If you're a tourist coming from Arizona, and you take the main pedestrian border crossing into Nogales - and, if you're not going further into Mexico, why drive? Leave your car at one of the parking lots around the end of I-19 - you'll see, at the exit of the pedestrian walk-through, a huge sign - in English - giving detailed directions to walk to this restaurant. It's just about the only sign in English you'll see that isn't on a pharmacy or a dentist's. And you'll need the directions, even though it's only about two blocks away. You need to go over the cross-border highway on a pedestrian overpass, then duck around a corner into a side street. (Contrary to some descriptions, it's not up a hill; it is, however, nestled into the base of a cliff.) However, while on top of the overpass, you can't miss a huge sign on top of the restaurant with its name, an arrow pointing downwards, and the word "here". All these things suggest you're in for the worst sort of tourist trap. You aren.t. When you get there, you have to walk all the way around to the other side to the courtyard entrance, go in, then look behind you for the staircase to the restaurant on the second floor. (The ground floor is a bar.) The waiters speak English. So does the menu, which is on an easel they bring to your table. Most of the dishes are shrimp. I had chicken mole instead. It was good mole: dark and bitter sauce over about half a breast and two halves of a thigh, with rice and beans. They take US cash. I'd like to come back some time. read more

When I was in middle school, my Spanish teacher took our class to Nogales, to practice our Spanish in Mexico. We ate at La Roca. We thought it was cool to eat in a cave.The servers were nice to us. I went back in college, when I went to school in Tucson, and the only difference was I could have a margarita with my enchiladas. And I did, of course. It was cool to sip a margarita in a cave, too. And, now I'm old... really old... and It still is cool. I can't believe it's still there but so glad I will have the chance to take my kid there for lunch or dinner when we visit next time. She will like the whole cave thing too. It's a really pretty restaurant, with a nice vibe. You do feel like you're stepping back in time. If you 're willing to brave the border thing, give it a chance. read more

I agree with the other reviews. This place is a hidden gem In the city. The service is outstanding. The wait staff works together so you have multiple people tending to you. The breakfast Buffett is huge! Freshly made everything. Everything about this place it is authentic. I loved the colors and vibrant tapestries and the lighting all over was stunning. The only downside was it was hot and muggy. When the place is super packed, it gets hot. I felt a little claustrophobic. I would suggest bringing a pocket fan in your purse or sitting by the open windows. The restaurant is built into a rock cave. read more

La Roca sits about halfway up the hill that overlooks the Centro border crossing. There's a pretty courtyard with bougainvillea and a mosaic fountain. Then you walk up the stone stairs and into an old-school Mexican restaurant that is literally in the side of the rock of the hill. The waiters are dressed up in white coats and ties. The chairs are heavy old wood. You feel like you've stepped back in time to some kind dinner and dancing place like you'd see in a 50's movie. But instead you get a genuinely pleasant and authentic Sonoran dining experience. The menu is written on several chalkboards that they'll bring up to your table to show your party. I think this is awesome for a couple of reasons - it's more sanitary, and it's a welcome exercise for my eyes after they've been staring at a computer screen. The margartias are delicious. We usually start with the machaca (which is dried beef chips, kind of like beef jerky, but way better) and guacamole. When we're almost full of that, we finally get around to ordering. I usually get the tampiqueña, since it's a sampler of all things delicious. The staff is great. You can tell that they are in the hospitality business - not just there to bring you food, but to make your experience more enjoyable. They were friendly, joining politely in joking conversations, and making excellent food suggestions. A definite highlight of visiting Nogales. read more

