Lerua’s Fine Mexican Food
2005 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85719
Lerua’s Fine Mexican Food Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2005 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ, 85719 - Phone (520) 624-0322
- Website https://leruasfinemexicanfoods.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Kelly L.
All the ads are true. The green corn tamales are really tasty here. A little sweet a little savory and pretty perfect. The combo plate came with 1 tamale, 1 cheese enchilada, and beans. The enchilada was solid. And the plate was definitely a good portion size. There was not much left over after I finished dinner. The guacamole was mediocre, I felt it was too salty and didn't have enough cilantro. The chips were tasty however. So all in all a solid place for Mexican but nothing stellar. I felt that the room was small and echoed a lot. So I felt like every other table had to listen to my conversation which I felt bad about. The wait staff was friendly however I never got a refill on my water.
(3)Erika B.
For classic green tamales and tasty calabacitas, this place always delivers. My husband tried the chilaquiles plate from the specials menu and it did not disappoint! It was flavorful, well seasoned with beautiful chunks of slow braised pork and black beans. Authentic Sonoran-style food, friendly service. We have been there many times and will return again and again.
(5)Ahmad F.
Get the green corn Tamales NOW!
(5)Trudi And Rick H.
From beginning to end our meal was nothing short of a disappointment- a cute, traditional Tucson establishment that lost what made it special. Our meal was cold, relleño filled with greasy cheddar cheese, mahi mahi fish tacos over fried, and less than "best in town" green corn tamale was heavy and too sweet. Our waitress was prompt and chips warm, but salsa bland- wish we could say we were coming back to our favorite Mexican restaurant.
(2)Eva Leona Lerriqs S.
I loved Lerua's! The green corn tamale is so good, the best tamale I've had. I also loved the blackened tilapia and handmade corn tortillas. I wish I could get the green corn tamale here.
(5)Geary B.
So many restaurants claim that their tamales are as good if not better than Lerua's, well Lerua's tamales sure has set the bar very high. Their tamales are the best along with the rest of their menu.
(5)Christine R.
The chips were warm, the salsa was delicious, the ambiance was fun, and the staff was attentive, especially towards all of our special requests (trips to the kitchen to check on things, double checking with us that certain ingredients were okay). I had the carnitas tacos, which were insaaaane. So much flavor (so many flavors!) and the tortillas were some of the best I've had. The horchata was also out of this world - more cinnamon-y and not too sweet. One of the best parts of the experience was going to the bathroom - you have to walk through the back of the restaurant, so you get to see all the food prep going on. It's really fun to get to see! I am really sad that I don't live in Tucson and can't come here all the time.
(5)Wayno G.
We visited Lerua's for the first time today. It is located on Broadway just one block east (Norris) off Campbell/Kino Pkwy. Mom ordered a tamale and I ordered a Carne Asada Burrito. For $9.75 that should have been the best burrito I'd ever eaten. For the price, it should have been better then Chipotle's It tasted worse then something Taco Bell would serve. I received a giant sized tortilla and less then a handful of Carne Asada meat. That was the only thing on the inside of the tortilla. Less then a handful of meat. The meat tasted spoiled to me, and was overly salty -- perhaps to hide the spoiled beef off notes. The beef tamale Mom ordered was a strange colour. It looked like it had beef mixed into the masa. It gave the tamale a very un-appetizing appearance, and the flavour profile was way off. The tamale was in fact DRY. We returned the meals un-eaten to our waitress and the manager removed them from our table. All we had was the water and the chips and salsa. The salsa tasted like reconstituted tomato paste. There were no fresh ingredients, anywhere. The portion size was inversely proportional to the price of the meal. $10 for a burrito means you get a tortilla that is easily 6 times bigger then the meat (only thing inside the burrito) inside. I would never return here, nor would I recommend this place to anyone. Parking is very difficult. There is no off street parking anywhere close by. Mom is handicapped, had to drop her off, find a place to park, then walk back. I have been in Tucson for 10 years. This is hands down the worst Mexican food restaurant we have tried. Wayno
(1)Michele C.
Atmosphere needs a little refreshing. Staff super nice. My bean, rice burrito was ok.
