Review Highlights
Know Before You go
Jalapeno Bucks Restaurant Review
What would happen if you combined Mexican food with barbecue? This is what I wanted to find out.
For this test, I drove to Jalapeno Bucks in North Mesa (202 and Val Vista). The restaurant serves what they refer to as, “New Wave Mexican Soul Food & BuzzSaw Brand BBQ.”
They are located along the west side of Val Vista Road, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The general area is surrounded by orange groves.
Upon arrival, you will see a rusty ol’ barn with dizzying bumper stickers and signage plastered all over it. Nestled somewhere amongst the signage you will see the takeout order window.
There is no dining room. All seating it outdoors. There is no public restroom. Food will be prepared to go.
The menu consists of standard BBQ items like ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket by the pound, etc. In addition, the most common Mexican dishes like enchiladas, quesadillas, and burritos are also featured.
But this is not ordinary fare. Burritos are the star of the show and traditional Mexican food is made using BBQ meats.
If you’re wondering, Jalapeno Bucks does not want their BBQ to be mistaken for any specific style, like St. Louis, Texas, Carolina, etc. They make Arizona-style BBQ.
For this visit, I ordered the brisket enchilada combo plate, brisket bean and cheese burrito, and a side of rice. The combo plate came with beans and your choice of macaroni salad or potato salad.
It is important to note that they refer to their macaroni salad as “mac,” which can be confusing because it is not mac and cheese.
Brisket Enchilada Combo Plate
This was a solid dish. The enchilada sauce and beans were good enough to rival the best. Then just imagine smoked brisket, cheese, and corn tortillas. How can you go wrong?
Brisket, Bean & Cheese Burrito
This one really surprised me. Prior to ordering, I did not know what to expect.
I assumed the burrito would have brisket, whole beans, and cheese. But this was the perfect combination of tender brisket, creamy refried beans, and cheese.
The Mexican food at Jalapeno Bucks should definitely be taken seriously. It was one of the best burritos… ever.
In comparison, a typical carne asada burrito is always good. But they are never prepared using premium quality steak.
The restaurants cannot afford it and consumers have voted with their wallets that low- to mid-cost steak nuggets are acceptable. So you get used to eating good, but technically average, food.
A premium cut of meat makes a whole lotta difference in a burrito. You can really taste the quality.
Mexican Rice
Again, another solid dish. I would never overhype rice, but what I will say is that it was as good as it gets.
Overall Jalapeno Bucks Review
They were easily Justin Leonard Approved.
I was expecting the BBQ to be great and the Mexican food to be “just okay.” But don’t be fooled. These cowboys can cook!
To answer the original question of whether BBQ + Mexican food can come together to make magic…
Absolutely, the combination works great. And in my opinion, the smoked BBQ meats did not overshadow the traditional Mexican flavors.
I think their red salsa was excellent. It was the perfect compliment to the BBQ burritos. It was unclear if they made any other salsas.
One thing I found interesting was that they call your name once when your drink is ready, and then once again when your food is ready. There is probably a good reason for this, but I didn’t understand it.
Before my visit, I was unaware that Jalapeno Bucks served homemade buns. How many Arizona restaurants actually make their own buns?
Like I said, man… These dudes are on another level. Peace
