The “Horseman” Restaurant: El Charro Chimichanga
BY FOOD CRITIC GLORIA WOLF MPH| September 7th, 2024
Gloria Wolf, food critic
🥓🥓🥓🥓 4 Bacons rating!
Take a step back in time and treat yourself to dinner at El Charro. El Charro (related to horseman), has the recognition of being the longest operating Mexican restaurant in Tucson under the ownership of one family. Started by Tia Monica Flin in 1922, it is famously the home of the chimichanga. You can read about the history of the popular chimichanga on the web site. The narrative indicates that Tia accidentally dropped the burrito in the fryer with her nieces and nephews nearby. Instead of using an expletive, she used “chimichanga.” One can imagine the expletive she might have used!
EDITORS NOTE: Chimichanga is translated to “trinket” in English
If you are looking for lively flavors, high-quality food, and an exciting atmosphere, El Charro has all of this. There are multiple locations, so no matter where your Tucson adventures take you, you will be near an El Charro restaurant. There is an El Charro location nearby, in Oro Valley, also Downtown Tucson, Ventana and the Tucson airport.
Our party took part in the chimichanga, the classic El Charro entrée. The accompanying rice and beans were delicious. The chimichanga was the highlight of the meal. We also tried the Birria taco, a Sonoran treat, the Birria taco was a delicious entre with deep wonderful flavors. Birria can be dry, but not at El Charro. Birria tacos use the meat and broth from the Mexican beef birria stew. For that slow-cooked flavor, Birria is a Sonoran favorite.
The menu also accommodates seafood lovers and vegetarians. Choose portobello and nopal plant-based fajitas, or Chile Relleno del Rey, stuffed with shrimp and cod. The menu is also abundant with margaritas, cervezas, and more. The cerveza features local Dragoon Brewery. Your out-of-town guests will love the history, flavors, and beverages that exemplify the Sonoran Desert.
… making me hungry … !!