Casa Molina
6225 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85712
Casa Molina Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
6225 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ, 85712 - Phone (520) 886-5468
- Website https://casamolina.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Louie G.
Who knew that the best restaurant burger in Tucson is HERE??? So delicious, AND made to order. (This is so important if you enjoy medium-rare burgers.) Their Sonoran entrees as very delicious, as well -- I've been eating them for years. But, for the first time, and because of heartburn I'd been battling since chorizo breakfast, I opted for this good ole American classic. I also recommend the Cadillac Margarita.
(4)Barbara E.
The prickly pear margarita was so good! We ordered appetizers and got chimichangas and taquitos. To our suprise when we got our order the taquitos were full size and these were appetizers! Service was great and this place has a very authentic mexican restaurant feel to it.
(4)Adam F.
The third and last of the Casa Molina restaurants that I am Yelping. This one is a bit of a distance from the other two. The other locations, one on Grant Rd and the other on Campbell, are within a ten minute drive from one another. This Casa Molina is somewhat separate from both; 15-20 minutes away from the other two. I found the service here to be the best of the three. Also, it is different than the other two in that the interior was much different. It was more "home" like and the decorations were different. It is much darker than the other two. This one also has the most seating options. Out of the three this is actually has a decent bar with more than one television. I don't drink but I was sitting there after a meal watching a baseball game with people. Bartender was very nice. Their lunch specials are more limited than the other two. It also only runs until 3:00, whereas the other two keep their specials going until 4:00. That said, the food here is just as great as the other two. I noticed the enchiladas were different than the other two, but it was still delicious. The tacos, beans, rice, chips, and salsa were all very similar. The portions are very comparable and huge! Look for the bull on the north side of Speedway Blvd and you will find this amazing restaurant!
(4)Nicole K.
$11.50 for lunch is ideal! Especially when you look at the menu and many items are over $12. Buffet lunch included: - taco bar with various kinds of meat - salsas, guac, cheese, etc. - white and mexican rice - tamales (beef/chile) - bbq chicken legs - corn & flour tortillas - fruit - churros!! - arroz con leche Drinks are separate I believe. Pretty good food! They also have "American" food like pizza, kind of weird, but whatever floats your boat!
(4)Chametria D.
First off I'll start off by saying our service was really good. I had the carne seca chimichanga enchilada style it was pretty basic not much flavor. Being a Tucson native I guess I've been spoiled with good authentic Mexican food. My boyfriends fish tacos had absolutely no flavor. On a high note the chips and salsa were really good. It wasn't all bad but I don't see myself going back
(3)Jessica E.
Super delicious! Great bartender Felix, great menu selection. Salsa was hot, so great!! Didn't even get to drink my prickly pear margarita the food came out so quick!
(4)Maria G.
This is a review of the $9.50 Sunday buffet. Today I finally made it for Sunday brunch at Casa Molina. I have been wanting to go to Casa Molina since I went to Tucson Modernist Week; they were featured in "A Guide to Tucson's Mid-Century." The Guide describes the restaurant as "a step back in time" and ever since I moved to Tucson I have been a fan of the matador and bull out front. The bull's testicles often get holiday treatment. Check out my picture from October. What's not to like? On Sunday Casa Molina opens at 11:00am, and today we arrived about 10 minutes after 11:00am, perfect timing. The buffet was hot and fresh, and the restaurant wasn't busy yet. However, it did fill up as we ate. We ordered the buffet only $9.50 per person. There was a large variety of food. Everything I tried was good. These are the classics. Some Yelpers have said the food is dated/ bland. I didn't find the food bland but it is Americanized. I liked the salsa and beans. There were egg dishes, lunch items, and tamales. I loved the mini chimis. There were many options, and even multiple Mexican desserts. I was happy with everything. Some buffet advise, look at everything before you start to pile up a plate. I think the best items are kept on the second half of the buffet. You might even want to start in the middle and work your way back to the beginning, but everyone has their own strategy for buffets. The food is old school/classic and it fits perfectly with the decor. Everything is vintage. There is a lot of Mexican kitsch. The cactus ceiling is beautiful, as is the round brick room in the back of the restaurant. It is amazing that this has been the same restaurant since 1947. I am so glad they have kept it all original. Next time I come, and I will be back, I will come early on a Sunday sit on the fabulous patio, order the buffet, and order a Corona or two. I would recommend this brunch to anyone. It is affordable, fun, and everyone in the family will like it.