(3)Gail W.
Maybe you haven't been in to Lerua's in awhile, or stop in only when you have a craving for their incredible green corn tamales, like i did? Well, change your mindset... There is a new chef in town, and the next generation is doing some amazing things with mexican fare! I opted for the Carnitas Enchiladas off the Today's Specials menu, and was amazed by an incredible taste sensation- spicy tender carnitas with white queso fresco, tomatillo salsa, corn tortillas, fried eggs...heaven! We were honored to have a taste of the puerco al pastor- a tiny bit of sweet to the hot... You just have to check this out- maybe the blackened fish tacos or the dirty gringo torta...we took the tamales home for dessert, but the dinner portions were so generous, the tamales will have to wait till breakfast...
(5)Monica F.
In the past 11 years I've probably driven past this restaurant thousands of times, and as a fan of green corn tamales, I've promised myself thousands of times that I would eat here. Today, after a meeting in the solar building across the street, I finally did. Interior is pleasant, with dozens of placemats colored by children hanging on the back wall. Service was *extremely* friendly. Chips (warm) and salsa (decent, spicy) came out immediately, along with ice water. My friend had gone vegan and informed the waitress of this fact. None of the menu items were technically vegan except for the whole black beans, but the kitchen was happy to make her a soft taco full of beans, avocados, and cabbage. When the waitress asked her how it was, she suggested a number of changes, because she figured she'd be back for more, and the waitress was happy to hear the feedback. I chose the all-important green corn tamale and a chile relleno. The tamale is made with sweet corn and is very sweet, not at all dry. It has a good texture. The one misstep was that it had somehow been rolled so that all the cheese and chiles were concentrated in one corner of the tamale and the rest of it was 100% masa. I don't know if this was just a single unfortunately balanced tamale or what. The waitress took the husk pieces away as I unwrapped them. The relleno was the biggest freaking relleno I've ever seen. It was the size of 2 rellenos. A lot of that was the breading, which was very light and expansive, but could have been a bit crunchier. It was not overly cheesy, and came with some spicy salsa. The pepper was cooked well, so that it was easy to cut and chew. I was unable to eat all of it; actually, I couldn't finish the tamale either. I thought I was ordering a light lunch but it was a lot of food. Overall, we both thought the food could have been a bit spicier but found it very tasty. The kitchen was very fast, and the price is reasonable. As we sat talking afterward, the waitress brought my friend another ice tea and a to go cup, which was a kind touch.
(4)Jo W.
I was in the mood for Mexican tonight and I was just going to default to Macayo's which I haven't visited in a long time, but after reading the reviews it sounded like it's going downhill a bit. My husband did some research for more upscale restaurants and although he found 2 he liked, we could not get into either one on a Saturday night. So I did a little perusing and discovered Lerua's. We went early to be sure we could get a table and did with no problem. The food was delicious. I had to try their green corn tamale, advertised as Tucson's best. I've only ever had it at Macayo's and I'd say Lerua's actual tamale is probably better but it doesn't have the awesome Baja sauce (white cream cheese sauce) that Macayo's does. Still it was good. My husband's carnitas tacos on delightfully thin soft flour tacos were great. I would order either of these again. As I am reading other reviews post-visit, I see they have whole pinto or black beans but I was offered neither. My plate just came with a large helping of refried beans. While they were good, I would have much rather had the black beans. An extensive beer menu tops off a very good meal.
(4)Anna U.
I loved the small atmosphere of this place. I tried a green tamale and had no idea what I was ordering but I was pleasantly surprised! Green corn tamales are sweet! It was big and the masa was fluffy and I really enjoyed it and now am finding myself craving this new dish. The beans were really delicious, and the huge flour tortilla was enough to go back for in its self. I'll be back for sure. It's not your typical "combo plate" type place. It's a bit more gourmet or chef inspired I'd say.
(4)Michelle H.
Not sure why this place has 4 stars. Maybe we went on a bad day for them because I can hardly give them two stars. The beef in the tamale, taco and taco salad tasted like it had been made a few days earlier. The taco salad tasted sweet for some reason. The beef enchilada is ground beef instead of shredded and the enchilada sauce tastes scorched. They get 2 stars for the chips & refried beans. Those were the only edible things we were served.
