarita! So delicious. Service was great and I was on the patio. Atmosphere inside is so adorable. Food is just okay to my Californian taste in Mexican but for Arizona Mexican it's really good. Loved the corn and the bomb black beans.
(4)Larissa G.
Imagine that Jonathan Adler decided to make a taco shop in Phoenix, Arizona, and you've got this place. There isn't enough parking for even the lunch crowd, and I got there a little after noon on a Friday. They were already on a wait list for tables, but I was dining solo and easily got a spot at the bar. I loved the geometric turquoise wallpaper and giant gold lamps, but wondered if the tacos would be as excellent as the interior design. I opted for the lunch special and got a glass of lemonade because I was working that afternoon (although looking back, I should have made it a margarita!). The lemonade was fresh squeezed and refreshing, and a cool breeze came through the open restaurant as I waited for my food, which made me feel like I was on vacation... although coming to the southwest from the northeast in February is a vacation even if I had to work the whole time! The server at the bar - a curly dark haired skater-looking girl with backwards hat, was extremely friendly. I heard her recommend the quinoa salad as a side to the women next to me, and I am so glad I was eavesdropping! I got the salad as well as two tacos - The Standard and a carnitas taco. Everything was ridiculously good with juicy tender meat and slices of avocado on top. I don't think I left a crumb on the plate. It was a perfect, quick, and economic lunch, coming it at just over $10! Plus, chips and salsa come for free. I highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)Stephany K.
This place is amazing! Far drive from where I live but it's worth it! Tacos are amazing, chips and salsa are delicious and the staff is always beyond helpful and attentive. One of our favorite stops for some yummy food! The drinks are also good.
(5)Trevor A.
Atmosphere, Vibe, Staff, Music - Thumbs up. Fresca's refreshing. I like this place, just not a big fan of the food... one of our crew from both evening visits stated "Great vibe, till you get the food". Your taste may be entirely different. Regardless I'll likely be back... Let me tell you how to have a good time here all the way around... Start at the bar and wait to get a booth inside near the bar (especially in winter). Enjoy the free chips/salsa. Stick to the standard Taco's - they are pretty good. Don't have expectations for the sides. The people at Upward Projects I think have a lot going right at this place. Winter notice: The outside patio surrounds the seating with door entries at several points. This past visit we were seated next to a door to the main patio - it was being opened over and over with the cold winter air coming in. After the door was propped open a couple times I told them I would let them in when needed (and the parties around us thanked me - they were feeling the cold too). I think I might rate this a 4 during another season :).
(3)Daryn B.
This place is so damn good. That's kind of all I have to say. Definitely recommend. I love all the upward projects restaurants but this is my favorite. The interior design of the place is genius. And branding is impeccable. Keep up the good taco work!
(5)Chris H.
After driving past this place since its opening I figured a visit is finally in order. We had 6 people in our party and it took a while to get seated, which was expected. The table was not wiped down when they came to get us so there was a scramble to get it cleaned off (even though it was "ready"), but eventually it was clean and read to eat at. The chip and salsa seem endless and are slightly addictive. Service can be a bit awkward as its hard to tell the patrons from staff as the staff have no set uniforms. I ordered the fish street tacos, which were very good, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. The Churros were for desire, not a favorite as they seemed a bit dry and I was not a fan of the dipping sauce. We were not rushed out after dinner and had some time to talk and get caught-up, which was nice. All-in-all its not a bad place if you like this type of concept.
(3)Bob G.
Great happy hour specials. I am still not over my margarita, I tried the mango mandarin and it was probably the best margarita I have ever had. Tried the cheese y mas and it was great! Loved the salsa too! Tacos were $2 on the happy hour menu, we sampled everything plus the braised beef. Everything was on point and I can't wait to come back!
(5)Tricia F.
Taco. Tuesday. Need I say more? Several of their tacos are $2 a pop and $5 margaritas! I strongly recommend the battered fish paired with a delicious cucumber serrano margarita (or 3). Be sure to arrive early as the wait can be up to 45min/hour but well worth it. THe staff has always been incredibly friendly and attentive. Parking is also a bit of a struggle on tuesdays but I'm not sure about any other days of the week. Patios are inviting and comfortable- in fact, I would prefer sitting at the patio rather than inside. Will continue to come back to Joyride as a loyal and happy customer!
(4)Daniel O.
This is currently my favorite taco house in Phoenix. Great atmosphere, great service and best of all - GREAT tacos! My wife loves the "Beast Burrito". We're lucky to have this place around the block from our house! The only complaint I have is the limited parking. They get very busy and on Friday nights and weekends. On busy nights, you have to valet or park across the street. Not that big of a deal, but I just can't see valeting my car for tacos... Weekdays aren't as busy. Enjoy! This is a place not to be missed!
(5)Leslie M.
Let's go on a Joyride! There was a time that I tried to get on this ride for dinner, but there was an hour wait! I thought, "Seriously? Is this ride worth it?" I came for lunch the other day and luckily, there was no wait (a big sigh of relief). The restaurant was so freaken cute! We were given complimentary chips - and the chips weren't too bad. I am a little picky on the types of chips I get at restaurants. The guacamole had sea salt on it - my preference is that they can do without it. You can order three tacos, and get a free side. However, I opted to get two tacos only - the shrimp and the carne asada tacos. They were yummy. Now I can see why this "ride" is a "joyride" - great trendy atmosphere, ambiance, vibe, and good food. I would definitely ride this ride again!
(4)Anne W.
LOVED this place! Great tacos and even better margaritas! I plan to go back often!
(5)Vinette G.
From the minute I stepped out of my car and saw the wall art that said, "Work hard & be cool to people," I knew this was going to be an amazing place. The door this was next to seemed more like a back entry but either way, I was still greeted with smiling faces and helpful people. It wasn't busy so the host gave us a choice of sitting indoors or outdoors. We chose outdoors since it was incredibly nice out. Our server helped us out with drinks right away. We were celebrating so we went with a pitcher of beer to start, but I do love the option or ordering a, "short one," here. It's just a choice a lot of places don't really offer anymore, so kudos for that Joyride! Moving along, I ordered a crispy fish taco and the Mexican street corn. Both really, really good and super tasty next to our beer choice. I highly recommend at least one crispy fish taco while you're here! But let's get back to the design of the place. Like all of the uptown restaurants, it's got it's own flavor of trendy design. Be sure to check out the wall next to the bathroom, it's interactive. When I was there, it said, "In this life, I will..." and guests can contribute whatever they want to the wall. Oh, and it you're chewing gum, make sure to use one of their cute little gum things (in the sugar caddy) to dispose of it before you eat. They are so cute! My only regret is that we got here a little before Happy Hour and had not realized it until after we ordered, but that's our bad. I'll be back for it! Really amazing place! Check it out for yourself!
(5)PJ G.
So let's start with Margarita's. My girlfriend may divorce me unless I figure out the recipe for the blood orange margarita. I have one suggestion as a foodie, braised beef tacos. It's like going to grandma's house in a taco shell. If it was my house, I'd serve these with poblano mashed potatoes and a dollop of sour cream. Joyride nailed this one! #boom #braisedbeeftacos #tograndmashouseinatacoshell
(5)Mike L.
My wife and I stopped in for an early dinner on Father's Day and were glad we did! Loved the casual vibe and I'm sure when they open up the windows (too hot in June so they were closed) it's an even more perfect atmosphere for tacos and margs. Speaking of margs I'm not a huge fan but I had a sip of my wife's blood orange marg and it was ridiculously good. The street corn was right up there with the best I've had and we loved the braised beef taco (we also shared the crispy fish and the standard which were good but the beef was by far our fav). Can't wait to go back for taco tuesday!
(5)Milo N.
What a funky fun place! Inside is huge, patio is huge. The staff is awesome, the guac is the best I have had. Beer selection was average but overall this placed rocked! I had an amazing salad that was wonderful! As a first time patron they treated me very special. I will be back there soon!
(5)Chris Q.
Yesterday was my first experience at Joyride. I had shrimp and grilled fish tacos and tortilla soup. The tacos are amazing! The soup was good but not great but still worth trying. The atmoshere and food make this a great place to eat.
(4)D. Michael C.
Seriously good Happy Hour spot! Lunch specials are amazing, and only $10 which was more than enough to fill me up. Friendly and attentive staff - even when the place is packed.
(5)Sam S.
I was recently invited to a gathering here which I was thrilled about due to many great experiences at joyride. We sat on the patio near the beautiful fireplace ready to enjoy our fall evening with friends. I'm loving the music here! Our server was Trevor and he repeatedly let us down through the evening. He was super slow to take orders and we had been sitting quite a while before he welcomed us or even took drink orders. When ordering, I inquire if they have Chambord. He does not know but says he will check- he takes all the drink orders and when everyone gets drinks around us we do not see any for us. When he runs by a few minutes later I ask "no Chambord?" Which he gives me deer in the headlights... I'm like "just give me the house margarita!!" The guy next to me gets his 2nd margarita before I get my first. He does finally explain the bar is backed up- but still takes no ownership or makes any apology. A simple "thank you for your patience" would have made a world of difference. Just the servers knowing what spirits and liquors they have in stock would be great!!!!!! The nachos were quite good as well as the chicken, crispy fish, and shrimp tacos. Unfortunately the rice & beans came out way after the tacos were eaten. Of course when it comes time to pay trevor tries to give me card to some random guy... Who tries to give a card that says Samantha to a guy? Trevor is a lackadaisical finger pointer with the memory of a goldfish. As a business manager I would not have him interacting with clients.
(3)Steve W.
Freebie salsa was fruity and spicy - habanero? Tasty! Was talked into the Beast burrito, fried and smothered in a cheese sauce - definitely won't make THAT better myself! Tacos pricey at 3-4.50 each, but good. Service awesome, cool, hipster staff and crowd, not pretentious. I'll be back
(4)Ken O.
First time here and not the last. The corn was Amazing can't wait to return for more. The music is great the scenery quite unique and entertaining. It is a happening and busy place.
(5)Tennille B.
This place was just ok for me. The drink meme was limited, nachos short and staff was rude. We sat outside which is a better option on a Friday as you get a personal waitress...the bar is still slow.
(3)Tiffany B.
My favorite restaurant in Central Phoenix! The first time I came in I mentioned i was new to town so the manager sent over an order of nachos on the house. I have since been back MANY times and have had an awesome experience so far. For tacos my faves are the baja fish, crispy fish, but the best is the standard. The chicken burrito is surprising with an amazing blend of flavors and the sidewalk chilaquiles are amazing. Great margaritas, not super strong but only $5 on happy hour. Taco Tuesdays are great for cheap tacos. Joyride uses group service so the wait staff is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, I have enjoyed very different experiences from the bar, to the main restaurant, to the patio. A MUST for anyone looking for small bites and great drinks.
(5)David F.
I am not one to complain but hands down the worse service I've encountered in a long time. Was told an hour wait and an hour later they told me it would be another hour. Took 30 minutes for anyone to acknowledge our party and take an order. Food came before drinks. Moved inside to our table and waited over 40 minutes for a beer. Billy the manager was great and the only reason I'd give this place another shot. It's a great concept but such awful service leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth
(2)Courtney P.
Update.... They no longer carry the ahi stack or the ahi. :-((( this one was of the top three meals I've had in Phoenix (native) and I am bummed. I've never had anything else there because I couldn't abandon that dish. They cut the menu in about half ;(. The service was still great and so was the prickly pea margarita, but my salad was horrible. I couldn't eat more than a few bites because I was gagging. It had those crunchy peas they have in certain trail mixes that might appeal to some but to me it was like dirt. The weird dry mushy pinto beans at the bottom didn't help. I will come back for drinks and nachos but the ahi made this place.
(3)Dale B.
Sitting here at the bar looking at the young families that come in for some food. Everyone has a good time, kids, parents, staff... Bar people...open to conversation about...whatever. Bar staff...always make you welcome...why would you NOT want to be here?
(5)Dan O.
Solid tacos. Good salsa. Nice guac. Great atmosphere. PS: Try the shrimp and Asada tacos.
(4)Trent K.
Tacos were quite tasty but the price is high for the tiny portions. Service was excellent.
(4)Jen K.
Our party of four decided to try Joyride's Happy Hour and have an early dinner. We arrived at 4pm on a Saturday and were seated immediately. They offer their regular cocktails (not bottom shelf) during happy hour for $5. I had the Cucumber Serrano and it was the perfect blend of smooth and spicy! We enjoyed the house salsa while waiting, which had plenty of kick while still bursting with flavor. We ordered standard tacos, battered fish tacos, shrimp tacos and the nacho plate. Each dish was fresh and perfectly balanced. The white magic sauce makes the nachos out of this world! There is also ample bar and outside seating. I will definitely go back the next time I visit Phoenix!
(4)Jessica H.
The customer service is unparalleled to any other Mexican restaurant I've been to. Their happy hour is 11-6 which is an alcoholic's haven...not saying that's me, but I truly enjoy this place. If you are ready to indulge in light Mexican cuisine try their Pork Adobada taco or the Carne Asada Nachos, by the way... Happy hour food prices are amazing! They even have a healthy side option such as the orange cucumber salad. The point is, this place is a must especially during happy hour.
(5)T D.
Visiting from Austin, TX! Wanted to check this place out last Xmas but they hadn't opened yet. You had to know this was my first stop in town once the hangover from the drive was gone. Went with my boy Bry and little one E! LOVED that they were kid friendly and offered a menu and the bonus upon delivery of his meal. A temporary tattoo was a fabulous bonus! Bry and I had 3 tacos each. Loved the build out! Upward does a great job paying attention to detail and branding. That's no secret. Loved their standard margarita (we had two each). The Pork taco was great! Service was awesome as EVERYONE in the building was attentive to our needs! HUGE plus in my book being a restaurant owner. Chips and Salsa - okay. Fish Taco - flavorless. Other tacos were okay. This place gets high marks for service and overall concept. You always want to feel transported when you dine out. I was truly happy with the destination I landed in. Its one ride I would take again and again! Keep it up Joyride and cannot wait to visit you again later in the week!
(4)Sharon M.
We come here every Sunday for the best "high roller"margarita in town. The service is always A plus, music is great and the food is delish!!! YeeHawwww!!
(5)Scott W.
Met here for Smunch right about opening time. Without even getting in to the food the feel of the place was great. Spring was in the air and the doors were open to the patio with more seating out there. Our service was great the whole time for a party of around 10. We had a large enough group several items on the menu got tried. I had the enchiladas and they let me have one of each. They were both good. Normally they serve it with both red and green sauce, next time I would ask for all red as I preferred it. The salsas and guacamole were great. The only thing lackluster to me was the beans. Of those that had tacos it seemed like the fish came in last with shredded beef winning the day. All of them were good, just in different degrees. This is just a wonderful spot to gather on a spring day in Phoenix.
(4)Crystal D.
Great atmosphere, service was excellent, stopped by about 40 min prior to closing and no one ever made you feel rushed. The reason for this review is the cucumber orange salad! It was delicious, I know it's considered a side but it was amazing. I was meeting up with friends and wanted something light it exceeded my expectations. The veggie taco was quite delightful as well.
(4)Gary W.
Cinco de Mao lunch. Busy and on top of it! Had Nachos. Really great taste with "blanco sauce". My friend, who does NOT eat Mexican food.... Enjoyed his combo plate. Upbeat vibe! Everyone from hosts, bartenders, and bussers were friendly and attentive. The manager was working with the crew. I'm in the food business and don't leave reviews often. Looking around here, the experienced staff were engaged with each other (teamwork) and anticipating needs of guests! Must say, very happy with my visit!
(5)Evan B.
The trendy Mexican/taco scene is heating up in phoenix. and at 3-5 per small taco wouldn't you want to be in the game too? Step in to a overly retro 60's themed inside, from the lamps to the wallpaper you would think you are in Austin powers. The patio is nice despite the terrible metal chairs. You will be greeted by the obligatory chips and salsa, but it is nice that they don't charge extra for this staple. The menu has salads tacos burritos and tortas. For vegetarians its pretty much salads, a taco or a burrito. For the best value go for the burrito it is full of great items like mushrooms and roasted veggies all for $8 they will even make it a heart friendly chimichanga for no extra charge. I tried a trio of tacos that included a side for a grand total of $14. They were good but more of an appetizer than a meal. Luckily there were more chips to gorge on.
(4)Pete H.
Amazing food. Simply the best Mexican food in midtown. Bartender new how to make a great cocktail.
(5)Ryan J.
The hipsters at Upward Projects have stolen Nana's old family recipes, awesomely re-purposed another old Phoenix building, and given us a reason to head up Central Ave for a Friday happy hour. in the same vein of other trendy taco joints like Diego Pops, Taco Guild, and Milagro Grill.
(4)Kyle S.
This family of a restaurant always exceeds our expectations. They all share in the responsibility of making sure we are comfortable. The wait was slightly shorter than quoted but the waiting area with misters made life easy, even with the infant. There was a second overflow wait area with similar accommodations on the other side of the bar. Someone brought us waters and chips while we waited. A server came buy to grab our drink order. Once we had our table the host met us on the walk over there and our tab was combined without question. EASY! This happens every time we come in. The food was perfect. Bean burrito and rice for the little one, enchiladas for myself and tacos for the lady. Had a little elote as a snack and life was good. Love this place.
(5)Jason G.
The food and the service here are amazing. I got the Bandit Plate and my friend got tamales. The flavors were perfectly balanced and incredible. We got the brownie with dulce de leche ice cream and is one of the best desserts I have ever had. The chips were fresh and the salsa has just the right amount of heat. Trevor is an terrific server - attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Everyone from the hostess to the bussers were all very polite and helpful. I would go back in a heartbeat - if the rest of the food is as good as what we had, you would never go wrong.
(5)Ginny T.
Nice ambiance, pleasant service. Everyone pitches in to make sure customers are hydrated & fed (warm chips/salsa). We ordered a standard taco (slow roasted chicken), carnitas (pork) taco, fish taco, and the braised beef taco along with black beans. All of which were quite yummy. I also tried their Cucumber- Serrano margarita - refreshing with a kick of heat - loved it! Overall a nice experience. Check it out :)
(4)Brad S.
I came with my wife and baby at 230 and ordered 3 tacos and it came with a side I never got the happy hour menu and I really wish the waiter informed that it was happy hour before I ordered. Besides that my server was really busy and I could tell. But the food was amazing 5 stars. That happy hour menu is one of the best I've ever seen. The atmosphere is fun and trendy kind of had that 80's cool vibe.
(4)Sergio V.
So if you have been gere, more than likely you have come back ... but next time sit in a booth or table .. bartenders have too much going on that they miss you until 15 minutes later. Good beer deal before 5 pm. ... but sit at a table/booth and you'll get better service.
(3)Jayne G.
Had an awesome lunch here today. I got the machaca burrito and my husband got the beast burrito chimi style. I recommend their burritos. The chimi style means deep fried burrito. You can also glaze your burritos with cheese!! Awesome! This is my second time here and I remember not enjoying their tacos last year so I didn't order them this time.
(5)Nicki E.
I'm so thankful Upward Projects - the restaurant-building brand that brought the Valley favorites such as Postino, Windsor and Federal Pizza - finally opened a Mexican food joint with their Gilbert spot Joyride Taco House. The Central Phoenix version debuted last month, and I went there this weekend to sit on the colorful expansive patio in this gorgeous Valley weather. The décor and menu at Phoenix's Joyride is the same as the Gilbert location. I love Joyride's chips and salsa. The salsa is the perfect level of spiciness, while the chips are thin. They're the perfect way to start your meal. At both locations, I ordered the Veggie and Goat Cheese Enchiladas ($9) - they were just so darn good the first time! They come smothered in both red ancho chile and salsa verde sauce and are bursting with that delicious goat cheese. It's a really massive entrée, but I still ordered a side of rice ($3) and black beans ($3) - am I the only one who thinks rice and beans need to complement every Mexican meal? That is actually probably the one thing I would change here: make the entrée portions smaller (for example, one enchilada was plenty for me), and add rice and beans to meals. As it is now, I received two complete meals with what I ordered - at only $15, that's not bad, either.
