The food here is amazing! Authentic Mexican flavors from start to finish. The cheese crisps were delicious, and adding carne asada really took them to the next level. Their lunch specials are a great deal too--$11.95 for a huge burrito with rice and beans, and it was more than enough food. The chili con carne was cooked to perfection with fantastic flavor. Service was impeccable, and I have to mention the salsa--chips and salsa were outstanding with just the right amount of heat and great flavor. Everything about this meal was 5 stars and absolutely delicious! read more

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All the food was delicious, but Spanish rice was too dry. Tea was delicious 1/2 sweet n 1/2 reg . Perfect combination. Our server was very polite n attentive to our needs . The place is nested off mission road in a desert area. "Karichimaka" mean a clear pool of water . This place is really busy, people Leave and more come back in . Well looks like it's a winner Thumbs up . This place doesn't have tv n the place here seem to come n enjoy a quite place to eat . Its is a home style cooking very enjoyable. read more

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Omg where do I begin? My aunts sister said she's eaten here before and the food was good. It's right down the street from her house so we decided to go, mind you I also checked the reviews and it's highly recommended. We sat down right away, we ordered and got drinks quickly. The salsa was awful it was as if they opened a can of tomato sauce and put it in a container. They only had one option for "salsa" which was just horrible. Next was our food and I ordered a taco, enchilada and a tostada. The tostada wasn't even a tostada it was a flower shaped taco shell filled with stuff. The taco was as if I went to Taco Bell, and they didn't even give me shredded beef like I asked for instead was a piece of hamburger meat that was like eating a hockey puck. Next was the enchilada which was the only good thing on the plate. I was so disappointed!! It is a pretty decent size restaurant with plenty of seating for larger parties. The parking lot is always packed and I thought for being a Mexican restaurant and having Mexican business owners this would be authentic. Unfortunately it wasn't, I definitely felt they cater to the culture around Tucson. I one thing I can say I liked was the music they had young teens playing mariachi music. read more

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Years ago when we lived on Tucson's west side this was our go-to restaurant for Mexican food. We were in the area recently and stopped in. Except for a "new entrance" and the absence of the old posters the place looked the same. We had the green chile beef chimichanga, rice and beans plus the 3 item enchilada, taco, rice and beans lunch specials. Getting ready for their holiday we could not order any draft beer and had the choice of the one available bottled Mexican beer. Disappointing but not a problem. The chimi had a generous and tasty beef filling but I wish it had more (and hotter) green chile. It came with a generous covering of cheese. The combination plate was good as was the service. The taco came with a ground beef patty. Chips and salsa were complimentary and were readily refilled. While we did not order it, the green chile cheese crisp at the next table looked delicious, like the old days. Next visit this will be our starter. read more

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Today I tried Karichimaka Restaurant for the first time. I got the lunch special with a beef taco, rolled chicken taco and sour cream enchilada. My husband got green chile plate. First I will say my chips and salsa was good. The chips were warm. Now to the grub it was solid. The my food was flavorful, I liked the texture of the taco and rolled taco shells. I did like the flavor of the red sauce. The beans and rice were hitting as well. My husband liked his food the only thing is he wanted to have more of the green chile sauce on his plate . The decor was super old school and it fits the history. The guy I spoke to named Gene said the place has been there for 77 years!!! I'm like they must be doing something right. The cost was about $30. The service was good and o grabbed a handful of candies at the register on the way out I would try other things down the line. #foodie #mexicanfood #food #foodreview read more

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We are regulars, food is awesome. They remember us, bring our drinks as soon as they see us! Great restaurant with a long history. Love supporting a family owned restaurant, especially in our current political environment! read more

