El Taco Rústico

We've been hearing great things about El Taco Rustico for a while and we decided to give it a try. We ordered chips and salsa, and a few tacos: carne asada, El pastor, shrimp, mahi mahi and nopales con Chile. Yes, we were hungry. Let me just start by saying everything was cooked on the spot and came out nice and hot. The carne asada was too delicious, so was the El pastor. The shrimp and fish tacos were excellent, they come in corn tortillas and a full of cheese as well, yum!! The nopales one was amazing as well. Everything was great, the salsas were fresh (the smoky one is spicy) and service was spot on. I'm definitely looking for the next time I'm going there!

So guys what found this new place wanted to share that if you are a fan of Birria Tacos this place has some good ones, they where so good that we ordered a 2nd order lol. Check out my video and photo ♥️🍴

Super tasty right down to the last bite! Enjoyed a quesabirria taco with delicious consumé and a sope de costillas with all the fixin's. Atmosphere and service was average taco-shop, but the bites made up for that.

The reviews are true. Some of the best quesabirria I’ve ever had. The service is quick and friendly. The plate of 3 combo was plenty filling and a Mexican Fresca is worth it all. Easy parking. The restaurant is a bit plain and tired but who cares, the food was top notch.

Honestly, the food was really good. It has the authentic homemade flavors. I'm not sure if I would eat here again only because the place is very rundown and in need of a deep cleaning or remodel. Not sure why owner hasn't done this but it doesn't leave a good impression. It makes me feel like the kitchen isn't clean.

I usually don’t review. This place is special! It’s a simple place with great food. Some of the best tacos I’ve ever had in Tucson. I’m going back for dinner tomorrow! Be sure to call ahead and order the food good food takes time to make.

Best quesabirrias I've ever had, and a spectacular sunset was the cherry on top of a great night. Stopped in for Sonoran restaurant week, and this place exceeded my expectations. While the place is small and unassuming, the flavor here is anything but. Staff was friendly and helpful with suggestions. The food was drool-worthy... the consomme had a sweet spiciness to it that was really unique, and the Spanish rice was also delicious and had a great almost smoky flavor. We also tried some pollo asado sopes and they were amazing! The meat was really tender, just the right amount of salty and citrusy, and the sopes tasted really fresh. The avocado salsa they give you is a perfect addition. Don't forget to get a lemonaica aguas frescas, and some dessert! The menu is large and easy to customize what you want. We'll be back!

Extra charge for rice and beans on burrito. Lunch of 2 burritos and 2 drinks $39. Carne Asada did not taste grilled here in the home of mesquite

Clean friendly awesome food quesobaria BEST I EVER HAD!!! Pollo asado tacos and Gordita Round out our meal The three of us left full and happy

It's been since the pandemic that I've been in, but glad I was able to try them again. This time it was nice to sit inside the restaurant. I got take out during the pandemic. The service was fast and it was counter service. The tacos were excellent. I got a variety of tacos, but they supposedly have some of the best birria in town. It belongs in the conversation of best birria jn Tucson. Good spot to check out.

It was my first time going here The food was meh Wasn't the best I've had I asked the waiter if they had a hotter salsa He gave me a different one and sadly it wasn't hot at all Even the dessert wasn't spectacular I don't think I'd go back here

A great place for Quesabirria. We have come here before and really enjoyed the food and service. This time we loved the food but the service was subpar. We were helped by a Jessica L (according to the receipt) who was condescending and not nice to my family. We had 6 of us in our group and ordered at the counter as usual. We each had 3 quesabirria tacos with the rice and beans and ordered a bag of the fried pork rinds as well. Our bill was about $138 before tip. Jessica L was not nice to our kids who ordered the usual chicken quesabirria combo plates. She made a comment about the order being unusual and did they know what they were doing - that sort of thing. I didn't learn of this until after we left the restaurant or I would've said something or amended my tip appropriately. I like their food here but they better clean up their service or they won't do well in the future. There is a LOT of competition for this sort of meal in the area and I will be trying them the next time I'm in the area.

