We visited Penca last night and overall had a really great experience. The food was delicious and the service was excellent from start to finish. We started with the chips and salsa trio and the small chicharrones everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. My husband ordered the NY steak and we were genuinely surprised by how huge it was amazing portion size and cooked beautifully. I had two tacos (one carne asada and one carnitas), and both were incredibly tasty. The restaurant itself has a very romantic vibe with beautiful lighting, but unfortunately our table placement wasn't ideal. We were seated in a corner near storage and a service area, with servers and kitchen staff walking in and out, which took away from the ambiance a bit. Drinks were good my husband had a beer and I had a mezcalita though they were definitely strong (we both woke up with a bit of a hangover which its unusual for us). Overall, fantastic food and service. I'd absolutely come back and would just hope for a better table next time. read more

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Penca is a cool spot that I don't consider going to often enough. It's dressed up Mexican food from the CDMX area as I understood. Came in with some friends and split some appetizers. The yellow tail special appetizer with corn purée was awesome and the queso was delicious. The place is very cool and dark so it's a great place for date night or a special occasion. The service was good, but our server was MIA for a bit so we had to flag down another person to get help. I definitely need to eat here more often. read more

Penca - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Came for the food, was impressed by the bar program. The mezcal selection was amazing! One of my most memorable experiences in Tuscon!

Went to Penca twice last week - first to preview for out of town guests and second time to take these guests. Everything was excellent. First night server, Ivanna, was very gracious and helpful in discussing options. Very knowledgeable about menu and preparation. Second night, Matt, showed this was no fluke. He was just as outstanding as Ivanna. Food was great from appetizers through main course. With our focus on appetizers, it was a nice option to be able to pick a couple of very interesting and tasty tacos instead of a large full entree. Rustic brick, concrete, steel industrial ambiance. Might have stayed for another cocktail if steel seats had a cushion. Overall, great experience at a great restaurant. Will be back! read more

The food is amazing. The ambience is perfect and Matt the server is attentive, funny and not obtrusive. It's a perfect combination and as a single individual, I always feel welcomed. read more

We came here for date night on a Saturday and we were impressed with the food, vibes, and service. The restaurant instantly transported me to an old hacienda in Mexico. The staff is very attentive and friendly. We didn't wait long for our food and the prices are fair. The food was delicious. I can't remember the name our dishes but my husband had the chile relleno and I had the costillas with hominy. The meat I had was the most tender, juicy, and delicious meat I've had in a while. We also had the chicharrones as an appetizer and it was served with a spicy salsa that tasted homemade which is my favorite. For dessert I had the 3 leches cake and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. We will definitely be coming back for dinner and date night soon. read more

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Pretty expensive for what I would describe as standard, unimpressive Mexican food. The menu was kind of hard to read and I would have appreciated if it had been more clear what dishes were spicy. Both the chicharrones and ceviche were spicy which I was not prepared for and did not appreciate. My favorite part ended up being the jardinero drink which was light and refreshing, but definitely boozy. Service was accommodating when I needed to switch from an outdoor to an indoor table due to the heat. read more

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I've been reading reviews and was eager to try this adorable little restaurant downtown. The vibe is spectacular... Their outdoor patio is adorable even though it is right on Broadway. The service was phenomenal, the Mescalita margarita was yummy and the guacamole and chips was also fantastic. The mains however, we're a little disappointing. We had heard so much hype, I was expecting a phenomenal meal, but it was so so. We had the chile relleno and several tacos... None of which was anything to write home about. Not bad, but not worth the hype. We did enjoy their homemade churros at the end of our meal, which were delightful. I'll probably give this place another shot, but on my first visit it didn't live up to expectations. read more

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I came back for dinner on Saturday night with a different group, and the fish was much better this time. The seared market fish was delicious--I loved everything about it. Since it's an expensive dish, I do wish the portion of Mahi Mahi had been larger. The carne asada, pescado, and rajas y papas tacos were all tasty, though two of them were quite spicy. The tacos themselves are very small. The chips and guacamole were too salty. I didn't like the white sangria at all--it had an odd buttery taste. On the upside, I really enjoyed the Jardinero cocktail this time, and the jicama was just as smooth and smoky as before. read more

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The ambiance was perfect. Great date night in downtown. Vegan & Gluten free options . I will be a repeat customer for sure . read more