Every time I drive by this place it appears busy and so I had to go to check it out. And glad I did. The main dining space is smaller than I imagined and I noticed they had a steady stream of customers on a week night. Their salsa (free chips and salsa) had a kick and I found delicious. Their house made tortillas as served warm and I could eat these tortillas with some butter and sugar and be content... but equally good was the cazuela soup it came with. I had the cucurucho with green chile. I didn't care for the fried tortilla it came wrapped in... but I did like the green chili stuffing. My dining partner got the red chile burro that they enjoyed a lot. They offer a small drink menu . Service was friendly. Portions are large. Decent amount of parking available in a gravel lot. Would go again. read more

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This is our second visit here, and we are big fans. The staff that works here is very friendly and welcoming which always wins for me. Prices are good, and move with the times. I will call out the Cheese Crisp (with green chile) is SO good. We have ordered it both times and it does not disappoint. The salsa is on point (spicy) and I would guess they make their chips in house. Some of the other reviews seem confused on the difference between salsa and pico de gallo. We have tried several things; Fajitas, Tacos, Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles. I am a Chilaquiles snob... to what I like and this place is one of less than a handful that does it RIGHT in my book. I could go on for days about how I think they should be made and finally a place that hits the mark. They get 5 stars for that alone. My husband loved the Huevos Rancheros (they open at 11A but do have a breakfast/brunch menu) and he is hardly ever thrilled with how they are made. As we were leaving this visit, this guy at another table was raving about the steak burger. We will be back to try, no question! read more

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Came her for lunch. I had the "chicken and rice soup with cheese quesadilla" lunch special (I added chicken to the quesadilla). Soup was good and had Rice, chicken, peas, and carrots. The bread of the quesadilla was buttery and crisp and good as well. Chips and salsa (I didn't like the salsa. Reminded me of spaghetti sauce and I didn't like the taste or texture) I love Cinnamon tea and had to try it here. It was okay, but I would have liked it sweeter. Service was slow. I think they only had one waiter working. read more

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First timer and will definitely be back! The service was attentive and friendly. We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated, spacious lobby with seated waiting area and plenty of tables for dining. It's quiet and cozy. I got the cinnamon tea and had 3 cups, plus one to go!! It is SO good. I then ordered the 2 shredded beef tacos with rice and beans, and added a chile relleno. The beef was juicy and perfectly seasoned. I love that the lettuce on the plate was cold and crispy, not hot and wilted. The chile relleno was the best! The battered outside was crunchy and hot, not soggy like they sometimes are. I loved the chips and salsa, but the chips were a little small. Salsa is spicy and well seasoned. Cannot wait to return, it was the best! read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Shredded beef tacos + chile relleno - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Always good and quick, my only issue was that they have their takeout menu online but no prices. I wanted to share a picture of my recent pickup order. It seems that for most of the dishes, they will be around the $15 range for a combination plate. Kinda pricey for a small family owned business. I thought all 3 would be around $30 dollars, was not expecting to spend almost $50. read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Receipt in case someone was interested - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I've been looking for the best place to take people who visit and this is it. Locally owned business who you can tell work there as well and I'm a local Tucsonan and just haven't made it out here but I'm so glad I did. The chips and salsa are delicious that's for one, I'm very picky on salsa and chips because it definitely sets the tone for the rest of the meal. My friend and I shared a cheese crisp which was HUGE and delicious! We definitely did not finish it this would feed 4-6 people easily. The FOOD I got a shredded beef enchilada and the meat was flavorful, moist and tender. The red chile was delicious and had a kick and traditional rice and beans. Huge servings and overall AMAZING authentic Mexican food. Definitely my favorite in Tucson thus far. read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Shredded beef enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Had the flat enchiladas for the second time here, so delicious! Great service even on a busy day!

