Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2023.
Emilio Soto was on his way to be a hygienist when he eventually realized that's not actually the career path he wanted to take.
In April 2021, Emilio Soto and his mom Carina Soto opened Deliciocho — a small shop on Tucson's south side that sells raspados, tacos, tortas and a number of snacks and desserts such as churro ice cream sandwiches and pickles stuffed with Mexican candies and chamoy.
The journey really began with Emilio Soto's dad, Emilio Soto Sr., who once owned a cellphone store and converted it into a shop to sell raspados.
If you're unfamiliar with raspados, they're similar to shaved ice but typically come with juice, chunks of fruit, ice cream and lechera (sweetened condensed milk). Or there are bolder versions with spicy candies and chamoy.
But when Emilio Soto's dad ended up selling the raspado shop, the younger Emilio says he felt discouraged because he had always thought about going into the business himself.
"When I started working there, I just had this passion for it. To come up with things that people don't normally see — it's like an art form to me," he says.
So when a spot became available on Nogales Highway near Valencia Road, Emilio and Carina Soto decided to give it a go.
"I've always been creative, so this is a good way to give someone things they've never experienced," Emilio Soto says.
"You feel accomplished when you give a service and you know it's a great service and that people enjoy it," Carina Soto says. "It's fulfilling when (customers) have a happy face."
Deliciocho's menu was partially inspired by Emilio Soto's dad, who is now a contractor but had always wanted to open a spot for tortas. And the birria recipe used at Deliciocho has been in the Soto family for generations, starting with Emilio Soto's grandmother Carmen Soto.
Other items on the menu include Hot Cheetos mixed up with chunks of pickles (which is something Emilio Soto's wife Brianda Soto ate while she was pregnant with their son); a number of ice cream treats with scratch-made churros sometimes rolled in cereal; a birria tostada wrap that's a more elevated version of Taco Bell's Crunchwrap; raspados made with natural fruit juice; and more inventive meals and snacks.
And the name "Deliciocho" was inspired by one of Emilio Soto's favorite childhood shows "El Chavo Del Ocho."
Some names of menu items are based off of characters from the show, and there are even churro desserts that come in mini souvenir barrels — because the main character in the show lives in a barrel.
"People who watch the show get a kick out of it," Emilio Soto says.
Of course, Deliciocho is one of many spots in Tucson to find raspados and antojitos, street snacks. Common delights at these shops include Tosti-Locos, fresas con crema (strawberries with cream) and elote. Check out 26 shops below.
Did we miss your favorite raspado shop? Email us!
Delicias De Michoacan
At Delicias De Michoacan, you can find lots of paletas, ice cream and raspados. According to their Facebook page, the shop started when the Iñiguez-Barragán family moved to Tucson in 2014 and started looking for the perfect spot to house their raspado business.
Deliciocho
This is Deliciocho's signature raspado called La Vencindad, which includes every fruit at the shop including strawberry, mango, pineapple, melon, coconut and pecans.
Deliciocho, which opened in the spring of 2021, is one of Tucson's newest raspado shops. In addition to the raspados and antojitos found at many raspado shops, Deliciocho also sells tacos and tortas.
Funland Raspados
2100 W. Grant Road; 727 W. Ajo Way
Starting in 1999, Funland has served Tucson for more than two decades with its 13 flavors of raspados, snacks, ice cream and fruity treats. There are also burgers, Sonoran hot dogs, tamales and queso-Cheetos (a quesadilla packed with Hot Cheetos) at the Grant location.
GeMa Raspados & Delights
GeMa recently opened a shop on Tucson's south side, serving raspados, nachos, aguas frescas and more.
Jason's Mexican Food
6039 E. 22nd St.; 6671 N. Thornydale Road; 2400 N. Pantano Road
The Mangoyada at Taqueria Y Raspados Jason has chunks of mango with chamoy, lime and Mexican candies on top.
Jason's Mexican Food is a fast-casual spot for food that includes tacos, carne asada fries, burritos, hot dogs and, of course, raspados.
Juice N' Fruit Raspados
Juice N' Fruit has more than a dozen natural juices, in addition to its 17 raspado flavors that range from the classics like strawberry and mango to flavors such as watermelon, cherry and banana.
La Michoacana The Ice Cream Spot
According to their Instagram, there are two other locations of The Ice Cream Spot, including one in California and one in Casa Grande. You'll find lots of paleta flavors, plus sundaes and raspados. And there's a drive-thru!
La Muncheria
Check out La Muncheria's TikTok to see their treats — they not only serve up raspados, but also lots of antojitos like Tosti-Locos and sandia loca.
Mangos Refresqueria Y Cafe
Arizbeth Valdez adds the crowning touch, a serpentina on the straw of a Niño Mango, at Mangos Refresqueria Y Cafe, one of the many shops you can find selling raspados and icy treats around Tucson.
