Laveen residents will soon be able to grab mesquite-grilled tacos without leaving their side of town. Mesquite Fresh Street Mex, the Arizona-grown fast-casual chain known for cooking its proteins over open mesquite wood, plans to open a new restaurant at 5535 W. Baseline Road later this fall, marking the company's 11th location in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The new Laveen spot will feature a drive-thru, a dedicated pickup window for to-go orders, and a 900-square-foot patio, according to Arizona Digital Free Press. The menu will include the chain's signature mesquite-grilled street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and protein bowls. Co-founder Ahmad Alatrash said the company had heard from its customer base in Laveen and was thrilled to serve residents.
The Laveen build reflects some late adjustments to the company's site plans. The restaurant was originally slated for 7601 S. 56th Avenue near Laveen Spectrum before shifting to the current 1,200-square-foot Baseline Road address, according to WhatNow Phoenix.
A Decade of Growth From a Scottsdale Taco Stand
Mesquite Fresh Street Mex traces its roots to a walk-up taco stand that brothers Ahmad and Naser Alatrash, who grew up in Scottsdale, opened in Old Town Scottsdale. The brand has grown considerably since then, and the Laveen opening will follow closely on the heels of a recent Tolleson restaurant opening on Dec. 7, giving the company a West Valley foothold before it broke ground in Laveen, per the Daily Independent.
Before it carried its current name, the company operated as Mr. Mesquite Tacos, officially rebranding as Mesquite Fresh Street Mex in August 2021 to support its Valley-wide expansion, according to reporting from PHOENIX Magazine. In April 2023, the Alatrash brothers folded another of their ventures, Speedy Street Tacos — a walk-up stand near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport they had opened in 2016 — into the Mesquite Fresh Street Mex brand umbrella, as KTAR News reported at the time.
A Scratch Kitchen
Alatrash has said the chain's stores serve fresh meats and cook them over open-flame real mesquite wood. That scratch-kitchen approach has helped the brand pick up local recognition, including Phoenix New Times “Best of Phoenix” awards for Best Street Tacos and Best Tortillas.
Laveen's Baseline Road Corridor Keeps Growing
The Laveen opening arrives as completion of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway extension materially reduced drive times and positioned the area for commercial spillover demand, per The Broker Reserve. Mesquite Fresh Street Mex will be entering that stretch alongside other quick-service restaurants near the area's busiest intersections.
The opening was previously projected for spring 2025 and was later described as a fall debut.
