El Charro Café Oro Valley

The El Carne Seca Chimichanga at El Charro Cafe is a true taste of Sonoran tradition! It's a very unique dish that I'd describe as an acquired taste—delicious, but definitely on the salty side. The flavor is incredibly authentic and speaks to the centuries-old method of preparing the meat. It pairs wonderfully with a cooling drink, and the mango-jalapeño margarita was the perfect choice, balancing the rich, savory meat with its spicy and sweet notes. A truly memorable meal and a great experience.

The atmosphere and vibe here are great, lively, welcoming, and fun. The food, however, could use more flavor overall. The tacos in particular aren’t quite authentic Mexican and fall a bit flat.

I returned to El Charro for my third visit - over about 5 years. The food is always terrific! The beef taco was so flavorful. I chose a combo plate - really generous portions. It’s on my short list of stops in Tucson and I highly recommend it!!

We had been eyeballing El Charro Café for a while now and we finally decided to give it a go. It’s a super cute place. The servers were all very nice and respectful. The drinks… not god at all. I ordered a piña paloma and I hated the taste of it. I took two sips and left it there. The food… We told our server the rice had a burnt taste but it was actually the beans, they replaced the refried beans with whole beans. The food was very bland I had to add salt to mine. The tortillas weren’t cooked all the way to which they tasted raw. We didn’t finish our food and left what was left there. I don’t think we’ll be returning. It suck’s because we loved the atmosphere and the music they were playing was legit Mexican music. I will say, if you have a child who’s autistic and hates when their food touches each other… which we do. They give kids a plate with sections so their food doesn’t touch. So that’s a plus.

Intimate setting thru out. We were seated in the basement! Not what I expected. Turned out to be very comfortable, private, and on the spot service. I seldom like to pay top price for regular Mexican food, but this food was exceptional and worth the price and service. Will definitely return on my next visit to Tucson.

My wife and I traveled down from Phoenix for a business trip and decided to try El Charro Café for the first time. Even though it was a bit busy for a Tuesday, the service was fantastic! One person who really stood out was Carolyn—she was an absolute rockstar. We watched her bring out food nonstop, completely focused, hustling from table to table, and making sure everything ran smoothly. Her dedication and work ethic were truly impressive! Beyond the service, the food was delicious, and the overall atmosphere made for a great dining experience. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town. Highly recommend!

Food was okay. We went to try the Carne Seca. I got the Carne Seca Enchiladas with Green Sauce and husband got the Carne Seca Combination plate. After waiter took our order, brought our ice tea without the lemon we requested. Someone else delivered our food and waiter never checked on us to see how the meal was or offer refills on water or ice tea.

They have a delicious mole and flavorful salsa. Tamales were outstanding as were the enchiladas with consume’. The food is inventive at time with an emphasis on flavor in every bite. This is a popular restaurant and reservations are recommended. The atmosphere is expected but I found the lighting & tablecloths a little in need of a revamp.

I stopped by today with my family for their Brunch and we got some items not on the brunch menu as well. This was our first time here and we loved it! We were greeted when we walked in - the ambiance is awesome, I love the pictures and history behind El charro! The kids menu has a story on how the chimichangas were invented! Even the bathroom had awesome pictures and some facts about El Charro. My server was very nice and attentive she was awesome! I did forget her name however, so sorry! :( the food was absolutely amazing! I ordered the grilled Parillada with Chicken, rice and beans! This was soooo good! My husband got the Monicas plate with rice and beans, then my son got the ground beef jr taco with cheese and he also had rice and beans with a side of Apple sauce. Whenever we come back in the area we will definitely come back!

We came on one of the busiest days of the year. But the staff handled it well. There was no long wait for our food. It was an amazing experience. As soon as we were seated, they served chips and salsa right away. I just didn't like the paper cups. But everything else went well, like our food from appetizer to entrée and dessert. And our server made me a strawberry lemonade, which was not on their menu. They also serve a buffet here. There was a large group in the private rooms section during our visit, and they had the buffet. I saw a sign indicating that they cater as well.

I used to love coming here for the only plant-based entree they served for a long time, the Hola Hemp Tamale, which is still one of my favorite meals in Tucson. I only recently learned they significantly upped their vegan game by adding flautas, enchiladas, and burritos. Everything I tried was amazing and will keep me coming back with family and friends.