(5)Brian H.
It had been several years since we visited this restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised by our most recent random visit to this Sonoran style eatery. The carne seca was excellent and would return just for that. Their salsa is some of the best I've had. The small topopo chicken salad his huge and generous with meat and other toppings. The service was perfect, and turn around time was impressive for a busy Friday night. Casa Molina, you're going back on my family's go-to list. Keep up the good work. Last word - sopapillas!!!
(4)Alvin L.
We received a recommendation for Casa Molina from a person at the Tucson Harley Davidson store and we were not disappointed. This is the oldest of three restaurants, building started around 1947, and was added onto as business grew. We loved the original food, and the atmosphere and great service. We came for lunch this time, but will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)Scott L.
In all seriousness, this review of Casa Molina restaurant is perhaps the most difficult of all reviews to write. For me it's kinda like writing a review of my grandparents. They're old, and sometimes they smell funny. They're cranky and move all wobbly. But they are my grandparents, and honestly, they have loved me unconditionally, shaped me, held me, been there my whole life, and always put a dollar in my birthday card. Not Casa Molina, my grandparents. My smelly wobbly grandparents. Casa Molina is like that though, since 1947. Three generations of Molina's running a rather large restaurant. I grew up on Casa Molina Mexican food. Every Friday night my family would go to Casa Mo. Every Friday night. I probably have had over 2000 meals at this restaurant. Most of them happy, marveling at the saguaro rib ceiling, the posters of matadors and corridas, the old thick plastered adobe walls, the huge circular dinning room, the patio and fountain that used to have swimmy fish. In the bar, scary mounted bulls heads with dead glass eyes. The giant concrete matador and bull with happy painted testicles. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, deaths...all have been celebrated at Casa Molina. I have had many many good meals and many awesome memories at this establishment. That being said, I have had bad meals and bad service at Casa Mo. Generally though, Casa Molina is classic east-side Tucson Anglo Mexican food, with generally awesome service. It's definitely not south-side Mexican. Not west-side. My wife says it's old white people Mexican food. She does not love The Casa. So there you go. Are the beans and ground beef taco meat salty? Yeah. Is the red chile sometimes off. Yeah. Carne Seca too wet? Yeah. Bathrooms horrible. Yeah. But again, on average, it's decent food and still my family's agreed upon restaurant. I love Casa Molina like I love my Grandparents. To me they are awesome, to others- well...old, wobbly and sometimes smelly. And in between the awesome and sometimes smelly lies the absolute truth.
(3)cyndi E.
I first ate here in 1979 when I lived in Tucson. What I remember from then and was happy to see hasn't changed in all those years is that the margaritas are delicious!! Food is very good also, but the margaritas....YUM!!
(4)Mary A.
Based on the good reviews offered at Yelp we ate lunch at Casa Molina. We were not disappointed with our lunch as the Picadillo and the cheese enchiladas were well prepared. My husband tried the Picadillo and he said his meal was the "best he's eaten in a long time". The Picadillo was made using cubed beef steak which was very tender. A large tortilla was served with the Picadillo and there were refried beans on the side. I tried the cheese enchiladas and they were very good. The corn tortillas were filled with a gooey melty cheese making the enchiladas downright yummy. As I ordered the lunch special (#6 on the menu), my meal came with refried beans and rice as sides. I will admit the rice was not prepared in the style I am used to eating, but the rice dish was very good. As the restaurant seems to be located in an older building, we did notice a slightly funky odor when entering the restaurant. It wasn't bad I've had this experience in other older buildings, so this does not detract from the ambiance, food or service offered at Casa Molina. Recommend.
