Ahwatukee staple Los Taquitos makes Food Network premiere

For restaurants craving a big boost, all they need is a little help from Guy Fieri.

Ahwatukee's own Los Taquitos, 4747 E. Elliot Road, made its cable television premiere on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" Monday night, and the five Ochoa sisters who own the restaurant said the response has been phenomenal.

"We noticed a pickup in business right after we filmed," Adriana Ochoa said. "Just from having our name on their Web site we saw an increase in business, and then from Monday it was double."

The restaurant arranged a viewing party for its customers at Bleachers Sports Grill, serving tacos from the featured restaurant.

Los Taquitos was featured in part for just that - its traditional Mexican street-style tacos, which host Guy Fieri, a self-proclaimed taco connoisseur, referred to as "one of the best" tacos he's ever had.

The specialty items at Los Taquitos include carne asada, carnitas and bombero sauce, the last of which Adriana Ochoa said they can put on almost any dish.

Fieri, winner of the cable channel's "The Next Food Network Star" competition in 2006 and one of its most recognizable faces, uses his show as a vehicle to tour the country in search of "classic greasy spoon" spots.

The episode featuring Los Taquitos, titled "All over the Map," is schedule to air again locally on July 10 at 9 p.m., July 11 at midnight, and July 12 at 3 p.m. on the Food Network flagship station.

If you're hungry for tacos and want to check out the Los Taquitos menu, be prepared for crowds.

"It was so crazy in here (Tuesday). Now it's just a steady flow," Rosie Ochoa said. "They told us, they're like, ‘You'll see, it's going to be a big difference,' and let me tell ya, it was."

For more information, call Los Taquitos at (480) 753-4370 or go online to www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives.