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    The Little One

    4.6 (436 reviews)
    ModerateMexican

    The Little One Photos

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    THE LITTLE ONE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Little One

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    Trevor C.

    My wife absolutely loves this place and is sad to see it go. Which is crazy because the line was out the door! Very friendly staff and the complimentary cucumber water was delicious.

    Victoria K.

    Absolutely fantastic! It was as good as I had hoped! This charming little spot is only open for breakfast and lunch on limited days of the week. They have a breakfast menu, lunch menu, and daily chalkboard specials. I took a chance and tried the lunch surprise plate which comes with 3 lunch items selected by the kitchen. It's truly a surprise, and even if several people at the same table order the surprise plate, each plate would be different. My plate consisted of cochinito en chipotle, pollo en mole negro, and creamy harvest vegetable soup with serrano (one of the specials that day). You also get to pick a couple side dishes. I got the rice and the calabacitas (zucchini and veggie medley). My oh my, every single bite of food was absolutely fantastic. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly spiced, perfectly cooked, just PERFECT. Some of the tastiest Mexican food I've ever had, and so rustic and homey and well-priced. I loved the variety. I'm so pleased I got to try that wonderful soup too, which was a special but I would kill for the recipe! Both of the meats were so tender and saucy. I seriously can't say enough. It was SOOOOO SOOOOO good. If I lived in Tucson this would definitely become a regular spot for me. I also chatted briefly with the owner and she was so cheerful and incredible kind and helpful. Thank you so much. I hope I get to visit again someday :)

    1/2 and 1/2 Plate - Mole & Barbacoa de Res
    Teresa A.

    So so good! Found via Yelp, and what a find. My mom, a vegetarian, got the combo plate with a Chile relleno and tamale pie. I got the half and half with mole and barbacoa. Each came with two sides. Everything was delicious but the standouts to me were the tamale and the mole. If you pay with cash you save 10%. There appeared to be a lot of regulars that the staff knew their names and orders. Very local with fast service and amazing food!

    Chicken mole taco and Creamy Pork Chipotle burrito
    Steve B.

    A downtown Tucson staple. Short menu probably for the breakfast and lunch crowd. Order at the counter and your grub comes out quick . Pretty good stuff,

    Fresh pineapple basil juice. Refreshing!
    Dawn C.

    I have been coming to the Little Poca Cosa for 12 years. I loved the fresh fruit and aqua frescas that I could get with my food, no matter what I ordered. After a forty year run, the restaurant is closing the 19th of October 2025. The hours have always been very peculiar opening at nine closing at two and it made it challenging for me to get there cause parking is terrible downtown. But I went today just to say goodbye and enjoy one last meal. Marisela was there greeting customers as she always has with a great deal of warmth and affection. I had my last mole dish from a Poco Cosa restaurant;which if you've had it once you'd never forget it. Usually, I like to get their plato Poco Cosa, which is a mixed bag of different specialty items. Today I didn't order that dish, as I really just craved their chicken molé. I had not come in a long while and the food came out fast. There's very limited one-hour metered parking. I was able to park, walk-in,order my food, get a table, receive my food,eat it, and leave in 30 minutes. That's quite an amazing service. The inside has articles of the restaurants' history and acclaim. If you've wanted to try it out their days are limited so I believe that they're open from 10 to 2 Monday through Friday, with their last day being next Friday. Thank you for the good memories.

    Chips Salsa
    Mark A.

    So it's been forever since I've been to the Little One, it's either closed or crowded I went pretty regularly when it was next to the Federal Courthouse., when their Dad ran it. Of course Poca Cosa since it was in the Santa Rita Hotel. I would always order the chefs surprise. I had never met Marcella. The food was great and I'm glad they are still open and Marcella is the last sister carrying on the family tradition. Just like home!!!

    Nice air conditioned friendly sweet little place!
    Sam S.

