Someburros

Someburros is the Mexican restaurant that Arizona families actually eat at -- not the overpriced tourist cantinas on Scottsdale's main drags, but a genuine, family-owned fast-casual joint that has been serving the Valley since 1986. Founded by three brothers from the small Arizona border town of Somerton, it serves Sonoran-style Mexican food in generous portions at prices that seem almost impossibly low for Scottsdale.

The menu covers all the essentials: burritos (called 'burros' in Arizona parlance), tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, tamales, and the Arizona specialty cheese crisp -- a giant flat flour tortilla baked until crispy and covered in melted cheese, essentially a maximalist quesadilla. Every item can be ordered with your choice of protein (carne asada, chicken, machaca, ground beef) and customized with beans, rice, sour cream, and guacamole.

The burritos are the main event. They are massive -- easily a full meal for an adult, and enough for two younger kids to split. The carne asada is seasoned beautifully, the rice and beans are made from scratch, and the homemade tortillas have the soft, slightly chewy texture that distinguishes fresh from factory.

The green chile sauce is the house signature: tangy, moderately spicy, and ladled generously on smothered items. Ask for it on the side if your kids are spice-sensitive.

Breakfast burritos (available all day) may be the best value in Scottsdale: $7-9 for a huge burrito stuffed with eggs, cheese, potatoes, and your choice of meat. The machaca (shredded dried beef) is a Sonoran specialty worth trying.

The kids' menu is refreshingly honest: bean and cheese burritos, cheese quesadillas, chicken tacos -- straightforward items at $5-6 including a drink. For families accustomed to Scottsdale resort pricing, the total bill feels like a typo.

The dining experience is counter-service: order at the register, grab a number, and food arrives at your table within 5-10 minutes. The dining room is casual and clean with booth seating. Outdoor patio seating is available at most locations.

Strollers fit fine. The atmosphere is family-friendly in the most fundamental sense -- nobody blinks at a noisy toddler because half the customers brought their own.

Multiple locations dot Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area, so there is likely one near your hotel. The Scottsdale Road location is central and easy to reach. No reservations needed. Open daily from 7 AM.