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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.
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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.