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We had a nice time at pence. It makes an impression as you walk up, under the Mexican flags and the hostess greets you on the side walk. We had a reservation and they put us at a lovely corner table against the window. It was perfect. Our server was extremely helpful and friendly, although it felt like he checked in with us a bit too often to see how things were and it chat in general. The drinks were really good. Unique flavor profile. The food was mixed for me. Chips & salsa come complimentary. We ordered queso to go with it but I didn't love it. It wasn't very dip-able. More like quesadilla cheese that was melted and I had to cut to put in my tortilla. I ordered the short rib with goat cheese hominy which was just so big and bold and after 1/4 of the dish I was tired of it and wish I ordered something else. Overall, pleasant time but wish I had different food choices. I'm glad we went but I probably wouldn't come back. read more

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Best chili relleno anywhere. Awesome salsa. Really interesting list of wines by the glass. Excellent service

We were downtown for a show at Arizona Theatre Company and decided to grab a bite at Penca first. Since we planned on appetizers, we sat at the bar. I ordered guacamole and esquites, which turned out to be a meal! Penca serves their corn tortilla chips with several fresh salsas, and I enjoyed trying different mixtures of guac and salsa, guac and esquites, and esquites and salsa. My partner ordered pozole blanco, which also was meal-sized. He enjoyed it and also tried the different salsas with chips. When we arrived, we were the only ones at the bar, and we received attentive service while we were there. The space has a blend of wood and metal finishes for a modern, sophisticated look. We'll go to Penca again when we're downtown for another show. read more

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Wow, five stars, Penca! The yummiest, freshest ingredients paired with skill and ambiance creates a phenomenal dinner experience. Our server was a delight and the drinks came out perfect, I favored the gin cocktail. This is downtown Tucsons gem for a belly warming romantic date or business meeting at the bar for drinks. read more

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I ordered one appetizer Bone Marrow - it was really good. ( you need to acquire the taste and know how to enjoy it LoL- but first - Tate the top part with a spoon and let the salt touch your paladar fist then en hoy by small portions. Both pieces were deliciosos ) know that this is an appetizer so one bone will bring 4 small spoons ). Entry : chile relleno : flavor/taste was good. Salsa was good ( too much salsa for my taste but that's easy just to move over to the side ) meat was good - soft and good Taste. Chile cover was to thin for my taste. I like to taste the Chile - green outer part - and combine with the inside. But overall it was good. Dessert: churros - well! For me taste those were not the bomb flavor that I was expecting on my mouth BUT putting that aside- I focus on the taste and texture and it was good with the caramel and chocolate. I will say - if you have a pre conception of flavor then remove that and be open to try a new flavor and texture for this churros. Overall those are good but you need to acquire the taste. Ambiance is good and service was excellent t for my experience. 20% service charge was match. Drink : i tried lemonade. Same as churro review. $$$ above was below $80s for one person read more

Penca - Bone - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I came here with a friend for Sonoran restaurant week a couple weeks ago and we decided to try the fixed menu. The evening started off really well with friendly service and a nice quiet atmosphere for dinner. Their outdoor patio seating is nice. We got complimentary chips and salsa, which were great. The chips weren't overly salty and the salsa had a nice flavor. The starter for the restaurant week menu was roasted carrots on cashew crema, and it was not like anything I've had before. The carrots were sweet and a mix of soft and crunch. The crema added a really nice flavor, so the dish as a whole worked really well and was probably my favorite! I chose the salad next, which was a mixed organic greens salad with an assortment of nuts and seeds. It had a hunk of a corn on the cob that was a strange addition to the salad. It seemed to be more for garnish. I didn't love the salad and didn't finish it. My friend and I both ordered the coconut poached sea bass, but there was a mixup with our orders and they forgot to make our entrees initially, so we ended up waiting over an hour and a half for our entrees! That was frustrating, but when we did finally get our sea basses, they were alright. The menu said it came with calabacitas, but it was more garnish-looking. The size of the sea bass was pretty large so it was a lot of food. It was not my favorite part of the meal, but by this point I just wanted some food! I finished the meal with the churro dessert. It came with two dipping sauces, the chocolate one I didn't like. But the churros themselves were fresh, hot, and crisp, when were great. It was a nice way to end the meal. Overall, I think this was a good restaurant week menu. The mixup with the entrees was disappointing, but it was a lot of food, and I think a good value for the $55 price. read more

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Penca has a European feel ambiance and is I'm the heart of downtown tucson. Has a nice open feel and seating outdoors. Lovvvveeee the hongo and tocino tacos (bacon and mushroom). Such a good combination. Perk: complimentary chips and salsa read more

Penca - Mesquite, lengua taco, hongo y tocino taco - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Best bartender, best drinks in downtown Tucson. The menu has both meats and fish. I guess the tacos are the best thing read more

