El Güero Canelo Restaurant

We visited El Guero Canelo and ordered the Sonoran Hot Dog meal, which included a side of fries and a fountain drink. The Sonoran dog was wrapped in bacon and served in a soft, fresh bun, topped with flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and a variety of sauces. It was delicious! The service was quick, and the restaurant was clean. While we enjoyed trying this iconic hot dog, we feel it’s more of a one-time experience for us. That said, we’re excited to return and try something else—their burritos look large and delicious!

Had to try a Sonoran dog while in Tucson - it was super good!! We also had the torimachos which were yummy jalapeños stuffed with mozzarella, wrapped in bacon, grilled, and served with soy sauce 😋!!

Their prices are just greedy at this point for how small the portions are. Not even inflation is an excuse for this child-sized plate of carne asada fries. Not to mention the 5$ fountain drink that comes with no refills or even an option to buy a "refill". They'd prefer to sell you a whole new cup at full price. Next time I'll bring my drink, this place is scandalous now.

Had lunch at this fastfood style mexican place which was highly recommended in one of the food websites dedicated to Arizona. It was spacious, service was fast, and sauces were self-service. Tried the Estilo Sonora Con Todo, Tiene Plancha, Torta Carne Con Todo. Highly recommended if you want some cheap Mexican fast food

Loved the Sonoran hot dogs that I had for lunch. They deserve the award they got some years ago.

Like the place, the open cafeteria style reminded of the childhood school lunches, very clean and inviting. The price is too high for the items even with the salsas and other condiments offered. Ordered burro and I'd say the meat was the only thing that tasted great but not much else to say. In general if you have the money and you love meat and salsa this maybe your place as for my family it's a great one time visit.

Looking for a Sonoran hotdog - it was ok, nothing great. They did have a nice selection of salsas and vegetables.

Great place to eat Sonoran style hot dogs. A single weiner is $4.29 and the double is $5.00. They have great specials. It's well worth the stop traveling from New Mexico. We Love our El Guerro Canelo trips. They also have a mean Mangoneada.

When in Tucson, one must try a Sonoran hot dog. With so many places serving them, I decided to go with this spot because of the positive reviews. I love hot dogs. So much so that I would probably eat them every day if I could. I usually prefer them naked with just ketchup or topped with chili. Not a fan when they load it up with stuff. So I went in thinking that I wouldn't like a Sonoran hot dog. ESTILO SONORA - $4 Upon first bite, it was a 10/10 for me. The soft bun held everything together. The beans, grilled onions, mayonnaise, mustard and jalapeño sauce harmoniously went well together. IT JUST WORKED!! There is a condiment bar with extra sauces and toppings as well. Service was quick. Price was cheap. Spacious cafeteria seating space.

Overly hype , fast food of Mexican food Hibiscus was good tho I had the sonora hot dog mid Chico quesidilla carne asada hardly had meat x Everyone surrounds the topping area

I usually love my food every time I come here and I've been coming here at Least 15 years. But this time I was pretty let down when I got two small carne asada burritos. I spent just under $20 but these things were smaller than my hand! Disappointing in my opinion.

"If there's a glizzy, I'll find it." - Simone Biles, the GOAT and most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast of all time So what you're saying is that top tiered athletes eat hot dogs, yet my doctor is telling me to stop eating processed tube-shaped meats? Nah. Imma be like Biles. I kid... partially. Having not been in the Tucson area in about 20 years, heavy research was done by J-WoW. The only place she had demanded to go to was El Guero Canelo, winner of a 2018 James Beard award in American Classics: the hot dog. Folks, get you a Sonoran Dog. Don't question this absolute Frankenstein of a wiener. Yes, it has hot dog wrapped in bacon with beans, tomatoes, and onions in raw and cooked form. Yeah there's mayo, mustard, and jalapeño sauce on top. And BIG YES that it's a masterpiece you need to consume. They serve a pepper on the side, which is a great treat. Skip the tacos here at El Guero Canelo. Their tacos are the only reason they didn't get five-stars. Come here and get yourself a taste of Tucson.

