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    Karamelo King

    4.4 (112 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Karamelo King Photos

    KARAMELO KING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Karamelo King

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    Carne asada taco
    Valerie S.

    After hearing a rumor that these were the best tacos in Tucson, I had to try them for myself! First, it's located in a strange building that has Spider-man on the building. The building is only for their customers for seating with AC. Inside, there's plenty of seating and even an ice cold fresh salsa and taco condiment bar! On the side of the building is where their walk up food truck is located. There are also some tables and chairs for outside dining. Service is very friendly. We tried a variety of items such as their carne asada tacos (meat has pieces of fat, which I don't necessarily mind), birria tacos (flavorful!), and their Taco Hass (which has green chile and cheese). The tacos have a great flavor and I especially loved their hottest red salsa from the bar! Flavor and spice! We were even brought a couple of bean tacos to try and the beans were delicious! A solid location, but nothing fancy at all! And if you don't mind a little fat on your meat, you'll love their tacos.

    Kat G.

    I kid you not, I drove from Gilbert, AZ to Tucson just to try this place out! My cousin told me how she absolutely LOVED it. With that being said I went right when they opened, don't think they were ready for me yet but that's okay. lol Dining room area was super clean. Owners were super friendly and nice. I ordered 3 carne asada, 1 Pollo, 1 adobada, 1 Birria, 1 cabeza, 1 meat quesadilla, 1 karamelo King and a Sonora Hotdog. Only three items weren't mine. Hah All the tacos were fantastic, flavorful and juicy not over cooked meat. The only thing I was sad about was that it was all so juicy that my tortillas were all soggy. Eventhough I only drove five minutes away to eat at my boyfriends place. But maybe if I sat there and ate, it wouldn't have happened. The Karamelo was delicious, I've never had a quesadilla that had beans, onions and avocado in it. So many flavors going on! Sonora Hotdog was said to be some of the best so I ordered as is, eventhough I typically don't like mustard. But where ever they get their hotdog and buns from, the salty and the sweet along with the mustard and everything else meld so well together I was in awe. It was wonderful! Their little salsa bar was fantastic too, everything was fresh and sauces were yum! I honestly didn't think I would spend $68 with tip, but I did and I have no regrets at all. Everything I didn't finish I drove back to Gilbert with me and ate it on the way home. Lol

    Street tacos
    Alex K.

    I love unassuming places like this. If you aren't paying attention you might miss it. It was my first time there and had so many choices that it was hard to decide, but I got a recommendation to try the Taco Hass and it was great! I also got the marinaded pork and chicken options. Some of the best street tacos I've had so far. The owner gave some recommendations since it was my first time which was helpful. Tacos are $3.50 to $4. They are amply stuffed too. They take credit card too but add $1 upcharge which is totally fair for the convenience. Seating is inside where you will find plenty of chairs and tables and an awesome salsa and toppings bar. The tacos and the salsas were delicious!

    Carne asada caramelo
    Tucson T.

    One of my go-to spots for amazing carne asada in Tucson! The flavor is unmatched -- this is hands-down some of the best carne asada I've had in the city. It's grilled over an open flame (not a flattop), so the meat has that perfect smoky char that really brings it to life. The food is always prepared quickly, consistently delicious, and the salsa bar is well-stocked with a great variety of fresh toppings to customize your plate just the way you like it. Update as of 8/3/2025: Still just as good! That smoky grilled flavor keeps me coming back. One tip -- Google Maps lists their opening time as 10 AM, but I've found they're more reliably open after 4 PM. It's worth the timing puzzle -- once you catch them open, you're in for a treat.

    Sonoran dog
    Seth C.

    The carne asada here is an absolute must; it's tender, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. I'm also a huge fan of the cabeza and al pastor, both are packed with rich, savory goodness. The service is always quick, efficient, and friendly, just as you'd hope for at a food truck. The salsa bar has a lot of options, there is a casual indoor dining area if you want to stick around and enjoy your meal on location. Their Sonoran dogs are just wow, They're some of the best I've had in Tucson, each bite is a flavor bomb. Definitely a one of my favorite street food spots in Tucson!

    sian t.

    It never fails me. Their food are delicious!!! Friendly and nice service. It's our grab and go food.

    Karamelo con carne, opened for photographing ($9.95) 7/2023
    Mike S.

    Terrific tasting karamelo with steak. The only criticism is it's size. At approx 10-12" in diameter (and then folded in half before serving) it looks like a large taco and would take two to be just average satisfied. At $10 a piece, that's getting up there. The piping hot quesadilla/karamelo is served in a styrofoam box, the consequence is that much of the styrofoam was melted under the food... not at all safe/healthy. On the positive, there was a decent helping of lean meat, a half-dozen different (and truly delicious) salsas to self-serve from, along with pickled and grilled onions. Service was both pleasant and relatively quick. There's a bare bones dining area but it's in doors which is super unusual for a food truck and welcome during the summer!

    Small Carmelo
    Mark A.

