Daniel Cordova has done it all.
Heβs crafted award-winning micheladas at the two-location The Neighborhood, complete with a TajΓn rim and bits of spicy tamarindo candies delicately placed on top.
Heβs served gooey, cheesy quesabirria tacos at La Chingada, where you can dunk your tacos in birria consommΓ© for an extra flavorful kick.
Heβs brought the beach to downtown Tucson with Cruda Mariscos, offering shrimp tacos and aguachiles thatβll make you feel like youβre on the sandy beaches of Mexico.
He and his wife, Jessica, have even mastered brunch at RealGood Brunch Co., making sure we start our mornings off with a healthy, delicious meal.
With five restaurants under their belt, it seems the Cordovas have mastered the recipes that keep Tucsonans coming back for more.
But theyβre not done yet. Now, they are taking on little bites.
Antojitos, located at 63 E. Congress St., is their newest venture bringing family fun and beloved Mexican street snacks to downtown Tucson. The grand opening is still TBA, but they've been hosting a series of preview events over the last month.
For a few years, Cordova had been toying with the idea of creating a spot for raspados and snacks, but he didnβt anticipate jumping on the idea so quickly. When the former home of Ezbachi became available β next door to The Neighborhood's downtown location and steps away from La Chingada and Cruda β things started to align.
Since the spot already had a kitchen, Cordovaβs idea started to take shape.
βWe're always trying to fill a gap for something that's missing and raspados is a big thing here in Tucson, also Sonoran hot dogs,β Cordova said. βThat was something that was missing here downtown.β
So, they got to work.
For the last three months, Cordova and his team have been hard at work transforming the spot into a colorful, family-friendly space.
If you've made your way down Congress Street lately, you may have noticed cartoon ice cream cones and popsicles with big smiling faces lining the windows of Antojitoβs space.
Those colorful characters can also be found throughout the two-story restaurant, along with bright pink, orange and blue striped walls. Giant TVs are found around the space while music plays in the background as customers happily chow down on their Sonoran dogs. You canβt help but tap your toes while you check out the salsa bar.
With all the bright dΓ©cor, itβs hard not to have a smile on your face as soon as you step through the doors.
Your smile will only get bigger as you scan through their menu. Raspados, churros, elote, chilaquiles, Sonoran dogs, homemade aguas frescas and all kinds of Tostito nachos are featured at Antojitos.
βRaspados arenβt the healthiest, but we are trying to find a way to make it the healthiest and freshest as possible,β Cordova said. βWeβre using real fruits, no artificial colors, making it from scratch and using real sugar. Everything is from scratch, even the ice cream.β
During their soft openings, Antojitos has offered their Sonoran dog combo meal which comes with a spicy dog, fries and your drink of choice.
The real star of the show here is the Sonoran hot dog, which captures all the classic flavors we have come to know and love.
The bun is buttery and fluffy, the bacon wrapped around the hot dog is cooked perfectly and itβs topped with mustard, jalapeΓ±o sauce, diced tomatoes and mayonnaise. You get a nice kick of spice from the jalapeΓ±os and the crispy fries on the side make the ideal crunch sound with every bite.
Then you get to wash it all down with a creamy, cinnamon-y horchata.
βWe've been trying out different hot dog ingredients, different brands and all that. The one we tried this week we really enjoyed,β Cordova said. βOverall, people are really excited. Weβve gotten compliments over serving Sonoran hot dogs in the downtown area.β
The past few Fridays, Antojitos has been holding soft openings so people can get a sneak peek of whatβs to come. Cordova said they are waiting for a play place to arrive before they roll out the red carpet for their grand opening.
From good food to activities for kids, Cordova is hoping Antojitos can serve as a place where families can have fun and enjoy fresh, delicious dishes.
βI'm excited that it's more of a family- and kid-friendly place,β Cordova said. βI think that's one of the biggest things you hear is, where can I bring my kids downtown? We do have the Childrenβs Museum, but other than that, there's not much activity, so Iβm excited to create that friendly space.β
For more information on their soft openings, check out their Instagram.