The 2018 James Beard Awards Committee announced their five "American Classics" picks, and one of the winners is... a hot dog. No joke! The winning hot dog is from El Guero Canelo here in Tucson, Arizona. What makes Sonoran Dogs so special? For starters, a squishy bolillo roll envelopes a bacon-wrapped hot dog. Pinto beans, a mixture of raw and grilled onions, and tomatoes are then piled on before the entire masterpiece is drizzled lovingly with mustard, mayonnaise, and jalapeño salsa. A roasted chile güero (a pale pepper) is served on the side. It's a masterpiece, and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you do not get yourself a Sonoran Dog while in Arizona. And while the Sonoran Dogs at El Guero Canelo are pretty darn amazing, their carne asada tacos leave much to be desired. I won't be waxing anymore poetry on their food, so TL;DR just stick with the Sonoran Dogs, okay? Daniel Contreras, owner of El Güero Canelo, has competed in Food Wars and won. His Sonoran hot dogs have been featured in The New York Times and Bon Appétit magazine as well as various shows, like the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food." Hats off to ya, Contreras!

A large, famous restaurant known for their Sonoran dogs. The service was decent but everything moves pretty quick. I tried the churros, horchata, and Sonoran dogs. The horchata was a bit too sweet and had too much cinnamon for me, so it was ok. The Sonoran dogs were good but I don't think they were particularly outstanding. The churros were the same where they were good but not outstanding. I've had better dough where it has more chew while still being crispy. Overall pretty decent, but I don't think it's a must go.

This place is always great. I stop here every time I'm in Tucson. Service is always good and food is amazing. I always get the Sonoran Dog but all the food is good

When in Tucson....ya gotta try a Sonora Dog. Today's lunch stop- El Guero Canelo for the famous Sonora Dog. Got there right at opening (11am). Atmosphere: Clean dinning area. Nice patio of you love sitting outside. Clean restrooms for customers. The food: ordered Estillo Sonora Dog and large Horchata. That bacon wrapped beauty with everything on it. Yummeh! Worth stopping here if in the area. Huge salsa bar as well. Would come back here again. 4/5 stars

So this place has a lot of history in Tucson and they've done well in the market. It's easy to understand why. The food is very tasty and reasonably priced for the most part. I got the Chucos dog and two Lorenza tacos. The Lorenza was more like a tostada as far as I could tell. There was a cheese layer, a bean layer, and then the carne asada. Everything was excellent. I didn't see why they didn't allow for refills of sodas after charging $4+ per soda. Yes it was a 32 oz soda, but it was mostly ice. The service was fast and adequate. The space is large and pretty clean.

When traveling, I like to try local foods, so I headed to El Guero Canelo for the famous Sonoran hot dog. I thought it was OK, but I am used to Chicago-style hot dogs. While it wasn't my cup of tea, I felt it was cooked well, and service was fast. The flan was amazing. My friend had a chicken torta sandwich which looked great, and he really liked it. Great value for the money, and I'll be back to try something else.

Stopped in for a Sonoran dog to go. Place was busy as it's a popular destination. Lots of different options. They are know for their Sonoran dogs, which are great. Lots of seating and great for groups.

El Guero has some excellent Sonora dogs, and Burritos but I must have caught them on an off day. I ordered their Sonora dog with fries , but only received the Dog. My wife ordered the bean burrito with cheese, and had to pay extra for refried beans on the burrito? It looked like a small sad microwave burrito. I had to go to the counter twice to ask about the fries and almost left without getting them. Their food is usually very good but today was not their finest day.

Happy anniversary, 30 YEARS. We LOVE THIS PLACE! We originally found this place at least 8 years ago. It change during C-19, but it's back. It was good, fun and fresh. I WOULD RECOMMEND

I usually frequent the El Guero at their 22nd Street location, but I went to this Oracle restaurant since I was in the area. I have to say that the Oracle location is a bit better. The restaurant was clean and spacious, and there was even shaded parking outside. Like the other El Guero locations I've been to, the salsa bar is excellent. I always get a big plate of cucumbers and salsa, but my favorite item is the grilled bulb green onions. I ordered the carne asada burro, caramelo, and nachos. Everything was delicious, and the carne asada had a tasty smoky flavor. I also appreciated that the staff came by multiple times to offer to pick up empty plates. Overall, El Guero is one of my favorite establishments in Tucson, and the Oracle location does not disappoint. El Guero deserves its high reputation in Tucson; it is my go-to recommendation for quality food.