(4)Pamela V.
Fun, hip, yummy & local! Crispy fish tacos + mango margarita with chili salt = awesome happy hour!
(5)Jesse H.
Love this restaurant. I went with a group of friends for Taco Tuesday. We were a group of 9 and they seated us super quickly which was amazing. They have $2 tacos and $5 margaritas! They were DELICIOUS! Our server was Carn and she was the best, so patient and so nice. I will definitely return, no doubt. Especially for Taco Tuesday. The environment is great, it's a little noisy, but not too bad at all and they were playing the best music. If you haven't been yet, go! They're right next to Postinos and Federal Pizza, which I will be trying next!!
(3)Trisha W.
Yummy in my tummy! Enjoyed every bite of the chips & salsa they bring to the table, the guac, the quesadilla with peppers & onions...delicious and I can't wait to go back! Ps, the service was great, friendly & quick (in a good way!).
(5)Abby B.
Went there the other day with my family that was on town... 9 of us. Didn't know it was happy hour but man that sure worked out awesome for us. Two dollar tacos and five dollar margaritas and pitchers. We all ate and drank a lot and for 9 adults it was only 115$ that's amazing. Love it!
(4)Ashley Q.
Love this place! Attentive staff, always thoughtful and great service and food. A definite must! I can always count on a good experience here!!!
(5)O T.
Specifically, the tacos and atmosphere are great!
(4)Cameron Q.
Meh. Chips and salsa are good, as far as street tacos and the majority of the food, it's alright. The atmosphere is what sells this place.
(4)Ivan Q.
Heard great things about this place and saw their Gilbert location get featured on the news one morning, so decided to finally give them a try. I went in on a Tuesday, and sat through a 35 minute wait time, so to me this was a good sign this place will be good or they were giving away Free tacos for Taco Tuesday, either way it was good. I was not disappointed the tacos were great!, fresh ingredients, very well seasoned and marinated meats. I really like that they put their own twist on each taco and add the right toppings, seasonings, to make it that much better. When you don't even need to add the hot sauce you know is good stuff! Plus the service was great, I will be back for sure!
(5)Brittany M.
So yummy! Happy hour is definitely a must and my favorite tacos are the standard, crispy fish, and pork. The drinks are a little too sweet for my liking but the food and the atmosphere are so great!
(5)Brandon G.
This is how a restaurant should operate. Amazing staff, amazing food, amazing atmosphere, and amazing rolls of toilet paper with their logo stamped on it. Gabby, Daniel, Ashley, Jeremy (501), all take care of us very well every time we visit! Even the new faces working there make us feel at home. If you come to town, are planning a trip to uptown, or just need a nice place to dine with friends without hassle, please come take a Joyride! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Jessica B.
Joyride was like dying and going to taco heaven! Tried their braised beef and carne asada tacos and they were amazing!! I love that you get a side if you order three tacos. I also tried their watermelon margarita which also was pretty tasty. The ambiance was nice. Candle at the table was a nice touch. Very modern feel to it. Server was super friendly and helpful in the ordering process for us first time goers. I definitely will be back!
(5)Kevin P.
I really like Joyride. I like the enchiladas with half green half red sauce, I like the hip colorful casual vibe, and I most definitely like the margaritas - oh the margaritas. I just don't know if I actually like the tacos...I've never tried them. Therein lies my only complaint with Joyride (and gourmet taco places in general). The tacos just never seem like they are worth the price (unless you are here on a Taco Tuesday night or I suppose have self control and don't need 5-6 tacos like me...) The free chips and salsa are a nice touch and the service is usually outstanding. Like I said, the food is delicious! I promise I'll try the tacos eventually...
(4)Maddy B.
Buckle up because you're in for a truly joyful ride. This restaurant is the whole package. Starting from the first glance, you'll love the fun decor and oversized booths. The service is not just attentive (my water glass was never less than half full) but they are friendly and people you'd want to hang out with- my friends invited our server Ivy to our next taco night. The food will not let you down either. The guacamole is incredible. I enjoyed the crispy fish tacos loaded with guacamole and their magic sauce. The braised beef were melt in your mouth deliciousness. My friends topped off their beast burritos in no time, but I would stick to their tacos. While they might not be authentic street tacos, they are fresh, tasty and will fill you UP. They have great taco Tuesday deals with 2 dollar tacos. They also have everyday 5 dollar drinks before 5!
(5)Fahira C.
I am a huge fan of all Upward Project restaurants. Joyride is a new addition to my list. I ordered in. The person over the phone was super nice and helpful, which made my ordering experience that much easier. Picking up was a great experience as well. Fast, with great customer service. Food was nicely packed so when we got home, everything was kept fresh and temperature of food was excellent. Food was delicious. I do not know what I was fan of more, enchiladas or tacos ;) They have advised us that now they have a happy hour every Tuesday. We attempted twice already; however, the wait was petty long. We will keep trying as I would like to experience of dining in the restaurant. It has perfect location. Parking is well situated. I highly recommend it!
(4)Michael W.
Beast Burrito | Crispy Fish Tacos | $2 Taco Tuesday's | Great Location | Cool Atmosphere | Great Staff #centralphoenix #upwardprojects
(4)Karn H.
I love this place!! The food is great the garden variety burrito is so good. The way the bar is set up is so nice . It's a really cool spot to sit and hang. And they have the best specials!!!! 5 till 5 and taco Tuesday!!!! What more you need
(5)Mike S.
I returned thanks to the courtesy of the project manager and this time I was eating meat . The fish and shrimp tacos were pretty good , rice and beans still need a little work but was overall satisfied with the food atmosphere and great management to customer service .
(3)Joanna S.
Found this place on yelp. It has a hip vibe and was very crowded at 1 pm on a Saturday afternoon. Music was annoyingly loud, but we were among the older patrons. Following our server's advice, I ordered the pork adobada and carne Asada tacos. DH ordered those two plus the crispy fish taco. It took an extremely long time for our plates to arrive. No employee bothered to tell us our food would eventually arrive. They give you chips and salsa as soon as you sit. Salsa looked good but was boring with no distinct flavor. DH said his meal was perfect. Unfortunately mine was not. I was given the Adobada and another taco. I asked my husband if the second taco looked like his fish taco and he said no. I am super careful because I can get anaphylaxsis from cod or snapper. I looked for a server, any server, but could not get anyone's attention for a few minutes. After staring at it I finally bit into a tiny corner of the taco. It was definitely fish. No anaphylaxis, but a slight itchy allergic reaction. It took a few more minutes of waving my arm to attract the attention of a server who took the dish away. Finally, our server came over since I had no food. We told her I was given a fish taco. She knew I ordered the pork and beef tacos. She said she would check on my replacement plate The new plate came with no apology and the tacos were great. They each had a unique flavor with a nice balanced, yet interesting mix of spices. It's very sad that neither server expressed concern over the mix up. People who do not have serious allergies often do not understand that they can kill someone by serving the wrong food. I stop breathing if I eat certain fish or peanuts. No offer to do anything except bring me what I ordered after my husband finished his tacos. Also, the menu said one free side order if you order three tacos. The server did not mention that to DH. Then, when the waitress brought our change she shortchanged my husband. He tipped her, but maybe should have skipped the tip so she might realize the service was very poor. No stars for service and 5 stars for food. If I lived in Phoenix I would probably eat here because the food is that good. I think they probably have other servers who care more about doing a good job. However, I haven't tried other Phoenix restaurants of this genre so maybe there are better ones.
(2)Jaena J.
This place has the BEST fish tacos! The service is Phenomenal and the atmosphere is super cute! The happy hour is great too, with $2 tacos and $5 margaritas you can't go wrong!
(5)Amber M.
I couldn't stop saying how good my food was during my meal! I enjoyed my chimichanga, my margarita and was in love with the lamps! Our waiter even treated us to Mexican corn... although I don't like corn, I ate some because it was so thoughtful! We need a Joyride in LA!
(5)Zach H.
What a great combination of great food and service! It was an unexpectedly busy Sunday, 8/16, night yet the manager handled it like a pro. As is was my birthday my Father had come in earlier in the day asking to reserve a table and the manager said 'no need, we will have plenty of space tonight'. Whoops...Yet the Sunday night manager rectified everything quickly and with a smile. The food was delicious, and this is the second time I have been here and they are 2 for 2. I have no doubt they will be 3 for 3 after my next visit for some of those nachos and a beast burrito....also Victory IPA on tap, nice work.
(5)Tyrone F.
Braised beef taco and fried fish taco!! The restaurant opened recently and I think it's gonna be one of the new trendy places to go to this year. It was very busy when 4 of us went and waited about a half hour on a Friday night. It was our first time there and the ceviche really stood out so we tried to order that but the server said they sold the last one, but recommended the tuna stack. It was good, and makes me curious what the ceviche would be like. So, they have this deal in the menu, when you order three tacos, you get a side for free. I chose the braised beef, the fried fish taco, and the chicken taco with a lime aioli sauce and the rice on the side. I didn't like the chicken at all, but the braised beef was juicy and succulent and yum!! My friend also states the grilled fish taco was great too! But he didn't like the carne asada, it was too sweet, he said. He also ordered pinto beans as his side but the server said the last one sold out too, so he settled for black beans The servers were all really busy but still very Attentitive. I took off a star because of the food that wasn't available and because when a different server brought out our food, they only brought 8 tacos and I said we ordered nine and we had to straighten it out with the original server first before they brought out the last taco. Just a tiny hiccup in an otherwise seamless night. They also have unique drink choices. They have these juices from freshly squeezed fruits which can be served with alcohol. I tried the cucumber mint with gin and it was very refreshing!
(4)Yvette J.
3.5 stars... started my night out here while attending a foodie happy hour event. A drink and appetizers were included in our ticket. The food that had (nachos and a chicken quesadilla) was eh..not good..not bad..just eh... the guacamole saved my night there...chips and guacamole was really all I needed and once it was gone so was I. I don't drink but ordered my "free drink" that came with my ticket and ordered the pineapple mojito. Knowing I was giving it to a friend anyways I took one sip and it was way too strong and bitter..and it wasn't the i don't drink so it was strong kind of bitter..it was just bitter. My friend thinking I was just being dramatic tried the drink and had the same reaction and at the same time we both said..it's like it has tonic water in instead of club soda or soda water...she took another drink to make sure. Went back to her watermelon Margarita which she says was fabulous and I went back to water...guacamole ran out and so did we...round the corner to souther rail...eh...
(3)Gina C.
Waitstaff is awesome, caters to 8 yr old requests :) food and ambiance wonderful too!
(5)Amy Q.
Went here for a business lunch and so glad this was the spot chosen! I love their lunch special which is choice of soup/salad and two tacos of your choice. This is the perfect amount of food. This time I had the crispy fish taco and the carne asada taco then the Ensalada Fila salad. I ate every last bite of it all. The side salad or soup is a very generous portion as well...all that for $9. The service is always great and they do really pay attention to the lunch hour time crunch. I cannot wait to go back and try more items!
(4)Lisa Monique C.
For my first time, I decided to go full out. I ordered a pineapple agua fresca, a carne asada quesadilla, and three carne asada tacos with joy rice. Chips and salsa were complimentary. My pineapple juice was great! Just the right amount of sweetness! Chips and salsa were okay. It needed more spice and flavor. The salsa tasted sweet to me. My carne asada quesadilla was BOMB! Probably the best food item I ordered. I got my meal about 35 minutes later. The waitress took forever with everything and I didn't like the tacos. The meat had a teriyaki flavor to them topped with some more sweet salsa. I disliked them very much. The rice was better than the tacos, but still tasted off. The decoration was nice. The atmosphere was clean. The best way I could describe this place was "Mexican food with a hippie twist." If that's what they were going for, they nailed it. This place would not be my first choice or on my list to go to again.
(1)Neko S.
The ambiance was awesome! Had a couple tacos, baja and carnitas, excellent taste. The shrimp ceviche was citrus rich. Did a pitcher of their market beer. Dined on the patio, quick service.
(5)Ruben G.
Loved the friendly staff. Food was great. Have to love the carne asada. Will defenetly comeback for more.
(5)Barnabas L.
It was okay. I had high hopes since the other restaurants there from the same owner are well established. I also prefer authentic mexican food, this is more new gourmet mexican, wasn't bad just not my preference. I did only get a burrito which was mighty fine in its own right. Would i come back? Yes. Do i crave it? No
(3)Shigeru Y.
I don't care much for their menu, but the carne asada (steak) quesadilla I ended up ordering was HUGE and very tasty! The waitress was attentive. The leftovers were great. Oh, and parking here was surprisingly easy in their lot (no need to go to the overflow across the street). However, I will never go back here as the music was turned up to a deafening level and was blasting some type of screaming-as-lyrics type noise "music" that was painful. The restaurant was also packed, so people were yelling OVER the yelling "music" which made me want to just leave, which I would have if I wasn't with my mother (who thankfully is getting a little hard of hearing and so was saved from some of the horrendous experience). I feel a weekend lunch is supposed to be a relaxing affair, and not feel like a night club! If this was management-approved music, and not some employee's iPod plugged in to the sound system, I disagree with their "mood/environment" choice and will just have to stick with Federal Pizza next door.
(2)Anu M.
The food and the service were great. They have tasty vegetarian options, which is very exciting to me. This will definitely be a place I regularly visit.
(5)Loren C.
I love this place - great decor, awesome music, friendly wait staff and tasty food and cocktails. We brought some Joyride virgins with us and they loved it. The highlights were Pork Carnitas, Chilaquiles, pinto beans and Guacamole.
(4)Sunny B.
I've been to Joyride a few times now and Upward has done it again. They have built a little Monopoly in my hood and I couldn't be happier. Both times I have been here I rode my bike, they have ample bike parking and a big patio. The bar is gorgeous with the stained glass vases and the concept of the restaurant is very laid back and open. I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time here when I can pull myself away from the Windsor. I also love that they honor the Upward tradition of $5 till $5 on pitchers and wine. The tacos are street style and with so many street style tacos shop these days it is hard to find something phenomenal on the menu. That being said though everything I tried was very good. The carne, the nachos and the salsa will all keep me coming back for more. I'd love to see them do brunch!
(4)Vince S.
Loved the Happy Hour menu. The Crispy Fish and Pork Adobada tacos were tasty and the Cucumber-Serrano Margaritas were killer good. All in all, a great spot with great food, great service and a fun vibe!
(5)Lori S.
We love Joyride and had only been to the Gilbert location until today. The service (Vanessa and a nice gal who wanted to buy my necklace-lol) was great. I tried the cucumber Serrano margaritas which were awesome (not too sweet and rimmed with a chipotle salt) and the tacos of course were amazing, Yum!
(5)Colleen L.
Service is brutal!! Although friendly and seem helpful we sat on patio Tuesday Nov 25 for late lunch and it was 20-30 minutes before our bar drink arrived, water glasses empty and or waiting for straw or ice cubes. Over an hour and a half passed and I had to flag down a guy to see about ordering !! God took forever and waitress was nowhere to be found. When I was sat on patio I saw five other tables Sat at the same time!! No help to patio waitress To get water, drinks or orders . I had a waiter come up to our table three times asking if the food in his hand was ours and each time we said no but wished as our waitress had not been to our table to take order!!! Every table on patio had to demand check as the waitress was no where to be found to deliver it! ( u have cameras !! Watch them!!) Upward project has a lovely concept of Pooling tips And everyone taking Care of the table/ customer but what happens way too much is The one waiter thinks the other waiter has it! Bar service at Windsor is Five Stars and patio only at central - key players make experience awesome and what what I have grown to know over the last five + years
(1)Cyn V.
Thanks you Upward Projects...you make it so hard to go back to work after hanging out at your cool and hip Mexican joint. I feel like I'm on a Mexican vacation when I visit here and all I need is a sombrero and a cabana boy. I love getting away from work and coming back here for lunch. Great decor and amazing patio to enjoy when the weather is perfect. Now let's talk about the tacos... Lots of a great variety to choose from. My favorite are the crispy fish and the braised beef street tacos. Can't go wrong with anything you order here. The salsa also has a great kick to it. Make it your next lunch stop or hot spot... It will leave you and you belly happy and satisfied.
(4)Andrea S.
Way better than Blanco if you're looking for Americanized Mexican food. The salsa isn't spicy enough that they bring out with the chips, but ask for the habanero instead if you like spicy food and they will gladly oblige. I have never had an issue with service. Always been prompt and polite. The tacos are great and the food is moderately priced. Nice ambiance too. Perfect spot for a date night or girls' night out.
(4)Kay K.
Hands down the best street tacos I have ever had. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Great date spot.
(5)Alison T.
Pretty delicious! We've tried the gilbert location when they first opened and liked it, so we knew it would be good. We came here with another couple to have some drinks and tacos. And boy did we have those drinks and tacos! Lol $58 dollars later, full of tacos and with a tipsy boyfriend it was time to head out. We tried the carnitas, shrimp, carne asada, and crispy fish tacos. All of them were seriously good. My malibu and pineapple drink wasn't something I'd order again...it tasted like I was drinking flowers, it was odd. But my man drank that along with his two long island iced teas which he said was different but still good. Fyi, in the 5 years we've been together I've never seen this man order anything but a good quality beer, so that was strange! After some hilarious and raunchy wonderings of what "white magic" was (remember, tipsy people) we learned it was a delicious lime aioli-baja type sauce. MmmmmMm. Also their chips and salsa are sooooo good! We basically all filled up on that before dinner. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is that their sides are very disappointing, nothing special about them at all and everything is a bit pricey here. We'd definitely be back. This is a perfect place for yummy food while you're having some drinks with great friends.
(4)Mitchell R.
This place was good! Chips and salsa never bore me. Don't expect to get the authentic Mexican tacos from here. But the flavors were tasty, great combinations. Would definitely go back on a Tuesday. $2 tacos. One happy camper! :)
(5)Bill O.
Great setting. Inspired food. Generous portions. Really good music. Friendly, approachable team. Will be back.
(5)+TheGeneralofHope +.
This restaurant was retro 1960's in decor and super fun! The food was superb and the service was phenomenal! I highly recommend this establishment. I went there for lunch but it looks like they have a great happy hour as well. A solid 5 stars!
(5)Brittany W.
Excellent happy hour tacos to fuel a day of bike riding. $2 tacos and endless chips served by friendly staff, and with quality ingredients. Easily made vegan friendly for those seeking dairy and meat free options.
(4)Beverly N.
Most everything is cooked in house making the options for dietary restrictions is easy to accommodate. Nice selection of gluten free food. I live in florida and found joyride online and emailed them requesting information on gluten free options and the manager emailed me back with a very thorough and nice response. The staff was AMAZING, so friendly, wish I could frequent this establishment all the time!
(5)Sarah M.
Wow, this place was seriously amazing! My friend and I went after work for Happy Hour and because we remembered their tacos at the Devoured festival. Our server Taryn was also super sweet and friendly, and answered all of our questions. I ended up getting the crispy fish taco, which turned out to be the best taco I've ever eaten! Also, because we got there before 4pm, we got to take part in their lunch special, (2 tacos and a small bowl of soup or salad for $10)! I also got a $5 Mexican 75 cocktail and it was so good, I didn't even realize I'd had the whole thing in less than 5 minutes! Definitely added to my list of favorite places, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Brian J.
Being from the east coast I was hoping to get some really good authentic Mexican food. I'm not sure I found that here, but what I did find was fabulous. Great retro styling and a lively atmosphere make for a comfortable setting. I had time on both of my visits to try a couple different Aguas Frescas my favorite was pineapple with tequila. Highlights were, the pork taco and tortilla soup. Both were amazing! The cucumber salad gets an honorable mention as well. The could have been a little better, was the Baja fish taco. It was a bit boring in taste. If I'm ever back in Phoenix I will be stopping back for a great time.
(5)Monica A.
Awesome place! The food and drinks are delicious and the staff is friendly:) definitely will return! They have courtesy valet fri night be sure to bring cash to tip the guys!!
(5)Jen L.
