Chaco’s Cafe

good food and friendly service staff. close to work, so I will be eating here again…

The food is good as well as the prices. However, the service is very slow. We had to get the waitress several times to at least take our order and then to give us our bill and again to pay our bill. From what I was told, the waitress was the owner. On the positive side, our drinks and chips were always full and the place stayed busy.

I had heard good things about Chaco’s Café and when I put it on a list of lunch suggestions at work, more than one person latched onto it. I definitely saw the words «so awesome» in our chatroom. I had never been, so I figured I was in for a treat.
Chaco’s was kitschy, decorated lovingly with dusty curios and simple quotes on the wall. I noticed «Tipping is not a city in China» written on both the menu and across the archway between rooms. I’m pretty sure it’s a quote from the 2000 «X-​Men» film.
The menu was full of tempting Mexican dishes. Nothing particularly stood out, and I picked the red chili beef chimichanga because that is always a delicious combination of words. We were given baskets of chips, small bowls, and two squirt bottles of salsa. The chips were warm and fresh, and the salsa from the bottles was pretty decent — not very spicy, but with a little bite. But one of the bowls was pretty dirty. I could see it when the waiter set it down, and was surprised he didn’t notice it himself. One of my lunchmates sent it back and asked for a new bowl.
The salsa bar had more options. I was a little surprised we were given some salsa in squirt bottles when the salsa bar was available, and I think the reason turns out to be that the salsas at the bar weren’t very good, or very fresh.
The chimichanga arrived pretty quickly, and it was huge. I probably shouldn’t have eaten the whole thing, but I make poor decisions. It was easily two meals’ worth of food. And it looked pretty awesome topped with lettuce and cheese on the plate, for such a simple dish. For me, the fact that I over-​ate speaks for itself.
I wanted to give this place a 4. It’s not, but I wanted to. I’ll be happy to go back and try for a higher rating. There are a few issues that I think they could fix. The restaurant was mostly empty but they sat us next to the drink & bus station, and the waiter was constantly working right behind me. It was gross to be given a dirty dish. And I was weirded out by the very Christian music playing overhead. But the food was better than many of Tucson’s other divey Mexican restaurants. And the staff was friendly.

I’ve never seen or heard of this place until today. I’m so glad I went. The food was good, descent price and the service was amazing!!! Super nice people working at this family owned restaurant!
I could not give it a 5^th star, because I’m not real thrilled with coed bathrooms and swamp cooling, BUT it was not that hot and the bathroom was clean! I will eat here again!

We’ve been eating at Chaco’s on and off for several years. Mom always gets the fish tacos (off menu item) and absolutely loves them. Hubby gets different traditional Mexican items and I usually try the special of the day.
Brenda is always so friendly and so is Dani. The dining room has been rearranged recently so the seating is more open. The spirit of Chaco is still in the place and will always be here.

After passing by Chaco’s Café at all times of the day for years on my way to and from Davis-​Monthan AFB, yesterday I was headed home from the base about 1:00 pm and thought that it would be a good time to try Chaco’s.
I knew when I entered and saw the place still full of people ranging from a table with about 6 Border Patrol agents, to an old friend from Pima’s East Campus to just people meeting for lunch.
I really pleasant lady greeted me and told me that I could sit wherever I wanted. The very friendly and busy bus boy brought me water, chips and salsa. And the waitress came by for my drink order and took my order promptly upon her return.

She noticed that I had seen someone I knew and we chatted and then she brought a nice sized red chile burrito accompanied by rice and refried beans.
I sampled the salsa bar and it was amazing with the wide variety of salsas. I tried three and found them all very tasty.
As someone who has been eating Mexican food in Tucson since 1959 and has lived in Mexico, I found the burro good enough for me to want to return soon.
I sized up Chaco’s before stopping for lunch and I recognized that it was pretty much a neighborhood restaurant and I knew that it would not have all the trappings of some of the higher priced and oft advertised restaurants.
As I read other reviews I notice that many fail to recognize that there is no «one» Mexican food. As someone who has enjoyed Mexican food from Cuernavaca in the south on up, in homes, small towns and big cities, I can say that Chaco’s Café is competitive with all of them and goes way beyond the «commercial» establishments so many people use as the standard.

