This is our go to steak restaurant. Anyone giving it less than 4 stars clearly doesn't understand this rustic classic. This is a classic western steakhouse. It's supposed to be simple, cooked well, and great service! We often take out of town guests since it's such a neat spot. With all the boring chains all over, we love supporting local and they are an original! They're known for their prime rib, which I always get. They cook a perfect rare. My husband gets the filet and always love it. Tamale pie is delicious and the prices are reasonable. Anyone looking down on their pricing should probably head back to Longhorn or Texas Roadhouse. We can not recommend this place more! read more

It has probably been 25 years since I've been to El Corral and the restaurant has so many fond memories for me so I was excited when my husband wanted to do there for his birthday. It was busy for a Monday night just before 6pm and were told it would be a short wait for a table so we sat at the bar for a cocktail. We appreciated the bartender trying to be a little creative for my husband's rum drink and the fact that he muddled EXTRA cucumber for my Cool Water drink. Note: the online menu says the drink is made with cucumber infused vodka but the bartender said it's regular vodka hence the extra muddling! Before both drinks were served, our table was ready! Our server was Carol and she does a great job and is quite personable. We ordered the appetizer assortment which consisted of Sonoran Chiles, Pork Rib Tips, and Corn Fritters. Neither of us liked the Sonoran Chiles (a poblano completely STUFFED with meat) but that's a personal preference or dislike, I liked the corn fritters although a little mushy and the pork rib tips were tasty but tough. For dinner we each did a T-bone, mine with tamale pie and his a loaded baked potato. Everything was perfection. Carol brought out a slice of Adobe Mud Pie on the house to celebrate my husband's birthday and we also took a slice of cheesecake home. Yeah, we are gluttons, LOL. A few more drinks were had during dinner as well including a Dirty Bird, extra dirty....delicious! Only a couple thing preventing me from rating El Corral 5 stars. 1) no cucumber infused vodka for the cucumber drink 2) the very tough rib tips (those tips prevented me from ordering ribs for dinner as I just didn't trust that they'd be fall off the bone tender 3) we ordered the Timmy's Steak Butter but Carol told us they were out since they were slammed the night before. Why on earth wouldn't the kitchen make more for the next evening? Carol did come back after serving our entrees with a bit of the steak butter she found and it was delicious on the steak however we liked the Cowboy Steak Butter much more. El Corral screams Tucson to me and I really hope they will be around for many generations to come. read more

TL;DR: El Corral is pushing weight when it comes to quantity and value. Be ready to fill up on a ton of food Ordered: - rib tips: way too sauced even with the sauce on the side. enough ribs to feed 2 - meatballs: pass on these. not very flavorful and texture got old quick - side salad: classic iceberg salad for barely above zero fiber - dinner rolls: just packing it on at this point - rib and prime rib combo: so much food this should be enough for 2 Obviously ordered way too much but for the price, you really can't beat the quantity. Nothing blew me away other than seeing the fire inside - real pros working the flame! Hats off to the grill masters read more

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The food, ambiance and service were all impeccable. Our waiter, Jason, was a delight and very friendly and accommodating. The prime rib was the best ever -- succulent and like butter. The tamale pie is a must have. A half order of mud pie is simply perfect for dessert. Prices are also very reasonable considering what you get and how absolutely delicious everything was. Jason even brought us bones from the kitchen when we requested a doggie bag! Love all the different cozy rooms and Western decor. read more

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Prime rib 5/5 and would recommend. Service 5/5- super nice The sides were okay- but nothing out of the ordinary The ribeye that was ordered medium well was more well done and okay. Onion rings were a little bland and soggy and the rib tips were okay. The corn fritters are good to get- the prickly pear sauce was really good. And as mentioned... the prime rib is a must get and likely the only thing I would get if I went there again- they recommend getting it rare but got it medium and it was sooo good. Country/ cowboy style decor and country music to go with the steakhouse theme. Good for groups. Lots of parking. read more

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There is never a disappointing experience at El Corral. This restaurant is legendary for a reason. Great service, steaks, and an ambiance to match! With flagstone floors, many dining rooms, and photos of Hollywood stars from a bygone era, the restaurant sinks you into an atmosphere of an old western movie. With probably the best prime rib in town, you will not go hungry. There is even a vegan meatloaf on the menu for inclusivity. The steaks are big and prepared to order. Try the tamale pie - this is not a dish that is available anywhere else. The loaded baked potato is another side that is great with a steak. Many different wine and beverage choices that are affordable. Some of the desserts can also be ordered as half size. Just go, and experience a different world that leaves you satisfied and happy. It is that good!!! read more

El Corral - The prime rib, tamale pie, and loaded baked potato. Watch out for the horseradish- it packs a bite!!! - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We arrived around 5:45 PM on a Sunday. Their large parking lot was full. The restaurant is cute with Christmas lights on the cactuses. Our hostess told us it would be a 45 minute wait and that we can sit at the bar (which was packed) or the lounge by the restrooms. We decided on the lounge. It was so cozy with big arm chairs and couches. I sank into the most comfortable leather chair. My husband went to the bar to get us a drink. He came back and said it was too full. After five minutes or so he tried again. This time he was back with 2 drinks. I decided to try their ranch water. It's tequila with simple syrup and sparkling water. It was very fresh and refreshing! My husband got the old fashioned. He enjoyed it. After about 45 minutes, even though we did see 10 plus open tables, we were seated. It was a side room with just another group far away. It had 10 plus empty tables and was very intimate. We had the room to ourselves almost. I ordered the T-bone and tamale pie and house salad. He ordered the ribeye bone in with tamale pie and a Caesar salad. My salad looked a bit sad. It was wilted like it sat under a heat lamp. His Caesar was full but drowning in dressing. When our steaks came they looked so good! Huge portions for the $30 something price is a steal. My momma always told me that when something sounds too good to be true, it usually isn't. Here's where the stars fall off. Both our steaks were very fatty: 1/3 was fat, 1/3 was bone and 1/3 was actual steak. It was also under seasoned and underwhelming. The tamale pie was the only good thing that saved our dinner. If you are on a budget and looking for a steak dinner, this is the place to go but just remember, you get what you pay for! The sky view from the parking lot was amazing! Tucson is a beautiful city. read more

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Having received a gift certificate, I held my breath and went to this "tourist trap" restaurant. I was expecting blah food and too much decor. Surprise. The food, while a bit under-seasoned, was quite decent, the servings good size, and the atmosphere pleasant. The staff were friendly if a bit "mature." This meal was takeout since I wasn't sure of accessibility, but our next one will be in house, and there will be a next one for sure. What did we eat? The apps combo was outstanding, the onion rings as good as they come, the Caesar salad quite acceptable, and the regular roast beef generous if a bit under seasoned. Two caveats: they don't serve real butter with their rolls and why rolls at all and not biscuits or cornbread; something more in keeping with the west. read more

El Corral - A bit too homey in decor, but not unpleasant. - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I've driven past this restaurant so many times and it is always busy. And it smells amazing. I had high hopes for this place after so many years but I think the reason why people come is for the ambiance and old time western charm. The food was ok but honestly nothing special. The front host and wait staff are definitely on the older side. The clientele matches the wait staff as mostly older folks come here. I had a french dip sandwich and my boyfriend had the prime rib. My sandwich was not very tasty and even the au jus sauce didn't help. My side of onion rings were good. My boyfriend said his prime rib was overcooked but he enjoyed the fully loaded baked potato. Overall we probably won't be back. But we both wanted to try it and we are glad we did. read more

El Corral - Prime rib with loaded baked potato - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I am so glad to be able to come back and update my review. The manager sent me a lovely letter addressing all concerns I had mentioned, inviting us back on the house. We waited a while to return for different reasons. And it appears they made some good changes in that time. Our waitress, Kathie, was great. Very friendly and helpful. We tried the corn fritters with prickly pear dipping sauce. Fantastic. They were the perfect size, crispy, moist and that sauce needs to be bottled on sold. We also put it on our ice cream! This time I got the baby back ribs and they tasted great. Good amount of sauce, fell of the bone and plenty for leftovers. We also had the loaded baked potatoes and they were definitely loaded with goodness. I love the ambience as we sat in a different room because this time it was actually busy for the holidays. I noticed different things I hadn't seen before. My dinner guest had the prickly pear margarita and really enjoyed it in a cute saguaro glass. read more

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We came for the Beef. Four of us, 20 year friends. And all the dinners were excellent, we shared a family salad they offered and a couple sides. But the highlight was great conversation about how we grew up, with and with out religion. One was an alter boy another never baptized. Everyone was very different.. read more

Another successful dinner. We took two first-timers who also enjoyed everything. Great margs and prime rib. Love looking at all the photos. read more

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We went to El Corral last night for my 25th birthday with my parents and 5 year old Autistic son. I knew it was going to be wonderful from the get-go but I had no idea how wonderful until the middle of the meal. First off, I made the reservation online no problem but then remembers I wanted to ask for a quiet table for both my son and my father who has hearing aids, so I gave them a call and they were able to place us in a private room all to ourselves. It was so quiet and peaceful and I didn't have to worry about my son getting up from the table. But then, my son's tablet battery died in the middle of dinner and he was really distraught. We probably would have ad to leave right then but the WHOLE staff and the manager rallied and not only got us an extension cord but the charger that would work with my son's tablet so it would charge and work for the rest of the meal. I'm so grateful for their kindness and how quick they were to jump in, saving our evening. I would go there for any special occasion or weekday night. read more

El Coral it's just a Tucson staple when it comes to steak restaurants. I really love coming here with friends and family, especially for not from here. It is just a great dining experience that really embodies the Tucson spirit. All the steak is grilled over Mesquite and exceptional. The ambience is out of a rustic, no-frills steakhouse. Also, the service was exceptional. Our waiter did a great job of taking care of our table. read more

Went to El Corral for the first time Wednesday night. The building is filled with old west nostalgia and decorations - giving a feeling of warmth and inviting throwback to yesterday. Started with corn fritters with prickly pear sauce - delicious! Tried tamale pie to share as appetizer and everybody loved. Skipping to dessert, the apple cobbler with ice cream was shared and was fantastic. However, the meat course was average and/or below par. One had petite filet and it was not a choice piece of meat. To be known for prime rib, the prime rib left all disappointed. Go for the atmosphere, go for the nostalgia, he'll go for the appetizers but eat your meat somewhere else. Service was experienced and adequate. I wanted to score better. read more

Amazing service and the steak is some of the best I've had. Unfortunately, the rolls were not as good but not a big deal because their corn fritter app was delightful. Actually have plans to go back this weekend! read more

For the first time I find myself happy that I waited a day to post my review. My first impulse would have been a customer very upset. I am still overall dissatisfied, but ask you to take this with a grain of salt. Because we were a large party celebrating two birthdays we arranged to be early 5:30. We were seated right away. IMO there should have been two servers not one. Our party was 16. Overwhelming for any seasoned server. Stopped at the grille "where the magic happens". My bone in rib eye was slightly past rare, no problem, but it came unseasoned, really? In reality , better than over salty. Bread and salad came out slow, as did the mains, very slow. All which is due to the party being big, I'm sure. Keeping it just to 2 to 4 people seems the sweet spot. The room was very cold, but got adjusted at the end. My Cactus Pear Margarita was wonderful. Our server was courteous and polite. By the time we should have ordered desert we were all too tired to continue. The evening dragged on. I place the blame on the management for not checking on progress and helping things go better. Bread was good, but not the spread, real butter please. Kudos to the management to have a parking lot attendant. This was my first time to visit this long standing restaurant, alas, probably my last. Qué lastima. Honesty hurts. read more

The star is for the steak and the waiter Jason that's it! We were told AFTER already ordering that management has changed and it was not a good decision. It's my husbands birthday and we were going to the cork or Fleming but he remembered how much he enjoyed the hatch chile prime rib dip appetizer. Well what a waste; the new mgmt changed it to a Sonoran chile and it was horrible, dry, bland and not worth $3 let alone $13.99. Then I get a Sonoran topping on my tbone and it's bacon bits like the bag from Costco in the dry aisle and pico de gallo? My husband got a side of mashed potatoes and gravy and I joked with the waiter Jason if we could have a teaspoon to eat them because the size of them was ridiculous.. they owe me a big fat coupon seeing it was $125 and we went home bummed big time! read more

El Corral - T one with a 3.99 steak topper.. where's it at right - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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The staff is most pleasant and attentive, the Steakhouse was most pleasant and festive, a lot of effort put into in to it, the Prime Rib was pre to perfection and most delicious, truly a treat to dine at this historic landmark. You won't be disappointed read more

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Absolutely unacceptable service. Made a reservation for 6:45. Arrived a few minutes before and was told my table would be ready in 45 minutes??? Not sure what the point of having a reservation is....i spoke to the manager and she said at this point it was an hour and a half wait. I asked if they had any sort of limit as to how long people can stay at a table and she said no. What a JOKE! 0/10. read more

I hadn't eaten at El Corral in years but I have great affection for this restaurant. We ate there on our anniversary, which made it special, it's truly a gem in Tucson. The food was excellent and our waiter was wonderful. I'm so glad that we came back. read more

The food was awful. Prime rib was poorly cooked and very tough to chew. I ordered medium and it was served rare and cold. Two people in our party ordered steaks and they both were full of gristle. Both steaks were very undercooked. One was sent back and came back well done and the other was actually purple it was so rare. We spent $180 and it was the worst meal out we've had in a long time. Very disappointing for such an iconic restaurant in Tucson. read more

Amazing filet, potato, salad was fresh, nice margaritas. My new favorite place will go again.

I joined 3 friends at El Corral to celebrate one's birthday. 3 of us had been there years ago and 1 has never been. EC didn't disappoint, in fact we had an absolutely amazing dinner. First, we arrived at 5 pm when it opened. Not crowded, even when we left about 7:30 pm. Carol was our server and she was absolutely our rock star. Very personable, funny and spot on server. 2 of us had the bone-in ribeye. Yummy- cooked to our specification, accompanied with a salad and choice of side. 1 had the green beans, the other, a baked potato. 1 had a half-rack of ribs. Fall of the bone, delicious BBQ sauce w/baked potato. The last one ordered the Prime Rib. Perfectly cooked and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Everything was delicious, from the salads to the sides to the main dish. The birthday woman received a chocolate sundae that we all tasted. The restaurant is old, but clean and has several rooms. It's easy to get lost in there but the ambiance is nice and peaceful. The price was extremely reasonable. 5 alcoholic beverages, 2 steaks, 1 BBQ ribs, 1 prime rib along with an extra side of mushrooms and steak butter was just under $200. Score! And they didn't add a credit card charge (which is slowly becoming a serious pet peeve of mine). That is the cost of doing business in today's world. Just stop with the nickel & dime charges. Give cash diners a discount, don't penalize people because they use a credit card. It's 2026, for Pete's sake. I must reiterate, Carol B was a ROCK STAR! A lot of fun and I wish she was my neighbor. We had an absolutely marvelous time and she helped with that. We will all be back again. Thank you El Corral for being a legend in our town. read more

Great old western atmosphere and delicious food! Prime rib was excellent as was the mud pie for dessert. Friendly staff and service. Came here probably 15 years ago and it still has the same welcoming vibe. Enjoyed coming back. read more

El Corral - Entrance - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We'll have been going to El Corral since the 80's and boy was I disappointed! Had their world famous tamale pie, boy was that dry! I am glad my mom got the recipe so I can make some! Now to my steak, glad my wife's was well done cause mine was every way from rear to well done in one steak! Never thought I could see that in a steak(lol). My dad's got baby back ribs. They did fall off the bone but a 1/4 of the half rack was burned. So in all I will not be going back. read more

Avoid like the plague- Ten minutes before waiter came to table Dinner salad wasn't cold -no fresh lettuce Steak wasn't hot-cooked incorrectly Tamale pie side was barely warm Save your money Warm (not hot) food=potential for illness. Save your money (and your health) read more

The prime rib was really good, tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The horseradish on the side was nice and strong, giving it that perfect spicy kick. Highly recommend! read more

I love, love , love El Corral. This steakhouse has been around forever and is as delicious as it was from day one. The salad with house dressing and the Arizona prime rib is my absolute go to. Don't forget your greasy side of raw horseradish and sour cream to cut it a little. read more

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Until about 9 years ago I used to have dinner at least once a mont. last night my family and I decided to try it out again and we were re disappointed. The food was subpar the service was unacceptable. for the price they charge they need to step it up. to anyone who reads this review I would think twice before you spend your hard earned money at El Corral. read more

Booths too small, food portions small , service was absolutely the worst this week. Overpriced'

We haven't been to El corral in many years and my wife wanted prime rib for her birthday dinner so we decided to go down. I was a little worried, because I had read read that they're quality of meats had gone down in the past few years, but that was not the case. We were seated quickly, but I did take our surf for a little bit of time to take her drinks and we knew what we wanted right away. Both my wife and I got the Arizona cut while my daughter got the smaller cut of prime rib. My wife and I got the ranch dressing, which was remarkably well and I rate second to pinnacle Peak for taste. Mills came out rather quickly after the salads and the prime rib is just as I remember that very tender very flavorful. My wife got The tamale pie while my daughter and I got the mashed potatoes and gravy. If there was one thing to complain about, it would be the gravy it just was not as good as we remembered it. One thing that was missing is that they don't serve soup anymore. Their menu is a little smaller than it used to be more condensed. read more

Good wait staff and pretty good timing for dinner for six on a busy Friday night. The food was delicious if a little too costly.

The food was good, as usual. The service was great. Our family has been coming here for 40 plus years for special occasions. It's our tradition. Tonight, for my son's 40th birthday, we reserved the private room for this most special occasion. The reservation was made two weeks ago. Most of us arrived at 5PM for our 5:30 reservation. we confirmed our reservation and had a drink at the bar. at 5:30, a hostess said our room was ready and we asked to wait a few minutes as the rest of our party had just pulled up and were parking. At 5:35 we headed for the private room and found that they had given our reservation to some other party. Had they let us know this would happen, we would have certainly gone to the room right away as we wanted the room for this very special celebration. The manager of course, said he was sorry but unless there is significant training of the host staff, other families may be facing the same discouraging experience. read more

This has been a go to place for special occasions for over 40 years. Our daughter would sit on the saddles used for the bar and order Shirley Temples, our son of ordered a Roy Rodgers. My mother-in-law always wanted to go for dinner when she visited. After all these years we still love it read more

Prime Rib and Filet mignon were Delicious! We were there on a Wednesday evening...Service was very prompt and our waitress was so kind and excellent at her job. read more

The food the service. No flavor not fresh . I haven't been there in a while decided to give it a chance. And it still the same . read more

We've been going to El Corral for years! It has a great western ambiance - nice for special occasions or for taking out-of-town guests. In addition to steak options, they have chicken, salmon, and salads. As far as sides, I recommend the mushrooms and tamale pie (definitely got to get the tamale pie! ). The quality of the house salad ("table toss") had gone down but I was happy to see/taste that it had improved the last time I was there (included mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and a tasty dressing!) read more

El Corral - Petit filet, tamale pie, mushrooms - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Used to be very regular guests when we had out of town company. Had not been here in years due to repeated bad experiences. Had friends in town today and tried again. Service was excellent for an early 515 reservation. Food was good but portions seemed small for the price. Had the prime rib which tasted good. Unfortunately however there was a strong smell of sewer gas and or a natural gas leak. Eating dinner next to a sewer plant is not exactly the ambiance we were going for. Called attention to the manager who said "I will leave a note for them tomorrow". Not sure who "them" was, but the smell of sewer was not encouraging for return again. May try again in another 5 years. read more

Still the best place to come. From the moment you walk up, you smell that delicious smoke. The ambience has like it always has been. It's a place where you come back into history, into nostalgia. They no longer make the salad at the table, which is disappointing. But the salad was fine enough. And it comes with every entrée. The tamale pie is the best and I would highly recommend it . Came with several people so we ordered prime rib, steak, a chicken Caesar salad with shrimp, and I ordered the poblano chili, which is stuffed with corn and possibly quinoa. All of it was delicious. The poblano is vegan, which is great. The bread was so good. El corral used to not have the greatest bread, just white dinner rolls. But now they upped their game. The bread almost feels like you're eating a biscuit. read more

El Corral - Steakhouses Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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