“The best 23 miles of Mexican food.”
Guests to Tucson could have heard that phrase — or seen the little purple signal that carries that message whereas exploring downtown Tucson. The town’s Mexican meals scene has ample credibility to again up that assertion.
Reading: Best mexican food in tucson
Located 70 miles north of the Mexican border, Tucson is house to a number of the greatest Sonoran-style Mexican meals within the nation. And it isn’t exhausting to seek out these eating places. A number of are located shut collectively — head south of Fourth, Sixth and twelfth avenues to seek out clusters of top-notch Mexican eating places.
Listed here are eight favorites to take a look at — all with the stamp of approval of Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic’s eating critic, who spent seven years because the meals author for the Arizona Day by day Star in Tucson.
Tucson highway journey:Listed here are the perfect issues to do on Mount Lemmon
Table of Contents
El Guero Canelo

Think about a cafeteria with all-you-can-eat Mexican meals. That’s the texture of El Guero Canelo, one of many metropolis’s most well-known quick meals type Mexican eating places. The Sonoran Canine is a favourite right here. Topped with bacon, beans, onions, mayo, mustard, tomato and jalapeños, it’s a Tucson staple. If you happen to’re not feeling a scorching canine, strive one — or perhaps even a number of — of the tacos. Every comes with cabbage on the facet and you may cease by the salsa bar for pico de gallo, cucumbers, guacamole, salsa and roasted jalapeños. The restaurant gained a 2018 America’s Classics award from the James Beard Basis.
Particulars: Three Tucson places, takeoutfood.greatest.
Extra to do in Tucson:Best hikes, bike rides and outside actions
Mi Nidito Restaurant

Also read: Best food plots for deer
Mi Nidito’s partitions are lined with pictures of well-known individuals who have made a go to to this Tucson mainstay. President Invoice Clinton dined right here in 1992 and If you happen to’re seeking to sum up the restaurant on one plate, order the El Presidente meal. It’s a plate loaded with all of the restaurant’s favorites: a bean tostada, birria taco, chile relleno, rooster enchilada and beef tamale. The restaurant’s virtually at all times jam packed, so be ready for a wait.
Particulars: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 1813 S. Fourth Ave., Tucson. 520-622-5081, takeoutfood.greatest.
I do not love Eegee’s: I’d get banned from Tucson, however I’ve to say it. This is why
El Charro Café

Began in 1922, this restaurant is believed to be the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant run constantly by the identical household. Head to the historic downtown location for a style of the previous. The restaurant’s founder, Monica Flin, is alleged to have invented the chimichanga. The grilled rooster, steak or shrimp parillada burros — with applewood bacon, caramelized onions and chile verde — may be served chimichanga type or enchilada type. Or strive the carne seca, which Flin stated is solar dried on the rooftop of the restaurant.
Particulars: Three Tucson places, takeoutfood.greatest.
Seis Kitchen
This restaurant stands out for its breakfast. Beginning at 8 a.m., diners can snag certainly one of Seis’ well-liked burritos which — along with containing potatoes, eggs and cheese — may be ordered with all the pieces from avocado and inexperienced chile to steak and chorizo. Strive the Seis sauce, the joint’s signature housemade chipotle crema. Thirsty? Order a “cochata,” which is a coffee and horchata blended drink. Seis has three locations, including one in the historic Mercado San Agustin Plaza.
Details: Three Tucson locations, takeoutfood.best.
Los Tacos Apson

You get whiffs of fresh grilled carne asada from the moment you park your car at this outdoor taco stand with plenty of seating. It’s a prime location on a summer evening or any day during Tucson’s lovely winters. Try the taco apson, served with carne asada, queso, chile verde, bacon, onions and green chile. Or order a rasurado taco with tender shaved rib meat cooked to perfection on a charcoal grill.
Also read: Best mexican restaurant in sacramento
Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. 3501 S. 12th Ave., Tucson. 520-670-1248, takeoutfood.best.
Taqueria Pico de Gallo

This bright yellow taco restaurant might be the sunniest building on the block. Tortillas are made fresh daily at 5 a.m. In harmony with the restaurant’s name, the pico de gallo is chopped fresh right in front of you, too. Fish and shrimp platters hit the spot: They include three fried fish or shrimp tacos, rice, beans and a drink. These seafood tacos been popular for 18 years.
Details: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. 2618 S. Sixth Ave., Tucson. 520-623-8775.
Rollies Mexican Patio

The food is good and the aesthetics might be even better, with splats of turquoise and pink — and even a hot pink floor. Snap a selfie in front of the llama mural outside. All beauty points aside, the restaurant offers “Rollie” tacos — guests can order chicken or potatoes wrapped in a corn tortilla and topped with either the spicy house queso sauce or the brothy enchilada red sauce. Tucson Weekly and the Arizona Daily Star said Rollies had the city’s best birria in 2020, so add that to your street taco list.
Details: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and takeoutfood.bested Wednesdays and Sundays. 4573 S. 12th Ave., Tucson. 520-300-6289, takeoutfood.best.
El Berraco Mariscos

El Berraco Mariscos creates an immersive eating expertise the place diners really feel like they’re in a submarine. Submarine components, blueprints from drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s submarine and duplicate scuba diving helmets are scattered all through the restaurant. What else makes El Berraco Mariscos totally different? The seafood restaurant blends flavors from Central America, Mexico and South America for a steadiness of candy and spicy. La Cathedral is octopus imported from Mexico, fried and served with housemade orange and black salsa, mango, avocado, scallops, shrimp and tuna.
Particulars: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays. 2960 N. First Ave., Tucson. 520-620-9828, takeoutfood.greatest.
Attain the reporter at takeoutfood.greatest@gmail.com. Observe her on Instagram @sofia.krusmark.
Help native journalism. Subscribe to takeoutfood.greatest at present.
Also read: Best water filter under sink