Los Nopales Mexican Resturant

We stopped here with empty stomachs after a 7 mile hike in nearby saguaro national park. Inspired by Unilocal reviews, we braved the totally drab and unwelcoming exterior. The interior isn’t much better, but the waitstaff is friendly and fast.
Salsa and chips were on the table in moments, and they were darn good. We didn’t order very well: we went for carne asada but should have gone for carne seca (which they also call machaca). I did get one machaca enchilada, and that was pretty yummy.
But if you’re familiar with the Mexican food that the rest of Tucson offers, this place pales in comparison. It’s prepared with care, but the enchilada sauce was bland, the flautas were greasy, and the carne asada ho hum. Still, you could do a lot worse.

I visited the Desert Museum just outside Tucson and wanted to find a quick authentic Mexican restaurant before heading back to Phoenix. Nopales fit the bill, it was about a 10 minute drive and they were the real deal. I had Carne Asada enchiladas which were amazing. I’d go there again!

One of the hidden gems in Tucson.
Great food at great prices. If you like cheap tacos, this is the place to go. They are amazing! Everything I have ever eaten here over my many years in Tucson is worth it.
Fast, friendly service. The building itself is a little bit older and has a strange feel, but once you step in and try the food it doesn’t matter.
Highly recommend the fish tacos, they are delicious and come with generous helpings of avocado and pico.

Awesome food very fast service! We decided to give this place a try after reading all the great reviews on here.

We love this place! Been coming here for years and always get great friendly service and good food. The prices are reasonable.

Surprising to find such a great little restaurant in this out of the way location. Not fancy but the food is very good and prices are low– a real bargain. No wonder it’s been busy both times we were there. Try the chips and salsa.
PS– it’s hard too find this place as it fronts to an empty pederstrian only street in a quiet shopping plaza. Look for the Circle K, then find the laundromat– Los Nopales us behind tgat.

This is the epitome of «hole in the wall» dining. Very spartan, but the food is fresh and delicious. Service was swift and consistent. The only complaint we had was the cheese dip — Most places use a very meltable cheese, whereas this was very oily and stringy. Entertaining, but not practical. Still, I’d go back in a heartbeat for the enchiladas. Can’t beat it for the price.

Wow. Awesome food and great service. The area is great but the building is a little different. Wife didn’t feel comfortable going in but once we walked in, she felt 100% fine.
Highly recommended. Don’t let the building scare you!

2 Adults, a Wed nite, 6:15, busy, very few tables available. waiter came right over for beverage order, brought them out with chips and salsa: 1 regular, 1 hot!
While reading the extensive menu, my pepsi was refilled, didnt have to ask.
I had the fish Taco special, wife had shrimp fajitas. fish was moist, pico de gallo was fresh, large portions of rice and beans.
Shrimp Fajitas, good portion, delicious, onions done just right.
Superb flan to split for dessert, large enough for two very tasty.
Prices were very fair, especially given the quality and portions.
We will come again.

Good little spot for this part of town. We were greeted within a minute of sitting down and already chips and salsa and drink orders were taken. The server tended to us very well, we weren’t ignored or bothered so great service. Prices were good and selection should fulfill any persons Mexican food craving. Food was served hot and it was very tasty and portions were good. Gave a four rather then 5 only because our table was slightly dirty and a live fly was stuck to sugar jar lid. The place was clean and I don’t believe it reflects the cleanliness of the restaurant as a whole, but I rate what I see so incident was just bad timing. Entrance was awkward with visible sign and doorway actually being employee only entrance. Main entrance door is on west side of building.

Best hole-​in-​the-​wall Mexican restaurant I know of. Really good food! My favorite is the BBQ Beef Chimichanga!

Wonderful food and great service. Very affordable. I love their #3 cheese crisp. It’s big enough to feed two people for $ 6 and that is the small one. I don’t know how big a large is as two of us can hardly finish the small one.

