We had a wonderful experience here and loved the food ! We Weill be back next year definitely -thank you!

Food is phenomenal. Drinks are unique and delicious. The service has been great and efficient. Very unique cool spot. Will definitely make this a regular spot. read more

Pretentious staff, uncaring, poor service. You can do better going to any of the other hundreds of good restaurants in downtown Tucson. Not worth the vist. read more

We have been to Penca twice and have been impressed by the various salsa options and the excellent service. You also get to watch the whole kitchen do their work. Try the guacamole and the unique margarita. We will return. read more

Enjoyed corn appetizer, Wow! Fish entree was a bit overcooked but they were more than willing to redo and second serving was perfect.

Super bomb tacos! Nice environment for date night hands down. The patio area is great

With the closing of Elvira and Cafe Poco Cosa, Penca is the place to go for creative Mexican food and drink. The atmosphere in the restored building is warm and incredibly inviting. You feel transported to a place far away from the steel and glass of modern times. The menu is limited, but everything so well seasoned, with unique flavors to experience, and some unusual ingredients to tempt you. To complement your meal, there is a selection of cocktails incorporating mezcal and tequila that you won't find anywhere else. My favorite is the Jicara. My wife bought all the ingredients for me for Christmas, but I am still working on reproducing the amazing concoction their bartenders serve up. We have taken others there several times, and no one is ever disappointed! The servers are friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks, and will steer you in the right direction if you're lost. Enjoy! read more

Food was not as good as we were hoping based on the reviews. The only thing I would recommend is the guacamole and the corn appetizer. The short ribs were cold and tough and Chili Relleno was flavorless. The prices were quite high for what you get. They charged us for item we did not get and the waiter tried to tell us we weren't being charged. I am glad I asked for a copy of the receipt. The only thing this place has going for it is the ambiance read more

First time in Tucson, and some co-workers and I were looking for a nice restaurant for Cinco de Mayo and a birthday celebration. The vibes and customer service here are everything. But the food is hit or miss. Appetizers were good (guac and corn), tacos were okay, but deserts were just a total miss. Would come back, but no dessert for me. read more

This is very special place in Downtown Tucson. Great service! We had almost everything in the lunch menu! The Watercress salad is just amazing! Try the Beet soup , the Carne Asada Tacos with handmade corn tortillas are perfect!! A repeat from now on when in the area! read more

Penca - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We have eaten here at least 3 different occasions and the quality has been the same each time. The food is the best! We enjoy all the different taco offerings as they are unique and flavorful beyond expectations. Happy hour is the best deal in town. Great downtown atmosphere as well Update Haven't been here in a year. This afternoon we arrived for happy hour and were totally disappointed. They no longer offer the food which we raved about (above). And, they had only 1 beer on tap, not the one I wanted. I don't understand why some of the most popular food is taken off the menu. I've seen this happen at other places that no longer exist. Two stars just because they used to be our favorite small restaurant in Tucson. read more

At first the lighting in our reserved table was really dark, but they adjusted it...it's kinda cool I guess that Penca is one of those spots that don't have a name sign outside and from that I guess you could say the restaurant has a hipster-y vibe. I liked that you could get tequila flights from here, the beet tequila also tastes great and the margarita is strong. However, the food itself wasn't completely impressive. In a place like Tucson, where delicious Mexican food is readily available, it seems unnecessary to have to pay so much for the "Mexican" dishes at Penca when the flavors aren't really what you'd expect. I would definitely come back here for the drinks, but not the food. read more

Penca - beet-infused tequila - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What a terrible experience. We had our waitress spill an entire flight of mescal on our friend, and RUIN HER DESIGNER BAG!! The manager Michelle did absolutely nothing for us, and refused to discuss the situation. Not only that, but they even charged us for the drink that the waitress spillled all over us. The food was mediocre at best, and the service was terrible after being sat 25 minutes after our reservation (while the restaurant was empty) DO NOT SUPPORT!!! 0/5 read more

This place deserves more than five stars. Lovely ambiance, warm, caring service, and incredibly great food. I could rave about everything we ate, but the best thing was the mole sampling. What a delight! We have to return a few times because the menu held many other promises of culinary delight. read more

I ordered the ceviche, and it was made by an uncultured swine. Lil to no flavor. No zest no pop also their esquites was way better ! No it has the same attitude as their ceviche. I wonder if they have a new cook? Their service was great waitresses were all friendly and courteous. read more

This place gets a bad wrap because they're pretty understaffed, but if you give yourself some time I highly recommend it. The food is amazing-try the ceviche and carnitas tacos. The service is great but veeery sloooow. read more

Always awesome food and service. We just love it here. I really wish I didn't have to keep on writing to post a review!

