For the past couple of weeks, something has been missing in downtown Tucson.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, you could count on seeing a cherry-red trailer parked outside of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, making the air smell like warm, homemade corn tortillas.
To-go boxes with gorditas and molotes were constantly shuffled out of the trailer, with customers happily leaving with their meals in hand.
But recently, the space outside of the library has been empty, putting a hole in the hearts of many dedicated, hungry customers.
No need to worry. OaxaRico is still here; theyโve just moved down the street.
OaxaRico has opened their first brick-and-mortar at 151 N. Stone Ave., moving into the building that once housed The Little One. Just like the Davila family did for decades, the Bautistaโs are ready to serve meals that come straight from the heart, transporting customers to Oaxaca with every bite.
Since 2022, you could find Leidy Bautista and her parents, Silvia and Oscar, in their bright red OaxaRico food truck. Rain or shine, you could always count on seeing the family in downtown Tucson, making sure everyone had a delicious lunch break.
They were doing the impossible: cooking authentic, flavorful Oaxacan dishes in a small trailer kitchen. Their spices and rich flavors were unlike anything found in the area, gaining them a loyal fanbase.
Leidy said they had wanted to make the jump from trailer to restaurant for a while now, but the timing never worked out. When the space that once housed The Little One became available, it seemed like the stars began to align.
โIt was perfect that we came upon this opportunity,โ Leidy said. โWeโve been downtown every Tuesday and Thursday for the past two years, so we already had clients here.โ
Soon, the Bautistas were moving into the building, putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Though they were busy with this new venture, you could still find their trailer in its usual spot. Oscar couldnโt bear the thought of leaving their beloved customers hungry.
โWe took, I think, like a two-week break,โ Leidy said. โMy dad was like, we can't leave them. He wanted to be there as long as we could.โ
OaxaRico has opened their first location at 151 N. Stone Ave.ย
March 15 was the big day. OaxaRico was officially open. Since then, Leidy said their lunch hours have been jam-packed with excited and hungry customers, happy to once again have a spot to grab a fast bite at.
Of course, it also helps that their food perfectly captures all the lush, rich flavors found in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Tlayuda, tamales with the banana-leaf wrapping, molotes, sopes and enchiladas are just a few of the dishes you expect to see on their menu.
Most importantly, they have mole.
One of the main meals Oaxaca is known for is mole: a rich, dark sauce made from dried chiles, peanuts, sesame seeds, chocolate, cinnamon and anise.ย The sauce is smoky, spicy and subtly sweet, giving the meal a complex and rich flavor profile that is unlike anything else.
To make their mole sauce, Silvia has to use more than 50 ingredients, making it a four-to-five-day process, Leidy previously told me.
When I stopped by on Wednesday afternoon, I couldnโt leave until I had an order of mole. In the span of minutes, I was handed a plate of Spanish rice, fresh corn tortillas and carnitas covered in their mole negro.
It took one bite for me to fall in love. The mole was perfection: the ideal balance of spiciness evened out by the deep flavors of the dark chocolate. The pork also added another layer of slight sweetness to the meal, complementing the heat from the chiles in the sauce.
When I was finished, I knew OaxaRico would be my go-to place for whenever I was craving mole (which is a lot).
The Bautistas have brought the vibrant culture of Oaxaca to their little corner of downtown Tucson, giving us all the opportunity to indulge in appetizing meals that are rich in history and flavor.
OaxaRico is open Monday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