    From the first friendly welcome this sweet little place is above and beyond. The food is so fresh and delicious, feels homemade! When I asked for Pico de Gallo, they even chopped it up fresh. And three cheers for the Vegan options! So accommodating for my plant based pal. There is happy hour! So the Agua Frescas were two for one. Also, very important: nice cool air conditioning! Beautiful shady outdoor seating available and the inside is so colorful and comfortable.

    Bowl of chicken soup
    Maria G.

    My husband really wanted some chicken mole so after searching, we came here for lunch. My husband ordered the chicken mole and I got a bowl of caldo de pollo (chicken soup). Both entrees were very good. The portion sizes were just right. I enjoyed all the vegetables in the soup. Good amount of chicken. Here, you order at the counter and then they bring your order to your table. The person at the counter was very helpful to help me decide what to get. Casual restaurant with a comfortable feel. This place closes at 2pm for lunch. Good restaurant near the Old Tucson Artisans and Congress street. Great places to walk to after our meal. We couldn't find any street parking so we parked at the Pima parking structure which was down the street from the restaurant.

    Huevos rancheros
    Amie M F.

    I don't want to overshare, as I think it's a personal preference. I didn't enjoy any of the food. I was conflicted as the place is beyond adorable, with amazing attentive staff...but I won't be back. My sister does enjoy this place and frequents often. I ordered huevos rancheros. My sister got a pork entree. Not sure about the giant (unwanted) salad touching my food. Risky game when I have food allergies. (Like the non requested watermelon) Out of all the food I will say the pork was tender and the sauce good. But I didn't enjoy either of our food and I let her take mine home. The place is adorable and it's right underneath the library so you can have a full day of enjoyment. There is street parking or you can park in the parking garage. It was nice that the parking garage only cost two dollars for one to two hours and if you were less than that and it was free. I loved sitting at the community table. I even appreciate them offering us to be able to move once another table opened. We stayed for the family style feel.

    The surprise plate (chipotle pork, barbacoa, and a soup, w/ rice & salad for my sides). I love their variety of veggies and fruit.
    Mandi G.

    Good eats at The Little One! Whenever my children have a day off school, this is where they request we go - chips, salsa, beans, and rice are their favorites but I love the mole and tamale casserole and the colorful salads. It's a colorful place with delicious food. Since it's downtown, parking can be tough but there is a garage right behind it (free parking there for up to an hour).

    Surprise plate
    Kevin H.

    I was in town for work and a friend recommended I eat here. I am so glad I did! I could tell the moment I walked in that it was gonna be good, and I knew I'd have a hard time deciding. So I let the chef decide with the Surprise plate. And I was delighted! The plate came with a super delicious soup, yummy beans and two meats. I was ecstatic to eat it and definitely look forward to coming back for another chef's choice sometime!

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    6 years ago

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    Marcela D.

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    6 years ago

    Free hugs (pre-COVID), great food, and lovely staff :)

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    3 years ago

    Definitely in my all time 5 top restaurants. Amazing food and the greatest staff. Just the best

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    The new guacamole is delicious! An Avoca-Do, not an Avoca-Don't!

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    The food was great, and the service was even better! It's also a super cute place. Recommend

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    6 years ago

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    Page 4 of 11

    The Little One Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Little One

    Do they have high chairs?

    I don't believe so. There are boosters. AND the owner is always willing to do some baby holding (this is not a joke... she's the best).

    Are dogs allowed on their patio?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Food: I ordered the chicken molcajete and it was delicious!! I had never had molcajete and it was…read moreexactly what I hoped it would be. Also they make you salsa table side to your liking! Love this idea and even better because there is no charge Drinks: I ordered the jumbo margarita and it was delicious! It was $22 for a margarita with three shots. Ambiance: fun and colorful decor Parking: designated parking lot Service: everyone was very nice and accommodating

