I had the fun experience celebrating my birthday at this festive Mexican restaurant with friends. Starting with a refreshing margarita then a cheese crisp and a chimichanga. All were delicious and reasonably priced. The decor very colorful and music very festive. They even placed a sombrero on me, sang happy Birthday and gave complimentary dessert to share.The staff were very welcoming and attentive. This is a great place to make memories. read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Large selection on the menu. - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Good service but the food was not remarkable. Good service but the food was not remarkable. I read more

Maria Bonita is kind of an old style Mexican Restaurant: hard shell tacos, cheesey rellenos, saucy enchiladas, etc. Nothing extraordinary, but decent and filling food. I ordered the three taco plate, and got tacos with plenty of meat and filling. My friend got the cheese enchilada and a relleno on the side. Food was decent, service friendly and fast. read more

What a great dining experience! I'd been here before when they have mariachis playing but this time we came for lunch. We were greeted with a smile and our server, Luis was very patient and kind. We learned it's a family affair and you could feel the love. My beer was served with a nice chilled glass! They have soda in cans and bottles. We had a cheese crisp. Right amount of cheese and crispiness. Not overly oily. I tried the tortilla soup. It's was average. The house chimichanga was ground beef filled with rice, beans and cheese and a scoop of guacamole and sour cream. HUGE PORTION and tasted just as good as leftovers. Highly recommend this place. Love the decor. Very festive and they ever brought out a beautiful sombrero put it on my mom's head, turned up the music and gave my mom a delicious piece of cake for her birthday celebration. read more

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We had the worst experience here tonight. We wanted to like it. We won't be back. Margaritas were weak, chips were stale with no salt, shredded beef had NO flavor, messed up our order,(we asked for no rice and beans instead-it came with rice and no beans. It was suppose to come with flour tortillas. No tortillas. We had to ask for them and our server disappeared. Got the tortillas when we were almost done eating. It was a very expensive mistake and we all said "Taco Bell would have been better and 1/5 of the price." Too bad. We wanted to eat local. read more

Preface ,listening to a favorite local morning sports talk show Spears & Ali ( 1490 am m-f ) who also promote local restaurants & events not advertising per Se , Maria Bonita chef was on the radio talking about the restaurant . They brought in tamales before the winter holiday and Justin & his producer were raving about the quality food. They also have Friday half off vouchers available online 25$ for 50$ which I purchased to try Maria Bonita Mexican restaurant. Across from winter haven in mid town ft Lowell I believe it was formerly a bbq place ? The owner / manager said purchased 3 years ago and gave me a tour of the good sized restaurant area & another adjacent room also used for parties ,weddings & divorces he said! The dining room had beamed ceilings rustic rancho feel . Tucson rodeo framed posters & Frida & other big mural type cultural graphics . Both sides of big front room had divided more private tables that looked like may have formerly been booths . A huge menu had breakfast , lunch/dinner combined . We both ordered chimichangas enchilada style both came on very large platter like plates along with beans,rice ,sour cream & guacamole. I had carne seca , my friend had the red chili which he is an avid fan . Both chimi's were so large they were cut in half staggered presentation . A most generous portion of food . I enjoyed the carne seca ,he was less impressed with the red chili which was small cubes it seemed but he is a red chili critical connoisseur of sorts . The owner /gm said Friday nights with mariachis & 2 for1 margaritas are very popular and reservations are available and Reccomeded. Parking seemed limited diagonally in front shared with small " strip mall" but not for our weekday lunch. Big menu , big portions, & Friday's nights sound like big fun at Maria Bonita Mexican restaurant . ( I had a long difficult time settling the bill with gm /manager although I had screenshots of the voucher number and all information printed on the voucher purchase ? They had a list with my name address & voucher number ? Seems it took a grueling 10 minutes or more to settle the bill which was frustrating trying to leave ? I don't quite understand the issue ? Would probably not purchase a voucher again ( whiskey del bac & more available ) but will contact the radio show & cumulus communications about the issue ) read more

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Our waitress was new and she was very kind. I ordered an Orange Fanta, she said they were out, but mid way through my meal I noticed a cooler with bottles of it. No big deal. Decor is festive. Our table had glass on top of a tablecloth. The edge of the tablecloth was dirty with dried beans. Entrees were hot, but rice and beans cold. The Tortilla Soup had too much cheese for taste, and the broth is clear with the taste of lime. The star of the show was the Jarritos lollipop we got at the end. read more

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Fresh food. The tortilla soup was light and filled with chicken. Crispy chicken taco added to the lunch special $12.99. Tostadas with shredded beef was hearty and a perfect light lunch. Fast, friendly service. Will return. Enjoy! read more

Always lovely staff. Delicious food and I do mostly takeout. Love the whole place. Salsa is 5 stars on its own.