Breakfast burritos are incredible! Loaded with Eggs, Cheese, Potatoes, Bacon, and Beans for only $11 so delicious

Finally stopped by here when we were on the side of town. It did not disappoint. The chips and salsa are good, the hot salsa was a bit too much for me. I had a few different tacos. The mahi mahi one was probably one of the best fish tacos I've ever had. The place is small with just a few tables. Service is friendly. We will be back for sure.

BUSY location, sorta good and bad 3.5*/5 for prices & experience vs others Good - $4 Lorenzas are small (store bought 3"?) grilled flat tacos topped with Chicharron..a special request filled with no upcharge, awesome, checker asked, very nice peeps ;) It was crispy, porky and yum, cabbage and pico on side of paper plates. Carne Asada was too dried out and tough. Add Beans Rice $3.50 were great. Hubby's Torta $13 Cabrito goat +$5 (tastes like stewed lamb) was too $$$; tasty, enjoyed but not worth it for a sandwich, without chips or a drink. 3 tasty Salsa bottles kept cool in fridge come with your order, mild tomato Rich & red 3.5* spicy and citrusy tomatilla Verde. ER made for a fast food experience. Long shared tables with a few smaller ones, filled up fast on Valentine's PM. Plastic forks, paper plates, on plastic trays and baskets. Single bathroom key code on a spoon, walk outside. $2.50 for a can soda so no refills here, everything bottles and $$. Having now been to both locations, would return to ER2 over this location and unless for the smoky mesquite grilled ribs would rather a sit down restaurant experience for same price. Could get a superior entree w fixins on a real plate/utensils for $18 (dreaming La Frida). Came specifically to try the Lorenzas. They pale vs homemade large 5" ones @CasaAsadaTaqueriayCerveceria with stay-a-while boogey digs and delish large oyster mushroom option. Sometimes the hole in wall does it for you or you just wanna crawl out, to the wonderland.

Got the Sonoran restraunt week all you can eat tacos. Every taco on the menu is great.

Omg!! Why hadn't I eaten here yet??? Delicious food... shared a burrito and the beef ribs and both were amazing! I had been craving ribs and these ribs were meaty and cooked to perfection ( served with tortillas and side of rice and beans). I am usually not a fan of beans - but here I couldn't get enough! Service was quick and business was steady... we went a little past the lunch hour and was able to secure parking and a table .. but can imagine there would be a wait during prime dining time. You order at the counter and they call your name. Small space but big taste !

We wanted some tacos while in Tucson, I researched some good things about El Rustico and decided to check them out! Upon walking in, we were greeted and asked if it's our first time visiting. We said yes and she showed us the menu and gave some recommendations on the Quesabirria combo meal which comes with soup, rice and beans ($15.99). You can choose 2 or 3 tacos and various meats to go with it. I ordered the 3 tacos with mahi mahi, shrimp and al pastor. My hubby ordered the same except with all 3 al pastor. The combo comes in a plastic to go box with rice, beans, tacos, small container of soup, shredded lettuce with limes on the side. Excellent tacos, I love that you can pick and choose your own meats and customize your meal. With a plentiful menu from burritos, tacos, gorditas, sopes, lorenza, quesadilla, caramelo, tortas, etc, there is something for everyone!

I apologize in advance to the Yelp community for this 'cut in half' chorizo burrito photo (almost as reprehensible as clowns who upload devoured plates, claiming "it was that good"). Bottom line: My first sampling of El Rustico, Chef Almanza has set the bar high! Will definitely be back. This Chorizo burrito was next level. My one criticism is a 3.9% pass thru for credit cards...I get it, everyone is doing it - I still do not like it or approve. No impact to 5-star score obviously. See you soon El Rustico!

Some of the best mahi tacos I've ever had! Staff are very sweet and kind. Place was clean enough with easy parking. Eat local. Skip Taco Bell. This was almost as fast.