    Ugh! I feel genuinely bad about giving this place three stars because it has all the makings of…read morebeing a five stars if not for one very important thing...the food. Which, you know, is kind of the whole point of a restaurant. The atmosphere was great, a little on the nose, but great none the less. It feels like a Mexican dinner or at least what I imagined a dinner in Mexico would look like. The staff where beyond amazing, especially the woman who made our complementary salsa right at the table. And the salsa was yummy but sadly that's the only part of the meal that I can say that about. The thing is, nothing was truly bad, but just about everything was incredibly bland. You'd have expected someone who puts raisins in potato salad to have served it, not an authentic Mexican restaurant. Though the positive is the lack of seasoning is really the only major problem. The food did not have any weird taste, it wasn't dry, the presentation was fine. It simply needs to be seasoned and this place goes to a solid 4/5 rather than a three.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Table made salsa
    Table made salsa
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    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    4.4
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    The atmosphere is friendly, the staff are welcoming and ms importantly the food is AMAZING. The…read moresalsa is addicting, the habenero taco was packed with flavor and El pastor tacos are everything you desire when it comes to taste. Martha was amazing and everything was absolutely perfect! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to leave with a belly full and tastebuds satisfied!

    On our way to Saguaro National Park East, we made a quick stop at Amelia's Mexican Kitchen for…read moretakeout, and it turned out to be one of those "well that escalated quickly" food moments. Service was excellent. Lorenzo was friendly, thoughtful, and actually listened, which shouldn't be rare, but somehow still is. He had our burritos cut in half for easy sharing while driving, and made sure we were set before sending us on our way. We ordered the machaca and the avocado chorizo burritos. Let me say this plainly. These things are massive. You could easily split one and be perfectly happy. We did not know this going in, but now you do. The coffee, though... skip it. They gave me a generous cup, but it tasted like it had had a long night and given up halfway through. No strength, no flavor, just vibes. Now the burritos? Completely different story. Hands down some of the best I've ever had, and I've been around the burrito block more than a few times. The machaca was the standout. Loaded with tender beef, eggs, potatoes, and plenty of cheese, all wrapped in a tortilla so thin and light it felt like it had no business holding everything together, yet somehow did, like a quiet overachiever. The place was buzzing for a Tuesday at 10:45 in the morning, which tells you everything you need to know. Locals show up when something's worth it. So yes, grab the burritos. Maybe grab your coffee somewhere else. And enjoy the kind of meal that makes you briefly consider turning the car around for another round.

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    Fried fish tacos, rice and refried beans.
    Fried fish tacos, rice and refried beans.
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    El Charro Cafe

    El Charro Cafe

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    This is a MUST TRY whenever you find yourself in Tucson. The ambience and authentic chips and salsa…read moregreets you as you settle into their surprisingly large menu. No need to linger..,go straight for the queso birria chimichanga and thank me later. After all, THIS is where the chimichanga was originated! The service was attentive and polite and the owner is actively in the dining rooms to ensure stellar service. Can't go wrong. Give it a try!

    We were in Tucson over the weekend and wanted to try some authentic Mexican food. El Charro kept…read morepopping up in our search, and since we love exploring historic places with a story, it seemed like the perfect choice. Located in downtown Tucson, this iconic restaurant is full of character and beautifully decorated. We visited on a Saturday around 1 PM without a reservation and were told there would be a wait since the place was packed. They only have air conditioning in the indoor dining areas and basement, not on the outdoor patio. Luckily, we were seated in the basement, which turned out to be perfect. The service was commendable truly some of the sweetest and most attentive service we've experienced in a long time. We started with freshly made chips and salsa, which were an instant hit. For drinks, we ordered the El Tamarindo, Mangopeno, and Monica's Cafetini. For food, we chose the Vegan Jackfruit Taquitos Trio and the Fresh Corn Tamale Platter, which came with a side of squash. The drinks were excellent, with the Mangopeno being my favorite. But the real star of the meal was the tamale platter. Oh my goodness it was absolutely delicious! Everyone at the table kept digging in and couldn't get enough. Even the squash side was so flavorful that we ordered an extra serving. The vegan jackfruit taquitos were a bit too deep-fried for our liking and didn't quite compare to the incredible tamales. To finish, we shared a caramel flan, which was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The pricing was very reasonable, the service was exceptional, and the food was memorable. We will definitely be back again if only for those amazing tamales!

