Each week, we want to highlight one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson!
Since the mid-2000s, La Olla Mexican Cafe has been a Marana favorite, known for its made-from-scratch dishes and welcoming hospitality at 8553 N. Silverbell Rd.
This family-owned restaurant, run by Ken and Diane Gallardo, has been in the food and beverage industry for nearly 40 years. You’ll often find them both in the kitchen, sharing their passion for cooking.
What’s Cookin’?
On the menu, you’ll find classics like ground beef tacos made the old-fashioned way (beef patty that’s deep fried in a tortilla, just like your abuela makes ’em) and rolled chicken tacos. Specialty tacos come in different variations like garlic shrimp, chipotle chicken, and beer-battered fish.
“We don’t like to do the Mexican dishes where they just throw a blob of lettuce over everything,” Ken added. “We try to add a little more finesse and do it a little more upscale.”
There’s a slew of appetizers, too, like the Diablos Chicos — yellow peppers stuffed with shrimp, green onion, and cheese that are then wrapped in bacon, grilled on the stove, and garnished with corn salsa and Anaheim chile crema.
The Queso Fundido is always belly-warming, the almighty Cheese Crisp is easily shareable, and the Nachos De La Olla are shareable as well. However, I usually have a hard time sharing any of the tortilla chips loaded with chile con queso, chorizo black beans, cheese, and smoked poblano crema.
La Olla has different specials every Friday and Saturday evening and a daily Happy Hour from 3 – 6 p.m. which features margaritas, mojitos, wine, and beer.
The “munchies” during Happy Hour include Chorizo Fundido, the Diablo Chico, and ground beef nachos.
The restaurant is open 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday – Saturday and closed on Sunday.
RECENT RESTAURANTS OF THE WEEK:
La Olla Mexican Cafe is located at 8553 N. Silverbell Rd. For more information, visit laollamexicancafe.com and follow La Olla on Instagram and Facebook.
Check out our Interactive Guide to discover more Marana restaurants.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
