El Charro Cafe - El Mercado

Doesn't Recommend

Fossil

Joined 3 years ago

Service is horrible, but the food is great.. Get the fish tacos, maybe some of the best in town. However, if you go...do so with plenty of patience and plenty of time. I've gone twice thinking I might have just gotten the "new guy" server the first time.

The second time was just as bad, and when I asked him the waiter proudly said he'd been working there for two years.

Also, at all costs avoid Friday and Saturday nights. It turns into a pseudo nightclub, and I have heard of a night when the cops DON'T inevitably show up. Not a good scene unless you're the type that goes out just to look for a fight.

Recommends

CSMobileUser

Joined 5 years ago

Great atmosphere. The Bahia fish tacos are pretty tasty.

Doesn't Recommend

swamp69

Joined 4 years ago

Better Mexican food in Pittsburgh if you can believe that.. I also came to the restaurant on many recommendations about the great Carne Seca. My husband ordered it and liked it but wouldn't rave about it. I tried it and do agree it is the best I have ever had but do not care for dried beef dishes in general. Margaritas, chips and salsa were horrible. I've had better in Pittsburgh which does not do anything well with Mexican food. My fish enchiladas in the green goddess salad dressing were disgusting. My husband agreed. I sent it back and got the mole enchiladas. Equally bad. The rice was mush and tasted of dishwater. The beans were passable but not great. We paid, I and went down to Taqueria Pico de Gallo. Best carne asada burro I have ever eaten. We went back there almost every day for food after that.

Recommends

pbss

Joined 4 years ago

Best place to go to party!!. Soooo much fun! Great looking people, great drinks, best music, and awesome service!! Had a blast!!!!

Recommends

mnjs1943

Joined 5 years ago

Best CLUB in Tucson. Best looking waitresses, bartenders. HOT!! The music is HOT, the people are fun, the place is huge, and the VIP room is great.

Recommends

brandonrthompson

Joined 6 years ago

Great Service, Good Food, Decent Prices.... On my latest recon trip with my wife we were stressed out and tired, and hungry after a 13 hour drive from Colorado Springs, CO. I had seen El Charro online and on TV and decided to give it a try. The place was packed at 7 pm but we were seated promptly and given friendly service. The portions were a little small, and the prices were fair, my only complaint is that they don't refill your salsa and chips for free, but the salsa wasn't that great anyways, it was a little too much vinegar for my taste, and the chips a little stale. The rice and beans were great as were my shredded beef tacos. The Chile Relleno my wife ordered was also really good. Overall I will bring my friends and family to El Charro now that we are moving to Tucson in February and have no doubt they wll enjoy it as well!!! A-

Doesn't Recommend

nycorey03

Joined 7 years ago

The Worst Wanna-Be Mexican Tourist Trap. We were excited to visit this restaurant after hearing so many great reviews, and coming on a trip to Tucson, AZ from NYC we were reallying looking forward to a great mexican meal. In reviwing the menu you see that they claim to have the best and notable house specials around. So, I figured I'd give it a try...I ordered the CARNE SECA from the dinner menu, while visiting for lunch, to get the entire "world renound" taste, and when the dish arrived at my table, it resembled chewing tabacco. My boyfriend quickly dove into my dish, just as excited to taste it as me, and the look on his face was enough to know I would not be eating lunch this day. I tasted the meat, and was severely dissapointed and had to reach for the WORST margarita to ever be made, which they also serve. I have never sent a dish back to the kitchen and was very nervous to do so, but I had to let the staff know that this dish is not worth eating at all. Even the salsa was bad, the chips were bad, even the 1/2 a teaspoon of guacamole was poorly prepared.

So, when you are visting Tucson, AZ make sure you do not find yourself dining in this mexican embarrassment!

Recommends

hochard

Joined 7 years ago

Good food. Yes the food is good, but still somewhat bland for my tastes, as it seems is the standard for most mexican food in Tucson. The restaurant is somewhat small and seating tight.

The staff has always been polite even at the peak lunch rush.

Well worth giving it a try.

Recommends

mogroovee

Joined 7 years ago

best authentic mexican food ever!. Too many choices in Tucson for mexican food and many are highly over-rated but not El Charro. This is real mexican food the kind my grandmother would cook. The kind you would find in a mexican restaurant in mexico city. The carne seca chimichanga is killer, the quesadillar are delicious, the soups are traditional and so tasty even my 6 year old picky eater who only has grandmas albondiga soup, loved it. Everything on the menu is just delicious and the service is great.

Recommends

atroidl5

Joined 7 years ago

Fast Courtious Service. Great Place To Eat. Servers were quick and efficent. Food was amazing. I filled up on chips and salsa just because salsa was that good