MAKE HOTDOGS GREAT AGAIN. Heard rumors that Guerro Canelo had "gone down hill", been coming here for 20 years and have always had a good experience, but will agree quality is down based on my last visit. Ordered 4 of their staple items, the Sonoran hotdog, 4 out of 4 of the hot dog buns disintegrated while eating. This is what happens when buns are old, or have been frozen and then defrosted. It was also light on fillings and they no longer offer cheese at the salsa bar. Gotta stick with the things they put you on the map, make hotdogs great again.

This place is the real deal people. One of the original Tucson places to serve the Sonoran hot dog. This place started out as a very small mobile hot dogs on wheels. It became so popular, they opened up a restaurant. They have been thriving ever since. It is nothing fancy. Go to the counter to order and pay for your food. Your receipt will have your order number on it. Sit where you'd like. Staff will call your number when the food is ready. They use to have a digital board with order numbers which was quite handy. They no longer use that system. Customers are able to hear the number called with no issue. Good food, polite staff, clean establishment and one of the best salsa bar I have had the pleasure of using. The salsa bar is refilled quite often so it never runs out of supplies. You'll find charred chilis, onion, and green onions, avocado, red and green salsas, radishes and cucumbers. They had cheese at one time but that has been removed. Delicious food. My junior chicken burro was chocked full of protein and really fills you up. The Sonoran dog is tasty filling as well. Plenty of seating in this large establishment. Bus your dishes when done. They have their own parking lot.

Prior to traveling to Tucson for a conference, I did my research into the best food experiences in the area. At the top of the list was El Guëro Canelo - a mainstay in the area and winner of the title "American Classic" and the James Beard Award. To top it all off, the crowning dish that I read about was a new variant (for my palate) on one of my favorite American "classics" in their own right: the hot dog. Enter the Sonoran Hot Dog. This piece of culinary genius is comprised as follows: it is a grilled hot dog wrapped in bacon, placed inside a Hermosillo bolillo-style bun covered with beans, minced onion , mayonnaise, mustard, jalapeño salsa, with a grilled yellow pepper on the side. Aside from the beans, this dish is all-encompassingly "me," and just was begging to be consumed. And it was. Along with other menu items. The restaurant, as expected, was quite spacious and bustling with patrons when I arrived. I was in line for about three minutes before I was attentively helped through the menu as someone who was obviously not from around here (though, honestly, I already had my mind made up on the order anyways - props for kindness from the staff). I ordered the Sonoran Hot Dog, a plate of their Nachos del Canelo (freshly made chips with fresh guacamole, beans, carné, and cheese) and a surprisingly massively "thermos" of Horchata. While waiting, I also noticed a few people jumping in from outside for mobile ordering, which is nice to know about in the future. In about another three minutes my meal was called out over the microphone and I got SO excited just looking at it. Everything was absolutely phenomenal! The Sonoran dog was incredible - it was absolutely bursting with all of the flavors of the condiments simultaneously, and it just fit with the unmistakable Sonoran feeling of the restaurant. I heard Spanish all around me, smelled the heavenly aromas of many other patrons' dishes being made, and saw the Mexican color motif everywhere - I was just happy. The nachos were sublime and the horchata was clearly freshly made with a very rich flavor (better than any I've made myself or enjoyed in the Central Florida region that I call home) that was superbly refreshing, as well as genuinely delicious. The portion sizes were quite large and more than I expected for the price - a welcome commendation for such an establishment in one of the two UNESCO International Cities of Gastronomy in the United States. Truly, I understand why this place received the moniker of James Beard American Classic restaurant worthy of a side trip to experience for one's self! Everyone who is able to do so should make the pilgrimage to El Güero Canelo, and enjoy the experience for yourself! Next time I'm in Tucson, you'd best believe I'm returning with the family for another round of delectable food and refreshing drinks!

Popped in for some Sonoran dogs and they did not disappoint. Cafeteria style seating with benches. You go up and order/pay and wait for your number to be called. They have a bar in the middle that is self serve. We had the horchata and jamaica to drink. I plan to come back and try the tacos. I like that they have a hand washing station

Just stopped by for our monthly visit to Tucson and the best SURPRISE at El Guero Canelo...BACON WRAPPED BURRITOS! I ordered a Pollo version and it was incredible! A bit of caution though, it is big...I could not finish this work of art, but I will try again. I hope my Cardiologist isn't reading this, but it might be my go to item here!

