Tucson AZ -- Mexican Food

[jmbabb]

I will be spending about 5 days in Tuscan at a training and an looking for some real Mexican restaurants (translation - no cheddar cheese on the premises). I will be staying in the University area, but after living 20+ years in Texas and now living in CT., I am willing to walk 1mile+/-, rent a taxi and for something special rent a car and drive!!

[personalcheffie]

Alfonso's Carnitas Jalisco is excellent, just a block or two west of Crossroads, which also has excellent food. Xochimilco right down the street from Crossroads is also good, but haven't been down that way in a while and don't know if they are still there.

[Saguaro]

The best Sonoran in Tucson comes from the trucks, El Nene and Angela's are my favorites. I like Parilla Suiza which you may like because they do in fact avoid the cheese and sauce routine.

[estone888]

I've never understood the love of Cafe Poca Cosa - I think it is truly boring. Almost everything they serve comes out looking and tasting like a salad - a not particularly good salad at that.

My three favorite places for Mexican food in Tucson are:

Poco & Mom's - 1060 S. Kolb - New Mexico style, great breakfasts, great green chile, very worthwhile.

Teresa's Mosaic Cafe - 2455 N. Silverbell - also great breakfast, good everything else, nice comfortable place - wonderful fresh made flour tortillas.

El Indio - 3355 S. 6th - a funky cafe on the other side of Interstate 10 - fantastic chile verde or chile colorado.

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Teresa's Mosaic Cafe
2456 N Silver Mosaic Dr, Tucson, AZ 85745

Poco & Mom's Restaurant
1060 S Kolb Rd, Tucson, AZ 85710

[EWSflash]

I have wanted to love poco & mom's and I tend to find them lacking in the finesse category. Too much cheese, too much sauce, otherwise really good food.
teresa's- I've only eaten there A couple of times but it's always ben spectacularly good solid Sonoran food
Haven't been to the Poca cosa in many years, but boy howdy was it ever good- very different from what we expect here in Tucson, but wonderful. .

[mrbigshotno.1]

I was in Tucson for the month of March, was down on So. 4th and found the old Crossroads has a lunch buffet, really good! Outrageously good chicken mole, AYCE.

[EWSflash]

I can't believe i've never eaten at the Crossroads. What else do they have? They used to be big into mariscos, or at least camarones if I remember right

[mrbigshotno.1]

Yep seafood and regular Sonoran fare, cozy old time feel to the place.

[Tillman]

Just a quick note re my long-time favorite, Mi Nidito in South Tucson.

There have been comments (here & elsewhere) that M Nidito has gone downhill -- so we didn't go last trip.

This time, lunch at around 2 PM. No wait and food as good as ever. I had the birria plate (~$11), delicately flavored of cinnamon and as good as ever. Note that Sonoran birria is usually beef (as here). My wife had shredded-beef flautas, which she also pronounced as good as ever. So, Mi Nidito goes back on the "every trip" list, with Vivace.

Next stop: Chef Alias meaty Bosnian!

Cheers -- Pete Tillman

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Mi Nidito Cafe
1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713

[JK Grence the Cosmic Jester]

First off: search the board. The specialty of Tucson *is* Mexican food, you can't swing a cat without hitting a Mexican restaurant.

Second: Don't fear shredded yellow cheese! The primary style of Mexican food in Tucson is Sonoran. Flour tortillas (made with lard) and yellow cheese are staple ingredients.

Those said, in a nutshell: Cafe Poca Cosa downtown is fantastic, and has no yellow cheese. Go for lunch.

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Cafe Poca Cosa
110 E Pennington St, Tucson, AZ 85701

[EWSflash]

Good advice. People's tastes vary wildly these days when it comes to Mexican food. Some of t he Sonoran places have a tendency to literally bury a dish with yellow cheese which is way too much of a muchness, but a tendency to the way folks like it here. I like the quesos blancos in their many disguises, but JK is right- don't fear the cheeses! (vague 1970s Wishbone Ash reference)