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Hours
Sun
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Mon
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tue
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Sat
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Mexican, Southwestern, Spanish, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Does this restaurant have live music
Details
PRICE RANGE
$1.00 – $1.00
CUISINES
Mexican, Southwestern, Spanish
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.0
593 reviews
Excellent
254
Very good
196
Average
89
Poor
38
Terrible
16
DarylJ552
Carlsbad3399 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
El Charro Cafe- Ventana is located in Northeast Tucson near the Loews Ventana Hotel and Golf Course. The restaurant is very popular and a reservation is a good idea. The menu is extensive with lots of Mexican specialties and of course there is a full bar. We were there for dinner around 7:00 PM on a weeknight without a reservation and we had to wait about 25 minutes for a table. The food and service was very good and we will return the next time we are in Tucson.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mcdedrick
Albany1501 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We went for dinner with a very large group of people and they were so accommodating! The atmosphere is nice, the serving staff did their best to serve everything in a timely fashion and the food came out very hot. Their margarita selection is excellent, no syrupy sweet drinks here. These are the real deal. Their guac checks of all my boxes for a good guacamole. Their menu is large but not overwhelming. Everyone in our group had different things. I had shrimp and steak fajitas which were delicious, had my choice of whole beans and refried beans. Husband got one and I got the other and they were both delicious. The taco salad is enormous! Comes in a giant taco shell, not a bowl. So it looks like an actual humongous taco. It’s a very large meal. The Carne Seca is very unusual and lives up to its name. It is supposedly dried in the desert before it is cooked and shredded. But the flavor is out of this world. They gave us a taste before we committed to it which was very nice of them. This is a great Mexican restaurant which is very easy to recommend. There are a few in Tucson I believe, so there should be one close to you no matter where you are.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cjkines1
Lenoir716 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Although there were lots of options, we were seated next to the door to the outdoor area. It was a cold night, and people were constantly using the door - cold and annoying!!!!
The food is excellent with lots of choices. From 4-6 there is a happy hour menu with several great choices. I ordered the three tostada option where you can choose from chicken tinga, pork, carne asada, etc. There was a full plate of food, which I could barely finish, for the low price of only $7. My husband had the enchiladas, which were also tasty.
I would offer a 5 if seated at a better table. We were cold and bothered near the door.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dljns
Kansas City136 contributions
Mar 2020 • business
3 out of our party of 4 did not like their meal. On the plus side, good margaritas and guacamole. I had the steak and shrimp fajitas, the beef was tough, shrimp over cooked and neither had any taste, very very bland. Do not recommend, I am being generous rating it a 3.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
367nancy
Littleton6 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
We lived in Tucson 1975-84. El Charro downtown was a go to for authentic food. We recently returned to Tucson for a visit. We ate carne seca at four restaurants around town. El Charro by far was the most disappointing and inferior. The service was poor, margaritas were poor, the bean and rice were poor, the carne seco tacos had store bought shells, the burro was ok as was the cheese crisp, all this for a very expensive price.
Written April 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuAnn76
Tucson25 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
It is nothing to wait 20 minutes before your server arrives at your table. This is very common. The waiter I recently had didn't come back for the next 20 minutes. Not enough staff. Terrible service.
The cheese crisps are no longer "yellow" cheese. They are made with tasteless white cheese and you are not able to order the original ones any more.
you have to make reservations a day ahead of time now or you can't get in. this place has gone downhill!!
Written April 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HappyCruiser85
Scottsdale14 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
Visited this El Charro location this past Saturday to have dinner for our anniversary. I had the Reynosa Chicken and my husband had combination #2 with chicken. He enjoyed his food very much. My food was good, but it was barely warm when it got to me. Our waitress was very accommodating to all our requests and we appreciated the attention we received from her. This was our first time to this particular location. We've eaten at the Oro Valley location several times and once at the downtown location. Since Ventana was the only one open for dine in service, we had no other option. My husband has had their mole dish before and loved it. My favorite item is actually the calabacitas which are a side dish. I could easily skip the beans and just have a double portion of the this and maybe next time, that's what I'll ask for. Overall a good experience.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valueourveterans
Arizona77 contributions
Sep 2020 • none
We hadn't been to El Charro’s since 2007, so while visiting Tucson over Labor Day weekend, we just KNEW we’d have to return for exceptional Mexican cuisine!
As a Tucson original, El Charro never let’s its diners down, it is and has been consistently delicious with a myriad of choices! We started with the shrimp cerviche which was packed with shrimp and avocado slices. Mmmmm! I ordered the Chile relleno filled with carne seca, and my husband ordered the carnitas burrito.
My husband enjoyed Dos Equis Amber while I enjoyed Sangria! Our waitress, Lulu, was delightful and service was outstanding with plenty of refills on chips and salsa!
