21 mexican places in Tucson we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Tucson | Mexican across every city.
Mexican food is the heart of Tucson's UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, shaped by generations of Sonoran cooking just north of the border. El Charro Cafe in el-presidio claims the longest lineage, while Mi Nidito and El Minuto Cafe carry the south-tucson neighborhood tradition. El Guero Canelo, the home of the Sonoran hot dog, and La Indita on fourth-avenue show the breadth of the regional table.
El Charro Cafe ★ 4.6
el-presidio · 311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
El Charro Cafe on Court Avenue in Tucson is the United States' oldest family-run Mexican restaurant (1922), and the claimed birthplace of the chimichanga.
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the same family kitchen since 1952; the President's Platter recalls Bill Clinton's 1999 dinner stop.
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
barrio-viejo · 354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo has run the Mexican-American menu since 1936, famous for oversized cheese crisps and topopo salads.
La Indita ★ 4.3
fourth-avenue · 722 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705
La Indita on North Stone in Tucson serves Maria Garcia's Tarascan menu, a family staple since 1983, blending Mexican and Native American kitchen traditions.
El Charro Cafe Ventana ★ 4.3
catalina-foothills · 6310 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710
El Charro Cafe Ventana on East Broadway in Tucson is the eastside outpost of the 1922 downtown original, serving the same carne seca and chimichanga.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the James Beard 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship from Daniel Contreras, the founding Tucson dogo.
El Charro Cafe ★ 4.6
el-presidio · 311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
El Charro Cafe on Court Avenue in Tucson is the United States' oldest family-run Mexican restaurant (1922), and the claimed birthplace of the chimichanga.
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the same family kitchen since 1952; the President's Platter recalls Bill Clinton's 1999 dinner stop.
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
barrio-viejo · 354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo has run the Mexican-American menu since 1936, famous for oversized cheese crisps and topopo salads.
La Indita ★ 4.3
fourth-avenue · 722 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705
La Indita on North Stone in Tucson serves Maria Garcia's Tarascan menu, a family staple since 1983, blending Mexican and Native American kitchen traditions.
El Charro Cafe Ventana ★ 4.3
catalina-foothills · 6310 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710
El Charro Cafe Ventana on East Broadway in Tucson is the eastside outpost of the 1922 downtown original, serving the same carne seca and chimichanga.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the James Beard 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship from Daniel Contreras, the founding Tucson dogo.
BK Tacos ★ 4.6
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is Benny Galaz's Sonoran hot dog chain founded as a cart in the 1990s, with bacon-wrapped dogos and caramelo.
El Guero Canelo Late Night ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson runs late into the night with bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogos and carne asada caramelos until 22:00 daily.
BK Tacos Late Night ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson serves bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogos and carne asada tacos until 23:00 every night, plus weekend micheladas.
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
Mi Nidito is tucson family-run mexican kitchen since 1952, off south 4th avenue away from the downtown circuit, where bill clinton dined in 1999.
La Estrella Bakery 12th Avenue ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 5266 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
La Estrella Bakery 12th Avenue (Mexican) in Tucson: Visit early on Sundays for the freshest conchas and empanadas de pina. Cash or card both work fine.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo's $5 Sonoran hot dog on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the city's signature cheap eat, a James Beard America's Classic 2018.
BK Tacos ★ 4.6
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is Benny Galaz's Sonoran hot dog and taco counter (founded as a cart in the 1990s), with $3 carne asada tacos.
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the combo plate Bill Clinton ordered in 1999, hearty Sonoran Mexican plates since 1952 family-style.
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
barrio-viejo · 354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo runs Mexican-American lunch and dinner the family has served since 1936, with oversized cheese crisps.