It's no secret that this place is just awesome but allow me to chip in to sing its praises. It seems that their most popular items are their dogs and admittedly I have yet to try them but I promise their burritos alone are worth the trip. I usually go for the carne asada or chicken but I ALWAYS go for the very mucho size cuz these burritos are so darn good. Their salsa and toppings bar is also really nice and adds some much needed variety when I'm halfway through a foot long burrito. Otherwise the employees are kind and efficient and the place itself is very spacious and clean. All in all: if you haven't been to El Guero Canelo do yourself a favor and check this place out. It's amazing to see how much people love this place and I'll be back soon to try one of those hotdogs.

I had previously been to the oracle location a few times and always appreciated street-style Mexican food. I have gotten carne asada tortas and burritos before. We were here during lunchtime hours most recently and most of us got the lunch plate with three tacos. Once again, I always go with carne asada. I appreciated that my carne asada didn't have any overly fatty chunks, which is something I have grown used to and expect from most street-style carne asada dishes. Service is nice; they give you buzzers that ring when your food is ready. Atmosphere of this place is good. Nothing too special--exactly what I would have expected. However, the single best part of this restaurant has to be the salsa bar. If you aren't stacking your tacos to the brim with the all the goods-- you're doing it wrong. At the bar they have limes (limon y carne asada is an unmatched combination), jalapeños, and many different types of salsas and veges.

Famous Sonoran style hotdog made this iconic original south tucson restaurant beginnings now we three locations in tucson internationally famous. On oracle road just NE of grant road this large newer modern site was busy Friday at noon . The free " relish bar" is loaded with tasty grilled Mexican onions , peppers , salsas , sauces & more . We had Sammy" Sonoran style hotdogs ,cane asada quesadilla , and carne asada bollito. All well prepared , visually appealing , & most importantly tasty . They have drive thru service available . Closed on Mondays . A good example of local food & restaurants that define Tucson as a city of gastronomy.

Definitely one of the best and most authentic fast-casual Sonoran restaurants in Tucson. Home of the Sonoran Dog (estilo Sonora) and the carne asada is also exceptional.

This place did not disappoint! I could not wait to try the Sonoran hot dog and it was so good. From the bread to the quality of the meat. Everything tasted so fresh. The salsa bar had a nice selection. The restaurant was super clean and the staff was friendly.

I have been coming here or going to their original location for several years. They have the best Sonoran dogs around. Everything on the menu that I've tried is delicious and that's what keeps me coming back.

We came here because they have the popular Sonoran Hot Dog! They also have a very popular el chucho dog. We personally preferred the el chucho dog! The hot dog was much larger, there was more flavor in the dog itself, and more toppings! The Sonoran style dog had a bit too much bread in our taste. There's a ton of indoor and outdoor seating, or you can go through the drive through. The servers and register workers are all very friendly and helpful. If you want extra toppings, there's a large buffet style cart where you can take any salsas, sauces, veggies (onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese). It's a bit expensive for hot dogs, but they have different deals on food every day. It's a bit expensive for hot dogs, but since they're so popular, I would still recommend it!

Sonora Dog, a caramelo and a jamaica. Orale. I've spent 30 years traveling into Sonora. The caramelo here is the smell and taste of Sonora. (The city of Hermosillo smells like carne asada at night from a thousand mesquite grills searing beef for tacos). The taquerias are all the same and all a little bit different. If you don't have 30 years to try every taqueria in the state of Sonora, just come here. The flour tortillas with a high shortening and/or tallow content crisp up in a different way on the grill, the perfect platform for chopped steak and cheese. These tortillas are different than the machine made, mass produced, store bought flour tortillas. Yum Great dogos (note - the plural of hot dog is dogos). Hot dogs have different styles around the country and you owe it to try a Sonora style dog. I could kick myself I didn't notice they have tacos de papada....which I think is translated as pork jowl. I don't think I've ever seen it on a menu in Arizona. Next trip......