(2)Matthew F.
My fiance and I went here for my birthday yesterday. It was much busier than I expected, given it was a Tuesday. But I'll take that as a good sign. I am not so much disappointed in the food itself, which was fine but not outstanding. But rather I'm disappointed that so many people on here talk about this place as if it's the golden calf of Mexican food in Tucson, and that my experience was not this. As many people have mentioned, this is not a place to come to for their salsa. Pretty sure it's out of a can. I had the carne con chile verde, and she had the combo with green corn tamale and chicken taco. My meal was fine, but nothing outstanding. The carne seemed to be a mix of diced steak and shredded beef, which was interesting. The rice and refried beans was just... normal. Her meal originally came out with a ground beef taco (in a hard shell -- how Midwestern!). Now, this is what is on the menu, but the server actually said chicken could be substituted, so she went with that, then got the ground been. No big deal, though, as they swapped it out quickly for the chicken. The plate, though, was dripping in chicken juice and the hard shell taco was already soaked through and broke in half as soon as she picked it up. The green corn tamale was fine, but again it wasn't mind-blowing, as many of the reviews here suggest. The staff were friendly and helpful, especially given that it was busy. I was surprised that the two ladies working the floor were dressed like the just came in from the gym. Again, not a big deal, as I fully appreciate that someone can do their job well regardless of their wardrobe. It's just another little thing that was unexpected, given the rave reviews. Anyway, I'm glad we tried Lerua's, but we probably won't be back of our own accord. Not saying I'd never eat here again, but there are too many great Mexican restaurants in town to worry about redeeming first impressions.
(2)Leah B.
The best. Hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in Tucson. I love that it is fresh, healthier food (no plates of runny refried beans covered in fat and lard), instead you are presented with healthy whole pinto or black beans, fresh cilantro and avocado. I love ordering off the specials menu. The pork belly shrimp burrito was fantastic. As are the fish tacos and carnitas. I recently had a dish with ghost pepper prawns over a green corn tamale- spicy and wonderful. They are known for their green corn tamales for a reason. I love their mole sauce, so if is ever on the special menu, do yourself a favor and try it. But if it's not, their regular enchilada sauce is divine too. (See my pictures for more detail). No reservations, and they do get busy, so consider that. One order of chips and salsa per table. Oh, and they have a pretty decent craft beer list too. II've had a grapefruit skulpin ipa here. So yeah, it's stellar. I really hope they never close. If they do, I would follow this restaurant anywhere. So fingers crossed.
(5)Crystal B.
Another great meal at Leruas. Crystal had the LBC Tacos and I had the Shrimp and Tamale. We washed it down with an amazing Iron Johns Nut Brown. Food was amazing, Michael the chef is always a great host stoop ng by the table to make suggestions and to check on your level of satisfaction with the meal. This will become our new fav. Can't wait to bring our out of town guests to the best Mex in Tucson!
(5)Gene Z.
I have been eating in the restaurant my entire life and I love it to death! The tamales (both kinds but especially the green corn) are the best in the city! The beans are absolutely my favorite and I have eaten them for every meal of the day so many times! The red and green chili burritos are excellent as are the tacos! This place never ceases to put out great food at decent prices and I will eat here as long as they are around! This is by far the best all around Mexican restaurant in Tucson if not all of Southern Arizona! This is a Tucson must eat and anyone who is in Tucson needs to eat here at least once!!
(5)Mike M.
A friend took me here for my 1st time. I have driven by it like 1000 times. Wow, the food was really good. I don't think you can go wrong with a chorizo and egg chimi. The service was friendly as well. The price was a little high for me, so if it was just a bit less, they would have received 5 stars. It's a small like 15 table place that I think is worth stopping by every now and then. Give it a try.
(4)Toni M.
