Mexican culture is an integral part of Arizona, and Tucson commemorates that fact in a delicious way. The ‘Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food’ is an unofficial food trail zigzagging through the entire city, showcasing modernized classics, tried-and-true traditions, and everything in-between.
Google Maps
- Gringo Grill + Cantina
TripAdvisor/Gringo Grill + Cantina
Google/Tanya Andrade Priding itself on its fresh, local flavors and relaxing atmosphere, Gringo Grill + Cantina offers a vibrant menu of Southwestern-inspired cuisine. Tender cuts of meat, spicy peppers, and Tucson’s largest selection of tequila ensure everyone leaves feeling satisfied and happy.
- Seis Kitchen
Google/William Paskevich
TripAdvisor/Seis Kitchen As the name suggests, Seis Kitchen presents traditional cuisine from six culinary regions of Mexico. From warm, homemade tortillas to the freshest salsa you’ve ever tasted, quesadillas hot-off-the-griddle to slow-simmered black beans, you just can’t go wrong here. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Mexico’s famed street food without leaving Arizona.
- La Botana Tacos
Facebook/La Botana Tacos
Facebook/La Botana Tacos Another family-owned and operated locale, La Botana serves some of the most unique tacos, burros, quesadillas, and other Mexican dishes in Tucson. From roasted poblano chiles to garlic butter shrimp and everything in-between, these zesty flavors are undeniably delectable. There are two locations, so you can enjoy the food no matter which area of the city you reside in.
- El Berraco
TripAdvisor/Jorge F.
TripAdvisor/BuffaloBob El Berraco specializes in Latin-inspired seafood, perfected from a mixture of history and experience. Tangy ceviche with robust spices, stingray gorditas, and deep-fried octopus are just a few of the many unique and delicious entrees. If you’ve never before worked up the courage to try a whole fish, there’s no better place to take the plunge!
- BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs
Google/Lee Blackwood
Google/Rosie Quintero With two restaurants in Tucson, BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs is a uniquely Arizonan take on fast food. With Sonoran dogs, carne asada cooked to perfection over mesquite flames, black Angus beef tacos, their famous michelada, and so much more, this certainly isn’t an ordinary drive-thru experience.
- Boca Tacos y Tequila
Google/Ken Parent
Google/RovingTrader If you’re looking for a modern take on traditional Mexican favorites, Boca Tacos y Tequila is the place to be. The 24 unique taco varieties, imaginative salsas, craft beer, and a dog-friendly patio make this eclectic eatery a must for tourists and natives alike.
- El Charro Cafe
TripAdvisor/2-Lane-Traveler
TripAdvisor/Davis K. The trail even makes a stop at the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family: El Charro Cafe. Both traditional Northern Mexican cuisine and delicacies local to Tucson, each and every menu item is a taste bud explosion. This is the original location, but there are three more at Oro Valley, Ventana, and the Tucson International Airport. Also on the trail are the family’s three other restaurants: Charro Steak, Charro Del Rey, and Charro Vida.
- El Minuto Cafe
Google/Jason Miszuk
Facebook/El Minuto Cafe Since 1936, El Minuto Cafe has been serving the absolute finest Tex-Mex food. There’s absolutely nothing fancy about this classic, no-frills, Sonoran-style cuisine, but boy, is it ever delicious – especially their famous cheese crisps.
- Penca
Facebook/Penca
Facebook/Penca For a slightly more upscale rendition on your favorite Mexican classics, visit Penca. Located in a renovated downtown building, this chic restaurant puts an emphasis on Central Mexican cuisine, with out-of-this-world flavorful tacos, mole, chiles rellenos, and so many more scrumptious dishes. It’s also an international bar!
- Cafe Poca Cosa
TripAdvisor/Clifford M.
Google/Yvonne Perkins Have you ever been to a restaurant whose menu changes twice daily? That’s precisely what Cafe Poca Cosa is known for, along with unusually-prepared dishes and absolutely scrumptious mole sauce.
Visit to the Visit Tucson website to learn more.
