Saturday 3pm. Took 25 minutes to get a server and a drink order. Ordered a pitcher of margaritas that were ALL sours mix. It wasn't just one thing unfortunately it was everything. Fish tacos were over cooked. Steak fajitas were overcooked. Service was as bad as the food. Really disappointing. Took family there from out of town and I will never go back again. No longer a "go to" for me and my people. read more

They have been in business for over 100 YEARS! Great drinks, great food and the staff so friendly! On the weekend, make sure you make a reservation!! read more

Found out this Mexican restaurant (i went to the one on n court st) Is the oldest in the country, so I went down to try the vegan Chimichanga and the other vegan item unfortunately I got there at closing time and when the owner saw me leaving stopped me Asked me if I wanted anything. That sold me on this place right there. But the real hook for me was the food tasted like nothing I've ever had before In my life. It was almost illegally good. I am wheelchair bound and the staff came out and talked to me just to strike up a conversation Because no one does that any more for the handicapped. That's when they really had me then, so as you can tell they now have a customer for life but the food that I had was unreal It made me wanna scream for joy At how good it tasted. I hope no one tells them I would pay a million dollars for an order of vegan chimichangas (with the green sauce) read more

Chose this restaurant to have a birthday dinner. Been here couple of times in the past and typically it's good. This visit did not meet expectations. Reservation was done and confirmed but when we got there, the table was not ready. We were greeted quite bluntly. Our server had a trainee. With a trainee, we expected the server to be the best out there- however it was the complete opposite. When we were placing our order for appetizers, I had mentioned let's know place our main meals yet. Server literally took our apps order then proceeded to ask if we want to place our orders for entrees. I was kind of stunned, like did you not just hear me when I mentioned we want our apps first? Attentiveness was definitely out the window. We were never asked for refills of our drinks. Some items for our orders were missing. Server came once to check on us, when the food arrived but never again. We had other 'servers' or 'bussers' asked how we are doing or if we need any boxes. Food overall was the best part of this experience. But the service was the major disappointment. We clearly chose this restaurant for everything but unfortunately we may come back here again for groups. read more

El Charro Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

El Charro never misses because the food is always amazing, but I like this northeast location better because I think the service is better. This time I had the combo #1 that includes a chicken enchilada and beef taco. I also had the mangopeño drink that has muddled mango, jalapeño, tamarindo, agave, and tajin rim. So delicious! read more

El Charro Cafe - mangopeño - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Delicious food, servers well trained, nice atmosphere. Very authentic Mexican food. Best Mexican food in Tucson. read more

Tortilla soup very yummy. I order tortilla soup in all the restaurants that have it on the menu because it is one of my favorite soups. Theirs has a lot of flavor and just the right amount of spices . They serve it with avocado in the soup and tortilla chips on a separate plate. It also comes with fresh tortillas on the side. Also ordered their mini assorted chimis. Nothing special. The tamales my husband ordered were very yummy. The service was fast and our server, Isabella was all smiles. read more

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We've been to the downtown El Charro and loved it. This visit was more mediocre. My husband had the carne seca chimichanga. I had carne seca enchiladas. I really liked mine. My husband didn't like his at all. We each had prickly pear marguetitas ( YUM!) and they bring you never ending tortilla chips and salsa. All of that was great. Service was very good. We did not wait long for anything. We did go a little on the early side about 11:15am. read more

El Charro Cafe - Outside dining - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Hopping Saturday night which gives me a lot of understanding for the noise and long wait for a table (about an hour). This is not excuse for the food however... a plate of tacos taking over 50 minutes is unheard of. Then the taco shells were a greasy mush. The meat was grey and more resembled a beef patty than typical taco meat. Very unimpressed. These were the name sake "El Charro" tacos highlighted on the menu. Bartenders were pleasant and on top of things but food was not worth it. read more

I'm a long time customer and big fan....... but do yourself a favor. My wife and I had the fajita meals. She had chicken which was tender, tasty and perfect. Me, the carne asada flank steak which was as tough as shoe leather. I've had more tender meat at a Waffle House. It was horrible. Every menu has something not quite right and their carne asada is it. I mentioned this to a friend and he had the same experience the day before. read more

We've been here a few times. Every time we go there it's dirty. This makes the whole experience subpar. I don't want to go back.

