El Charro is a Tucson institution for a reason. The food is delicious, thoughtfully prepared, and rooted in tradition. The servers were attentive, kind, and clearly skilled at what they do. Under different circumstances, this would have been a wonderful dining experience. Unfortunately, the atmosphere created by the floor manager, Marcus, made it genuinely difficult to enjoy any of it. From the moment we entered the restaurant, we witnessed Marcus berating a staff member to the point of tears. This behavior did not stop there. We were seated near the kitchen's swinging doors, where his conduct became impossible to ignore. Commands were shouted rather than spoken. Hands were clapped at employees as orders were barked. Servers were yelled at to set tables, runners were summoned aggressively instead of being assisted, and all of this occurred while Marcus himself paced back and forth without lifting a finger to help. The entire staff appeared tense, anxious, and visibly on edge. There was not a single employee who seemed relaxed or comfortable in the space. The warmth, beauty, and cultural richness of El Charro's aesthetic were completely overshadowed by the hostile environment being created in real time. It was painful to watch. Despite this, our servers remained gracious, professional, and attentive. Their kindness stood in stark contrast to the conditions they were working under. I felt compelled to apologize to them for what they were experiencing, which is not something a guest should ever feel the need to do. When I asked to speak directly with Marcus, I was met not with accountability, but with excuses. There was no openness to reflection, no acknowledgment of impact, and no indication that the concerns being raised mattered. It was deeply disappointing. In contrast, I later spoke with Caleb, another lead, who was receptive, understanding, and handled the feedback with professionalism and care. Caleb demonstrated the type of leadership that fosters trust and respect, and he should be the standard, not the exception. El Charro represents generations of Mexican culture, hospitality, and family. What we witnessed was the antithesis of those values. Mexican culture is warm, communal, and rooted in care for one another. Fear-driven leadership, public humiliation, and hostility toward staff have no place in that legacy. I sincerely hope ownership becomes aware of this, because the food and the staff deserve far better. A restaurant can have incredible cuisine, but when leadership strips dignity from the people serving it, the experience is fundamentally broken. read more

El Charro Cafe - Here's some more feedback, Marcus - dress more like a manager, but more importantly, act like one. - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We had a great experience! We made a reservation and was seated right away. The whole place is decorated so nice and our waitress was the sweetest. She let our son help with the guacamole and took time to talk to him- not expected but appreciated. We heard some live music and the food was fast. Now for the food. This place is touristy but that is okay. You will still have a good experience but the food is not the best but still good. We got the carne seca enchiladas and it was good! 4/5 and I can see why it is famous- good, smoky flavor. We also got the chicken fajitas and it was okay- 3/5 and I would get something else. For dessert we got the churros and that was great! read more

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Was keen to check out this place, found a reel on Instagram which said this was the oldest Mexican restaurant in the country. Kinda stopped by late, they seated us right away even though they were close to their closing time. Got us nachos and two salsa dips right away. The green one was amazing with a nice tangy and spicy kick to it. I ordered the shrimp dish, which was quite creamy and well balanced with a lot of veggies. The squash and zucchini were really good as well. Portions were quite big. read more

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This restaurant was recommended to us by a Tucson local. We came as a group on a Wednesday night at about 6:30pm. The place was packed and many more people waiting to get in. We were told the wait time would be about 30-45 min. but in reality, we did not wait more than about 20 minutes. We were seated in the courtyard. Lovely, colorful ambiance with many beautiful decorations. The food was good, though not "Mexican" spicy. Maybe the rumors are true that Tucson food tends to be less spicy than in other places. We had the mini chimis and the guacamole for appetizers. Guacamole was prepared tableside but it was missing a zing (my co-worker ordered hot sauce to make up for the missing kick). For my entree, I ordered the chile relleno. It was a good, visually nice dish. My colleagues had some of the combination platters and fajitas. The portions are big, so bring a good appetite. Overall, a nice place, especially for out-of-towners to take home some memories of this lively Southern border/Tucson atmosphere. read more

El Charro Cafe - Chile Relleno - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Our server was excellent,. the food was good but having to sit and listen to the owner shout at the staff while trying to enjoy lunch was a horrible experience for my daughter and I. The man would shout at the staff "tell her to get her a** over here now. move I said hurry". For the entire hour and a half we were there we heard him shouting at the staff. We left saddened to see people treated so poorly - shame on the Flores family read more

I can't tell you all how sincere this restaurant is. The service, food, ambience and vibe are such a valuable resource in the search for genuine authenticity in a local iconic restaurant like El Charro. I've been coming here with my family since the mid 90's and never disappointed. Worth the wait any day! My last trip was made even more special by the personal attention of the owner to help us retrieve a lost item. Amazing care and concern as we felt like we were part of the family of El Charro. Blessings and much success into the future for the staff and administration of this lovely "casa de comida" and many years to come I'm sure! Muchas Gracias Amigos y Amigas de El Charro! read more