    Dude!! I can't believe this place has been here for so long and I'm just now finding it. It could not be anymore austere, a food truck with no wheels in front of a dead circle k. Shit folding chairs and tables, a kind of surreal experience. The fool is excellent and the guys running it are hilarious and kind. I never drive down Grant because it is one of the most uninteresting streets in town and traffic sucks. I will venture it to get food here, especially the Sonoran Dog!!! Blink and you will miss it, don't blink and get some kick ass food!

    Taco hass
    Patrick H.

    Amazing delectable unpretentious deliciousness. Our food came out lighting fast and everything was superb. Hass taco with poblano and asada was the best thing we ordered. Owner was hilarious and super friendly, played with our dog and made us feel extra welcome.

    Tacos!
    Trevor H.

    Seriously some of the best tacos in Tucson! So delicious and the meat is tender, juicy and perfect! The salsa is amazing and spot on with so many great choices on the condiment bar! Go check this place out asap!

    Left over mediocre tacos
    Simon S.

    KK was the second stop on our Tucson Taco Tour. It turned out that the address was wrong so be careful if you decide to go here. After our inedible experience at Apson Tacos we decided to try Karamelo King. All I have is bad news and more bad news. We had entered the tentative zone from our first experience so we limited what we ordered and it turned out to be a wise decision. I had one Al Pastor and one Asada taco, they were both a bit better than Apson but definitely not worth recommending this place at all! Both of my tacos were super salty (maybe they do this in Tucson in case you get lost in the desert and need the salt). The flavor was missing just like the last Public Enemy concert. KK is more of a Mediocre King of tacos. My advice is to move on to another place, because these are not the tacos you are looking for! After this second disappointing experience we decided to give up on our short lived Taco Tour in Tucson.

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    15 years ago

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    8 years ago

    This is my go-to place when i need some delicious late dinner, no expensive at all, cash only, salsa/veggies bar.

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    I had a delicious sonoran dog here. It's just a little truck with an inside eating area. Food comes out hot an delicious.

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    I am giving them one star for no longer being open yet not communicating this in yelp. I drove out of my way and it doesn't exist. So lame.

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    11 years ago

    This restaurant was not existance anymore Lame, drove a long way to try it. And apparently I need more than one sentence to complain.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Really good food & great prices! However Yami's Sonoran dogs are hands dwn way better, just sayin!!

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Yummy!!!!!!! Best Sonoran hot dogs!!!!! In my opinion best carreta in Tucson love the carne asada tacos and lorenzas. This place is clean.

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Karamelo King

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    El Sinaloense Hot Dog Cart

    El Sinaloense Hot Dog Cart

    4.7(240 reviews)
    0.7 miMidtown
    $

    Kenji Lopez-Alt was here only a week ago. I've been going regularly for about a month. Locals…read morehave been lining up here a lot longer. This place was my first bite into the iconic local Sonoran hot dog. I shouldn't have waited. I haven't eaten meat for decades but they have a veggie dog option and it's very good. I get it loaded with everything because it all works. This little food cart is worth the drive and the guys running it have the routine drilled in so you won't wait long. This place is on my list of places to take out-of-town friends.

    We were in Tucson for my wifes birthday, and I wanted to stop here for some hot dogs. I was here…read morelast year and it was the best Sonoran Dog I had ever had. Still true! I ordered 3 dogs, no mayo. Honestly, could have probably ate 5 or 6. They are THAT GOOD! My intent was to eat all 3, but then my kids were like "Let me get a bite". Well, they ate a whole one between them, my son proclaiming it was "The best hot dog I've ever had in my life". You are correct, Son! These things just hit different! The griddled bun is perfection, the dog is plump and meaty and wrapped in bacon, the toppings are streamlined so it's not too messy. The dude making them is super friendly, chatting it up with every customer. Just amazing. Worth the 2.5 hour drive from Surprise just for these dogs...seriously! So good, I will crave them until I come back down to Tucson to get some more!

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    Portillo's Tucson

    Portillo's Tucson

    4.1(267 reviews)
    2.0 miEl Conquistador
    $$

    Here for second time and again, the service excellent, food delicious and atmosphere perfect. I…read morebrought my mother and each of our dogs this time so we sat on patio. Went in with order and waited in line that went rather quickly, while mom was on patio with both leashed dogs. The cashier was as friendly as another I had last week and just smiled her way throughout. We both had the delicious Chicago style dogs , shared French fries and I had ice tea to drink. My mom had the chocolate eclair cake and I, the chocolate cake. Everything delicious- and yes dogs shared her fries! The cakes? My goodness, frosting on both super good and cakes textures both soft and delicious. Highly recommend all of it! My mom went to fill her drink and check out decor- which she loved and spoke to gentleman in carry out section on way out saying she would take our order as it was ready but he had tray in hand already. He followed her out and was so kind when I remembered I needed to order a couple hotdogs only got our "kids" and he brought those out when ready as well. He pet my dog and was so kind. We had patio to ourselves and it was just the best weather and place to be for the visit we needed.

    Food was fresh and out quickly with barely a wait in the drive through during lunch on a weekday!…read moreThe Chicago dog kept me full for a few hours and was bursting with flavor. The neon blue relish took me aback but everything tasted delicious and staff and manager always give a smile.

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    Karamelo King - mexican - Updated May 2026

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