We love Joyride Taco House! The staff is excellent and the food is always great! I would recommend the shrimp ceviche, I think it's the best in town! Our waitress at our last visit (Ashley) was fantastic, she really went above and beyond. From our experience, this location is a little less busy than the Gilbert one, which means quicker service.
(5)Matthew G.
Food is 5 stars Atmosphere is 5 stars Music playlist is 5 stars Services ruined it all for me. This seems to be a trend with central Phx restaurants. Maybe it is a vibe I don't understand? We are all about relaxing, but I still expect my drinks to be filled in a timely manner. We got things done quicker by asking random servers that passed by, rather than our server doing it. Will try again and get the stars up hopefully.
(3)H S.
Between friends have been many times, always had a great experience until today, during lunch hour. Regardless of what happened their customer recovery was amazing (Preston at the bar) without being asked for.
(4)Noor B.
I am becoming a big fan of Upward Projects. I love Windsor, Federal Pizza, Churn, and Postino. Now I can add Joyride to the list. Parking is much easier with the addition of the lot next to Windsor. You can also park along the street right next to Joyride if it isn't peak meal time. There's several doors around the perimeter of the building; someone will gladly point you to the host/hostess. You can sit at a table, at the bar, or at a community table. Restaurant is large, has nice geometric patterns on the walls, and there's interesting light fixtures by the bar. Chips and salsa: thin crispy warm chips yum, and delish spicy salsa Cheese y mas: lots of nice fresh toppings on a bed of warm queso; simple flavor and really good Veggie and goat cheese enchiladas: a little limited on the veggies in the enchiladas, and a lot of goat cheese so if you aren't a fan, get chicken. Also, no sides. That being said, the verde sauce is tangy and delish, and everything is well seasoned for a delightful harmony of flavors in your mouth. The beast: made it enchiladas style with verde sauce. Delicious, tender beef and a nice mix of beans and avocado inside. Good drink specials, as with all the Upward Projects restaurants. I can't wait to try the agua frescas and margaritas.
(4)Brent N.
Went to Joyride Taco House for the first time last night for Taco Tuesday! Took a seat at the bar which is always my first seating preference. The bar tender offered up a recommendation which I went with. Had 3 tacos; carne asada, pork adabado and Baja crispy fish, plus a heaping bowl of guacamole garnished with slices of fresh Serrano chilies. My friend had four tacos which included an extra carne asada! Excellent bar and although the bar tenders were busy they took the time to chat with us which made us feel very welcome but most importantly the G&Ts were well made. We Got there around 5 pm, there was already a nice crowd with positive energy. I really liked the food here, great flavor and good variety. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
(5)JR A.
Ok, I am not a drinker and this place has an enormous bar in the middle, but the food was outstanding! We did the fish tacos and whether fried or grilled they were both outstanding. Loved the cucumber and orange salad with pumpkin seeds, and the guac was superior to most. They brought is some comp frescos because the waitress had missed us, and all three flavors were amazing. My fav the cucumber mint. Great vibe and decor and when he service started it was he best. Oh yeah, did I mention the roasted salsa - Wow!
(5)Sandra G.
Loved the carne asada and fish tacos. The cucumber serrano margarita is the best. We did have to wait a while to be seated but it was all worth it.
(4)Gil G.
Went for the first time Sunday. Had a great meal, wonderful food and top notch service. Never did a drink go empty. Very attentive without being intrusive. Will be back!!!!
(5)Aaron S.
Went for lunch with some friends today. We were seated quickly, and things only got better from there. Our waitress, Marla, was the best server I've ever had! They kept the chips and salsa and drinks freshly stocked at all times, and were really timely with our food order. I ordered the Beast burrito with the carne adovada and it was amazing!!! When we were ready to leave Marla got us all fresh drinks to go. The food was awesome, the service was great - I'd recommend it to anyone!
(5)Peace D.
So I know I have written reviews about this fun place before but every time we go we take different friends with us and they want to go back again and again AND AGAIN.... now we are just part of this fam....We love this place.. ambiance is unbeatable.... tacos rock, drinks outstanding.... people are AWESOME!!!!!!!!
(5)Frank O.
The best creative, fresh and delicious southwestern/baja Mexican style food in The Phoenix Metro Area I'm partial to the vegetable burro add grilled shrimp. Get that and you're tastebuds will thank you.
(5)Carly R.
Excellent service during our weekday lunch! Tacos and soup were tasty and reasonably priced.
(5)Jordon H.
4.5 (but can't put that.) Why the 4.5 and not 5 you ask, well cilantro was slightly in my girlfriend's taco after she stated she didn't want it. Service awesome-check! Food awesome-check. I got 'the beast' burrito and it was GREAT. She got the fish taco-alright. Not knocking her socks off but good enough to suit for a little snack. So come in, give it a try. Cool atmosphere, good staff (as I see so far, very attentive) so worth a try. Cheers!
(4)Leslie B.
Recently celebrated the end of summer with a large group of kids and adults at Joyride. The beer was icy cold, the Blood Orange margs were to die for and the food was amazing. Our server was super attentive and offered great suggestions. The manager checked in occasionally as our group was so large....appreciated. Would have taken some pics of the food but it was gone too fast. We will be back for sure!
(5)Lucy N.
Good food, great atmosphere, fun patio. Watermelon margarita was refreshing and not syrup sweet. Justin the bartender provided excellent service, he was attentive and helpful to us as first timers. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Kelly M.
Joyride Taco on Central ave. Thought I'd try something different and ordered the veggie enchiladas. OMGoodness off the charts with flavor. The ends were a little crunchy, just like I like it. For $10, it was too much food to finish. This was a "To Go' order that was ready in ten minutes. Came with a side of chips and salsa. YUM YUM YUMMY
(5)Valerie M.
I'm a huge fan of the company that created Postino, Windsor, etc so I had no doubt that Joyride was going to be less than fabulous. Wrong! The restaurant is very cute and the drinks were great but that's about it. The food is overpriced and bland. We shared queso dip as an appetizer, and I had a fish taco with "bomb" black beans. The fish taco wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I expected more for the price. The black beans were boring as well. I would skip Joyride and head to Otro Cafe or Blanco Tacos at the Biltmore.
(2)Ruthie C.
I had a business lunch here last week and it was great. I had their Shotgun Lunch Special - two tacos and tortilla soup for under $10. It was more than what I could eat so that was a great value. The flavors were quite good and I appreciate that a number of their offerings are gluten-free and well-marked in the menu. The staff was impressive. I told them that I was meeting people and we needed to be able to talk, she selected a table that let us sit closer to each other. And when one of my dining companions knocked a glass bottle of hot sauce off the table and broke it, the staff was over in the flash and cleaned it up in under two minutes. I really love that the owners. who have several restaurants in the area, bought a lot and turned it into extra parking.
(4)Stacie B.
Christopher (danger dog) is awesome! This was my first time here at joyride and he is one of the best servers I've had. Ask for this guy! The food is great!
(5)Melissa D.
Went here for the first time for Taco Tuesday during Happy Hour! Meaning, they have 6 different tacos to choose from that are only $2 each AND margaritas, mojitos, and pitchers of beer for only $5! They give out chips and salsa to everyone, which were pretty good. I ordered 2 crispy fish tacos, the standard taco, and their blood orange margarita. Boyfriend ordered a crispy fish taco, the standard taco, the pork adobada taco, and their joyride (a standard) margarita. Both of us liked their crispy fish tacos the best! I was happy with my blood orange margarita. Not too sweet but still some fruity flavor. Boyfriend always gets classic margaritas, and he was satisfied with theirs. In comparison, his didn't seem as strong as mine in terms of tequila. The total of our meal came out to be $24, which is cheap considering we purchased alcohol! The service was good. It was Cinco De Mayo when we went, so we thought it might be busy. The place was pretty busy, but we didn't have to wait to be seated! They were very quick to bring us chips and salsa and take away our eaten chips and salsa and grace us with a new basket. Very friendly. Also, the atmosphere is very fun and retro; very colorful! Overall, we would definitely come here again for Taco Tuesday and Happy Hour! We really like fish tacos, but I don't know if I would pay $4.25 for a single fish taco that isn't very large. Margs were good, food was good, and service was good!
(4)Taylor H.
Second time in a row having Jason as our server. Hands down, the best server I have had anywhere. Before these last two times we have had less than stellar service and he has completely changed everything for us. The food is terrific and that is mostly why we continue to come back but because of Jason it's now our number one pick when we dine out.
(5)Eva U.
Food is very good! I Love trying new things every time I come in. The tacos are delicious - I've tried the braised beef and the chicken tinga both very good and spicy, and the guac is a MUST have! The cocktails are refreshing, especially the agua frescas. The restaurant has a fun retro vibe and a fabulous patio area to enjoy these rare cool evenings. I have been very impressed with service, especially management. The manager is so personable and came to check in on our large group from the hospital and thanked us for coming in...just really thoughtful and for that I am adding a star to this 4 star place and giving them 5.
(5)Dee G.
Really disappointed in the food here. Enjoyed our meal at the Gilbert location when it opened and thought this location would be just as good when it opened, but it was super average. I will go to the other Postinos owned restaurants in the area before I come back here.
(3)Nicole B.
I just left Joyride taco house and could not be more pleased with the food and exceptional service. I frequent Upward Project Restaurants and the service tonight was better than I could ever expect or have had! Justin was our server and he took great care of us! The chips and drinks were never short and the tacos we ordered were out of this world! I loved the carnitas, pork and shrimp tacos with the Asian slaw. The food was cooked to perfection. I would highly recommend Joyride to anyone interested in great tacos, awesome drinks and incredible service! To make your experience even more 5 star ask for Justin for your server!
(5)Jennifer S.
Another great addition to Central Phoenix! I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor of this place...wouldn't furnish my house this way, but totally appreciate and love it! The staff was super friendly and helpful with suggestions. The food was great - we tried 6 different kinds of tacos and ordered a few sides too. The agua fresca was amazing...combo of pineapple and strawberry - yummy!
(4)KC F.
Excellent service Lori server took an excellent care of us, knew her menu and recommended phenomenal items. If you haven't been here definitely try it it's worth it. :)))))five star.
(5)Michelle R.
The tortilla soup was just plain delicious. I also had some of the nachos with spicy pork and jalapenos and I am pretty sure they were the best nachos I have ever had. The service was below average though. The waitress was not very attentive so we had to keep getting up and asking if we could order food or for more lemons/limes. We came back later and did some shots of tequila and they were extremely expensive... but they were delicious. I would go back.
(4)keith w.
Could I give 5 stars? Maybe, but as I refine my yelping, I've become more selective on doling them out, which is not fair because earlier in my yelp experience I gave them out like a drunk sailor on shore leave. So factor that in. I will say we had an awesome experience at Joyride and I will go back. The service was excellent from the front desk on. A sweet hostess, super cool waitress and a gentleman who I believe was the manager all attended to our group with the type of genuine sweetness I find lacking in most of these concept driven Hipster employed venues. This paved the way for an excellent night as it put us in the mood to enjoy the food and atmosphere. We loved the space, and really loved the music which made it hard not to tap toes too (and with speakers in restroom's we joked that we might have had an after party dance club in there). The food was serviceable, braised tacos were out favorite and nothing was bad per se, but really it was the overall experience we enjoyed and the food hit the spot. My only negative was that I rarely eat sweets, so we got churro's and i'm spoiled being from LA where I can get them so soft and fluffy and flaky and delicious, these seemed like carboard by contrast.
(4)Mister S.
Really delicious food,I strongly recommend their chilaquiles. I could eat them everyday and never get tired. The Horchata is also amazing it is refreshing, home made and with an almond taste to it. They also have excellent service, It does get packed during rush hours of dinner and lunch but that is because the food is top quality and the wait is never too long.
(4)Kate B.
I am loving this place and am already excited to go back to try more! It is right across the street from Postino's, which is one of our faves. The night we went here, we literally tossed a coin to see which restaurant we should go to, and Joyride won. I'm so glad we went because I was very pleasantly surprised as soon as I walked in the door. The decor, colors, lighting were all fabulously 1960's style, but strangely enough has a very clean modern feel to it as well. We were seated in a booth which looked out on the welcoming patio with a fireplace. I ordered one of the freshly infused waters and the enchiladas and the bf ordered the machaca burrito. After downing our delicious chips & salsa, our food came and the presentation was (almost) as delicious as it tasted. I am an enchilada fiend and order them almost every time at a Mexican restaurant. I loved that half was drenched in mole sauce, the other half in verde salsa. I wasn't a huge fan of the verde sauce, I have to admit. It was a little too thick and peppery. My boyfriend's burrito came cut into two halves and was delicious! We will be back for sure. Their happy hour and lunch specials look great.
(4)Susie P.
We put Joyride to the ultimate test - Taco Tuesday on Cinco de Mayo! It was EXCELLENT! Of course there was a wait, which was to be expected. We weren't the only geniuses going for Mexican on Cinco de Mayo! The service outside while we were waiting was spot on! Drinks kept coming, along with the chips and salsa. When we were seated our server was happy, excited and in a genuinely great mood. Then you could really see how the entire place was all in! The hostess was running food, servers were delivering drinks and managers were clearing tables! And the food, top notch as always. No sacrifice in quality and no eternity wait times. Awesome place and fantastic experience!
(5)Chantel C.
My favorite west coast dinner destination. This place instantly makes you happy. Get a margarita and a taco or two and you are set. Relax inside or out. Taco Tuesday is absolutely the best. Enjoy!
(5)Tammi T.
Hands down my favorite place to go for Happy Hour. Also, a great date place. I guess this would be considered a Hipster place but I just love the atmosphere, the food, the beer and the excellent staff. Absolutely never disappointed with service or food quality. Plenty of outdoor/indoor seating. $5 beer pitchers. Braised beef and crispy fish tacos are my faves and highly recommended. Love, love, love it!
(5)Marissa D.
I was actually a little let down when I went to Joyride. There is a location by my house that is ALWAYS busy so I decided to give this one a try when I saw this in the area. The employees seemed very busy and didn't really connect well with each other. The food was pretty good. Nothing I would crave in the future. I got a shrimp taco and a chicken taco and they were pretty good. Maybe it was just the time of day I went in but I expected more based on the large crowd I often see.
(3)Halle M.
Okay so the food tasted very yummy and the atmosphere is hip and loud music. But I got the WORST FOOD POISONING of my life from this place. Sadly I won't be returning.
(2)Erin S.
LOVE this restaurant! First of all, visually speaking, the restaurant is so fun, colorful, and just pretty. Great staff who are ALWAYS so friendly! :) My kids (5 and 3 years old) LOVE going there for the yummy chips and food and LOVE the temporary tattoos they get with their meal ;) The drinks are delicious as well. The carne asada nachos are the BEST as well as their tacos (duh). Highly recommend!
(4)Cathy C.
Met up with my brother & a friend. Had high hopes...but the theme... Not even sure how to describe it I guess "Mexican fusion" restaurant Is the food is so bad. I truly dont understand what is so difficult about basically making tacos rice & beans. My tacos were ok. The beans were served cold & tasted like hormel out of a can so...sent them back. We sent back the "salad" not even sure the description matched what we got. The service....for what you pay..was eh & I HATE that you cant tell who does or doesn't work there. I realize Phoenix is a casual city for the love of God matching t-shirts the name of the restaurant on it so I know who you are might be nice. One of the worst part is where you have to stand to wait ... Seriously in the doorway? The drinks were good though. I might give it one more try maybe it was an off day? But nobody I know has given it rave reviews
(1)John S.
Came here basically just for the brownie and dessert. The person with me got the pineapple mojito which was really good and really strong didn't get a chance to try the tacos but would come back here to give them a chance. Apparently another restaurant postino's is right across the street so if you don't like the menu you have you have other restaurants within the facility that you can check out without having to drive to another location.
(4)Robert S.
Met up with my fellow Lyft drivers last night, 8/27/14. Probably close to 30 in our party. The staff didn't have any issues with a group this big. They were very attentive, cool, and quick with the orders. Server recommended the nachos, they were awesome!! The best part was the music. I don't know if they're using Pandora or Slacker but it was bad ass! From what I heard we'll be having our meetings there weekly :-)
(5)Vegegirly K.
Aghhhh... I really hate to give this a 3 star review. I wanted to love Joyride. My friends love Joyride. I love all the other restaurants in the Postinos family. I had a lukewarm experience with Joyride. We went with a large group of friends. Started out with cocktails and chips and salsa. I had an aqua fresca with gin. It was good but light on the gin. Salsa was boring. We then ordered our food and another round of drinks. I ordered the veggie burrito and a beer. My husband ordered tacos with a side of beans. My veggie burrito was just okay. It wasn't bad but I have had much tastier. I was excited about the "white magic" sauce that came in it but it seemed non-existent. I doused a lot of hot sauce on my burrito. My husband liked his tacos a lot. We both thought the beans were very bland. My beer? Well, it took 40 minutes to come out. I have a hard time with the value at Joyride. Mexican food should not be this expensive... if it is then it should be very special. I wasn't feeling it. I love the atmosphere, servers were nice. They comped the beer they almost forgot. I am willing to give Joyride another try.
(3)Karyn A.
I met a friend here for lunch, she lives in Arcadia and I'm in Glendale, so we usually end up in Central Phoenix since it's about the same trip for both of us. Upon pulling into the parking lot I was already impressed, because unlike most places in the area, Joyride seems to remember that people do, in fact, drive cars, and have a decent size parking lot with spots you can actually get into. I drive a Honda Civic and have had trouble squeezing into spots places around here before. I work in the central phoenix area, and so I've noticed a few of the restaurants in the area are...well, let's not sugarcoat it they're overrun with judgemental hipsters who give you the side eye if you don't appear to be as hip as them. Never once in Joyride did I get a douchey hipster vibe from the staff. The guy who sat us and there were I believe two people who waited on us were super nice, very warm and friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. And now we get to the best part. THE FOOD. I love food. I'm a fat kid at heart. I also love tacos. They asked us if we wanted to start with the queso dip and I was like, um yes please you can do no wrong when it comes to things with cheese. I was skeptical of it at first because I'm not a huge fan of super spicy stuff and it had jalapeños on top but once I dug in I was sold. It did have a nice kick to it but it wasn't hot just for hots sake. It was a flavor hot. We both got the three taco deal where you buy three tacos and get a side. I got black beans and she got the orange cucumber salad. Both amazing. The Carne Asada taco was pretty much the best thing I'd put in my mouth all day. The fish taco was a close second. The carnitas was also delicious but by this point I was too full to enjoy it properly but it was so good I ate it anyway. Price wise it's decent. You're obviously going to pay more here than you would at like taco bell or something but for the queso dip, three tacos & sides, and a Corona each it was like $44. I feel that's a fair price for the quality grub you get. So yeah. Go there.
(5)Chuck Z.
this place was base camp for us n a recent visit to Phoenix, luckily it was the first place we stopped at and we loved the food, the service and the very generous drink specials. The pork tacos and carne were both delicious and well presented. Atmosphere was fun, and a real nice room, too.
(5)Mark C.
Living in the Phoenix area, there are no shortage of Mexican food options. To stand out, you really have to be doing something interesting. From an aesthetics standpoint, Upward Projects is definitely bringing the goods by creating a Mexican cantina/taco stand with a hip urban vibe. As for the food? Well, that could use some work. Came here on a lunch date on Saturday. The place was busy, but not totally full. We elected to sit out on the patio on a beautiful day. The service we received was prompt and friendly throughout. Seeing how this is Joyride Taco House we figured we'd find out if the tacos would indeed stand out. Each of us got the same three tacos: The Standard (a chicken and avocado mix), Carne Asada, and Shrimp. The shrimp was good, the carne asada was adequate (though I've had better), and the standard was kind of disappointing. The biggest letdown for me were the tortillas. They were very dry and stale tasting. Did not taste fresh made at all. My side of Joy Rice with Salsa was also pretty average. In terms of ambience and service I was not disappointed. The building looks great with a cool bar area and a great laid back outdoor patio. Upward Projects has done a great rehab of this old building. But I've had much better tacos at nearby neighborhood spots like Tacos Atoyac and Gallo Blanco. If Joyride's tacos can eventually reach that standard or better, then they'll work out just fine. For now, the quality has room for improvement.