If you're looking for the real deal El Charro is where you want to go. Great food & service. Their salsa is wonderful. We shared the Monica Platter. It was delicious & was plenty of food for my wife & I on a hot afternoon. Thank you Marcus & staff! read more

In town for the summer with our oldest from the U of A and staying at the DoubleTree Downtown. Traveling with a 5-year-old can make it tough to find a spot that satisfies all our cravings--especially things we can't easily get back home in Hawaii. We're so glad we stopped in because we're still talking about the food! Despite being busy, the customer service was top-notch from start to finish. We ordered the cheese crisps, quesabirria enchiladas, and Charro nachos--everything was packed with flavor and absolutely mouthwatering. Even our picky 5-year-old loved the cheese crisps! We also appreciated the children's menu (the chicken tenders were a win). It was a nice walk from the hotel, and we'll definitely be back over the next few years during our visits! read more

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The food is amazing! The service is very prompt and polite. And the decor is just outstanding--definitely a 10/10. read more

El Charro Cafe - Seafood Enchiladas with rice and beans - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

El Charro has a charming atmosphere, tasty food, and nice servers. What more could you want? That said, it is definitely a place to come with an appetite! I went for lunch, and they don't appear to have a lunch menu, so we left a sad amount of food on the table because we were traveling and couldn't take leftovers. I wish there were more places with smaller portion sizes, but we kept encountering massive meals all across Tucson. We sat outside in the courtyard, and it was lovely and relaxing. (Well, minus the wasp!) I had a watermelon margarita, which was tasty, and they were able to make my friend a mock prickly pear margarita, which she raved about. We split a queso fundido with nopales to start, and that was probably enough for us! Our entrees were delicious, albeit it huge. I did fajitas and she had the corn masa cake enchiladas. All was flavorful and fresh, but just so dang big! The history of this place alone warrants a stop, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. read more

El Charro Cafe - The hanging meat. We didn't have any, but it was a sight to see. - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I don't know what all the hype is, it's regular nothing that I couldn't get at a cheaper Mexican restaurant. I believe the building has never been updated so no big thrills. Service slow food okay read more

Wow, what a meal. Best Mexican meal I've ever had, and living in Chicago, California, and Arizona, I've had quite a few good ones. This was the best. Ordered the temptation tamale trio. The masa was light and fluffy, the filling moist and flavorful. Also had the Tucson enchiladas sonorenses with carnitas. Wow, what depth of flavor. The margaritas were a nice addition too. Our waiter kept us refilled on chip, salsa, and water. Neat place too. I can see why they've been around for 100 years. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tucson's Enchiladas Sonorenses with carnitas - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I like coming here because in my opinion there are so many fun/interesting food and adult beverage options that are delicious. This visit I came with the fam and enjoyed every part of the experience. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Yes Sí Oui Ja Sì Sim نعم Evet 是 / 对 はい 네 Ndiyo Ja Tak Vâng / Dạ If you're visiting Tucson, your trip is NOT complete unless you've dined at El Charro! The history is rich, the food is delicious, the service is usually great, the atmosphere is lively and there's ART EVERYWHERE! Bring a big group or fly solo, they've gotchu! I highly suggest reservations but I don't think they do "day of" so plan ahead. Note: we were a party of 5 last night.... we arrived before 7pm, we were sat at nearly 8pm and served at nearly 9pm. This can happen here but the server was upfront about their situation, which we appreciated. Just be aware, sometimes El Charro can be a bit of a marathon dining experience but I promise you, it's worth it. read more

This place came highly recommended from a familymembers. My husband and I decided to do a little day trip and go here for lunch. This is hands-down the best Mexican meal I've ever had in my life. My husband had the chimichanga. I had the street tacos and we had the table side guacamole. Everything was phenomenal and extremely authentic. I literally would vote that this is the best Mexican restaurant in the US. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

My girl and I recently went for a night out and some food. We got sat right away, and our server came up pretty quick. After putting in our drink orders, it was downhill. The drinks took about 10 minutes, the table side gauc took about 25 minutes to get to us, and another 10 for food after. Didn't seem took much of a busy night, lots of empty tables. Overall, our server seemed very rushed with us and not pleasant, but atmosphere was great otherwise! read more

