A trip to Tucson wouldn’t be complete with at least four or five meals at a Mexican restaurant. The Mexican food in Tucson is primarily Sonoran style,(which is a northern state in Mexico). Sonoran style to me means, a little spicier than most, maybe a little heavier such as in the chimichanga or the burro which is a bigger version of the burrito and it is usually not smothered in sauce to the point where its unrecognizable. It also has a bit of influence from the Native American tribes in the area. In recent years Tucson has seen a little more of blending of other regions of Mexican cuisine such as the street taco and tortas. Being born here makes me a little bias, but I’m very certain you’ll be hard pressed to find better Mexican food anywhere in America.
From the food truck selling Sonoran hotdogs to the countries oldest family owned Mexican restaurant (El Charro), you’ll be able to find a favorite spot in no time. I wish I could write about every single Mexican restaurant in town but I did a quick Yellow Pages search and my computer froze at 376 restaurants and that was only up to the “J’s”! Each one has its own take on traditional dishes such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas and tamales, etc.. In Tucson the cheese crisp is a traditional appetizer that some might call a Mexican pizza. A large flour tortilla is either fried or buttered and placed under the broiler , then cheeses are added along with green chili’s or spicy meats and salsa’s. Another Tucson original is Chili Verde or green chili. It can be served in a burrito or as a dish accompanied with rice and beans and several tortillas. Green chili is an amazing blend of chuck roast, green chilis and other spices that has been slowly cooked for hours. I wrote about it here .
There are an abundance of food apps that list favorite Mexican restaurants in Tucson. While I do visit the more popular well established restaurants I tend to eat in places that serve more homestyle cuisine and have a local loyal following. Not only do I find the prices better I find a little more love is placed into each dish. Also many of these smaller places put their own signature in their salsa bars, where I’m able to sample hot sauce recipes that have been in families for generations. If you are new to Sonoran style Mexican food I would suggest getting a combination plate that is offered at just about every restaurant. Then you’ll be able to sample a taco or an enchilada and a tostada, and trade off with your dining companions so each of you can find a favorite or two! Below I’m going to list some of the old favorite restaurants (a few may be considered touristy) and smaller lesser knows, except by locals. I will tell you now the list will be incomplete and ever changing, but it’ll be a good place to start.
- Older or more well known Mexican restaurants.
- El Charro
- El Minuto Cafe
- Cafe Boca Cosa
- la Indita
- Mi Nidito
- Guillemo’s Double L
- Crossroads
- Casa Molina
- Rosa’s Mexican restaurant
- Seis Kitchen
- Lesser known smaller restaurants.
- Leo’s
- Juanita’s
- Quesadillas
- Bk Tacos
- El Guero Canelo
- Salsa Verde
- Taco Giro
- Nico’s, Los Betos, Filaburto’s -late night drive-thru’s
I have eaten at all of these places at one time or another, so I can recommend them to you. There are many more I could have placed on the list but one has to draw the line somewhere! I hope the list helps you to find “your spot” when you’re visiting Tucson. Remember every place has good and bad days so I hope you hit yours on a great day!
Thanks for stopping by. As always if you have any questions or comments please post them in the box below. If you do venture out to Tucson please let us know about your experience at one of its many Mexican restaurants. Until next time Boone Appétit!