My husband and I were in Nogales for 2 days for New Years, with no plans. We casually picked this restaurant to have lunch at, through the website planetnogales.com, and got really, really lucky. Because it is an amazing place!! Our first day in Nogales, we had lunch at La Roca and were charmingly surprised with it's sharply dressed, attentive, english-speaking staff, it's cozy, elegant decor, and it's delicious food. It was built in the 70's but gives off a feeling of 1940's elegance and a type of experience I didn't think you could find anymore. We enjoyed ourselves so much we went back the next night for their $90 prix fix New Years party, which included 5 courses of food (appetizer, salad, main dish, dessert and a 2am snack) plus unlimited beer/wine/liquor. We were seated in the section of La Roca that is literally "the rock," as the restaurant is built into the hillside. Tea candles suspended in the rock added ambiance to our view of the dance floor, decorated with hundreds of streamers while the live band played excellent music all night long. For $5, a photographer took a photograph of us and as he said "give me one minute to get you your picture" he did not exaggerate as it was a real polaroid! My husband and I are swing dancers, and even though it was latin music we were able to find songs to dance to. We had many lovely conversations with nearby tables, and other dancing couples. My husband's fondest memory is that after inadvertently meeting the owners of the restaurant out on the dance floor, Chris (one of the owners) came and brought a drink to the table for him to thank us for coming out! We will go out of our way to go back here again, and would highly recommend spending New Years here for their annual party. read more

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Awesome atmosphere AND food. Per the name, literally in a cave and half of the walls are made of the stone/rock that makes up the cave. The meal I had was tasty and supreme Mexican eats + the mochomos and guac were authentic as could be and blew my mind. If I were a AZ native, I would make my way across the border a lot more often for this place. Bravo! read more

La Roca - Mexican Near Me - Nogales, SON

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Delicious breakfast and dinner options. I tried the breakfast buffet and it was delicious (I recommend the chilaquiles, omelet station and fresh fruit). For dinner I tried the enmoladas which were sweet in flavor and loved it. One thing I would improve are the Tamarindo and Lime margaritas. I didn't expect the margaritas to be too small in size and super high sugar in flavor. Both margaritas did not taste fresh but it was still drinkable. The ambiance with live music made it great date night experience. read more

Great find on the other side of the border! Food was great. Everyone that we encountered was accommodating and so friendly. Love that the menu is a big board and they move it from table to table. Recommend anyone in the area check it out. read more

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Good food and services. Prices kind of high. All and all I would come here again. Wish I could buy beer though this dry law is killing us

The restaurant is lovely but the food was expensive (even for a US restaurant) and not good. The shrimp tacos (US $15 with bottle of water) consisted of 6 shrimp, pale iceberg lettuce and anemic tomatoes along with under ripe avocado slices. Even the salsa was bland and made with pink anemic tomatoes. The free roasted poblano peppers were the best part of the meal. I think the place is tailored to an elderly population from the US who might appreciate the bland food. The restaurant is up steep stairs which is not good for a place that seems to cater to elderly tourists... There was a nice trio playing at lunch and the service was very good. If you decide to go, their web site has a coupon for a free margarita which helped make the price seem more acceptable :-) read more

Food, ambience and service was wonderful! I have been here for weekend buffet and dinner. Won't disappoint!

Lovely upscale restaurant in Nogales. Good food and a wonderful location. There was a singing group that was quite loud, and the service wasn't the best. But the food was great and it was overall a great experience. read more

Overall, I personally would NOT recommend La Rosa. My friend heard great reviews about this place, so she suggested we eat here the next time we came down to Nogales. She was with us and spoke the language (as it is her first, second to english of course.) She helped us throughout the day and it was her first time coming to La Rosa with us. We were done shopping for the day and we wanted to finish with a meal before the long trip back. We asked around and we were directed the way. The restaurant itself has beautiful decor, but was empty when we came in. The plates were dirty and we asked multiple times for clean ones but was dismissed. We started the meal with chips and salsa, but received one small bowl of chips, hardly enough for two people. The staff would take off, before we could request something. We could only get one thing at a time, such as straws, more chips, or a drink refill. It would have been easier to wait and listen just in case we needed something else, instead of running back and forth for things. I will say the lemonade was great! The food was "ok" as in edible. It was relatively bland, there was no spice or seasoning. It did not make us feel like we wanted more or to come back and eat again. My friend commented that she could make more flavorful food. While eating we had people asking us if we wanted to buy music or pay for pictures and as much as we said "no thank you." They pushed, saying they could play or take our picture and if we didn't like it we wouldn't have to pay. (We kept saying no because we were ending our day trip and we spent most of the money we brought.) The prices were about $20.00 per person, plus 16% tax. The bill came to around $98.00, we gave them $100. We got up to leave, but they came after us. They wanted us to tip and to tip whatever we liked, we explained the change was the tip, yet after some hassle we tipped more. They said the bill did not included the cost of service and wanted at least $10.00 for a tip. I would have gave 3 out of 5 stars, but the experience was uncomfortable, especially near the end. The food and service could have been better for the price. Overall, I would personally NOT recommend La Rosa. read more