(4)Stephanie J.
First time here. Quiet place and very friendly staff. I ordered the works chicken chimichanga with rice. Rice reminded me of On The Border (not my fave) but it was good. The chimichanga was huge, but flavorful and chicken wasn't dry. Salsa was spicy even for me, but delicious. My meal was a little on the pricy side since it comes a la carte and toppings alone are extra, but it was a lot of food. I'd eat there again if we're hungry and in Tucson.
(4)Paul B.
Let me say up front that their Chile Relleno is excellent! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I returned a second night in a two night stay in town to have it again, and it was on the second visit where it got a little weird. I ordered the Chile Relleno AND a Taco, which I'll admit is not on the menu, (but really, how tough is it?) and got a Chile Relleno In a Taco Shell!! I kid you not... Like I said at the beginning if you want a really good Chile Relleno this is your place, just don't go 'off-menu'.
(2)Prusha S.
Food is okay. Not very authentic compare to Other older Mexican places In town. I stopped going there.dont waste your money.
(2)Brittney M.
This is our go-to place for Mexican food. We feel that the prices are decent & they offer military discount. My husband and I always order a margarita, they are so yummy and 2 usually does it for us. I always order the Chile Relleno, my husband likes anything carne seca. Again, this is our place when we want Mexican food :) try it out sometime
(4)Alana M.
Margaritas for Sunday brunch? Yes! (also a great Sunday brunch buffet) Giant cheese crisps with green chilies? Yes! Amazing Margaritas? YES!! Come for the great food, call a cab because of the great margaritas!
(5)Grey S.
Absolutely one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants. Great cheese crisps, amazing salsa and tasty burritos. A must visit when we're in Tucson. The place is a bit dingy but that only adds to the charm. I recommend highly.
(4)A H.
A little dark and dated but the food is good, and prices are right. We had a half pitcher of top shelf Margaritas, mini chimi appetizer and chicken rice soup. The soup was delicious but unexpectedly more like a minestrone... lots of veggies. The mini chimi (small order) was certainly enough for lunch. $30. including the tip... not bad.
(4)Maddy H.
Casa Molina is infamous in my family. It is usually our birthday spot for family gatherings of 7 + people. Ever since I was a baby my family has taken me here for celebrations so it holds a strange nostalgic place in my mind.
(5)Karin H.
We were taking a long weekend in Tucson and had done a little research about restaurants near our hotel and thought this looked good. Okay to fair would have to be my assessment after experiencing it. This was our first meal stop after our arrival and other than providing sustenance after the drive, flight drive it really wasn't that impressive. I ordered a bean and cheese dish that was really just glorified chip dip. it had so much cheddar on it that you could see the grease and when it was no longer screaming hot it was a congealed wad of goo. My husband had the chile relleno, a frequent go to for him, and he was not impressed either. All in all, for that meal we would have been better off at the fast food Mexican restaurant up the street.
(2)David M.
I remember coming here in the late 1980s. I don't think they've changed much. The restaurant is really dark. The service here is decent. The food is so-so.
(3)Amanda G.
Food was OK, margaritas were delicious. Wasn't overly impressed, but it wasn't bad. My biggest issue was: we went with a large group, each family had a living social deal (not each person). We were not told each family couldn't use the deal until after we ordered/ ate/ requested bills to be split and then went up to pay. Staff was rude about it and didn't care. If a restaurant is using these living social and groupon deals, aren't they being used for advertising and to bring in business? If so, why be rude when customers do come in? This is definitely NOT the way to gain business. I know the families I went with just deleted their unused deals and none of us will be returning.
(2)Lori S.
Nice bartender. Made us a good margarita. Chips are thick. Salsa has a nice bite and good flavor. Food was good authentic Mexican.
(4)Timothy S.
I had the privilege of attending a wedding at this place so naturally I got to eat some food. I love Mexican food, the more authentic the better. It was very good and I had a lot of food to try. I personally loved the beans. IDK why but im a fan of beans. I look forward to going back when in town again
(4)Michel M.
I cannot speak for anything other than one item menu, but I order it twice a week and have for many, many years. CARNE SECA BABY! Vegetarians will not be happy here. Sorry. Meat lovers will. Specifically, red meat lovers. Did I mention the CARNE SECA?!?!? At first, you will balk. You will say 6.95 for ONE carne seca enchilada? Are they crazy? My friend, spend the money, for it is well done indeed! That enchilada will fill up most people, especially with a side of refried beans. If you crave something larger, get the carne seca chimichanga. It's one of the best things on earth. It saddens me that this amazing place is ranked so low that most visitors will never even see it. What a shame. I've been going for so long it's like I'm Norm from Cheers when I walk in. The people there are all very, very nice. And their food is just fantastic.
(5)Saba B.
I got sucked into the Casa Molina vortex because it was handy to our houses, but my friend and I both regretted it. We like to order off the ala carte menu, as the servings are always more than generous. My BBQ enchilada (yep, verbatim from the menu) was a dry, scabrous corn tortilla which required a knife to cut, yellow with a glutinous cheese of some sort, although the chewy meat in the middle was completely dry. The salsa accompanying the meal was red-hot, and not in a good way. Finally, we waited 25 minutes to get our card back after we paid, just not acceptable even if the place is packed with gem show peeps.
(2)Chris C.
The chips and beans are good. We had dinner for 8. Only one dish was really eatable. My family had hoped that Casa Molina would be restored to it's proper station in the industry. I hasn't in the last 5 years. Why do people return to this restaurant?
(1)Melinda C.
What a turnaround! I grew up loving to eat here. Moved away, then came back and was terribly disappointed in the change to the food. So didn't eat here for a long time. But got hungry for their cheese enchiladas. And dared to eat here recently. Long story short... Wow! They're back and with great food, again!! I had the excellent cheese enchiladas of my memory! The rich, a little spicy, cheesy ones from the 80s that made my mouth water when I thought about them. Hubby ordered the carne seca. This rivals the best in Tucson. He was more than pleasantly surprised. Do they sell the meat in pints to go? The restaurant is beautiful inside and I'm so happy that the food is returning to its prior excellence as well. I hope it will be able to stay open and thrive for years to come.
(4)Brad H.
Actually 2.5 stars. Came here today for a lunch with some work colleagues. I liked the building and the ambiance, but it was a little dark for me. I had the beef taco and cheese enchilada plate. It was good. Decent portions. I should say, it was OK, nothing that would trigger my salivating glands and call me back, though. It wasn't bad, just not great. AND they didn't have horchata. Go figure. Oh well.
(2)Andrew C.
Bland food. Dark and dirty. Food tasted like an old Midwestern housewife tried to make Mexican food. Chicken enchiladas tasted like chicken pot pie. Rice tasted like uncle ben's in a microwave bag. Plates and silverware reminded me of a high school lunch room. Friendly wait staff was the only upside.
(1)Jessica C.
I grew up going to Casa Molinas with my family and family friends. I always have enjoyed the food and usually attentive/friendly service. However, I was extremely disappointed by my most recent visit. My girlfriend and I walked into the restaurant and approached the empty host stand (the host was seating another party). There were two people (one standing and one seated on the waiting area couch) to the right of the host stand, which I didn't pay attention to thinking they were also waiting to be seated as well. The man standing actually worked at the restaurant, but he didn't greet us. He said "Uh, do you need a table?" I wanted to say, "No, we're just standing here for the hell of it," but instead I said "Yes, a table for two, please." He showed us to a table, handed us the menu and left. He was extremely rude and it really bothered us. Then, our waiter approached and asked us "anything to drink?" Again, no greeting. If we weren't starving, we would of gotten up and left. Our waiter came back about 5 min later, "did you decide?" We ordered and he walked away, practically grabbing the menu out of my girlfriend's hand and forgetting to take mine. Once our food arrived, he did not check back on us. I wanted more salsa, but oh well. A party of eight, obviously regulars (as our waiter greeted them by name) arrived mid-meal and was sat near us. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive to that table. After that large party arrived, he tried to make some jokes with us while he was clearing our plates, but it was too late to make up for his previous lack of friendliness. I just wanted to pay and leave. Apparently, if you're not a regular or a large party, they don't care about you. Besides the poor service, the food was pretty disappointing, too. It lacked flavor and freshness. There are far better Mexican food restaurants in town, I won't be back here again (unfortunately).
(2)Bruce B.
just had the sunday buffet best chicken enchiladas ever great mini chicken chimis and chicken fajitas awesome guack rice was beautiful kept missing the line so no waiting great service friendly peeps kept my ice tea full plenty of limes for my tea blissed out from an all around great food experience
(5)Yves J.
The prices are good. I had the enchiladas and my wife had the picadillos. Her food wasn't good. My platter was very good. I'd suggest that meal to anyone.
(3)Ty F.
I know this place is a Tucson institution, so I had high hopes. But I was disappointed. The food is meh. I had the taco and enchilada lunch special. The taco was reminiscent of the tacos I ate in the cafeteria in elementary school -- hard shell filled with too salty ground beef. The enchilada was buried in sauce and cheese. It was uber cheesy and not very flavorful. Lots of rice and truly lots of food which was VERY good deal for the $7 range, if you're into quantity. The service was good, but not super attentive. If you're in the mood for a lot of Mexican food on the cheap and don't care about flavor, come here. If you want yummy Mexican food, go elsewhere. If you want character and a lot of food, come here.
(2)Paul D.
Not Tucson's absolute best Mexican food, but very good, and a classic that should be experienced. This place oozes Tucson character-- An older, quirky building that is super-welcoming. On a hot day, walk into the dark bar area and feel instantly soothed. And don't miss the funky "curio" shop on the back-side of the building. The food is consistently good, offering Tucson staples like Chilaquilas, cheese crisps, carne seca & chimichangas. Good selection of margaritas which are better than pretty much anything we have in Denver. We've always found the service quite good as well. In fact, this was my wife and my go-to joint when we lived nearby 10+ years ago, and got to know Hector Soto, a super-friendly server there. We moved away back in 2001, but always remembered him. We stopped in yesterday and he still works there, and is just as friendly as we remembered. Stop in for a margarita & green chili cheese crisp and ask for Hector! I think you'll enjoy it.
(4)Corey D.
I have a friend who thinks every girls deserves to have a quinceanera at some point in her life...regardless of the fact that she turned 35 last month. Casa Molina was the perfect setting for our fiesta. We took up the outside patio, and although it was a little warm, it was nice to be under the stars, celebrating the departure of a dear friend into womanhood...again. The margaritas were tasty, the service was excellent, but the food missed the boat. I tried some of the chicken fajitas and found they didn't really have any flavor and they weren't piping hot. Isn't that a given? I mean don't you order fajitas at a restaurant because you want a screaming hot cast iron pan set in front of you that can only be cooled down by squeezing a wee wedge of lime over top?! My disappointment with the pollo left me gorging on chips and salsa and throwing back margaritas. Not a bad evening by any stretch of the imagination, but like a girl on the verge of becoming a lady, I set out that night looking for a little something more to satisfy my inner desires.
(3)Rachel R.
Tradition, quality, family - That's what I expect for Casa Molina! To be honest, for Tucson, this is pretty average fare. However, this place gets points for history and culture. Clearly, they have made efforts to keep the old ways alive and serve up some good grub!
(4)Thom G.
I had a group of 6 and we all needed separate checks for our orders (dutch treat!!) It was no problem, the waiter was very polite, friendly and attentive. We all put our orders in and food was delivered in a reasonable length of time. I ordered the Chicken topopo salad - it was plentiful (in fact I took almost half of it home because I couldn't finish there!!) It was very delicious and all the veggie's and lettuce were fresh and green. I understand this is the original location, it is a bit "rustic" but very comfortable and cozy. There is parking in front and in the back so don't be disappointed if the front lot is full, try parking behind the building, there is usually room there. I haven't tried their other locations but I will be returning to this in the near future.
(5)EC C.
Great place to go drink and have Mexican food. Sebastian will take care of you at the bar, and the food is delicious and affordable. Favorite Tucson restaurant!!
(5)Missy K.
I always like Casa Molina, but there is better. Being that we live in Tucson and so close to the border our Mexican food choices are endless. I will say that Casa Molina is one of the better ones and I love thier Margharitas. BUT the salsa is very tomato pasty and I love fresh ingrediants in my salsa. The cheese crisp is great and so are the enchiladas! Again the enchilada sauce is a bit tomato pasty tasting etc... Staff is also pretty friendly and accomodating and they have a lot of space for big groups. Its good, but not Great!!
(3)Julie P.
When I was 9 my family lived in Tucson for a brief time. My world was upturned and of course I was devastated in a way that only a 9 year old can be... but there was thing that made it bearable. On Friday nights, my dad would pile us in the car and we would head off to Casa Molina. That was almost 35 years ago but this place made such an impression that in my mind I could still see the details of the saguaro skeletons lining the ceilings. I longingly remembered the cheese crisp, which is quite literally legendary. And it was here that I experienced my first chimichanga. So on a recent day trip to Tucson, I did a little research and found that this gem was still there. I dragged my friends with me on a Sunday morning with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Would it be everything I remembered? Could it have survived all those years unchanged? The building is a little worse for wear, but honestly after 35 years, aren't we all? But where it counted, it was pure perfection! I had to have the cheese crisp, so we all settled on having a la carte items rather than the big plates of food that we say going by. The portions were huge. The quality was fresh and tasty. The service was prompt and my memories were allowed to stay in tact. They had a buffet which was the obvious hit for the majority of patrons. As we walked out, we looked it over and I have to say it did have a wide selection of yummy looking goodness. Overall I was delighted with our visit to Casa Molina. This isn't a fancy place and the food reminds me more of something that you would expect from visiting a home and being treated to their very best. But it truly doesn't get much better than that and I for one and happy they haven't updated the kitchy decor. This was as close to turning back time as I've ever experienced and I was one happy camper! There aren't too many places that can stand up to time and still stand on their own. Casa Molina is something to be celebrated!! : )
(4)Julia S.
I just had to try their take out after having such a nice meal previously, and it's no exaggeration to say that the two chimi's I've gotten from Casa Molina are the two best chimis I've ever had. The crust is nice and flaky and yet seems to melt in your mouth, and the ground beef is wonderful... amazing even. The salsa was delicious as well, much better than I remembered it. I had to tear myself away before my mouth caught on fire. This is the kind of great food that makes my casual diet weep.
(5)Carrie B.
Lunch today yielded Enchiladas de la Casa and Hubby had a bubbling hot skillet of Chili con Queso. I only ate about 1/2 or less of the enchiladas due the huge portion. If you like a creamy "enchilala", this is the way to go. Chili con Queso is very similar to Queso Fundido- it's basically the hottest plate of cheese served all gooey with tortillas on the side. Big portions, you'll probably bring something home. Entrees include dessert sopapillas served with honey. I can see where some would think these were the best thing about the Casa Molina, but I just think it's marginal. HOWEVER, if someone showed up at my house during my morning coffee with a huge plate of these, I'd feel 100% differently about them!! I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the rustic, homey atmosphere, welcoming bar and fast service.
(5)Peg P.
Tucson Business Week reports that Casa Molina will be undergoing foreclosure soon, joining El Parador and La Fuente. It's sad to see this happening.
(3)Zephyrus E.