We were excited to try this restaurant, especially since it's one of the oldest Mexican chains in the country. We came as a large group of 7-8 people, and while the service was okay, I did have to remind our waitress a couple times--though to be fair, handling a large group isn't easy. The portion sizes here are MASSIVE! I ordered the chicken fajitas, which came on three separate plates: one for the tortillas, one for the skillet, and one for the sides. The veggies in the fajita skillet items were drenched in oil and a bit to greasy for my taste so I just ate the chicken which was delicious. Unfortunately, the tres leches was disappointing--it was dry, and I've had much better versions elsewhere. Living in Texas, where Mexican food is abundant, I've definitely experienced better overall.

This is our favorite El Charro to eat at. Service is always great, it has the best food of any of the El Charros. The place is decorated perfectly too.

Chips and salsa came out swiftly. There was a strange taste on our nachos. Maybe like stove cleaner. Customer Service was okay. Our waitress seemed not interested in giving suggestions on their menu. She seemed to be put off waiting tables. We had to ask for refills of our drinks. They were only 3/4 filled. Not sure if we will go back.

I don't know who was cooking lunch today, but everything was bad. Overcooked, over salted, sandy texture to the queso!! Food was horrible but the service was outstanding!!!​

Service: Check! Atmosphere: Fun! Check! Food: We enjoyed the Chile Relleno w/ Carne secco enchilada, tamale, & taco. The carne secco was something I had not ever experienced. I probably would not order again, only because I love Mexican food & I have too many other dishes that I love more. Having said that, I was glad I tried it. It reminded me of salted, dry fish, think Bacalao. It was really good in with the Chile relleno in a soft tortilla. The margarita was excellent and strong. This place was not inexpensive, but for a sit down restaurant with great atmosphere, the quality was there. I liked it & would return.

I just spent $46.75 on chips and salsa. Nothing else. Just chips and salsa. Not including tip. My wife and I had a pot luck holiday party to go to and we were crunched for time. So we figured just grabbing some chips and salsa to go would be easy. So I got one bag of chips and a pint of red and a pint of green salsa to go: $46.75. Done with El Charro.

This is a very cozy spot to enjoy a meal and the service was overall positive. We ordered tacos, chimis and burgers across the table - the tacos were flavorful (birria and steak), with good quality meat, ample portions and flavorful sides. The picked red onion we're a nice touch as well. The burgers were very dry and looked a little burnt. They came out wrong so it didn't seem worth sending back twice, but something to note. The chips and salsa were good and drinks were also generally good - not mind blowing but solid. Our experience here was pretty good overall and we'd come back if we're in the area.

Last Minute News Years Day dinner Find. We had not planned, and it all worked out that we could get served here. I had not been in 12 years or so since it had opened. We live far and smaller Mexican restaurants have been just fine for us. The total package here, from front to back was the best. Food was excellent for both the visitors and locals in our family group. The Steak Fajitas and Carne Seca are of the best in the Country. It was a totally great News Years Day Dinner start to 2025.

Excellent meal great service. We had a farewell dinner party here (party of 9). Sorry, no pictures. We were just chatting and enjoying the time. we had guacamole table side, cheese, crisp, chicken, tortilla soup, Chito salad, and a variety of everything is including one kids plate of chicken nachos, which was very large. Great service and a fun evening.

The food here was delicious!! But the service was terrible): I asked for chicken tenders and fries but they gave me SPICY chicken strips and mashed beans (I hate beans). The lady who served us asked me if I wanted my food after I said she got it wrong/: but overall good food place to go to !! (: (The above written by my 10yo daughter.) Food was good. Great, actually. Not your run-of-the-mill Mexican food in the best sort of way. Live music was outstanding. But the service was...bad. Our server was rude. Brought the wrong drink to my husband. Charged us the $15 anyway when he got a replacement. Disappeared for 30-40m at a time. Was dismissive and checked out. To-go might be the better option next time.

I have dined here numerous times--El Charro is a must when in Tucson! It's not only historic but also delicious and this location is closest to where I live. I've taken out of town guests here, celebrated my birthday here, dined in for their 100th anniversary, and I have even participated in Yelp events at this El Charro. The food is always fantastic at this location. The mini chimis are a must as a starter. My go to entree is the carne seca platter. I love that dried savory meat. Really everything is very good! The service on the other hand...is very hit or miss. Sometimes the service is wonderful and sometimes the service is really, really bad. Lately it's been on the better side so hopefully it will stay that way. Love the ambiance of this location. Lots of pretty silver light decorations hanging from the ceiling, and the space is airy and open. They also have outdoor dining. I know I will be back, but I always keep the issue with the service in mind. Other than that though, I absolutely love El Charro and recommend that everyone try it for themselves!

This place has delicious food and even when they get an order wrong they quickly see their mistake and fix it without charge. Their staff is kind and it has a very nice atmosphere with female salsa dancers in the form of several murals

Awesome! I returned for the first time in over 32 years. It was great then. It is great now! Authentic. Fresh. Tasty. Strongly recommend making a reservation. It's well worth it.

We appreciate that El Charro has plant-based options, and the service was really quite good. The decor of the restaurant also is fun and colorful. Our food arrived pretty quickly after we ordered it, but my jackfruit taquito trip was just warm. Same with the beans. My partners beans also were just warm, though he enjoyed his seafood enchiladas. We enjoy other Si Charro restaurants; perhaps the kitchen was just having an off night.

I've been to this location a few times and it's been hit or miss on the service. The food has been fairly consistent. The carne seca is always a good choice because it's unique. They also have a prickly pear margarita that's pretty delish!

Just before Christmas Dad and I went to El Charro. As always, the food was very good. The service again as always was very good and attentive. What was different about this night was how management (Mary) dealt with a potentially very disturbing event. A patron needed an ambulance. The first clue we had was when the fire department trooped in, quietly discreetly to the table in the curtained off room towards the back. Eventually the patron was removed on a stretcher (alive) quietly. I was incredibly impressed with how Mary managed a potentially volatile situation with barely anyone being aware and once they could no longer be unaware it was quiet, discreet and over. Thank you All

The restaurant has a very nice and cheerful vibe. There is outdoor seating available and the weather is more comfortable in the evening. The salsa is delicious and already came spicy, there is milder salsa available too. I got the charro birria verde burrito and made it chimichanga and enchiladas style. The brisket was really good and the portion was large! Service was quick and the staff got us anything we needed such as extra salsa and chips. Everything on the menu looked good, you can't go wrong!

El Charro recently celebrated their 100th anniversary, which goes to show how beloved they are and the quality of the food. They've recently added a new entree to their menu, Grilled Chicken Pastor and I'm happy I tried it. The chicken was juicy, had a smoked flavor and was slightly spicy, nothing a lightweight like me couldn't handle. My body, however, is not a friend of cheese, it's a sad state of affairs, but here I am. Anyhow, the queso casero and crema de raja sauce was a little bit on the heavy side for me, but it tasted rich and savory, and too good to not clear my plate! I am the type of person that puts my salsa on everything, which means my whole entree. I love El Charro's salsa. I can't even describe it, I just love it to the point that I bought a jar of it on my way out. I had ordered table side guacamole and this also paired well with the salsa. I think my guacamole needed a little bit more jalapeno, but adding the salsa was a perfect combination. I almost made a meal out of the chips, salsa and guac - it's usually my weakness at any good Mexican restaurant. I'm a newly minted fan of El Charro Cafe, can't wait to try more.

Gordo y Gorda Walking into the El Charro Café in Oro Valley our hopes were high. With a cold and stormy Easter Sunday, we went out looking for comfort with some good Mexican food. The ambiance is warm and inviting. We were sat down in the bar section which the hostess was setting up the bartender to fail us, due to his bar being completely packed. After being seated and giving the bartender our orders it took about 20 minutes for our chips and salsa to arrive. After 45 minutes our food finally arrived. Gorda ordered the Chille Relleno with red sauce with beans and rice. I ordered the Quesobirra Enchiladas in red sauce with rice and calabacitas. The Chips and Salsa was eh, basically just spicy tomato sauce but I guess that's what salsa is right? We were looking for more flavor when it came to the salsa. When we finally got our food we were pleased but not to excited to dig in. Gorda was happy with her Chile Relleno because like she said " it's hard to mess this up". My Quesobirra enchiladas look good but were lacking when it came to the flavor of the meat. Overall our experience wasn't that bad. We aren't going to go out of our way to dine here again but we hope the original location downtown is still the same El Charro. Towards the end of our meal Kevin our server noticed our dissatisfaction and offered to give us a free desert. We declined but it was a nice gesture. Thank you Kevin!

My wife and I always love the food at El Charro she ordered the Quesobirria Enchiladas and I order Que Keto Salad. The dining area always has great style but last night the staff went beyond and decorated for St. Valentine's Day, nice touch gang. Our server Jasmine was excellent taking the time to make the evening special even though the restaurant was slammed. Have fun at work today Jasmine sorry you're missing the Tucson Rodeo. Prices are pretty good too.

Erica, our server did a wonderful job serving us tonight. She made us laugh and gave us good tips for visiting the area.