It's been at least 25 years since I have been here. I recently moved back from Texas and we decided to give it a try today. So glad we did. Sonoran Mexican food. Our favorite. So many restaurants around here are going to interior Mexico, Oaxan, and a few other styles. Service was on point. We ordered a cheese crisp (something they don't have in Texas), I had a shredded beef chimichanga and hubby had a chile relleno. They didn't do those right in Texas either. Everything was great. Large portions, reasonable prices and excellent food. The building is the same it's been since 1949. Maybe some new paint, but although tired, it's clean. What a great lunch and brought some home. read more

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Best cheese crisps i have ever had. They prepare it differently, and it's worth it. Not greasy. Their cucurucho is also fabulous. No major differences from a chimichanga. Can choose your meat. I love their chicken. Its shredded. Not in chunks.k read more

Visited while I was in town as it was a family favorite growing up in the Old Pueblo. Took it to go and was just as amazing as I remember 35 years ago. Had to get a large cheese crisp with green chile added. Hit the spot. read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Large Cheese Crisp with Green Chile - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Old school Sonoran Mexican food. Excellent food. We sampled a green chili burro, and a green chili chimichanga. The green chili was excellent, lots of tender meat and delicious gravy. The best chimichanga I've had in many years, No fillers, perfectly fried (as in crispy, but not burnt). The accompanying beans and rice on the plates good also. In fact, the Spanish rice is also some of the best I've had since I left my hometown Tucson over 30 yrs ago. This place has been around for a long time and food is the reason why. Service is good. Did I mention these were lunch specials? $10.99 for the burro, $11.99 for the chimi. Plus two good iced teas with refills. $27? In 2025? read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Chimi plate in front, burro plate in back. - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Ever since my bf and I moved to Tucson, we've always wanted to try this place. 2 years passed and finally we went and are so glad we did. (We were on our way to Taco Giro, which is also good) . The restaurant has that typical Tucson charm that comes to my mind when I think of Tucson - south western vibe. When we were served the tortilla chips and the salsa as a starter, we already had a good feeling about this place coz the chips were delicious! And their refried beans!!! What do they put in there?! It was so good! Flauta and Carne asada were both delicious. As for service, it was great also. I didn't realize til I saw down but they were about to close in 20 mins or so. I hate going to a restaurant that is about to close but the server still treated us very well and she didn't show any sign of rushing, which I really appreciate. read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - a menu for a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Great food and cute authentic vibe. Service was friendly and prompt. This restaurant has been around for a long time and it's easy to see why they have a loyal following. I will definitely be returning! read more

Great food, good service and reasonable prices! Family friendly atmosphere.We will be back.

We went here for lunch today/first time. Service was good despite the crowd eating. We had a cheese crisp-best we ever had! Not greasy at all and very tasty! Also had a shredded beef chimichanga-not greasy and the best I've ever eaten! It was huge! We will be coming back for sure. Great place, kind and caring staff and fair prices!!! read more

The food was very good. The waiter was awesome. The salsa was fabulous. We even bought extra to take home. Great find. We will definitely be going back. It looked as though they had several regulars eating there. Loved it being in a desolate location with stores and shopping so close. The patio has great views of the desert. read more

I've lived in Tucson my whole life but until recently I had never heard of this place. Boy was I missing out! It's a small unassuming restaurant that looks like it was once a hose. Even the large dirt parking lot is no frills. But the food is anything but unassuming. Staring with the chips and salsa; chips are the perfect thickness to be crispy but still stand up to being dipped (and double dipped) into the flavorful salsa. On to the meal. My BF had a large bowl of Caldo de queso. It's his favorite soup and one he's very picky about. Everywhere we go where he gets it he compares it to his nana's. After his first three bites without a word given between, he declared it "almost as good as my grandmothers but a little salty" but once he squeezed a couple limes in it, he gave it the thumbs up signal. While he was making me look bad by only ordering a bowl of soup, I got the #1 combo plate which consisted of a cheese enchilada, Sonoran (aka flat) enchilada, and a beef taco and rice and beans. There are few things that ruin a Mexican restaurant for me quicker than bad beans, luckily these were delicious! Great taste and consistency, the enchilada was a perfect balance of cheese and sauce. Enough to me moist but not drowning, the taco was patty style. I respect the fact that they make these the old fashioned way by cooking the meat in the tortilla at the same time. They did a really good job getting it perfectly crispy but not greasy (a skill I haven't mastered). The Sonoran enchilada was also a good balance of crispy on the outside masa patty dressed with just the right amount of sauce, cheese and diced onion. Since so many people mention the chili relleno we had to give one a try. I have to admit neither of us are relleno experts, by bf's family never made them and I had only eaten one once when I was younger and wasn't impressed but I have to say, it was really good the batter wasn't as heavy as the one I had before and it was filled with lots of green chili and cheesy goodness. I'll definitely be getting another next time I'm here. Tucson has a lot of Mexican restaurants but I have to say, I think this rates as one of my top 5 read more