Mother-son duo Veronica and Carl Amaya started Mangos in 2017 after dabbling for years with the idea of opening their version of a "Mexican Starbucks."
Of course, Carl Amaya's favorite raspado flavor is mango. Beyond the raspados, you'll find elote (some of which are covered in Hot Cheetos dust), tacos, tortas and desserts such as a churro waffle.
Marymar Raspados
Marymar, which has been around for about two decades, has all the raspado and antojito classics.
Marymar is also home to a full event space a few miles away.
Michoacán Taquería
The strawberry raspado at Michoacán Taquería Raspados, con lechera y nieve (condensed milk and ice cream) for $6.48.
Michoacán Taquería has everything from tacos to tortas to hot dogs to flautas, plus more than 10 raspado flavors to choose from.
Mr. Lokko Snack & Raspado Bar
Mr. Lokko is a little bit different — the shop offers the option to fill a cup with all kinds of chips, candy, fruit and seafood. Think salad bar... but with chips and candy. What more could you ask for?
There's also a full boba tea menu, in addition to raspados.
Oasis Fruit Cones
Raspados are icy treats served with real fruit or nuts, with or without ice cream.
With roots dating back to 1983, Oasis is one of Tucson's oldest raspado shops. The business started as a hobby of brothers Alfonso and John Carrizosa, who were inspired by their grandfather who sold raspados in his front yard in Mexico.
Paleteria y Neveria La Michoacana
3774 S. Sixth Ave.; 4444 E. Grant Road
Home to a pink-and-white-striped building on the corner of Sixth Avenue is Paleteria y Neveria La Michoacana (and yes, the interior matches the exterior). In addition to raspados, the shop sells lots of ice cream treats and fruit paletas. Check out their new location on Grant Road, too!
Peña's Raspados
Pictured is the walnut raspado from Peña's Raspados.
Peña's serves up all the classics you'd expect to find at a raspado shop — raspados, macedonias (fruit and ice cream, minus the shaved ice), elote, pico de gallo (not the salsa, but fruit with chile and lime) and nachos.
Raspados El Chikitin
Located in midtown, find El Chikitin serving raspados and other sweets like fresas con crema. Their sister eatery, the Taqueria El Chikitin food truck, is just steps away serving tacos and asada fries.
Raspados El Paraiso
5917 E. 22nd St.; 7701 E. Golf Links Road
The Reboltijo at Raspados El Paraiso includes your choice of raspado flavor, plus Mexican candies and chamoy. The pictured Reboltijo has strawberry.
Raspados El Paraiso has been serving Tucson for about seven years. In 2021, owner Ana Castro expanded the shop with a second location.
Castro's grandmother used to sell raspados from a cart in Sinaloa — and Castro still uses some of those recipes.
Raspados La Niña
Raspados La Niña has raspados in many flavors including peach, which is pictured here.
Located in a little pink building on Park Avenue is Raspados La Niña.
The shop sells goodies like breakfast burritos, quesadillas and caramelos, in addition to about 10 flavors for raspados.
Raspados Rio Sonora
Find a menu packed with flavors at Raspados Rio Sonora. There are several raspado flavors to choose from, plus specialty raspados such as the Chamoyada that's a tamarind raspado with chamoy, lime and Rielito candies.
Sito's Fresh Market
Sito's, a carniceria in midtown, not only offers up meat and grocery items, but also raspados! We've spotted orange, watermelon, guava, melon and more fruit flavors.
Sonoran Delights
The Robles family has been serving raspados to Tucsonans for more than two decades, originally starting with a shop called Sonoran Sno-Cones.
Sonoran Delights, which is more of a taqueria with tortas, burros and tacos, has been around since 2005.
Sweetie's Shave Ice & Raspados
Josh Mendoza makes a half strawberry, half horchata shaved ice at Sweetie’s Shave Ice & Raspados, 5460 E. Speedway.
From a food truck to a brick and mortar, Sweetie's is home to both shaved ice (you can add toppings like marshmallow fluff or chamoy) and raspados.
Ta' Raspado
Ta' Raspado has loads of raspado flavors to choose from, plus tortas, natural juices, ice cream treats and other antojitos.
Tacos Hermano
Tacos Hermano is home to food truck park The Pit, on Tucson's east side. In addition to its carne asada and cabeza tacos, caramelos, burros and other savory dishes, the food truck offers antojitos and several raspado flavors.
Taqueria Pico de Gallo
Customers can enjoy both tacos and a raspado when visiting Taqueria Pico De Gallo.
While Taqueria Pico de Gallo, which has been a Tucson staple for decades, is most known for its tacos and freshly-made corn tortillas, they also have raspados!
Tropical Raspados
Find raspados, piña loca, dessert waffles, Tostilocos and more snacks at Tropical Raspados.
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