Phoenix restaurant serves traditional Mexican recipes and super-sized conchas
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It’s tradition mixed with contemporary takes on the classics. Cocina Adamex pairs old-school recipes, like tamales and enchiladas, with a super-sized take on a fan favorite: conchas bigger than your head.
The restaurant opened near 7th Avenue and Fillmore Street two years ago after an unexpected ownership change.
Adriana Zapata, owner of Cocina Adamex, says, “My husband and I started a construction company, and the restaurant that had been here for 40 years contracted us to do a remodel in 2019. So we come in, we do all the remodel, and then what happens next? The pandemic.”
Zapata says the previous owner was ready to retire but didn’t want to leave her dedicated employees. So, Zapata and her family took over. She credits those diligent and devoted workers as the key to their success.
“If they wouldn’t have stayed with us, I don’t know if we would have made it this far, but absolutely with their help, it’s what’s been successful,” Zapata said.
Now, the longtime staff and seasoned recipes make Cocina Adamex feel like a part of the community.
Zapata says, “From our Mexican traditions, it’s so important to welcome people and to feed them. Nobody leaves your house if you did not feed them. So that’s the idea that we want to incorporate here and make sure that, that every customer feels this way.”
While they kept many old recipes, they added a few new ones, including plates named after their regulars. Those dishes range from huevos rancheros and chilaquiles to birria.
“When you walk into a business in Mexico, you might know the panadero, you might know the cook. So that’s what we want here. We want you to come in, feel warm, feel welcomed,” Zapata says.
From the bright sign out front to decorations, live music on the weekends, and constant chatter of customers, that welcoming atmosphere is apparent before you even take a bite.
All the recipes are made from scratch daily. Zapata says they’re precise and detailed to ensure each forkful bursts with flavor.
She says green chili is one of the most popular: “We use the chili from Hatch and then you pair, make that a burrito enchilada style. That’s it. You’ll be set for the rest of the day.”
The other item gaining popularity in Arizona and across the country is the XL Concha.
Zapata says she, like many other Mexican families, have a lot of memories sitting around the table with loved ones, sharing coffee and eating conchas and other pastries.
She decided to test out a super-sized version as a kind of birthday cake. But it wasn’t until she started paring it with coffee that the XL Concha really took off.
The sweet bread comes in vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. It’s soft on the inside with a delicious, crumbly top on the outside.
The XL Concha is now served alongside a giant cup filled with two pots of coffee. Both are great for sharing.
Zapata credits the idea to a social media influencer who helped teach her how to promote the restaurant and showcase their food. The conchas are so popular that the restaurant now ships them out of state.
Cocina Adamex also experiments with the sweet bread, offering an extra-large concha French toast.
Zapata insists it’s something you’re missing, even if you don’t know it yet.
Cocina Adamex also serves other regular-sized traditional sweets like marranitos, empanadas, galletas, and wedding cookies. You can order them for dine in or to go.
It’s recommended to order the XL Conchas a day in advance to make sure they make enough each morning.
If you can’t get enough, the restaurant also offers catering services through a mobile food truck.
Concina Adamex
Location: 416 N 7th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85007
Hours:
- Monday - Saturday: 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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