(3)L L.
Hostess great, seated in 15 min on a Saturday night for a group of 6 - not bad at all. Bar had some open space so we waited there. Food: Great, Tacos were very very tasty. Drinks: I was excited to try their margaritas and they were just OK, I was not wowed unfortunately. Ambiance: Great, patio and open doors. Not too loud. Service: Great as well, never felt rushed or anything. Our served seemed a bit stoned, but hey, he didn't eat my food nor mess up anything so all OK. I would have given it 5 star if: Margaritas kicked a$$ Tacos were a bit cheaper
(4)David S.
Ask for Adrian! She is feisty and fun! I did my favorite test of a Restaraunt. The blind order! Adrian selected my meal fearlessly. She was not allowed to ask me any questions, just put in her choice. Only a well trained server with great management and terrific chef can deliver on this challenge! Better to show you than tell you what was delivered. See the attached picture. Great outdoor/indoor mex venue. Young vibe. Food is unique and worth trying! Service is paced and fun. Juice beverages are on trend and fuzzy! A perfect Arizona evening dinner.
(4)Josh M.
This was my first visit here and It was a good one. I started out with the lunch special of two tacos and a soup. For the tacos I had a crispy fish and a carne asada. I added the tortilla soup as well. The carne asada was pretty decent. I've definitely had better. It was a little dry and burnt on some pieces but good flavor and just enough spice with the salsa they add. The crispy fish however was really good. Great crisp on the breading and the sauces they add give it a great overall taste. I would for sure get multiples of these again in the future. Now as for the soup I had it was lacking in a lot of areas. It came out just slightly over warm temperature which was my first turn off. I also had next to no chicken in it with mostly broth and a lot of veggies. Missing something as far seasoning but I couldn't pin point what it was. I just know I've bad much better at other Mexican restaurants. All in all a good lunch experience and I will be back to try some other items.
(4)Matt D.
I love this place. The food is very tasty, the prices are quite moderate, the staff is upbeat and attentive. When the glass wall is open to the patio, it doesn't get any lovelier. Suggestion: The street corn is amazing. Have them take it off the cobb. Much easier to eat and it's incredible.
(4)Cynthia G.
This is the second time I've indulged at Joyride. The staff was fab. I think we had at least 4 people check in on us. Drinks were yummy. I had the cucumber tequila sort of spicy margarita. My friend had the pineapple mojito. Both were fun and tasty. The battered tacos are great, with big piece of fish and proper accutramontes. I've also had their veggie tacos and was pleasantly pleased. For the meat eaters, the braised beef was scrumptious. The kiddos enjoyed quesadillas, chicken tacos, and beans with rice. They have a kids menu that isn't listed, just ask for the kids selections. And the aqua frescas were yummilicious.
(5)Holly R.
This was are first time there, I am the pickiest person when it comes to food, atmosphere and good customer service. This place went above all expectations. My daughter ate all of her food which is very rare, and the (I'm guessing the manager) made my daughter a hot chocolate wich they don't even serve. My chicken burrito was amazing, the cheese dip was amaaazing. The coffee and chocolate ice cream brownie were fantastic. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect and always was there right on time. Not to mention the decor was beautiful. We will be coming back many more times. Thank you joyride
(5)Ryan R.
We randomly picked out a place for lunch while headed north for a raft trip, and holy guacamole! This is one hell of a spot! The atmosphere is 1960's meets open air Mexican cantina. Whoever designed this joint needs a medal. It's funky, clean, and makes one want to consume the delicious drinks that are both affordable and aesthetically pleasing. The food was great. Get the guacamole. It's worth it. We had a group of 8, all different tastes, and there was not a single plate that wasn't delicious looking. Great service. Well worth getting off the beaten path, but don't take my word for it. Try it out for yourself.
(5)Jessica C.
I love fish tacos and I must say they make the best crispy fish taco. When I want Mexican food I want to taste that authentic in it and OMG that carne asada both me and my brother said it was the best tender meat spicy and sweet so good. I highly recommend the Mexican slaw and the crispy fish taco yum! I will be going back soon to take other friends and to have a hard drink ;) Thanks for the joyride!
(5)Caryn S.
Awesome fish tacos and it was happy hour on Tuesdays so it was $2 for 2 tacos, great deal!! The place had a hip vibe and my waiter Jason, was very friendly! The service was a little slow, but it got busy pretty quick so I didn't mind. I'm only visiting, but I would definitely come back!!
(5)Roxanne G.
Fell in love with JoyRide in Gilbert where my gf lives so thought to check this one out since I reside in Phx. Why do I always get a Pepsi when I order a Dr. Pepper? 3 times in a row.. Smh. Carne Asada tacos taist different then Gilbert JoyRide, why?
(3)Wendy H.
Awesome place, great food, fun atmosphere and fun bartenders. Makes for a great place to meet friends and relax. Great guac and the tacos are worth the drive.
(4)Russell H.
We were seated 5 minutes to 6 pm and they honored the happy hour prices so we tried 1 of each! It is nice to have someone who likes the opposite of you so I loved the veggie and fish tacos and she carried on about the fried fish, beef and pork. The blood orange margarita hit the spot as well. Great service, fast and friendly.
(5)Raquel A.
Alright.. I've officially become a bit of a regular here, dining here for Sunday lunch and during the work week. Consistent food quality and friendly, attentive service inside I stand corrected on my first impression!
(4)Josie G.
I been to this place couple of times now and I'm hook. Food is very good. I enjoy happy hour on taco Tuesdays. I recommend carnita tacos and roasted corn along with bloody orange margarita.
(5)CHERYL M.
Would give 5 stars but it was SO loud. Great food & really good sangria. Portion size was perfect (I had the 2 tacos). Flavorful but basic. We were told it would be an hour wait (Fri night), but our party of 4 was seated within 15 minutes. Our server was brand new & very good & friendly. Pretty fun place.
(4)Jen B.
The service is bad and it always takes a while for them to acknowledge you even when it's not busy. On my last visit I ordered the chicken burrito and it didn't taste fresh and I could barely eat it because it was soaked in enchilada sauce, my fiancé agreed that it tastes like the stuff you buy from a can. I've given this place way too many chances and I only write this review because I got sick right after eating there and the next day I am still sick..
(2)Nancy H.
My co-worker and I decided to grab a table on the bright and cheery front patio, filled with sunshine yellow chairs. We immediately appreciated the fact that they saved the two substantial trees that helped to block the noise from Central Avenue. Now down to business. We were greeted by our server, who quickly brought our beverages, crunchy chips and salsa for starters. For lunch I ordered the "Lunch Special" which was a choice of 2 tacos (served on made-to-order corn tortillas) and choice of soup or small salad for around $10. I chose the Shrimp Taco (with grilled shrimp, Mexican slaw and pico gringo), the Carnitas Taco (shredded pork, tomatillo salsa, cilantro & onion) and the Rhythmic Beet Salad (mixed greens, beets, papaya, avocado, goat cheese, toasted pepitas, cilantro & scallions in a honey champagne vinaigrette(recommended by our server). Everything was DELICIOUS! And although I had plenty of food, I found myself wishing that I could order more just to try the great-looking combinations. Every taco has slightly different ingredients. Not just a change in the protein, like most traditional Mexican restaurants. They also don't come with the heavy grease and mountains of grated cheddar cheese that you'll find on the majority of valley tacos. Each item was light, fresh and yummy! The service was prompt, friendly and courteous too! I can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu. I'll be sure to take my camera for pictures too.
(4)Carol S.
We loved Joyride for several reasons. First, the service was prompt and attentive. There seemed to be more people waiting on our table than most restaurants. The attitude of everyone working there was great. We were greeted by all employees with a smile and everyone said good bye. This is a reflection of outstanding training and management. The food was fantastic. Our party of seven each ordered something different. Explanations and recommendations by the server were appreciated. The food arrived promptly and was fresh, hot, and tasty. The next time we visit Phoenix, this restaurant will be on our list of places to eat. Kuddos, Joyride!! :)
(5)Lola S.
Came here for some tacos after our usual hangout just next ops to the south didn't fill us up (well, with food. Booze, yes). Place was packed. This is a trendy hipster place with $4 street tacos and $9 margaritas light on liquor. I am a small female and I easily ate 3 tacos. Tacos came with a side at no charge. I ordered the orange cucumber salad which was obviously made the previous day. Soggy, definitely not fresh and I believe the orange slices were canned. Our bill was almost $70 and I felt like my husband and I had nothing special. I saw a roach inside as we were leaving. The beautiful huge tree out front and fun string lights would be my most compelling reasons to return.
(3)Christine P.
Upward has sure did it again. Great concept, love the high top chairs. Love the whole vibe to this place. :) Chip and salsa??!!? Yuppppp. Keeep them coming this wayyy. Hehe Great selection of hot tea :) I enjoyed my garden burrito. OMG! The mushroom though. Idk what they marinate it with. It was so soft yet chewy and so tasteful. The customer service was okay. I had to ask three different ppl for water and napkins. :/ bur other that, I'll be coming back.
(4)Kandis H.
The ultimate experience.. From the minute we walked in.. Greeted by Vanessa who had a friendly upbeat attitude.. Seated and served promptly with ice water, chips & salsa! Exactly what you want when it's 109 degrees outside on a Saturday. She told us about their $5 drink happy hour- we were IN! Serrano Cucumber Margarita, blood orange margarita, pineapple mojito, & high roller marg! All the drinks were outstanding!!! We had a cup of the tortilla soup and added a spoon full of salsa.. So delish! We each had the 3 tacos with a side.. All of our tacos were fabulous! My husband is mexican and he was even impressed!! So you know it's good!! The service was top notch!!! On point, period! All in all --- a Hip Mexican joint with Great food!!! Cannot wait to go back!!
(5)Heather P.
This is a fun place on Central where the old Humpty Dumpty used to be. Kind of a fun interior of retro colors and shapes in a cool new vibe. You don't have just one waiter but the whole crews waits ob you and therefore the service is attentive. The menu is fun - street tacos, salads of local ingredients and some tasty agua frescas. Terrific cocktails and the the place was full of urban hipsters so it2one of the in places in town. I don't understand the name though.
(4)Kalyan R.
I have been to this place several times and I really like this restaurant a lot. Really like the ambiance and the great service always with a smile as it should be. Really like their Crispy Fish Tacos, shrimp, Carne Asada and the Braised beef tacos, did try their Serrano Cucumber Margarita and it is a treat. Definitely want to check out their Taco Tuesday deals!
(5)Linda A.
Great ambience. Seating indoors and outside. Very friendly and attentive service. Fish and pork tacos terrific and great salads.
(4)Melissa H.
To be fair, we came here because we had been told no more wine at Postino's across the way so perhaps we were a little grouchy already. The atmosphere is cheery and bright. The servers are pretty and helpful. The food is good just not what I'd crave of think of when I think of Mexican food in Az. Example: queso ordered and no spice whatsoever. This is the perfect place to take your hipster friends from the Midwest who would be a little to squeamish at the idea of going to South Phoenix for the original Los Dos Molinos, or simply and won't handle spicy food. On the positive side, a good place to take friends who are vegetarian, a lot more offerings than your typical restaurant.
(3)Mercedes R.
We (spouse and kids) love it there. And they totally welcome kids - LOVE that they have organic milk to give the kiddos. My toddler loves the beans and nachos. The chiliquiles and enchiladas are good.
(4)Jesus M.
First the salsa given with chips is really great. As far as the atmosphere its very beautiful and modern with a street art vibe. The food is exceptional, some of the best tacos in town. It's a bit boughie but it works for this place, they come at you with fancy trays for your tacos and they Deliver.
(5)Eva L.
Joyride is so darn good! I have to start it that way, because lets face it, its true! I always get a Key Largo to drink (this is my favorite drink anytime I go to Joyride). Its so yummy and delicious that you cant just have one. Ive had the Crispy fish, carne asada, shrimp & chicken tinga tacos. Now I am the type of person that doesn't need a fancy taco, basically because there are a lot of things I cannot eat because of my stomach. So that being said, I ordered the above tacos with no cabbage, no mexican slaw & no white magic. Trust me, they didn't even need it. These tacos are would be good with just the meat and tortilla, must be those corn tortillas. Joy rice with tomatillo salsa & the bomb black beans are also good. But, do yourself a favor and order the orange cucumber salad, trust me you will love it! If you have been to Joyride and did not get dessert, YOU NEED TO GO BACK and order Mo's Definitely Oh and I cant forget, the service is always outstanding!
(4)J S.
OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD!!! Five stars isn't enough for this place. No joke. The tacos feature delicious hand-made corn tortillas, fresh pico, fresh guac, and they're exquisitely seasoned-- including the veggie ones that are so good they'll satisfy even the most picky meat eater. Delicious sides include the must-have cucumber orange salad, and desserts feature fresh made ice cream from sister-business "Churn" across The street. The staff? On the ball and attentive are understatements. They're also extremely friendly and accommodating-- especially for a joint this busy. Topping it off is a retro-modern atmosphere coupled with wicked good music. Wrap it all up with a cozy-lit full bar and almost unbelievably reasonable prices for a place this good, and anyone with a discriminating palate and taste for tacos and legit margaritas should be coming here weekly -- if not more often!
(5)Rachel C.
I've been back three or four times since my first review of Joyride. I'd like to say it is just as good each time . . . but you know, I think it gets better and better! Oh, the blood orange margarita and guacamole lived up to their usual reputations, but I swear every entree I try is better than the last one I had. Today it was crispie fish tacos (2) & a vegetable taco, with a side of orange cucumber salad. OMGoodness it was so good. Service was even better than usual (and it is always good!)! Christian, supurb bartender, waited on us. Thanks, Christian, for making our Sunday lunch so enjoyable!
(5)Robert C.
We had lunch at Joyride yesterday. Absolutely amazing. Fabulous service, fun atmosphere and the tacos were off the charts. I had the Carne Asada, chicken Tinga and Ahi tuna tacos. All were amazing but my favorite was the Chicken Tinga. I would highly recommend this spot. I will certainly be returning soon.
(5)Rachel S.
Really tasty new taco joint in town! Servers are really friendly and they have great beer on tap. Love the atmosphere here. Their chips and salsa are A+ and they just kept slingin em our way. For every 3 tacos you get, you can get a side for free (hells ya) so if you're with a group, I say order a shit ton of tacos and try all the sides you can. I had the Cochinita Pibil and Shrimp tacos, I've had better Pibil but the shrimp was incredible. I've heard great things about the ahi taco and veggie ones too. I also got to try the beans, slaw, and orange/cucumber salad. All very good. Also, valet parking which is nice.
(4)Rosie T.
Decided to try this place out with my boyfriend on Cinco de mayo since they were offering $2 carnitas tacos all day. Like all upward project restaurants, it has very cool, hip vibe with a decent size patio...definitely looked like a cool hangout spot to grab drinks with friends. Unfortunately I will not be returning as the food was nothing impressive & service was terrible. The only thing we did like was the complimentary chips & salsa. The tortilla chips were thin & crispy & the salsa was a nice, fresh roasted tomato salsa. So we tried the carnitas tacos...it was decent but nothing I would come back for. I've had way better street tacos elsewhere like Los Taquitos. So If you're looking for authentic tacos, this is not the place. As for the terrible service, maybe they were short staffed or that it was cinco de mayo but we came around 9:30-10:00pm (late dinner) and the restaurant was not that packed but a simple "sorry we're short staffed but we'll do our best to attend to your needs" would have sufficed & we could have forgiven them for their slow service, not refilling our water or the fact they constantly walked pass our table without acknowledging us. Will not be coming back & definitely will not recommend this place to our friends.
(2)Cindy F.
Fish tacos were good but small. I cannot for the life of me figure out why these uppity taco places think they can charge $5 for a taco the size of my palm.
(3)Ashley N.
Tried Joyride today for the second time. First time I did take out and really liked the braised beef taco. Was not a fan of the chicken taco. This time I joined a business contact there. They weren't very busy but the service was rather slow. Our server was really nice but I think she was preoccupied on something in the kitchen. I'd recommend Joyride as it's in a great spot for work downtown.
(4)Jesse E.
Absolutely love Joyride. Both times I've been there, the service has been good, staff has been laid back yet attentive, and the food? Exactly what the doctor ordered! Excellent margs, a nice deviation from your basic margarita, but nothing too bizarre or fancy. Great tacos (check out $2 taco tuesday!), and truly inspired flavor and ingredient combinations. Definitely worth a return visit, and another, and another.
(5)Eridan A.
update: regional manager contact me and apologies for the incident, this make me believe they really care for their customers and their standards are high, I definitely will give another shoot to this place. the quality of the food is fresh and taste is good.
(5)Cynthia Q.
I like flavor and the carne asada had ZERO flavor. The restaurant is very nice and the spiked agua fresca was awesome. BUT the food has no flavor. Good for drinks not for food. Chips and salsa are ok.
(1)Amanda L.
While I am not willing to spend $3+ on an inauthentic street taco, I am more than happy to have someone else take me here and pay for me to eat a delicious (if inauthentic) street taco. (Let's remember, once again, I am a broke college student.) The incredibly hip modern-American atmosphere with just a bit of kitschy beachiness to it is a wonderful nod to the decor finesse of all Upward Projects' styles. I ordered the tortilla soup and split a quesadilla with the rest of the table as well. The quesadilla was tasty, and so was the soup (the soup was really spicy.) I tasted my friend's rice. It was very rice-like, but lacked flavor. Our waiter was also really slow at filling our water glasses. I probably won't suggest going here, and will most likely contest going here if I have to pay for myself, but if someone else is paying, I'll give it another chance. Take my review with a grain of salt: I really really like authentic taco places where you have to speak Spanish and drive south of the tracks. If you like Americanized street tacos, you'll probably like this place. Go ahead. Give it a shot. Pro tip: Definitely give the salsa a chance. It's delicious.
(2)Jasmine C.
One word: NACHOS This place by far has been a favorite since relocating to Phoenix... I've always been impressed by the quality of this chains food (Postinos, Windsor, Federal Pizza & Churn) but this place was an absolute treat! When they brought out the salsa, I was highly impressed by the speedy service.. I ordered the nachos with carne asada and whew! I was blown away.. The abundance of avocado (I'm an avocado whore) and the tender/flavorful carne asada was out of this world. If you like spicy I highly recommend the habanero salsa (for an additional 1.99).. Yum! In honor of this review, I'm going to get some nachos now;)
(5)Kristen A.
service = great. super attentive but not bothersome. all the staff were friendly. originally we were told it would be a 45 minutes wait (understandable for a friday night), but were called after maybe 20. it wouldn't have mattered if we had to wait the full length of time because the patio is cool and comfy and we were immediately served chips, salsa and waters. drinks = fantastic! loved my blood orange marg, but i was lusting after my boyfriend's pineapple mojito. so. good. food = excellent. we tried the veggie, crispy fish, shrimp, braised beef and carnitas tacos and all were great. we also got rice and beans for our sides and split an order of the mexican street corn as well. highlights were the crispy fish, braised beef and the street corn! vibe = super hip and trendy. i liked the decor and the bathrooms had cool sink knobs (i'm weird and always judge restaurant bathrooms).
(4)Cameo W.
Great lunch spot. Chips and salsa are delicious. The open patio feels like vacation... Lots of fun! I tried three different tacos and can't decide which is my favorite.
(5)Nora V.
I haven't had one thing here that sucked. I've had questionable service once but because of the style of service someone else quickly stepped in & made it all better again. I love tude of the staff. All very chill & helpful to give you their take on what they like. which I like. I also love that they had Four Peaks Ode Lay & loved it even better before 5 as it was happy hour priced. Sadly they are out of that now & are serving another Four Peaks beer which I will try when I stop stomping my feet about the Ode Lay loss. :)
(5)Andy A.
