El Güero Canelo Restaurant

First time trying a sonoran dog and loved it. We also had some horchata and it tasted like the cinnamon was freshly ground. The food was a good value, and there was a bar of salsas, roasted peppers and onions, and pickled items.

What can I say that already hasn't been said about this place. A true American success story not just in his enterprising character and vision but also to his awesome way of cooking delicious food. I'd seen plenty of TV shows where he was on and was showcasing his food. I finally got to try it and it was well worth it. The condiments bar was fabulous!. You name it, they have it. And FRESH!!! We both had different versions of the Sonoran hot Dog. Both were delicious. Everything about them was spot on. All the flavors complemented everything and were well balanced. Nothing was overpowering. The last bite was as good as the first bite. Once you start adding the garnishes then you can make it what ever you want. My hat is off to Mr. Contreras! The American dream is still alive and he is living testimony of it. I look forward to going many times and enjoying the flavors of Sonora at your restaurant.

The real deal Sonoran Hot dog. Plenty of condiments to spice up the meal Sonoran hot dog is wrapped in bacon and served in a bolillo-style bun, topped with various ingredients like pinto beans, pico de gallo, mayonnaise, and mustard.

First time having a Sonoron Hot dog, and was pleased surprised. My brothrer calls it a Tucson Staple, and I'm happy he's introduced it to us. Inside is basic and clean with bench style seating. The Salsa bar is decent, however I was not a fan of the cut for the radishes. The charred Jalapeños are a nice touch, and the pickled onions are a good "substitute" for the carrots. The Cucumber is also nice addition however their green sauce lacked any flavor. Not sure if I should be using it as a base, then modifying with onions etc. The combo for a Sonoran dog, fries, and a drink is a good deal. The Dogs were delicious, with good soft bread. Fries were fresh and crispy. Not a fan of the "no refills" policy, however the drink is huge. The Caramelo de asada was fire. A little bit on the pricey side since a "vampiro" in California is almost half the price. All in all, glad I tried it. Would love to try their other dishes.

The food is somewhat on the pricier side $40 for a caramelo, a burro, a hot dog and horchata The workers were extremely friendly and everything was really clean. The food lack some depth of flavor. Its a Tucson staple but even then 3/5 ⭐️ Not bad not excellent but fair

I spend $50 here brought six Sonora hotdogs. They were dry and just had beans, tomatoes and onions. Nothing else. I’m super disappoint. How are you going to ruined Sonora dogs

My boyfriend and I went here tonight and we were very disappointed. The food is extremely over priced for the quality and I'm not just saying that. We paid $27 and some change for a SMALL caramelo and 3 Sonoran dogs. That's a bold price for a caramelo that was smaller than the plate it was served to me on (as seen below) and 3 sonoran dogs that were 90% tomatoes. (as seen below) To me that is wild. I would never go here again. If you want actually GOOD Mexican food worth your time and money, take a trip to Downtown Tucson to a little restaurant called "The Little One." Here I get TWO caramelos, chips and salsa for EIGHT DOLLARS. Please do not waste your money at this establishment, their competitors are far more superior.

Service was good and the wait was short but I had ordered 5 Sonoran hotdogs which came out to 27, which is good. When we got them the bread is just horrible. It’s so spongy and wet. The hotdog was 90% tomato. We couldn’t finish not a single one. Such a disappointment. They were disgusting to eat cause of the bread. There were no beans, nothing but tomato. It did not look like the photo.

First time having a Sonoron Hot dog, and was pleased surprised. My brother calls it a Tucson Staple, and I'm happy he's introduced it to us. Inside is basic and clean with bench style seating. The Salsa bar is decent, however I was not a fan of the cut for the radishes. The charred Jalapeños are a nice touch, and the pickled onions are a good "substitute" for the carrots. The Cucumber is also nice addition however their green sauce lacked any flavor. Not sure if I should be using it as a base, then modifying with onions etc. The combo for a Sonoran dog, fries, and a drink is a good deal. The Dogs were delicious, with good soft bread. Fries were fresh and crispy. The Caramelo de asada was fire. A little bit on the pricey side since a "vampiro" in California is almost half the price. All in all, glad I tried it. Would love to try their other dishes.

After visiting all three El Guero Canelo's for years, this was the ONLY location we didn't stop in at. Well, we finally dropped in. This location had the same great quality as the other three we've frequented, the offerings had the same great taste. This gave us another location we can drop in when we're in the neighborhood!

