I have a passion for Mexican food. In Arizona that means Sonoran-style featuring tacos, tostadas, burros, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, red and green chile, chile rellenos, and tamales. I love them all and always have a hard time deciding what I want most when we go out for Mexican. One solution is to choose one of the ubiquitous combination plates, but I prefer a single entrée with the usual side dishes.
The menu at El Charro Cafe in Tucson can be daunting at first glance. It is four pages long with what seems like hundreds of dishes. On careful examination, though, it is logically divided into the traditional categories with many variations on each. Once you decide which broad category you’re going to have—taco or enchilada or chile—then you pick which variation on the theme sounds best. It is like composing music for your palate. Are you in the mood for a simple melody or a symphony?
For me the real test of any Mexican restaurant is the chile relleno. If the kitchen can prepare a proper relleno, then everything else they cook will be good, in my humble opinion. El Charro does superior chili rellenos. I have tried all the variations and my favorite so far is the Poblano Bandera Relleno, a fresh whole Poblano chili battered in a golden Cerveza Modelo tempura and finished off with red, white and green sauce.
The dish that made El Charro famous is their carne seca. Dried in the sun on the roof of the restaurant, the marinated lean Angus beef is shredded & flash-grilled with green chile, tomato & onions. You can order a plate with salsa, rice and beans or have it in a taco or enchilada. Ask your server for a sample and you’ll taste why it is so popular.
To accompany your meal, El Charro mixes up several varieties of marguerites and offers a selection of Mexican beers. They have recently introduced their very own craft-brewed amber ale.
El Charro Café has been a fixture in downtown Tucson since 1922 and claims to be the oldest Mexican eatery in the country. The downtown location feels like you have been invited into someone’s home with diners filling several rooms decorated with old El Charro menu covers and Mexican folk art. There are four other location scattered around town so you don’t have to go far to get your El Charro fix.
Don’t forget Club 21 on Oracle just north of Grant Road they are celebrating 72 years of the same family keeping the tradition of great Mexican food alive, and they have an a la carte menu which most places don.t anymore. The food is always great and the service is very good. Also a great place for medium to large group celebrations with advance notice.
It’s interesting you mention that the downtown location feels like you have been invited into someone’s home, because that’s exactly what it was. In the mid 1890’s the building was built, and inhabited, by the family that started the restaurant. When we go to Tucson we go to the downtown El Charro, and have never considered a different location. The service and food have always compensated for any wait, of which the longest we’ve had has been around an hour. Once seated, I quickly get lost in the comfort and history of the building. If walls could only talk, I’m sure they would have very interesting stories to tell about this immigrant family and their once small business.
I haven been to the downtown El Charro in years, but did try the one on the NW side of town recently since its close to my home.
I’ve lived in Tucson on and off for over 20 years, and the one Mexican restaurant I continually go back to is La Parilla Suiza. In fact, when I come in off the road (I travel the lower 48 states 300 days a year), La Parilla Suiza is the first place I go for a meal out. They have three locations in Tucson and all are great.
With so many Mexican places to choose from (Mi Nidito, Guillermo’s Double L, Cafe Poca Cosa), everyone has their own favorite. La Parilla Suiza is mine. I really prefer not to go anywhere else – but I’m not always in charge of the dining plans! 🙂
One of the La Parilla Suiza in Tucson is on Oracle Road which is historic US Route 89. Although I have driven by it many times, I have to admit that I have never eaten there. You have inspired me to give it a try. What would you recommend for my first time dining there? What’s your favorite dish?
My favorite favorite FAVORITE dish is “Alambre de Res con Chilaquiles Suizos – No. 17” From the menu: Triangles of fried corn tortillas covered with our enchilada sauce, sour cream and melted cheese, served with two beef tacos sauteed with bacon, onions and bell peppers.
But…instead of getting the Chilaquiles Suizos (triangles of fried corn tortillas), I ask to have it served with Enchiladas – they are happy to make the subsitution. The beef they use is melt-in-your-mouth tender and the bacon, onions and bell peppers adds such great flavor.
Honestly, it’s the only place I go for Mexican food when I’m home. The name means “Swiss Grill”, and they serve Mexico City style Mexican food, not the Sonoran style most people are used to (for instance, Mexico City style tacos – as with this meal – are soft corn tortillas, rather than the hard crispy kind you’d typically get at Taco Bell)
I have been to the one on Oracle (US89) many times, but usually go to the one on Ina because it’s nearer to my friends and shopping, etc. I live near Oracle (US89) and Magee.
Try it and let me know what you think. I hope you like it!