Driving South on Interstate 19 makes for a subtle blurring of the geopolitical border between the USA and Mexico. It probably hits you first at some subconscious level. Perhaps you don't immediately notice that the familiar green road signs are in metric units. The fact that the license plates on neighboring vehicles are increasingly from Sonora may also escape your conscious thought. Even as you park your car and walk towards the border all the familiar touchstones are there. Burger King, Baskin-Robbins, and Mc Donald's are all in the mix. Only when you turn right onto Grand Street does it hit you; "Am I still in the United States?" Little tiendas selling everything from school uniforms to wedding dresses line the street and the nostrils are assailed with the smells of honest food. The imposing US Customs building looms large on your left as you keep walking, crossing into Mexico proper. Oh, did Yelp not tell you? La Roca El Balcon is in Nogales, Mexico. That's understandable, because it seems nobody knows where this place is, not even the vaunted Google Maps. Were it not for the somewhat less vague directions on the website, this place would be pure word-of-mouth. I learned of it because it is a popular destination among Tucson residents. These residents also followed their recommendation with the same advice; "Be careful. There's a drug war going on, but we never have any problems." Join me, will you? Let us have a few beers...a few laughs... After crossing the border we hung a left, moving East, and dashed across the 8 lanes of border traffic (don't fret, 'cuz it moves at a snail's pace). After crossing some railroad tracks we clambered through a construction area. Our efforts were rewarded with a veritable Berlin Wall of whorehouses, thinly veiled as men's clubs. Although it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, the hawkers outside of the clubs were surprisingly energetic, whistling and clucking at us. A few were so bold as to ask my girlfriend and myself if we wanted to come in and relax with a cold beer. None, however, proved so bold as the local lovely who approached us offering companionship. This was a scene straight out of Currier and Ives, made all the more so with whom appeared to be her mother sitting on a nearby doorstep...holding a baby... La Roca El Balcon is on Calle Elias. (Not to be confused with Calle Plutarco Elias... You'll see.) This street is basically a largish alley which serves as the backdoor and loading zones for the aforementioned whorehouses. So if ever these establishments have to deal with an undesirable customer (what are the odds?) they will be thrown in your path. La Roca El Balcon is located on the East side at the southern end of the street, the courtyard entrance covered in ivy and framed by Magnolias. What!?! Where did this come from? This is...beautiful! The sound of the bubbling fountain was like the hands of a masseuse on my brain. Old but well maintained, the restaurant is built into the side of a solid rock hillside. The temperature dropped 20 degrees as we walked in. The atmosphere was dimmed, but not dark, just pleasant after our eventful stroll in the heat. We were seated immediately at a booth next to a window. Drink orders were taken promptly, and we each indulged in a single Margarita. It was simple and well-crafted. Thankfully, there were no blender noises to disturb our reverie. The waiter was very attentive to our beverage needs, perhaps a bit too attentive. It seems that the word has gone out that gringos like their cheap booze, and the adjacent table of the real housewives of Tucson did nothing to assuage that opinion. Having worked up an appetite, we opened with ceviche, guacamole, and La Roca cheese. I had the beef ranchero with a chile relleno on the side. Girlfriend had enchiladas or some such. The food was good, excellent even. Not the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to, but it vies for second place. The bill wasn't cheap, but nor was it unreasonable. If memory serves, it was around 40USD with tip. Being no stranger to those who troll Yelp, I know there is some neckbeard out there who is bound to ask, "But was it authentic?" To that I respond, "Define authentic anymore." Upon leaving we took further respite in the courtyard to gird our loins for the in real life NC-17 video game that awaited us outside. Then hi-diddle-diddle, straight up the middle to the border. Arriving at passport control all sweaty and flushed, the female US Customs officer gave us the hairy eyeball. Looking at me, then at my girlfriend, she had probably surmised that I had just eaten a bottle of over-the-counter Viagra from the pharmacia and was rushing home in seek of the elusive erection lasting longer than 6 hours. When we told her that we had traveled to Nogales to eat at La Roca, she beamed and said, "Isn't it good? My family loves that place! Lucky!" Stamp-Stamp. A glowing review in itself. read more