So happy to find out that my childhood after church food is on the east side. Yes I know I'm gonna have a little grace with it, but I'm excited. And there's a drive-through and shaded parking and in the drive-through you're not sitting in the sun, that's a lot of winds going on just from the first few minutes. Parking lot was clean. Staff were nice and they were gloves at the drive-through.

Excellent!! Whenever I make my way down to Tucson, the first thing, I always think about is the Sonoran dog, and I find myself here at Canelo's. I've been to both locations & the food is always on point. This last time around I decided to treat myself and go with the double-wrapped hotdog with bacon on it (aka the Sammy Dog), and all the toppings before heading to my event. Customer service was great. However, they did have a sign that said cash only so all you tap & payers beware. Not a big deal as I always bring cash when I come here. Salsa bar is available and always kept fresh & clean.

We came on Tuesday because the tacos are 2$ on tuesdays. My husband had the carne asada tacos and I had the combo 3 with 2 Sonoran hot dogs. Best Sonoran hot dogs you'll find in tucson. The buns are just so yummy it's what makes them taste amazing. The service was great and we didn't wait long for our food. Plenty of seating and you can serve up your own toppings such as pico de gallo, salsa, lemons, etc. The staff that are cleaning will come and check on you and take your empty plates. Music and vibes are always 100%

"The BEST carne asada and the most famous Sonoran hot dog." Guess what we're getting... The bun was the most notable thing about the hot dog. Super soft and pillowy, we learned they import them from Mexico! Couldn't find any bacon whatsoever in it. The beans, tomato, mayo, mustard surprisingly didn't have much flavor either. Overall: ok. 2.5/5 The carne asada taco had a generous amount of flavorful carne asada. With all the components from the salsa bar, this was pretty good. 3.5/5 I enjoyed the well stocked salsa bar that also had roasted peppers and green onions!

Got happy hour items, they have salsa bar with jalapeños and hatch Chiles, very clean and fast service, been here a few times.

Contrary to other's posts - my Sonoran dog was not soggy in the slightest. We got there right at opening at 11:00 am and everything tasted hot and fresh. The bun on my Sonoran dog couldn't have been fluffier and softer. Lots of great flavors - we loved the salsa bar. The pico was incredible and same with the guac salsa. Everything was fresh and delicious. Everything was a bit expensive for what it was but it's worth stopping by for the experience.

The service was good, but I came to get a cup of water as you gave to ask behind the counter. I should have done that even I ordered. It took them 10 min to get me a cup. I ordered a Sonoran dog and carne asada taco. This place is supposed to be known for their carne asadas but I'll be honest I was not impressed by the bland taste or the rubbery consistency. I've had better elsewhere. The Sonoran dog was boring and bland as well. Again, I've had better. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, so I'll give it another try again.

I have to admit that my review is probably colored by the fact that the friends who recommended this place said it was the best. We got a carne asada taco and a Sonoran dog. Both were perfectly fine, but not necessarily the best. I have to admit that in my trials of various tacos, I find that I prefer barbacoa or birria to carne asada and this carne asada taco was pretty good. And I will definitely give props for the salsa bar and sides that accompanied the taco. I appreciated the shredded cabbage, pickled onions and lime and the salsas I had were good. The Sonoran dog was also just fine. The location is easy to find, ample parking and ample tables inside. Order at the counter and you get a pager when food is ready. Generally convenient. Will probably come again - maybe I or they were having an off day.

Service is awful.do not order online or sign up for the service. They will have your order ready and make you wait in line just for a pick up, was standing at the pickup line and no one asked if I needed help. I requested a refund and they didn't even give me a receipt, the lady said her iPad isn't connected to give a receipt, will be reporting to Better Business Bureau.

We just stopped for food here last night. The carne asada burro is my go to. We don't go inside because it is always packed, but the drive thru is always fast. Hasn't changed in a long time which is the best thing.

Excellent food. Love the salchipapas. Bean burritos and the carne asada are excellent as well.

The Sonoran hot dogs were delicious. The amount of food you get is great especially at $1.99 special on 22nd St. Did have to wait a little longer for my take out order but was expected for the special on Sonoran hot dogs. Wish they would keep doing their special at least once a month

So many better places to get Sonoran dog. Their hotdog is over cooked and dry, bun is soggy. Try the box car place downtown instead.

