CHOW SCAN Chow Scan is the Weekly’s selective guide to Tucson restaurants. Only restaurants that our reviewers recommend are included. Complete reviews are online at www.tucsonweekly.com. Dates of reviews from August 1999 to the present are included in Chow Scan. Send comments and updates to: Chow, P.O. Box 27087, Tucson, AZ 85726. These listings have no connection with Weekly advertising.
KEY PRICE RANGES $ $8 or less $ $ $8-$15 $ $ $ $15-$25 $ $ $ $ $25 and up. Prices are based on menu entrée selections, and exclude alcoholic beverages.
BOCA C 828 E. Speedway Blvd. 777-8134. Open MondayWednesday 10:30 a.m.-midnight; Thursday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sunday noon-midnight. Counter/ Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Boca offers upscale indoor versions of Tucson’s street food, and is doing tacos the right way, with lots of flavor and high-quality ingredients. Generous portions and playfully presented food are just the beginning. With a few dozen tequilas at the bar and reasonable prices, Boca is the perfect addition to the university-area restaurant scene. (10-7-10) $-$$ LA BOTANA TACO GRILL AND CANTINA C 3200 N. First Ave. 777-8801. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday noon-9 p.m. Café. Beer and Margaritas. MC, V. This little “cantina” offers big flavors and lots of fun. Build your own burrito or quesadilla by mixing and matching grilled meats, seafood and an assortment of other goodies. Seafood dishes are done well here, and dining on the patio is reminiscent of Mexican beachside spots. On weekends, margaritas are 2-for-1 all day long. They’re the perfect counter to the heat and smoke from many dishes. (1-21-10) $ LAS BRASAS TAQUERÍA C 2928 E. 22nd St. 881-6077. Open Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Counter/Beer Only. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Watch your own steak, chicken or tripas de leche sputter on the brazier grill and be deftly placed in a tortilla, taco or torta roll. The sides are fresh and zippy, and the meal’s a deal! $
FORMS OF PAYMENT V Visa MC Mastercard AMEX American Express DIS Discover DC Diner’s Club checks local checks with guarantee card and ID only debit debit cards CatCard University of Arizona CatCard. TYPE OF SERVICE Counter Quick or fast-food service, usually includes take-out. Diner Minimal table service. Café Your server is most likely working solo. Bistro Professional servers, with assistants bussing tables. Full Cover Multiple servers, with the table likely well set. Full Bar Separate bar space for drinks before and after dinner. RESTAURANT LOCATION C Central North to River Road, east to Alvernon Way, west to
Granada Avenue downtown, and south to 22nd Street. NW Northwest North of River Road, west of Campbell
Avenue. NE Northeast North of River Road, east of Campbell Avenue. E East East of Alvernon Way, south of River Road. S South South of 22nd Street. W West West of Granada Avenue, south of River Road.
MEXICAN BIRRÍA GUADALAJARA C 304 E. 22nd St. 624-8020. Open daily 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Counter/Diner/No Alcohol. Cash only. One of the best quick-stop Mexican food venues in town. The carne asada and birría burros are standouts. $
CAFÉ POCA COSA C 110 E. Pennington St. 622-6400. Open TuesdayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.10 p.m. Bistro/Full Bar. DIS, MC, V. For years, owner Suzana Davila has delighted residents and visitors alike with her Like Water for Chocolate style of Mexican food. The sauces at Café Poca Cosa are extraordinary, reflecting an intricate blend of chiles and spicing as unusual as they are delicious. Pile on the incredible puréed salsa, and try not to miss the mole and pipian. (4-1300) $$-$$$ CASA MOLINA E 6225 E. Speedway Blvd. 886-5468. Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Bistro/Café/Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. Also at 3001 N. Campbell Ave. (795-7593) and 4240 E. Grant Road (326-6663). A family operation with roots tracing back over the last five decades, Casa Molina is one of the most consistent places in town to sample true Mexican food. With an extensive menu that includes tacos, tostadas, enchiladas and chimichangas—as well as fried shrimp and hamburgers for more timid palates—Casa Molina boasts something for every taste. Children are always welcome, and the margaritas are top-flight. (8-12-99) $-$$ CHACO’S CAFE S 2027 S. Craycroft Road. 790-1828. Open MondaySaturday 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Café/No Alcohol. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Chaco’s Café feels like a small-town Arizona joint, with casual service, red checkered vinyl tablecloths and inexpensive, tasty eats. All of the Mexican standards you’d expect are offered, from green-corn tamales to shrimp fajitas. The salsa bar is a nice touch, and you can entertain yourself by reading all of the wise sayings handwritten on the walls. (7-15-10) $-$$ CLUB 21 C 2920 N. Oracle Road. 622-3092. Open Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Café/Full Bar. MC, V. Offering good Mexican food for more than 50 years, this neighborhood favorite should be considered when looking for a cool place to enjoy a margarita or a cold beer. Moderately priced meals make it a nice place for families, too. (4-22-04) $-$$
BK’S S 5118 S. 12th Ave. 295-0105. Open Sunday-Thursday 9 a.m.-midnight; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Counter/No Alcohol. MC, V. Also at 2680 N. First Ave. (207-2245). Nothing fancy, nothing grand, just a boatload of some of the best carne asada you’re ever likely to sample. A scrumptious salsa bar with lots of goodies to complement your tacos, quesadillas or caramelos (quesadillas with carne asada) is a delightful bonus, and the Sonoran hot dogs put the usual ballpark fare to shame. $