Portions are really small and overpriced. The temperature was not consistent throughout the dish, and we had to ask multiple times for the check without actually being given the check. Drinks are great, but they seem to rely on you being too drunk to care about anything else. read more

Criminally underrated, modern approach to central Mexican food. Upscale decor, atmosphere, and a great bar (mezcal + imported beers) compliment the unique takes on classics like rellenos and ceviche. The chuleta (bone-in pork chop), nopalitos (grilled prickly pear), and mesquite-flour-based, chile-infused dark chocolate torte are serious standouts. read more

34$ for "carne asada"... it was a small piece. And didn't even come with sides. Added a side of rice, and the rice was sorry as hell, my 12 year old nephew can make it better. Added corn tortillas and they were just thick pieces of maza flattened and broke in half. Can't believe they charge this much. I'm Mexican, grew up in a Mexican household in Cali, came here and wasted my money. I could've gone to the local Mexican grocery store and gotten the same or better. Don't fall for their fancy looks. Rather go to a taco truck. read more

Food quality non existent, rice was bland no flavor service sucked. Margaritas in a rock's glass? Really? Ice tea in a Collins glass ? Over priced over hyped. Very disappointed. Went there to celebrate our daughter's birthday. Major disappointment read more

My daughter made a reservation here for our first night in Tucson. It was a great start to our vacation. We started with the guacamole, it was excellent. Other dishes we enjoyed from the starter menu were the bone marrow, the prickly pair cactus, and the shrimp special. We then moved onto the tacos. Excellent! Service was friendly and efficient. Nice quiet atmosphere. read more

Penca deserves more than five stars. Lovely ambiance, warm, caring service, and incredibly great food. I could rave about everything we ate, but the best thing was the mole sampling. What a delight! The menu promises of culinary delight! read more

Came in for brunch on a Sunday. Love the ambiance and the aroma was exquisite. It wasn't too busy however the service was painfully slow. It took 30 mins to receive my one glass of sangria and almost an hour before the food was served. We were served by Jacob, he was very kind and apologetic for the slow service. Everyone in my party enjoyed their food. Love the authenticity of brunch dishes. I had the two eggs with tortillas and added pork belly. My pork belly was mostly fat so I didn't enjoy my food as much as the others. I'd love to come back to try the dinner menu however, the long wait tarnished the possibility to come back when in Tucson. read more

Penca - Sangria - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I have to say, this was outstanding modern american mexican food. The space is great, drinks outstanding and we had blast. Dropping our freshman at UofA and took him for a fun meal. He loved it. Best tacos we've had in a long time. The whole vibe at Penca is cool...the server, bartenders -- all around. I see some of the reviews are mixed, but we loved it. I'd put it on my top 10 list for Tuscon and visitor to UofA. Great fun and good energy. read more

I was down Scott Street earlier in the evening and was looking for a quick bite to eat. I've noticed Penca while driving by because of its beautiful ambiance and was glad that on a Saturday evening, there was a spot at the bar. I think hands down out of all the eateries/bars I've been to so far in Tucson, I think Penca has the most beautiful atmosphere. Dim lights, brick walls, big open windows so you can look out on Broadway. If I ever have a fancy date lined up in the future, this would be a good place to stop by for a drink/snack! I ordered the elote and ceviche. Both were good--hence the whole thing earning a 4 star rating. To be honest, I have had both better elote and ceviche at other establishments in town, but I think you're really paying for the atmosphere/central location. And there's the Owls Club down Scott Street to check out afterwards. :) read more

Very clean and a welcome environment. Food is a must! Perfect for a date and to enjoy each other.

Our recent experience at Penca differs markedly from most of their Yelp reviews. Rather than say our experience was bad, I will say that our taste does not match that of their typical customer. The atmosphere was fine, the service good and the music loud. The food is another matter. We had the marrow bone appetizer, pork chop and the pork relleno. The marrow bone was tasty, but lacking in marrow; the accompanying chimichurri salsa was also tasty. A small dessert spoon would have helped extracting the marrow. The advertised chicharron was missing. The grilled park chop looked pleasing when it arrived. The meat was tender and juicy. Then the bite. Whatever spice/seasoning they used masked any taste of pork. The caramelized onion was missing or at least I could not taste it. I did not like the underlying fennel pecan mol. I would have preferred chimichurri. The chochoyotes added nothing. The photos on their website show that presentation varies. As to the relleno, the spouse was not impressed. Serving it at room temperature, while their choice, wasn't hers. The seasoning in the relleno was strange and the pepper itself, too tough to eat. The lack of any salt or pepper shakers on the tables speaks to the attitude of the owner/chef. To summarize, different folks, different tastes. Two stars for good service and atmosphere and one star for food. read more

Highly recommend this place. Really fun Mexican style menu, however "gourmet" flair and contemporary presentation. Great ambiance in a historic building with a lot of history. Completely renovated with open kitchen and fun bar. Outdoor seating available also. Craft cocktails and homemade cherry grenadine for your kid's "cherry coke." read more