Stopped here on our cross country trip. We're on a taco tour so off course we had to try El Rustico being it came with many high reviews via Yelp. Service was just ordering so no other interaction. The food came pretty quick I went with the Surf and turf tacos and hubby went with carne asada tacos, two on flour and one on cactus. The asada was very dry unfortunately and lacked flavor for me the shrimp in the taco saved it. The cactus had a ton of flavor, the salsas that were provided were ok and helped with the asada. I would give it a second chance per other reviews but not my favorite tacos ever based off of this visit.

Good service. Alright ambience. Food was quite good and filling. Good but not amazing. Still enjoyed though

Don't bother leaving a tip. The owner pockets the staff's hard earned gratuity and passes it on as "It's so I don't have to pay you guys like servers" this is straight from inside staff.

First off , this place was so good! Probably the best tacos and burritos joint that I've eaten at so far. I really like the taste of their hot sauces as well; the red bottle and green sauce are my faves. The place is a little small, but there were lots of seating areas. It was a little busy so I took that as a good sign. After we finished our meal, we almost ordered a second helping to take home! If only we lived closer . Next time I want to try some of their desserts, like the flan and cheesecake

Stopped in for an early lunch. Ordered the Rajas Con Queso platter. It was vibrant and hearty and delicious! I didn't try any of the salsas, as the dish was perfectly flavorful. This is small very casual place with counter service off Oracle and Grant. It's well worth going out of your way for. My food was sooo good! Definitely recommend.

So very good. If you find yourself pulling off of Oracle and onto El Rustico's parking lot, you really have to get in there and try the Quesabirria taco. Obviously, I'm not, "the boss of you", and you can go rogue and choose something else, but this one (the quesabirrria) is really worth the trip! I am 90% sure that it is the signature dish of the place (a number of people recommended it). Even if it is not, the quesabirria truly is an amazing mixture of flavors and textures. If you have not yet sampled one of these savory bits of Mexico, get yourself ready for something that is truly unique. The blend of Mexican cheeses that are pan-melted onto a corn tortilla is probably my favorite part of the dish. The crisp-ified cheeses add both a slightly-salty flavor, and slightly crunchy mouth texture! Seasoned slow-cooked beef rests on the soft taco and it pairs beautifully with the afore- mentioned tortilla. Sprinkle on a little cabbage, and in your hand--behold!!!... something that comes close to a bit of perfection. The addition of consommé--a side broth that comes with the order --allows patrons to dip the taco into a really tasty soup-ish broth. Each bite can be (and should be!) dipped in. The place is decorated simply and has an authentic real-Mexico, family-run- business vibe. As I ate with my wife, we watched the owner and his employees joyfully interact with customers (as they did with us too). I have a feeling that they sincerely enjoy serving others and making really tasty food. It's not fancy, but it was really enjoyable! I kinda think I stumbled upon a Tucson treasure!

Birria, salsas, helpful friendly staff, accurate to go food, fast and reliable! You can't go wrong with anything you order!

We birria. This was good birria! It's out of our way, and I can't say it's so good that we would make the trip back regularly. If we're in the area though, we will go back! I like that the food was served on what appeared to be compostable paper plates. Not sure if this is always true, but that's how it was when we were there! The beans and rice on the side were great too! Decent amount of tables inside, pretty consistent traffic of customers. We were able to find a table for 2 of us right after we ordered, larger parties may have had a bit more trouble. We were there on a weekday around lunch time for reference!

From the moment I stepped inside, El Rústico felt like stepping into a part of Mexico--a place where flavors come alive and each bite tells a story. The ambiance was the perfect mix of cozy and chic, setting the stage for what was to come. The food was perfect! Service? Spot On. The staff at El Rústico made me feel at home. Not only were they knowledgeable about the menu, but their genuine passion for the food made the experience even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a meal that will wow your taste buds and leave you daydreaming about your next visit, El Rústico is a must. Whether you're a foodie or just someone who loves good vibes and great flavors, this place has got you covered. 10/10, will definitely be back!

