Uptown Phoenix is about to lose a familiar face. Joyride Taco House's Uptown location will serve its final guests after service on Aug. 2, closing out a decade-plus run on North Central Avenue. The exit makes room for Lado A Lado, a Sonora-inspired, wood-fired Mexican restaurant from Chiwas Hospitality Group in partnership with Upward Projects. Regulars will not be completely stranded, since Joyride's original Gilbert location will stay open.
As reported by Phoenix New Times, Lado A Lado, which translates to "side by side," is slated to open this fall and will focus on open-flame cooking, a raw bar and a parrillada. The partnership grew out of conversations between Upward Projects CEO Lauren Bailey and the Chiwas team, with the goal of bringing Sonoran shared-meal traditions to Uptown Phoenix. Upward Projects already runs neighborhood fixtures like Postino and Federal Pizza, so this collaboration marks a notable shakeup along Central Avenue's restaurant row.
Who's behind Lado A Lado
Chiwas Hospitality Group is led by Armando Hernandez, Nadia Holguin and Roberto Centeno, the chefs and operators behind Tacos Chiwas, Cocina Chiwas and other local projects. Hernandez, Holguin and Centeno have been recognized as James Beard Award semifinalists for their work, a nod to the group's growing national profile. Their background with open-fire cooking and regional Mexican flavors is central to what the new restaurant promises to deliver.
What Joyride fans should know
Joyride's Uptown spot, the midcentury building with a tree-shaded patio at 5202 N. Central Ave., will serve its last meals on Aug. 2 before crews move in to transform the space into Lado A Lado. According to Phoenix New Times, Joyride plans to offer Taco Tuesday pricing every day during its final weeks as a farewell to guests. Joyride's website confirms the Central and Gilbert addresses and shows that the Gilbert restaurant will remain open for the foreseeable future: Joyride Taco House.
For Uptown diners, the swap signals a broader shift toward hyper-regional, chef-driven concepts along Central Avenue, trading SoCal-style tacos for a menu that promises "a contrast of fire and sea, and smoke and citrus," according to the teams' announcement. Plans are still in motion, and details are limited, so this space will be updated once the partners share a firm opening date and a closer look at the menu.