LA COCINA DE GABBY C 4825 N. First Ave. 888-2490. Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Café/Full Bar. DIS, MC, V. The food of Mexico City is the highlight at this little mom-and-pop joint; Gabby and Francisco Martinez are the mom and pop. The Mexican food here is a little different than the Sonoran food we’re used to. For example, the chile relleno plate has one stuffed with cheese, and another stuffed with ground beef. The street food of Mexico is represented by the bistec Milanese, which is tenderized, breaded beef. The house salsa stands out due to the hefty flavor of roasted chiles. There is a drive-thru menu, too, offering many of the expected Mexican-food items. (3-24-11) $-$$
BLANCO TACOS AND TEQUILA NW 2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 246. 232-1007. Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Bistro/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Another addition to the Fox restaurant empire—and the second Fox restaurant at La Encantada—is yet another winner. Excellent updated Sonoran food, crackling service, a spectacular view and a hip, young vibe make Blanco worth the foothills prices. (8-30-07) $$$-$$$$
CROSSROADS RESTAURANT DRIVE IN S 2602 S. Fourth Ave. 624-0395. Open SundayThursday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7 a.m.noon. Café/Beer and Wine. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. Crossroads has been around for decades, and when you taste the restaurant’s food, you’ll know why. Traditional Mexican fare and seafood dishes primarily featuring shrimp and filet of sole highlight the menu. The service is friendly, and if you’re in a hurry, you can get anything
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on the menu to go; you can even get a six-pack to take home. (7-24-03) $-$$ EL CHARRO CAFÉ E 6310 E. Broadway Blvd. 745-1922. Open SaturdayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Summer hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.9 p.m. Café/Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. Also at 311 N. Court Ave. (622-1922), 7725 N. Oracle Road, Suite 101 (229-1922), 6910 E. Sunrise Road (5141922) and 15920 S. Rancho Sahuarita (325-1922). A Tucson tradition since 1922, El Charro has taken its delectable show on the road with several satellite locations. The food is as fabulous as ever, no matter which establishment you happen to stumble into, especially the unparalleled carne seca and any of the giant chimichangas. $$-$$$ EL CORONADO FAMILY RESTAURANT S 9040 E. Valencia Road, No. 100. 574-7776. Open Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Café/No Alcohol. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Good Mexican food has come to Rita Ranch! El Coronado serves up tasty stuffed quesadillas, and the chorizo and egg plate is a revelation. The menu includes both Mexican classics like menudo and gringo classics like chicken fried steak. In other words (cliché alert): There’s something for everyone! (4-8-10) $-$$
LA FUENTE C 1749 N. Oracle Road. 623-8659. Open SundayFriday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday noon-10 p.m. Bistro/ Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. Take a fresh look at this Tucson classic. With tasty Mexican-food classics like chiles rellenos and unexpected surprises like fried red snapper, La Fuente is definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been in a while. A nice tequila and margarita selection is also offered. (5-27-10) $$-$$$ GUADALAJARA GRILL C 1220 E. Prince Road. 323-1022. Open daily 10
a.m.-10 p.m. Bistro/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Also at 750 N. Kolb Road (296-1122). Salsa is made tableside, and the customer is in charge of what goes into it. The chips are fresh, hot and endless, but leave room for what comes next. Every dish is redolent with distinct and finely tuned flavors. (10-21-04) $$-$$$ LA INDITA C 622 N. Fourth Ave. 792-0523. Open Monday-Friday
11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Diner/Beer and Wine. DIS, MC, V. La Indita’s menu shows its Michoacan Tarascan Indian heritage. Menu items like the Tarascan tacos and Indian fry bread make La Indita a continued favorite. $ LEO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT E 5114 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-9180. Open Monday-
EL MEZÓN DEL COBRE C 2960 N. First Ave. 791-0977. Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Café/Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. If you think you’ve tried them all, check out El Mezón del Cobre’s special brand of Mexican food. The hot-and-spicy huichol shrimp will ignite the taste buds of hot fanatics, and the layered enchiladas bring new meaning and taste to the genre of south-of-the-border cuisine. Delightful cantina atmosphere. $$-$$$
Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Café/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Leo’s may be one of the city’s best-kept secrets. You’ll find such delicious standards as cheese enchiladas, flautas and burros, along with treats like mole and fish tacos. There are vegetarian specialties and a kids’ menu as well. The house margarita also is a winner. Finish off your meal with those airy puffs of fried dough: sopapillas. (11-22-07) $-$$ LUPITA’S CAFE NW 7077 N. Thornydale Road. 744-7505. Open