The food we received here was on a timely manner and was absolutely delicious. It was fresh and filled with flavor. On Fridays, they had a mariachi band the mariachi band performed exemplary and really improved the dining experience. I will definitely be coming back. read more

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It's Cinco de kayo day, we want to eat Mexican food. So we stop by here. Good service, very nice and clean place. No wait for seating. The server comes and takes the order almost right away, and the food comes out in a very reasonable time. Most important is that the food is delicious read more

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This is just like Nana's home cooking meals. The food is delicious and flavorful. The decor is a Hispanic style. Beautiful colors and vibes. The staff are amazing. Very attentive. Our waiter was Jose, very nice and polite. All staff members were friendly. On Friday evening they have live music with mariachis. This restaurant is recommended. It does get busy. Parking is limited. But trust me it's worth it. read more

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Warm & friendly. Family-style restaurant with real authentic Mexican entrees. Our favorite!

Been going there since opened. Took alot of myu friemds therre. Last time was not so good,Slow service,food not that good. Red Chile tuff,dry,no flavor. My friend got a Beef Chimmy, same thing. Then I find out they have been sold. You can really tell. read more

Great food and service!! The menudo was authentic as well as the huevos rancheros! Service was impeccable and the ambiance cheerful.

This was a large group of 15 for a wake. It worked out fine in a separate room but foods came out in no particular order and the last one served while others were 1/2 done. And it was just a single beef tamale , & rice n beans. Not unusual. We be might be back as a couple. No more groups. The three servers were very nice. read more

This place was average. Nothing stood out as amazing, but most of it was fine. One entree at our table was the chili con carne rojo and the meat was way too tough - this was the worst meal we ordered. The best meal at our table was a shrimp dish. I recommend ordering one of their shrimp dishes if you come here! I loved the rodeo poster decor, and the chips and salsa they brought to the table were tasty. Our waters were refilled without us asking so that is a plus! This is Tucson.. there is plenty of room for good Mexican food, but there is also a lot of competition. I think Maria Bonita is going to need to step up their game a bit if they are going to make it, but the potential is there. read more

My husband and I were in Tucson today, from PHX. We came across this quaint little restaurant. The owner and family were working there and they gave the nicest friendliest service we have had in years in Arizona. I had the two tamale dish, and my husband had the caldo de papa soup. This was the best all around! We used to stop and eat at the Charro down town Tucson but their service and food seem to decline. This little restaurant we were at today brought back the delight in going out to eat with great food and great service! Thank you!!! read more

The fajitas were wonderful. Vegetables cooked fresh and crisp. Not overcooked Mariachi group was awesome read more

My Ob Dr wouldn't have agreed with my decision but baby had a craving, so I found myself in this small but very well kept, cute establishment! The service from the time I entered the restaurant till I left was exceptional. The food was very reasonably priced and absolutely delicious and not just because I'm pregnant lol, the beans had that authentic Hispanic flavor you can't find everywhere so I am hooked, this could become problematic! May the Lord bless your family and business thank you for serving me today, I WILL BE BACK! read more

We went there to celebrate a special birthday, food good but we were disappointed that the Mariachi's were not playing for this friday night. Two of my friends called the night before and they were told that they would be playing on friday as usual! read more

Last Christmas, I ordered 5 dozen tamales from Maria Bonitas, only to find out they decided to close early for Christmas when I went to pick them up. No warning. No heads up. To make this right, the owner offered me a $50 gift card, which I get much appreciated. Fast forward to yesterday, I ordered tamales again, but when I went to pick them up, the restaurant would not honor the gift certificate because it was under new ownership. It is not my fault that they screwed up last year. It's not my fault there's a new owner, I feel that the restaurant (new owner or not) should honor a gift certificate. So twice now, I've been screwed over at this establishment. I refuse to give my money to a place that can't do simple, easy business. I would never recommend this restaurant! read more

Finally tried the last few things that we wanted to. As usual, the service was awesome! Our server even brought me out the spicier salsa she made me last time. She just remembered on her own...Also, We were celebrating so we also tried their margarita! Here's the food/drink review. Margarita- My wife loves margaritas. We got their Tres Amigos margarita advertised when you walk in. She loved it. Lemonada- I had this non alcoholic Agua Fresca. It was really good and not overly sweet. You could taste the sour fruit. Carne Asada Burrito "Enchilada Style"- Imo, if a Mexican restaurant makes bad Carne Asada then there's a problem. I'm happy to say that Maria Bonita's makes one damn fine Carne Asada! The whole thing was delicious, especially the chili verde. Tres Leches Cake- For plain Tres Leches cake this was exceptional. It was a big slice too. It would be next level with some fresh fruit added to it. And we had that big sampler again too. Get it. You won't be disappointed! read more

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We went there last night Mariachi Friday to celebrate 2 birthdays. N the ambiance is so terrific , well decorated n the service is really on point! Our food nonetheless delicious. I had the albondigas. My daughter coció, n our guest had red chile con carne , a chimi, carne seca, and we enjoyed the fantastic music n the food . I simply love that place , it's well organized. read more

Delicious food and great food. Very good service. My girlfriends and I always enjoy going there.

