La Chingada Cocina dominated the 2026 World Margarita Championship, claiming top honors in both the judges’ dish and margarita categories. Art State Arizona and Tucson Originals Restaurants hosted the sold-out event Saturday, June 6, at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. More than 800 guests attended, joining 37 restaurants, chefs, mixologists, and beverage partners for one of Southern Arizona’s largest annual culinary competitions.
La Chingada Cocina earned first place in the Judges’ Choice Best Dish category with its Taco de Lomo Asado, built on an heirloom blue corn tortilla with an asadero cheese costra, finely chopped Vera Earl tenderloin, grilled bone marrow, and wild Sonoran chiltepin chimichurri. The downtown Tucson restaurant has built a reputation for bold, ingredient-forward Mexican cooking, and Saturday’s showing reinforced that track record.
The Westin La Paloma’s Casa 71 Tequila Lounge, led by Chef Devin Pinto, Teddy Pettit, and Luis Del Toro, placed second with Queso Birria. Tohono Chul Park Garden Bistro, with Chef Jon Sikora and David Marks, took third with a Prickly Pear BBQ Pork Sandwich.
The Judges’ Choice Best Margarita category ended in a first-place tie. La Chingada Cocina won for La Perla, a blueberry mint margarita featuring bright citrus, cooling mint, and a smooth blueberry finish. Casa 71 Tequila Lounge also claimed first with Flor De Mezaica, crafted with Pura Vida Mezcal, Luxardo Maraschino, and hibiscus.
Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery mixologist AJ Mortazavi placed second with the Elote Margarita.
Meanwhile, Sawmill Run Restaurant mixologist Alek and Chef Nickolas “Nick” Avram finished third with Soft Landing, combining blanco tequila, honey, lemon, and Amaro Nonino.
Humo Cocina Mexicana took first place in the People’s Choice Best Margarita category with La Niña. Second place tied between Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen, with Chef Jose Contreras’ Desert Mezquite Margarita, and Seis Kitchen, whose La Desert Rose SandÃa featured fresh watermelon agua fresca, rose agave syrup, orange liqueur, dehydrated rose petals, hibiscus powder, and TajÃn.
Tohono Chul Park Garden Bistro rounded out the category in third with Margarita Salad, a creative cocktail featuring cucumber, tomato foam, and local microgreens.
La Chingada Cocina’s Taco de Lomo Asado also won the People’s Choice Best Bite category, making the restaurant the evening’s standout performer across all four categories. Humo Cocina Mexicana placed second with its Enchilada Verde, and The Westin La Paloma’s Queso Birria claimed third.
The restaurant’s consistency across competitions reflects a broader pattern: La Chingada has placed in multiple Art State Arizona and Tucson Originals competitions in recent years.
For more than two decades, the World Margarita Championship has served as both a culinary showcase and a fundraiser. Proceeds from the event support Art State Arizona and Tucson Originals Restaurants, funding year-round arts, culture, culinary, and community programs for youth, artists, and local businesses across Arizona.
“The World Margarita Championship is more than a competition,” said Kate Marquez, CEO of Art State Arizona. “It is a celebration of the extraordinary culinary talent that exists in Southern Arizona and a reminder of the power of food, culture, and the arts to bring people together. We are incredibly grateful to every chef, mixologist, volunteer, sponsor, and attendee who helped make this year’s event such a tremendous success.”
Jennifer English, reflecting on the region’s relationship with the drink, put it plainly. “Tucson might not have invented the margarita, but our mixologists and culinary artists have elevated and perfected it,” she said.
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa hosted the event and received special recognition from organizers for creating the guest experience.
Judges’ Choice, Best Dish:
Judges’ Choice, Best Margarita:
People’s Choice, Best Bite:
People’s Choice, Best Margarita:
For more information about Art State Arizona and upcoming events, visit artstateaz.org.
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