Michelin taquerías pop up at Chase Field

Three Michelin-recognized Mexico City taquerias are serving tacos on Chase Field Plaza this weekend, turning a Diamondbacks homestand into a street-food pop-up. (phoenixnewtimes.com) Phoenix New Times reported that Cariñito Tacos, El Vilsito and Tacos Los Alexis set up the temporary pavilion outside the ballpark from Friday, April 17, through Sunday, April 19. The event is free and open to the public, and tacos are priced from $6 to $12. (phoenixnewtimes.com) The shops are operating from noon until at least 8 p.m. during the Diamondbacks’ three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Chase Field. You do not need a game ticket to buy food at the plaza pop-up. (phoenixnewtimes.com) The Diamondbacks are also using the pavilion as a lead-in to their April 25-26 Mexico City Series against the San Diego Padres at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. The club’s event site says the broader “CDMX Taco Pavilion” runs daily from April 14 through April 23 on D-backs Plaza. (tacoboutcdmx.com, mlb.com) Michelin’s Bib Gourmand designation, which New Times said applies to these taquerias, is Michelin’s category for restaurants that deliver strong food at lower prices than the guide’s starred tier. Michelin has not yet released its forthcoming Southwest guide for Arizona, New Times noted. (phoenixnewtimes.com, guide.michelin.com) Each taqueria is bringing a different Mexico City style. New Times highlighted Cariñito’s Cantones taco with crispy pork belly, hoisin, Sriracha and pickled cucumber, and said Tacos Los Alexis is serving a costra with ribeye. (phoenixnewtimes.com) El Vilsito is the best-known name of the three outside Mexico, in part because its al pastor was featured on Netflix’s “Taco Chronicles.” The event site describes the taqueria as an auto shop by day and taco stand by night, a Mexico City format that has become part of its identity. (phoenixnewtimes.com, tacoboutcdmx.com) The pop-up also lands as Chase Field keeps expanding its food program beyond standard ballpark fare. The Diamondbacks’ current concessions guide lists in-stadium taco counters including Taquería Los D-backs in Section 125 and A-Zona Street Tacos in Section 207. (mlb.com) Diamondbacks president and chief executive Derrick Hall said in a team release quoted by New Times that the pavilion is meant to bring “the culture, flavor and energy of Mexico City” to downtown Phoenix before the club heads south next week. For one weekend, that means a baseball plaza is doubling as a taco corridor. (phoenixnewtimes.com)