    Photos
    Steak burro
    Steak burro
    Beautiful setting of Mexican Folk Art
    Beautiful setting of Mexican Folk Art
    Charro Street Tacos

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    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    4.4
    (705 reviews)
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    We had an amazing first visit to Amelia's Mexican Kitchen on Oracle Rd. Alexa took such wonderful…read morecare of us. She was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind, and she made our whole experience feel welcoming from start to finish. The hosts were kind too. There was plenty of seating, a dedicated bar, TVs, and nice lighting. The patio has misters, which is perfect for this time of year. They offer booth and table seating, and the tables aren't packed too close together. With party members who have different mobility challenges, the spacing was great and made everything comfortable. The food was delicious. The complimentary bottomless chips and salsa were fresh and generous. If you order the horchata, it comes with free refills too, which is such a nice touch. My husband ordered 2 birria tacos with caldo and loved them. My father in law ordered 2 ground beef enchiladas with red sauce, and my mother in law ordered 2 plain ground beef tacos. I shared the ceviche with my dad, which was fresh and flavorful, and we each ordered one Quesabirria. It was so good! Dessert was perfect. We tried the flan and the chocolate flan. The chocolate flan was a moist Bundt-style chocolate cake with flan on top. Both were creamy, delicious, and enjoyed by all of us. Great service, great food, and Alexa truly made our first visit special. We'll definitely be back!

    So many years in Tucson, and how did I miss Amelia's before?…read more The service was wonderful -- attentive, genuine, and kind. They have a great selection with plenty of options, even for the picky ones (aka me!). The prices are very reasonable, and the food is colorful, beautiful, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the noise level. It gets so loud that it's really difficult to have a meaningful conversation, which takes away a bit from the overall experience.

    Photos
    Breakfast burritos at lunch time
    Breakfast burritos at lunch time
    2 QUESABIRRIAS W/RICE & BEANS, CALDO (Juice meat)
    2 QUESABIRRIAS W/RICE & BEANS, CALDO (Juice meat)
    Beef Tamales con Juevos with black beans

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    Beef Tamales con Juevos with black beans
    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine

    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine

    4.6
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    Delicious food with a very relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The service was excellent. Highly…read morerecommend the Jarritos Paloma, it's delicious! I stopped in for lunch and the food and drinks really hit the spot. I also love all the plants on the patio. It feels like eating at Abuelita's house.

    Overall, the service was good and the food tasted good, but the pricing didn't quite match the…read moreculinary experience for me. Honestly, I wish I could give Yaquesita a little more, maybe half a star more, because this place definitely has potential. Their flavors are good, but compared to similar restaurants the menu feels a bit overpriced. For a party of three we ended up paying around $100, which felt like a bit much for what we got. The restaurant itself is pretty small with only about 3-4 tables inside, but the patio is a decent size and has a cute vibe. It's actually a nice option on cooler days if you don't mind sitting outside. Some items were better than others. The wet-style burrito was delicious and definitely a highlight. The quesabirrias were good, however the birria felt more like fancier shredded beef. It was missing that rich, spicy, slightly acidic, earthy flavor that usually sets birria apart from barbacoa or traditional shredded beef dishes. The bowl was just okay and had lots of lettuce. It felt more like a salad with a bit of meat, rice, and beans. Honestly, Chipotle does bowls better, and that says a lot considering the price. The nachos were good, but I've had better. Seis Kitchen has amazing nachos to share. That said, it's definitely a place I'd come back to mainly out of convenience, not because one particular item on the menu won my heart. I really do hope they continue refining the menu because the flavors are there and this place could easily become a standout spot. Personally I just think at the total price of my ticket other restaurants should not even have room in my mind during my meal. If you're in the area and looking for a safe bet where everyone will probably find something they like, it's worth giving them a try.

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    2 Piece Quesabirrias IG: ea_yelpelite

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    The Little One - mexican - Updated August 2026

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