La Carreta Carne Asada brings backyard vibes to South Park Avenue

Step into La Carreta Carne Asada on a bustling afternoon for the rich aroma of mesquite smoke, chatter of families around tables, gentle sizzle from the grill, and warmth of the hospitality. Together, they make one thing instantly clear: you’ve just been welcomed into a family gathering.

That feeling is no accident. It’s exactly what owner Jaime Jacquez envisioned when he opened the doors at 2010 S. Park Ave.

"I wanted to create an atmosphere like you're eating in your tío’s backyard," Jacquez said. 

It’s the quintessential Sunday carne asada experience brought to life every day of the week. You get the welcoming energy of all the compadres gathered around the grill, making sure everyone leaves full and happy.

From Car Sales to Charcoal

Before launching La Carreta, Jacquez spent years navigating the auto industry as a car financer, working at local dealerships. While he didn't come from a formal restaurant background, traditional food heritage was close to home. His mom used to make and sell fresh tortillas out of Sasabe, Sonora, where Jacquez would help out. 

The path to opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant was anything but conventional. It started small. Jacquez began cooking carne asada in his backyard for family and friends. However, fate intervened. A good friend of his who had tasted his food during those early backyard days owned a property and reached out with an offer to rent him a dedicated restaurant space. Though Jacquez initially partnered with someone to launch the concept, he eventually took full ownership. Today, La Carreta is a true family effort, run alongside his wife, daughter Audrina, and son Angel.

"You're Invited to the Carne Asada"

Printed right on the front of the restaurant is a slogan that doubles as Jacquez’s personal philosophy: You're invited to the carne asada.

"Let people know that everybody's invited. That's all we want," Jacquez said. "I've never been in the restaurant business. I'm not a food truck, and I'm not a steakhouse. I want anyone that can't go to Fleming's to come and eat a good steak here. You know what I mean? Here, you get a good steak and you don't break the bank, and that's what I want people to know."

When La Carreta officially opened its doors in January, business was steady, but they weren't selling out. That all changed overnight when local food influencer Sabrina Chapman, @missfirebites, visited and posted a video that went viral, racking up over 12,000 likes.

"The day after MissFirebites posted, people were lined up out the door," Jacquez recalls. They completely ran out of food that day. Ever since, the restaurant has maintained a packed house, drawing hungry locals as well as out-of-state visitors who traveled specifically after seeing the clip. 

High-Quality Cuts Meets Tradition

When it comes to the menu, Jacquez firmly believes that less is more. He sticks straight to the basics done right, refusing to overcomplicate the offerings or change what makes traditional carne asada special.

The star of the show is the mesquite-grilled meat, featuring premium rib-eye directly imported from El Ranch 17 in Hermosillo, Sonora. Paired with fresh vegetables, every plate bursts with vibrant, smoky, and ultra-fresh flavors. 

The lineup blends classic Mexican barbecue staples with rich, inventive twists. Guests looking for a standout can dive into the Chicharron de Rib-Eye—crispy rib-eye chunks served in a molcajete with guacamole, a quesadilla, roasted green chile, grilled onions, and corn tostadas—or try fan-favorites like the Aguachile de Arrachera and Costillas en Aguachile, which submerge tender skirt steak or juicy beef ribs into bright, fiery aguachile sauce.

For ultimate comfort food, the Papa Arrachera offers a decadent, baked-potato-style dish loaded with skirt steak, butter, melted cheese, and warm tortillas.

Taco lovers have plenty to celebrate as well. Options range from the Taco Philly to the Ta’con Ganas, both served on flour or corn tortillas loaded with roasted green chile, onions, your choice of meat, and either melted or grilled cheese.

For traditionalists wanting a full spread, the Rib-eye Dinner comes complete with seasoned yellow potatoes, a cheese-stuffed green chile, grilled onions, and a bean taco, while recent additions like the $26.99 New York Strip plate and a massive Tomahawk steak (available with 24 hours advance notice) offer a steakhouse-grade meal without the luxury markup.

While takeout is available, Jacquez strongly encourages guests to dine in whenever possible, opting out of third-party delivery apps like DoorDash. To him, the food is only half of the equation. The rest is the warmth, the music, and the community. 

Looking Ahead

Jacquez is resolute about keeping the vision pure and grounded. You won't see him overloading the food lineup or changing the simple recipes that brought people through the door in the first place, but he does have plans for the future. His main way of expanding the menu will be securing a liquor license to serve beer and cold alcoholic drinks to pair with the mesquite-grilled steaks, and he’d love to eventually expand the concept into a second location so even more of Tucson can pull up a chair.

At its core, La Carreta Carne Asada is all about bringing people together over good food, good music, and a laid-back atmosphere. So take Jaime’s advice: come hungry, pull up a chair, and consider yourself invited