I called El Charro to ask a question about their food, after a lengthy wait a lady answered the phone and immediately asked me to be on hold. I was on hold for 32 minutes for them to pick up the phone. I don't know if they ever answered my phone call because while waiting for a response I arrived at El Molinito Restaurant. Needless to say I'll never give El Charro my business again. P.S. I heard the flies are abundant in El Charro.

We had a great first time experience! I just need to give a shoutout to Jared, he was so attentive the entire night!! Erika was also a super sweet and a helpful server! We got the seafood enchiladas and the Sinaloa Shrimp Culichi. The seafood enchiladas were absolutely delicious, highly recommend. The Sinaloa Shrimp Culichi was also very tasty but it definitely had a kick to it. Overall a great experience!

Lunch w/an out-of-town family member. Service good but did have to get up & get a refill on a drink as only 1 waitress for about 15 people. Hadn't been in a while as not my favorite food but menu changed from what I finally found I liked. They are non-negotiable on many items. I had 2 soft tacos which came with rice & beans. Probably only got 3/4 cup of COLD beans & same if COLD rice. The chicken in the shredded tacos was tough. I sent most back at end of meal. The out-of-towner loved his soft tacos & I'm glad. I gave 3 stars because of him.

The food was absolutely amazing, also the best chili rellano we have ever had! We are from Southern California and traveled extensively in Mexico and will stand by the best chili rellano.

Ordered a chicken burrito, carne seca burrito, and carne seca platter totaling near 70 dollars. The seca burrito came with just meat and tortilla, no beans, rice, lettuce anything else that you might find in a burrito. My carne seca platter only came with radishes and some cabbage as a topping when the menu says it comes w pico, guacamole, and calabacitas. The flavor was alright but chargin near 70 for what feels like not even half completed orders is ridiculous. Can't say anything about the chicken burrito because that's being saved for someone coming home later but I'm not anticipating a great burrito

If you're looking for some of the worst service with mediocre food...well El Charro Cafe is the spot then. We had a party of nine. Our waitress literally forgot about us and we sat for 30 minutes before she returned to take our order. No exaggeration here! A solid 30 minutes! I thought maybe she had just left the building or her shift was over. It was so strange! We asked a busboy at one point if he could send over our waitress and he just looked stunned that someone was speaking to him. Hostess seemed confused by basic questions as well. At one point a member of our party ordered a bottle of wine. When our server Ana came over to pour it she seemed surprised when nothing came out. It was a completely empty bottle. You can't make this stuff up!. I'll give a little grace here because a Mexican restaurant isn't the ideal place to order a bottle of wine...but who brings an empty bottle to pour! To top things off, our waitress Ana automatically added a 20% tip for herself. I know an automatic tip is the policy at some restaurants for large parties but usually that large party threshold is 10 people...we were only 9. In addition, a 20% tip was pretty rich given her disappearing act. To sum things up...if you're craving REALLY bad service mixed in with average food AND compulsory 20% tipping, then be sure to punish yourself with a visit to El Charro Cafe in Oro Valley!

Great food . We go to t his el charros about 5 or 6 times a year I had a problem one time with the service - I shared my experience with the manager and she took care of it quickly. Our family loves the food. joe

Amazing food and service in a historic setting. Love it ever time! We were able to eat outdoors on the beautiful patio which was a great bonus on a wonderful evening.

So fricken good, great service and great food, I can't wait to get back to Tucson to eat here again

(17 years service industry speaking) My partner and I were in between calls in full uniform, had a few minutes. Let the waitress know that we might have to leave suddenly so I just ordered some flour tortillas as an appetizer. Waitress got visibly frustrated, took our menus, and brought my request and never returned. I sought her out and asked for a ticket so I could tip her to say thanks and she denied it. I offered to tip her via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle because unbeknownst to me, what I'd ordered was free. She denied it. This wasn't a friendly interaction. The salsa was bad, tortillas were dry and burnt, service was abysmal. Anywhere else people

We arrived at 3 p.m. for the start of happy hour and there were a decent amount of other patrons which is a good sign. The service was a tad slow (5 minutes to get water or a server's acknowledgment), but I guess it was an off time when they have less staff. The food and drinks were actually really good. And the server was incredibly friendly and accommodating. Sadly, the happy hour deal isn't the best - $2 off drinks and appetizers. They have a really nice outdoor seating space too with nice shade that allows dogs. Though, we sat inside and we're very comfortable. The reduction of a star was for the slow service throughout the dining experience and the optional request for tipping the kitchen staff on the check. It shouldn't be up to the patrons to compensate the owner-approved pay for restaurant staff (servers, of course, earning below minimum wage are the exception). The request simply takes me aback. Overall, I recommend the restaurant and would be happy to go back myself.

