Tacos are cheap enough as it is, but $2 and $1? Nice.
For $1, you can get cabeza tacos on freshly made corn tortillas at El Chivo de Oro. Although those tacos are already superb and worth a trip on their own, make sure to try a $2 goat birria taco.
While the Jalisco specialty is traditionally made with goat or mutton, most Tucson restaurants use beef instead. At El Chivo de Oro, which translates to the Goat of Gold, they use goat.
When visiting El Chivo de Oro, make sure to bring cash as they are cash only. Walk up to the window, where someone outside next to the window will take your order and bring a tray of onion and cilantro with molcajete bowls of salsas to your table.
The goat birria taco’s tender braised meat features a faint hint of pleasant gaminess, balanced by the mild chiles and spices. The connective tissue has broken down to pure succulence, barely held by the warm fluffy tortillas. Eat them fast before the tortillas get soggy.
If you can handle intense spice, then dive right in to the red chile de árbol salsa. The cilantro-rich green salsa helps brighten up the rich meat as well — feel free to enjoy both salsas on your tacos.
Bonus: you can get $1 Sonoran hot dogs on Thursdays.
Visit El Chivo de Oro on Facebook or find them parked at 457 W. Irvington Rd.
Stay in the Tucson Foodie Loop
Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