Overall experience at penca was good. The foot itself was tasty and the drink selection was nice. Margarita was less sweet than I'd expect and the selection of sangrias were nice. The carnitas taco I found more like a seca meat and was super dry and got stuck in between my teeth. The carne Asada is good also but the stand out was the mole. Super moist and tender meat. Salsa and guac board was decent but I thought the pico lacked flavor. Finally the churros. The churros themselves I found too doughy in the centers. They were nice and crispy on the outside but the centers were pools of uncooked dough. Service wise it was hit and miss. I ordered some chicharones pork rinds but they never came. Also the wait was so long in between the salsas and the entrees the waiter brought more guac because he felt bad. No excuses for them here, the place was basically empty. The food hit or miss included with the service mishaps gave this place a 3 star. Might be a more consistent experience down the street at poca cosa or el charro. read more

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I popped in here while in Tucson for business and it didn't disappoint! I started with a cocktail and the ceviche, then had 2 of their signature tacos. 2 words....homemade tortillas! Everything was super fresh and flavorful. I would absolutely go back. Really reasonably priced too. read more

Arrived here as part of a table of 6. Almost didn't find it though, there's no sign for the place! I appreciate the atmosphere, which provides a quiet intimate alternative to the bustling businesses on Congress. Service was a bit lacking - although our cups were filled with water and chips were quickly replaced, we had to catch our waitress in order to place an order for food. On this trip, I ordered the carnitas tacos. The meat was wonderfully flavored to the point that the tacos did not need any additional salsa. My tacos were absolutely covered in cilantro, but I didn't find it overwhelming. A squirt of lime juice made these tacos on point. I enjoyed the side of rice, which also tasted of lime. The bit let down was the black beans, which were rather bland. In general, I'm not quite sure at having to pay this much for a standard taco place, when there are taco trucks that I can buy this from at half the price. The drink I had ordered the Jicaro upon the recommendation of our waitress. The drink was an indescribable mix of citrus and smokey. Not half bad, but not worth $10. In summary: Food: Okay. Drink: Interesting and different. Decent. Price: Inflated.One plate and one drink = $30. Service: Okay. Atmosphere: Great. read more

Penca - Mexican Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Received exceptional service while on vacation from a bartender named Aidan, I'm a Miami bartender and I always appreciate great service and a good sense of humor from a fellow tender, makes the experience personal. No one wants a boring cookie cutter experience! The fresh juices were a huge sell for me, also the ceviche is to die for! It was our first time in Tucson, will be coming back! read more

We went there and it was hard to find because they don't have a sign with the restaurant name. They are way overpriced for the amount of food you get. The customer service was good but it's still not worth going there and I know we won't be back and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. read more

Amazing cocktails, food and service!! Beautiful Mexican restaurant in downtown Tucson. My husband loved the lengua and tajas tacos and i loved the elote appetizer. Los churros were spectacular!! Definitely recommend this restaurant and their bourbon cocktail!!! read more

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I love Penca!!!! I think ill just cut and paste that frase so this can be a review and not a tip but its the truth this place has the most delicious tacos, made with the most delicious tortillas ive ever had so good and authentic. Oh and those drinks all the way from a sangria to an awesome tepache. Make sure you check this place out read more

I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately we just weren't impressed at all. Their beer was limited to two choices on tap and three lesser known bottle options. For food we ordered chile relleno and turkey and carnitas tacos. Overalls the food was just bland. The Chile relleno had no cheese, was not battered, had basically mushroom only in it and was covered with unseasoned tomato paste. The tacos were also bland, the tortillas were more like masa pancakes. They fell apart, had no seasoning and were generally just not good. I hope this place gets better as they are supporting downtown and we would love to see them succeed. read more

I felt safe eating here inside-during Covid. The margaritas were to die for! Wish we ordered the jar for 4 from the beginning! The ceviche was very tasty. Loved the tacos-especially the flavors in the poblano taco. Our meal ended with the chocolate torte-great kick with spices! read more

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Loved the outdoor vibe and I had a heat lamp behind me as the night cooled off. Do yourself a favor and get the ceviche!! The portion is large and I'd go back for that alone! For my meal, I had the short rib with polenta which initially came out with cold polenta but it was quickly fixed and I really enjoyed it. I have no idea what seasoning was on the cauliflower in my meal but it was especially tasty. Finally, our server was great (wish I recalled her name). read more

The atmosphere is on-point and I often find myself headed this direction for a workday lunch. This is a great place in central downtown where all can enjoy the house chips and salsa. The service is hit or miss. The food could occasionally benefit from some additional salt. I most recommend the tacos (corn tortillas made to order), el tazon, and the house margarita. read more