tl;dr the salsa-laden, Sonoran-style hot dogs are a must-try Tuscon dish at this renowned fast-causal chain Sonora-native Daniel "Guero" Contreras, known as the Godfather of the Sonoran Hotdog, opened his first Tuscon hot dog cart back in 1993. For the uninitiated, Sonoran hot dogs feature a Mexican twist -- wrapped in bacon and grilled; fit into a homemade bun; and finally topped with beans, salsa fresca, mayo, mustard, and jalapeno sauce. Guero's creation was recently featured in Travel Magazine, and, now, Guero operates 3 brick-and-mortar restaurants. You can't miss the red, white, and green color palette of the warehouse-sized outpost on Oracle Rd. A tractor is stationed right out front, and Guero's original food cart is parked in the lot. The expansive dining room, fit for a crowd, is filled with industrial-plastic picnic tables. The room is lined with windows, leaving the space feeling open and airy. The ductwork is left exposed, and Mexican flags and festive paper banners hang from the rafters. A nativity scene is set up next to a jukebox, and an epic stainless steel salsa bar (stocked with plenty of varieties, among jalapenos, grilled green onions, and other fix-ins) sits front-and-center within the room. Spanish-language radio echoes quietly around the space. My partner and I arrived just before the weekday lunch rush, and we order 2 Sonoran Style Hot Dogs, a Large Caramelo Carne, and Horchata. We were handed a buzzer and had just staked out a table before our order was prepared. The hot dogs were surprisingly hearty, each lasting plenty of bites to sample many combinations of fix-ins. While the default toppings were mostly forgettable, the fluffy-yet-sturdy bun stood out. The caramelo was stuffed to the brim with cheese, beans, and moderately flavorful, tender meat; then, the large flour tortilla was grilled until melty and crispy. Like the hot dogs, the caramelo proved to be a great conduit for salsas. Finally, the horchata, served in an enormous, Pepsi-branded styrofoam cup, was the best I've had in recent memory, featuring an uber-cinnamony flavor without being overwhelmingly sugary. Our meal ran a hair under $30 and delivered a hefty two-person lunch. While I can't compare Guero's hot dogs to the competition, I can say with certainty that the meal was wholly satisfying. Further, service was friendly and efficient, and the restaurant gave off comfortable, family-run vibes. By the time we left, the queue nearly ran out the door, almost entirely with locals -- a clear indicator that El Guero Canelo is well worth a visit for casual Tuscon eats.

Best Sonoran hot dog in Tucson!! The bread was perfect and the toppings were plentiful. The salsa bar and accoutrements were on point. The jalapeños were super spicy. Indoor and outdoor seating. I loved the high ceilings and there is tons of seating. Plenty of parking, too!

When it comes to the food I ordered, I have to give them 5 stars. My torta was delicious and my son said his burrito has good carne asada. The hibiscus tea was also tasty! Feedback: I wish they have more vegan/vegetarian options.

Carne Asada Burritos are amazing. Meat is chopped really fine and full of flavor. Condiment bar is filled with delicious salsas and veggies.

The original Sonoran hot dog. A must try in Tucson. The bun is fresh and soft and loaded with tomatoes. I asked for no beans. It's a July special, 2 hit dogs abs a drink for $10.99. The restaurant is clean and service is friendly. They do have a drive they or you can order online. They are closed on Mondays for family day.

For me, this is when I had my first Sonoran Dog and fell in love with their complexity and deliciousness. The key is the over sized sweet bun which compliments the layers of savor going on with the dog. How can you go wrong with a hot dog wrapped in bacon, covered with beans, grilled & fresh onion, tomato, mayo, mustard & jalapeno sauce. Fast casual, lively atmosphere and worth the drive across town.

We drove out here from CA just to try Sonoran hotdogs because we saw this place on a tv show. They are pretty good, but I saw burritos and those next on the list to eat. Condiment bar is good.

A James Beard award winning hot dog? Don't mind if I do! These are dotted all around Tucson, but you know you're in the right part of town if all of the signs are in Spanish. The Sonoran hotdog was absolutely bursting with flavor- there was a LOT going on, but it was delicious. It's one of the things you absolutely must try if you're visiting Tucson.

