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Cafe Poca Cosa
88 E Broadway Blvd, Santa Rita Hotel, Tucson, AZ 85701 · 520-622-6400
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DOWNTOWN. Chef / owner Susana Davila creates her own unique spin on Mexican cuisine, featuring techniques and ingredients borrowed from several regions. Poca Cosa began across the street from this location, and the tiny original is still open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays. At this location, the menu changes daily, but the specialties include fantastic chicken with spicy-rich mole sauce. If you can't decide, order the Plato Poca Cosa and the chef will choose one beef, one chicken and one vegetarian entree for you to sample, each one more delicious than the next.
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Casa Molina
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6225 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712 · 520-886-5468
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EAST TUCSON. Casa Molina has been family owned and operated since 1947, and it's a special place. The furniture was made by Gilberto Molina Sr. from mesquite and pine, and the backlit glass plates ringing the room are direct from Mexico, lending even more authenticity to cooking that's about as traditional as it gets. Albondigas soup and menudo are winners, and hearty appetites will love the variety of the Tampequena Dinner which plates together a cheese enchilada, chile relleno, grilled rib-eye steak, beans and guacamole for a sumptuous feast of many flavors and textures. The Sunday lunch buffet is a great deal – the food is plentiful and amazingly fresh, especially the taco bar, which has every conceivable taco ingredient, and then some.
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El Charro Café
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311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 · 520-622-1922
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DOWNTOWN. The original El Charro, founded in 1922, is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson; the original owner, Monica Flin, is said to have invented the chimichanga. That heritage remains strong today with a commitment to fresh, authentic Sonoran cuisine. Stop by the adjacent cantina, with its pleasant outdoor seating, and enjoy one of the finest margaritas in town. Then, have classic meals such as carne asada or carne seca – beef marinated in lime and garlic. A small gift shop inside sells an assortment of Southwestern gifts. Reservations suggested on weekends.
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El Parador
2744 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716 · 520-881-2744
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EAST TUCSON. In addition to serving fantastic Mexican/Latino cuisine, this venerable Tucson restaurant has an unusual main dining room that has become quite a coveted spot for a meal. Once a courtyard, the room was enclosed, leaving the trees and plants intact. It makes a striking setting in which to partake of fantastic tableside guacamole, seafood stuffed rellenos, and platters of all the traditional favorites. The menu also features a handful of low-carb options for Atkins followers, plus good margaritas and Mexican beers.
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La Fuente
1749 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705 · 520-623-8659
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NORTH TUCSON. Although it's considered by many locals to be a bit of a tourist trap, La Fuente does have fabulous mole sauce, the deeply layered chocolate-based sauce that originated in central Mexico. And the décor is about as appealing as it comes – colorful and bright with fairy lights and metal lamps, complemented by a lively mariachi band every night starting at 6pm. The restaurant has been in business for more than 40 years, and has hosted well-known folks such as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash, so it must be doing something right!
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Mi Nidito
1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713 · 520-622-5081
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SOUTH TUCSON. For authentic Mexican cuisine, Mi Nidito is a top choice. Locals and visitors line up to feast on Sonoran classics in a festive cantina environment. Start with simple but delicious cheese tostadas, and then move on to tostados, tamales, and the popular enchiladas – rolled or flat, and stuffed with your choice of fillings. The brightly colored interior is casual and pleasant, but it's the food, not the decor, that has made this a local institution.
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Miguel's
5900 N Oracle Rd, La Posada Lodge & Casitas, Tucson, AZ 85704 · 520-887-3777
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FOOTHILLS. Miguel's has become a destination in its own right, and its ambience perfectly suits its vibrant Mexican cuisine. If you've never tried ceviche, this is a great place to start: "cooked" by acids in a lime juice marinade, the seafood that comprises it remains sweet and ever so tender. Guacamole is prepared fresh with just the right amount of seasoning, and it's left a little chunky so the avocados really shine. Other highlights include pan-seared cabrilla (sea bass) wrapped in a fire-roasted poblano, and a grilled garlic- and chile-marinated filet mignon. Try to choose a dish that's accompanied by Oaxacan green chile rice – it's fabulous. South American and Spanish wines, plenty of cocktail choices, Mexican beers, and over 100 varieties of tequila are available.
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FOOTHILLS. Family owned Mexican restaurants are a dime a dozen in Tucson, but a few of them stand out. Papagayo is one of them. Open for more than 30 years, the restaurant capitalizes on several generations' worth of handed-down recipes to provide authentic and tasty Sonora-style food. The plant-filled interior is cheerful and welcoming, with fairy lights and Mexican tile accents. In a nod to today's health-conscious eating habits, canola oil is used in place of lard, and there are several vegetarian options. Service is friendly and anticipatory, and the bar serves good margaritas and a number of Mexican beers.
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WEST TUCSON. Oaxaca, Mexico, is not a region that is frequently represented in American restaurants, so it's a treat to have breakfast at Teresa's Mosaic Cafe. Specialities include Huevos en Salsa and Huevos Divorceados (that's eggs with two sauces, not divorced eggs), in addition to Sonoran and Mexican items. On the near West side, the cafe overlooks the city and the mountains.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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