The city of Tucson and its surrounding areas are immersed in incredible taco shops — from the south side to up north in Marana and Oro Valley.
Smack dab in the middle of the city, known to most as Midtown, lies Casa Asada Taquería y Cervecería.
The taco shop with large caguamas (32-ounce beers), crafty cocktails, and a daily-made salsa bar has quickly become a favorite along Campbell Avenue since its opening in June of 2024. It’s only been around for six months and folks are already raving about the salsa bar — some claiming the habanero salsa to be some of the hottest they’ve ever tasted.
However, the carne asada tacos are where it’s at.
Local chef Ben Caballero is so passionate about their prime sirloin — grilled to perfection over a mesquite fire — that he’s confident Casa Asada will become your go-to taco spot after just one visit.
“You’re not getting skirt steak-cut like some carne asada tacos in town,” Caballero added, who’s been responsible for many meals in Tucson including leading the kitchen at HUB Restaurant for several years. “We bring in the whole prime, break it down into nicely, thick-cut steaks, and cook it on top of the mesquite grill. You know when you walk into the building — you can smell it already. When you taste it, you can taste the difference because you have tender, juicy meat with that mesquite flavor. That’s what makes us different from others. It’s authentic to Sonora.”
And, going back to that salsa bar we mentioned earlier, it’s there for you — giving you the opportunity to really craft the “perfect” taco. It’s a beautiful thing when you pile on fresh cabbage, pickled onions, and any of the nearly 10 types of salsas.
“Everything just comes together really well, depending on your palate and how much heat you can take,” said Caballero. “I mean, there’s so much flavor in our sauces themselves. But, going back to the carne asada, some have asked me, ‘Can I order just the meat?’ Some just want to eat the steak by itself. It’s good and people recognize it. I think that’s why people keep coming back — it’s the smell, the vibe of the restaurant, the salsa bar, and then the hospitality as well. You’re going to get a good meal and you’re going to have a good time, too.”
It’s not just the carne asada either. There’s chicken, pork, and chicharron on the menu — all of which are “prime” and within the same quality standards. Also, you’re not paying “an arm and a leg” for these Sonora-inspired treasures. The tacos all come in around $5 to $6 each.
“Everything’s really, really good over here,” Caballero added. “It all depends on what you like and how you want your meal. Do you want something cheesy? Get the quesadillas. Do you want something crunchy? Get the Lorenza. We also have signature tacos where you get guacamole, beans, melted cheese, roasted chili, and additions like that. So, you get a little bit of everything there!”
Pair your meal with a caguama or cocktail and you’re in paradise. Casa Asada is one of the few taquerias in Tucson that offer a full-service bar with an impressive tequila selection.
Their Cantarito cocktail identifies as a leveled-up Paloma — think citrus juices, tequila, and soda served in a clay mug to keep it nice and cold.
The Spiked Horchata and the Jamaica Margarita are grown-up agua frescas. Considering Casa Asada’s Jamaica is some of the best in town, it’s a solid base for a refreshing cocktail.
If you’re looking for a jolt of energy, their Carajillo with espresso and Licor 43, should do the trick.
Happy Hour is from 3 – 6 pm. on Monday – Friday, including deals on tacos ($4 each), buckets of beer for $20 (five beers in each bucket), and caguamas for $10 each.
Also, on Tuesday, Casa Asada hosts its “Tacos Y Caguamas Tuesdays.” This weekly deal gets you any two tacos paired with a caguama for $18.
“It’s simple and not trying to reinvent the wheel,” said Caballero. “We’re just keeping those quality wheels on there — the kind that’s going to get you 100,000 miles instead of 50,000 miles. That quality is there and, like I said, I stand by it.”
Casa Asada Taquería is located at 2502 N. Campbell Ave. For more information, visit asadataqueria.com and follow Casa Asada Taquería on Instagram.
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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.