When visiting Tucson...chose El Charro for traditional, unique and exceptional Mexican food and warm hospitality!
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Licharson
Kingston402 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
We ate here once (in late February) because it was convenient and close to our condo.
The staff was friendly and welcoming, but overall seemed less experienced and competent than we have experienced over the years at the original downtown location.
They have tried to replicate the decor and atmosphere, but higher ceilings make it more cavernous and less warm old home style.
The menu is very much the same as the downtown location. The taco chips and salsa were good, as usual. My wife ordered carnitas and a tortilla soup and was very happy with it.
I ordered the special, (pescado viscaína) and was, frankly, very disappointed. First, the plate served at the table looked nothing like the pictures on the doors that advertised the special. Second, the components: the principal fish was fine, as was the sauce. But what appeared to be some sort of crab cake was hard, and mealy. The greens, which appeared fresh in the ad photo, were a sort of whipped blend.
My food was not bad, not bad enough to send back. (Especially after I had questioned the plate served and been told by our server that the manager had said it was what they made.). But I certainly would not order it again.
I suspect there is a covid-related training and/or a management issue at the Ventana location. A week or so earlier, I ordered take out churros & sopapillas and when I got home found they had failed to put any chocolate sauce in the order.
Unless future reviews suggest change at this location, we will make the trip downtown instead.
Written March 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry P
Tucson3 contributions
Apr 2020 • solo
I wanted to order for take out to support a local restaurant during these trying times. I called 5 times before they finally answered. When I finally placed my order at 6 pm I was told to arrive at 6:30. When I arrived there were 12 people waiting to pick up their orders and no one came out to take names. I called and was told my order would be ready in 5 minutes. I waited for an additional 30 minutes before my turn came. My food was cold and tasted lousy when I got home which is a 3 minute ride. Very poorly organized and inadequately staffed. A real disappointment.
Written April 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveToTravelTerrie
Frisco1303 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
I came with a local friend who said this was a popular place with the locals. Although we had a reservation and there was no one in line, it took them a few minutes to seat us. Paper menus were in the middle of the table for us to browse. The waiter arrive quickly to take our drink order. Being thirsty I suggested he leave a pitcher of water with us. He said okay but the pitcher never arrived. Luckily he kept a close eye on our glasses and refilled them regularly. Chips and salsa were brought over. The menu described the Original “Charro Style” Beef Taco which looked interesting. I ordered 2 of them and requested a side salad instead of the usual beans. That was not a problem and a fresh, cold salad arrived. It contained a few extra ingredients such as chunks of mango, peas and a sprinkle of feta cheese which was a pleasant surprise. The tacos did indeed have an original flavor to them and were very tasty!
Written March 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dander Druff
Mesa5 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We live in the Phoenix area and stop at one of the El Charro locations each and every time we visit Tucson. The service is almost always great, and the servers are hilarious if you treat them with respect and humor. Always sweet and attentive! We would be happy with a trough of IV drip of their salsa, but it is even better with the warm fresh chips. I don’t know if it is garlic or perhaps a touch or oregano or the chiltepin pepper, but this salsa is so good we want to swim in it! We have toured the menu over the years but usually end up back on our burros or chimichangas. Again, the best we have ever had! My flavorite is the grilled chicken with a little bacon served with the fresh green enchilada sauce. I would write more about how good it is, but my sentiments are x-rated. So good in every way… please don’t ever leave us, El Charro Cafe. You give us a reason to visit Tucson a couple times each year!
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slsykes18
Sun City11 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
What is all the hype? We arrived late afternoon for an early dinner, it wasn't crowded but the service was slow, the margaritas had too much ice and flavorless, the food was OK but not great. We ordered the table side guacamole and was brought a bowl of guacamole and no chips. We had to asked for the chips! My margarita salad didn't have any dressing on it, I had to ask for dressing. The chicken on top was grilled and dry. The enchiladas were OK but nothing special, the chili relleno was mushy not firm. It definitely wasn't their day.
Written February 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
frankt38944
Cave Creek186 contributions
Sep 2020 • none
This restaurant is a very nice Mexican restaurant in a mall north of downtown Tucson. We went on a weekday and the restaurant was "Covid full" but not crowded. Tables were spread out and plexiglas between anything close. The staff was very attentive, knowledgable, and friendly. The food was very tasty and there was a full and varied menu. Margaritas were good. The food came promptly and hot. All in all, this was a very good experience and we would go again if we were in the area.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
matcait
Las Cruces183 contributions
May 2022 • family
Our family recently ate here for a late lunch early dinner and the service was horrible. We waited at least 30 minutes at our table just to have our order taken by a waiter who appeared to have a hangover from the night before? The restaurant was not even busy as many tables were empty. As for the food, it was average at best. To the credit of the hostess, she did apologize several times for the slow service. We will not return.
Written May 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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