Overall rating: 4.5/5 Wait: 4/5 Arrival time: Tuesday 5:30pm Food: 4.5/5 Order: torta Al pastor, mahi mahi taco, horchata Service: n/a Price: 4/5 Definitely coming back El Rustico's culinary charm is as vibrant as the streets of Mexico, with a torta Al pastor that packs a punch of authentic flavors, making each bite a fiesta of taste. The mahi mahi taco is a crispy delight, a deep-fried treasure that sails smoothly into the harbor of your palate. While the horchata may have been a tad on the diluted side, it was a refreshing accompaniment to the rich, savory notes of the main dishes. The service was as warm as the Tucson sun, ensuring a visit that was as delightful as the food. With prices that don't break the bank, El Rustico proves to be a gem worth revisiting. This place is not just legit; it's a testament to the art of Mexican cuisine.

They recommended this place for the Birria tacos. Everything was delicious! I was so happy to learn that they can make ANY taco KETO Instead of using tortilla they make a cheese "tortilla". I had the birria, pollo asada, and carne asada KETO tacos with a side of guac and I bought a bag of pork rinds. I haven't eaten my whole 3 tacos in a very long time, but there was nothing left today! The sauces are also good ( spicy, non spicy and mild). The service was also good, you order in the front and our name was promptly called. The ambiance is meh, just a hole in wall kind of place, do not expect fine dining, but it's clean and cozy. I would definitely come back and recommend this place.

Simple place hole in the wall, paper plates super casual which is fine . Counter service. The quesa barria was flavorful but way to small of a portion for 3 quesa-barria not filled much at all and a small portion of rice beans. I left hungry!

Who knew Tucson had such a great taco scene! I've been to so many spots all over California and I can easily say that Tucson tacos are better than anywhere in the Bay and on par with those in LA and SD. To compare to popular spots, these definitely beat out tacos el gordo and Leo's. The buche taco was most surprising. They crisped it up and it had a nice rich pork flavor from doing so. Other spots stew the buche. I typically stay away from carne asada but this one was tender and had a nice smokey flavor. The birria and cabeza were cooked PERFECTLY. Lots of birria places I go to are overcooked and dry. On the other hand, places usually overstew cabeza where it becomes too mushy. This was tender, had bite, and the seasonings were so unique compared to other places. I got 7 tacos and didn't get one that I didn't like. I'll be back!

Not sure if it's because I am from California and this was different than tacos there, but I ordered one quesabirria, one chicken flour taco, and one carne asada flour taco, and all of them were amazing! Quesabirria is my favorite though, the outside had such a nice crunchy/crisp texture, great flavor; the carne asada flour taco comes in second! They have plates (comes with 3 tacos, rice and beans) or you can order items separate, I would recommend getting separate if you're passing by to try more. They also had 3 different sauces, all of them also great, and tolerable spice for me (mild/mild-medium). The red sauce in the clear bottle was my favorite, the most acidic/tangy. Came as a party of 5 and all our food came out in 15 mins. Cashier was also helpful and pricing is ~$3-5 per taco! You won't regret stopping by for food! :)

Whew, El Rustico is as good as everyone says! My husband and I were guided by other Yelpers and ordered the quesabirria tacos and the rojitos de camaron, plus chips and salsa as a starter. The tacos were all fried to a crisp perfection and the flavors of the fillings were spot on. Chips were good and the salsa variety met our needs of mild (me) and super spicy (my husband). El Rustico was packed at 1pm on a Saturday. Highly recommend going during off hours or ordering to go to skip the line.

Looked forward to trying this place, but it didn't meet the hype. It is a small, self-serve place. Opt for cash, if possible, or you will be charged 3.9% on any debit/credit charge. Food was good, but it doesn't deserve a repeat visit from me. There isn't anything that stood out to share. Wish I liked it more.

