Taqueria Chicali
Classification: Restaurant
Type: Tenant Improvement, Interior
Location: 7730 W Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85033
Area: 1,433 sq.ft.
Year: 2022

The address sits in the Maryvale trade area, a retail / auto oriented corridor with strong Hispanic demographics and high drive. An ideal fit for a street taco concept. Taqueria Chicali is built beneath a gas canopy structured, converted into an efficient street taco restaurant that feels authentically Cachanilla (Mexicali). The scope included a full interior tenant improvement and selective exterior upgrades to the existing shell and canopy.

Chicali’s brand centers on Mexicali street flavor and carne asada al carbon. We translated that into a palette that is bold, legible from the road, and durable up close: black and white graphic murals, neon signs, and yellow corrugated metal that reads like a highway.

The canopy’s shade and deep overhangs cut solar gain at glazing and provide a transitional micro-climate at the entry.

The entry aligns you straight to the counter and open grill. A stainless prep line and menu boards float beneath a simple lighting grid; queueing is intuitive with room for on-line order pickup.

The counter face use corrugated metal in yellow that remain us to the heat in Mexicali. A custom black and white mural wraps a core wall inspired by Mexicali local artist JM, with a neon sing that reads “Puro Cachanilla” for a more Instagram-ready anchor that communicates the concept instantly and orients the room. Simple black pendant lights with warm bulbs create pools of hospitality for the guests.

“Taquería Chicali Mexican Grill is more than just a restaurant, it’s a story of tradition, resilience, and family roots. What began in the backyard of Mr. Palomino’s home in Mexicali in 2017 as a humble carreta (taco cart) grew into a beloved catering operation, then a food truck, and now, with overwhelming community support, the first brick-and-mortar location in Phoenix, Arizona”.