Dining Guide | Ceviche Style: 5 Top Spots for Ceviche in Scottsdale
Taryn Jeffries
As we venture into the month of May and prep for all of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations around town sure to feature Latin-inspired dishes, as well as the undeniable increase in temperature, it’s time to celebrate. We can’t think of a better way than with an exhilarating chilled serving of ceviche. The beauty of ceviche is that the base ingredients (citrus juices) “cook” the fish through acid and a little bit of science. This makes it a quick dish to prepare and a light and refreshing treat to eat. Here in the Valley, you can find so many variations, from traditional to extremely unique and modern. With so many interpretations, why settle on just one version? Check out our recommendations to see what your ceviche style is!
5 Top Spots for Ceviche in Scottsdale
Cantina Laredo
7361 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.| Scottsdale| 480.951.3807 Cantina Laredo offers guest the opportunity to experience the traditional flavors of Mexican cuisine with a modern twist here and there. They offer a wide variety of dishes to choose from with gluten-free and vegetarian options popping up frequently on the menu. Their ceviche features Chilean sea bass marinated in lime juice. This dish boasts an extra kick and layer of heat with the addition of both poblano and jalapeno peppers, along with the traditional tomato and cilantro. That extra layer of heat cuts into the buttery fish just enough to add more flavor with a slight burn. The ample portion is then topped with generous avocado providing an additional layer of texture. The rich, tender profile of the sea bass is the perfect complement to the bite of the citrus and the pop of heat from the peppers.
Diego Pops
4338 N. Scottsdale Road| Scottsdale| 480.970.1007 Diego Pops is all about individualistic Mexican food; their unique menu celebrates the flavors of Mexico while putting a fun spin on your tried and true favorites. Their coconut lemongrass ceviche is a clever combination of the anticipated shrimp, cucumber, tomato, red onion, cilantro and Fresno chili. The addition of lemongrass provides that citrus flavor that you’ve come to expect while the coconut provides an additional layer of flavor and slight sweetness. The creamy texture with the biting crunch of the red onion and clean flavors of cucumber provide a light and distinctly new flavor of this clever concoction.
Hula’s Modern Tiki
7213 E. 1st Ave.| Scottsdale| 480.970.4852 We love how Hula’s represents a simpler and classier time in our history and how they have crafted their menu, food and beverage alike, to reflect the classic flavors of the 50’s and 60’s with modern elevations here and there. The fusion of Polynesian and American flavors is unique and beloved by patrons. Their Hawaiian ceviche takes on a new flavor with the incorporation of coconut milk, adding a touch of sweetness to the fresh white fish, citrus juices, chili, cilantro, and garlic. The end result is a sturdier ceviche than you might find at other spots, with the majority of the juices being absorbed into the white fish. The special won ton chips served alongside your ceviche provide an additional texture contrast, making this a dish you won’t soon forget.
Salt & Lime
9397 E. Shea Blvd.| Scottsdale| 480.661.5463
Salt & Lime is an easy hot spot for refreshing margaritas and killer happy hour deals, but one glance at their modern interpretations on Mexican classics will keep you coming back for more. You’ll find a healthy mix of classic dishes, new interpretations and a merging of the two creating a menu that is approachable for any diner. Their ceviche is representative of their individualistic take on the cuisine. While most ceviche’s focus only on one protein, the dish here is a succession of shrimp, scallops and snapper amping up the flavor in just the base of the dish. Add in the requisite cucumber, poblano peppers, onions, tomato, avocado, cilantro and lime and you’ll find that the slightly sweet and briny flavors of the proteins marry perfectly with the base marinade.
SumoMaya
6560 N. Scottsdale Road| Scottsdale| 480.397.9520 SumoMaya somehow seamlessly melds Mexican and Asian cuisines into something that just makes sense. These distinctly different flavor combinations easily create new bold favorites that you will be craving for days to come. If you are seeking out some serious ceviche diversity, you’ll be pleased to find that they have six different amalgamations here. You can go traditional-ish with their Mexican shrimp cocktail with a base of citrus and tomato broth. If you’re looking for something a little different you can try their hamachi tiradito which unites the flavors of yuzu, truffle oil, green apple, micro shiso, and ikura. The sourness of the yuzu and apple parlay into the heady flavor of the truffle creating a very special dish. There is no room for boredom with the choices here.
This article was originally featured in the May 2016 issue of So Scottsdale Magazine, where Taryn Jeffries is a monthly contributor.
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