WOW!! Best Birria I've had in Tucson so far. Plus they have real guacamole that's fresh and delicious. The ambiance is pretty chill - you don't come here for that, you come here when you want really delicious food. We had very attentive service as well. 10/10 - this is a real Tucson treasure! Don't sleep on the quesabiria Pro tip: just order the birria

8/11/2024 I was looking for some south west style fish tacos. Yelp brought me here but really let me down :(. Please add more fish to the tacos and put some salt in your consumé please!

I love this place! The chicharones are so good and the quesabirria tacos are even better! The place is a small little restaurant very cute! The cashier was so nice and answered all our questions. The best thing are the CHURROS! Honestly best churros I've had so far!

Ugh! Never again. Food was greasy and no flavor meats are over cooked and taste rancid! Place was dirty!!

Had the pastor and asada tacos with maize.. Legit. 95/100. Taste, price, portions all on point.

El Rustico is a little hole in the wall for the real deal tacos. Walking into this little dinner the only thing separating the feeling from a friend or family member's living room is the black and white checker flooring. I was greeted warmly by a server as soon as I walked in and told I could order at the counter. This place is the ONLY place in town for shrimp tacos. Trust me and order the Rojitos de Camaron. Delicious fried shrimp, a little melted cheese, onions, and green and/or red salsa for added flavor these tacos are the real deal. I'm hooked now and I'll be coming back weekly for this shrimpy goodness. Pro-tip: if you're on the go call ahead and tacos are usually ready in 10-15minutes.

the food is amazing cooked to perfection and is so tasteful and they provide beautiful customer service. I will definitely be back but this time I will enjoy eating inside instead of online ordering

El Rustico is one of those Mexican restaurants that would surprise you. The place is small, but comfortable. The service was fast and efficient. One area that impressed us the most is the food. We ordered the birria tacos (carnitas and the beef); and it's the best birria we've ever had! Unfortunately, we went there when they were about to close. I ended up not taking pictures of the tacos. However, I can tell you that this place is pretty good! Items are priced right, portions are good, and the food is really on point! Try this place and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

If you don't love the food here, you can't be trusted. Hit this place up for lunch a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking of those tacos! Definitely a place we'll be keeping on our list of tasty tacos. El Rustico is definitely one of my top two tacos places in town now! I'd say they're tied with another only because the two styles are different so they both are #1! Fair warning though, their caramelo is HUGE. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into both ordering tacos and a caramelo as well. Not to say we didn't eat the whole thing, but we probably shouldn't have. It was perfectly done and super tasty! I don't know what else you need to know except that it's fantastic. The inside is a little small but that's fairly typical and there were still plenty of places to sit. The food came out quickly and was made fresh. You will definitely thank me later or you just don't know good food.

Cash. They charge 3.9% for credit. Was recommended to this place by a friend of our daughter. Pretty small place. You could drive right by it and not notice. We ordered birria soup, quesabirria, and parrillada. The birria soup was very flavorful. A reasonable amount of meat included. The quesabirria is basically a birria taco, and if you dip it in the soup, it's fantastic. Maybe a little small, but really good. The parrillada is a collection of marinated meats, and also was really good. This is a gem. Really 4.5 stars, but I had to round up because they are better than 4 stars.

My husband and I waited with our two little girls for over half an hour. The people who ordered in front of us got their food and ate and left. So my husband went to go ask what was going on with our order which was 8 tacos. The lady had it waiting up front and said she must of forgot to call his name. I felt like that was done purposely and was discriminatory because my husband and I look like an interracial couple. The tacos had a good amount of meat but there was barely any onion and cilantro. One taco literally had one diced onion. I could count it. One and done. There was very little cabbage on the side. I guess toppings must cost extra.