An amazing meal at El Charro Cafe. El Charro is helmed by Carlotta Flores. A James Beard Award nominated Chef, Carlotta Flores is the Owner, El Charro Café, Charro Steak & Del Rey, Charro Vida, Barrio Charro, The Monica The matriarch of Tucson's Mexican food scene, Carlotta Flores, ACF, is the third generation overseeing El Charro Café, the country's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. We had great service and wonderful Mexican Food. We had the rolled Taquitos Banderas served with a trio of red, white and green sauces with pico, queso and guacamole . Stellar taste even if the sauces were on the hotter side. We alsohad the Assorted Mini Chimichangas pico salsa & sour cream and the Chicken Tortilla Soup. The soup which we shared felt homemade and simmered. A highlight was a sampling of their El Charro Carne Seca which is a 3 day old , sun dried beef which El Charro is the only restaurant in America legally allow to prepare and serve. The same recipe since the 1800's. The drink of the evening was the Prickly Pear Margarita which is a staple in the Area Needless to say this was on par with the best food we have eaten. The building used to be the house of the original family who owned the restaurant and was converted into a quirky function establishment. I highly recommend reservations, we made reservations, one month in advance. There was a long wait at the door if you did not have reservations. read more

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Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had and I've been to Mexico! The seafood enchiladas were insane! As was the shrimp taco! read more

El Charro Cafe - Numero quatro - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Omar was our waiter for our group of 18 in the lower room and he was fantastic! Fast friendly service for our large group. From drinks, to desserts and entrees every order was on point. The ambience is authentic Mexican and the history on the walls told a story. The food, beverages and desserts were ALL delicious. Great experience! read more

El Charro Cafe - Dessert trio - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What a delicious meal. This restaurant is kind of tucked away in a dark, industrial part of town, but the restaurant and parking lot were well lit. Service was attentive and our food was flavorful and delicious. I was sad I couldn't eat all of my food! Would definitely recommend and come back. read more

El Charro Cafe - Sinaloa shrimp dish - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Food was good, margaritas were great and the queso fundido with chorizo and it was delicious. Our waiter was helpful and the atmosphere was beautiful. We were served quickly. read more

Love this Tucson tradition. We had old friends come visit from the East Coast. We met them for dinner at El Charro downtown. Great atmosphere and the food was fantastic. Wonderful Staff and fun Mariachis's. Perfect place to take visitors to Tucson. read more

El Charro Cafe - El Charro Downtown - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

5 estrellas Las chimichangas de El Charro están bien buenas, compa. Crujientes por fuera, llenas de sabor por dentro. El lugar tiene buen ambiente y la gente atiende con mucho respeto. Si andas por Tucson, no te lo pierdas, neta está bien recomendado. read more

El Charro Cafe - Aquí nomás, disfrutando lo bueno de la vida, órale - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

great great meican food. also great prickly pear margaritas. get reservations or wait and take your chances but well worh it. Desert (flan) was delicious read more

El Charro Cafe - Flan. Delicious - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Sensational meal! A landmark for a reason. Tableside guac, incredible. The house made salsas alone are worth the drive! Beer battered tacos, so fresh. The quesadillas, the beans, so flavorful! Go go go! So happy we did on our short vacation. Marques! What a legend. read more

Food was delicious! Menu is quite extensive with some interesting items. Large portions of fresh food. The rellanos were so good as were the chicken tamales! Nachos were enough for 3 people. Our server Kenny was great! read more

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I enjoyed the family-friendly vibe at this local Mexican spot! I finally made it for Sunday lunch with friends, and it didn't disappoint. I had the red sangria and the red chile beef tamales -- both were delicious. There's ample parking in front of the restaurant. The live band was a great touch as well. This spot has been on my list to try for years since it's a classic Tucson staple and I understand why. It's a great spot to hang out with a small group of friends or family over good food. read more

El Charro Cafe - Red Chile Beef Tamales - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Love their steak house, thought I'd try lunch April 4th, 1pm. At their cafe. Busy! First they got me seated quickly! Fast beverage order, windows open so plenty of flies. Chips and salsa come quickly and then my waiter with a recent shiner! lol ordered the surf and turf fajitas, a Cadillac martini. The drink was tasty, served in a pint beer glass, the fajitas came snd my first impression was not very eye appealing! Meat and shrimp snd vegetables were not steaming, vegetables looked like they had been sitting in a pot stewed? Way over cooked , the skirt steak a bit chewy and 6 little shrimp with tails on, the tortillas came , 2 small tortillas! I asked for more , the plate with the rice and beans and guacamole and pico was nice, the entire plate of "fajita" vegetables got left behind,, like I mentioned , overcooked and the flavor was off. Think I will continue going to the steak house! It wasn't the best lunch at $58 which included the tip. read more

Disappointed. We had high expectations of this place, as it's known as the place where the chimichanga was created. However, this was definitely not the best chimichanga I've ever had. It was actually very dry and hard to eat. The queso was as expected and the tortilla soup was good, but overall a mediocre meal. The service was okay, but the booth was greasy when we got seated. This place has a lot of room for improvement. read more