One of my new favorite spots here in Central Phoenix. The Space: So happy that Upward Projects has added the necessary parking lot among their complex of restaurants along central avenue. Granted there's the Valet available for Joyride but I'm sure none of the valets are enjoying parking an old 96' Geo Prizm :P There is street parking available as well for those of you not wanting to valet if the parking lot is full across the street. The overall space is fun, energetic, and retro. Beautiful geometric tile work along the walls, fun lighting fixtures above the bar and on the walls, a beautiful patio with fireplace, and a glass wall open during the winter months to create a true indoor/outdoor dining experience. Much of the inside of the restaurant is taken up by a large wrap around bar with several booths and tables set up around the perimeter. Service: During most of my experiences I have had excellent service! Staff usually contributes to the laid-back, fun atmosphere by getting comfortable with guests at the table and engaging in conversation - not just taking our order. Every once and a while (primarily when the restaurant is slammed) service tends to lack a little - for understandable reasons. Food and Drinks: Most speciality cocktails are regularly priced at $9. The cocktails are generous pours and mostly tequila based. Fun cocktails including a cucumber-serano drink. Food has always been excellent! From the variety of delicious tacos to choose from to the large burritos the food has always been on point. My personal favorite is the Nachos with Chicken Tinga - certainly more food than one person needs but I can never stop myself!! Head on over to Joyride for a fun, casual dinning experience with everything to offer: atmosphere, service, food, and drinks!
(5)Laura H.
I have now been here twice. Both times with groups 6-10 in size. I love the restaurant group for their fantastic decor and mood, but the service is TERRIBLE! Both times now it has taken 20+ minutes to get a drink. Our waitress tonight never asked if we wanted appetizers (which we did because they are fantastic). Drinks were never refilled. I had to flag her down to order a second drink. I wish I ever got her name so she could know how horrible she was. The tacos are very good. I had a sandwhich tonight and regretted it. I would go back to tacos next time. They are overpriced for what you get, but they have great flavor. The appetizers are all fantastic. I don't know if I would even order of the real menu anymore. I want this place to be so much better, but it just isn't.
(3)Austin B.
Creative tacos that are flavorful and fresh. Thoughtful cocktails that pair nicely with many entree options. Staff is laid back and casual which sets a comfortable mood for the restaurant. My first visit I ordered enchiladas which was a poor choice as I did not enjoy them very much. However, the second time that I have been there, I ordered a variety of tacos and I was very satisfied. Additionally, the build out of the restaurant is funky and cool.
(5)courtney c.
Been here twice and had horrible service each time. First time, we waited 45 minutes before a server came to our table to get our drink order. We had to get up and flag someone down. Then of course after that, we had multiple servers coming up asking if we had been helped yet... I think it's because they pool tips and don't have table sections... They all are either redundant or no where to be found. Second time I went it was one of the strangest experiences I've ever had... Ever. We were asked THREE times by multiple servers if we had a safe way to get home,but instead of them asking it that way, they gave us long dance-around-the-issue schpeels about the community and how they want to keep it safe. We told em we were light railing home and lived down the street.... they were obviously worried about us drinking and driving. Even after that, thy still failed to being us our last round... Without actually telling us they were cutting us off. We each had three drinks and dinner and had been there for three hours. Then we had to get up and ask for the bill TWICE because no one ever came back to our table after three of them had bomboarded us with questions at separate times.
(1)David L.
The decor stands out, like the over sized glass vases behind the bar, large Art Deco globular lights and majestic mahogany used in our round table is outstanding. The bench seat, means we get to sit close. I love that. Well done. Joyride is part of the Federal Pizza, Postino, Windsor, Churn owners that are branching into Mexican food. Tonight I started with a Green Flash Summer Saison bomber, $12. Brewed in California, a 4.5% true to style, Saison. French farmers would serve their workers this style, hence the low alcohol level. I love the unfiltered, rustic nature, damn good! My babes got a margarita $9 Next came chips and a green salsa. I enjoy these like I haven't eaten in days, so good. Our entree was the roasted chicken burrito. Absolutely superb.
(4)Jessica Z.
Paleo language is a difficult one to translate to Mexican food. While much of the cuisine is beans, rice and cheese much of it is also fresh and full of flavor. Joyride offers an impressive taco menu. I was nervous to ask if I could order sans the taco shells- oh and sans cheese- oh and gluten free. Our bartender immediately reassured me it was NO PROBLEMO at all to accommodate my needs! I had three kinds of tacos the way I wanted along with a side of fresh guacamole and cucumber+orange salad. All freshly made and full of fresh herbs and veggies. Gracias Kate and Joyride!!
(4)Erin H.
I ate at this location and the one in Gilbert while on a business trip to Phoenix. Both times were home runs! Service is spot on, ambiance is excellent (don't let the word hipster scare you!), and the food is fantastic. Our server at this location was Trevor and he was so great... helpful and personable! I would eat here every time I'm back in Phoenix! Get the brownie sundae... it will change your life!!
(5)Ashley T.
Blood orange margarita is amazing! The tacos were good except no one at our table liked the shrimp taco. I can't wait to try this place again! Great salsa and atmosphere.
(4)Kassee B.
Drinks were ok. I asked for not very sweet but a spicy Cucumber Serrano so my drink was quite sweet w no heat. I just got tequila for the second one for 10 bucks. I ordered the veggie burrito to go with no aioli , put it on the side. Nothing came out on the side so I confirmed w my server there was no white magic (lime aioli ugh mayo) but I got home and it was smothered with it. So disappointing. I ate it and now feel ill because it just taste like mayo on a burrito. Exactly what I did not want. Also our bill was padded with an extra drink we didn't have. I won't be back. Nice atmosphere cool vibe.
(2)Erin W.
Joy for Joyride! I'm obsessed with the food, especially the "standard" taco, which is really sort of a misnomer because there is nothing basic about it. It's flavorful and divine! Nothing here is greasy or overdone-- the food is fresh and light but very, very tasty. I also love the carnitas taco, and the cheese dip appetizer is to die for. It's topped with fresh jalapenos, other peppers, and tomatoes/ onions. Soooooo yummy. The atmosphere is casual, fun, and very social. I also love that it's a Mexican joint but they play great indie tunes. No mariachi! My only complaint about the layout is the seating in the lounge patio where you wait for your table. There are these little poof seats that put your arse right at the same height as the table and they're uncomfortable. Yes, this is a very picky little thing but I'm trying to keep myself honest and not just give an all-glowing review. If you love fresh and light Mexican food, give Joyride a try!
(5)Jaime T.
Food was awesome..it took our server a minute to get to us...but they were busy..so not a big deal..highly recommend the blood orange margaritas and raspberry ancho margaritas
(4)Michael Z.
We have been to joyride about 5 or 6 times since becoming vegetarian. Food is wonderful and the service is typically good. They have a wonderful vegi taco and there salsa is very tasty. Top all of that off with the pinto beans and it's a wonderful meal. I took my mom for Mother's Day and the parents were very impressed. This is a must visit place.
(5)Jeff M.
Not a bad place, just not up to par with their other offerings like Windsor and Federal Pizza. I've been twice now, and tried several of their tacos. I think the Cochinita Pibil was my favorite so far, and the sweetness of the pineapple made it stand out. None of the tacos were bad, but no other ones particularly stood out. On my first trip I had the Cucumber Serrano cocktail, which I quite liked. On the second trip I went with the house margaritas, which were pretty nice by house marg standards. The decor was nice, and the service was good both times, so no real complaints there. But if you're in that area looking for a tasty, relaxing bite and a drink I think you'll do better at Postinos overall.
(3)Emina L.
I returned to the Joy Ride tonight after trying it out last week for the first time & I received amazing service tonight. The staff tonight was excellent, knowledgable, & my tortilla-less & cheese-less burrito was on the house. Thank you. Lets rewind back to last Saturday though, when I tried Joy Ride for the first time. Before I agreed to meet up w/ my family there I called to see if Joy Ride had vegan options, I was informed that they did & I made my way to the restaurant. We had a lovely waitress that late afternoon & prior to ordering I wanted her to be aware that I was a vegan, meaning I do not consume meat, dairy, or any animal byproducts. She went over the menu w/ me & recommended the veggie tacos, she said they would be an excellent choice for me as the white/magic sauce was vegan. I was so happy to hear that I had options. I had asked her what kind of tortilla comes w/ the tacos & she said corn but They also have a flour tortilla options which also fit my dietary needs, per waitress. Perfect. I ordered one taco as the veggies are pre-stir fried & they were unable to accommodate to my request asking for them raw, which was okay. I was satisfied w/ my one taco, I even picked some of the cucumber salad from my brother, which was a nice touch to my meal as well. I was pretty happy. Tonight I learned that my lovely waitress was rather uneducated & spoke out of her a_s. I went back tonight on a casual date w/ my boyfriend who had just finished a 12 hour day at work. I wanted it to be all about him tonight & I thought Joy Ride would be perfect for both of us since he has never been there before. I went in & decided to go w/ the same order I had last time, since I was already reassured last Saturday of what my vegan options are. For some reason, something told me to make my waiter aware of my dietary restrictions prior to ordering. As I told my waiters that I was vegan, we had two, one of them recommended the tacos for me but w/o the white/magic sauce, my eyes lit up, "Why not, is the sauce not vegan friendly?" He informed me that the sauce has egg whites & it is NOT vegan. I decided not to say anything b/c it was my b/f's night. Our other waiter came back to see if we were ready to order, I informed him I would take the tacos w/o the sauce & I will take it in a flour tortilla. He then informed me that the tortilla contains lard. Oh my. Then I spoke up. I informed him that when I was here last week, I was misguided & misinformed & that I had consumed both the tortilla AND the sauce. He was so apologetic & I can tell he was concerned. BUT, like I said, it was my b/f's night, I'm done being mad for the damage that has already happened. I ordered my food as I stated earlier & my b/f left happy, that's all I wanted. As to the Joy Ride, I will not return. I do NOT understand how LIGHTLY a persons dietary restrictions are taken. I am a vegan by choice but I also do have an allergy to egg, I even have a doctors note which is why I cannot receive a flu shot for work. I don't remember how I was feeling after I left the restaurant last Saturday so I doubt that little sauce had a major impact on me. Thank goodness. I do not have an allergy to dairy or meat, so consuming the tortilla was not harmful to me other than the fact it is against my beliefs. There could have been more damage should I have consumed more, or maybe if I ordered more than one taco, or if my allergies were more severe. It's unbelievable to me how restaurants take this so lightly & how staff can just so confidently answer something that they are not aware of. I'm VERY disappointed but this is not the first time this has happened to me. I also doubt it will be the last time. I feel like I just want to be DONE w/ some of these restaurants. Joy Ride, I am very done w/ you. I do thank the wonderful staff for the service TONIGHT & I appreciate their knowledge, as for the other girl, she doesn't deserve her job.
(1)Catalina C.
Amazing tacos! ! You get a free side with an order of 3 tacos. I had the carne, standard, fish, Shrimp, adobada and carnitas. The cucumber and orange salad is super fresh and tasty. James the bartender was friendly, helpful and nice. Definitely try the pineapple mojito, fresh and not super sweet.and if you like Margaritas try the blood orange. And close it off with some churros and add the caramel sauce. Won't be disappointed! !
(5)Erin O.
Whos got two thumbs and really likes this place.. This guy! I didnt give it a 5 star because it really takes alot to.... wait. I dont have to justify my Yelps to you or anybody! ;0) Went with the kiddies. Yummy Guacamole.... (could be a slightly bigger dish.) Its great place. We had fast service. Pricing is reasonable. Atmosphere was cool. Im a big fan of places that dont have uniforms on the staff. This is one such place.
(4)Steve V.
This is a real cool place to take a pit stop. This is the old Aiellos Italian restaurant (a place I really liked) and I have to tell you they did a fantastic job of converting it. Top notch, complete with co-ed bathrooms. The happy hour is very appealing as well, and I would say this is a great place to stop in and have lunch (or what the heck, start your friday night). Chips and salsa were very tasty, and the guacamole dip (with sliced jalapeños - brilliant)! Good five dollar pitcher specials (sorry, I am never one of those helpful people that can quote you what the time frames are) but I think 11-5). But worth looking into. Couple things I will say on the negative side (yeah I know, wish ever review could be positive and amazing), the cheese-mas dip (basically cheese queso) was okay, but NWTC (not worth the calories in my opinion). Tacos - if you love tacos and are really a connessieur, you might not love these. The crunchy fish taco was okay, but really just like eating a fish-stick on a tortilla if you know what i mean. Good, but not a huge fan. The other tacos (carnitas, chicken tinga, and baja fish) were so-so, didn't seem to be served very warm and for me, just lackluster taste overall. Alcohol - I tried the "hi-ball margarita" (supposedly their version of the cadillac as I was informed) in my opinion is (how can I say this nicely) not the greatest value. Try one and see if you agree. I think they need to up their game in this area. So at the end of the day, I love the location, love what they have done with the place, great vibe, staff is friendly and very energetic, MUSIC ROCKS (possibly best in town, loud but I like it that way) and so I find myself a big fan, but looking for a go-to meal that I can call my own. Yes, I will be back hunting for that in round 2 and open to any great suggestions. And by the way guys, you need to sell some cool t-shirts (love bright colors, great to promote your brand), and give discounts to bike riders. We like to ride our bikes with friends!! Have fun, and find your sizzle! Attorney Steve, the business and real estate lawyer. attorneysteve.net
(4)Kelly M.
So I previously posted a excellent review, but I will have to rescind that review for my dinner experience. We had a less than enthusiastic waitress who was rude. This was clear as she sighed after every request and made it seem like it every request was super inconvenient. We weren't impressed by the salsa so we asked if they had other salsas. She brings out three and never mentions that she is charging us two dollars for every small bowl of salsa. We didn't like any of these any better than the first (but were charged $6 for the three salsas). Because I had had such a good experience before, I was hoping my friend would be equally impressed and love the food. We ordered the Bandito thinking that would be plenty of food for us to share. It was and it was delicious, but we were disappointed that we were charged $2 for every plate of four small corn tortillas when it's clearly evident that four is not enough. (Also not told about this charge). For desert, I decided to spurge and get the churros. Churros were average, but you'll want to skip the chocolate and Carmel sauce ( which has no resemblence of a sweet taste and tastes a bit what I would imagine battery acid to taste like). I was shocked at the bill and decided to pay it and leave. We were not told about multiple additional charges on my bill. I was not in the mood to argue, but my friend was and the manager did a good job of attempting to make it right. Joyride has great food. Still bad services overrides any desire any desire to come back to this restaurant and I will not be back.
(3)Jackie M.
You let me down, Yelp! For the first time ever, Yelp has been way off on this one. Like some of the other reviewers, I too am obsessed with Upward Projects restaurants. Which was why I was even more excited to see this new place getting great Yelp reviews. And as we walked in, the ambiance got my hopes even higher. Here's why we are never going back: -Over 30 minute wait, and they don't serve anything but chips and salsa in the cocktail area. It was even more frustrating to see empty tables inside during the entire duration of our wait. Poor service on the patio. -When we were seated, no one greeted us for 5-10 minutes. Very odd, a server finally came up and asked if we were "still doing alright?" Umm since we've been here for over 45 minutes, were ready to order. -Food came up quick but was mediocre at best. A beer I ordered when the food arrived wasn't brought until everyone was done eating. Attitude from the waitress when I sent it back. -At some point during our meal, a waiter approached us confirming he had given the card back from our tab on the patio. We told him he hadn't so he said he would look for it. -While waiting for our bill, at least 4 people asked us if we wanted more chips and salsa. No, but wed like the bill! It finally came but the waitress didn't even make eye contact so we couldn't tell her they still had our card!!! Another 5-10 minutes we finally flag down another server and ask her to find our card. She brings it and takes it with the bill. Several minutes later we see her arranging a table for a large party and wonder where she put our bill. Then our waitress comes and asks where the bill is, and as were pointing out the other server a 3rd server drops it off. This place is certainly some kind of ride! What a mess. Won't be going back.
(1)Erin R.
I had plans to go with a friend to Joyride last night. Yesterday afternoon, I read a review of Joyride in the Phoenix New Times, and it was less than enthusiastic. It basically said that the atmosphere was cool, but the food was all pretty bland. Unfortunately, I have to say that I agree with the reviewer. I arrived around 6:45 on a Wednesday, and there was a 30 minute wait. My friend and I sat at the bar, and the bartender was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a great table that was kind of half inside and half on the patio. The weather was perfect last night, so I definitely enjoyed that. We started off with chips and guac. I read one Yelp review from yesterday that raved about the chips and guac, and, I honestly have no idea why. The chips were very bland, as was the guac. I LOVE good chips and guac, so I was disappointed. I wasn't crazy about the salsa either, which I also thought was bland. Although the New Times review specifically had talked about the fish taco being soggy and fishy, I tried it anyway b/c my friend had ordered them at the Gilbert location and said they were the best fish tacos ever. Well, there must be some disconnect between the two locations, because this fish taco was nothing to write home about. It wasn't soggy, but it was definitely on the fishy side compared to other fried fish tacos I've had, and the white sauce that they put on it was basically flavorless. I also had a carne asada taco, which our waitress said was her favorite. It was pretty good, but nothing special...definitely better than the fish, though. Finally, I had a side of the street corn. I am very picky when it comes to Mexican street corn, and this wasn't great. I don't know what it was, but it almost tasted like mayonnaise. Usually I love the creamy sauce that comes on street corn in restaurants, but I wasn't feeling it at Joyride. I would really like to give Joyride 2.5 stars, but I can't, so I'm rounding up for great service, cool atmosphere, and for the fact that none of the food was awful. I don't think I'll go back, though. Yes, it's a cool atmosphere, but, if I'm going to have to wait half an hour on a Wednesday, I want great food as well. Plus, it was so crowded that my friend and I almost had to yell at each other. I ordered pretty much all the same things at Gallo Blanco last month and was blown away, so I think I'll head there instead next time I'm craving tacos and street corn.
(3)Megan H.
Love this place!!! Love everything on Central!!!! Loved every drink I have tried so far...there spin on the Moscow mule is delish. I have only tried the tacos so far...crispy fish, shrimp and ahi. Very good!! This place will be a regular stop for us I'm sure of it!
(5)Kelsey W.
Had a wonderful experience at Joyride with my girlfriends this weekend! They accommodated a large party and everything was delicious - I had chips/guac, a carnitas taco, and the baja fish taco (my fav). Everyone loved their Moscow Mules (and variations) but I couldn't resist ordering the horchata YUM. Our server was great and the manager Dan is extremely friendly. We will definitely be back!
(5)Lenny G.
Great first impression. Sat at the bar with a friend. We came in just for margaritas (which were very well prepared) but then we decided to have a couple tacos. My friend had the fish taco and I went with the chicken taco. Honestly, they were the best tacos I've ever eaten, by far. Definitely coming back.
(5)J N.
Already my fourth, or is it fifth, visit here... And for good reason! The tacos are great :) Even after this many visits, I still haven't had a chance to try them all... Or all of the margaritas... I keep re-ordering favorites from the last time ;) Some of those include the carnitas, braised beef, crispy fish, and Baha fish tacos... Do yourself a favor and order three just to get the free side of black beans or roasted vegetables tossed in the guajillo pepita salsa. One trick I plan to try next trip is to order them one or two at a time to ensure they are hot when I'm ready to much 'em down as I discovered after the first two, I needed a slight breather. That gave the Baja taco too much time to cool off. It was still delicious but would have been even better right off the grill. All the toppings are fresh and crisp and will vary by the taco, but come in deliciously hand made corn tortillas instead of the mass produced machined ones you'll find elsewhere. Add some guacamole or ceviche as a starter and you'll have PLENTY to feed you AND a friend... Just like other Upward Projects restaurants, they do Happy Hour all day until 5pm with $5 pitchers, coctails, and wine... Quite the deal :) And just like the other locations, they've done a great job with their employees. They are all VERY well versed in their products, preparations, and customer service skills... You will feel very well taken care of. My advice... Wear your stretchy pants ;)
(4)Tina T.
I am so excited that this place joined the neighborhood. When we stepped foot in, I was immediately wowed by the décor....it is just gorgeous and visually pleasing. The staff were very friendly, even when we were standing around one of the many entrances not sure where the hostess stand was. No joke, there are like 4 ways you can enter from the outside. I ordered a house margarita (not a fan) and the chilaquiles. The dish was very good....definitely a fan! The chips, guac, and salsa were good. Since I did not like my margarita, I switched with my husband who had the blood orange rita. Way better. The food took a really long time to come but it was a nice surprise when the manager or owner came to the table to apologize without any mention from us. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place and everything that came with it!