Ok, 12 bucks for 2 dogs and a med drink? Dude.....the problem is the dogs are so tiny, and there is so much bread....basically the sonoran dog is too dry for me. Yeah I added salsa, and I know there is the mayo etc. but it would have been way better had they made the bun size smaller. I don't want all that bread. I do like the large location, the guy behind the counter was nice. I just don't think the sonoran dogs were all that. That said, I will possible change the review when I get a burro next time.....

This place never disappoints! Fast service and great food. Every time we are driving by on our way to Texas we make it a point to stop and eat here. The Mangonadas and Sinaloa hot dogs are highly recommended.

First time trying El Guero Canelo on 22nd St. Tucson. I ordered the medium size chicken burrito. When it came it was big, but it lacked flavor, kinda bland. Salsa bar was good though.

I am a bean and cheese burrito lover and Guero Canelo has the best bean and cheese burrito in town! Beans are smooth, they use an amazing stringy white cheese, the huge tortilla is chewy. It's just perfection!

Please do not skip this when you are in Tucson. Also, do not order anything else on the menu besides the hot dogs. Sonoran dogs are on point and the bun is fluffy like a friendly cloud on a summer day. This is 1 spot I return to Tucson just to eat at.

I don't know if this place is just overhyped or if it's cut down on serving sizes, but went there yesterday and won't be back. The hot dog in the Sonoran Dog was less than half the size of a regular hot dog, and there was so much bun you couldn't taste anything but bread. Tacos -- $4.50 each -- are a tablespoon of meet on a tortilla and that's it. Also had a burrito that was pretty good, but again not enough filling to keep the large tortilla from overpowering the taste. This place doesn't hold a candle to Acqui Con El Nene, and I won't be going back.

Incomparáble. Tanto la comida como el servicio. A wonderful Tucson institution. The carne asada is very high quality and carefully seasoned. The tortillas come from Mexico and their taste is supreme. The condiments are worth the trip alone. I've gone to all Guero's locations for 20 plus years. Absolutely amazing.

The Best Sonoran hot dogs available! I brought my family here while they were visiting from KY & they LOVED it! The horchata is also very noteworthy!

Been a moment since I've been here. Got the Mucho burrito, street tacos, quesadillas always very delicious as always. it's a walk up take service walk up to the counter order and pick it up and the ambience is nice relaxing his Mexican music going off in the background.

a great family owned business. started out as a food truck but became so popular that it is now an indoor sit down restaurant. they have a drive through option as well as an indoor air conditioned restaurant. very casual atmosphere. you walk up to a counter and place your order. there is a parking lot outside with plenty of parking as well as a lot of seating inside. you sit down and wait for your number to be called then pick up your food. there is a salad bar which has salsa, cucumbers, radish, onions. their prices are very reasonable. there is a lunch special every day from 11-5 where you can get 3 sonoran hot dogs for 10$. keep in mind there is no refills on the drinks and all the salsa they have is spicy. this was the best sonoran hot dog i have ever had. very filling and tasty.

Tasty fare. If you are in Tucson and want something authentic from Tucson. This is the place. Try the Sonora Dogs!!

It was tasty and good to experience in Tucson. Something different than the norm. However the prices are high. About the same as Surf City Sandwich.

If you're a true Tucson local, this is the place you take out of town guests to or so our local guides tell us. It's not fine dining but it's food made with love and attention. The owner is a local celebrity known for his humble beginnings as a food truck. I know there is much more to this story but what's clear to me is that this man knows business and great food. We had the small Caramelos (yum) and the Sonoran Style hotdogs. They have an epic salsa bar with grilled jalepenos, grilled onions, cucumbers and epic salsas. This is quick and easy eats with a very casual vibe.

I was SO excited to get lunch from here and it was delicious. As soon as I walked in and saw the huge topping/salsa bar I couldn't wait to get my food. I ordered my first Sonoran Hot Dog, as well as an asada caramelo. Both were delicious! The hot dog already came with so many toppings on it, but I still chose to add some pickled onions and salsa which were super flavorful. I wasn't exactly sure what a caramelo was, but it was great. It reminded me of a quesadilla with a TON of meat. The inside was very clean and had nice decor. Prices were also very reasonable. I was very happy with my experience and wish I came back before I left Tucson!