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I first went to Karichimaka Restaurant in June of 1959 when I first moved to Tucson. Since then it has been on our list of musts for when family comes to town. Thanks for still being GREAT!! read more

The salsa was fantastic and the chips they serve with it are spot on. We received our food quickly and it was delicious. We were just here for a quick trip and decided to pull in and give it a try. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and would visit again. read more

My husband had visited this quaint Mexican restaurant exactly 50 years ago (with a friend during his college years) and was delighted to find it was still in business upon our return this trip. Raised on Long Island, NY, Karichimaka was my husband's first taste of real Mexican cuisine. We HAD to have dinner here. So, appropriately, on Cinco De Mayo '23 we made the short trek from our rented Casitas to this hidden gem. Now mind you, I grew up on good Mexican food in California's Central Valley so I'm not so easily impressed. Face it, there are a bazillion Mexican food places and the majority are at best a culinary yawn. Turning into the gravel parking lot I have to say I wasn't immediately impressed, the building harkens back to the late 70s so yeah, my husband's memory was spot on. The interior was the same, you won't be impressed by the decor. It's spartan, basic and let's just say vintage. You will be channeling that 70s vibe. Don't worry, you won't care about the furniture. Then you will be greeted by the warm and wonderful staff. You will notice the place is packed. They do take reservations, probably a good idea if it's a weekend or early evening. In taking to our server, he had been there since the mid 80s. He explained they don't use microwaves, everything is made fresh and in the Sonoran Style, which has deeper richer flavors that we might be used to. My husband ordered #11 Chili Relleno & Gordita and I had #13 Chili Relleno & Cheese Enchilada. Both came with rice, beans and a small salad. Everything was excellent. The beans were nearly perfect, the Chili Relleno was spicier but not hot in a peppery way. The Enchilada sauce was also spicier and somewhat hotter than I'm used to, however not overly so; it was a good balance of flavor and heat. It was a great meal at a reasonable cost. So, if you're going to be passing through Tucson, this out of the way Mexican Restaurant with a name that kinda sounds Hawaiian that is absolutely worth the trip. read more

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Don't let the looks deceive you! Come in here for a great Mexican meal. The day we arrived it was very busy.... A Thursday. So while the wait time was a bit longer than we expected, only one waiter was servicing ALL the tables. He was friendly, and as attentive as he could be. Since you may be reading this years from now, this is during 2022 employment crisis. Businesses are having a difficult time finding help and there are bidding wars, enabling big boxes to outbid small business for employees. So, during this time I'm much more lenient about time and waits. The food was very good, I had the #14 and my husband had the #12, basic difference he had a Sonoran enchilada, which he said was good, I had a beef taco, the other two in the combo are a cheese enchilada and a bean tostada. Great flavor. I will add the the beef taco has a beef patty instead of ground beef, it was good, but it did take me by surprise! Very sweet people run this place. Nice courtyard beyond the gate! read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Dining room - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We came for the cheese crisp and it was great...flakey and buttery. The servers were so friendly and nice. I just didn't care for the chili relleno. read more