Can't go wrong with El Guero Canelo Sonoran hotdogs! They have some other great lunch specials that are very reasonably priced before 5pm The salsa bar is a great addition to already delicious dogs. Recently tried their churros which were freshly fried and filled - heaven on a plate!

This place never disappoints! We make it a point to take out of town guests here and they're always so happy we did. This location is clean with quick service and easy parking. We got carne asada tacos and a quesadilla, the meat is so flavorful and the salsa/condiment bar is stocked with ample variety of salsas, peppers and sauces. The tortillas are delicious too! The portions are good for the price and they have lots of great options to choose from. A Tucson favorite for us!

Incredible lunch special! If you go for lunch, there are five options for excellent meals for $9.99. I got three tacos, of which you can choose between chicken or carne Asada. I had to try some of each and they were both fantastic. The meat was perfectly tender and so flavorful. The tacos complain, and then you can go to the toppings area and add whatever you want. Other options included, Sonoran dogs, burritos, and quesadillas and everything looked great. The staff was very nice and it was a chill environment to enjoy authentic Mexican food. We were even able to sit outside and enjoy the clean tables and fresh air.

So so so delicious! El Guero is incredibly consistent! Every time I visit it's delicious! And we just happened to order the Wednesday Special which was affordable. We ate for under $20! They have a sign so people use gloves at the buffet items - super sanitary. There is a team of employees working tirelessly to keep this place spotless. It's obvious this is an original location for El Guero so they are holding onto the vintage charm. But, it's not dirty at all. If you haven't been here you need to stop in. I highly recommend!

Love their Sonoran dogs but make sure if you want a pepper you check it's in there first lol. Service is friendly. I just use the drive thru which is pretty quick never too long of a wait. The reason for the 4 stars is because they have left out the pepper and when I got home I was sad because I like to have the pepper with my dog. Their Jamaica is good too.

Visiting Tucson for work and had to come try out a Sonoran Dog. I really enjoyed it. Our group each tried one and argued on the best way to order it. Personally, I don't think you can wrong here! El Guero Canelo is worth the stop, if you are in town.

This is a Tucson Standard for the Sonora Dog. This location is located off of 22nd and has a tight but adequate parking area (DQ next door doesn't hurt). Most of the front is the dining area, with a small outdoor seating area. There is a salsa bar in the center with roast veggies, utensils and to go packaging. In the rear is the ordering. Menu is lit up above the order station. You order your food and get a pager. "No Pager, No Food" The main draw is the Sonoran Dog. You should get it "todo" with all the bacon wrapped dog, tomatoes, onion, drizzles of mayo, mustard and a hot green chili sauce. It comes with a roasted yellow pepper which may be hot or sweet it's kind of a Russian Roulette on which one it is. The chili sauce is not usually detectable with the rest of the dog, but just don't lick it. The bun is a soft sweet bun, I prefer toasted, but it comes untoasted. They also have other limited items, we did get a beef street taco because my wife was not sure about the Sonora Dog. This is a Tucson thing and this is the Tucson place to get the item. So you have to try it out. It is a classic Tucson original thing, but it is still dirty, can be loud with Mexican music, and tables and paint and bathrooms are getting old and worn quick. It is something to try, but not someplace I come that often. Gotta do Guero Canelo at least once at one of their locations.

Made a drive thru order of 2 Sonoran Hotdogs at this El Guero Canelo. Staff are friendly and definitely a very reasonable price of hotdogs (they have $2.50 per hotdog for October). Place is clean. A place to visit for when in Tucson

my family & I were in the drive-thru, food was not at all what we had ordered. Unfortunately my parents found out that not only did they pay the full price for having a less than idealy mediocre meal-I was truly appalled at standards--lack of quality-maybe it could've been a mistake- even so-the fact is-my father found it easier to let it slide, but now is adamant he won't be paying any more visits to this specific location-staff is fine-but, I feel there was little care-commitment-or communication involved with our order-maybe it was a hectic day--either way--We weren't too pleased --the only things they managed were the drinks- I hope this review helps! my Intent is to help better the service and experience-have a nice day!~***

Came here for lunch with my son the other day. They have some good daily deals. We stuck with Sonoran dogs and they came out hot and quick. Appreciate the salsa and veggie bar to make the meal a little more healthy The staff was friendly and there's a reason this place is a Tucson classic. Appreciate there are multiple locations across town.

