El Charro Café Downtown

311 N Court AveThe famed Mexican joint El Charro Café is the oldest operating family resto in the States, and it's been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine since 1922. The family of restaurateurs opened up a handful of other locations operating under the same name, but if you’re looking for the real deal, and a chimichanga the size of your face, find yourself a table at El Charro’s Downtown Tucson spot. The famous carne seca, a special type of spiced beef that’s prepared on location, is stuffed inside most of the cheese-heavy entrees.

Besides being a Tucson mainstay since 1922, El Charro Café is also ‘The Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant’. Since their opening, they have been owned by the same family, and their menu features Northern Mexico-Sonoran style and Tucson-style Mexican cuisine.

Mosaic Cafe and El Charro (several locations, but IMO the most fun is downtown) have good Mexican food, not expensive.

Mexican food has always been a staple of life and an attraction in Tucson — the city’s oldest restaurant, El Charro, was founded exactly 100 years ago and remains in the original family today — but the hype has intensified over the past several decades. In 1987, Mayor Lew Murphy proclaimed Tucson “The Mexican Food Capital of the World and Elsewhere.” This provoked a challenge from other cities in the American Southwest and led to a cookoff judged by actual Mexicans, which Santa Fe, New Mexico, won. Murphy’s silly boast, though, floated free from its source and wafted spore-like into the desert air, becoming a kind of self-propagating slogan.

The Boxyard is Tucson’s best patio, most unique bar and eatery, located directly on 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ. The Boxyard is comprised of 10 brightly colored shipping containers which house four local food entrepreneurs, two full bars, and indoor/outdoor seating to provide epic views and countless vantage points. The Boxyard’s illuminated courtyard offers expansive open-air seating well-equipped to handle any of the desert's elements so patrons can enjoy the beautiful outdoors anytime of the day and all year long.

El Charro is a Tucson institution, and the oldest Mexican restaurant in the USA that has been continuously run by the same family. This place can be super busy so I would highly recommend making a reservation, going for an early dinner to avoid the rush, or be prepared to wait. They have a big menu with so many delicious options, but one of the main things they are known is machaca (strips of beef steak sun-dried, shredded and then reconstituted with chilies, tomatoes and onions).

El Charro is the longest-operating family-run Mexican restaurant in all of the United States, bright and plucky with spirit, loud-and-proud traditional colors, and natural sunlight. And just as historically significant, it's been run by two women: founder Monica Flin, who returned to Tucson from Mexico to open El Charro Café, and her grand-niece Carlotta Flores, an L.A. catering veteran who returned to turn it into a Tucson restaurant empire.

El Charro Café is considered the Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Even better, Gourmet Magazine wrote that the traditional Northern Mexico-Sonoran style cooking with the innovative Tucson-style Mexican food results in “a taste explosion.” This restaurant takes pride in maintaining old world quality alongside newfound innovations and trends. Explore the expansive menu online at elcharrocafe.com!

El Charro Café, located in downtown Tucson, offers a vibrant and historic atmosphere with its colorful walls, traditional Mexican decor, and charming courtyard. Established in 1922, it is recognized as the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. The interior features sombreros hanging from the ceiling, rustic wooden furnishings, and a warm, inviting ambiance that reflects its rich heritage.

Cuisine: MexicanLocation: Multiple locations in TucsonHighlights: El Charro Café is a staple of Tucson's culinary scene and claims to be the oldest Mexican restaurant in the United States. With a focus on family recipes passed down through generations, this restaurant serves authentic Sonoran dishes such as carne seca and chile rellenos. The vibrant atmosphere, complete with colorful decor and live music, makes it a must-visit.

El Charro Café is the country’s oldest Mexican restaurant, still run by the same family. Their Tia Monica, a budding chef, and entrepreneur, arrived in Tucson via France in the 1800s, when her father Jules, a well-known stonemason, was hired to construct the city’s beautiful St. Augustine Cathedral. In 1896, Jules, whose work can be found throughout Tucson’s Historic District, also built the family’s home.

Claimed to be the oldest continuously operating family-owned Mexican restaurant in the U.S., the El Charo Café gives you a taste of Mexican authenticity. The café itself is also located in the El Presidio Historic District, one of the oldest inhabited locations in the U.S. Of course, it is not just the oldest Mexican restaurant, but the café also claims that it was the first one to invest in Chimichangas.

No exploration of Tucson's Mexican culinary scene would be complete without a visit to El Charro Café, a historic landmark and a pioneer in Sonoran cuisine. Established in 1922, El Charro is credited with introducing the chimichanga to the world. This iconic dish, featuring a deep-fried burrito filled with a variety of savory ingredients, is just one of the many delights awaiting diners at El Charro.

Established in 1922, El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona is the nation’s oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. The family vibes carry through to the decor of the restaurant, as soon as visitors walk in they feel at home in the warm and comfortable atmosphere. The family owned and operated restaurant is perfect for breakfast, dinner, or even just stopping in for dessert.

El Charro - since this is the first place the appears on a lot of tourist-oriented lists and has a cookbook authored by the Sterns, perhaps the previous posters though it wasn't necessary to mention it or that it was overpublicized. But go anyway - the Carne Seca and Cheese Crisps are really defining Tucson / Sonoran dishes that a lot of other places imitate.

