El Charro Cafe, originally founded in 1922, is the country’s oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant, and it’s still among the most popular in Tucson. All three locations serve a robust menu of classics, from queso-stuffed rellenos to a variety of soft-shell tacos, but the must-order here is the Carne Seca platter. El Charro’s trademark dish, perfected over a hundred years now, orbits around angus beef that’s been marinated, sun-dried, shredded, and grilled before it’s plated with the works.

Carne seca is sun-dried shredded beef, and Tucson, which boasts 270 sunny days a year, is one of the few places in the world where it's available year-round. Thin strips of beef are seasoned with lime and salt, then hung in a large cage to dry. The dried meat is then shredded and pan-fried with green chiles, onions and tomatoes, and served with tortillas or in salads, tacos, burros (large burritos) and enchiladas.

For a true taste of Tucson’s—and Mexican food’s—history, this James Beard Award-nominated classic can’t be beat. For 100 years, the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family has been dishing up Sonoran favorites, including its famous carne seca and chimichangas, which founder Monica Flin is credited with creating after accidentally dropping a burrito into hot oil. In 2021, owner Carlotta Flores, Flin’s great-niece, was named one of Forbes magazine’s “50 Women Over 50,” and in May 2022, the restaurant and Flores were featured in the season finale of “Top Chef“.

Tucson, Arizona 85701 (The Original Location)What: This Tucson institution has been filling up bellies with delicious Mexican food for years. The restaurant has an eclectic mix of décor and furniture that brings alive the history and culture behind the food.Must Try: We love the Charro Birria Burrito with slow cooked shredded beef, mild green chile & seasonings. Two options for your burrito that we often get are: Enchilada Style(queso melt style with red or green enchilada sauce on top) and Elegante Style(enchilada style add guacamole, crema & pico salsa).

El Charro Café offers a wide variety of Northern Mexican and Tucson-style Mexican dishes and their insanely delicious food has been hailed by everyone from Bon Appetit to the NY Times to Nation’s Restaurant News, which named it one of America’s 50 most iconic restaurants. A friend had suggested this place to us and we went without knowing much about it and it's history. Even though we arrived for an early lunch, we were surprised to find out there would be no table availability the rest of the night.

Stand at the threshold of 311 N Court Ave, AZ 85701, and breathe in the lingering aroma of decades-spanning culinary excellence. El Charro Cafe, an undeniable Tucson treasure, brings the Sonoran style to new heights with its legendary carne seca and iconic cheese crisps. Generations of the Flin family, starting with Monica Flin back in the 1920’s, have preserved El Charro’s status as the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson, serving up some of the best menudo you’ll ever lay your spoon in.

For more delicious Sonoran-style food, El Charro is next on our list. With Northern-Mexican and Tucson-style dishes, you will find a variety of dishes at this unique and award-winning restaurant that has been serving Tucson since 1922. Their Carne Seca Platter and Mole are very popular, but if you stop in on a Tuesday, make sure to try their Charro Street Taco Platter that includes fillings like Carnitas, Calabacitas, and Carne Asada, among others.

The original El Charro, founded in 1922, is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson; the original owner, Monica Flin, is said to have invented the chimichanga. The restaurant also claims the impressive title of oldest Mexican food restaurant in the country continually operated by the same family. That heritage remains strong today with a commitment to fresh, authentic Sonoran cuisine and Tucson-style Mexican food.

Rating: 3.9 Stars Price: $$ Neighborhood: Tucson Description: Established in 1922, El Charro Cafe of Tucson, Arizona is The Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Featuring traditional Northern Mexico-Sonoran style and innovative Tucson-style Mexican Food, El Charro Cafe is truly a unique Mexican restaurant that can’t be missed. Try the nachos and salsa for a special treat.

El Charro Cafe in Downtown Tucson doesn’t disappoint with their version, a 2011 Tucson Weekly winner for the best margarita in town. The Prickly Pear-Rita is made with Patrón Silver, citrus, and prickly pear nectar. One of Tucson’s oldest established restaurants—their first location opened in 1922—this is an authentic example of how to turn the fruit into a quintessentially southwest beverage.

Now for some of those UNESCO certified restaurants I mentioned at the beginning. El Charro Cafe is certified in ALL categories – Supporting the Local Food Economy; Sustainable, Ethical, and Fair Business Practices; Keeping Our Food Heritage Alive; and Community-Minded Business Practices. El Charro Cafe is a family run, Sonoran Style Mexican Restaurant that has been in Tucson since 1922!

The original El Charro Cafe is one of the most famous restaurants in Tucson, and certainly one of the oldest. This classic spot has been serving delicious Mexican food in the downtown area for decades. It’s often busy, so while you wait for a table, make your way through the courtyard to the back bar where you can order a prickly pear margarita and snack on free chips and salsa.

