Birrieria Guadalajara

Big eh. The Birria in tacos is salty and lacks flavor from the spices. Tastes much better in soup/​stew form. Tacos are a bit pricey considering they’re tacos. You’re limited to 3 tacos at a time. You want 5 tacos, too bad. Corn tortillas have no flavor and have the texture of plastic. Menudo is good, I didn’t mind it. The Champurrado is a plus and is also the only reason I’d return. Came here for Birria because it’s in the name and I was greatly disappointed.

It took me awhile to go in this place, I think it was the foreboding metal bars wrapping around the whole building. What was it like inside this birria fortress? Do they only serve birria, champurrado, and hot dogs as the hand-​painted signs outside advertise? In reality, they have a diverse menu including «family pack”-style orders of meat, tortillas, and sides to take home for your party or family dinner. There are 2 – 3 tables actually inside the building which are much more pleasant than the enclosed «patio» area, and you can order from the counter/​window inside or outside. The champurrado was delicious, I was worried it might only be a breakfast thing but successfully enjoyed it on a cloudy evening. Caldo de queso was satisfying and had a lot of yummy cheese, the broth didn’t blow my mind with depth of flavor but I wasn’t expecting anything fancy. The Sonoran hot dog was also solid. I will definitely be back often for cheap, fast, and tasty food.

Small little hole in the wall not in the best area but the great authentic food is well worth it if you haven’t tried it your missing out come and give it a shot you won’t be disappointed

Seldom do I write a review while actually at a place, but here I am, eating lunch while waiting for my car to be detailed. I just finished my carne flauta combo (refried beans, a little decent iceberg salad on top of the three smallish flautas, and a red salsa pico on the side).
As I stood at the counter ordering my food, I had some questions and I didn’t understand the answers, even though I speak Spanish, so I just got an old standby. The food is authentic but not Sonoran. It’s Guadalajaran, hence the name. But just because it’s authentic doesn’t mean it’s delicious. Hard to explain the flavor that kind of overwhelms. Maybe epazote, maybe that herb and cilantro.
I guess also the initial service is a little harsh. (It’s cash only, as others have mentioned, but it never hurts to say it again, right?) I only got a smile from the lady at the counter when I tipped.
It’s clean. It’s fine. It’s beloved. But you know? It’s ok.

I’ve always wanted to try this place, and I finally pulled the trigger, and I wasn’t disappointed. I want with the lady, and we ordered one Menudo, two tacos de lengua, one birria, and huevos rancheros. I really like the corn tortillas the seem home made. The huevos rancheros were a little too salty, but very, very good, so little less salt and it would have been just right. I’m a true beaner (not racist, just true ahaha) I LOVE beans, and theirs were delicious. The menudo wasn’t gamy, which is good, but a little weak. The pan birote was toasted just right. Overall this place is good, and I will be returning.

Horrible service. The cashier wouldn’t even give me a hello or eye contact. You would think a hole on the wall would still be open because of the customer service. I asked to order 3 different things and nothing was available.

Hands down, the best beans in town! They keep it simple, too — just pintos, lard and salt but all perfect proportions. Their albondigas is excellent with generous portions of cilantro, onion, and lime on the side, and the chicken soup is old style with big chunks of veggies. My only complaint is that burritos are on the small size, and the cash only policy can be inconvenient. Oh, one more complaint, the eating area when you first walk in is filthy! Old, broken down equipment covered in grease and dust «decorates» the area. Somebody just needs to take a screwdriver and unhook all those machines and get them out of there! Replace the trashcans and wash some windows, too. Still… the food is so good, I ignore all of that and get take out!

They have been around forever and it’s no wonder why. They have Great food. The atmosphere is… What’s below casual? The food more than makes up for it. Definitely try this one and take some friends.

Got takeout here, their birrieria was delicious but a little too oily and salty. Portion size was good, I had enough to take home to add more water+veggies for a second meal. Place was cash only, but i will definitely be back since it was so yummy

i live directly across the street from you… i love you. i love your Sonoran hot dogs most of all… the sign says they are available from 4 – 9 but the MATRIARCH lets me have them whenever i ask. i love the Matriarch… i wish I knew her name but you know who I’m talking about! the beans! you would think all Mexican food would have good beans but that is not true… i love your beans!!! i had a torta today, i loved it, with its grilled to perfection onions and its perfect layer of avocado… this place is cash only, thats the only little hitch but i adapted and i go to the bank almost exclusively so i can eat your food!

My favorite southside hole in the wall, hands down. The jugo de birria con carne is a warm dose of comfort, and the red chile burrito is FANTASTIC. The pozole is rich and delicious and the simple bean and cheese burrito is filing and cheap for a quick easy-​on-​the-​wallet meal. Most items in the menu are less than 6 bucks, making this place a lifesaver for broke students like me. They also have daily specials, menudo every day, and family packs with sides and all the trimmings. The atmosphere is perfect, homey and a bit funky, but you feel like you are in a mom and pop restaurant in Mexico (which, come to think of it, you actually kind of ARE). Pair your meal with a tart and refreshing jamaica and you’ll feel thoroughly satiated and fortified.