The food tasted good and the waiter and waitress were very kind and gave great service. The only problem I have is who I believe to be the owner of the restaurant because she took the extra soda that we had on the our table and drank it after I said that we would pay for it. I also asked her for water and she walked off. If it wasn't for her I would love to go back. I gave a generous tip because I felt so sorry for the waiter because she seemed to berate him in Spanish. Hopefully, she doesn't take any of the tip because the cook and service workers deserve it NOT her. She was so rude and the waiter and waitress were so kind, I feel bad that they have to deal with her and that she treated us like that at her restaurant! We spent almost a $100 and the owner was so dismissive and rude to us when we were very easy customers. She ruined the experience for us. read more

The food is good and the waitstaff excellent. My wife had the appetizer platter and especially liked the fried shrimp. Our non-MEXICAN -eater son had a chicken quesadilla, which he enjoyed. I had been craving tamales and ordered the meat and green corn combo. The corn tamale was especially good. We went on a Friday, so the Mariachi band were coming in as we left and there were two larger groups there for celebration. The band looked like they'd be terrific and the group looked ready for fun. Although we were a small group and just leaving, the staff made sure we were well cared for to t last. read more

Been to many Mexican restaurants. Definitely on the low end. Was expecting better based on other reviews Good things: salsa, service, clean Needs improvement: chips taste like straight out of a bag, small portions, overpriced (especially drinks...no prices on menu), chili relleno stringy. Food tastes like it is pre-made, frozen and warmed up read more

Great margarita and service was attentive for our party of five. Good food which came out pretty quickly. We were told that there's a mariachi band on Friday nights and invited to return. Will definitely return. Support local!! read more

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Food was outstanding. Service was good. Very authentic Mexican food. Our favorite. We drive 40 minutes each way to eat at Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen. GRK read more

Placed an online order for Caldo de Pollo and was severely disappointed with the amount that I was given. I opted for the "small" portion thinking it wouldn't be too small (considering the price) Opting for a large option would've been an additional $2. Also, I am pretty sure they are price gauging online orders by an additional $5. The soup wasn't bad but nothing exceptional and the fact that I paid $15 for a cup of soup doesn't seem worth it to me. read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - $15 cup of soup - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

the food here was absolutely delicious! we ordered the Toritos to start with, bacon wrapped peppers stuffed with shrimp? YES please! my uncle ordered the steak fajitas while I ordered chicken burros with enchilada sauce. 10/10 the service was nice & friendly, always checking us and making sure our drinks are full. I enjoyed the mariachi band that played, I'm just glad I wasn't sitting right in front of them as they were loud & not enough room for 7+ playing. read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Fantastic authentic Mexican food!!! The ambience was spectacular with a great vibe filled with rich heritage. The service was amazing with prompt, polite, and friendly staff. Our server brought out the mole sauce so we could try it and was so yummy read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Inside dining area - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I've been here twice and both times the service has been extraordinary. Their servers are super friendly and even talked with us about our recent vacation for awhile. The second time we went in she remembered our family and was so welcoming. They brought mild salsa for my daughter so that they could enjoy the complimentary chips and salsa as well. On Fridays they have mariachis performing and it feels like a big party. Definitely a place for large groups to come and enjoy a fun evening out. read more

After our frozen chicken failed to thaw out for our "healthy" chicken meal, we needed a backup plan. After comparing and shooting down ideas, we finally settled on the new restaurant literally down the street. Maria Bonita's replaced Cody's Beef n' Beans awhile back but we just hadn't gotten over there to try them out. So tonight was the lucky night (thank you frozen chicken)! We had seven people in our party and not only did they seat us fast, but the service was excellent! Our water was replenished without going dry, we had plenty of silverware and napkins and plenty of time to order. Even our questions got answered. The food was excellent. My daughter ordered the burrito A La Carte and it was huge! My son did the same but only had a taco and rice. My mother-in-law went with this huge salad and my husband and I went with combos. Their shredded beef is not greasy or drippy, it's tender, a bit drier but moist, so the taco I had held together and my MIL's salad wasn't soggy by the time she got to the bottom of the shell. Oh and Green Corn Tamales, let me tell you, I could have died they were sooooo gooood!!! I can't tell you about my husband's food, I blinked and it was gone. Kind of glad the plate was still there! They took my MIL's allergy to avocados seriously and even noted it on the receipt. So many restaurants do not do this, so this is refreshing to see for those of you with serious allergies to food. We literally had no complaints. Everything was excellent and we all left full and happy. Oh, yeah and if you don't like a lot of spice, they were very mild for what we had, but I'm sure that could be ramped up if you wanted it to be. So if you are in the area, pop in, it's worth a try! Just, try not to eat the plates. :O read more