Rather than returning to Prep & Pastry for lunch today, we decided to come here because Alan wanted food found only in Tucson. How we found Lerua's is circuitous: I was looking at the reviews of Sam Hughes Inn, which I had been FTR in 2008, to see how many other reviews there were now. There I saw the review of Eva Leona Lerriqs S. of Berkeley, who mentioned Lerua's green corn tamales as being the best. I had been tipped off to green corn tamales by my friend Bob S., who also tipped me off to carne seca last time we were here. It's a Tucson thing. I had tried a green corn tamale at Rosa's a few days ago, but hadn't been sure what I was looking for. I thought it was OK. We walked into Lerua's shortly before noon. The restaurant is smaller than Rosa's and was about half full, but more diners soon joined us. Lerua's has been in business since 1922. The walls are painted soft yellow and orange. We were given menus and a plate of chips and a bowl of salsa. The salsa was chunky and flavorful and the chips were good, but I tried to limit my consumption a bit because I knew more was to come. We ordered a chili cheese crisp. They make them in small and large sizes and the small is still pretty big. It came w/ crisply browned edges, plenty of cheese and long strips of green chili on each wedge. It was delicious, though not as decadent as Rosa's, where they fry their tortilla. It was probably healthier. Alan didn't like the chili strips rather than chunks more widely distributed. I liked it regardless, although we couldn't finish it because of the other dishes we had ordered. Alan ordered Lola's special combination, a chili relleno w/ shredded chicken on top and a green corn tamale. I ordered a #9 combination, green corn tamale and beef taco, substituting a carne seca taco. Alan ordered iced tea and I ordered jamaica. The platters arrived. The tamales were still in their husks. Rosa's had been unhusked in the kitchen, which I'm not used to. Alan gave me a taste of his relleno, which was excellent. The green corn tamale was sweeter and softer in texture than a regular tamale. It was delicious and we both liked it, although I think you have to grow up w/ it to go out of your way for it. The carne seca taco was also tasty. It was a fine lunch. We're going home tomorrow and are glad we had something we couldn't have there.
(4)Nina P.
This is officially my favorite Mexican restaurant in Tucson. You must get the Carnitas tacos! They are a special menu item, so if you see if, make sure you order it! The carnitas are so flavorful, and the corn tortillas were amazing. You'll be glad you ordered it, I guarantee!
(5)Mindy S.
I am simply shocked that my visit to Lerua's Fine Mexican Food last week was my first. Shocked and horrified, really, because I have apparently been missing out on some of the BEST Mexican food in Tucson my entire life! Mike (the chef/owner) is obviously very proud of his family's restaurant and their food, and for good reason. He brought us some green corn tamales, and they were the best I've ever had. The shredded habanero pork (the special that day) won raves from everyone in our party, and the barbacoa tacos were fantastic. I want more!!! Thanks, Lerua's!!!
(5)Chris W.
The salsa is amazing, Mike the owners son makes some hot stuff that will make you sweat. Whole meal was great.
(5)Kim C.
this is the place the locals go. it's hidden in plain sight on broadway and Campbell. small, very busy restaurant so timing is key. mike, mike jr, and all the staff are amazing. rolled chicken tacos. enchiladas. topopo. carnitas. tamales. they do it all just right. it's hard to find a restaurant that makes food like my grandma but Leruas come pretty damn close. also because it's small, it's particularly helpful to be friendly because you may be sitting close to the people at the next table. be nice.
(5)Food C.
Salsa and chips, good. Good service. I ordered a carne seca chimi. It was HUGE and came with just some lettuce. I would have preferred half the chimi and rice or beans. Chimi was spicy, but was really shredded beef. Note - the restroom was way in back of the kitchen.
(3)Megan m.
This place is a true Tucson treasure! The staff are incredibly caring and you can tell they love working there-it's a real family/neighborhood environment and they make you feel at home right away. AND THE FOOD- INCREDIBLE!!! They have these crisps that are part nacho, part pizza, part quesadilla and all awesome and a must for an app. Their specials are always changing and always amazing. The prices are more than fair too. Just go and enjoy:)
(5)L L.
Mediocre food, muddled service. The window sign showed, "Closed," although Lerua's was open today for dinner. The chandeliers each had several burnt out bulbs. Maybe the restaurant should have been closed after all. That sign foreshadowed our experience. The white wine was sour. The server replaced the serving with cold red wine in a chilled glass, which we refused because its taste was foul and it was cold. The cheese and avocado strips tasted like melted Velveeta on a flour tortilla. The server told us that the restaurant's business was slow and they were trying to cut costs, hence tasteless cheddar. The fish tacos were so-so. All in all, a disappointing evening at a restaurant enthusiastically recommended by long-established Tucsonans.