(4)Samantha L.
This place is a gem. My boyfriend and I ate here during a quick day trip to Phoenix and we will definitely be back. The staff was friendly and the tacos are so worth the trip. The establishment was very lively and welcoming. Highly recommend.
(5)Darcy C.
We went to Joyride with some friends for Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon. Upward Projects does it again with this amazing place. The layout and decor is done perfectly with no expense spared. It is a fun joyful atmosphere that is lively by not too loud. Our waiter was very friendly and outgoing as he suggested drinks to our group. I had the strawberry Aguas Freshcas with rum and my husband had the Mazatlan Mule. We also shared the Better than Betty's chocolate dessert which was the perfect way to end Happy Hour. I am sure we will be back for Happy Hour and maybe try out some more of the food next time too.
(4)Deana H.
so after my last review which mind u I said I would be returning back and enjoyed myself there... Management still contacted me offered me gift card to return bc I wasn't fully satisfied w tacos I got.. wow first of all such amazing hospitality. So of course I accepted and went again and this time we had even more fun I love this place bartenders are so cool and knowledgeable and laid back. I ve never been a "regular" anywhere bc I like to try different things too much and no place has I guess has drawn my attention enough but I think joyride did it... Im just in a good mood when I'm there everyone's happy staff and guests. I Ordered cucumber margarita that was really good..I love anejo tequilas and Mackenzie suggested a new one I hadn't had b4 that i really liked. I think my first visit it was just some flook or it was my taste buds bc I tried carnitas again on my nachos and were amazing i kinda consider myself a nachos and carnitas expert bc I'm obsessed w both and I order both a lot! In addition got st corn my fiancé is Mexican loves corn and a chef and he loved it!! I don't care for corn too much but damn I woke up thinking abt it today is all I need to say I guess and I don't even like corn!! So good on the cob and chz maybe lime on it idk but super good so I definitely definitely recommend this place it's chill fun and good food and service can't ask for anything more :)
(5)Lezlee H.
Joyride is a perfect combination of delicious food, awesome decor, good service and, if you'll excuse the hippie descriptor, "good vibes". It's cool to see so many people's bikes (think beach cruisers, fixies and Schwinns...not Harleys) outside the restaurant. The restaurant opens almost completely to the outside patios so that the indoor/outdoor feel on a perfect Arizona evening is obviously only going to enhance your experience. The agua fresca I had was delish and we tried a sampling of tacos, appetizers, sides and dessert all of which met or exceeded expectations. The prices are great as well. Of note, the guac is on point, the battered fish taco is tasty tasty and the mandarin and cucumber side salad is bomb.com (who'da thunk?) Shout out to our excellent waiter Justin who was enthusiastic, efficient and most importantly, very nice! Joyride was indeed a joy.
(5)Lindsay V.
Favorite restaurant. Gilbert location was amazing as well, almost better experience than the central location but just about tied. Amazing drinks and food. Glad to see Mexican food modern and yet still a little traditionally represented. Experience is great at the bar or a table, from the first time they set the chips and salsa down!
(5)Sara C.
I like it. The ambiance and decor are awesome. The drinks are great and different, I like picking the different soda flavours and pairing with an alcohol. The food is good, I think I need to try more things to get a better impression. The tamales I had were over steamed was soggy on the end but dry everywhere else. Need to try the tacos.
(4)Michael G.
Amazing margaritas....yes $9, but worth it. Tacos are perfect and the guacamole is yum. What stands out is the service.....best in Phoenix.
(5)M B.
Good service, good beer, good decor. Not good tacos! 3 of my friends agree with this rating!
(3)Carlos C.
I was just passing through Phoenix when a local retailer mentioned to try this place out. We came in to be greeted nicely and seated quickly. A somewhat trendy taco bar with lots of different flavors on the menu like the blood orange margarita and some interesting salsas. We had the queso which was pretty good but since I had just left Austin it wasn't up to the standard of which I had before, still we devoured it since we're from LA and can't even get mediocre queso.. We had a trio of taco plates in which I had chicken and carne asada, my girlfriend tried the fish (which she sent back because it was too fishy) and another suggestion from the waiter which were both amazing. Ambience was nice for a Tuesday evening and we got served fairly quickly. I would definitely say to come give a try but it's a little too fancy for my liking. I enjoyed the food but I am such a nut for legit street food and taking the gamble on what I get. I would still go here for their great food and polite staff though.
(4)Samantha U.
Finally getting around to writing a review after going here so often! I always order the standard and the tinga tacos. The black beans are awesome too. My boyfriend gets the fish tacos, which he says are amazing. The cocktails are delicious and potent. I usually go for a pineapple mojito or blood orange margarita. We just discovered that Joyride has a great deal on Taco Tuesday- $5 margaritas and select $2 tacos. However, they are much busier due to the awesome dinner deal. You have to plan on waiting to get seated, if you can't snag a seat at the bar.
(5)Kristi M.
I really wanted to LOVE Joyride after hearing all the hype. Did I LOVE it? No. Did I like it? Yes... The decor and atmosphere is fun and trendy. The chairs and booths were all comfy. HUGE bar area which I thought was great. Service was really good. We had two different ladies waiting on us. They were both friendly and attentive. Drinks and food were okay. I got the blood orange margarita. At first sip I was like "Wow this is great!" After a few more, it started to get SO sweet. I could barely finish it. I ordered the crispy fish, shrimp and ahi tacos. The crispy fish was actually really good but the other two were rather bland. The ahi was dry. I got black beans as a side and they were also very bland (I added some salt myself.). They give you complimentary chips and salsa in the beginning but it's a fire roasted salsa. If you want any other kind besides fire roasted you have to pay. Also, I wish they had a couple tvs at the bar area. We wanted to meet up with some friends to watch the USA soccer game and would have stayed here, but ended up going to a different restaurant to watch it since Joyride didn't have any tvs. I will probably return to give this place another chance and maybe try some different things. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars but the food just didn't knock my socks off.
(3)Ryan P.
The feel of this new Upward Projects concept is amazing! Mid Century Modern with a Mexican twist... so unique. The people working here are very friendly and the despite being a newer place, the service doesn't seem to have kinks to be worked out, which is nice. The food is very good, with the exception of a couple "just ok" experiences. The drink specials, and atmosphere keep us coming back for Sunday Fundays and weeknight dinners!
(5)christina g.
Never a bad experience. Great staff and wonderful food!
(5)Cheryl G.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the atmosphere in this place! It's got a super funky retro vibe with vintage decor and what seemed like it could have been the James Brown Pandora station. We only had drinks at the bar but the cucumber cocktail was perfectly balanced, refreshing and slightly spicy- a must have! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I am sick of places that try to fancy up Mexican food, I usually end up wishing I would have just gone to a taco shop. I will definitely go there on my next trip to Phoenix and I will at least try the food so I can give it a fair assessment.
(4)Nikki F.
I loved this place! Went for a late Saturday lunch and the house was rocking. Hostess said 20 minute wait, but with a nice large bar we were able to find two open seats right away and avoid the masses who were lingering. I really dug the decor, and there looked to be lots of outdoor patio space to enjoy too. The house salsa was super flavorful and the chips were the wonderfully thin and crunchy type that I can't get enough of with my Mexican food. I ordered the Baja fish, Chicken Tinga and Cochinita Pibil tacos with the cucumber orange salad side. All of the tacos were great, but that simple, perfect salad was shear perfection. I want some now just thinking about it! Couple of good draft beer choices and what appeared to be a pretty extensive bar. I plan a return sometime soon for a specialty coctele or two! Joyride, ya done good.
(5)Laura S.
I wanted to like this place; I love the other restaurants in this conglomerate. Let's start with the good: the deco is great as well as the atmosphere. The service is excellent. Salsa and chips tasty. Draft beer selection pretty good. The not so good: Mexican street corn- boiled not grilled. Mexican rice- too soft and bland. All tacos we had - shrimp, standard and chicken also bland. I'm not sure if it's the lack of salt, spice or if it's the flavor of the soft taco. Something wasn't right. We will probably try this place once more but if the food is not more flavorful- that will be the end.
(3)Mark M.
Food was good but there was a mistake with the original pitcher of beer for my wife. This was corrected but obviously took time and then when the check arrived it contained the mistake pitcher as well as the correct one. We had 4 pitchers in total but were charged for 5, took a little more explanation than necessary but eventually I was thanked for pointing out that I was being overcharged. In a class establishment at this point I would have expected not just the removal of the beer we did not have but either a comp on one of the other beers or removal of a higher priced beer instead. That didn't happen so the tip was $4 light to reflect my displeasure
(2)Melanie W.
First time here, came later at night (around 7) and we sat outside cause the weather is amazing. Awesome setting! Super nice people BUT we waited about 30 minutes for someone to take out order and then 20 minutes for the ticket and we only got a taco each.... We just say there waiting for almost an hour. Overall the tacos were delicious and we will definitely come back:):)
(4)Raul S.
I stumbled upon Joyride during their soft open and was graciously invited in for dinner and drinks. Ate almost everything and drank a lot and it was free. Amazing ambience and great people and music and servers. The food was amazing, we were blown out the water. Especially the Veggie Taco's, Im a meat guy, but the Veggie Taco was out of this world. Oh man we loved it. My BF and I decided we were definitely going back. We went back a second time. The ambience was still amazing and lively and we sat down,and ordered drinks and food and were so excited bc we talked it up. And the waitress was so awesome. The food came, and there was something off. The food went from a 10/10 to an 8/10. 3rd time i went with some new friends who were excited to go bc of how much we talked it up. The ambience and people were lively, great staff and ordered the food and drinks and the food came and it was like "what the heck is happening", it was a 7/10. Friends looked at me like "Youre at culinary school and you eat at a lot of places around the world and this is what you like?" 4th time Again the ambience and staff is great and lively, but the food wasnt great. I didnt enjoy it at all. No one did. it was a 6/10 Finally the 5th time, same, great ambience but the trio salsa was gross, and the food, i wanted to just scarf it down to leave. I wanted to ask for the Chef, but the food has been consistently gross. We decided to stop going.
(2)Debi W.
Well, I'd read some great reviews so I was excited to try it. The decor was great and the service was awesome too, but the prices and the food leave alot to be desired. We boyfriend and I got there at 530pm. The chips and salsa are complimentary, but the salsa was thick and tasted like they used alot of chili powder. My boyfriends loves salsa and he couldn't even eat it. I compare all my salsa to my favorite at Mi Patio, and I haven't found anything that compares to it, so I wasn't expecting anything better, but this salsa was really bad. We both ordered a margarita. The drinks came in a standard size bar glass. I also ordered just one taco...a shrimp taco. The big surprise was the bill...$9/ea for the margaritas...and $4.25 for the taco. I felt like I just threw $30 out the window. Oh, and there's NO happy hour. I was told the happy hour was from 11a to 5pm. What?? Yes, it's hip, yes, it's cool...and I don't mind paying for great food/drinks, but it was definitely not worth the high prices. The margaritas would've been priced around $4.25 at any other mexican joint and that tiny taco should've been about $1.25! The tortilla was the size of a small pancake and had just 2...yes 2...shrimp inside..we each got a bite. I'm still kicking myself for paying that kind of money for nothing special!
(2)Jeff B.
Awesome environment. Stellar food. Amazing playlist. I enjoyed the Baja taco and grilled fish taco... Very tasty and great service.
(5)Lian E.
When you initially walk in it is hard to spot people who work there (they don't have uniforms) but someone will find you! Great food and for a great price. The servers are also extremely helpful and friendly.
(5)Becca C.
Love this place! It's fun and fresh and appealing in every way. This restaurant group is the best. Love love the tacos here and the beachy 70's California feel of this place and awesome service. Easy to share a meal with your spouse or friends because you can literally decide how much to get- how many tacos, what sides, etc.
(5)Jason B.
This is one of our regular stops. Whoever designed this little cluster of restaurants did it right. Besides the great food the place looks awesome and just has a good vibe. We have tried damn near the entire menue and hevent been disappointed yet. By far the best waiting staff around. You will not be ignored.
(5)Roxanne P.
Upward project has done it again. We went to Joyride Sunday,early afternoon and had a great experience. Greeted by a friendly young lady, taken to a table,brought us a high chair for our 15month old daughter. Right away our server, Lori, came over quickly with chips and absolutely delicious salsa. I had been to another new taco restaurant the night before, but the salsa at joyride is far, far more flavorful. We order right away, nachos, recommended by Lori. My husband loved them! I order carne asada torta it was absolutely perfect. My husband got chicken tacos. Very good. Lori also told us that Joyride has a kids plate. Perfect! A another helpful young lady brought over a adorable kid friendly plate with two chicken tacos, fruit and I order a side of bomb black beans, which my daughter loved! Great service, everyone who works there was very friendly and seemed eager to please there customers. I can't wait for our next visit back to Joyride.
(5)Lance D.
My last and final comments on the matter: I gave them credit for being honest, however with that comes with FILLING THE OBLIGATIONS you make during our call. Clearly, once you thought I was placated you simple slid me back over into the ignore pile. Shame on you Upward Projects....... It wasn't that HARD just do what you say your going to do, less people will get angry if you do. Lance
(1)Michael K.
Joyride has been a staple in our Lyft driver community! The food is great and has been able to accommodate our large group on many occasions with ease! We all appreciate your excellent service. I enjoy all of your other restaurants as well!
(5)James M.
Finally made it to this place. Every time I've noticed the place, it has a good sized crowd on the patios and it looks like a good time. Kind of fell short. The Mexican food is like a tex-mex fare which really isn't what I look for in Mexican food. In fairness, that's my preference and there's probably quite a few people who look for this speciality of the Mexican food class so just expect that kind of menu. The ceviche was pretty good though.
(2)Xandon K.
We are slightly obsessed with Upward Projects so last year we took a road trip out to Gilbert to check out their newest concept: Joyride Tacos. You can imagine how excited we were when we heard they were opening a location here in Central Phoenix, just a couple of miles from our home. By opening weekend the staff seems to already have the routine down. We were quickly greeted when we walked in the door, and received excellent service throughout the night. Drinks were good, but our favorites of the evening were the chips and salsa (one of the key elements for any Mexican restaurant), and the chicken enchiladas! I don't think I could say enough good things about the enchiladas. Excellent!! We had another stop planned for the evening so we skipped dessert, but we will definitely be trying it on a future trip. Our one complaint would have to be our table. We were unfortunate enough to be sat at one of three small tables for two. The tables are in a row and all right next to each other. We felt cramped and a little like we were joining our neighbors dinner party. All the other tables in the restaurant looked great though, next time we will make sure we aren't sat there.
(5)Mark E.
Love this place. Service is good, food is great, nice atmosphere (I love what they've done with the building). The habanero salsa is the best hot salsa I've ever had. It actually has an amazing flavor and then BAM the heat kicks in and kicks your butt.
(4)EveElise B.
Just got home and read some of the reviews for Joyride! I agreed with most of them! There were great things about the food and some not so great things. I absolutely loved the chicken burrito!!! It was so tasty and the tortilla was perfect...crispy but soft! The white sauce with it was wonderful!! The black beans were bland and did not impress at all. I also got the tortilla soup but it had a funny taste to it. Not sure about that. I did enjoy my house margarita though! The service was great, but we were asked if everything was ok by 3 different people and if we liked out food by two of the staff (a little much). The ambiance and decor was beautiful. I guess I wasn't impressed enough to rush back there, but I could go back (maybe).
(3)Amber P.
I haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Gilbert location, so I came in with high expectations based solely on my stellar experiences at the other Uptown restaurants. Today was the hard open, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. I love how the staff rotates between Windsor, Parlor, Postino's, and now here. Upon arrival, we were greeted with fresh tortilla chips and deliciously spicy fire roasted salsa, and served our beers shortly thereafter. We opted for the ceviche appetizer to start, and damn! I'm a ceviche addict, and theirs rivals Hula's in awesomeness. Fresh shrimp, tomato, avocado, cucumber, onion, the obligatory lime juice, and... jicama. Jicama! Quite a satisfying crunch. For our entree, my accomplice and I split the El Capitan torta- a fresh toasted bun with carne asada, salsa, avocado, and shredded lettuce. The torta COULD be piled a little higher, based on the size of the bun, but the flavors were stellar, fresh, and just plain freaking delicious! We closed the meal out with fresh churros with chocolate dipping sauce, but I was much too full too eat more than half of one! Rest assured, Joyride is now on our roster of neighborhood restaurants to bicycle to. I'm in love!
(5)Lisa B.
We loved our service! Definitely a team oriented place. Daniel H. the manager was brilliant. He filled in when our handsome server Cory was preoccupied by other tables. The food and especially the cocktails were delicious! My mom went the night before and got the ensalada fila and it was spectacular! Thank you for a wonderful first experience, I will be returning soon xoxo
(5)Andrew C.
Not bad for american-mexican food. Honestly it was a toss up between 3 & 4 stars. I went with 3. The veggie burrito was good with meat added but the tacos needed a little extra something......especially the fish taco. I also didn't really care for the salsa, not bad but i expected more.
(3)Derek T.
Went back for lunch with friends. The service was much better. Still a bit slow but they were very busy. The food still great! They really did a great job making my experience much better this time around! Thanks!
(4)Amy L.
Very fresh ingredients with house made everything! The vibe is cheerful and friendly with a hipster edge. Beautiful patio with fireplace and they are dog friendly. The baja taco is crispy and satisfying.. The grilled shrimp taco has a great barbecue flavor. You are guaranteed a great meal here!
(5)Steve S.
Ate here with a large group of people in my industry. The service was prompt and the food was delicious. The chips and salsa were perfect. Awesome patio and great happy hour prices.....
(5)Kate A.
This place was really great. I loved all the tacos I tried and the atmosphere is really open and colorful. They have huuuuuge booths that are a great place to bring friends. I was there on a day when I had a party of 10-15 at any given time. The server was great at accommodating our group - we were able to pay with several credit cards + cash as long as we divided up the items ourselves. The only reason I wouldn't give this place 5 stars is because when I called to make the reservation for 10, the manager gave me grief that my party would be arriving & leaving at varied times, and pushed back because 'the restaurant is busy at 4:30'. At 4:30 when I arrived, half the restaurant was empty and there wasn't a wait until shortly before 6:30, when we wrapped up and left. I was disappointed at the attitude that a party of 10+ wouldn't be welcomed with open arms. On a positive note, the drinks are fantastic and the open doors made this a perfect place for a spring get together.
(4)K H.
The best Chips and house fire-roasted Salsa!
(4)Tony K.
Their salsa has a nice kick .We ordered their wacamole was a nice portion and the chips were plentiful. Their servers are very friendly and always attentive. We had their lunch special which is salad plus choice of two tacos we had the shrimp which was very flavorful
(4)Christopher T.
Hmm, I am kind of torn on this one. Big thumbs up to Upward Projects for the renovation on the building. The vibe and the decor are top notch. I only wish the food matched the building. The drinks are very good - Blood Orange Margarita was very good. Also, a few good Mexican beers on the menu. As for the food, I was not really impressed. The nachos were okay, but not great. The ceviche was overwhelmed by the lime. I had "The Beast" burrito enchilada style. It had an underlying sweet taste that was simply unappealing. I am sure that there are great things on the menu; however, the items on that picked would not be on that list. N*joy
(3)Shawna L.
Joyride is right around the corner of my house and I will definitely be back again! The staff was friendly as as soon as my roommate and I walked in the door and the bartenders were really helpful in guiding us through their menu. I have seen a better beer selection but the Short Rib Quesadilla was phenomenal!!
(4)Jason C.