Penca - Short Ribs. Excellent!! - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The food was delicious. I ordered the NY strip medium, it came out perfect, tender and flavorful! My partner ordered the short rib, equally good! I would definitely recommend. Service was great. Very nice ambiance, intimate type of setting. read more

Penca - Grilled NY strip - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I wanted to like this place, but neither the food, the price nor the service were satisfactory. I can see this place as for a romantic date night spot, but it was so dark inside I needed to turn on my phone flashlight to know what I'm eating. I usually consider myself someone who has an adventurous palate. But I didn't enjoy the 2 entrees we ordered. Pescale en Mole Verde- the mole sauce smelt and tasted weird to me. To be fair, my friend said she liked the sauce. The fish didn't seem to be seared, at least not the skin side. The oyster mushroom was the best part of this dish. Definitely not worth $33. Costilla de Res - short-rib is alright, but the ancho sauce was sour and did not add to this dish. Hominy with goat cheese is a good idea. Esquites - this was my favorite dish of the night. Sweet corn with cojito, pickled onion, and pieces of serrano were a pleasant surprise. Service was another let-down. We were seated at the counter, which gave us a good view of the kitchen. We waited for quite a while to order, and waited for another 20 minutes after we said no dessert to get the check. read more

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I had high expectations of this place. I was really underwhelmed with the flavors. The empanadas were lacking filling so the majority of the flavor was from the pastry. The pastry was good, but I really wanted to enjoy the filling and it was hard to given how little filling they had. I also tried the grilled fish taco. The homemade tortilla was really amazing - probably the best I've ever had. However the fish had no seasoning which made the taco very bland. I did love the side of grilled cactus and onions - that was the best thing I ate. I also really enjoyed their house salsas. It's a very nice restaurant with fast service and friendly wait staff. I love the vibe. I'd like to go back and try other menu items to hopefully find a flavorful experience. read more

Penca - Empanadas- they are $3 each during happy hour. - A white plate holds two fried empanadas, each with a golden-brown, crispy exterior and sprinkled with coarse salt. A small white bowl contains a serving of green guacamole, placed between the empanadas. The dish is set on a dark wooden table, with a partial view of a white bowl in the background. - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Absolutely amazing. Went for Mother's Day and it did not disappoint. Food and dessert were amazing. Although I have been here several times this was my absolute favorite of all. Compliments to the chef. read more

Penca - Mother's Day sea bass special- amazing - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Fish entree was bad. Tiny portion, flavorless, and $40 for that dish? Crazy. And it took a long time even though the restaurant was not busy. I think they forgot us for a while. The posole was good. The staff seems focused on talking to each other and the people at the bar that they knew (maybe off duty staff?) the place is cute but tables and sitting are tight. overall not a good experience. I won't be back. Many better options downtown read more

This restaurant is located downtown and 1. Has a cool vibe; love their decor! 2. Service was friendly and competent. Menu is limited and definitely what you would consider modern Mexican. We ordered iced teas and they come in a very small glass. Refills, we would later realize, are NOT included. They charge $2.50 for refills! Our waitress had to continually refill them because after a few sips, they were empty again. Not a fan! We ordered guacamole and it came with 3 salsas. Green salsa was vinegar-forward, and not very flavorful after. Red chipotle salsa was good, but nothing extraordinary. We didn't try the salsa fresca, but it did look fresh. Next, we ordered their bone marrow appetizer and I really enjoyed that. I also tried a bite of my husband's carnitas taco and it was WAAAAY too salty. Carne asada tacos are just okay, too. The asada is big chunks and taste like they are grilled on an open fire which is a good start, but the salsa on top needs to be a bit more flavorful. Overall, I might return only to try a cocktail because I did like the service and the vibe! read more

The food was so yummy! I don't know what they put in the guacamole but OMG! And the green salsa? Devoured it! My carne asada taco was incredible. And the vegan chile relleno was spot on. Our server was accommodating. The only thing I didn't like was the very dim lighting. You couldn't see the menus! read more

I had mix feelings with my experience. We sat at the bar and our bartender was inattentive, and left us flagging a server down a few times. We were not given chips until we ordered food, which I understand if you are just there for drinks but we had menus and our bartender could have asked us if we were eating before waiting 20 minutes later - after taking our order. Our drinks were yummy but small. The guac came pre-mixed, for the price again I expected fresh and customizable. As for the food, it was good but I didn't feel it was worth the price. I had the vegan chile rellano and a shroom taco. The rellano was smothered in sauce and I thought it was a bit strange that they put whole walnuts in the mixture and didn't grind it up. It felt very segmented. Overall it was an OK experience, I'm just not sure it was worth the price. My out-of-town guest did like her food. read more

