This popular Mexican restaurant has moved to a new Phoenix location. Here’s what to know Priscilla Totiyapungprasert The Republic | azcentral.com
Irma’s Kitchen has relocated to bigger, shinier digs, but it hasn’t gone far.
The Mexican restaurant in the Grand Avenue Arts District closed its original location Nov. 28 and has moved into a more spacious location one block down on the northwest corner of 16th Avenue and Roosevelt Street.
The restaurant is located in the eastern wing of the former National Guard armory.
Along with more seating, Irma’s Kitchen also has a larger parking lot, serves alcoholic beverages and will host mariachi bands on select days. The original menu items, such as the restaurant’s best-selling burritos and huevos rancheros, will remain, confirmed owner Irma López.
While the new Irma’s Kitchen is already open, the grand opening is planned for Friday, Dec. 13. The restaurant will have live music, a raffle and half-price happy hour drinks.
Who is the Irma behind Irma’s Kitchen? “This is a big change for us," López said with excitement on the phone.
In 2015, López opened her first restaurant, Irma’s Kitchen, at 906 N. 15th Avenue, where it became a popular lunch sit-down and pick-up spot for nearby workers, including government employees.
Born in Guatemala City, López has lived in Phoenix for about 40 years. While she has had various jobs over the decades, it was her dream to one day own a restaurant, she said.
“I came here with one pair of shoes, one pair of pants, one shirt," López recalled. “I used to wash my clothes at night to wear the next day."
Before opening her own business, López worked as a dishwasher and then in the construction industry as a roofer, a trade she learned from her husband.
López later worked in Phoenix Elementary School District where she taught a Success for All program, tutored non-English speaking students and did translation at teacher conferences.
Eventually, she and her husband opened Irma’s Roofing, which her husband still runs today, she said.
But she’s 62 now and as she got older, she couldn’t work up on the roof anymore, López explained. She saw this as an opportunity to start Irma’s Kitchen, serving food that tastes “homemade," she described.
What’s on the menu at Irma’s Kitchen Cocktails and happy hour are a new addition at Irma’s Kitchen. Irma’s Kitchen serves a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, including:
Huevos rancheros with red or green sauce, served with beans and tortilla ($6.25). Shredded beef, carne asada and chicken burritos ($6.50 each). Red beef tamale, enchilada-style, with one taco or cheese enchilada, served with rice and beans ($6.25). López has plans to later add more seafood options including ceviche, she said.
The alcohol menu features Hot Horchata with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire ($5) and Coo Coo Berry Loca Lemonade with vodka, fresh berries and jalapeño ($5).
Leaving the original Irma’s Kitchen building meant López also had to leave behind her guest book — the green walls where customers had scrawled their names and notes. Her new walls are bare of scribbles, but she wants to designate one section where customers can still leave their mark.
