Azul Latin Kitchen: California-Style Mexican Dining in South Lake Tahoe (Review)

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When searching for South Lake Tahoe restaurants, specifically ones in or near Heavenly Village, Azul Latin Kitchen is often at or near the top of the search results. It’s for good reason, as Azul has some of the best food in the area.

In touristy-heavy destinations such as Tahoe and Heavenly Village, some restaurants tend to rest on their laurels as it relates to food quality and service, heavily relying on the ever revolving door of fresh customers, oblivious to their reputations.

Azul Latin Kitchen stands out from that pack by providing not only friendly, prompt service, but tasty Mexican and South and Central American cuisine as well. Since opening in 2014, Azul has remained a favorite amongst tourists and locals alike.

In this light-hearted review of Azul Latin Kitchen, I’m going to share my wife and I’s dining experience, as well as share photos of the dishes and drinks we tried and what we thought of them. Let’s get into it!

Location and Parking

Azul Latin Kitchen is located in South Lake Tahoe, near the California/Nevada border and nestled within the Heavenly Village complex, along the sidewalk facing Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Since this is the main road going through Tahoe, you can’t miss it.

Parking can be found in the Heavenly Village garage (paid), behind Village Center at the corner of Heavenly Way and Montreal Road (paid), or within Village Center itself (free). Village Center offers free two-hour parking if you’re shopping or dining there, but there isn’t anybody checking. As long as you don’t surpass the two-hour limit, you’ll be fine.

Azul Latin Kitchen Menu Review

This was our second time dining at Azul. Our first time was during the covid pandemic, so things were chaotic. They were only offering outside dining, which created a substantial wait list. This time around, though, we were seated right away (we opted for a seat outside since the weather was pleasant).

Our waitress was at our table within minutes to take our drink order. Throughout the service she was attentive, friendly, conversational, and prompt. This is consistent with the incredible service we received on our first visit and from what other reviewers have said.

Cocktails

Tropic Smoke - $15

We each ordered tequila and mezcal-based cocktails. The Tropic Smoke was my wife’s drink. It’s made with an espadin mezcal, freshly squeezed lime, pineapple juice, organic agave nectar and a dash of angostura bitters with a tajin rim.

This cocktail leans into the mezcal without letting it steal the show. The smokiness is there, but subtle, and allowed to dance around the citrus and sweetness rather than dominate. It’s a fun sipper, with the tajin rim giving it a kick which ties the flavors together nicely.

Jalapeño Y Mas - $17

I ordered the Jalapeño Y Mas. It’s made with a lalo blanco tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice, organic agave nectar, and roasted jalapeño with a fresh lime garnish. The menu photo showed a salted rim, but I didn’t receive that.

You can expect a solid kick from the jalapeño, as it isn’t shy about bringing the heat, but it never feels like it’s trying to drive you away. It’s well-balanced and smoked, wrapped in a crisp layer of lime and agave to soften the edges. It’s a cocktail that whispers “spice”, rather than shouting it.

Starters

Queso Fundido - $13

As our starter, we ordered their queso fundido. You receive a handful of warm tortilla chips, served alongside a sizzling cast-iron skillet of oaxaca, jack, and cheddar cheeses and pickled peppers.

As stated above, your queso comes out sizzling, literally, with a molten blend of cheeses resembling pure comfort in skillet form. It’s gooey, rich, and designed for scooping. The kind of starter that makes you immediately regret your promise to share.

The flavor leans buttery and mild at first, then deepens as it cools, showing off just enough salt and smokiness to keep you diving back in. That said, the texture leans a bit looser than the traditional, ultra-stretchy queso fundido you might expect.

Overall, it’s a satisfying, table-pleasing start to your meal. I wouldn’t consider it a grand slam in terms of queso dips, but absolutely the kind of dish that disappears from the table faster than anyone would care to admit.

Main Dishes

Enchilada Classico Skillet - $24 (Plus another $1 for both red and green sauces)

For her entree, my wife ordered the enchilada classico skillet. In this sizzling skillet, you receive a combination of jack and oaxaca cheeses layered with corn tortillas, topped with sour cream and served with house rice, black beans, and chopped cilantro.

You can choose your protein and sauces. My wife went with the combination of red and green enchilada sauces ($1 extra for both) and for her protein, she chose shredded beef.

The beef is tender and well-seasoned, pulling apart rather easily. It compliments the sauces nicely without competing with them. The cheeses stretch and meld with the sauce, binding everything together in that pleasing hot-cheese-sauce-blanket way you want from an enchilada skillet.

Texture wise, the edges crisp just a bit against the hot dish, giving occasional crunchy contrast to the soft tortillas inside. Paired with sides of rice and beans, it feels like the kind of dish that’s hearty without being overdone. It’s a well-balanced, flavorful twist on the classic enchilada skillet.

Chipotle Tacos (1 chicken and 1 shredded beef) with side of rice and beans - $6.75 (per taco) + $5.50 for sides

For my entree, I ordered the chipotle taco, which is ordered and served a la cart. You get your choice of protein, which can be roasted chicken, carnitas pork, shredded beef, veggie chili or seasoned sweet potatoes.

I ordered two. One with roasted chicken and another with shredded beef, along with a side of their house-made beans and rice. The tacos came smothered in a spicy chipotle sauce and topped with cabbage, chopped onions (I left them off), queso fresco and cilantro.

Your protein comes nestled in warm tortillas and dressed with a chipotle sauce that adds a smokey bite without being overwhelming. The chicken is flavorful with gentle char marks and the shredded beef is tender and well-seasoned. Between the two, I favored the beef.

The chipotle sauces ties everything together, adding a mellow heat and silky texture without masking the individual components. Taken together, the dish feels satisfying and thoughtfully constructed. These tacos are proof that Azul knows how to deliver on flavor without turning things overly fussy or heavy.

Dessert

House-Made Churro - $10

One simply cannot come to Azul Latin Kitchen and not order their delicious house-made churros for dessert. They arrive crisp and golden, dusted generously in cinnamon sugar so that each bite crackles with sweetness.

They’re served warm, which makes the contrast between the crunchy exterior and soft, pillow-y inside all the more satisfying. The accompanying chocolate sauce is rich and smooth, but not overly sweet, offering a bittersweet counterpoint to the churro’s sugary coat.

The portion is generous enough to share (though you may not want to) and they hit that nostalgic dessert note without feeling overdone. While not groundbreaking, Azul nails the execution of the basics - warmth, cinnamon-kissed and crisp. The perfect end to your meal.

Final Thoughts

All told, I highly recommend Azul Latin Kitchen to anyone traveling to South Lake Tahoe. The lake is busting at the seems with many wonderful restaurants, but I feel Azul stands out from most casual dining options. Service is fantastic, food is flavorful and the atmosphere is top notch.

Its Heavenly Village location alone would bring in plenty of customers without having to worry too much about the top marks mentioned above. Azul, however, defies that and seemingly aims to provide its guests a five-star experience.

If you’ll be in the south lake area for more than just a day, I suggest giving their sister restaurant, Base Camp Pizza (also located within Heavenly Village) a try. They’re both owned by the same restaurant group - and it shows. If you decide to try either one, be sure to tell me about your experience in the comments below!