We have been living in Tucson for about 15 years. We have been fairly regular El Charro customers, mainly at the Ventana location but also downtown and at some of their newer ventures. Tonight was a truly terrible experience. My wife and I went for dinner. My order came, hers did not. We waited a while but no luck. Mine was getting cold, so I ate. Waitress had been nowhere to be seen since our initial order. Finally tracked down a bus boy who said he would look for our waitress. When she finally emerged she acted shocked that my wife's food had never come. She said they would cook it then. Too late. She took quite a while to have her dinner removed from our bill as she needed the manager. She just blamed the kitchen, and there was no sign of a manager. They finally subtracted the bill for my wife's food that never arrived and we paid and left (with no tip.) This waitress never once checked on us, and the manager never came to apologize. I have a shocking revelation to impart to the current management - there are other Mexican restaurants in Tucson. Wait staff need not to be just chosen because they are cute and perky. They need to actually do their jobs and check on customers. We may well try them again, but this could soon be the end of us going to El Charro. read more

Service was great overall, the place was beautiful too. The food was subpar at best. We ordered the taquitos and the chicken in it tasted like unseasoned canned chicken that had been cooked so it was beyond dry even drowned in sauce. Queso fundito with chorizo was basically melted shredded cheese with what we're sure is ground beef and not even actual chorizo. Pretty disappointed. read more

This was the first time we've eaten at an El Charro.... Greeted at the door by a young lady, she took us to our table right away. Place was very decorative and has a very nice feeling. Cozy & clean. Food was great! We had 4 different dishes and we all took some home because we couldn't stop eating those amazing chips. I don't even know how to describe them but melt in your mouth. Our server, Sebastian, was fabulous and kept us laughing every time he came to the table. He did a wonderful job & kept up on all our questions & needs. We will be back for sure! If you are ever on this side of town, you MUST try this place! read more

The food and service are great here. Thw food is hot and ready within minutes of ordering. I've been here a few times and there were two employees that really stuck out to me. Leslie and Dillan were wonderful. Great service extremely kind and on top of everything. Would recommend this place. "A" in my gradebook. (Also portions are big so there are enough for next day left overs!) read more

We've been going to this El Charro for years. The food is consistent Tex mex. Some items better than others. Portions very large. Service always warm and friendly. One odd thing the last 2 times we ordered drinks first time out of mint second time out of tonic. Kind of hard to count on a bar or happy hour without these basics, especially since they share a parking lot with a grocery store. read more

Phenomenal! Carne Seca is the best ever. Refritos frijoles on point. Salsa is great. Five stars!

Food is so good we come back weekly and it's been a decade. Drinks are always on point and happy hour makes them go down that much easier! Service is beyond fast even when they're slammed, kitchen and servers are in a groove for sure. Depending on the time or where you sit depends on how loud it gets. The patio is always a nice option when it's not 110 degrees. read more

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This wonderful Mexican restaurant up on Sunrise Ave. in Tucson is a family favorite for special occasions, especially our large Christmas Eve dinners, held mid-afternoon. The servers bend over backwards to make our celebration a happy one.  We especially love the seafood enchiladas! We always get their yummy cheese crisps, and the complimentary chips and hot sauce are quite good.  The restaurant has a warm, homey feel, and makes me happy to have been born and raised in Arizona, and blessed to have always had great restaurants like this to enjoy. We SO appreciate these great people! Thank you! read more

Great service and great food. Started with a cheese crisp with green chilies and split a beef burria burrito. Large portions and really good! read more

I ordered green corn tamales and they were a creamy mush spooned into a husk. no taste of corn what so ever.

May 30, 2023 - El Charro Cafe, Tucson, AZ We came in at noon on a Tuesday. There were 4 people in our party. We were seated immediately in a spacious booth and handed menus and provided with ice water and chips and salsa. Our server, Cassandra, showed up shortly afterwards and took our drink orders. We got two prickly pear margaritas and a mango margarita. Drinks came out quickly. The chips and salsa were pretty good and the margaritas were all tasty. Five stars for those and 5 stars for the good service. We ordered the crispy charro ground beef tacos, the rolled crispy chicken tacos, the soft tortilla fish tacos, and the chopped margarita salad. The beef tacos and margarita salad we the best of the four meals. The fish tacos lacked flavor and the chicken taco meat was dry and flavorless. The taco plates all came with rice and bean and that was good. Overall, 2.5 stars for the entrees. The ambiance is nice and a good place to have a drink. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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We have been going to this location for years. First I'd like to say the food is VERY good. The service is beyond bad! The last 3 times we have waited and waited for service. We watch the servers on their phones, chatting together or more common not seen at all for 10-15 minutes at a time as they are in the kitchen. This last time we were seated and waited 12-15 minutes and NO one came to take a drink or food order. It was 8pm and there were only 6 other customers in the restaurant! We counted 8 staff members and 1 manager that simply walked around while the staff did NOTHING! We walked out and went to Piazza Gavi. Looking at the other reviews, we are not the only ones. read more

Great food + great service. They do not allow reservations so the wait can be lengthy if you don't come early