The newest member of the Upward Projects family! They have a pretty good selection to chose from ranging from cute little tacos to big burritos. All of their food is fresh. If you order 3 tacos you get a side free, the tacos range about $3 to $4 so your looking at about $9 to $12 for a taco platter. I ordered two chickens tacos and a fish taco with a side of rice. All were really good. Like their brothers, Winsor & Federal Pizza, if you visit before 6pm for happy hour (everyday) you can get a pitcher of beer (a good selection including local) for $5. The service was really friendly, and the brownie that topped off my meal was delicious. The seating is comfortable with a great outside area complete with fire place for those very small winters.
(4)Elias A.
Came here for dinner with my wife on our way to a 4th of July party. The entrance is kind of hard to find from the parking lot. But then again, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. This place is much bigger than the one in Gilbert and from the looks of it much hipper too. The place has somewhat of a 70's discotheque feel to it but without the stale cigarette/alcohol smell. My wife had a strawberry agua fresca which was awesome. They bring chips and a roasted salsa to the table which is awesome. I ordered the chicken fila salad which was amazing. It's kale with jicama and crunchy green beans. Sounds weird but just do it and you won't be disappointed. My wife had the chicken tinga that was very good as well. Make sure you ask them for the green salsa. It really makes your plate. They have a patio outside that looks like it'd be awesome to sit in when the weather is nice. At the end of the day, the service was great which always goes a long way for me.
(5)Joshua K.
Wow... The only word is wow... Great food, no scratch that, AMAZING food AND the best service we have had in a very long time. Let's just say that they made a mistake on my wife's burrito, and realized it before they even brought our food out. They then informed us of the mistake, and had a new fresh burrito out within what seemed like 3 minutes. A big thanks to Daniel and Vanessa for making our night out even better. You guys rock!
(5)Chase B.
I was one of the lucky attendees at the Devour event this past weekend (which was awesome) and had this awesome taco. That's how it all started. A simple fish taco that blew me away. I visited the original Joyride Taco Shop out in Gilbert several months ago when they first opened but it fell off my radar. How silly of me. So one taco was not enough and I found myself up the street after Devour closed up shop and I definitely was not disappointed! What an incredibly beautiful restaurant! Chowed down on the Chilaquiles - enjoyed some cucumber mint aqua frescas (with vodka - so cool that they offer it with your choice of spirit), ate way too many chips, and shuffled into a cab that the staff was more than happy to call for me. The service was stellar, the food was amazing, and the ambiance after the weekend rain was incredible. (I still can't believe that I ate an entire meal after Devour - my waistline definitely does not thank me. Ahh gluttony . . . .)
(5)Troy Z.
The tacos are delicious. A little bit pricy but the atmosphere makes up for it. The nachos with carnitas were fantastic as well. I'll be back.
(4)Sam M.
I loved it! I couldn't make up my mind and asked the server to surprise me. He brought me nachos and they we the best I have ever had! The drinks were also made great.
(5)Ciera S.
Great spot to get a bite! The lunch special is such a deal, two tacos and a salad. The restaurant is so pretty and put together.
(5)Libby B.
I wanted to like this place. I love all the other spots from the group who did Joyride. The fresh chips and salsa were good! But the salsa verde we ordered wasn't. I ordered the almond horchata aqua fresca, but they were out. Okay, fine. So I order citrus. Nope. Pineapple? Sorry. The waiter was great and comped the mango one I finally ended up with. The service really was good here, albeit the bar was incredibly slow. As in, took 10-15 minutes each time we ordered drinks. So, onto the food. I got three tacos: carne asada, crispy fish (server's recommendation), and the chicken tikka. The best was the asada. It had a really good flavor and had that same smoked salsa they'd served with the chips. Too many raw white onions. Sadly, it was cold, as were all of my tacos. The chicken tikka really could have been great, but it was cold. The flavors were there, though. The crispy fish: yuck. Fish was cold and flavorless, the sauces had no taste. Wholly disappointing. I had the black beans for my side. They desperately needed salt and some seasoning. My boyfriend got the Mexican slaw. It too lacked flavor. All in all, I was disappointed. I adore Federal and Windsor, so I had high hopes. I definitely see room for improvement. I hope they get better, but I won't be trying again.
(2)Chris V.
We gave this place a second chance and had lunch last Friday. I tried the chicken tamale, which you think it would have shredded chicken. Unfortunately, I only saw poblano, corn and one small piece of chicken. Even if there was chicken, the tamale was just okay. I liked the side grill veggies more than the tamale.
(2)Mara L.
Good meal. Multiple servers. Comped without asking for a large portion of bill due to service delays. Friendly and yummy.
(4)Ersula O.
Lee is an awesome bartender
(4)Jamie M.
Went to Joyride today and really had a wonderful time. Their salsa is fantastic and I wasn't even to the bottom of the chips when they brought me a refill of chips and salsa. The food is fresh and just the right portions and lots of vegetarian options available. I recommend the Mexican corn from the starter menu and the pineapple Fresca! Joyride's Happy Hour specials are the best just like all the Upward restaurants. I hung out there with a few friends for an hour or two without pressure to leave or order more. I will definitely frequent Joyride.
(4)Valentina B.
Went to Joyride for the first time on Sunday, around brunch time. Sat at the bar, ordered a cold Negro Modelo - they only offer it on draft. Staff was very friendly and engaging. The place is super cute, love the outside patio, good blend of background music. For the food, I started with guacamole, chips and salsa - all were tasty. The salsa had a nice kick. Tried the shrimp, fish and ahi tacos. The shrimp was flavorful, fish appeared slightly under cooked - so that lost points. The ahi was by far the winner - amazing actually. Will definitely go back, thrilled to see more restaurants in Central Phx.
(4)Noel S.
Good restaurant concept. Great vibe. Would have given 4 stars but valet parking only. Fresh ingredients. Went here for Easter lunch and had no problems getting in and there was plenty of parking that I couldn't park my own car into. You can get plenty of food for under $10 but most likely will go over 10 per person especially if you're getting alcohol. House margarita was tasty. No need to go top-shelf, but that have that too. Overall a bit on the pricey side for Mexican, but you're paying for location and the swank ambiance. The free salsa is good. I tried the un-free habanero salsa (they let me try it for free thankfully) and didn't like it. So before you buy the un-free salsas ask for a taste.
(3)Joe B.
Enjoyed an excellent lunch today. Service was attentive without being bothersome, food was outstanding. Lunch special of two tacos and a side salad was delicious. Awesome to see great LOCAL places doing it right.
(5)Denise M.
Disappointed. The decor is beautiful but the food is bland. Disconnected service. Parking is a nightmare! The manager is very sweet and tried to correct everything from mistakes on our order to mistakes on our bill but the food isn't good enough to return.
(1)Jason G.
Great experience at this restaurant! I brought clients here for a work dinner on a busy Wednesday night. We were a party of 7 and had a short 10 minute wait, eventually getting a table on the patio facing Central Ave right in front of the fireplace! They cranked up the heaters, not knowing half the party was in town from Chicago and quickly turned them down at our request. The blood orange margarita was excellent, not too sweet but smooth. We had the cheese y màs (a chunky queso dip) which was awesome, along with ceviche (very good, light and not too acidic) and the guacamole (alright, but not in my top 5). The chicken enchiladas were very good with red and green sauce, spicier than I expected. The staff was attentive but not overbearing kept waters full and cocktails coming. I'd definitely pay this place another visit.
(5)M G.
Went here for the first time today. Not bad, but I wasn't amazed either. I ordered three tacos and they came with a choice of a free side dish. I opted for the black beans. The beans were delicious. The carnitas was my favorite taco. Good pork flavor and the avocado slice complimented it well. The crispy fish taco was alright. The fish itself was good, I just would have preferred it with a corn tortilla, and the condiments on it didn't really do anything for me. The carne asada was my least favorite. The meat was bland. It didn't taste like it was marinated or anything. The complimentary salsa that came with the chips was tasty but the chips themselves were too salty for my taste. They were pretty crowded and busy, but service was ok. The restaurant has a nice open layout and they do play decent music, but I was annoyed by flies during my meal. I sat inside but they had all the doors open since the weather was nice and I had to keep shooing them away from my food. Kind of annoying. Overall this place wasn't bad, but I wasn't blown away by the food either. I don't think I'd go back on my own, but if someone invited me to go there with them, I wouldn't decline.
(3)RM K.
Waited to review until all the freshness had worn off. Great experience - except for parking.. but this whole area is horrific for parking. Awesome, cocktails had the Moscow mule ala Joyride -- yummy... ... really great and unique food.
(4)Deena H.
The absolute best food ever!!! The drinks are the bomb! Pineapple Mojito is my favorite!!!! LOVE this place!!! The patio is a great place for happy hour!
(5)Kendrick W.
Stopped by with a large group of friends celebrating a birthday. We were all riding bikes, this place is made for this. We sat outside, it was beautiful day. Had a couple pitchers of the Black Market beer. It was very good. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Davis B.
This place is better than Blanco. The Beast is a must-try as well. Be sure to have it enchilada style!
(5)Ben B.
The house margarita was great. Not too sweet. The salsa was nice. Spicy enough. Guacamole was fresh but not exactly Barrio Cafe awesome. The food was pretty good. I'm sure they'll keep tweeking it. I had the cochinita pibil taco which was a little bland. The service and the vibe are terrific. Lots of energy and everyone having a great time.
(4)Courtney D.
Good service, good atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices. The salsa is really tasty and I'm loving the veggie enchiladas. The tacos are good, not awesome. The kids love it and I'm excited to try more of the menu
(4)Brandi B.
Great food, friendly staff, and another cool restaurant from upward projects. Family style tacos but also perfect individual lunch portions.
(5)Elisha D.
lame food.lame drinks.
(1)Ted C.
Great tacos, great atmosphere. Looking forward to returning to try more dishes. My friend had the enchiladas and they looked fantastic. Good appetizers too. So much better tasting than Taco Guild!
(5)Jim S.
Great food in a hip & fun place! Try a sampler of fish tacos and their creative specialty drinks for a great change to your boring dinners out.
(5)Nathaniel E.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. we got lucky and found a parking spot along the street but they have purchased the lot just south of the building with extra parking spots. our wait to sit was only a few minutes although I would anticipate a longer wait during the busy hours. Staff was very friendly and on top of getting us drinks while we waited for our table. Loved the atmosphere here, and I don't know what it is about the Upward Projects but they always play great music. You get complimentary chips and salsa to snack on while your picking out your food. The salsa was very good. We ordered 3 tacos which were all fantastic and they came with a side, we chose the grilled vegetables. Oh my, simply delicious. I will be bring friends here next time.
(5)Molly B.
I have one main criteria for rating any sort of "mexican" restaurant, and that is how they prepare the chicken. Unfortunately, this place failed my test. The chicken in the tacos merely tasted like chicken, and it was a sizable hunk of fairly dry breast that I had to chew through. With all the stuff included in the taco, I still found myself reaching for the cholula to give it some moisture and taste. My tablemates had "heat" issues with the salsa that came with the chips and I have to admit I couldn't dunk as freely as I like. A burrito ordered came smothered and I mean smothered in a green chili sauce (looked like typical salsa verde and not green chilis). He had to scrape it all off. So, the end result is I will probably not go back. We were forced there by the huge crowd across the street at Postinos and apparently Joyride is owned by the same folks. I guess if you charge high enough prices the undiscriminating crowd here in Phoenix will just assume it must be great. Not me!
(2)Chandra L.
Staff/Managers could use a huge imporvement. Food is excellent but customer service is seriously lacking. My office placed a rather large order (15 people) the day before we needed it, and we were told to call back with payment, even though we were prepared to pay right then. We then called back 3 more times, and were told that the manager was not available, to try back again later. We called the next morning to try and pay for our order AGAIN, and surprise surprise, it was never even written down. It's now about an hour before we need the order to be ready. We order out often, and our business is usually much appreciated, but they made it seem like a huge hassle. We will never order from here again.
(2)Nikki C.
Best food!!! GREAT PRICES!! just a fun place to go!!
(5)H M.
Came here again to see if anything had changed, Nope . Servers are slow and blame the bar for being slow , which we saw drinks waiting to be served by servers still at the bar. I brought my aunt and friend , I feel bad for bringing them here. There is way better places in downtown phoenix to eat. Don't waste your time here, cause obviously they don't care about yours.
(1)Michelle A.
Ice cold mugs, tiny pitchers, beer. What a great way to start after a long hike on a chilly Sunday afternoon. The warm chips and tasty salsa were immediately brought to the table. Next came our waiter, a newbie to Arizona from Arkansas, with a cute southern drawl, easy demeanor and not bad on the eyes, either. But most importantly, he was SO attentive. Especially since one of our diners is gluten-free, lactose intolerant. He guided us through the menu, made great recommendations, even went back to confer with the chefs to be sure everything was done correctly. We each ordered the taco trios, an array of different smells, proteins, veggies graced our table. Each of us having a favorite. It was topped off with warm, sugary churros accompanied with a chocolate dipping sauce, on the house for our birthday boy. We will definitely be back. We enjoy that part of town, seeing old buildings (used to be Humpty Dumpty's Restaurant) coming alive. Oh, and ask for Jeremy. Hope he sticks around.
(4)Lizena Z.
I did not want to write a review based on my first experience but now that I've gone twice I have to put in my ten cents... First off, I love the decor and love their bar. I'm a big fan of Upward Project but this place isn't my cup of tea...the first time I went it was opening week. One of the owners spilt a glass of water on me but they compensated by giving our table a complimentary appetizer. We had the ceviche and am glad it was complimentary because it did not taste that great. I ordered one of the burritos and asked for enchilada style...the sauce was sweet. How can chile sauce be sweet?!? The rice was not cooked and the beans were bland....since it was opening week I decided not to judge the place by my first meal.. We decided to give it another try. The food again was lackluster. And the service was great at the beginning but after they dropped off our food we never saw our server again. Thank goodness they have other options that I enjoy. Just wished Joyride would was more authentic with the flavors...
(3)Chandra J.
Went to Joyride for the first time with a couple of friends last Friday for happy hour and had a wonderful time. It is a unique and hidden gem nestled between Postino's and Federal Pizza. The food and service was amazing and I enjoyed all of the food and drink recommendations made by the servers. I definitely recommend the pineapple agua Fresca with vodka added, the chicken burrito, and the bottomless chips and salsa (the chips are a little salty, but can be easily washed down with a agua Fresca or another one of their tasty beverages!) All of the servers made us feel welcome, wanted, and appreciated. I plan on returning again soon for another happy hour with friends!
(5)Christina S.
I loved the atmosphere, music, and décor! I enjoyed the Cucumber Serrano margarita. It was refreshing and had a little kick to it, but was not overpowering. I had the "Mix Tape" salad with papaya and prickly pear dressing, it was amazing! The service wasn't the best, but overall everyone was nice. I would eat at Joyride again!
(4)Jeanine B.
If you guys want the best customer service at a restaurant this would be it! First, they made a double order for someone's tacos so they gave us the extra. Then when they found out it was our first time here, they gave us a free dessert that was to DIE for! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was so great! Will definitely be coming back many more times!!!
(5)Allie K.
Love this place! Such a cool and unique atmosphere in a city full of Mexican restaurants. They have s great waiting area for when there is a rush, and provide chips and salsa for you while you wait. Drinks are pricey but FANTASTIC I got the cucumber mint fresca and it was amazing. My fiancé got the strawberry fresca and he liked his as well. I would stick to ordering the tacos on the menu, the standard and crunchy fish were our groups favorites. Best appetizer is the guacamole, it's handmade and very tasty! I wasn't a huge fan of the salsa they give with the chips, but you can order a different kind for 2 dollars so it's not too bad. Service is usually very friendly and very low key which is nice. The valet parking truly is complementary which is nice in a city where parking sucks. We're more likely to visit the gilbert location since we are in the east valley but if we lived closer we would come back frequently for sure!
(5)R E.
Son and I met my wife for lunch, so glad we chose Joyride! GREAT service and fantastic food, not much else to say. Wife and I tried burritos, one chicken and one "Beast" (carne asada). The boy had a Baja Fish taco and a "Standard" taco (chicken and a bunch of other good stuff!) Everything fresh and tasty! Overall fantastic experience, go there!
(5)B K.
Had a great lunch yesterday. The atmosphere is awesome and our server was friendly and attentive. The food was the best!!! Tacos were all awesome. I can't wait to come back try them all. Highly recommend this place!!!
(5)Jennifer B.
Cinco de Mayo. Epic Fail! First time here. Been waiting 1.5 hours for our order of carnitas tacos. Really? Too bad. I've heard good reviews"........
(1)Eva M.
I have to give 5 stars just for the tacos. They have the best tacos I have ever had (I have tried a lot). Every single one is good but my favorites are the chicken, braised beef and ahi tuna. Misters outside are a plus. They have valet and located in between 2 other good restaurants, postino and a pizza place (can't remember the name).
(5)Manu A.
Really nice place, great outdoor space and excellent service. Their ahi tuna tacos are above and beyond. Be sure to try their orchata, really good. My critique will be to be more consistent with the side dishes method of preparation. They never tasted/looked the same.
(4)Gayle L.
Absolutely delish! Fun, creative and a very lively restaurant. The menu was inventive and everything we had was outstanding. The restaurant was very busy but we were able to get in on a Saturday night without a reservation for our party of 3. Go visit, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Jennifer O.
Joyride is a little bit of a mixed bag. When we arrived for happy hour the place was hopping. We were seated outside (without them asking if that was alright first, but it was alright...). When asked if it was still happy hour, the hostess replied 'is it before 5?' a little snarky.... but ok. The service overall was slow and somewhat inattentive, but they were busy so they have an excuse at least. The food and drinks, on the other hand, were very tasty. We ordered drinks, I asked what was better between the horchata with alcohol or the blood orange margarita.....well, they were out of the horchata, so marg it was. The marg was large, tasty, and at only 5$ on happy hour, I was a happy camper. The husband had the pineapple aguas frescas... this was less delicious. It just tasted like pineapple juice and alcohol... not bad, but not wonderful. The salsa was just subtly spicy and full of flavor. The husband and I shared 3 tacos - fried fish, chicken tinga, and the pork. I would say the best was the fish, very light and crispy, followed by the pork, and then the chicken (which was fine, but was supposed to be spicy and wasn't really). Because we ordered 3 tacos, we got a side. Our server wasn't sure if they were out of rice (early in the afternoon?), but they did have it. It was fine, pretty standard rice, but the green salsa that was served on top was very tasty. The food was very filling and it was affordable, so I will most likely visit again!
(4)Jennifer L.
While the dessert was fabulous, the service was not what I would've expected from such a nice restaurant... One of our waiters brought us the wrong drinks, the other one came back only once out of the 2 hours we were there, and a third waiter filled my glass with water and pored it all over our table and kept going. Three stars for the food and zero stars for the rude service...
(2)Hillary B.
The chips and salsa were tasty, loved the salsa! We ordered the nachos and they were even better! The chips were amazing. I ordered the braised beef and red chili tamales and L.O.V.E.D. them!!! They were so awesome! As were the pinto beans, and I am NOT a pinto bean fan! They had incredible flavor. My husband ordered three different fish tacos, he said the shrimp one was OK, but the other two he loved! He's a picky eater, too! My daughter is the pickiest of eaters, but she loved the chicken out of her taco. I ate the beans and tortilla and thought, even for being super simple, had a ton of delicious flavor. The service was slow towards the end, miserably slow, but the servers and the hostess were all super friendly and funny. Loved the ambiance, too. We sat outside and it was great! Kiddos loved running on the grass (as no other patrons were out there at the time). All in all, it was a nice evening with very tasty food! Loved it, thanks Joyride!
(4)Carlos R.
The tacos are pretty good. Basic soft tacos. Today i tried the chilaquiles and they were ok. Not the chilaquiles I'm used to. Basically layered tostada shells with chicken and a little sauce in between. The service is very good and all of the servers were very polite and attentive. It's convenient from where I live so will come back.
(3)Jessica C.
