10 pretty pictures of Penca’s new fall menu items


November 7, 2019
a man wearing a hat
By Jackie Tran
By Jackie Tran

Executive chef David Solorzano has introduced a lovely, central Mexican-inspired fall menu.

Downtown Central Mexican restaurant Penca’s new fall menu launched on Wednesday with chef David Solorzano at the helm.

Solorzano showcases a variety of complex Mexican sauces such as pipián rojo and guajillo morita salsa. The new menu also incorporates lamb in both taco and entree form.

Here’s a glance at 10 of the new items.

The Ensalada de Zanahoria includes young lettuce, carrot, cilantro vinaigrete, and sunflower cracker.

Ensalada de Zanahoria at Penca
Ensalada de Zanahoria at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Ensalada de Betabel is pickled beet, roasted beet, goat cheese, pumpkin seed salsa, and orange vinaigrette.

Ensalada de Betabel at Penca
Ensalada de Betabel at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Camote con Cortes includes piloncillo-braised Okinawan sweet potato and chile de árbol-braised pork bits.

Camote con Cortes at Penca
Camote con Cortes at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

A rarity in Southern Arizona, Sardina a la Veracruzana features grilled sardines, tomato, capers, serrano, and olives.

Sardina a la Veracruzana at Penca
Sardina a la Veracruzana at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Tuétano features bone marrow, macha chicharrón crumble, and parsley salsa.

Tuetano at Penca
Tuetano at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

A fresh take on AlbĂłndigas – meatballs with pork, beef, and chicharrĂłn served on grits, with guajillo morita salsa.

Albondigas at Penca
Albondigas at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

These Tacos de Barbacoa de Borrego  include lamb, salsa borracha, fried epazote & mint, and pickled red onion.

Tacos de Barbacoa de Borrego at Penca
Tacos de Barbacoa de Borrego at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

The Tacos de Champiñones feature wild mushroom, salsa macha, dehydrated corn, mushroom cream, and hoja santa.

Tacos de Champiñones at Penca
Tacos de Champiñones at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

The Robalo is a robalo filet with lentils, pumpkin, parsley, and mint.

Robalo at Penca
Robalo at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

This Chamorro en Pipián Rojo features lamb shank, grilled corn, chayote squash, pickled vegetables, and corn horchata dumplings.

Chamorro en Pipian Rojo at Penca
Chamorro en Pipian Rojo at Penca (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Check out Penca’s new fall menu at 50 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information, visit  pencarestaurante.com.

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Article By

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon...

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