Situated in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Marana’s culinary history is showcased at a variety of restaurants across this vibrant desert community. Visitors to Marana will experience the opportunity to find out what makes Sonoran food unique, and why it keeps hungry diners returning to their favorite restaurants time and time again.
How does Sonoran food differ from other regions for Mexican food?
The key to Modern Sonoran cuisine is simplicity. The agricultural roots of this area differ from other regions of Mexico. Throughout most of Mexico, corn is still a dietary staple (and corn has very important ancient roots here going back more than 4,000 years). Sonoran Mexican Food is set apart by its primary use of wheat and flour-based tortillas, rather than corn or masa-based tortilas. Wheat was brought to the Sonoran Desert by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s, and grew well in the desert environment.
The oldest sophisticated agricultural irrigation canal system found in the United States is the 4,000-year-old Las Capas canal system in Marana, that irrigated fields of Zea mays (maize/corn). Corn was a dietary and cultural staple for thousands of years, but here in present-day Arizona, regular customers of Mexican restaurants will get the inevitable question: corn or flour tortillas? In Texas, New Mexico, or California, that answer might be corn, but here, be sure to try the super fresh and unique flour tortillas while you're here (you can still answer however you'd like and you would not be disappointed).
What are Some Traditional Sonoran Ingredients?
What, then, will you put into your tortilla? In keeping with the vaqueros and rancheros who have defined this region’s history, you can’t go wrong with beef offerings like carne asada. Top that with a green sauce made from fresh tomatillos or a spicy red sauce of jalapenos and tomatoes, and you’ve got yourself a meal. Other staples of Sonoran Mexican cuisine include nopales, or the pads of prickly pear cacti, mesquite, beans, squash, corn, and a wide variety of chiles.
What are some specialty dishes that have emerged from Sonoran cuisine?
A few specialty dishes have emerged that capitalize on these basic ingredients. The Sonoran hot dog originated in Hermosillo, but has quickly spread to Southern Arizona, and is the signature street food of the region. A bacon-wrapped hot dog is topped with onions, tomatoes, pinto beans, mayo, and mustard, all in a bollilo roll. Other toppings can include jalapeño sauce, cojita cheese, and pico de gallo instead of just diced tomatoes, but these are all points of contention, and set dogueros (Sonoran Hot Dog stands and restaurants) apart.
Tucson is also the orignal home of the chimichanga, though accounts differ as to its actual inventor. No matter who invented it, a huge number of restaurants in this area are now making their own delicious versions every day. This variation of the timeless combination of tortilla, meat, cheese, and veggies is wrapped and deep-fried into a crispy indulgence.
So where can you find all these Sonoran classics? Thanks to our guide, that answer is at your forktips.
Sonoran Mexican Restaurants in Marana
La Olla Mexican Café
La Olla Mexican Café is a traditional Sonoran eatery, right down to the colorful plates and festive décor on their tables and walls. For the complete Sonoran Desert experience, order the Carne Seca. This house-dried and seasoned beef is slow cooked with tomato, chile, calabacitas, and a variety of other veggies. For an appetizer, get the queso fundido, a fondue of chopped Anaheim chiles and melted Monterey jack, served with salsa fresca and warm flour tortillas.
Nana's Kitchen
Nana’s Kitchen is offering exactly what their name suggestions: delicious Sonoran specialties cooked with all the love of a Mexican grandmother. For a special treat, try their Carne con Papas en Chile Colorado, complete with beef chunks and potatoes in Nana’s special red chile sauce. Their margaritas are also world-class - and it's not just us saying that. Their Mango Tamarindo and Sonoran Passion Margaritas won first overall in both the People's Choice and Judge's Choice categories at the 2022 and 2023 World Margarita Championships, respectively. Nana's Kitchen is also known for their extensive selection of hard-to-find spirits, plus excellent customer service that makes you feel like family.