I have been going here for over 20 years. This is some
of the best Mexican food in town. Great people… small and clean. Get the #11 with a chicken enchilada… FANTASTIC. This is one of the best in town.

I stayed in a little inn down the street and there were two things that made me decide to try this hidden gem.
1. The reviews here that described it as a hole in the wall, that the locals patronize
2. The fact that our inn did not have it on their preferred dining list.
And I wasn’t disappointed one bit. I grew up in the California Central Valley, and this joint was reminiscent of some of the great little family owned places that the farmworkers used to patronize.
It’s a little hard to find, as it’s tucked behind a building, but my GPS took me right to it (trust your GPS on this one, even if it looks like you are just turning into a gas station). The atmosphere is just a friendly family owned cantina — not much on the frills — but great service. And the food was hot and good and very tasty. It’s definitely a place that the locals love.
Bottom line, if you are expecting Senior Frogs, you will be sorely disappointed, but if you want some good local food, at a reasonable price without all the frills, you’ll absolutely love this place.

A great place for Mexican Food. It’s a true hole-​in-​the-​wall, but don’t let that keep you away!
Favorites:
Chicken & Rice Soup
Flat Enchiladas w/​Machaca
Cheese Crisp
…anything with green sauce!
The menu even includes vegetarian items.

Okay, okay, I realize that finding Mexican food in Tucson is as easy as… sweating in July. Maybe you’re even a little tired of it. But once in awhile, you have to admit to getting that certain hankering for a hot, steamy, burn the roof of your mouth enchilada. If you have extra time, and extra gas in your car then make the drive and get yourself here.
Place is small, almost always full and not the greatest to look at but the food is reasonably priced (figure if you have the $ for extra gas than you won’t mind spending an extra dollar or two for good food) and delicious. Family owned and operated well (meaning execution and service is good).
Get the enchiladas. Get the enchiladas. Get the enchiladas. Well I actually get a small $ 3.50 shredded beef burrito but I get it enchilada style for $ 1.50 more. The above mentioned enchilada sauce is pretty awesome if you couldn’t guess.
If you’re a local (to the Ajo/​Kinney area) like me, takeout specials are super cheap and so good. Don’t think tacos travel well so I don’t recommend them if you have far to take them. Wait, I suppose if you spent all your $ on gas to get here, then you could eat them in the car?
Word to the wise: they’ll give you a hot salsa and a mild. Mix the two for a perfect medium.

Good food, fast friendly service at a great price.
Who could ask for more?

I found this restaurant based on Unilocal reviews after a morning’s visit to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Tucson Mineral and Gem World. It is just blocks away from the latter. It is a simple, tidy place as you may note from the photos that I have posted. The food was tasty and we were served promptly. I do recommend this location if you have a craving for Mexican food.

This is one of those truly local places where you want to take friends from out of town. The food is awesome and very homemade. Portions are huge, unless you order a la carte.
The service is about a step and a half above awful. Don’t expect attention after your food has been delivered – ask for refills then, or forever hold your peace!
Everything is nice and clean, but the remodel they did earlier this year went from tacky to tackier. It’s definitely casual, and make sure to get there early – they close at 7!
I’ve only done lunch and dinner, but I’m pretty sure they have brunch and maybe breakfast on weekends.

Cant go wrong with this little hole in the wall. This place serves up some seriously good Mexican food! I always get the tacos and they are some of the best I have ever had. My husband gets the Carne Seca which is unbeatable, really. Actually, his grandparents once brought some up to Colorado and we froze it and ate for dinner for weeks! The enchilada sauce is also VERY good! I know enchilada suaces can be real hit or miss, but this one is spot on!
The atmosphere here is… well… cozy! It is pretty small and is by no means gorgeous. But, I always say that the sketchier the place looks, the better the food will be! Unless it looks like it is one surprise visit from the health inspector away from being shut down! This place, I am happy to say, does not look like that, so have no fear!
This is a place my husband and I make a point to drive out to and eat at at least once every visit to Tucson. It’s worth it!