Tucson Restaurant Named the ‘Best Cult-Favorite’ in Arizona

LoveFood, an online publication based in the United Kingdom, often makes lists to help spread the word about top-notch dishes, businesses, and culinary cities. For instance, Tucson was named the “Best Foodie City” in the state last year.

Well, this year, they’ve extended their research and named the “Best Cult-Favorite Restaurants in Every US State.”

“Every state has its legendary restaurants – places with fiercely loyal followings, whether due to awards and accolades or word of mouth, that you simply shouldn’t miss out on visiting,” said Isabella Palmer, writer at LoveFood. “From historic spots and high-end eateries to diners that have made their way onto the small screen, we’ve found the best cult-favorite restaurant in every state and DC.”

When it comes to the Grand Canyon State, El Charro Café is LoveFood’s “Best Cult-Favorite” — one of the local restaurants that helped popularize carne seca in the 20th century. The restaurant remains a carne seca icon, drying beef on its rooftop above downtown.

Here’s what they had to say:

“America’s oldest operating Mexican restaurant, run by the same family, El Charro in downtown Tucson has been drawing in crowds since 1922. Opened by French immigrant Monica Flin, who acted as hostess, waitress, and chef, the highly acclaimed restaurant is the birthplace of the chimichanga, and it’s now run by Flin’s great-grandniece Carlotta Flores. There are three locations: two in Tucson, and one in Oro Valley.”

LoveFood’s selections are based on “genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience” of their team.

But let’s get back to that rooftop-dried beef, because it’s definitely a dish that ranks high on the cravings scale. Gary Hickey, chef of Flores Concepts and Sí Charro Restaurants and partner at Charro Steak & del Rey, estimates that they go through over 3,000 pounds of beef every week just to make the carne seca.

Read all about it in Jackie Tran’s article “Tucson’s Carne Seca Legacy.” For more information about El Charro and other Sí Charro restaurants, visit sicharro.com.

To see the full list of “Best Cult-Favorite Restaurants in Every US State,” visit lovefood.com.

Foodie Club member Perks

Sí Charro Concepts is a Restaurant Partner, which includes El Charro Café, Charro Steak & del Rey, and more, meaning that Tucson Foodie Members can score $20 off their meal twice a year (every six months).

For $20 a month, Foodie Club members get a stack of cash vouchers to local restaurants worth over $6,000, free tasting events at local restaurants every month, access to members-only monthly dinner series with local chefs, discounts on events, and monthly mixers with other members. Learn more and join!