Taste like cafeteria food, I guess if your in the mood for over price bland food come here

I was brought to Chaco’s for the first time by a coworker who’s been eating there for years. Long story short I now see why, it was easily one of the best Carne Asada burritos I have ever had. It was absolutely delicious.
The only reason I gave it four stars rather than five was the table salsa. I love spicy food and even though it looked hot and I smothered burrito, I didn’t even come close to breaking a sweat.
All in all though I will definitely be going back!

Surprised to see all the great reviews on Chaco’s, which is precisely why I dragged hubby there for carnitas friday. Mistake!
Carnitas: Just ok. Not carnitas like I have always had. Simply just a braised pork roast. No seasonings and very blah. Every time I’ve had carnitas, it’s slightly crispy from being grilled a bit, served with guac and pico and it is seasoned to the max. This was just ordinary! I can make a pork roast any day; I wanted CARNITAS.
Cheese enchilada: More blah! Absolutely NO spice to the enchilada sauce. Below average. And that’s being kind.
Taco: Mediocre. Why were there potatoes and carrots mixed in with my shredded beef? ewwww. Good thing I’m not allergic.
Beans/​rice: Beans pretty good, rice just as blah as everything else.
Chips: Terrible. Hey, is it too much to ask to have freshly fried (or at least very warm) chips served to your paying customers?
Waitress: No greeting unless you consider «are you ready to order now?» a greeting.
Busboy: EXCELLENT. Really nice guy and very attentive.
Wish they would try some seasonings and spice things up a little. Even the salsa bar was gringo style.

If you haven’t been to Chaco’s on Fridays for the special… carnitas…it a must try. Comes with beans and rice. Best I’ve had,…ever. So simple and yet so good! The pico de gallo is always yummy too! For breakfast I like the mexican omelette slathered with some more pico. Also comes with beans and rice.
I’ve read some negative reviews on here,… And was surprised. My husband and I have been coming for the eight years we’ve lived here in Tucson,…we love the food and we love Brenda (owner)! What a sweetheart of a woman. And so much family support! We love you guys!
So,…go try Chacos…
Oh…if you like something with a little kick to it? Try the shut up and eat! Beef or chicken… Damn that’s good eats!

If you are a fan of that wildly popular show on the Food Network — you know the guy with the spiky hair that goes to all those cool places and you ask yourself every time you watch, «How do I get his job?» — then Chaco’s is in your wheelhouse.
I went with a buddy, we sit down, he takes one look at the menu and asks, «How have I never heard of this place?» Yeah, he’s a Food Network fan.
The menu is simple but I still need ask the waitress what I need to order. Carne asada chimi with green sauce is her quick answer. Done… she had me at carne asada. My buddy orders the shredded beef chimi enchilada style.
Both were good, mine was better (take that buddy!) but largely because his shredded beef was laced with potatoes. Not even enough potatoes to take up valuable stomach space… which was kind of puzzling.
Both came with rice, beans and salsa bar. Rice and beans were unremarkable. Salsa bar was good, not great. All that said, the simple menu featured some things that while-we-were-leaving-I-saw-some-tacos-that-made-me-wish-that’s-what-I-ordered are worth a return trip to try.