EL MINUTO CAFÉ C 354 S. Main Ave. 882-4145. Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Café/Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. El Minuto Café has been serving Tucson some of the best Mexican food around for more than 60 years. The chiles rellenos simply can’t be beat. $-$$ EL PARADOR C 2744 E. Broadway Blvd. 881-2744. Open MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Bistro/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. This longtime Tucson favorite continues to please with one of the city’s most unique dining areas—the main room is an old courtyard that’s now indoors, even though real trees and plants remain. The food’s worth noting, too— some dishes are hit-and-miss, but you’ll always win with the fantastic tableside guacamole. (1-1-04) $$-$$$ EL RIO BAKERY W 901 N. Grande Ave. 624-4996. Open MondaySaturday 6 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Counter/ No Alcohol. MC, V. El Rio Bakery’s been around for decades, and when you sample their delicious pastries (we particularly like the empanadas), you’ll know why. However, El Rio also offers up other tasty Mexican fare; the soups are especially good. We recommend a steaming-hot bowl of albondigas (meatball) soup. (2-18-10) $ EL SABROSO OAKWOOD GRILLE W 610 N. Grande Ave. 792-2282. Open MondayThursday 7:15 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 7:15 a.m.9:30 p.m. Café/Full Bar. MC, V. For a light and flavorful meal, El Sabroso is worth ferreting out. Its use of oak wood to grill meats and vegetables, fruits and fresh seafood puts an interesting twist on what it coins “Mexican Caribbean.” (7-26-01) $-$$ EL SUR E 5602 E. 22nd St. 748-1032. Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Café. Beer and Specialty Drinks. MC, V. This is one of those secret little places that you might not want to share with everybody. Old-fashioned, damn good Mexican fare is served up with a smile. The tortillas are made specially for El Sur and definitely add an extra touch. The décor is funky and down-home, and the servers treat you like family. With prices and flavors that remind of a simpler time, the place attracts a crowd. Try the flan if you have any room for dessert! (12-29-05) $ LA FRESITA W 1450 W. St. Mary’s Road. 622-4005. Open daily 6 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Counter/No Alcohol. DC, DIS, MC, V. More than just a friendly neighborhood taqueria, La Fresita offers full plates of goodies such as steak ranchero, chiles, tacos, burros, quesadillas and more. The corn tortillas are homemade and served up fresh and hot every day. The fruit shakes are sweet and delicious. With breakfast, lunch and dinner on the menu, La Fresita has literally something for everybody, even gringos! Hamburgers are on the menu. (10-6-05) $
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Café. Beer, Wine and Margaritas. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Lupita’s Cafe brings a little southside flavor to the northwest with authentic, affordable Mexican fare. Friendly service and a bright, colorful atmosphere make this cozy café a great dining experience, and the Sonoran hot dogs are among the best in town. Breakfast is served all day, and don’t miss out on the expertly cooked menudo on Saturdays and Sundays. (6-17-10) $-$$ MAICO C 835 E. 22nd St. 294-2836. Open Monday-Saturday
6 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Counter/No Alcohol. MC, V. One could easily miss Maico, situated along busy 22nd Street. We’re glad we didn’t. Tiny as it may be, Maico serves some excellent Mexican chow for diners to enjoy in its outside dining area. Maico has a way with beef, chicken, pork and fish. You’ll find all the usual taqueria items and friendly service. (11-13-08) $ MARIA’S CAFÉ S 3530 S. Sixth Ave. 620-1465. Open Tuesday-
Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Café/ Beer and Wine. AMEX, DC, MC, V. Quality Mexican food and tableside pay television sets—what more is there to say? In operation for a quarter of a century, Maria’s satisfies on a variety of levels. $-$$ MARISCOS CHIHUAHUA S 3901 S. Sixth Ave. 741-0361. Open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Diner/Beer Only. AMEX, DIS, MC, V, Cash and checks. Also at 1009 N. Grande Ave. (623-3563), 2902 E. 22nd St. (326-1529), 999 N. Swan Road (881-2372), 356 E. Grant Road (884-3457), 435 W. Irvington Road (294-3194) and 4185 W. Ina Road (572-2523). Alcohol served varies per location. A bit of the Mexican seaside has found its way north. At Mariscos Chihuahua, shellfish reigns supreme with fresh Guaymas shrimp being the specialty of the house. Don’t miss the shrimp ceviche, a Mariscos favorite that has regulars coming back for more. $-$$ MARTIN’S COMIDA CHINGONA C 555 N. Fourth Ave. 884-7909. Open MondaySaturday 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-10:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Café/BYO. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V and checks. Martin’s fits the Fourth Avenue vibe perfectly: It’s fun; it’s casual; it’s independent; and the food’s pretty darned good. The huevos rancheros—with a surprising number of delicious vegetables—is excellent, and the carne asada has a rich, smoky flavor. Just don’t ask for guacamole or sour cream. (9-23-10) $-$$ MARY’S LUCKY DOLLAR MARKET S 1555 S. 10th Ave. 884-8720. Open Monday-Friday
6 a.m.-1 p.m. Café/No Alcohol. Cash. Mary’s is one of Tucson’s least-refined restaurants, but the insanely cheap, flavorful food keeps locals a-comin’. The chorizo is the house specialty; alongside some eggs, potatoes and refried beans, it’s pure deliciousness. (2-18-10) $