(2)Kate G.
Woooooowwwwww the food was DELICIOUS and the chef was so handsome!!! Everyone who works there is so handsome. Also we had carnitas, tacos al pastor, and green tamales. It was so delicious!!!! I think the chef soaked the tortillas in pork sauce and then put them on the griddle. Will be back for the unique textures and flavors.
(5)Matthew D.
I am actually really surprised by the low ratings overall for this place. We found this joint on our Garmin while traveling in Tucson after taking our daughter to a medical specialist here. Gabriel W. recently described this place as "yet another semi-gringo mexican restaurant" I agree, being that the food wasn't terribly authentic, but we all liked the taste. My wife thought the chile relleno she had wasn't all that fresh, and we all weren't impressed with the salsa (tomato, and not much else, but that didn't stop us from eating two plates of chips with it). However, the food in general was tasty and filling. The cheese crisp was about the size of a large pizza (and brought to the table in the same way.) Service was friendly. I'm pretty sure this ain't the best Mexifood in Tucson, but if you're in the neighborhood and you're hungry, you will get some reliably good chow here.
(4)miles c.
My wife and I ate lunch there on Jan. 8, 2015. This is going to be a mixed review as my wife's dish was excellent and mine was 2 stars at best. My wife had the green corn tamale plate with calabacitas and refried beans and it was excellent; the green corn tamale was outstanding! I had the chili relleno (always my test dish for a new Mexican restaurant) and it was undercooked and filled with yellow cheese which was tasteless--one of the worst chili rellenos I have had. I also had the black beans and found them bland. I also had a green corn tamale, which was outstanding! IF we go back it will be for an order of the green corn tamales; some of the best we have had (and my wife is Mexican). I'll also try a different plate.
(3)Lynne L.
There are few times in life when I can truly say that a meal was phenomenal. Tonight I can say just that! Chef Mike Hultquist went above and beyond. The Red Snapper that my husband ordered was exquisite. It was a whole flash fried fish bones and all, with a spicy salad garnish. The fish was moist and extremely flavorful. Cooked to perfection! There was a table with several Asians next to us who were eyeballing this spectacular plate. I had the Dorados carnitas tacos with spicy crema sauce which were absolutely heavenly. The taco shells were crispy and the carnitas pork was incredibly flavorful. Mike strives to bring in the latest craft beers to along with the amazing meals he creates. Chef Mike who is all of 25 years old, graduated from culinary school in San Diego a couple of years ago and is back in Tucson to handle the family restaurant that has been a part of Tucson culture since the 1920s. He has proven himself to be not only an amazing person but an incredible chef. Thank you Chef Mike for providing Tucson with such a culturally rich and traditional place to eat. You have an amazing gift to be able to put a spin on traditional to transform it into magic to the tastebuds!! Thank you again. We look forward to many more amazing meals at Leruas.
(5)John S.
Hands down one of the best Mexican food places in town. I've ordered nearly everything on the menu and they have yet to disappoint. The service is always great and the employees are always very friendly. I highly recommend the machaca tacos or any of the carnitas plates. Eat here, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Reesa F.
Delicious local favorite! Tamales and Carne seca are amazing. Don't let the small building fool you, great food! Delicious chips and salsa as well.
(5)Sonia R.
I don't understand the so-so reviews on here. This place has consistently tasty mexican food, reasonable prices and friendly service. It's my go-to place for mexican food here in town that isn't overly priced.
(4)Gabriel W.
Many years ago, I used to frequent this place because my job required me to be a constant customer of Brake Masters next door. The food here is good verging on the line of very good, but ultimately just winds up being yet another semi-gringo mexican restaurant. One of the things holding this place back is the salsa. Its very mild to say the least and has somewhat of an odd texture. There is a vinegar-y hot sauce present on every table, but it is again not very spicy and when added to the other salsa does improve the flavor but doesn't add any heat. On the other hand, though, the chicken enchiladas I had on this last visit were delicious and the chicken was moist and flavorful. The food came out fast. The bill was reasonable, but I would say average with most Mexican food joints. So the long and the short: the food is good, but ultimately nothing really special.