Great stop for lunch on our way to Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Delicious table side guacamole, on the chunky side. I wasn't starving so I ordered the mini chimis with consommé, an appetizer, as my entree. He had the chicken tacos. Margaritas too to boot! Love the history! Cool spot! read more

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First time here and it was a great lunch decision. The atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming with a warm feeling and nicely decorated. They offer patio dining and have full bar service available and the staff is exceptional especially out waitresses Bridgett who was so personable and helpful. The chips and salsa are fresh and the salsa has a little kick to it which I love.the Charro Birria Verde Chimi was absolutely amazing , tender shredded brisket seasoned just right wrapped in a tortilla and smothered with red sauce and cheese served with rice , beans and a pico salsa.The portions are large and filling and so definitely worth trying. read more

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Hard to fit it all in...Great service, best refries anywhere. Food is fabulous and many choices. We've been branching out from favorites. Their Elegante margarita is a must. Cadillac if you like a bit sweeter. We buy their Christmas in July BOGO cards every year! Reservations day before only. Has a busy buzz but not too loud. read more

Delicious! The hemp tamales are delicious and the portions are huge! The salsa is amazing... read more

El Charro Cafe - Birria Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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In Tucson for a couple of days, so midweek, about 3 pm, went to this restaurant. One thing that makes or breaks a Mexican restaurant is the beans and rice. Simple food, but, the flavor and taste of both were very good. The taco shell was very good, light, but a very nice crunch and didn't fall apart. I sat at the bar and the service was very good. read more

I am fortunate to own a condo in Tucson that is just a short walk from the El Charro Cafe on East Sunrise. It's my favorite restaurant in Tucson. Food, service, and cocktails are all first rate. I don't know if I love El Charro because its so close to my condo...or if I love my condo because its so close to El Charro! If you go, try the stuffed mushroom appetizer. It's delicious and almost a meal by itself. read more

I took friends from Canada to this El Charro location to impress them but we weren't impressed. The food was just average. I've had a better experience at the Oro Valley location. read more

Great foothills Mexican restaurant. Fun atmosphere with a relatively quiet patio. The bar has indoor and outdoor seating also. The El Charro Carne Seca burrito is amazing. The beef is dried and has a great smoky flavor. We went on Cinco de Mayo and had margaritas. They were half off but I also think they had half the alcohol because everyone at the table had three and didn't feel a thing. The flavor was great at least. read more

Such a nice spot for dinner! Came here during sunset and the outside patio had a lovely view of the mountains. Our group ordered a variety of dishes and they were all so good. Their soup is one of my favorites! Also can't go wrong with their happy hour margaritas and appetizers. Staff were really friendly and helpful in giving recommendations. We came on a busy Wednesday night so it took a bit for us to get drinks in the beginning, but they soon corrected the timing and everything was great. Will be back! read more

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Awesome food and great atmosphere. I love coming here. This place has a vibrant history here in Tucson. read more

El Charro Cafe - Famous Carne Seca Platter - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Excellent Sangria and El Paton chicken enchiladas! So delicious. Amazing bartenders and waitstaff.

Applies to Sunrise Location Only: The food was terrible and the service wasn't much better. If you go on Friday, make sure and book reserved seating or you will have a long wait - around one and a half hours. We had a lot of high expectations for El Charro on Sunrise and Kolb because we've had prior good experience at the downtown location on Court. We waited the hour and a half, since we didn't have reservations, but ended up with a lot of disappointments. My beef fajitas were inedible and consisted of mostly gristle and fat. After trying a few bites, I couldn't even eat one of them. It looked they took the parts of the beef that no one eats and put some seasoning on it and served on a plate. The tortilla and cheese on the cheese crisp was cold and hardened. The other family guests with me were not impressed with what they ordered either. However, the top-shelf margarita was good, so that's why I'm giving a star at all. Would not go back for food. Maybe a drink. read more

Went to El Charro tonight for our 45th wedding anniversary. The food was great but the service was horrible. After we ordered we only saw our waiter 1 time when we asked for a box for our leftover appetizer. The expeditor that brought us our food was great. My wife finally got up to get water and take home boxes . We won't come back!!!! read more

Very bad experience and we ended up leaving. We were told we were "next" only to see multiple people be seated before us. Hour wait and no idea when we would be seated. They do NOT accommodate walk ins at all. read more

After 100+ years, El Charro still has it going. Good food, great atmosphere, great service. This location is larger than most and well run. I love their classic tacos. Did a great job catering to out three year. read more

El Charro Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

AVOID AT ALL COSTS- FOOD POISONING dined here with my family, and although we enjoyed the service, the food tasted good (I had the three enchilada sampler), and the atmosphere was lovely with live music- I later that night had the worst food poisoning of my life which lasted several days. Really such a shame, hadn't been here in years and will never be returning. read more