El Charro Café

Frommer's Review

El Charro, housed in an old stone building in El Presidio Historic District, is Tucson's oldest family-operated Mexican restaurant and is legendary around these parts for its unusual carne seca, a traditional air-dried beef that is a bit like shredded beef jerky. To see how they make carne seca, just glance up at the restaurant's roof as you approach. The large metal cage up there is filled with beef drying in the desert sun. You'll rarely find carne seca on a Mexican menu outside of Tucson, so indulge while you're here.

The adjacent !Toma!, a colorful bar/cantina, is under the same ownership. Other El Charro branches can be found at 6310 E. Broadway Blvd. (the Eastside), phone 520/745-1922; 100 W. Orange Grove (in the North), phone 520/615-1922; 4699 E. Speedway (Speedway), phone 520/325-1922; 6910 E. Sunrise (in Ventana), phone 520/514-1922.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.