Phoenix has so many choices as far as Mexican food goes--one of the better choices is Joyride. Well, I wouldn't say it's the best Mexican food in town, but I will say it is worth the trip. The ambience is excellent. I love the teal and burnt orange colors and the retro/modern decor. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and out. There are plenty of large tables for bigger parties, so this makes a great place to bring your friends. Drinks are pretty good. I have tried the house margarita, high roller margarita, and the pineapple agua fresca. I will say the house marg is just 'meh'. The other two are tasty. I have tried the chicken tinga, carne asada, and braised beef tacos. All three are good, but none blew me away. I would recommend the black beans as a side. They are very tasty! Overall, this is a great place to drink, munch on chips, and maybe eat a street taco or two. I see it more as a hang out a few hours after dinner or a late night dining option. It's definitely a fun place and I will be going back regularly!
(4)Kaytee K.
Jason was our server we came on a Monday evening with our good friend and my boyfriend. absolutely excellent food every single time. Also excellent service every single time Jason is the section to sit in! one of the most chill servers to have and knows a lot about his beers as well. Come see Jason at joyride! Amazing food!
(5)Shaq D.
Solid effort from Upscale Projects. Not "authentic" Mexican, per se, but really good takes on tacos, enchiladas and sides. Great craft beer menu, much like Federal Pizza next door. Pleasant & upbeat servers. A bit pricey for street tacos but $2 Taco Tuesday is the cure for that. We had the Standard, Pork Adobado, a couple of Crispy Fish and Carnitas tacos, as well as a chicken enchilada. Tacos are creative builds and flavorful. We'll be back.
(4)Shaina P.
Seriously disappointed. First time here about a month ago and I was underwhelmed across the board. We were seated immediately on the patio and water and chips/salsa appeared quickly but everything after that was missed. Took a long time to be greeted by a server and even longer to get our appetizer-shrimp ceviche. App included full size pieces of shrimp that should have been diced up. Tables that arrived after we did received their food first. I ordered the machaca burrito served enchilada style with red sauce. My boyfriend got The Beast burrito. When The Beast is smaller than a Chipotle burrito and contains less meat, the name should probably be changed. I tried both & wasn't impressed with either. Everything was just okay. Which would have made this a three star review except for one problem. They never cleared any plates or glasses. Every time they would bring us a fresh drink or the next "course" they would leave the former dishes on the table. It was a small table so we were running out of room. We asked one of the many servers (they work as a "team" -a concept I still don't understand because it doesn't seem to work, at any restaurant, and the tip likely gets split but what if one person is excellent and another on the team is terrible?) to clear the table, he said he would "be right back"...he never came back. Walked past us a few times but clearly had forgotten our request. They still weren't cleared when we paid the check! There must have been 10 used dishes on the table when we left. I don't plan on returning to Joyride. Too many other great restaurants nearby, Windsor and St. Francis among them!
(2)Carly W.
I love joyride! I have been there a few times and everything I order is delicious. I loved the enchiladas and had a yummy margarita. The chips are great and the salsa is my favorite. It has great flavor.
(5)Mary K.
Cool vibe, great service. But the food is expensive and not that good. Today I had the "The Beast" burrito: carne asada. It was saucy and tasted like teriyaki beef--so sweet! Come on you guys! That is not how you make carne asada. I will say that the tortilla soup is delicious ... but for real tacos and burritos, I'll go to Phx Burrito House or Mi Patio.
(3)Brittny S.
Went to Joyride on a Friday night. Cool vibe, nice patio area with a server to get you cocktails and chips while you wait for your table. Pros: awesome decor, patio. Yummy chips and salsa. Reasonable prices. Braised beef taco was solid. Cons: Taco's came out cold, nothing hot about anyone's entree's. A touch too loud Nachos were ok, was expecting more flavor. I'd be willing to go back on a week night and try this place again!
(4)Slipknotnyc S.
Similar to Gallo Blanco, it's style over substance here. Maybe it's just my palate, but there's nothing more discouraging then knowing what something is probably going to taste like before you even order it: sickeningly sweet margaritas and inedible, salty food. I love Mexican food, but very picky having grown up in So Cal. Even so, I thought I'd give an open mind. We started with some guac, which for $8, came served in a tiny dish and was riddled with brown pieces. We sent it back for another only to find brown pieces (surprise) folded under good pieces. The staff informed us "this happens after sitting out for a few minutes". A few minutes?? Oxidization occurs after a few hours hours...not minutes. Yuck. I know guac. Come on. I then ordered the Lola Salad (striving to add some greens to this meal) which was mostly quinoa (how did I miss "grain" in the description...sorry, "Lola GRAIN salad". I then reluctantly (anticipating another bad experience with a similar item at Gallo Blanco) ordered the "Beast Burrito" which ultimately confirmed that it was conceived for the menu by very small eyes. Chipotle gives you a hardier serving...this was a below average size. I didn't understand what was so "beasty" about it. This turned out for the better as it contained predominately black and refried beans in addition to a bit of over cooked, drowning-in-salt marinade-based carne asada. There was a nauseatingly sweet taste (fire roasted salsa??) and it was luke warm. It was very much like Gallo Blanco's carne asada burrito. And my worst peave, BROWNED tortilla to give it a hard, card board like texture. WHY? WHY must you do this? The whole thing screamed "left over". I couldn't finish it. Blah. The only thing that my mind could imagine being worse is if it had been deep fried into a chimichanga!!! Overall, predictable and not great food. I'll give it another try some other time, but messing up guac is really annoying and not being able to finish an entree because it's so gross just made it worse. Hard to find places that don't pander to the point of exhaustion...I don't think you'll get a better experience at say Blanco Tacos either. Overly thought menu items that just don't deliver. Sorry, better luck next time. If I can muster up the nerve to go back.
(2)Lizzie B.
Tried Joyride for the first time on Tuesday. I loved it. Their salsa was amazing and they have a really good selection of draught beer. I had the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. What made me especially happy were the really nice options for vegetarians. This can sometimes be difficult at Mexican restaurants. I asked our server (we sat at the bar) about suggestions, and she said that anything with their signature veggie mix was good. I chose the enchiladas, which also had goat cheese, and they were AWESOME. The veggie mix was delicious and not boring, the creaminess of the goat cheese, and just the right amount of heat (I selected red sauce) made a killer and satisfying combination. At $9.00 the portions were more than generous, but my companion and I worked together to finish them up. This will definitely be my new go-to spot for Mexican in this neighborhood. Again, they only lose one star for the parking situation. I'm never keen on forced valet, because I rarely have cash to tip.
(4)Kristen S.
Great server - great food. Tried the cucumber serrano margarita - it was fantastic.
(5)T M.
Sorry this one is a miss. Love Postino's and Windsor, but Joyride is not too good. Food was really disappointing. Tacos were so average and service so so. Maybe my expectations were too high. I think I'll stay with America's taco shop.
(1)Michaela O.
Ahi tacos are incredible. All the fish is fresh never frozen. The staff is super friendly and the music doesn't suck (usually). Today I made a minor (solicited) complaint about a taco and the staff went WAY out of their way to make me happy. The chef himself brought me a new taco, they knocked it off my bill anyway and even gave me a free drink. I always sit at the bar, so I can't comment on the wait staff but the place looks like they only hire attractive tattooed people. No complaints here. Drinks appear to be strong too... Still typing.
(5)Youri L.
I might be harsher than some but to break down my review I'll give Joyride a 4 if not a 5 out of 5 for the atmosphere something I always find important but a 3/5 for the food (after my initial visit). I've known been a total of 3 times at the time of this review and can't say there isn't anything to dislike. I had heard about Joyride more and more from friends mentioning it on their FB walls and Instagram pics and finally made it there on a weekend. The place was quite packed but not so much that we had to wait to be seated. A nice and diversified group of patrons was there (families, 20 and 30 somethings groups of friends). Great mix.I've since come back. In terms of food I can't say anything about "The Standard" their chicken soft taco as well as the "Baja Fish" (I tend to lean on the milder side of things). I've had the Mexican street corn and black beans for appetizers and they were very good. The soft tacos are delicious, the waiters great and the whole mix makes for a place that you'll want to come back to.
(4)Alfie N.
Went here with my girlfriend last night and had a good experience. Hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. The number one thing that stood out to me was the ambiance in the place. Really cool looking decorative design in this restaurant. The vaulted ceilings above the bar really pop. Our drink orders were taken in only a few minutes and our food orders were taken shortly after. We ordered a combination of different tacos. The fish, veggies, and shrimp tacos are delicious. Overall, this place does a good job! Pros: -Great food -Good service -Reasonable prices -Awesome ambiance Cons -I believe I left my card there and still waiting to hear back
(4)Gabriel R.
Ok first greet by the hostess great smile and since we were a party of two didn't want to wait for a table. Dinner rush. So we sat at the bar. The bartender was supper awesome sorry forgot his name but very helpful and recommended some nice drinks with our meal. The drinks were on point and the tacos were bomb! I must say tho they keep throwing the warm chips at salsa at me and I would have been full of of those!! Great spot! Great atmosphere 3 thumbs up if I had a third hand :)
(5)Kiana W.
I love Joyride Taco House! I work about a block away, and my boyfriend and I live about five miles from the restaurant. We come here at least once a week. The food is always spectacular, there's a great happy hour, the atmosphere is upbeat, and the staff is very attentive.
(4)Richelle L.
We had a great experience at Joyride taco! We went on a Friday for lunch after hearing about it on the radio. The location is central and the restaurant decor is fun and casual - a great fit with all the hip new restaurants in the area. Our food was delicious! The elote corn appetizer was great and the churros dessert was amazing. But the service was truly what sets this restaurant apart. Our server was friendly and attentive, and at least 2 of the managers stopped by to check on how our meal was. In fact, I guess our main course took longer than usual to come out (although I didn't really even notice) and the manager picked up our entire bill! That's great customer service. We will definitely be back!
(5)Libbi J.
Great Mexican food in Central Phoenix. I haven't been here when it's too busy, which always seems to be the case at other Upward Projects restaurants. So I'm happy to have Joyride be my new go to. I can find parking, get good drinks, good service, delicious tacos etc, and the best churros I've ever had. (the cheese y mas is a must try but dangerous for the dairy intolerant) They have a lot of open doors windows, so depending on the weather it can get a bit chilly and they keep it kinda dark. But otherwise, we've been very happy with our dining experiences here.
(4)Matthew O.
Salsa was very good. The Enchiladas I had were not very good. Was not at all impressed with the cochinita pibil tacos, they were not like any I have ever had before.
(2)Dee E.
Joyride was more like a 10 car pile up. No flavor. Meh!
(1)Mr. S.
Great concept, fantastic food and warm, open, laid back feel. If I lived close, this could very well become my regular watering hole... Their spin on Mexican fare is pretty damned good. Everything my friends and I had was awesome. I highly recommend the crispy fish tacos and the blood orange margarita! The parking is a tad weird, but it should not be enough to deter you.
(5)Lynne C.
Plan on taking ear plugs so the concert style music does not make one deaf. Forget having any conversations unless you use sign language . The staff is helpful but it wasn't their fault the the fried fish tacos were not a big hit. The fish was strong and smelled before arriving at the table, and were over cooked. The shrimp tacos had no flavor, but I find that everywhere. The beef ones were good and the black beans . After going to Tacolicious in San Francisco nothing in Phoenix really stands up to what they should taste like.
(1)Joel D.
Staff is always friendly and welcoming. Food is great and the drinks are consistently flowing! Everyone needs to come here.
(5)Garon M.
Great set up, bright and happy colors. Energetic waiters and waitresses. This company knows what they are doing when they open restaurants. The tacos are amazing and their twist on mixed drinks is quite interesting and unique. Highly recommended.
(5)John F.
Love this place, great decor, food - while not traditional Mexican, is very tasty and reasonably priced as are the drinks. We stopped in the first time just for drinks and they kindly gave us chips and salsa and kept giving us more and the service was very attentive. Close to the light rail grid for easy transport. I feel like I am on vacation even though I live here so they have succeeded in my mind!
(5)James K.
Came here for dinner, tried the blood orange cocktail first... Way too syrupy. Tasted fake. Not a fan. Ordered the Ahi tostada for appetizer, and weren't pleased either. The pineapple on it tasted like it was fresh from a can. Dessert-like sweetness. Not very good. We actually decided to head to another place for our entree. Quite disappointed, because we're all big fans of postino and Windsor. Won't be back here anytime soon. On the upside, the service and atmosphere were great.
(2)Bethany M.
Love, love, LOVE this place! Great atmosphere, delicious food and ridiculously friendly staff! Everyone that works here seems to love their job and their smiles are contagious- I will definitely be back!
(5)Amanda D.
I like this place despite the fact that most of my friends told me never to go here. However, I like it mainly for the atmosphere and cute decor. I went here for lunch last weekend expecting mediocrity and was pleasantly surprised, but mostly by the atmosphere and decor. The food is mediocre. There are definitely better Mexican and/or Southwestern food spots in Phoenix, but the patio and location are great. Service was just okay, but that is to be expected from most places in Phoenix these days anyway. Our server was nice, but looked as if she was on her way to the YMCA to workout. Not a deal breaker, but she definitely did not dress the way I would have expected for the decor. It just did not match and that was the first thing that I noticed. She wasn't overly friendly nor was she standoffish. She was just okay, and I got the feeling that is the standard for this restaurant. I know that this place is a part of a grouping of restaurants owned by the same people and this is definitely one of my favorites of their pursuits. Their cocktail list was really good, and, again, the ambiance was good. Would I come back? Yes. But, probably not for a while and not until I scoured Phoenix for a better alternative. Yet, it is close to my house so they will have my business again solely because of proximity and the fact that is was average relative to other spots close to me.
(3)Peter B.
Wow...really disappointed! After reading such stellar reviews thought I was in for a real treat...nothing could be further from the truth: truly awful tacos... salsas gringoesque...over-priced drinks...horrendous sides (salty pintos too small cucumber salad). Eager staff, but not well-trained. This is the kind of place Seftel will rave about...sorry, this is strictly "turista"!
(1)Art C.
Place is beautiful inside and out. Food is mediocre at best. I might have returned for the atmosphere if it not for the supposed owners and management. I was having lunch on the patio and had SEVERAL screaming kids climbing a tree RIGHT next to my table throwing rocks and screaming. When I notified management I was informed those were the owners kids and he couldn't do anything about it. He bought my meal instead. I said thanks but that's not what I want. I want to relax and enjoy my mediocre food in peace. I am completely turned off that the supposed owners would let their children disturb their customers dining experience. And even more turned off that the problem wasn't fixed. I will not be returning.
(2)Maddie G.
Yum! My husband and I came here for a quick, early dinner. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Taco and the Chicken Tinga Taco. My husband ordered the Chicken Burrito, which I had a couple bites of. The flavors of each were so different from the other, but equally scrumptious. Not to mention, you can never go wrong with free chips and deliciously spicy salsa. This place not only has delicious food, but the atmosphere and set up are great! I definitely want to come back at night to enjoy the lights, fireplace and drinks.
(5)Allie S.
"meh" gave it three stars for the great ambiance and nice service, but food was a little lack luster.
(3)David S.
Let me start by saying, I would have rated Joyride a 4, but for one significant fact--the mixed drinks are a poor value. Nine dollars for a small glass that is filled with 75% ice just doesn't cut it. To top it off, they arrive with short straws (Disney made the 2nd and 3rd stories of Main Street buildings progressively smaller so you would think they were taller) which causes your drink to disappear even faster. When we ordered a third house Margarita and requested less ice, the bartender limited the ice but simply poured the drink shorter. I guess they have to pay for the exquisite decorations and furnishings somehow! Joyride is cut in the new mold of restaurants intended for both seeing and being seen. Where the value of the meal you pay for is significantly in the theater of the atmosphere. Something you can't take home with you. That said, there's a lot of theater here, and it is very well done. Everything exudes quality. From the chairs, comfy and styled, to the decorations. Not a stone appears to have been unturned to create and resurrect images, colors and shapes evocative of childhood memories residing in the deepest recesses of baby boomer brains. It is outstanding. And the food is a decent value as well. I had the carne asada burrito and my wife had the chicken tamale. Both very good and ample. the chips are great and the service attentive. In fact, I would say that the staff was a cut above the (low) average set by Fox Concept restaurants. Everyone from the greeter/hostess to the waitstaff and manager were solicitous and genuine (well as genuine as they have time to be). These are real people with a mission and vision instilled by the owners...not bimbos and bimbettes schooled in the fine art of maximizing (restaurant) revenue, minimizing expense and maximizing tip income. So, Joyride delivers more than most theater restaurants: good value in food (both cost and quality), great surroundings (visually and in terms of comfort) but you pay for it in the cocktails. I suppose an alternate strategy would be to rely on beer. Or, if you don't drink beer, have one cocktail at home before coming over (but who wants to make a margarita at home, especially on a Friday night after work)...I have never found homemade ones to be that great. Joyride does offer a taller glass for an additional two dollars. Which I suppose has the amount of alcohol that the $9 one should have. Also, as an earlier review warned, avoid the double trio of two person tables sandwiched together at either end of the lovely round booths. You will feel uncomfortable and untethered as the wait-staff traverses these thoroughfares (a feng-shui moment). Even though you do end up paying more...you don't feel quite as cheated as at the other "theme" restaurants.
(3)Crys W.
Great family friendly place!! The atmosphere was really nice, whether you sat inside or outside. The food was great and the cocktails were delicious!
(4)Alicia G.
Food was deeeeliisshhhh. The only thing is their menu is pretty strict. They don't have anything else you can add to your meal, you can only take things out. No substitutions. Other than that it was delicious! There is inside and outside seating as well as awesome indoor decor. We shall be back!
(4)Brian T.
What, what a great find! I usually am on top of the new restaurants that are opening in the area, but somehow this one got by me. Wifey spotted it the other day and we decided to check it out yesterday. It just opened on Tuesday, so it was perfect timing. The location is great, it's located right next to Postino on Central. The decor is done awesome, very urban but warm if that makes sense. The restaurant was very busy but seemed to run like a well oiled machine. We were seated pretty quick, they have a nice patio and tons of indoor/bar dining options. We started with a few cocktails, traditional margarita and I went with the blood orange margarita. Wifey wasn't over the moon about her traditional margarita, was a bit flat but my blood orange margarita was great. they have a well rounded menu with tacos, tamales, tortas, burritos and a few specials. They also have a short list of apps/shareable plates. we started with the guacamole, which was done perfect. I opted for 3 tacos: Fried fish, braised beef and this spicy chicken. They were all great, my fave being the braised beef. I also got the Mexican street corn, which was delicious. Wifey got the Chilaquiles, and LOVED her dish. They even have a kids menu for my daughter, which is always welcome. All in all, great good, superior service and perfect location. I'll for sure be back!
(5)Victoria M.
I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food is here. I had heard mixed reviews, so I was sketchy on trying it out. I went with a large group of friends and started out with a variety of different appetizers. The guacamole and queso dip with chorizo were bomb!! Yeah the tacos are pricey, 3-5 dollars but honestly that's any price for a taco in the central-downtown phoenix area. I ordered the standard taco and also the crispy fish taco. Both were good. (crispy fish was my favorite) My boyfriend ordered the chicken torta and that was tasty and flavored very well. The pineapple aguas frescas with tequila was definitely a good choice too. Staff was friendly and attentive. Overall, I had a great experience and I will be back!!
(4)Juju P.
Fun place to lunch with girlfriends! We came on the third day open and enjoyed studying the new menu, finding something delicious for everyone. I love the ensalada fila -- although I struggle to remember the name of that salad -- it is first on the list. It's a great kale salad. Add a crispy fish taco and it is the perfect lunch! They serve the tacos family style (I.e. all orders on one plate) and this threw us off a bit. The ingredients of the tacos are fresh and delicious but we noticed the awesome home-made tortillas. Lots of attention to detail here, Desserts are fabulous! Save room for the brownie.
(5)Michelle M.
Try the crispy fish tacos they are delicious! They are perfectly battered and crispy and garnished beautifully.The carne asada quesadilla was very good as well. I love that you can also get all the chips and salsa you'd like without it costing a few extra bucks. Skip the burritos though. They taste like the enchiladas that Pollo Loco just added to their menu. Definitely not worth the $8 price tag. And last but not least, the drinks! My mouth just waters at the pure thought of them. I'm personally not a fan of margaritas but man oh man! The drinks were stirred and executed perfectly!
(5)