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A hidden treat between Central Tucson and the South Side. I had passed by Karichimaka maybe 20 or 30 times before we decided to stop. It never seemed overly busy, and I genuinely questioned if it was open a few times. One evening we didn't have a plan and decided to stop. The place was decently busy, but they sat us right away. On the way to our table, I saw another table with a HUGE cheese crisp, and it looked so good I had to try it. It was way too big for two people, but it was soooo good. Perfectly cooked and crispy with a great salty cheesy flavor. We then both had Chimi's and both of those were wonderful as well. The service was great, and it seems to be a family run establishment. The decor is a bit dated, but I personally think that it added to the charm. The prices were unbelievable for the amount of food that we got as well. TL:DR - Nondescript and underrated, if you know, you know this is one of the great Mexican food places in a town full of options. read more

This place was so awful and I would never go back to this place ever again! You be very disappointed with the service, food and staff. The ground beef taco was a burger patty cut in half with absolutely no seasoning, the enchilada sauce was actually spoiled and tasted bad, the bean tostada was not bad. I tried to explain to the manager that they should check the enchilada sauce but he didn't want to listen and just said he would take the plate off the bill. I wouldn't be surprised is someone got sick from eating it. I will never go back to this place and hope no one else does either. read more

It is a charming place that has delightfully delectable food and it's reasonably priced. First came the best warm, crispy tortilla chips with red sauce to dip. They were so perfect, we were really looking forward to the food. Chile relleno plate was superb. Difficult to decide if the refried beans or chile rellenos are more delicious. Yes, the refried beans were that good. I go to a restaurant for the FOOD, but this place has very nice servers and comfortable decor. Friend got a chicken salad(!) that she said was much larger than it looked and filled with chicken and avocado. Sister got the chile relleno/cheese enchilada plate. We found the enchilada sauce a bit smokier than we're used to. Margarita pie for dessert. read more

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Hate to write a review because it is already hard to get a seat! I guess if you want to see a good movie look for the longest line. Any complaints that are listed in other reviews is because people have unreasonable expectations, or don't know sonoran food from tex mex. Where some will see the delapidation, others will see character. read more

We had the pleasure of trying Karichimaka for the first time last night. Really Awesome Food! Mouthwatering beans and the chicken chimi was so delicious! Great portions. Best dinner we've had in a long time. We will go back for sure. We had great Service starting with the very courteous hostess to our very attentive server. Ambiance needs some updating but it feels cozy and a bit charming. No music or loud atmosphere. Peaceful place to eat. Feels like eating at home. read more

My favorite Mexican food in town! My husbands family and I have been going for years and years. It's become a stable in our family night outings and I couldn't ask for better food service or atmosphere. read more

Stopped in for a lunch break. Noticed their specials and I picked a red chili burrito with beans and rice. The burrito was delicious! A well stuffed flavorful dish with noticeable chunks of beef. The beans and rice were fine...flavorful as well. I definitely would recommend this place...the food is authentic and it's always great to support local! read more

Karichimaka Restaurant - Red chili burrito plate - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Food was tasty and the staff were friendly. The restaurant was clean, and the service was fast.

Solid, huge portions. I had carne seca enchiladas - good but not really a stand out. The salsa was meh but definitely ok for our friends visiting from the east coast. All said, it was good and the reason I give 4 and not 5 stars? The bathrooms could have used some love. So many choices for this cuisine around here, this spot needs to kick things up a notch but they're good! read more

Karichimaka is a true neighborhood restaurant that is independently owned since the 1940s. We stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We thought the chiles rellenos and the taco salad were good. I did like the atmosphere of the restaurant as it felt like going back in time. read more

Oh my gosh everything here is delicious! From their homemade chips and salsa...their beans I could eat a bucket of them! We had the chile relleno with beef taco..excellent! And the margarita pie is creamy with a little citrus...a delicious finish to a great meal. By far the best meal we've had in Tucson. read more

Waitress forgot part of one guests order. Repeated requests for more chips ignored. No offer for seconds on soda, even though I would have paid for more. Other diners received their food before we did, even though we were seated first. read more