We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: providing any and all families the opportunity for a delicious meal is at the heart of what we do. Ruben and Marisela Alvarez started doing exactly that in their backyard over 15 years ago. Feeding family and friends alike, and included in those family and friends were children who ate a little less and differently than everyone else, but the end goal was still the same: to fill a belly with delicious Mexican food and hopefully put a smile on a happy little niño’s face as well.
Though all the entree items at Backyard Taco can be ordered à la carte and customized, we understand that some children eat less or might be a little more particular about what goes on their taco or inside of a perfectly wrapped burrito. It is rare you’ll see a child eat an onion, no matter how delicious adults might find it. And let’s be real, we can barely get some of the younger ones to eat lettuce, let alone the chopped cabbage that goes atop some of our Mexcellent options. Even some adults can’t finish our hefty and protein-packed burritos, so obviously, a 2nd grader just needs a smaller option.
Customizations and entree size aside, we all know kids love the opportunity to order a meal specially made for them. As for the parents, they love the chance to order something perfectly portioned and with everything included at an excellent price for their little loved one. Kids get the choice to choose between three different entrees, three different sides, and a drink included, all for under $6.
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The First Option: The Kid’s Taco Meal
The first kids’ meal option that we have available at all six of our Backyard Taco locations should come as no surprise; it is a kid’s taco meal. When ordering, children will have the option to choose between all four of our meats, from the carne asada and pollo asada to the al pastor and birria. Kids will also have the option to choose between a corn tortilla or a flour tortilla as well, and though we can assume most children would prefer their tacos plain, meaning without the vegetables or our secret red sauce on top, we will always ask the child and their parents to make sure we are giving every kid exactly what they’d like to eat.
You will always have the option to add cheese and sour cream to top a child’s taco as well. Next comes the picking of a child’s side; they will have the option to choose between refried beans or whole pinto beans with or without cheese on top, as well as our savory Mexican rice. No matter which option they choose, every kids’ meal will come with a 6-oz portion of the selected side.
Last but not least, the taco kid’s meal comes with a kid’s fountain drink of choice, and be sure to know we’ve got a great variety of Coke soda products, including HI-C and Powerade available for the children to choose from.
Every child will, of course, then have the opportunity to get anything they want from our famous and freshly stocked salsa bar. Whether they are becoming a bit more adventurous with their flavor palette and trying out guacamole and pico de gallo, or testing their spice tolerance with one of our salsas like the fire-roasted tatemada salsa or our signature green jalapeno salsa, they can sample as much as they’d like. Even for the pickiest of kids, there are still limes, cucumbers, and radishes there to nibble on. We’re all about trying new things and hope we help your kids explore foods a bit more with us here at Backyard Taco.
The Second Option: The Kid’s Bean and Cheese Burrito Meal
If you know, you know – that at Backyard Taco, we have some of the best refried beans in the Valley, and therefore have one of the best bean and cheese burritos as well, and no child should have to miss out on the opportunity to order one of these at a perfect portion size just for them. In fact, these kid’s bean and cheese burritos are so good that we cater them for school lunch meals every week all across the East Valley!
This kid’s bean and cheese burrito is the perfect size and can still be customized to your child’s liking. Not a fan of cheese yet? We won’t add any. Want to add something like rice or sour cream? Just let us know, and we’ve got you covered. And though there aren’t any kid’s carne al carbon burritos on our menu, it doesn’t mean we can’t make one for your nino as well. When ordering a kid’s bean and cheese burrito meal, simply ask your cashier to add in a scoop of any of our meats: carne asada, pollo asada, birria, or al pastor, and we will happily do it – and it only costs you a dollar or two more!
For the kid’s bean and cheese burrito meal, all children will get the opportunity to choose between the three side options, like the kid’s taco meal as well; either the refried beans, whole pinto beans, or Mexican rice can be added to make this child’s meal just a little more Mexcellent.
Got a pretty picky child? We didn’t mention it earlier, but you can also substitute any of the 6-oz sides for some chips as well, because we all know a kid that doesn’t understand that the golden orange color that comes with Mexican rice isn’t “weird,” it’s simply a sign that the rice is one packed full of flavor.
The Third Option: The Kids’ Quesadilla Meal
At Backyard Taco, we know a thing or two about children and what you, the parents, and the kids both like – something tasty, handheld, and that doesn’t need much cutting to make it kid-friendly. So instead of offering our regular sized quesadillas as a part of the kids’ menu, we take two taco-sized flour tortillas, add in Monterey Jack cheese, and then fold them in half before warming them on our flat top to melt the cheese and perfectly crisp the tortilla.
These perfectly kid-sized cheese quesadillas are then served with your option of any of the 6-oz sides: refried beans, whole pinto beans, Mexican rice, or some perfectly warmed chips as well.
Then this, like every other kids’ meal at Backyard Taco, will come with a kid’s cup for a fountain drink. But we all know that some kids love our freshly made aguas frescas. With Horchata, Limonada, and Jamaica available at every Backyard location in the valley, it’s a simple request and only a 50-cent add-on to swap out the soda for one of these delicious Mexican beverages.
The Kid’s Quesadilla Meal is simple, satisfying, and fun. It keeps parents happy with the right portion size and keeps kids happy with a plate they can truly call their own.
And Then There Was Dessert
When I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, or someone said once upon a time. In Arizona, we know it’s hotter than most other states and that if it’s ever too cold for ice cream, it doesn’t happen often in the Phoenix Valley of the Sun. Regardless, we offer ice cream cones all year long, and one specially sized for children to add on for only $1 with any kid’s meal. Use it as the perfect piece of leverage to get your child to finish their meal or as a congratulations on a job well done.
Beyond the cones, we’ve got a variety of paletas – Mexican popsicles available at all of our locations. The paletas are an excellent size for children and adults alike and come in a variety of flavors like bubble gum, strawberry, cookies and cream, and more. At less than $3 a popsicle, they’re a great treat for any kid to finish off their Mexcellent kids’ meal.
Whether it is ice cream or a paleta, dessert turns dinner into a memory. It is a simple way to give kids a little extra joy and to keep family meals at Backyard Taco something everyone looks forward to.
Every Backyard Taco Location Is Child-Friendly
No matter the age, we absolutely adore children with their smiling faces and high-pitched giggles, so we do our best to make you and your family feel welcome. From spacious dining rooms with plenty of high chairs available to the fun and lively music playing across our restaurants, we love seeing your children dance around or sit and show their artistic skills by coloring one of our kids’ coloring pages.
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It fills our hearts with joy to know we have a restaurant where families can come and enjoy a meal together, with options for everyone available. From the variety of sodas and aguas frescas to the adult entrees and kids’ meals, and then of course the dessert, we will forever take pride in saying there is something for everyone at Backyard Taco, all children included.
PS: Yes, we know about ordering a kids’ meal for an adult hack, and we fully support it. After all, they are a perfectly portioned and flavorful meal with a drink. We get it. Come enjoy BYT familia.
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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.