Customer service was good. Friendly and smooth. The indoor seating is a bit odd, but it works. There's also outdoor seating. Small and cozy for sure. Got here a little bit after noon, didn't have to wait too long to order the food and the food came out relatively quick. Food is average. Birria is great! The meat was nice and tender! The sauce/consommé was balanced and not overly seasoned. Nice crisp tortilla. Got the carne asada tacos and this was a disappointment. Dry and flavorless. The meat came out borderline cold and was tough. Adding lime and salsa didn't save this. My friend got the breakfast burrito with bacon and said the bacon was tasteless. The salsa is nothing to brag about. Bland and sad. The prices are reasonable. The birria is the highlight of the experience.

Being from the Bay Area and also having lived in San Diego I've def had my share of tacos. El Rustico def hits the spot on our move across country. It made us miss CA even more. The staff is super friendly. The food was delicious. And just loved that it was a local joint and gave off that home vibe compared to the bigger restaurants around town. We ordered quesabirria, Mahi-mahi, and shrimp tacos. Then for something sweet we devoured some churros and horchata. If we're ever back in Tucson we'd def come back and order some home made chicharron!

two days after Thanksgiving, I bought dinner for myself my wife and my daughter our total was $60.50. I did not give them a tip because we were not served by a waitress. I don't tip people behind the counter just making food. The food by the nothing to write home about. this morning PayPal informs me that El Rustico has completed my transaction for $75.50 so somebody at El Rustico, I'm guessing whoever finalize the receipt receipts at the end of the night so the store manager, I suppose, added a 25% tip to the total and put the money in their pocket . COMPLETELY FRAUDULENT!! I'm sure I'm not the first person that has suffered this in dignity and I'm sure I won't be the last. shameful!! stealing from your customers unbelievable behavior!!

Fantastic meal and great service. I personally would highly recommend this place. Dog friendly patio. A great time.

We had heard El Rustico was good authentic Mexican street food and what we got would have been good if it wasn't for the 100 or so flies buzzing around our food. It is really hard to enjoy lunch when you are flailing around like a cracked out homeless person to keep the flies at bay. I've certainly eaten in some sketchy restaurants down in Mexico so this was definitely authentic alright. The experience was less than ideal and if given the opportunity I'd prefer to dine without flies in my face and food. No amount of authentic flavors will overcome the notion of poor sanitation due to the presence of hundreds of flies. Hopefully they read this and get things dialed.

Went here today with my family due to a friends recommendation. My dad was visiting from Chicago for Father's Day weekend and wanted some authentic Mexican food. Well. SHAME ON ME for not knowing about this place until today. I mean that. The quesabirria tacos were to die for. The meat was so tender and flavorful, I didn't have to douse them in salsa. I want to lie to myself and say that this will be a treat yourself kind of place, but I'm 100 percent sure I'll be back next week. My dad had the surf n turf tacos, husband had a torta and my cousin had a breakfast burrito with their spicy salsa. Everyone had nothing but great things to say! Well done! Customer for life.

Stumbled upon this humble restaurant and had to try, given the fantastic reviews. Quesabirria was mentioned a lot, and I ordered two of those. They were absolutely delicious, indulgent, and full of flavor! I also ordered the Malinche, which was a bit soggy and not as flavorful as I had hoped. My friend got the carne asada torta, and sadly the bread was soggy as well. The carne asada itself was dry and over cooked in my opinion. Make sure to bring cash, as there is an extra charge for card. I likely won't be back to this restaurant, but service was very nice.

Would def go back but would get all El Pastor tacos next time, they were delicious!! The Surf n Turf and chicken were ok. Plate was really messy so it was hard to eat my last taco since the tortilla was basically sitting on top of the refried beans. Service was quick & friendly! Not lots of seating inside but there's additional seating outside as well. Also ordered a Mexican coke, yum!

Always excellent Fresh and Clean Friendly staff and always helpful. Quesabirria is excellent

Yummy First time having Berria! The ribs were so beautifully cooked, with nice bark and very juicy Great rice & beans A+