What the hell happened? I grew up here in Tucson, I have eaten at this location, Oracle, several times and the original many times as well. We had dinner yesterday and it was terrible. My wife had Albondigas! Come on really. A Mexican staple. Chewy meatballs and just not right. Forgot my wife's tortillas came by five times and never brought them. Chili relleno Del Mar. no shrimp except for one on top, soggy chilly no crunch on the top at all. Bland as hell. All cod and the cod was awful. Even my 81 year old mother said her enchiladas Del Mar were flavorless. You can read my reviews, 95% positive. This was a bad experience! Thank god the margaritas were great or it would be a one star. So sad to see such a great established venue go this far south!

Tried a few new to me items on the menu tonight. The shrimp ceviche and hola hemp tamale stuffed mushrooms to share for dinner. The ceviche was so fresh and refreshing on this hot day. The stuffed mushrooms tasted just like they're described, a tamale stuffed mushroom. They were a little heavy on the sauce, but my gosh they were good! Fabulous service as usual at this location. Highly recommend making a reservation, otherwise it's at least a 30 minute wait.

Good chimis,tamales and cheese crisps. Carne seca is awesome. If you don't know what carne seca is it dried beef.

Yes. The 45 minute wait with two small children was actually worth it. We really enjoyed our food. The tamales were our favorite. If we were back in Tucson I would make a reservation and we would return!

El Charro Cafe has a lot of unique food options that you don't see at other other Mexican restaurants. One of those is house made Michelada mix! Michelada is my favorite drink so I was very excited to see it on their drink menu. They also have a few Keto and Vegan menu items. Their house chips and salsa are very good. I ordered the chicken flautas and my boyfriend ordered the red beef burrito enchilada style. Everything was delicious. Probably some of the best Mexican food in Tucson. We will be back!

Had dinner here tonight and the food was very very good! our waitress Jasmine she was amazing. The manager Mary is quite a gem. The sauce and chips were fantastic and the dinner was great really good fresh Mexican food very tasty. I definitely will be back again. I wanna say thank you to the cooks and to the servers and to the manager, our waitress and everybody in the restaurant really makes you feel at home. Thank you again from our family to yours! Will definitely be coming back!

Service and food always good. Come here on a regular basis. It's a tradition in Tucson Love their steak house downtown!

A little over hyped. Everyone said to come here, and I am glad we did, but it was a little over hyped. Also, the servers were incredibly busy and barely able to get to us for most of the night. I don't blame them because of how packed the place was, but if you are in a rush during dinner, don't go here. The tacos were delicious, but a little overpriced. The restaurant was also very loud due to it being packed.

If you're thirsty this place is not for you. Our water glasses were never refilled and no one at the table was asked if they wanted another drink. Since we had a party of 7 we had a 20 percent gratuity automatically added to our bill. There were 2 additional tip lines on the check including one for the cooks. I would be willing to give an additional tip if it was earned but the service was well below my expectations. Food was good, but based on the service I won't be back anytime soon.

This has been a good restaurant for many years. In the last year, there has been a change, and not for the better. Staff turnover has been noticed and what's coming out of the kitchen isn't the same quality...often cold. They came out of COVID the same good place, but now they are hit or miss...and the misses are more often lately.

I have been to this place, probably three times in the last year and it was very good. I have constantly recommended it to anyone in Tucson who is looking for good Mexican food. I went today and the experience was completely completely different. I got the fajitas and was fighting flies off of my plate the entire time. I don't Think I will ever be eating here again. Very disappointing.

This place has slipped. This was the first Tucson restaurant I ate at when I first arrived here 13 years ago. This was my first return since before Covid. Plastic-covered tables: perhaps this is a sanitation issue for Covid, I dunno. It really cheapens the place up. Their menu has really shrank since the last time I was there, a lot of the speciality items are gone. Chips: still free, but now stale, not crispy. Salsa is not as good. Service was excellent, no problems there. Our cocktails and beer were delivered promptly and were excellent. Our queso fundido appetizer arrived quickly and came with nice tortillas so we didn't have to have any more of the chips. I ordered a chimi enchilada-style (see photo). When you put sauce on a chimichanga it will not be quite as crispy, but mine must have been sitting on a warmer for a long time because it was completely limp. I've had better at Nico's. El Charro, please return to your former glory as the best Mexican restaurant in town. Now you are just another place turning out mediocre food.

The best Mexican in Tucson, best margaritas and tamales!! Highly recommend!! The service was great

Had some chips and salsa and a delicious Centennial margarita at the bar. Excellent drinks and food, outstanding customer service. We'll definitely be back.