Google Maps
TripAdvisor/Gringo Grill + Cantina
Google/Tanya Andrade
Priding itself on its fresh, local flavors and relaxing atmosphere, Gringo Grill + Cantina offers a vibrant menu of Southwestern-inspired cuisine. Tender cuts of meat, spicy peppers, and Tucson’s largest selection of tequila ensure everyone leaves feeling satisfied and happy.
Google/William Paskevich
TripAdvisor/Seis Kitchen
As the name suggests, Seis Kitchen presents traditional cuisine from six culinary regions of Mexico. From warm, homemade tortillas to the freshest salsa you’ve ever tasted, quesadillas hot-off-the-griddle to slow-simmered black beans, you just can’t go wrong here. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Mexico’s famed street food without leaving Arizona.
Facebook/La Botana Tacos
Another family-owned and operated locale, La Botana serves some of the most unique tacos, burros, quesadillas, and other Mexican dishes in Tucson. From roasted poblano chiles to garlic butter shrimp and everything in-between, these zesty flavors are undeniably delectable. There are two locations, so you can enjoy the food no matter which area of the city you reside in.
TripAdvisor/Jorge F.
TripAdvisor/BuffaloBob
El Berraco specializes in Latin-inspired seafood, perfected from a mixture of history and experience. Tangy ceviche with robust spices, stingray gorditas, and deep-fried octopus are just a few of the many unique and delicious entrees. If you’ve never before worked up the courage to try a whole fish, there’s no better place to take the plunge!
Google/Lee Blackwood
Google/Rosie Quintero
With two restaurants in Tucson, BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs is a uniquely Arizonan take on fast food. With Sonoran dogs, carne asada cooked to perfection over mesquite flames, black Angus beef tacos, their famous michelada, and so much more, this certainly isn’t an ordinary drive-thru experience.
Google/Ken Parent
Google/RovingTrader
If you’re looking for a modern take on traditional Mexican favorites, Boca Tacos y Tequila is the place to be. The 24 unique taco varieties, imaginative salsas, craft beer, and a dog-friendly patio make this eclectic eatery a must for tourists and natives alike.
TripAdvisor/2-Lane-Traveler
TripAdvisor/Davis K.
The trail even makes a stop at the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family: El Charro Cafe. Both traditional Northern Mexican cuisine and delicacies local to Tucson, each and every menu item is a taste bud explosion. This is the original location, but there are three more at Oro Valley, Ventana, and the Tucson International Airport. Also on the trail are the family’s three other restaurants: Charro Steak, Charro Del Rey, and Charro Vida.
Google/Jason Miszuk
Facebook/El Minuto Cafe
Since 1936, El Minuto Cafe has been serving the absolute finest Tex-Mex food. There’s absolutely nothing fancy about this classic, no-frills, Sonoran-style cuisine, but boy, is it ever delicious – especially their famous cheese crisps.
Facebook/Penca
For a slightly more upscale rendition on your favorite Mexican classics, visit Penca. Located in a renovated downtown building, this chic restaurant puts an emphasis on Central Mexican cuisine, with out-of-this-world flavorful tacos, mole, chiles rellenos, and so many more scrumptious dishes. It’s also an international bar!
TripAdvisor/Clifford M.
Google/Yvonne Perkins
Have you ever been to a restaurant whose menu changes twice daily? That’s precisely what Cafe Poca Cosa is known for, along with unusually-prepared dishes and absolutely scrumptious mole sauce.
Have you ever traversed the Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food? If so, which restaurant is your favorite? Let us know your thoughts.
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Address: 5900 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704, USAAddress: 130 South Avenida del Convento #100, Tucson, AZ 85745, USAAddress: 1765 E River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718, USAAddress: La Botana Tacos, 3200 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719, USAAddress: 5526 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712, USAAddress: 2960 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719, USAAddress: 2680 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719, USAAddress: 5118 S 12th Ave #1212, Tucson, AZ 85706, USAAddress: 533 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705, USAAddress: El Charro Café, 311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAAddress: 7725 N Oracle Rd #101, Tucson, AZ 85704, USAAddress: 6910 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, AZ 85750, USAAddress: 178 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAAddress: 7109 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704, USAAddress: 188 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAAddress: El Minuto Cafe, 354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAAddress: Penca, Tucson, AZ 85713, USAAddress: 110 E Pennington St, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAAddress: 260 S Church Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, USA