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Staff are real nice and friendly. We been there three times. The first time the food was good but took forever to get your food and drinks and the restaurant was not busy. There was one other customer and myself and my wife. The second time l had soup my food was to salty and again it took forever to get my food and drinks. The third time was the worst. Again it took forever to get our food and drinks and they kept making mistakes on my wife's drink. It was a simple soda drink. Each time we asked them to correct it, each time they take forever. This third time l decided to ordered menudo and all it had was one piece of meat in it and the rest was just hominy. This third time was the last straw and will not be going back. The only reason we went there three times was because my wife knows one of the staff members because they are both from the same town in Mexico. read more

Cocido at Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen is so good you can't believe you ever had Cocido before. Marias Bonita Mexican Kitchen's Cocida just tastes better because their spices are unique, they cut up the beef into bite sized chunks, and the vegetables firm without being overly cooked. The mango margarita was unbelievable! read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Cocido at Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Maria Bonita is a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall on Fort Lowell near Country Club. Parking is tight, but the restaurant wasn't busy for dinner and the rug store next door was closed, so there were plenty of places to park. I was greeted by a sign on the door that read "Due to the rising cost of raw ingredients, we charge an additional 3.5% fee on credit/debit transactions" -- a sign that makes no sense. Surely people who pay cash also expect fresh ingredients. When I opened the door, I was hit with the characteristic odor of a deep fryer that needed its oil changed a week ago. If I had been eating alone; I would have left on that alone. My clothes still smell like the dirty deep fryer as I write this. Large modern art prints, mostly with the amazing likeness of Frida Kahlo, decorate the walls of Maria Bonita, which otherwise has a rustic look with dark wooden beams. Colorful papel picado is strung across the ceiling, although it is conspicuously in desperate need of dusting, like many of the decorative items. All over the restaurant, the ceiling fans were blowing full-blast; I hope those are dusted more often than everything else. Chips and salsa appeared almost instantly. The chips were slightly stale, not hot or fresh, and I left them alone. Two servers were attentive throughout the meal, checking multiple times -- sometimes one right after the other -- if we needed anything. The menu is covered in low-quality pictures. I wanted to order the chicken mole, but its picture was enough to convince me not to -- the sauce looked plastic on top. The photos on the menu do it no favors. But I otherwise liked the menu: it's covered in Mexican and Mexican-American staples with text promising "grilled to perfection" and "sauces coming together perfectly as best friends". I ordered the red chili con carne -- a personal favorite. It came with rice, refried beans, and a small salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. The rice, like the chips, was not made today -- it was gummy and had a reheated texture. The refried beans, at least, seemed to be made in-house -- because they were completely bland. The slightly-melted pre-shredded cheese on top was not enough to give them any flavor. The lettuce salad looked fresh on top, but hidden underneath there were wilted and discolored pieces. As for the red chili con carne, the flavor of it wasn't bad, but it was the only thing on the plate that had been salted and there was a LOT of salt in it. The texture of the red sauce was grainy -- I've never seen it without a smooth sauce before. Some of the beef was very tender; other pieces were chewy. And although it arrived hot, the full-speed ceiling fan -- which kept blowing the aluminum foil and napkins off the table -- was able to cool off my food before I could get halfway through it. This restaurant has a lot of potential, but with so many empty tables during dinner service, they must surely have realized they're doing something wrong. The restaurant needs to be cleaned and dusted, it needs fresh fryer oil, and it desperately needs to make more of the food fresh. Would I return here? No, not without changes. Two stars for the attentive service alone; the food and cleanliness don't merit any. One final oddity: On the printed check at the end (which also blew off the table due to the high-speed fan), our items were all marked "NO garlic; NO fries". I'm not sure what that means. We weren't offered garlic or fries. read more

Last night I came in while the mariachis were playing. OMGSH it was amazing. The music, good friends, new friends made (restaurant's family) and the delicious food made a tough week so much better! Loved visiting with our servers and learn about the restaurant's history. It truly felt like we were at a home gathering, being served from the "family" kitchen. The appetizers, mini chimichangas with accoutrements were tasty (actually light and flavorful)! I had the Cocida soup and it was hearty, fresh; absolutely delicious. It may be a small thing, but fresh brewed ice tea is always a win for me. I'm writing this as I'm here again today eating the mini chimis once more, waiting on my chicken tortilla soup! Cheers :-) read more

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Food is very good there. Mariachi on Friday nights. Only down side is the cooks are slow. Upside to that is you get to listen to mariachi band. Yes we will go back. read more

Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen - Mariachi during dinner! - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona