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    El Merendero

    3.9 (246 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order El Merendero Takeout or Delivery

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    EL MERENDERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Merendero

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    Shrimp enchiladas
    Angie K.

    We came here with a group of about twenty for lunch. I really didn't know what to expect from a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, but wow there are so many of them! This place wasn't really much to look at both inside and out, pretty standard casual restaurant. They brought us a pile of chips, salsa, and some pico de gallo. The pico de gallo and salsa were great, not too spicy but just enough kick to make them super tasty and hard to not just fill up on that. It was almost comical, we'd have a bit left and set it aside in anticipation of our food arriving and then more chips would show up! The service was quite good and prompt aside from some initial confusion mostly due to the size of the group. I ordered the shrimp enchiladas and they were great. It was a bit of a challenge to find out if the beans were vegetarian and I speak Spanish, so it may have just been an unexpected question for them. So caution to vegetarians on this one, but definitely give it a shot!

    Camaron Taco Salad
    Heino P.

    Great Mexican Food The first thing I noticed was the spectacular selection of hot sauces in the rack on our table! The full range from somewhat mild to extra hot. I tasted them all and enjoyed the variety. Warm tortilla chips and salsa were brought to the table as we sat down. My wife had the Cameron Taco Salad. A bowl made from a fresh fried tortilla filled with loads of warm, marinated cooked shrimp, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beans, guacamole, sour cream and cheese. She absolutely loved this salad and the flavor of the shrimp. I ordered the Borchetta. This was a skewer deep fried with five good size shrimp along with bacon, onions and bell peppers. Mexican rice and beans accompanied the entree. The bacon flavor on the shrimp was great. Service was attentive and we never felt rushed during our visit. I would definitely visit here again.

    Chicken enchiladas?????
    Jess B.

    No queso dip. No mild salsa for ppl who cannot do spice. Need more varieties. I ordered chicken enchiladas... look at my picture..Came here off of yelp reviews. Very disappointed. Won't be back.

    Tortilla soup
    Erin E.

    We tried El Merendero last night after recommendations from a coworker. First impressions: real authentic Mexican food joint. Friendly staff and fun ambiance. We ordered the tortilla soup. Amazing. It has a tomato-y chicken bullion base with the stretchiest cheese. I wish I had gotten the large. I got the carne asada taco and beans and rice for my little one. He devoured the rice and beans but the carne asada was hard and greasy. My husband ordered the chimichanga and thought it was mediocre. We order this at every restaurant, and it just didn't hit the spot. He said it was very dry with lack of flavor. My brother orderer the taco salad and said the same about the meat. As we were leaving, I realized my feet were wet and the horchata machine had been leaking down through the kitchen and under our table. Not the best impression. However, the staff was apologetic and thankful we let them know. I would like to go back and try other items. Recommendations: knowledge of Spanish is recommended but not required.

    Enchilada plate
    Syd G.

    We were in town for the night and looking for some authentic Southwestern Mexican. The reviews looked good and pretty close to our hotel. It's not much to look at outside and older inside but I believe it's been around a long time. The service was "ok". Only three tables and our waitress didn't seem too excited to see us. Waited a few minutes for her to stop by our table. I had the burrito plate that was filled with carne asada and cheese. The burrito itself was really good. Especially the carne asada they seasoned really well. The rice and beans were very mediocre though. Nice added touch of a steaming hot plate. My better half had the enchilada plate. She said it was good and I "may have" tried a bite or two. Nothing extra special to write home about. Once again just average rice and beans. No seasoning or taste in the rice. Honestly I wouldn't come back. Not because the food was bad. Just too many other places to try.

    Beef flautas and skirt steak breakfast
    Jonas B.

    Service was great and the food was great. We beat the morning rush and we're surprised by the flavor. We will be back!

    2. Huevos Divorciados Breakfast 6. Chorizo con Huevo Breakfast

    We went here for breakfast and both meals were great. Coffee was amazing and service was the best. Not very busy when we went but a great place to have great coffee and Mexican breakfast!

    Menudo blanco

    This is our go to breakfast stop every time we are in Tucson. The food is delicious and Alejandra's friendly and welcoming service has had us coming back for years! The menudo blanco with buttery, toasty bread is hands down our favorite. The milanesa plate is another one of our favorites. Highly recommend you check this place out.

    Michelada
    Jessica C.

    We went to go eat breakfast and the food was so good. Granted I had the Huevos con enchiladas rice and beans. We had to taste the menudo rojo and we were not disappointed. We also had their Michelada and wow it was one of the best I have had. The service and ambiance was great!! Will be going back and try lunch or dinner. I was so hungry forgot to take a picture of food.

    Two eggs and enchiladas

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    1 year ago

    Long time favorite! Excellent service and great food. Breakfast all day is an option.

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    1 year ago

    I ordered the caldo de queso for take out and it was delicious! Def will be going back!