El Charro Café Downtown, established in 1922, is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson, continuously operated by the same family in the USA. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and traditional Northern Mexico-Sonoran cuisine, this eatery offers a “Taste Explosion” that lives up to its Gourmet Magazine praise. https://www.elcharrocafe.com/locations/downtown/

This time-tested Tucson favorite has been serving the community for nearly 100 years. Their extensive menu has so much to choose from, but we’re sure you’ll find your favorite dish after a few visits!. El Charro offers a wealth of traditional Mexican dishes and also features some unique specials and a wonderfully extensive dessert menu.

Claiming the title as the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson, El Charro Café serves Cadillac margaritas and house 'Natural' blends that burst with Sonoran authenticity. Veteran bartenders shake up classics with premium tequila and bright citrus. Heritage-rich adobe surroundings create an atmospheric, timeless escape for margarita fans.

Everyone visiting Tucson should try some of its Mexican restaurants, which are as good as any you’ll find anywhere in the USA. The food is spicy but full of flavor, and the best-known Mexican restaurant in the city is El Charro. It now has several locations in and around Tucson, and they all maintain the high standards of the original.

While many readers recommended this iconic Tucson establishment, reader @michele.algreen gave us a heads up about their pitcher system. Any of their margaritas, from their basic house special to their Cadillac (made with Cazadores Añejo, aged tequila), can be upgraded into the pitcher size. Most margarita glasses hold nine ounces.

For lunch, go to El Charro Café, right near the museum, or to Cafe Poca Cosa, a short walk away, before taking a short drive south on I-19 and checking out San Xavier del Bac. In the late afternoon, drive into the foothills to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area and take a tram ride up into the canyon or hike one of the trails.

El Charro Café is a historic Mexican restaurant located in Tucson. It was founded in 1922 by Monica Flin, who is credited with inventing the chimichanga. El Charro Café is still owned and operated by the Flin family and is known for its traditional Sonoran-style Mexican food, including enchiladas, tacos, and tamales.

Impress your group by booking the iconic El Charro Cafe, the birthplace of the chimichanga!. Enjoy Tucson-style and Northern Mexican offerings at one of three locations. At the downtown location, choose from the patio, which seats up to 60, or the wine cellar or main room, each sitting up to 40.

Not only is El Charro Café the birthplace of the chimichanga, but they have some of the most authentic house margaritas in town. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Tucson, the cantina inside is the ideal place to order one up while waiting for an open table. Credit: labotanatacos.com

El Charro Café is a Tucson institution celebrated for being the oldest Mexican restaurant in the United States. It is continuously operated by the same founding family. Known for its legendary carne seca, the menu also features tamales, enchiladas, and classic margaritas.

Started in 1922, this restaurant is believed to be the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant run continuously by the same family. Head to the historic downtown location for a taste of the past. The restaurant's founder, Monica Flin, is said to have invented the chimichanga.

It is almost as old as Tucson itself, and it is a generation-favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Your taste buds are in for a roller-coaster ride!. They have a very detailed menu, including tamales, aperitivious, enchiladas, sopas, tacos, burgers, and much more.

(520) 622-1922 The creator of the Chimichanga, El Charro specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine including house favorites such as Tamales, Enchiladas, Burros, and of course, Chimichangas. Their menu accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free preferences.

El Charro: A Tucson institution, El Charro is renowned for its authentic Sonoran cuisine. From their famous chile rellenos to their mouthwatering carne asada, this restaurant is a must-visit for any foodie. (Featured multiple times on the Food Network)

They have my favorite chips in all of Tucson – this is important haha – and while I never try anything new, I’m very happy with my staples. I always get the two chicken tacos with shredded chicken, charro beans, rice, and a giant margarita.

Legend has it, El Churro’s owner, in 1922 dropped a burrito into the fryer. She reflexively began to shout out a Spanish profanity but quickly stopped herself and instead exclaimed “Chimichanga.” And with that, the Chimichanga was born.

El Charro Café is the oldest Mexican restaurant in the United States. On my first trip to El Charro Café with Tucson Food Tours, I tried the open-faced tamale on a corn husk. There was no unwrapping drama here, and it was oh-so tender.

Downtown (Court & Franklin): 311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 make a reservation!. Oro Valley (Oracle Rd & Ina): 7725 N Oracle Rd #101, Tucson, AZ 85704. Foothills/East (Sunrise & Kolb): 6910 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, AZ 85750

As we had done at El Charro and Mosaic Café, Paige and I asked for margaritas made with 1800 tequila. Our server, ever the consummate professional, opined that we would probably like their regular margaritas.

Enjoy lunch at La Cocina Restaurant in Old Town Artisans or at nearby at El Charro Café, Café Poca Cosa, or one of many other delicious downtown restaurants. Desert Botanical Gardens

El Charro Mexican Cafe Downtown has three rooms with spaces available for holiday parties and other events. The Patio seats up to 60 guests. The Wine Cellar seats up to 55 guests.

Additional Flores restaurants include Carlotta's Kitchen, El Charro and Charro Vida. They're all Mexican focused with an emphasis on cuisine found in the state of Sonora.

For Mexican, El Charro has good food and a gluten-free menu. We go th the one on Oracle, have never had an issue.