What Is Catering?
Catering is the art of preparing and serving food and drinks to larger groups of people, typically at events, gatherings, or celebrations. While the concept dates back to ancient times – when meals were simpler – the core idea has always remained the same: a few prepare, many enjoy.
At Backyard Taco, catering is more than a service, it’s part of our story. Voted one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Valley for over a decade (and home to the best taco), we proudly bring the same bold, mesquite-grilled flavors from our restaurant to your event.
In fact, Backyard Taco was born from catering. Our founders, Ruben and Marisela Alvarez, started out by firing up their al carbon grill in their backyard, serving up carne asada and pollo asado tacos to friends and family. What started as backyard catering quickly grew into the Mexcellent movement we know today.
Why Do We Cater?
At Backyard Taco, we cater because it’s what our guests want. And who are we to keep all this Mexcellence only for those who can dine in? Whether it’s an office feeding their team during a meeting, a loving spouse planning a 50th birthday celebration, or a bride and groom looking for authentic tacos after their wedding ceremony, Backyard Taco is here to help.
We’ve catered events for intimate groups of 10 and large on-site gatherings of over 500. No matter the size, we take pride in delivering delicious, fresh Mexican catering every single time.
Our team loves rising to meet the needs of each event. From accommodating dietary restrictions to working in tight spaces or handling full-service setups with servers and bussers, we do it all. We never want to say no to a request, and we go the extra mile to make sure every guest is satisfied.
At the heart of it, we love taking care of our Backyard Taco familia and serving the best Mexican food in the Valley: fresh, flavorful, and always made with love.
What We’re Doing Next!?
Variety is the spice of life, or so people say, and here at Backyard Taco, we couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’re adding more variety to our catering menu. We’re introducing new al carbon entrée options through our expanded Mexcellent catering bars, designed to bring something special to events of every shape and size.
No matter which option you choose, you’ll get to pick from one of our signature meats. Choose from birria (shredded beef), al pastor (marinated pork), pollo asada (grilled chicken), or the fan-favorite carne asada (grilled steak). Each meat comes with its classic toppings, like chopped cabbage and onion for pollo and carne asada, or chopped cilantro and onion for birria and al pastor. And don’t worry, our famous refried beans are always included, and they’re flavorful enough to stand on their own.
We want to help you take your event to the next level while staying within your budget and meeting the dietary needs of every guest. Whether you need vegetarian options, gluten-friendly items, or just a flexible catering package that satisfies a range of appetites, Backyard Taco is ready to deliver. That’s why we created five new flavorful catering bars to choose from.
The Original With a Twist: The Mexcellent Taco Bars
We’ve perfected the taco bar, and our Mexcellent Taco Bar proves it. Each bar includes your choice of tortillas – corn, flour, or a mix of both – and your choice of any or all of our four signature meats. These include birria (shredded beef), al pastor (pork), pollo asada (chicken), and carne asada (grilled steak). Every taco bar also comes with its classic toppings, grilled onions, jalapeños, and more.
But that’s just the beginning. You’ll also get our legendary refried beans, savory Mexican rice, warmed tortilla chips, and our house-made chip salsa. To top it off, we include a full salsa bar portioned to your group size. That means guacamole, our fire-roasted tatemada salsa, limes, and more to build your perfect taco. Cheese and sour cream are available as optional add-ons if you want to make it even more Mexcellent.
To better meet different needs and budgets, we’ve introduced new sizing options with two- and three-taco bars. This allows you to customize based on appetite or crowd size. Maybe three tacos feels like too much for lunch, or you’ve got kids in the group who might only want one. We’ve also increased the portion sizes of meat, beans, and rice based on customer feedback, because we know that more food means more smiles.
Our Mexcellent Taco Bar is a crowd-pleaser and one of the most complete taco bar catering options available. We’re excited to keep serving it to all of you taco lovers, with a little extra variety to make it just right for your event.
The New: The Mexcellent Tostada Bars
Whether you call it a tostada or a vampiro, when you order from Backyard Taco, you’re getting a crispy grilled tostada shell stacked with bold, authentic flavors. In our restaurants, we melt cheese directly onto the shell before piling on your favorite meats and toppings. For catering, we’ve made a few small adjustments to give you and your guests more flexibility.
Each catering tostada bar comes with perfectly sized shells and all the fixings to build your own. Cheese is provided on the side, so guests can add as much or as little as they like. This makes it a great choice for vegetarians or anyone who prefers to skip the dairy. Start by spreading on our refried beans, then top with a meat of your choice like pollo asada (grilled chicken) or birria (shredded beef). Add a sprinkle of cheese, chopped cilantro or cabbage and onion, and finish it with your favorites from the salsa bar.