Alejandro Serious Mexican, Mariscos, and Fusion Food
A relative newcomer to the Marana Sonoran Mexican Food scene, Alejandro Serious Mexican Food, Mariscos, and Fusion Food has become well-loved for its Sonoran-style classics such as enchiladas, chimichangas, tacos, tamales, carne machaca, mariscos, and more! Several of the restaurants are inspired by and named after members of owner Alejandro Diaz's family. In addition to their great food, they also have a full bar, with an extensive selection of margaritas!
Angela's Mexican Food
Angela's Mexican Food is an especially-popular place among the locals. Located right in the middle of the Continental Ranch neighborhood, their menu is packed with Sonoran-style classics, from their tacos, burros stuffed with meat, cheese, and other delicious fillings, tortas, tostadas, chimichangas, and more. Try them with carne asada, red or green chile beef, chicharron, and several other options!
Mariscos Chihuahua
The state of Sonora is bordered to the west by the Gulf of California, or as it's known in Mexico, the Sea of Cortez. Therefore, Sonoran cuisine is not complete without seafood. Mariscos Chihuahua started as a roadside stand in Nogales, Arizona, sourcing its seafood from the Sea of Cortez. It added “Chihuahua” to its name because it was located next to a popular fruit stand called “Fruteria Chihuahua”. Despite having the name of a neighboring state, Mariscos Chihuahua is purely Sonoran, proudly serving up fresh seafood such as oysters served on the shell over crushed ice, fresh calamari, octopus, shrimp and sea snail, ceviche, several kinds of cocktails (shrimp, octopus, oyster), many cooked shrimp and octopus dishes, fish tacos, soups, and chicken dishes.
La Parilla Suiza
As its name suggests, La Parrilla Suiza (literally, The Swiss Grill), this longtime local favorite incorporates a number of different influences ranging from Sonoran, Tex Mex, and Pan-Mexican (chimichangas, cheese crisps, handmade corn tortillas, fajitas, chilaquiles), as well as alambres and chiles rellenos, true Mexico City-style dishes.
La Mesa Tortillas & Tamales
La Mesa Tortillas & Tamales is more than a tortilla factory offering up freshly baked flour and corn tortillas. You can also drop in for delicious breakfast burros stuffed with various meats and fillings, and burros, tamales, tacos, and quesadillas for lunch. While the burros are hefty with succulent fillings, the emphasis here is on the crepey thin flour tortillas that almost melt in your mouth. La Mesa has mastered the art of flour tortillas, as evidenced by its being voted Best Tortillas by Tucson Weekly readers. La Mesa has a couple of locations but only the Marana location offers breakfast.
El Molinito
El Molinito is a highly popular local chain with a few locations in and around Marana. If you’ve got a big appetite, it’s hard to find a better destination than El Molinito. Order the Molinito Asada Special, and you’ll enjoy grilled strips of tender lean beef with a generous serving of chilaquiles served on a hot skillet with grilled green onions, frijoles refritos, Spanish rice, salsa ranchera, and a tortilla.
Taqueria Plaza's
Taqueria Plaza's is a food truck discovery that people might keep to themselves, because the food is so good and the portions so large that the value is hard to beat. Near I-10, at the intersection of Sandario & Grier Roads in Downtown Marana, it's easy to get to and there are nice shaded picnic tables in a corner of the church courtyard where the food truck sets up shop.
Tacos Apson
Tacos Apson is one of the most-reviewed and raved about taquerias in all of Tucson. They have a wide selection of meats, toppings, and sauces in their tacos and other dishes unlike anything anywhere else in Marana. The owners bring the tastes of their hometown, Agua Prieta, Sonora, to Marana in Tucson in their delicious tacos.
La Carreta del Rorro
If you're looking for a great Sonoran Hot Dog, look no further than La Carreta del Rorro! Their Sonoran Hot Dog won "Best Overall" in the 2017 Sonoran Hot Dog Challenge! They serve a number of other variations on the classic Sonoran Hot Dog, plus tacos, burros, tortas, and more. The location is great, too. Relax on their shaded dining patio, and check out all of the license plates from around the US, Mexico, and even further beyond all over the walls.
Now that you’re practically an expert on Sonoran Mexican food, be sure to check out some of the other types of regional cuisine found in Marana during your stay here.