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Visiting Tucson area and decided upon this local place when searching for a dinner spot. Overall did not have the best experience here. It started with the wait. We were told at the time we put our name down, that it would be a 45 min wait. Fine, no problem. We walked around and then came back with 15 mins to spare. Now they are a popular spot so they were busy. However, no one contacted us about our table and we noticed a few people who came after us being seated before us. Again no communication from the hostesses until we approached and asked. Then were told it'd be a few mins and they'll disappear. Finally someone came out and asked if we wanted to be seated outside. We were going to take it but then she disappeared and a good 10 mins went by with no host coming to communicate anything. Finally a host came back and said "follow me" to a table that was just cleared off. We ordered and our waiter Caleb was attentive and kind. However the food was subpar. My chicken for the fajitas was salty, the guacamole salty and the Spanish rice basic. I didn't finish it. I was disappointed since I was quite hungry. The atmosphere was one of chatter and groups. You could tell the wait staff wasn't prepared fully for the rush. read more

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Crazy long wait. Don't bother if you don't have a reservation! Food is ok but our waiter forgot to order one of our guest's entrees read more

Came here because it's the oldest Mex restaurant in Tucson. Had the mini-chimichanga appetizer, delicious. I had the chicken alpastor burrito, slightly sweet with pineapple but tasted fantastic. My spouse ordered the carne seca burrito (dry salted beef), too dry and too salty for her tastes even though it was what the restaurant is known for. Nice atmosphere, very homey. Service was excellent, waiter was very patient with us being our first time. read more

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In town visiting and had to return to my all-time favorite, El Charro Café a true staple from my UofA days in the '90s. Being back felt like coming home. It was Valentine's Day, and Marcus and his team absolutely went above and beyond from the red tablecloths and pink napkins to the festive, themed food and drink specials. Every detail made the night feel thoughtful and celebratory. The ambiance was so familiar and comforting, the food was delicious as always, and David (I believe that was his name!) was an outstanding, attentive server. Holidays can be tough, and I often walk into Valentine's Day dinners with low expectations, but El Charro and Marcus completely knocked it out of the park. Thank you for making my Valentine's so special and for continuing to be the best family-owned restaurant I know. read more

El Charro Café - Tucson, AZ "I used to love coming here, but this time the service was rushed and the carne seca was dry and flavorless. Prices went up too. Bummed out because this used to be a Tucson classic." read more

Established in 1922, not only is this the oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant in Tucson but it's also the oldest in the nation. First off, let me just say the service here is outstanding. They really take great care of you the moment you sit down. I absolutely love the interior decor with the lace curtains and sombrero hats on the walls. We were seated in a room called the Mo Udall. Here is what we ordered: - Charro Street Tacos (assortment of 6) - Tamale Stuffed Chicken - Chile Relleno del Rey Every dish was an explosion of flavor. This is some of the best Mexican we have ever had. Huge shout out to our lovely waitress, Kim. With such an overwhelming menu, she gave us some samples of el chamo came seca (dried beef) which is used in a few of their dishes. We didn't have room for dessert and Kim said we have to come back. On a last note: OMG! Their fresh made salsa for their chips was so good that my son wanted to drink it. read more

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Great food, great service, great atmosphere, and entertainment to boot! Will definitely come here again next time I'm in Tucson.

While in Tucson, we had to eat at the home of the creator of the chimichanga! This restaurant has also been the best of the best in Tucson for over 100 years now ave it totally lived up to the hype. The service was outstanding: our waiter was friendly and our food came out quickly. The ambiance was casual and fun decorated Mexican style. My family decided to order a sampling of their famous dishes and we loved everything! We ordered: -Tamale Temptation Trio 10/10 - Quesabirria Mini Chimichanga platter - 4 count (we wished we'd gotten more of these cheese coated tiny chimichangas that we dipped in the most delicious consume as this was our favorite dish!) 11/10! - Carne Seca platter 10/10 - Bandera Enchiladas (carnitas, pollo arizona, & carne seca enchilada trio featuring green, raja crema & red sauces) 10/10 We loved all the food here and can totally see why this restaurant is so famous! Eat here for sure! read more

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We were promptly seated, served chips and red and green salsa very good. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. I had the carne seca enchiladas they were amazing the dry beef flavor was intensified. I love the decor the history they've been around since 1922 they are respected and spoken of highly in the community. When we went to leave our Tahoe wouldn't start the staff checked on us for the next two hours in the high heat, Thank You!! read more

Such a cool authentic experience. We came with a group of 6 and everything from the service to the food was great. The restaurant is so unique being the oldest Mexican restaurant in the US. The table side guac and enchiladas were my favorite! read more

El Charro Cafe - Birria enchiladas - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We so enjoyed our leisurely meal at El Charro! Steven was engaging and charming and treated us with great respect and kindness. He is a positive aspect of the restaurant. He was very helpful and El Charro is lucky to have him. read more

El Charro Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona