Scottsdale taco favorite Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila is bringing its tequila-heavy Mexican menu to Chandler this week, opening its second Arizona location with room for up to 300 diners. The East Valley debut gives the nearly two-decade-old restaurant a much bigger footprint beyond Old Town Scottsdale.
The new location will officially open Wednesday with a full-day celebration, according to Cien Agaves. The restaurant says happy-hour giveaways for the first 75 guests begin at 3 p.m., followed by the official ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and complimentary tequila and beer tastings through 8 p.m.; the Chandler Chamber of Commerce lists the ribbon cutting for 4 p.m.
A 300-Seat Chandler Launch
The Chandler restaurant covers 5,000 square feet and includes indoor seating for 250 people plus two outdoor patios that can accommodate another 50, as reported by KTAR News. It is operated by Backbar Hospitality Management, the local group behind Nello’s Pizzeria and Ghost Ranch Modern Southwest Cuisine.
Cien Agaves first opened in Scottsdale in 2007 and has built its identity around scratch-made Mexican food, handcrafted cocktails and a large agave-spirits selection, Arizona Foothills Magazine reports. The Chandler dining room will also feature colorful artwork by Mexican artist El Moises.
New Chandler Dishes Join Familiar Favorites
Executive Chef Memo Bracamonte will oversee the Chandler kitchen, with the menu combining established Cien Agaves staples and new dishes, according to KTAR News. Those additions include a Tampiqueña with grilled arrachera steak, poblano rajas, a cheese enchilada, guacamole, rice and beans, along with pan-seared sea bass tacos topped with citrus slaw and avocado salsa.
The Chandler expansion was first reported as an August project in June, when owner Roque Jimenez confirmed the plan to What Now Phoenix. Jimenez and co-founder Bob Schulken have said the new space is intended to blend agave culture with a contemporary Mexican aesthetic while serving the Ahwatukee and Chandler communities.
Once open, Cien Agaves Chandler will serve food from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday, according to the restaurant’s official location listing. Daily happy hour is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m., with all-day discounts planned for Taco Tuesday.