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Nice find in walk distance to parking garage and music hall. The food was amazing. Bone marrow appetizer was delicious and not something you would find everywhere. We ordered the pork chops and ribs. So good... the sauces were delicious like bourbon raisins in one and the chocolate in the mole sauce. Service was excellent. Nice bar to eat at too. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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What a lovely night! A myriad of flavors starting with appetizers , ending with dessert and topped off with a bourbon tepache . The grilled prickly pear cactus (Nopales) and Esquites were my favorite... but I would eat everything again ( there was no wrong dish) and try more dishes. The rustic yet modern vibe with warm lighting coupled with loud fun music makes this space and vibrant to match the food and culture. Outdoor seating also available. Excellent service - friendly, attentive and he made some excellent recommendations. Very limited street parking ( free after 5pm) but there is a $5parking lot less than a minute walk away adjacent to the building. read more

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Average food in a beautiful atmosphere with below average service. More than we wanted to pay for the amount of food we got. We came for happy hour, but they didn't even have a happy hour menu. The waiter (who was not very friendly or enthusiastic) told us the deals "off the top of his head" and FYI the drinks are all $2 off and food choices are limited. That being said, I recommend the taquitos and trying all three kinds - short rib, turkey, and potato. And chili relleno with pork. read more

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Not our first time here and we've typically enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. This time neither was enjoyable. Bartender was completely indifferent and unfortunately served up mediocre cocktails with her side eye. Sitting at the bar, every word we spoke was listened to and observed by the kid washing and drying glassware. Creepy and unnecessary. $70 for 4 street tacos and a couple of drinks served up with attitude is excessive-especially these days. read more

Penca - Fabulous Tempranillo - A glass of red wine is positioned on a dark bar counter, accompanied by a clear bottle of water and a glass of ice. The background showcases a wooden bar wall stocked with numerous liquor bottles, including spirits like tequila and mezcal, arranged on shelves. The setting appears to be a bar or restaurant with warm lighting and a rustic ambiance. - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We had a nice meal at penca before seeing a show. Started off with a limeade and a wonderful cocktail which contained Mezcal and orange bitters. It was divine and a bit smokey. The service was very prompt and we finished more quickly than we expected. We had the Esquite corn appetizer which was good . We had a pulled pork chile relleno and a vegetarian chili relleno for our entrees as well as the nopales as a side. The vegetarian chili relleno was excellent. Very flavorful sauce. The pork Relleno had a nice red sauce and the meat was tender. One of the major hits of the evening was the homemade corn chips and the salsa was delicious. Luckily we had a table inside since it was busy. I love the way they decorate the outside with lights. They were very nice to the people outside bringing everyone blankets. read more

Penca - Jacaima cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The food was good and inventive. Carefully prepared and stylish but not overwrought. Interesting agave spirits selection. Ambiance really nice. Pretty good value for the money. I would definitely go back fir another meal. read more

Random choice for dinner...and boy were we happy from beginning to the end of our meal! Started outside in patio that was very romantic and perfect on an October night! Progressed to inside in a door romantic space with a perfect view of the kitchen and bar! Started with appetizers: guacamole with at least fours salas! Each salsa was pleasing with its on flavor. Progressed to ceviche with fresh fish! The flavor was spot on. For entree we had Chile rellenos that came with its great favorable sauce! For refreshments: plenty of great drinks! The margaritas were spot on and fresh! Not sweet but perfectly tart! Restaurant also has array of sangria from sweet to tart! Blanco was perfectly balanced ! If your're looking for a perfectly relaxed romantic restaurant with lots of flavor, then this is your spot! read more

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Very disappointing. The food and service were were terrible. My food had to be remade THREE times and in the end, it still tasted awful. The potatoes were undercooked and their crema (of which I barely got any) tasted like watery sour cream. The waitress actually used her cellphone light to inspect my food, too, because the lighting was so dim. That was awakened.. My friend's food also contained undercooked potatoes and was overly salted. When she told the waitress, the waitress didn't want to have it remade because she said it would take too long. Due to all the order issues, the gluten-free person at our table barely ate her meal because she worried about getting sick if her order was wrong too. When we finally got the check, the waitress informed us there was automatically 20% gratuity because we were a group of six. Must be nice to get an automatic tip when the food and service was awful. Sad part was that we were celebrating a graduation and the place basically ruined the night. read more

Really great experience. Got right in, service was friendly and timely. Good and drinks were excellent. We'll be back.