El Charro Cafe is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson and has been serving up traditional Mexican fare since 1922. The restaurant’s signature dish is the carne seca, which is made from dried beef that is then simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, and mild peppers. The dish is served with rice and beans and is a must-try for anyone visiting El Charro Cafe.

No discussion of Tucson food would be complete without highlighting the El Charro Cafe. This restaurant is located in a converted house in downtown Tucson and is supposedly the oldest Mexican food restaurant in the United States. One family has run it since 1922, and it is also supposedly the creator of the chimichanga, though that is hotly debated.

If you’re in the mood for some Southwestern flavors, El Charro Cafe is the place to go. As Arizona’s oldest Mexican restaurant, El Charro Cafe has been serving up their famous carne seca and chimichangas since 1922. With their commitment to using fresh, local ingredients, every bite at El Charro Cafe is bursting with authentic Southwestern flavors.

The oldest restaurant in the United States run by the same family, El Charro gets a bad rap as a tourist trap, but, at the end of the day, it is famous for good reason. True, there can be lines for a table, but this is Tucson, not New York, and things move quickly. While the wait may be tedious, the service is not.

Must Try: You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but we are talking about tacos here, right?. So try the tacos and see what it is like to taste a truly Mexican staple here in Tucson. Tucson is one of those great places that is lucky enough to have such a rich tradition of Mexican foods, culture, and heritage.

Established a few years shy of a century ago, El Charro finally earned itself a James Beard nomination in 2019. While the invention of the chimichanga is one of their main claims to fame, you can get chimichangas across the country now. However, other places don’t feature the cages of sun-dried carne seca.

If you do find yourself with some extra energy, I recommend Cafe Poca Cosa and el Charro Cafe to name a few. In terms of where to eat at a show–that one is a little tricky since some shows don’t have very many options. AGTA has a whole row of food trucks outside of the show, which is convenient.

311 N Court Ave | Downtown Tucson Location | elcharrocafe.com/. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, El Charro Cafe opened its doors all the way back in 1922 and is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Arizona!. El Charro has even been run continuously by the same family since the very beginning.

El Charro piles beans, jalapeños, queso, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole all on top of hot and crunchy tortilla chips. What better place in America to find the best nachos than Tucson?. If you’re not craving nachos yet, be sure to go back and take a close look at those pictures.

They have $6 Fiesta Hour Specials that are delicious, cheap, and perfect for happy hour!. El Charro Cafe has been serving up tacos since 1922. The cafe has always been a favorite thanks to their cooking style that combines traditional Mexico-Sonoran style with newer Tucson methods.

Established in 1922, El Charro Cafe in Tucson, Arizona is the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant in operation by the same family. The restaurant features traditional Northern Mexico-Sonoran style and Tucson-style Mexican food and margaritas. Try the "Tucson's Best House Margarita.

My favorite Mexican restaurant in Tucson also has a great Happy Hour menu. With the $7 Fiesta Hour trios, you can sample some of their best bites, like shrimp chicharron, street tacos, and tostaditas. Add 1/2 off draft beer and margaritas, and you will go home full and happy!

Being the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson, the El Charro Cafe has a lot to boast about. They claim to be the oldest Mexican restaurant in the nation that’s still run by the same family. They also claim to be the inventors of the lovely and delicious chimichanga.

In business since 1922, El Charro Café touts itself as the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant which it may well be (Latinopia was not around in 1922 and so declines to challenge the claim). The original El Charro is located in what was once the family

The James Beard Foundation nominated El Charro Cafe as one of the most Outstanding Restaurants for 2019. This restaurant was chosen to win an award as one of the most outstanding restaurants in the United States – and it is in Tucson!

Choose from tacos, bean and cheese burrito, cheese quesadilla, nachos or gluten free chicken nuggets. Meals come with a soft drink, lemonade or milk, rice, refried or whole beans and all-natural apple sauce. Cost: Starting at $5.95

Tucson’s Mexican Food Icon Since 1922, El Charro Café was nominated in 2019 by the James Beard Foundation as one of America’s Outstanding Restaurants!. restaurant food mexican authentic cuisine bar cocktails downtown

Landmark restaurants such as El Charro Café - the oldest Mexican restaurant in the U.S. - proudly hold up that claim to fame. The original owner of this century-old eatery is said to have invented the chimichanga!

- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (561 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 6910 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, AZ 85750-0830- Read more on Tripadvisor

El Charro Cafe is another local favorite in Tucson, being in town since 1922. We have an El Charo (only 1 r) in Los Angeles. I was curious if it was the same Tex-mex style food, so we stopped in.

Enjoy dinner with a slice of history at El Charro Cafe, a delightful Mexican restaurant hailed as “The Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant”.

El Charro has expanded into other concepts including Charro Steak & del Ray at 188 E. Broadway Blvd. for seafood and cocktails at 178 E.