(3)Christy F.
I was expecting Tucson to have great Mexican food being so close to Mexico vs where I am from, which is Detroit. Hopefully, I will find something that compares. Lerua's was not it. The green corn tamale was something I knew to order since they had a sign out front advertising it and it was on the waitress' tshirt. If a place advertises doing something well, that is a pretty good menu pick. It was served in the husk and was very tasty. It was a very sweet masa with bits of roasted green chili mixed in. It tastes like sweet corn pudding that you make (or that chichis used to sell at the grocery in packets if you are not culinary advanced). It was very tasty. Not like the tamales I am used to though. Skip the chips and salsa. Neither were fresh or very tasty. My fiance had the verde chili con carne chimi. It was big, I will give it that. No sauce, no beans, no rice....I felt kinda bad for him. I had the cheese enchilada combo with the previously mentioned green corn tamale. The enchilada was kinda small, covered in red sauce, a little onion and stuffed with cheddar. Last time I checked cheddar is not a cheese that is authentically used in Mexican cuisine...... I also had a green chili cheese tostada. I do not think they even made their own tostada. And again it had cheddar cheese?! WTF. Queso Blanco, queso chihuahua, queso ranchero, fresco, anejo, oaxaca,cotija....that's more like it. None to be seen. And no bathrooms for the public, unless they were letting customers use the one in the kitchen, which if that is the case I shall pass.
(2)Mark S.
My wife was really excited to go to this place. Her company had catering from them and she was raving about the machaca mini chimis they were served. We visited for lunch on a Saturday. First off - salsa: I believe if a Mexican restaurant can't make good salsa, then the rest of the meal will follow that pattern. Lerua's may be the exception. Their salsa, in one word.... bad. It tasted like someone had opened a can of tomatoes laced with some sort of chile and threw it in a bowl. Not a fan. Fortunately, the rest of the meal did not follow that same pattern, but for sure, was not without missteps. If you have read any of my reviews, you may know my wife is not a spicy food eater. She was dismayed to cut into her machaca chimi and find loads of chile seeds. I give her credit; she ordered some sour cream and toughed it out. I will say that there was plenty of filling in her chimi. This may have been the issue. The mini chimis she had before probably did not have much filling. Either that or she has secretly learned to like spicy food and just won't admit it to me. I had the red chile plate with beans, rice and a tortilla the size of manhole cover. Not the best I ever had, but it was OK. Service was fine and prices seemed in line with other places. Notes and anecdotes: They serve their food on melamine plates. Most Mexican food benefits from a little time in the oven or under a broiler/salamander. Plastic plates obviously do not make this possible. I had to use the restroom during our visit. This required a trek through the kitchen past piles of dirty dishes. I also noticed cans labeled: salsa ready tomatoes and chiles. This probably explains the salsa.
(3)Joshua L.
Lerua's is good stuff. Simple, to the point and for me - always good. The service is always attentive and pleasant. On our last vist however, my wife's taco shells were clearly not made in house, but had that tell tale store bought smell feel and taste. Well, feel since they fell apart when touched. Also it was definitely not a bean taco as ordered, but perhaps a green chile taco? She refused to send it back, instead glomming on a portion of my green chile and cheese chimichanga.
(4)Chris D.
I was shocked to see only 2.5 stars. We have been here twice now and it is one of the best if not the best Mexican restaurant I have been too. Okay, it doesn't have the cute waitresses with a lot of cleavage showing but they have great food and a very reasonable price and that is why I eat here. The green Tamales are wonderful! We are not the only ones to think this either. They had a stack of at least 20 bags on the counter waiting to be filled with orders of the tamales to go. The restrooms are in the back so you get to walk though the kitchen and see how clean it is on your way to wash up. I use to do inspections at restaurant and believe me, some of the nicest ones are the dirtiest. This was very clean in comparison. I'm a fan and will be back!
(5)Bleep S.
Rolled chicken tacos and a side of beans....a very very yum lunch. The red salsa in the squeeze bottle on the table is delicious. I could drink it as a beverage, it's so good. If you like carne seca, Lerua's has a very good rendition of this Sonoran specialty dish.
(4)John M.
Cute old hole-in-the wall. The barbacoa tacos were excellent, the green corn tamales were disappointing (they might have been a little undercooked), and the guacamole was just okay. Waitstaff was very friendly.
(3)Amanda P.
I decided to come with my mom to Lerua's after reading some reviews, and I have to say I liked it. Maybe not thrilled, but at least I know that I can count on getting good food here. They have the perfect combination plate with everything I wanted---enchilada, tamale, and a taco. The enchilada was the best part; it was very good. The others were okay but still yummy. I have to agree with other reviewers though and say that the salsa is not that good. I wish it had -something- else, but I can't pinpoint what. So this is not a place I would go when I'm craving good salsa.
(4)Brad S.
Mike is the best!! I had placed a Holiday order to be picked up on Friday Dec.20, I thought the time was 1:00pm, when I arrived Mike showed me my order request was for 2:00pm. My mistake, Mike said no problem, really? He said we'll have the order out in 15 minutes. He did!!! That is great customer service. What about the food you ask? My employees Loved it. They kept going back to the serving table until everything was gone. Everything was great ! You made my Holiday Mike Hultquist . THANK YOU!
(5)Wes B.
Awesome food, can someone say tamales?! Simple restaurant find a table, sit down. Awesome list of combo meals. At good prices. Def adding to my Mexican food list. Awesome
(4)Alice S.
Cute little place. Friendly staff. Food is so-so. We tried beef tacos, tamale, rice and beans. Salsa tastes and looks like canned tomatoes.
(2)Peg P.
I agree with many of the other reviewers. The salsa and chips were not very good and it was loud due to the tile floors and cinderblock walls. The servers were good and we got our food pretty fast. Only room for about 14 tables so it's small. We often don't think to come here because parking is such a hassle. On to the food: My combo plate of cheese enchilada, bean tostada, avocado taco, and green tamale was pretty darn good. I cleaned my plate. It was hot temperature-wise and everything was very tasty. Cost" $10.50. To me, the best green tamales in Tucson and pretty much anywhere are at John Jacobs's El Parador.. But that's another review. My friend had a tasty calabazita which is a zucchini dish with corn and cheese and she gives it a high rating. I'd definitely go again but not as often as some of our other favorites.
(4)Tom D.
Lerua's has been serving great, simple Mexican food for as long as I can remember. The best green corn tamales in town, bar none. Great chile verde. Neat, envelope folded quesadillas. Great chimis. Frying is an art and they get it right here. Crisp, not greasy. Also great if you are having a party.
(5)Maximiliano L.
Lerua'a has decent Mexican food and is centrally located in town. I like the Chile Relleno the best here. The service is good and they are very quick with the food.
(3)Hilary K.
I love Leruas! I used to eat here all the time as a kid, but haven't been back in years. My boyfriend and I were in Tucson for the day visiting the U of A law school, and we got together with some buddies who go to school in Tucson, but have never eaten here. Let me say, they were impressed by the food too. I most definitely got my Green Corn Tamale fix taken care of. Fluffy, sweet, and arguably the best tamales in town. We all left very satisfied after our meals, some Horchata, and some good conversation. Let's hope that the boy gets in to U of A so we can eat here all the time!
(4)Simon E.
Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors. Lerua's: like a pancake. Green See photos.
(1)Todd D.
Salsa was average at best. Refried beans on the plate looked like they came from a can. Tamales were pretty good.
(3)Caleb T.
One of my favorite places for a carne seca chimi!! Yummy!!! The chips and salsa are great also!!!!
(5)Brian M.
Best green corn tamales in Tucson period, no competition. Consistently great food; love the Chicken Topopo Salad, salsa can't be beat. It's small but its excellent and I have been going there for at least 30 years!
(4)Ingrid T.
