John S.
Yelp
In the midst of enjoying the sunset at a scenic vista within Saguaro National Park, a local Arizonan man told me that if I was hungry for some great birria or craving a beer to check out Saguaro Corners right outside the park - so I decided to do just that once night fell!
The location is very convenient for leaving the Rincon Mountain District of the national park and it lives up to its name (being right past the exit). There was spacious parking and it was simple to enter even at nighttime. Upon going inside, I was immediately attended to and ushered over to my seat (outside and inside options). I decided on outside since I enjoy the desert ambience, and I was given a corner seat under an awning specifically because it had been raining on and off - points to the hostess for considering the elements!
The feeling of the outside seating was pleasant - there were hanging lights along the canopy areas which was a nice touch. I received the food and drink menus and decided to partake in a local Tucson golden ale - which hit the spot after a long day of hiking and driving. For my meal, I chose the Torta De Birria con Calabacitas (red chili birria beef with chipotle crema and shredded cabbage and onions on a toasted roll with a side of sautéed squash and peppers). As a lover of birria, I was excited to have it in the form of a sandwich with additions that I don't normally think to use for the dish, and to enjoy a side item that is uncommon in my neck of the woods (but is nonetheless very much beloved).
After about 8-10 minutes, my food arrived. It was exactly what the gentleman said it would be: delicious and convenient! The bun was nice and it was level with the distribution of the birria and cabbage. Every bite had that delicious flavor with a nice crunch. The calabacitas were very fresh, and full of flavor. They had been cooking in their juices for quite some time and were a nice addition to the meal.
Oh, and an aside but nonetheless important - the family sitting next to me had an issue with their order, and the waitress immediately resolved it and was quite courteous while doing so. Awesome business!
All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I would partake in again. It's right near the national park, there is a large, authentic, and local selection of dishes, a solid beer and wine list, and some nice desert views all around (which would have been even better had the sun still been out)! I would absolutely recommend this locale for anyone passing through, and especially after a long day on the sweltering Sonoran trails!