Monday Munchies: The Cheese Crisp at El Minuto Cafe

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A lot of memorable moments have been had at the restaurant since its grand opening in 1936. Over the years, celebrities like Linda Ronstadt and other well-known folks in the public eye have eaten at El Minuto Cafe.

If you’ve never been, or if it’s been a while, some standout dishes on the menu include the rich red chile con carne, chile rellenos oozing with queso, Sonoran-style menudo, and chicken enchiladas topped with smoky-sweet enchilada sauce.

Here, we’re shining a light on the cheese crisp, and El Minuto Cafe makes one of the best in town. It’s massive, it’s cheesy, and it has just the right amount of crisp along the edges.

Stick with straight-up cheese, add something extra like chicken and chorizo, or order the almighty one named the minuto crisp — topped with house-dried carne seca or shredded beef, green chile, tomatoes, onions, and guacamole.

It’s a mighty meal for one person, but it’s fun to share with others, too.

The New York Times once shared a recipe to recreate El Minuto’s cheese crisps, but nothing compares to eating one fresh inside their nearly 90-year-old dining room.

Last year, the restaurant temporarily closed, allowing construction crews to come in and work on some much-needed renovations. Now, with a new roof and other updates, El Minuto Cafe is ready to rock for decades.

Also, heads up: the restaurant is closed on Mondays.

The hours of operation are 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday.

El Minuto Cafe is located at 354 S. Main St. For more information, visit elminutotucson.com and follow El Minuto Cafe on Instagram.