From creamy guacamole to spicy jalapeño and birria salsas, every tostada can be made just the way you like it. You can even chop up the grilled onions and jalapeños we provide and sprinkle them on top. It’s a fun and interactive way to enjoy Mexican catering that’s full of flavor and creativity.
Our tostada bars are a great value, starting at under $12 per person for one tostada loaded with meat, beans, rice, chips, salsa, grilled vegetables, and access to the full salsa bar. For larger appetites, you can add a second tostada for less than $5 more per person. That’s a better deal than ordering them individually from any of our six East Valley locations.
Whether you choose the one or two tostada option, this bar brings a fresh twist to event catering and is sure to impress with every crunchy, flavorful bite.
We’re Not Loca, But You Will Be for Our Papa Loca Bar
If you’re a true Backyard Taco fan, you already know that our tacos and burritos are crowd favorites. But there’s one item that deserves the spotlight: our Papa Loca. This bold and hearty dish is our take on the ultimate loaded potato, and now you can enjoy it as part of your next event with our new Papa Loca Catering Bar.
Why is it so special? Potatoes are one of the most satisfying foods on the planet, and we treat them with the respect they deserve. We start by cooking and cooling the potatoes, then mashing them with butter for rich flavor. Just before your order is prepped, we mix in sour cream and layer the mixture into a pan. A generous layer of shredded cheese is added on top and baked until perfectly golden.
Once the base is ready, we serve it with your choice of meat, like carne asada or our sweet and savory al pastor. From there, guests can top their potato creations with chopped cabbage, cilantro, onion, grilled onions, jalapeños, and anything else from our full salsa bar. We also include our signature refried beans, warm tortilla chips, and secret chip salsa for dipping or pairing with the dish.
The Papa Loca Bar is ideal for hungry crowds, picky eaters, or anyone who loves comfort food with a flavorful twist. It’s also a great option for events with guests who may not be familiar with traditional Mexican dishes. After all, who could say no to buttery potatoes topped with cheese, salsa, and savory grilled meat?
You can also add the Papa Loca Bar as a side to your taco bar or burrito trays. Just be sure to adjust your headcount accordingly, this side is so filling it can easily stretch to feed extra guests.
The Papa Loca is already a Backyard Taco favorite in our restaurants. Now, it’s ready to be the star of your next event with the best Mexican catering in the Valley.
We Still Have More Options
They may not be new, but these menu items are just as popular and crave-worthy as ever. Our burrito trays are a go-to for burrito lovers and perfect for events where you need a convenient, grab-and-go option. Each tray includes your choice of burritos, chips, and salsa to keep everyone full and happy.
Speaking of convenience, our two- and three-taco boxes and burrito boxes are great for offices, school events, or team lunches. These pre-packed boxes are ideal for guests or employees to take back to their desks or enjoy on the move. Each box includes chips and your choice of beans or salsa, and you can also request our individually packed guacamole or tatemada salsa for extra flavor. Customize your tacos or burritos with cheese and sour cream to make them your own.
And don’t forget about one of our all-time fan favorites, the Mexcellent Family Packs. These include your choice of one or two meats, your preferred tortillas, all the taco toppings, and our signature grilled onions and jalapeños. Family Packs work great as a standalone meal or as an add-on to any of our catering bars.
With all of these options, there’s no shortage of delicious ways to feed your crew. From burrito trays to family-style taco spreads, Backyard Taco catering makes it easy to keep everyone satisfied with fresh, flavorful, and flexible Mexican food.
Let Us Cater Your Next Fiesta
We could talk all day about our Mexican catering options, and we haven’t even mentioned everything. We also offer Aguas Frescas by the gallon (Horchata, Limonada, Jamaica – mix and match!) and creamy flan for dessert.
But the best way to experience it is to try it for yourself.
Ready to Order? Place Your Catering Order Here
Need Help or Want to Customize Your Order? Email Us
Let Backyard Taco bring the flavor to your next fiesta. From taco bars to Papa Loca potatoes, we’ve got the goods to feed your whole crew.
Dr. Tyler loves tacos! He is one of the owners of Backyard Taco, and can sometimes be found moonlighting there at night or on the weekends.
Dr. Tyler Robison is an alum of Mesa’s Mountain View High School. He graduted from Brigham Young University before being accepted to the “Top Ten-nationally ranked” University of Louisville in Kentucky, where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Medicine and a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. He graduated with honors in the top ten percent of his class. Dr. Robison continued at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, where he received a second master’s degree in dental science and his orthodontic certification.
Dr. Tyler enjoys serving in his community. He is a provider for the Smile Back Foundation, which offers scholarships for free dental treatment to underprivileged East Valley students. He is also a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and served during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008.
Dr. Tyler Robison’s favorite pastimes include spending time with his family on the lake, at the beach, or on the slopes. He is an avid and crazy snowboarder! He has three incredible sons and one sweet daughter: Caden, Jace, Crew, and Bliss.