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Beautiful ambiance, awesome service, delicious food, just amazing experience!! More than expected, beyond pleased! This is a diamond in this city!! A hidden gem I will return to time and time again, no doubt!!! Thanks fellow Yelpers for your posts!! read more

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Fantastic food!!! Start with the mochomos (fried shredded beef) with a squeeze of lemon, then the azteca soup -don't be shy with the guajillo powder trust me. And a changarro filet . OMG! You can die and go to heaven after having this meal! Seriously delicious Mexican food , and it's really close too, just across the Nogales border( bring your passport). Trust me you will not regret it! read more

You won't find the most famous restaurant south of Tucson at the elegant Tubac Resort and Spa, nor in sprawling Green Valley. The Cow Palace in Amado despite hosting John Wayne, Stewart Granger and other notable Hollywood cowboys is not the most famous either. One and only one restaurant has held the title for the the last forty years, and it is the spacious architectural gem located a mere block and a half inside the Mexican border simply called, La Roca. The massive wrought iron gates, stone paved patio and colossal fountain greet us along with the bountiful greenery, abundant stylish outside furniture, fresh bright paint and generous second story windows. La Roca looks more like a stately mansion than a restaurant, however it is not stuffy in the least, it is vibrant, fun and alive with activity. It is a special place that mixes a bygone age of leisure with a contemporary zing that is unique. The many employees you'll notice all wear a smile with their clean pressed uniforms, in fact their pride is contagious, we the patrons are proud to be there. Climbing the wide stairway to our destination we enter the main dining room to the warm greetings from Captains Enrique and Lupe to their handsome waiters in starched white jackets, black bow ties, and name tags (least we forget), even the uniformed busboys are welcoming. Now where to sit? Near the ample stage? The alcoves that are carved out of the mountain's stone? Near the roaring fireplace on a frosty night? Or perhaps the bright, comfy booths along the windows with splendid views of the gardens? Vases of fresh flowers, bright Mexican paintings, and artifacts mingle with the colorful cotton tablecloths and napkins that await our attentions. This evening as its my guests first visit we choose to continue to the bar. El Balcon, La Roca's bar is past the ritzy bathrooms, spacious kitchen, and elegant meeting room that is inviting rather than sparse. More tables line more windows overlooking the massive fountain, another two smaller rooms with flat screens and Viola! we're in the bar. El Balcon as you might have guessed has a large balcony replete with tables and chairs looking out on the street, where I can grab a smoke. Inside we notice the polished copper bar and stools along with comfortable overstuffed leather chairs. Some choose to dine in El Balcon and do so on pounded silver Nambe trays, perhaps watching something on the massive flat screen. Tonight though, we sip our frozen margaritas and daiquiris Roberto so expertly concocted and flag down Lupe for our table. We are seated as the mariachis softly play an old favorite from the stage, the glasses of purified water and colorful billboard style menu arrive with a smiling waiter. I explain to my guests that Sonora the Mexican state that we are in serves the finest beef in all of Mexico and it is the home of Guaymas on the Sea of Cortez where the huge and tasty jumbo prawns come from. I also share with them that the sea bass is outstanding. By the time we are finished we end up sharing a single flan with our Mexican coffee. For we three, the bill (including tip, and our drink in El Balcon) came to an even 100.00. Quite a bargain for the quality and quantity we devoured. However, you can take advantage of La Roca's buffet either for lunch or breakfast on the weekends and there you'll get the same outstanding service, and great food for under 10.00 for breakfast, and under 15.00 for lunch. Now, when you mention Southern Arizona to your friends back home, and they say (as they always do) "Did you go to La Roca?" you can smile and say " Absolutely ! ". Reservations are encouraged. Call from your cell phone if you'd like an escort from the border. For hours, directions, telephone, menus, catering, special events and the world famous artisans store on premises called, El Changarro see: www.larocarestaurant.com read more

I love it! I've been going with family and friends since I was a child, the location is interesting and when you get there you know it's amazing! Great customer service and it's a great place for family, friends, special occasions and business meetings!! read more

I love the ambience here. It's built right into the side of a mountain and they've incorporated into the restaurant by making it the wall of one side of the establishment. The customer service was great, prices were reasonable and the food was good, too. read more

La Roca - Mexican Near Me - Nogales, SON

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The best Mexican food on the earth, amazing service and priced perfect!!!!