High expectations but unfortunately did not match what I experienced. Heard that this was one of the top places to get a Sonoran dog. The Sonoran dog had minimal toppings and lack of cohesive flavor, mostly tasting of mustard. Would have loved a more Hispanic pepper flavor to it. Also, The guac had cheese in it?? It made it sort of lumpy and hard to scoop. Was quite surprised.

Love the Tortas and Sonoran Hotdogs at all of their locations. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. The food at these restaurants is fresh and delicious. The icy Mangoyada is a sweet, delightful treat! Salsa bar with lots of extras.

We were told you've never been to Tucson until you've had a Sonora dog from El Guero Canelo. We got the 3 dog combo and split for 3 people. The onions were a bit overpowering but it all had great flavor and will definitely have them again. The restaurant had a very old school taco shop vibe.

Beef was a bit too tough to chew. Pretty sure the chicken is pretty made and then re heated. Good hot dogs though

One of the most blandest Sonoran Hot Dogs I've ever had. Bun tasted like it was from last week

I feel like I'm going to get some hate for this review but I have to be completely honest. I came to El Guero Canelo with super high expectations. This is supposed to be the place for the best, world-famous Sonoran dogs, according to multiple websites. Maybe I should have listened to the locals I met the night before... This particular location was having system issues on the day I visited so there was a longer than usual wait. I don't mind waiting, especially when I'm getting the best of the best. But what I got was so far south of what I imagined. First off, there was very little jalapeño sauce and mayo, and what there was under the pile of tomatoes, not generously over the top as advertised. My bun was also very soggy, I ended up tearing away a good portion of it. The hot dog was okay. Not bad, but nothing outstanding either. This was my very first Sonoran dog, and unfortunately I was very disappointed in this southern Arizona staple. I also ordered a serving of arroz con lèche which to my dismay was just a cup of pre-packaged store-bought crap. No where was it advertised that this is the case so I expected housemade rice pudding. El Guero Canelo almost claims to have the best carne asada, so I'm going to give the one more try next time I'm in Tucson. I hope to update my review with three more well-deserved stars.

Ordered the hot dog,fries,carne asada burrito & chips & salsa.Chips & salsa never showed up.Food was good.Lots of condiments! Bring a sweater if you go on a cold day.

An "old standard" for the Sonoran dog delight! They have much variety in dogs. Regular Sonoran. Beef dog Sonoran. Double dog Sonoran. Load them up and enjoy. They have other offerings as well. Really enjoy their carne asada tacos! I would get them any day if the week! Enjoy the table that has grilled onions and peppers etc etc.

Disappointed as I used to like the food. Prices are really out of sight since I ate here (22nd street location) last - probably a couple years back. With tax - a "medium" asada burro and a corn quesadilla $18+. The burro was pretty big, and had a good amount of asada in it. Bland, gristly asada. Needed salt. The quesadilla? A sad, pale thing. Two corn tortillas with a fair amount of Mexican/Jack cheese melted in between. Also flavorless. If you have to eat here, be sure to use the fresh salsa bar. You'll need lots to spice things up and make it enjoyable. Oh yeah, one more thing - a 355ml or 12oz bottle of Mexican Coke - $4.39...smh. Crossing this place off my list for good.

Small but gooooood! Food is always hot and fresh. I wish they had free chips! The avocado sauce is my favorite.

It has been a year since I have eaten here. The parking is great (I say this because they have overhangs so you car is shaded while you are inside.). You don't see that very often. We ordered two Sonoran hot dogs with everything. They give you a buzzer until your order is ready. While waiting you can go to the relish bar and fill plates or get sauces. Our order was done fast. The taste of the Sonoran hot dogs was so good. I could eat them even when I'm not hungry they are that good. I've had them other places in the city bu think this place is the best. Great value wonderful food and taste

Drove from San Antonio Texas on our way through Arizona we stopped by here the doggos were to die for amazing! I will most definitely come back whenever possible!

