This is one of the oldest restaurants in the area and a place of great character. It's just a fun place--we were lucky enough to see the live mariachi perform on the weekend, there's outdoor, semi outdoor, and inside seating to suit your mood. The portions are enormous and generous on the protein with lots of customizable options on the menu. We got the enchilada style (sauce and cheese), but they also have quesadilla style (just cheese) and other options for add ons. Service was speedy and on top of things, they're happy to explain anything on the menu and it was our first time here! We asked for recommendations and they do say that they're better known for their chimichangas than the burritos. But you probably can't go wrong with either one. They also have GREAT chips and salsa, probably one of the best salsas I've tasted. It's sweet with a tiny kick. If you're in Tucson, give this place a visit! read more

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This place is a classic Sonoran eatery. It is a large restaurant with plenty of inside and outside seating. I tried their sun cured beef specialty and hated it. It was dry and tasteless, but was told it was very popular. I was provide with another dish, enchiladas, and happily devoured it. My wife hade enchiladas mole and enjoyed it. I recommend going here. It is classic. Take plenty of quarters for parking if you have trouble using the Tucson parking app. read more

We had a great experience! We made a reservation and was seated right away. The whole place is decorated so nice and our waitress was the sweetest. She let our son help with the guacamole and took time to talk to him- not expected but appreciated. We heard some live music and the food was fast. Now for the food. This place is touristy but that is okay. You will still have a good experience but the food is not the best but still good. We got the carne seca enchiladas and it was good! 4/5 and I can see why it is famous- good, smoky flavor. We also got the chicken fajitas and it was okay- 3/5 and I would get something else. For dessert we got the churros and that was great! read more

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Ok... this is my favorite restaurant in the world. No kidding. The carne seca is completely unique and amazing. In enchiladas or as a platter. Oh my GOD! Wonderful service and the original location near downtown has the vibe of eating in a family kitchen with the love of a grandmother in every bite. read more

We ate here twice during the week we spent in Tucson. The chimmi is amazing and we had exactly the same order both times we went. By far the best chimmi we've ever eaten. read more

El Charro Cafe - Grilled Parillada Chimichanga with Chicken enchilada style with green - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Was keen to check out this place, found a reel on Instagram which said this was the oldest Mexican restaurant in the country. Kinda stopped by late, they seated us right away even though they were close to their closing time. Got us nachos and two salsa dips right away. The green one was amazing with a nice tangy and spicy kick to it. I ordered the shrimp dish, which was quite creamy and well balanced with a lot of veggies. The squash and zucchini were really good as well. Portions were quite big. read more

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We waited about 20 minutes for a table for two -- not bad at all, and definitely worth it. I had the Quesabirria Enchiladas and my mom ordered Tucson's Enchiladas Sonorenses with the El Charro Carne Seca. Both dishes were delicious, super flavorful, and very filling. We finished with the dessert trio; the flan and tres leches were the perfect sweet ending. The team that welcomed us was friendly, and the service overall was solid. The dining room was lively and every table was full, which added to the energy of the meal. read more

Charming venue. Beautiful atmosphere food was amazing service was equal to everything. Would definitely visit again. Generous portions and so fresh and delicious. Wonderful place read more

This restaurant was recommended to us by a Tucson local. We came as a group on a Wednesday night at about 6:30pm. The place was packed and many more people waiting to get in. We were told the wait time would be about 30-45 min. but in reality, we did not wait more than about 20 minutes. We were seated in the courtyard. Lovely, colorful ambiance with many beautiful decorations. The food was good, though not "Mexican" spicy. Maybe the rumors are true that Tucson food tends to be less spicy than in other places. We had the mini chimis and the guacamole for appetizers. Guacamole was prepared tableside but it was missing a zing (my co-worker ordered hot sauce to make up for the missing kick). For my entree, I ordered the chile relleno. It was a good, visually nice dish. My colleagues had some of the combination platters and fajitas. The portions are big, so bring a good appetite. Overall, a nice place, especially for out-of-towners to take home some memories of this lively Southern border/Tucson atmosphere. read more

