Tucson: Downtown Food Tour (Choose 1 of 3)
Discover Tucson’s historic downtown on a guided food tour with a streetcar ride. Learn about the city’s architecture, history, and culture while enjoying a full meal o...
Sonoran carne seca is beef sun-dried on the roof, then shredded and quickly sauteed with onions, green chile and tomato for tacos, burritos and chimichangas.
Carne seca is the original Sonoran preserved beef, dried on rooftops in the Tucson desert before refrigeration. The Sonoran method uses thin strips of top round seasoned with salt and lime, sun-dried 4-6 hours, then shredded by hand. El Charro Cafe has run carne seca since 1922, drying beef on the roof of the Court Avenue building. The dish is the canonical filling for El Charro chimichangas and tacos and remains a Tucson signature today across El Charro, Mi Nidito and family-run Sonoran kitchens.
2 editor picks for Carne seca in Tucson, ranked by editorial score. All Tucson signature dishes · Carne seca across every city.
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.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Carne seca makes more sense with someone from Tucson explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Book food experiences in Tucson
Tucson Food Tour: Downtown Walking Food Tour with 6 Tastings
Explore downtown Tucson on a walking food tour. Enjoy tastings from locally-owned restaurants, discover hidden gems, and learn about the city's history and culture.
Tucson: Guided Downtown Tour with Streetcar Ride & Food
Explore downtown Tucson on a guided tour with a streetcar ride. Learn about the city's history, enjoy food at two local restaurants, and experience the City of Gastron...