I was on Unilocal and had originally planned on giving 4 stars but that rapidly dwindled down to 3. then 2 stars. I Stopped after the gym on a whim to get some food in my belly. Got the machaca and eggs. Pretty good esp with your own mix of condiments at the salsa bar. The salsa for the chips tasted like a mix with ketchup and tomato sauce, but I ended up using a good amount on my plate.
Now, for the service. It was simply awful, maybe it was too early in the morning? Or they didn’t like new business. Walking in, the lady asks me if I wanted to-​go and didn’t ask if I wanted to sit. After telling her I wanted to dine in, she asks what I want to drink before I even decide where to sit. The second I’m at my table before I locate the menu she asks me what I want, I tell her it’s my first time and to give me a moment. I end up ordering the machaca and eggs with the other waitress who has wavy blonde hair in a ponytail. I get my chips and salsa and soon after my food comes out on the counter (quick kitchen!). The blonde lady doesn’t say a word and sets the plate down in front of me and I say ‘thank you’, no reply.
I’m half-​way through my delicious plate when I remember the salsa bar from the other reviews, since the two waitress haven’t come by at all, I get up and ask the first waitress about the salsa bar. I grab handful of cups of condiments which really made my plate tasty. After I finish everything on my plate I stack everything nicely (I was a server for years) and get up to pay. The first waitress is sitting with an older man who I’m guessing is an owner with his crossword puzzle. all the while I’m standing two feet away from them at the counter waiting to pay. Finally after a few minutes the blonde waitress comes to the counter. She charges my credit card and tells me to wait and goes off to the kitchen. I’m waiting again. An older gentleman who’s cleaning my table asks me how my morning is going. First time at this place who has asked me! Blonde waitress comes back and finally asks how everything was and tells me to come back again right before I handing me my receipt for her tip. I still left 15% but man, not a good experience at all.
They got the hard part right which is the food, but they need to work on their service which is just as important and easier for restaurants.

Not the best but not bad either. Kind of plain but great service. Excellent salsa bar which is good because you’ll need them to heat it up.

Decent little Mexican food eatery that specializes in breakfast but also has lunch (haven’t been for that yet). I have eaten here twice and my dad is a huge fan of this place and eats here a lot. I find the seat kind of cramped and it does get busy, so I often have people bumping up behind my seat. The wait staff seem quite helpful and everyone seems to pitch in on refills and such. You get paper cups for your drinks. They serve up some chips and salsa. Prices are good– expect about $ 6.50 for a dish. I had chilaquiles and they were delicious, and it came with beans and two eggs (anyway you like ‘em). Scooped onto a corn or tortilla, and it’s yummy.
Saturday morning they had a buffet for $ 8.99 that included most of the breakfast menu items including pancakes. And hey I have to get on a soapbox– if you go to a Mexican eatery, why do you pile on pancakes onto your plate when you can eat things like Huevos and chilaquiles and other specialities? Save the pancakes for IHOP. Seriously.
Don’t blink if you try to find this place– it’s tucked away in a tight parking lot.

Breakfast and lunch menu. A salsa bar. Ate breakfast here with my daughter-​in-​law, and it was fine.

Wow, what a friendly and delicious local Tucson treat! I have been eating lunch at Chacos for at least the last 6 years and have never had a lunch I didnt enjoy. Being a Tucson native Im partial to good Mexican food and I will say this rates at the top ! I have tried most everything over the years and am partial to the Carnitas (on Friday) and the Carne Asada tacos (anyday). The Machaca is another winner, really I love it all. You wont find a nicer family run place for a fast and resonably price meal. If you want the glitz, glitter and expensive decorating, you wont find it. If you want to be greeted by a friendly owner who will take good care of you and totally satisfy your craving for good Mexican food, get over there ASAP !

Yum, yum, yum!
I had the taco salad and it was out of this world!
Served in a big crispy tortilla bowl, enchilada sauce smothered corn chips, with ground beef, lettuce, green chiles, beans, cheese and sour cream on the side!
Ohhh mama! I was in heaven.
Can’t wait to go back and try their other menu items!

My first introduction to Tucson breakfast burrito was Chaco’s back in Dec of 1996. I’ve been a regular since. Friday’s special, Carnitas, is my favorite. Endless chips and salsa bar, and their steak quesadilla will fill you up. I also love their HUGE size drinks… AWESOME food and service… YUM-​O-​LAH

Great place for breakfast. My favorites are the machaca plate and the Don Mige’s Steak & Eggs. They also have really good breakfast tacos (bacon, ham, or chorizo) until 9:30 for when funds are light :)
Only open for breakfast and lunch.

Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors.
Chaco’s Café: possiblythe cheesiest. Yellow
See photos.