El Charro Cafe - Chile Relleno - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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It's just ok! Nothing exciting! Service was slow and we would ask for a few things and took server told 2x we needed this and that b4 we got it! When we got there the hostess asked how many and we said 2 she comes back and said would you mind sitting outside (it was hot out and we were uncomfortable) asked her if there was any seats inside and she rolls her eyes and took us in and sat us a a table for 2 right in front! Why she just sit us there in the first place is weird! read more

A random person in Northern California recommended El Charro Cafe for me to try while visiting Tucson. Man this little spot is history didn't disappoint. So cute, very tasty food, and everyone was very friendly. I highly recommend for anyone in the area to try it, several times because it doesn't disappoint. Very traditional, delicious Mexican food. read more

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On arrival, I was very pleased that there was a parking lot right across the street. The cost to park was so cheap that I thought it was a mistake but it wasn't. It was very easy to make a reservation from their website. Because of road construction, I was a few minutes late, but they were gracious and seated us right away. I had wanted to eat there for a few years since seeing them on Top Chef and hearing about their sun dried beef. Not every restaurant I've seen on Top Chef has lived up to the hype, but this one did. I assume the complementary chips were homemade because they had an intriguing smoky flavor that was very good. Their guacamole at the table was spicy, but excellent. Their specialty beef has been made the same way for over 100 years. It was delicious. If I have visitors from out of town, I will definitely take them here. read more

El Charro is a Tucson institution for a reason. The food is delicious, thoughtfully prepared, and rooted in tradition. The servers were attentive, kind, and clearly skilled at what they do. Under different circumstances, this would have been a wonderful dining experience. Unfortunately, the atmosphere created by the floor manager, Marcus, made it genuinely difficult to enjoy any of it. From the moment we entered the restaurant, we witnessed Marcus berating a staff member to the point of tears. This behavior did not stop there. We were seated near the kitchen's swinging doors, where his conduct became impossible to ignore. Commands were shouted rather than spoken. Hands were clapped at employees as orders were barked. Servers were yelled at to set tables, runners were summoned aggressively instead of being assisted, and all of this occurred while Marcus himself paced back and forth without lifting a finger to help. The entire staff appeared tense, anxious, and visibly on edge. There was not a single employee who seemed relaxed or comfortable in the space. The warmth, beauty, and cultural richness of El Charro's aesthetic were completely overshadowed by the hostile environment being created in real time. It was painful to watch. Despite this, our servers remained gracious, professional, and attentive. Their kindness stood in stark contrast to the conditions they were working under. I felt compelled to apologize to them for what they were experiencing, which is not something a guest should ever feel the need to do. When I asked to speak directly with Marcus, I was met not with accountability, but with excuses. There was no openness to reflection, no acknowledgment of impact, and no indication that the concerns being raised mattered. It was deeply disappointing. In contrast, I later spoke with Caleb, another lead, who was receptive, understanding, and handled the feedback with professionalism and care. Caleb demonstrated the type of leadership that fosters trust and respect, and he should be the standard, not the exception. El Charro represents generations of Mexican culture, hospitality, and family. What we witnessed was the antithesis of those values. Mexican culture is warm, communal, and rooted in care for one another. Fear-driven leadership, public humiliation, and hostility toward staff have no place in that legacy. I sincerely hope ownership becomes aware of this, because the food and the staff deserve far better. A restaurant can have incredible cuisine, but when leadership strips dignity from the people serving it, the experience is fundamentally broken. read more

El Charro Cafe - Here's some more feedback, Marcus - dress more like a manager, but more importantly, act like one. - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Well. The food was really fantastic and flavorful! I ordered the quesabirria street tacos and they were fabulous. Came with arroz and frijoles. Delicious. Our waiter, Aaron G was fantastic. He also suggested the natural margarita. Oh my goodness, it was one tasty margarita. ALL natural ingredients, made here. It did get a little breezy and a bit chilly while sitting on the patio. There were heaters, but our table was not situated near one and we sat close to the kitchen, dishwashing station and liquor storage. Not much ambiance. Quite busy. Would I wait another hour to eat here? Probably not. I would come back though. read more