Well, I would give it two stars however the wait staff was pleasant. Here we go, parking sucks period. There is no way to get around it. Next we were greeted pretty quickly and told to take a seat wherever we would like. We ordered our drinks and were served chips and salsa. The chips come on a plate and the salsa too, they were just okay. The salsa was pretty bland and jot interesting whatsoever. We also ordered guacamole which was watery and no flair to it as well. After ordering our food our meals came out within 7 minutes which means not fresh folks. We of course ordered their famous green corn tamales. Mine was bitter and my friends was so overly sweetened she could barely eat it. They use lard in the beans and e taco was so greasy that I could see droplets sitting all over the plate. Gross! Anyways I do not recommend it and in would not go again.The only plus was the wait staff and the prices were cheap-how sad is it when taco bell is better than a dine in restaurant. Ick!
(3)kelly r.
We had a simple order: 1 pint of beans and rice to go, side of chips and salsa. $27...doesn't that seem high? We asked for chips and salsa while we waited. We were served this horrible tomato sauce with some dried spices in it. I asked if this was the only salsa and was told that this was the free salsa and they wouldn't serve the "good" salsa for free. Interesting, not one of them asked if we would like to pay for the good salsa. That said, what a weird concept in a city of great mexican restaurants: serve your bad stuff for free? Well, bad stuff continued: Chips were stale and the staff was just plain rude at Lerua's. For $27, I would much rather go to Tania's on the West side and get tamales, enchiladas, beans, chips, tortillas, etc. Sorry Lerua's, this time you lost my business for good.
(1)Carling H.
You pay for what you get- the best is slightly expensive, but who cares!? I crave their chicken taco special and adore their tamales during Christmas. An amazing place with a truly homemade atmosphere!
(5)Lauren W.
This place is tiny, nearly hole-in-the-wall, but oh, sweet baby jeebus, do they have fantastic guacamole. I would sacrifice body parts for another order of it. Maybe an eyeball? Definitely some toes. Also, do you like green corn tamales? I sure do, and they do not seem to serve them any damn place in Dallas (for the record, I have not looked that hard, because how could they be even close to as good?). Lerua's has badass green corn tamales and I pretty much demand that you go enjoy them, because I can't and it's killing me inside. I weep. Park down the side street. I know it looks like the place where someone's going to steal your car, but I promise it will be fine. I mean, lock it for sure, don't be a total moron, but don't worry too much. Besides, even if your car is gone, another excuse to get some more guac to go, right? Fair trade.
(4)Jim S.
Went here for lunch and left feeling very content. I ordered a quacamole taco and green chile tamale. Sue ordered a green chile tamale and a chicken enchilada. Sue said her tamale was too spicy so I swapped my quac. taco for her tamale and scarfed down 2 tamales for lunch. It was a great meal for me and sue liked her enchilada and quac. taco. I found the tamales perfect for taste and spice and well worth ordering. Service was fine and it is important to use the bathroom so that you can get a glimpse of the kitchen staff making the tamales. This makes it a neat experience.
(4)Tom C.
This isn't Mexican food. This is Americanized Mexican food. The salsa is basically tomato sauce. My combination dinner was edible, but not what I would consider good Mexican food. I live in central California, so I'm used to good Mexican, but I was expecting something at least as good in southern AZ. This was not it. Pass on this and find some authentic cuisine.
(2)Cecily A.
I totally agree with Lauren's review. Yes, their green corn talames are great. I've never dined in at this restaurant. I always just buy the frozen green corn tamales in dozens for take-out, while they are in season. You can nuke them in the microwave after sprinkling some water on the husks, 2.5 minutes on high setting, and wallah you have a declicious meal! The green corn tamales here are juicy, sweet and not greasy compared to El Charro's, for example. They are also not over-stuffed with cheese which means there's more green tamal to enjoy. The prices are good too. Green corn tamales are only available in certain months of the year though (if I remember correctly), but they are worth every penny! I really miss them now that I live in Boston.
(4)Tim T.
I really did like this place a few years ago but have been there twice in the past year and was disappointed both times. Last time I ordered the green chile chimi and got a small chimi with very dried out tasteless green chile inside. Unfortunately my friend also ordered the green chile and also got this dried out concoction. The prices are way too high for mediocre food. I live right by there but won't return.
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