Had a great meal today! We hadn't been for 5 years but just as special as we remembered! We had a group of 5 and some had the buffet and the rest ordered off the menu. Excellent service and the music was great! Thank you for a great meal! LaRoca is worth the walk across the border, they did not disappoint! read more

I had seen this place online and it looked cool. While in Tucson on business recently I decided to take a ride to have dinner here on a Thursday night, St. Paddys Day of all days! I parked at a lot on the US side near McDonald's and walked across the border around 7:30pm. I followed Google direction as iPhone directions were circuitous. After crossing the border simply go to the left through the market to the main road where cars are entering Mexico. Go over footbridge to other side. As you are in foot bridge you will see the sign atop the building which is just behind the block of strip joints. Was a little deserted but felt relatively safe and well lit. As you enter the courtyard there are shops but these were closed at this time. I went upstairs and into the restaurant. Only 1 other party in there. Was warmly greeted and seated. Decor and atmosphere was excellent. The back part that was carved into the rock was interesting to see Had a margarita and was brought warm chips and pico de gallo. Chips were decent but felt like they were packaged and warmed up. Main waiter spoke decent English and service was top notch. Menu was presented on an easel as it is a chalkboard of sorts. Too many choices, all of which looked great! All prices in USD. Started with tortilla soup which is served with a side dish of chili powder to add as you desired. Very tasty! Had the garlic shrimp as a main as recommended by waiter when I was weighing the shrimp dishes. Probably about a dozen medium shrimp sautéed served with fresh grilled zucchini and rice along with a garlic cream sauce on the side. Very tasty. Had vanilla flan and coffee for dessert. Very good food, decent prices and a great atmosphere. I will return! read more

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My friend, who has more Nogales experience than I, says this is the best restaurant in town. I agree. Restaurant is hewn into the side of a mountain, with part of the rock face exposed inside. Classic Sonoran decor and an upscale feel, without upscale prices. I got the enmoladas, which are enchiladas with mole sauce. Sauce is very chocolatey and savory but it worked well, especially with the cheese enchilada (I did carne, pollo and queso). Had margaritas, chips and salsa, and flan and coffee for dessert, all for about $30 US each. Fantastic! read more

Very disappointed. The food was tasteless and there were bones in my chicken. I get better Mexican food in Mississippi. Service and atmosphere are excellent. read more

I really like like eating at La Roca. This time we made a special trip to Nogales to have lunch. We shared a plate of Sopes con Pollo and had a couple of Margaritas. The food and service are excellent. read more

La Roca - Mexican Near Me - Nogales, SON

La Roca is a wonderful restaurant with delicious food. We stopped here for lunch and I had the combination, which consisted of a chili relleno, and enchilada, a burrito, rice and beans. All were delicious. We were a party of four and all had full meals, two margaritas, bottled water, and coffee after our meal, which was delicious. All of that food and one desert to share and our total bill was $71 American dollars. We ate on the patio which was very nice and the entire restaurant is beautiful. When we arrived there was a mariachi band playing in the main eating area. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I would definitly recommend this place when visiting Nogales. read more

This place is carved into the mountain, very well decorated, upscale, great ambiance. Prices are American $15-$20 average per person. Beef tacos and combination plate were great. Will return in the future. read more

Wonderful experience at La Roca! It's an easy walk from the border, but Taxis are easily available. Great friendly upscale service, excellent food. We had a very enjoyable time. Great drinks, delicious food. If you like desserts don't miss the Limon Tarte, world class!! Take your time to walk through the beautiful building and charming shops. read more

This is a very good restaurant, but a little bit pricey. Great taste in food, and (well at least for me) they had a good service, which didn't last that much. Sea food is greatly cooked! read more

Very nice place, great service but the food was good but not great and considering is not a cheap place even for American standards I can't give 5 stars read more