In town for the summer with our oldest from the U of A and staying at the DoubleTree Downtown. Traveling with a 5-year-old can make it tough to find a spot that satisfies all our cravings--especially things we can't easily get back home in Hawaii. We're so glad we stopped in because we're still talking about the food! Despite being busy, the customer service was top-notch from start to finish. We ordered the cheese crisps, quesabirria enchiladas, and Charro nachos--everything was packed with flavor and absolutely mouthwatering. Even our picky 5-year-old loved the cheese crisps! We also appreciated the children's menu (the chicken tenders were a win). It was a nice walk from the hotel, and we'll definitely be back over the next few years during our visits! read more

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El Charro has a charming atmosphere, tasty food, and nice servers. What more could you want? That said, it is definitely a place to come with an appetite! I went for lunch, and they don't appear to have a lunch menu, so we left a sad amount of food on the table because we were traveling and couldn't take leftovers. I wish there were more places with smaller portion sizes, but we kept encountering massive meals all across Tucson. We sat outside in the courtyard, and it was lovely and relaxing. (Well, minus the wasp!) I had a watermelon margarita, which was tasty, and they were able to make my friend a mock prickly pear margarita, which she raved about. We split a queso fundido with nopales to start, and that was probably enough for us! Our entrees were delicious, albeit it huge. I did fajitas and she had the corn masa cake enchiladas. All was flavorful and fresh, but just so dang big! The history of this place alone warrants a stop, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. read more

El Charro Cafe - The hanging meat. We didn't have any, but it was a sight to see. - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We had Caleb as our server. He was awesome at taking care of us and had exceptional service skills and kind. the food was absolutely phenomenal. we got shrimp ceviche, margaritas, and enchiladas. they were so good i haven't had food that good in a while. the decor was so cute and classic. when i'm in tucson again i will definitely be coming back. thank you guys. read more

Our first time to have dinner here. Outstanding service from the start. Told the hostess that this was our first time having dinner at this historic restaurant and Valerie asked if we would like a tour. She was awesome and took us on a full tour. Dinner was amazing. Best chimichanga we ever had! Manager was outstanding and was very appreciative that we wanted to complement the staff and give five star review of the food. Oh I forgot to mention the great house Margaritas! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves Mexican cuisine. We also had a great table by the window with a beautiful breeze. Top to bottom this was a five star experience! read more

El Charro Cafe - Chimichanga dinner - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I had tried El Charro once before and I was underwhelmed. But I saw a video on YouTube of somebody who recently went there and decided to try again. I ordered the chimichanga and there was no place to add guacamole. So I called and got a young woman and asked her about it and without saying a word she put me on hold. I was on hold for a while so I hung up and called back. This time a man answered and I asked him about it and he said he would put it in the bag. He then started yelling to an employee that he didn't want someone back in the building and hung up. So I called back and told him my name so that when the DoorDash or came maybe he could put it on top and he was very short and irritated and said yeah I'll do it man I'm the owner I gotta go. Rude at best. You guessed it. No guacamole. read more

El Charro Cafe - It's not even great. - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I expected something more authentic for Arizona. Appetizers weren't that great, food was okay. I think I would try somewhere else next time I'm out in Tucson. read more