Birrieria Guadalajara I love you. For twenty five years, I have loved you. It’s crazy to think that you have been one of my most constant and passionate affairs.
At first I was afraid to go near you. You look rough and are in a rough neighborhood. 22^nd street and Fourth Ave. Transients, hookers, junkies, train tracks. The park across the street where the filth makes deals while decent families watch their kids play little league baseball. Man, it was crazy back in the day.
But I found my courage and bravely opened the cage door. A steel enclosed patio. Inside, 4 tables, 5 or 6 counter seats. A tiny tiny kitchen. Huge stock pots of steaming soup. A plancha and fryer. Staffed by beautiful little nanas that don’t speak English and only take cash.
The best dish is probably everything. Tacos and burros. Birria, lengua, cabeza, chili colorado, flautas de papa, filete de pescado, tortas. I probably know the menu by heart. Daily specials. Soups to die for– menudo, posole, cocido.
But really, I fell in love with your simple bean tostadas. Crispy corn tortilla, the best refried beans ever, lettuce, cotija, radish, a little warm tomato sauce, a wedge of lime… and the best most lip burning salsa in the universe.
The salsa is key. It’s not tomato with jalapeño and onion and cilantro. It’s chile tepin and vinegar and salt. Holy Maria it is the real deal. It’s that burning kiss that stays on your lips and man, I love that.
Oh, and it must be consumed right away or else it gets soggy and falls apart. But I love eating it barehanded. It’s primal. Sensual. Bean tostada amor. Mmmm.
I love you Birrieria Guadalajara.

I have a theory that the scarier a Mexican place looks from the outside, the better the food is. That theory is the main reason I decided to come here, and I have to say I think I’m right.
Once inside, the place has a homey feel to it (it’s mostly kitchen). 3 tacos are $ 5.50 so I got one each of cabeza, lengua and birria. All three were excellent; the cabeza and birria might be my favorite tacos in Tucson to date. (The cabeza was by far my favorite of the 3). The lengua was very tender and I probably would have enjoyed it more if that hadn’t been my first time trying lengua (I couldn’t stop thinking that it was kind of like french kissing a cow). All 3 came with a lot of meat, onions, and really good salsa verde on top. I also got a buñuelo which was made while I waited and was crispy and delicious. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the hot chocolate which was fine but nothing special.
Overall, some of the best Mexican food in Tucson. I’ll definitely be back.
Edit: On my second trip I got a birria burrito, which was decent sized, all meat, and very good.
Third trip: got a breakfast burrito with chorizo. At c.$ 5.50, it’s a more expensive than many other places around, though it was pretty big and included beans and hash browns. It was mostly chorizo, which was pretty spicy. Pretty tasty, though I wasn’t a fan of the tortilla. Overall: good, but not as good as La Fresita or St. Mary’s.
Another Edit:
I think I’ve found the best burrito in Tucson: BG’s cabeza burrito — awesome. Amazing flavor. (It’s not on the menu but they have it). It’s all I get now.
Flan — amazing.

I ate breakfast here for the first time and it was excellent. The red menudo was perfect, not gamey or barnyard. The tripe was very soft and the hominy tender with a savory soup. I also had the huevos rancheros which were also very good — the salsa had a nice homemade flavor to it. I’ll be back for sure and mad I waited so long to try this place.

From the outside, one might make a quick assumption that the food here should be passed over. Thst is a huge mistake!
This has always been a favourite, and is my twice weekly (or more) fix for Mexican food. Not the Sonoran Mexican food (everything isn’t fried and dripping with cheese), most might think of, which in itself is a nice change.
Lengua, birria, cabeza; soups (love the jugo de birria), best Cubano torta… there is nothing here I don’t enjoy eating, and I’ve yet to have a bad meal here ever. (Yes, they do have Sonoran hot dogs– which are much better than the hyped up Guero Canelo/​BK dogs.
Cash only!

The best lengua tacos in Tucson by a long shot! I have been coming to this place for over 15 years. I love the lengua and the red menudo is possibly the best in town as well. Don’t expect air conditioning and a waitress. There’s no mariachi band or chips and salsa. Just damn good tacos soups and burros. Once again if you like lengua I mean really like lengua go to this place and you will fall in love.

This place isn’t much to look at, that’s for sure. I walked up to the squat, aging brick building, stepped into the fenced-​in patio area, and immediately thought to myself, «If I spend the rest of the night on the toilet, I’m going to be sooo pissed!» But oh well; I couldn’t turn back now… Glancing over the menu, my eyes settled on the lengua burrito. The girl in the window was friendly when I placed my order, and I took up a spot at one of the patio tables to await my sentence.
The burrito came with refried beans and a small salad; the whole thing set me back a little more than $ 6 with tax. The burrito itself was sort of small-​looking! I noticed that the radish atop the salad was translucent… is that normal? Whatever — I probably wasn’t going to eat the salad anyway — but still, ew! Suffice it to say: I was skeptical.
Then I bit into the burrito. Holy crap. Did that just happen? Another bite. Yes, yes it did. It was AMAZING. I have eaten quite a few cow tongues in my day, and as far as Mexican preparations go, this might have been the best I’ve ever had. And there was nothing in the burrito besides that wonderful, wonderful meat. Thank you, Birrieria Guadalajara!
Next, a bite of the refried beans. They were really good too — rich and really smokey! I gobbled the plate down with embarrassing speed (except for the gross-​radish salad… but let’s be honest, I never eat those stupid salads). Delicious!
I’m knocking off 98% of a star for the not-​quite-​satisfying portion size, 1% of a star for the atmosphere, and 1% of a star for the ugly translucent radish. But I also eat way more than a normal human, and the caloric content of the meal was undoubtedly such that I really shouldn’t have had any more of it than they gave me. I’ll definitely be going back, so we’ll see if familiarity brings this place up to five stars.

Tasty and cheap. Their salsa is especially good. Docking one star because of cash only. I know it’s a pain for them to take plastic, but I’d eat there more if they did.

Tacos are great. You can get 3 tacos for less than 6 dollars. Everything is pretty affordable. Most customers are Mexicans. It’s more like a take out place although they have indoor and patio seating. I love their horchata (made fresh) and champurrado. They only accept cash. The restaurant next to them Las Cazuelitas is also pretty good if you want a good sonoran style (American Mexican) dish.

Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors.
Birrieria Guadalajara: not microwaved enough. Green
See photos.