10/10 Ambiance Taco de cabeza was delish & my bf enjoyed the Al pastor taco! For a more in depth review follow my food insta @comerconsteph read more

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This was the surprise hit of our stay in Tucson. We had expected Tito & Pep to reign supreme, but I felt this restaurant was much better. 1. Crowd is lively and in a great spot in downtown 2. The mezcal drinks were delicious and the bar staff was excellent 3. Our food had the creativity I was hoping for in Tucson. From the garlic prickly pair appetizer to the fish Al pastor tacos, I absolutely loved the spins they had on Mexican and southwestern cuisine 4. The restaurant itself has a fun interior and we were able to be seated at the bar without a reservation or any wait time 5. The bone marrow was BOMB 6. I felt the prices were reasonable with large proportions, contradicting other reviews I would highly recommend! read more

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Came here on a whim one night with some friends and was pleasantly surprised! They had a ton of vegan options, so we order a few appetizers to share for the table. The guac with pomegranate seeds was amazing and the chips were fresh. The vegetable platter presented very well and was fun to munch on! And my friend loved the pozole. Being right off of the street, it was surprisingly not too loud (we sat outside). And our server was attentive and nice! read more

We had a group of 23 last night at Penca for a rehersal diner party. I can only say that everything was excellent! Individuals in my party had a variety of dishes and everyone was very impressed, starting from the chips and wonderful salsa and guacamole, to the soups and salad, the main dishes and the dessert! Everything was just delicious and the service was also excellent! We will be back! read more

Be amazed by the clean, precise flavors of the restaurant with no sign. Yep pulling up you'll note there is no sign to reassure yourself you have arrived at the right place, instead, a glass awning over the door, and tables of happy folk under the soft glow of patio lights zigzagging across the sky, happy that they were smart to make a reservation for the best fine dining Mexican with Euro kitchen flare that Tucson can offer, and to date that I've tried. Hubby opts for more casual dinners but enjoyed this upscale hipster establishment. While the menu is focused, hubby and I enjoyed every offering we selected, and artfully presented: Cocktail: Chose the JíCARA bc mezcal...you know, when in Mexico City (Rome) ;) Elote-infused mezcal, maguey sap, lime juice, orange bitters beautiful on a large cube with charred corn husk, was a well balanced smoky mezcal sour. Great accompaniment sipping through courses. Cast iron skillet chorizo verde Queso Fondido with roasted serrano & thick chewy tortillas, like eating the best cheesy chorizo burger topped with thick layer of melted monterrey? likely not, but shows you what I know?! A hefty serving for two but with a duo of lighter tacos, for one of our mains, we were blissfully stuffed. The thick house tortilla chips came a little late to the game, served when the Queso came out instead of with the cocktail, but a loosely chunky, smoky salsa, so satisfying and tasty, while competing alongside the Queso, sadly left too many behind argh.. would not have been the case up front when you arrive ready to munch. Tacos w/house chewy corn tortillas: Beer braised Lengua w/salsa verde & Carnitas w/avo tomatillo salsa. The side pickles were lightly tart but the wafer thin carrots have super carrot flavor, their brightness so intense. Tacos are small, a good 3 bites each but packed with tons of flavor no less. You'd need 3-4 to be full. The side of rice we ordered came out as roasted poblanos instead, and the Queso so filling, we didn't miss it. The poblanos which were on the spicier side got comped but with so much food, we only managed a few bites. Onto the Bone-in Chuleta Entrada pork chop, pumpkin mole with squash and apples and grilled scallion chochoyotes, new on me, had to ask. The green speckled crispy fried masa discs was the most bland item on the table, but added an unusual starch element to the dish that I appreciated. Chop was a good inch+ thick, so juicy yet charred nicely, we easily split it between 2 with plenty of protein, and the favorite for both of us. Mole was not too thick or cloying and just enough to get me through half of our shared chop. Coffee: Surprise French press! Server said it was drip since no espresso. It's a special sourced Guat-Hond? local bean, blended for them. One pot is plenty for 2 and only $3. No low-sugar option, too full anyway, maybe next time on dessert ;) Server was pleasant and as it got busier harder to track but not to the point of lack of service. Yes, you need reservations during the week. Ours on a Thursday 5PM and by 6PM was a packed house. Chose an outside table and can't wait to set camp again outside at the restaurant with no sign, oh and apparently they have a cocktail bar around the corner, again don't look for a sign but an orange dragon and there are tunnels underneath that connect to the churches. Sounds sinister but if anything like our dinner, it will be a true blessing ;) !! read more

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