Tried out La Roca after seeing the great reviews. Definitely worth the visit! The wall being made of "rock" (hence "roca") is a cool part of its charm, but that's only part of it. As well as the fact that they bring the menu to your table on an easel, and the live music. The food and cocktails were great. read more

Thanks Yelpers! This was a terrific little find! We parked on the US side and walked over the border. To get to the restaurant you will need to cross all the traffic lanes and railroad tracks. A safer way is taking the walkway OVER all the traffic. You'll see the signage for the restaurant on the hill. Once inside it's a whole different experience. Upscale service, romantic setting, and nice decor. We had the CHIPS and SAUCE, very fresh and the pico de gallo was excellent. Then came TORTILLA SOUP which was a nice broth lots of tortilla strips, a yummy cheese and a generous slice of avocado. I ordered the CHIMICHANGA, my husband ordered the combination which included a CHILI RELLANO, an ENCHILADA, and a BURRITO. They portions are not huge but you will get full. It's very authentic, the tortillas are so fresh and flakey. Everything was delicious. The service was perfect and we had an amazing musician sing a love song on his acoustic guitar at our table side. The bill came to $28.00 before tips. Go to their website and print out the coupons for a free margarita. They accepted two coupons for both of us. And they were good! We want to return on a Sunday morning for their buffet - for only $11.00 a person. Just bring your passport and enjoy this wonderful little find. read more

You can't do better than La Roca. You'd pay three or four times the price for a meal at a US restaurant. White-coated waiters dote on you. I'm not sure why some other reviewers complained about the food or the price. I really like the pollo con chile colorado (chicken with red chile sauce). ¡Tan sabroso! (By the way, the waiters speak English and there are English menu boards that the waiters will bring to your table -- very classy.) The maître d' -- or owner, whichever he is -- seems to always be paying attention to the room; I'm sure you can call him over for any reason. There's a small balcony outside the bar. Although the inside of the restaurant is beautiful, the balcony has a nice feeling with only a few tables. I don't recommend the Sunday brunch buffet, though. The food was extremely salty and also almost cold. read more

I would give it 5 stars if I didn't have to go out of the country with my passport to eat here. Best Mexican I have had in this area though. The refried beans were fresh. I liked the way the menu was presented at each table as well. The staff could speak a bit more English, but where is the fun in that considering you are in Mexico. This place is even recommended by the locals. read more

Great place, great food. Highly recommend this place! :-) I especially loved the desserts (flan and arroz con leche) and the coffee but the food was also excellent, especially for a vegetarian like me. Definitely plan to make more trips across the border and visit again. read more

I haven't been here in 25 years, still the same decor, very clean. Lunch with the girls on a Friday afternoon, quite crowded, but a lot of waiters. With all that waitstaff, service was agonizingly slow. The Mexicano combo served up relleno, cheese enchilada, beef burrito, r/b. Very tasty, good value for price. read more

Let's do this! Margaritas, menu's on huge blackboards, amazing authentic food, and you feel like you're in a rock. Legitimately inside a rock. Absolutely wonderful. The ambiance is even amazing. The staff is super friendly and attentive, I felt like I was at a fine dining restaurant and it was only half the price! I will return and soon. read more

Great place...really good food. Try the mochomos!!! I've been there several times. Always try to make it there when in Nogales, MX! The locals like this place too. And, the story about Geronimo is interesting too. Not sure if true but it's interesting. read more

Everyting here is authentic and unique. I have been coming here for years. Bacon wrapped shrimp, seafood soup, and the dry shredded beef are favorites. The waiters dress and act appropriately. Carved into a giant rock, the location is impressive. read more

La Roca has been a restaurant I frequent since I can remember. Even when I was a kid, my parents and family always had birthday dinners here, celebratory meals and so forth. This hidden gem is one of my favorite restaurants and just a short walk from the border. I love their weekend brunch buffet which is always consistent, and always delicious. Their staff has been there for decades. They are the most friendly servers you'll ever meet and no matter how full of a house they have, you won't be left needing anything, they're on it. Their queso fundido & mochomos are the best !This will forever be a restaurant I stop by, even if just once a month for the best authentic Mexican food you can get for a great price. read more