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OK, Cindyl says I can do better than El Charro. Mrs. big_load has a thing for their salsa verde, so I'll have an uphill battle on my hands. Where should I really blow my post-hike calories in Tucson?

We love El Charro's carne seca and their sauces.
You could hit Rosa's Mexican Food at 1750 E. Fort Lowell.
Basic no nonsense kind of Mexican food I grew up on.....nom nom nom

and there's always venerable Club 21, or in my neighborhood Karichimaka and my hangout for 30 years: La Casita de Molina.

El Guero Canelo... home of the famous Sonoran Hot Dog ;) They have other totally yum menu items, as well, and an outdoor eating area.

rae-rae wrote:Sonoran Hot Dog

I had to Google that one. My dad would love them.

Poco and Mom’s
1060 S Kold Rd

I’ve not actually been to the restaurant (kind of on the wrong side of town for me), but they have catered several lunches here at the office.
They have a green chili sauce that is pretty close to the New Mexican Mexican stuff I’m used to.
Don’t think you can get a beer there though, which kind of sux.

Am I the only one who likes Guadalajara Grill? Must admit this is the only Mexican place we've tried when we are in Tucson.

1. Mi Nidito 1813 S. 4th Ave. is great.
2. I've been told from some Tucson Mexican-Americans that I know that La Casita de Molina 3220 W. Valencia is their favorite.
3. I haven't tried this place yet but since they use lots of chile peppers and the menu changes daily, I'll try next time; Cafe Poca Cosa 100 E. Pennington St.

Mi Nidito used to be the best.

So much good Mexican food in Tucson so I go to different establishments depending on what I'm in the mood for. Here's my , for what it's worth.

Guillermo's (Double L) right across the street from Mi Nidito is better IMHO and without the wait - really good red chili sauce. Micha's, further down on 4th Avenue is also good (and I really like their calabacitas). Randy's standby, La Casita de Molina (on West Valencia), has some of the best margaritas I've had, or maybe that's just when he is around (I think they like him coming back). I do like the chile rellenos at Karichimaka, too (Mission just south of Irvington). red dog mentioned Poco & Mom's, which I really like for breakfast (the sour cream green chile sauce is sooo sinful), but not much else. I also haven't had a better breakfast burrito than those at Tania's on Grande (and north of St. Mary's), but it's a little spendy to be doing that too often. Lerua's on Broadway (east of Campbell) does really good catering food: good mini chimis, tamales, guacamole, etc. If I happen to not want to travel too far, I will go to Rosa's at Campbell/Ft. Lowell or one of the various Molina's establishments on occasion, too. Good date night Mexican fare can be found at Cafe Poca Cosa downtown - it might be a little too upscale for just after a hike, though, and they take reservations.

I just finished dinner and this thread is making me hungry again already.

I don't drink and I don't believe in ordering burritos at a restaurant. (Cheap food that can easily be made at home, and also they are surrounded by too much doughy tortilla, so that I end up opening them up and eating the contents with a fork.) So, who has the best guacamole? is my question. I love chiles rellenos, also!

Poca Cosa is awesome if you want to drop $$; the food is great, though!
One word - ROSAS.

liz, make your own guac. - add pineapple chunks to the classic recipe. omg!

azbackpackr wrote:Cheap food that can easily be made at home

There is a great deal of truth in that.
Example: For the best tacos in Tucson, drive to south Marana and stop at Mark and Mayre Lou's.
The wife makes a killer guacamole (more on this later)
My secret taco meat is just ground turkey with a can of el Pato sauce and a teaspoon of good red chile powder.
Got to fry your own taco shells from corn tortillas (kind of a pain, but there is no other way to make a perfect taco)

Now, paint the inside of that warm taco shell with aforementioned quacamole, couple tablespoons of the secret taco meat and some grated cheese.
The beer is in the bottom drawer of the fridge...help yourself.

One word for killer guac........pomegranate.

Guadalajara Grill is one of the best Mexican food restaurants I've ever been to, but so have a lot of places in Tucson. Guadalajara Grill also has guacamole made tableside. Lots of more inventive dishes like lamb, seafood mocajete, and what's served in expensive Mexican restaurants in Mexico. There aren't a lot of burritos served in restaurants with white table cloth on the table in Mexico. It's in the old Micha's del Norte building.
Rigo's is awesome, and the daytime buffet is surprisingly very good. There's frequently a line out the door during around lunchtime.
Rosa's is also good. Simple, but good. Try to sit in the small room with the mural.
I've always had a soft spot for La Parrilla Suiza. Mexico City-style food.
El Charro has to be on the list.
El Guero Canelo is the best lunch in town. Cheap and good!
Mi Nidito is very good despite being overrated, but the usual line isn't worth it.
I've always enjoyed Crossroads right by Rigo's and Mi Nidito as well.

My only complaint about Guadalajara is that it is impossible to get a table there, day or night, any day of the week, when school is in session. It seems like every UA kid brings his or her parents to that restaurant or every out-of-towner and snowbird is reading the same AAA literature and descending on the place.

Now, this time of year? This is the best time to go!!

Jim Lyding wrote:Guadalajara Grill is one of the best Mexican food restaurants I've ever been to, but so have a lot of places in Tucson. Guadalajara Grill also has guacamole made tableside. Lots of more inventive dishes like lamb, seafood mocajete, and what's served in expensive Mexican restaurants in Mexico. There aren't a lot of burritos served in restaurants with white table cloth on the table in Mexico. It's in the old Micha's del Norte building.
Rigo's is awesome, and the daytime buffet is surprisingly very good. There's frequently a line out the door during around lunchtime.
Rosa's is also good. Simple, but good. Try to sit in the small room with the mural.
I've always had a soft spot for La Parrilla Suiza. Mexico City-style food.
El Charro has to be on the list.
El Guero Canelo is the best lunch in town. Cheap and good!
Mi Nidito is very good despite being overrated, but the usual line isn't worth it.
I've always enjoyed Crossroads right by Rigo's and Mi Nidito as well.

That pretty much pushed me over the top..
Any of these places Fed-Ex takeout?

Where's the Guadalajara Grill? I see a few people like it, must be good.