Wow, what a meal. Best Mexican meal I've ever had, and living in Chicago, California, and Arizona, I've had quite a few good ones. This was the best. Ordered the temptation tamale trio. The masa was light and fluffy, the filling moist and flavorful. Also had the Tucson enchiladas sonorenses with carnitas. Wow, what depth of flavor. The margaritas were a nice addition too. Our waiter kept us refilled on chip, salsa, and water. Neat place too. I can see why they've been around for 100 years. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tucson's Enchiladas Sonorenses with carnitas - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I like coming here because in my opinion there are so many fun/interesting food and adult beverage options that are delicious. This visit I came with the fam and enjoyed every part of the experience. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This place came highly recommended from a familymembers. My husband and I decided to do a little day trip and go here for lunch. This is hands-down the best Mexican meal I've ever had in my life. My husband had the chimichanga. I had the street tacos and we had the table side guacamole. Everything was phenomenal and extremely authentic. I literally would vote that this is the best Mexican restaurant in the US. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

An amazing meal at El Charro Cafe. El Charro is helmed by Carlotta Flores. A James Beard Award nominated Chef, Carlotta Flores is the Owner, El Charro Café, Charro Steak & Del Rey, Charro Vida, Barrio Charro, The Monica The matriarch of Tucson's Mexican food scene, Carlotta Flores, ACF, is the third generation overseeing El Charro Café, the country's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. We had great service and wonderful Mexican Food. We had the rolled Taquitos Banderas served with a trio of red, white and green sauces with pico, queso and guacamole . Stellar taste even if the sauces were on the hotter side. We alsohad the Assorted Mini Chimichangas pico salsa & sour cream and the Chicken Tortilla Soup. The soup which we shared felt homemade and simmered. A highlight was a sampling of their El Charro Carne Seca which is a 3 day old , sun dried beef which El Charro is the only restaurant in America legally allow to prepare and serve. The same recipe since the 1800's. The drink of the evening was the Prickly Pear Margarita which is a staple in the Area Needless to say this was on par with the best food we have eaten. The building used to be the house of the original family who owned the restaurant and was converted into a quirky function establishment. I highly recommend reservations, we made reservations, one month in advance. There was a long wait at the door if you did not have reservations. read more

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Love this Tucson tradition. We had old friends come visit from the East Coast. We met them for dinner at El Charro downtown. Great atmosphere and the food was fantastic. Wonderful Staff and fun Mariachis's. Perfect place to take visitors to Tucson. read more

El Charro Cafe - El Charro Downtown - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This place truly stands the test of time. If someone came to Tucson specifically for Mexican food, I'd point them in this direction. I get steak fajitas and they're fantastic. read more

The food is amazing! The service is very prompt and polite. And the decor is just outstanding--definitely a 10/10. read more

El Charro Cafe - Seafood Enchiladas with rice and beans - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What a delicious meal. This restaurant is kind of tucked away in a dark, industrial part of town, but the restaurant and parking lot were well lit. Service was attentive and our food was flavorful and delicious. I was sad I couldn't eat all of my food! Would definitely recommend and come back. read more

El Charro Cafe - Sinaloa shrimp dish - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We saw a blue Bentley park in front downtown El Charro, after seeing the license plate that said he was the boss. We went in he was on the phone and he actually yelled at us for interrupting his call although we hadn't said a word. His behavior went down from there. He was mean to all employees with whom we saw him interact. I can't say how the food was because we were feeling so badly for the employees. I can say that guy has a lot of gall. Never again. And I'd bet he'd call ice on "HIS" employees. read more

5 estrellas Las chimichangas de El Charro están bien buenas, compa. Crujientes por fuera, llenas de sabor por dentro. El lugar tiene buen ambiente y la gente atiende con mucho respeto. Si andas por Tucson, no te lo pierdas, neta está bien recomendado. read more

El Charro Cafe - Aquí nomás, disfrutando lo bueno de la vida, órale - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Omar was our waiter for our group of 18 in the lower room and he was fantastic! Fast friendly service for our large group. From drinks, to desserts and entrees every order was on point. The ambience is authentic Mexican and the history on the walls told a story. The food, beverages and desserts were ALL delicious. Great experience! read more

El Charro Cafe - Dessert trio - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had and I've been to Mexico! The seafood enchiladas were insane! As was the shrimp taco! read more

