Old Town Scottsdale just got a whole lot more fun on weekend mornings. Picture a sun-drenched patio, a cold margarita, and a plate of tacos that makes you wonder why you ever ate breakfast any other way. Diego Pops, the modern Mexican restaurant that’s been turning heads and emptying margarita glasses along Scottsdale Road, has launched a weekend brunch that’s every bit as bold and vibrant as the restaurant itself. Tacos for breakfast? Yes. A cocktail served in a baby coconut? Not even a question.
The story behind Diego Pops starts somewhere far more glamorous than a strip of Scottsdale Road. The restaurant draws its soul from taco and tequila-fueled days on the beaches of the Yucatan, and that vacation-brain energy never quite left the building. It shows up in the open kitchen, in the bold colors, in the way the whole place feels like it’s always in the middle of a good time. The space itself is rooted in something real: Diego Pops lives inside the walls of a historic Southwestern pottery shop, which gives it a warmth and character that no amount of interior design budget can fake. Add in a sprawling outdoor patio made for sunny Arizona mornings and playful décor that makes you want to pull out your phone for a photo before you’ve even sat down, and you will start to understand why this place has a big following.
Newly launched Saturday and Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the menu hits like Diego Pops at its very best: made-from-scratch, full of personality, and not remotely interested in playing it safe. The Papas Locas Breakfast is a full commitment, piled with eggs, potatoes, creamy beans, your choice of protein, Oaxaca cheese, sour cream, and salsa. The Breakfast Burrito is the one you’ll be thinking about on Monday, loaded with eggs, bacon, tomatoes, guacamole, crispy potatoes, queso Oaxaca, and a chipotle aioli that earns its place on every single bite. Breakfast Tacos come stacked with potato, Oaxaca, and fried avocado with a side of house hash, because yes, there is a right way to do brunch tacos, and this is it.
The Avocado Toast refuses to be ordinary, arriving on griddled ciabatta with egg, smashed avocado, turkey chorizo, buttered corn, cotija, and house hash alongside. The Egg White Scramble brings the brightness, pairing egg whites with grilled chicken, corn, Oaxaca, sliced avocado, and pico for something that feels as good for you as it tastes. And the Churro French Toast? Thick brioche, dulce de leche drizzle, fresh strawberries, and a side of crispy bacon. It’s a dessert pretending to be breakfast, and nobody is complaining.
Now for the drinks. The Mangonada is pure fun in a glass: Smirnoff Tamarindo, Chinola passion fruit liqueur, fresh-squeezed lime juice, Tres Agaves nectar, and real mango puree served with a tamarindo stick for good measure. The Sundaze Coconut arrives in a literal baby coconut, packed with Los Sundays coconut tequila, coconut water, guava, and house-made sweet and sour. It is exactly as delightful as it sounds. For those who run on espresso and good decisions, the Mexpresso Martini blends Casamigos reposado, cold brew horchata, Kahlúa, and Tres Agaves nectar into something that belongs in its own category entirely. And every single day from 3 to 6 p.m., happy hour brings out the award-winning Diego Margarita made with 1800 Blanco tequila, which has a way of turning an afternoon into an evening without anyone really minding.
Diego Pops is open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to midnight. Brunch is served Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m…