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    Guadalajara Original Grill - Carne Asada Angelina

    Guadalajara Original Grill

    (1.6k reviews)

    $$

    Mountain View

    Food: I ordered the chicken molcajete and it was delicious!! I had never had molcajete and it was…read moreexactly what I hoped it would be. Also they make you salsa table side to your liking! Love this idea and even better because there is no charge Drinks: I ordered the jumbo margarita and it was delicious! It was $22 for a margarita with three shots. Ambiance: fun and colorful decor Parking: designated parking lot Service: everyone was very nice and accommodating

    Tucson is so full of legendary restaurants that have stuck around for decades. It is equally filled…read morewith establishments that have survived off of hype for longer than I've been alive. Unfortunately, Guadalajara is one of these places. What I like: This restaurant can accommodate well over 100 diners without sacrificing service. Food only took 20 minutes during a dinner rush. I appreciate a well-oiled machine. I will admit, the salsa gimmick is charming. What needs work: Just because there's tableside salsa does not mean it's good. I have never seen anyone use so much cilantro! The drinks are mid--the jalapeno margarita uses the mildest peppers in the universe, and surprise! It's somehow also loaded with cilantro. I excitedly went for the biggest, most famous burrito on the menu and it just has too many ingredients (beans, rice, bacon, shrimp, carne asada) to work. They were too ambitious with this one. My bad. I can see this as a really fun place to take a large group from out of town. I bet if you come from the Midwest (it is full of snowbirds from the Midwest), this is mind-blowingly good. By Arizona standards, however, there are just too many old-timey places that simply do everything better.

    La Indita - Indian Taco & burrito

    La Indita

    (218 reviews)

    $$

    West University

    If you're looking for a hidden gem with incredible Mexican-American Indian fusion food, this little…read morespot is absolutely worth checking out. It's a smaller restaurant, but it is packed with flavor and charm. Everything tasted and looked freshly made, even the tortilla chips and taco shells had that homemade freshness you just can't fake. I ordered the mole, and honestly, it was out-of-this-world good. Rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. I also tried the carne asada tacos, which were amazing and packed with flavor. The cheese crisp was another standout, especially with all the topping options. The ambiance on the patio with the twinkle lights is so adorable and cozy. I highly recommend grabbing one of the seats with the huge cushions, they are unbelievably comfortable and make the whole experience even better. Great food, cozy atmosphere, and clearly made with care. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to.

    It had literally been decades since the last time I went to Indita, and that was at their old…read morelocation on 4th. I absolutely love their new digs! Spacious patio area, with cool lights, umbrellas, and many tables. If you have a choice and it isn't too hot, sit outside. The food is stellar! I got their ranch style flat enchilada, which is more or less a thick masa topped with enchilada flavors and spices. So yummy. (And it's vegetarian too!) The rest of the table (3 more) ordered the green chicken enchiladas. They didn't need to rave about it: their plates were completely clean at the end of the meal! We ordered Tamarindo and Horchata drinks between us, and frankly, the Tamarindo is some of the best I've ever had anywhere. Service can be a little slow, especially if they're busy. But we didn't really mind. It was a nice experience.

    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine - Mozzarella sticks

    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine

    (106 reviews)

    $$

    West University

    Overall, the service was good and the food tasted good, but the pricing didn't quite match the…read moreculinary experience for me. Honestly, I wish I could give Yaquesita a little more, maybe half a star more, because this place definitely has potential. Their flavors are good, but compared to similar restaurants the menu feels a bit overpriced. For a party of three we ended up paying around $100, which felt like a bit much for what we got. The restaurant itself is pretty small with only about 3-4 tables inside, but the patio is a decent size and has a cute vibe. It's actually a nice option on cooler days if you don't mind sitting outside. Some items were better than others. The wet-style burrito was delicious and definitely a highlight. The quesabirrias were good, however the birria felt more like fancier shredded beef. It was missing that rich, spicy, slightly acidic, earthy flavor that usually sets birria apart from barbacoa or traditional shredded beef dishes. The bowl was just okay and had lots of lettuce. It felt more like a salad with a bit of meat, rice, and beans. Honestly, Chipotle does bowls better, and that says a lot considering the price. The nachos were good, but I've had better. Seis Kitchen has amazing nachos to share. That said, it's definitely a place I'd come back to mainly out of convenience, not because one particular item on the menu won my heart. I really do hope they continue refining the menu because the flavors are there and this place could easily become a standout spot. Personally I just think at the total price of my ticket other restaurants should not even have room in my mind during my meal. If you're in the area and looking for a safe bet where everyone will probably find something they like, it's worth giving them a try.

    Delicious food with a very relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The service was excellent. Highly…read morerecommend the Jarritos Paloma, it's delicious! I stopped in for lunch and the food and drinks really hit the spot. I also love all the plants on the patio. It feels like eating at Abuelita's house.

    El Merendero - mexican - Updated May 2026

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