El Charro Cafe - Numero quatro - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Waited around 30 minutes but food came out quickly once seated. Somehow we managed to get the one waitress that had iffy English. I speak a bit of Spanish but everybody else was fluent that we saw in English so it was a bit awkward ordering. I got the house tacos which whatever, basically just a grease bomb hamburger patty with some lettuce and an overly tomato flavored salsa. Buddy got a veggie enchilada and he said it was fine enough. Interestingly enough the salsa with the chips was pretty good, but wasn't the one served with my tacos. Food and service 2 stars but I'll give an en extra star for the old west decor and the historical nature of the building. That said, not a chance I'd come back. read more

While in Tucson, we had to eat at the home of the creator of the chimichanga! This restaurant has also been the best of the best in Tucson for over 100 years now ave it totally lived up to the hype. The service was outstanding: our waiter was friendly and our food came out quickly. The ambiance was casual and fun decorated Mexican style. My family decided to order a sampling of their famous dishes and we loved everything! We ordered: -Tamale Temptation Trio 10/10 - Quesabirria Mini Chimichanga platter - 4 count (we wished we'd gotten more of these cheese coated tiny chimichangas that we dipped in the most delicious consume as this was our favorite dish!) 11/10! - Carne Seca platter 10/10 - Bandera Enchiladas (carnitas, pollo arizona, & carne seca enchilada trio featuring green, raja crema & red sauces) 10/10 We loved all the food here and can totally see why this restaurant is so famous! Eat here for sure! read more

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The food was phenomenal but we won't be back to this location. The reason is the owner or whoever was managing that day kept barking at his staff. One of the employees came to him and said he got a call for a 60 person party and the guy flipped out and said we don't want to do that call them back. It was not just that he basically yelled at him. Yelled at the hostess to great people. Just unprofessional and rude. I don't want to spend my money at a place regardless of how good the food is when the manager treats his staff poorly. Do better. read more

Food was delicious! Menu is quite extensive with some interesting items. Large portions of fresh food. The rellanos were so good as were the chicken tamales! Nachos were enough for 3 people. Our server Kenny was great! read more

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I enjoyed the family-friendly vibe at this local Mexican spot! I finally made it for Sunday lunch with friends, and it didn't disappoint. I had the red sangria and the red chile beef tamales -- both were delicious. There's ample parking in front of the restaurant. The live band was a great touch as well. This spot has been on my list to try for years since it's a classic Tucson staple and I understand why. It's a great spot to hang out with a small group of friends or family over good food. read more

El Charro Cafe - Red Chile Beef Tamales - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Visiting Tucson area and decided upon this local place when searching for a dinner spot. Overall did not have the best experience here. It started with the wait. We were told at the time we put our name down, that it would be a 45 min wait. Fine, no problem. We walked around and then came back with 15 mins to spare. Now they are a popular spot so they were busy. However, no one contacted us about our table and we noticed a few people who came after us being seated before us. Again no communication from the hostesses until we approached and asked. Then were told it'd be a few mins and they'll disappear. Finally someone came out and asked if we wanted to be seated outside. We were going to take it but then she disappeared and a good 10 mins went by with no host coming to communicate anything. Finally a host came back and said "follow me" to a table that was just cleared off. We ordered and our waiter Caleb was attentive and kind. However the food was subpar. My chicken for the fajitas was salty, the guacamole salty and the Spanish rice basic. I didn't finish it. I was disappointed since I was quite hungry. The atmosphere was one of chatter and groups. You could tell the wait staff wasn't prepared fully for the rush. read more

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Crazy long wait. Don't bother if you don't have a reservation! Food is ok but our waiter forgot to order one of our guest's entrees read more

Disappointed. We had high expectations of this place, as it's known as the place where the chimichanga was created. However, this was definitely not the best chimichanga I've ever had. It was actually very dry and hard to eat. The queso was as expected and the tortilla soup was good, but overall a mediocre meal. The service was okay, but the booth was greasy when we got seated. This place has a lot of room for improvement. read more

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