Scratch-made chilaquiles and waffles in a laid-back Flagstaff plaza spot
Madrez Cafè is a small, easy-to-miss breakfast-and-lunch spot tucked into a Flagstaff shopping plaza on East Route 66 — the kind of place regulars know about and everyone else stumbles into by accident. With a 4.6 rating across nearly 900 Google reviews, it's earned a loyal following for scratch-made plates and a laid-back, order-at-the-counter setup where you can watch your food cooked at the bar or grab a table.
Chilaquiles are the clear favorite here — the chorizo version comes with a real kick, and the carnitas take gets consistent praise for its crispy sautéed chips and well-balanced heat. Waffles are another standout, whether topped with fresh fruit and yogurt or made savory with bacon and fried eggs. Reviewers also call out the pickled onions and the unique artwork on the walls, which gives the small space a bit of local character.
It's not a polished sit-down experience — service can run quiet and a few visitors have found portions on the smaller side — but for a solid breakfast on the way through Flagstaff, about 80 miles south of the South Rim, it's worth the stop.
924 reviews
4 months ago
Came to eat here while spectating the HISTORIC Cocodona 250! Food was excellent, however it was awkwardly silent the whole time in there, we got zip for a greeting/didn’t feel welcome, had to decide our tip up front, and for veggie options the side is beans with meat in it. I asked if we could have something else like potatoes and were denied. A little music and a smile at least would have made things better.
3 months ago
Staff recommended the chorizo chilaquiles for breakfast and they were excellent. Nice and fresh, served with a smile. Also liked the salted caramel latte. Glad Google recommended this stop on my way home!
7 months ago
We love this restaurant and the owners! Friendly, always accommodating and always serving incredible food! This time we had a savory waffle with maple syrup on the side. Fluffy waffle, sweet as ever then topped with crispy bacon and two perfectly fried eggs! The other dish was carnitas chilaquiles. Incredible flavor on both the carnitas cook and the crispy sautéed chips. Great flavors, just the right level of heat and again great fried eggs! See you soon
7 months ago
Very cute place. Artwork was unique and made it a great experience. Order and find a seat. You can watch them cook your meal at the bar or sit at a table. First come first serve. Chorizo chilaquiles were my favorite! Great pickled onion too. Yumm
a year ago
A delicious locally owned spot to check out! We stopped by on a recent weekend trip to Flagstaff and the food was amazing. The wait times for the food were short, the restaurant felt welcoming and was clean, plus they feature art work on local artists on their walls. Pricing wasn't bad, you can spend a similar amount at a fast food place and the food portions are just the right size. Several of us ordered the Birria tacos, and man were they good! I like that they came with different sauces to dip them into and also came with some cut up onions if you want to add them. The breakfast bagel & breakfast burrito were also a big hit. A family member had also ordered the farm skillet which was bigger than expected. I'd stop by this spot again when in the area!