El Guero Canelo is a fine establishment! I haven't been here since the beginning of the pandemic. However, I was in dire need of some quality carne asada prepared on an outdoor grill. The "very mucho" carne asada burro was generously portioned and could easily be shared. The meat had that deliciously smoky flavor I needed! On the other hand, the Sonoran dog that I received was only satisfactory. The bun was a bit soggy, and the pepper could be put on the grill longer. Many other joints are comparable in taste and quality, even though El Guero is known for its Sonoran dog. I was glad to see that El Guero was keeping its employees and customers safe. Dine-in was not available when I came. Instead, only their drive-thru was open for safer pick-up. The employee was wearing a mask, and the process was very efficient. I'm happy that El Guero has adapted well to the pandemic times while still offering their classic fare. El Guero is ultimately a Tucson staple that I will continue to support!

Got a medium carne Asada burrito. With everything It has cabbage, and beans the carne asada has no taste only taste cabbage and beans

Amazing dogs. Just go get some bacon wrapped goodness. No frills, just good food so probably not a first date location.

Hubby is a hotdog aficionado and ran across a list of 75 of the best hotdog eateries in the U.S. Since we were visiting Tucson, we thought we would try a highly recommended special hotdog called the Sonoran hotdog.There are three convenient locations to choose from in Tucson. When we arrived, this place was busy. People kept coming and going. We definitely needed to know what all the fuss was about. We approached the counter to place our order. The hotdog is a bacon wrapped frank, pinto beans, onion (both grilled and fresh), tomato, mayo, mustard and jalapeño sauce! The hotdog bun was the first thing that impressed which was more like a soft pocket so as to hold the frank and all of its delicious toppings. This hotdog did not disappoint. The flavors came at you starting with the frank, salt from the bacon, sweetness from the grilled onions, the delicate chopped tomatoes, and the fine finish of the jalapeño sauce, spicy but not overpowering the rest of the ingredients. My husband rated this 5 stars as one of the most unique and tastiest hotdog experiences ever! They also serve top notch southwest dishes as well. We sampled the carne asada and grilled chicken tacos and washed it all down with a fresh and flavorful aqua Fresca. We ended up coming back again to get another Sonoran hotdog on the way home! Guess you could say, we couldn't get enough!

DO NOT COME HERE! Food was mid and service was terrible plus no refills. Don't waist your time

Horrible. Super bland, missed multiple items on my order. Couldn't even finish the food. No salsa. Definitely won't recommend. We had to Torta Carne, Estilo Sonora and Caramelo Grande Carne.

I'm really disappointed in this spot. James Beard hadn't really steered me wrong until this place. The Sonoran dog was underwhelming. Thin bacon, rubbery dog, and not much flavor overall. The carne asada was equally rubbery and lacking in flavor. It's been two hours and I deeply regret eating both the dog and the tacos. No ambiance, but good natured service. What a way to squander the good will generated by such an award.

For fast food Mexican food, El Guero Canelo is the place to try! The menu has a few meats (pollo or carne), however they offer it so many different ways and cook it so well every way! My personal favorite is the caramelos - the meat to cheese ratio is perfect, but the torta is also phenomenal. This is also one of my favorite places to grab a Sonoran dog! They give a few salsas with meals that are varied in flavors and level of heat, so you're bound to find one you like!

My wife and I went there for lunch. It was a pretty good lunch. The hot dog was fun to try. My wife had a burrito that was good. I would say the place needs a little update to the seating and paint. It was clean just needed a little update. Staff was very nice.

El Guero Canelo offers a fun twist to the standard hot dog people are used to. A bacon wrapped hot dog covered in an assortment of toppings and wrapped in the sweet, soft bread give the Sonoran dog it's signature taste. Parking isn't too ample, but if you don't come at a high rush hour, you should be fine. The food here is so affordable for how filling it is, and I would return! This is practically a Tucson staple, so stop by to give it a try!

These hot dogs are what dreams are made of! Top of my must eats while in Tucson. Their hot dogs are the best, their tacos are a very close second and their burritos are one for the books! Get your Sonoran dog with all the toppings! You won't regret it!

The food is good don't get me wrong! It's the portions.. we've been coming to el guero canelo for years, ever since we moved close by. We started out really impressed by them and coming back very often. Gradually the portions have reduced almost by HALF. The medium carne asada burritos are mainly tortilla and more than half the time we go they always forget all the side sauces EVEN when we ask before hand that they please don't forget them. So many incredible, authentic Mexican restaurants in Tucson, I won't be coming here anymore to spend that price for a mainly tortilla burrito with no sauce.