From 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Juan Almanza is cooking birria.
Every two days, Almanza cooks 250 pounds of birria for his restaurant, El Taco Rustico. At the end of the six-to-seven-hour-long process, Almanza has made some of Tucsonβs favorite birria.
Growing up in Coahuila, Mexico, which borders Texas, Almanza started cooking when he was 12. Since then, he has worked in the food industry perfecting his birria recipe.
At first, Almaza used five to 10 ingredients in his birria. Now, he uses over 30. His recipe is also so complicated that only one other employee at El Rustico knows how to make it.
Over on Tucsonβs south side, Rollies Mexican Patio is also known for their delicious birria dishes, winning the best birria title in Tucsonβs Weeklyβs Best Of awards three years in a row. Mateo Otero, the owner of the restaurant, remembers birria being part of every major family party.
When he went on to create a catering business, he learned how to make the dish due to its demand. After watching other people cook it, learning their recipes, Otero crafted his own, mastering the balance between the flavors and spices.
Eventually, Otero opened Rollies, which became the first restaurant in Arizona to sell ramen birria. At one point, Otero said they were making 400 ramen packages on Thursdays βΒ one of the two days in the week that the ramen is available β due to the demand.
Whether youβre going to El Rustico or Rollies, birria has been a staple in Tucson for decades. Itβs hard to resist the tender beef (or sometimes goat), spices and flavor that come with every bite. Local chefs have created everything from cheesy tacos, burgers and pizza with the traditional Mexican dish, transforming it into a whole new meal while keeping its same savory taste.
Below are just a few authentic and creative places that will satisfy your birria craving.
Juan Almanza, owner of El Rustico, opened his place 24 hours after restaurants were ordered to close their dining rooms due to the pandemic.
El Rustico
When asked who has the best birria in town, many Tucsonans will mention El Rustico β and for good reason. El Rustico got its start at the Tohono Oβodham Swap Meet, before moving into a building near Grant and Oracle roads during the pandemic. Despite opening during a time when people werenβt leaving their houses, El Rustico managed to become a local favorite. The restaurant was even listed as one of Yelpβs top 100 US taco spots.
Here, you can get birria tacos, quesabirria tacos and birria soup.
Two birria tacos made with goat from El Chivo de Oro.
El Chivo de Oro
If youβre looking for authentic birria made with goat, this food truck has you covered. El Chivo de Oro offers both goat and beef birria tacos and soup. While some may be wary of goat since it can be gamey, the birria at Chivo de Oro is cooked to perfection.
The tacos have great flavor and a nice spicy kick βΒ I couldnβt tell I was eating goat. The homemade flour tortillas were the cherry on top.
At Ameliaβs Mexican Kitchen, the quesabirria tacos are a standout item.
Ameliaβs Mexican Kitchen
In recent years, Iβve noticed quesabirria has been rising in popularity. Quesabirria tacos consist of dipping tortillas in broth, then cooking the tortillas with birria and cheese inside. In the end you get a cheesy birria taco that you get to dip into the leftover consommΓ©.
Iβve had a lot of quesabirria tacos βΒ and the ones at Ameliaβs Mexican Kitchen were unbelievable, in the best way possible. They were the perfect ratio of cheese to birria and had a spicy flavor that wasnβt too overbearing.
At Birriera Los Toros, they make birria with both beef and goat.
Birrieria Los Toros
When looking on Reddit for birria suggestions, I saw recommendations for this hidden gem. I was not disappointed.
At Birrieria Los Toros, they make tacos and soup with both beef and goat. My tacos were stuffed with plenty of birria, which made each bite feel like birria heaven.
Birria rojo tacos with melted cheese and spiced beef broth are all the rage at Rollieβs Mexican Patio.
Rollies Mexican Patio
Like El Rustico, Rollies is another fan favorite in Tucson, with many enjoying their birria and quesabirria. While their birria is bomb, Rollies is also known for their birria ramen, which gets served every Thursday and Saturday. Ramen noodles, shredded beef, onions and cilantro are all mixed together in birria broth for this unique take on the traditional dish. Top it off with some lime and Rollieβs birria ramen has a taste like no other.
Rollies also serves birria burros, flat enchiladas and what they call a pizzadilla.Β
Zio Peppe
When I first heard about Zio Peppeβs birria pizza, I was skeptical. I couldnβt picture pizza and birria being a match βΒ until I tried it. Upon taking the first bite, my mind was instantly changed.
Dipping the cheese pizza, which is topped with El Rustico's birria, onions and cilantro, into the broth brings the dish to a whole other level. This pizza is one of my favorite dishes in Tucson.
The Quesabirria Smash Burger, a smash patty with El Rusticoβs birria, pico de gallo and avocado salsa on a local brioche bun, from The Delta, 135 S. Sixth Ave.
The Delta
The quesabirria smash burger at The Delta is no joke. This massive burger is made with a smashed patty topped with El Rustico's birria, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado salsa and consommé on the side.
The host at the restaurant said this burger is ordered frequently and is a favorite among customers and employees.
Local food truck, 520 Taco Stop, makes vegan quesabirria tacos.
520 Taco Stop
Birria is so good, everyone should be able to enjoy it.
520 Taco Stop has a vegan option for their quesabirria tacos. Although I am not vegan, I was pleasantly surprised. The tacos had the same great flavor and the meat substitution had a nice texture.
Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs in American Eat Co. serves a slew of birria creations, including this grilled cheese sandwich.
Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs
American Eat Co.,Β 1439 S. Fourth Ave.
Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs has every birria combination you can dream of. Birria tops Takis, tots, hot dogs, ramen and mozzarella sticks. There's even birria stuffed into a grilled cheese sandwich.
Other worthy options
- Birrieria Guadalajara, 304 E. 22nd St.Β β Birria tortas, burritos, tostadas and tacos ... and we've heard Birrieria Guadalajara makes some of the best soups in town.
- Ensenada Street Food, 1602 S. Park Ave.Β β There's a reason why people rave about this food truck. The menu not only features birria tacos, but also a vegan version.
- La Yaquesita, 500 N. Fourth Ave.Β β The success of La Yaquesita's quesabirria is what inspired owners to open a location on Fourth Avenue.
- Taqueria Lingo Lingo,Β 5034 S. 12th Ave.Β β Find killer birria here, made with goat.Β