First: the Margarita's are super excellent. Lately over the past 18 months the food has become more & more mundane. My Totopo salad had about a tblsp of retried beans, (I requested refried over just pinto beans) way too much rice and end/core pieces of lettuce. The tomatoes were white not red. my husband's burro had a cheap cut of beef & was just ok. Too bad...
(2)Heather W.
To me this is some of the most authentic Mexican food I have ever tasted. I usually just go here for the just for the cheese crisps though. They are pretty much the most amazing cheese crisps I have ever had! I am knocking down two stars for the long black hair that was all the way across the cheese crisp I ordered last time I was there. I know everybody makes mistakes, but It is something I really can't get over. LOL The reason I am still giving Casa Molina an "A-OK" rating though is because I go there pretty much every time I go down to Tucson to visit family and this was the first "bad" incident I have had. This is definitely the rest of my entire family's favorite restaurant on the entire planet though so you may want to give it a try!
(3)Jason P.
Uncomfortably hot in restaurant (85 degrees+). Shredded chicken in 'house specialty' enchiladas was extremely bad tasting - nasty 'chicken' flavor I associate with really low-quality fare. The service was good and the salsa was hot, but frankly this was the worst plate of Mexican food I've had in Tucson in a very long time. You'd get better food at Los Betos for half the price, and much better food for the same price at a dozen other restaurants. Avoid.
(2)Josh S.
Casa Molina has the best margaritas and cheese crisps in town. Order a pitcher of margaritas and wait for the cheese crisp to come out. They are large pizza sized tortillas buttered and covered in cheese (add the chiles and you will be extra happy). Everything after that is good, not great - but they make up for it in portions. The atmosphere is pretty nice, the bar is cozy but you feel welcome. The wait staff, some of which have been there longer than I have been alive, are pretty good. I normally get the chicken chimichanga but the shredded beef is also very yummy. Caution, if you like your chimis enchilada style you have to ask for it. The back of the restaurant has a gift shop (hours unknown) and a big circular room where you can have large, festive parties. Oh, they have a brunch on the weekend to, not sure of the hours.
(4)Lisannette R.
Heard this place is shutting down so my friends and I decided to spend some cash there in a effort to help them stay alive! Last night was gorgeous so we decided to sit out on their patio. Of course, we were served fresh tortilla and salsa! The tortillas were perfect, slightly warm, very crispy and not oily at all! We had two red salsas to choose from; one mild and one spicy. We totally ignored the mild salsa and quickly mopped up the spicy one that was soo good with perfect heat. I ordered a regular plate of the Chile Relleno with frijoles and a tortilla. I've never had Chile Relleno, so I was pretty stoked to try it for the first time at a place where I was already impressed. A plate of two huge chiles with a side of lettuce, tomato sauce (this was not good!) and refried beans was set in front of me about 10 minutes after we put in our order. I am not sure what the chiles are supposed to look or taste like but the breading a little soggy and very thick. The first chile had no cheese in it but the second one was oozing with cheese. The flavor of the chiles were very bland and not spicy. The beans were pretty good and the side salsa tasted like crushed tomatoes straight out of a can. I was more impressed by what my friends ordered which was Mini Chimis and Chile Con Queso! WHOLLY COW! The Chile Con Queso was amazing! Next time I will order just that as an entree. Overall, the atmosphere was nice but the food was meh. I would go back when I can spend more for the fancier dishes they offer. On my way to the bathroom I saw some mouth watering stuff being served up.
(3)M P.
I have been coming here since I could sit in a high chair. I have wonderful memories of Casa Molina and my family. I now take my kids here and enjoy the food. They have the best margaritas I have never had, and strong too! I will say, you have to find "Your" food. I order the same things every time I go. BBQ beef enchilada (which is very unique and you have to experience it to know if you will love it) and/or chicken rolled taco. Sometimes I feel adventurous and try something new. Sometimes I am pleased but sometimes I am horribly disappointed. Trust me though, once you zone in on what is your taste you will love it. Someone else mentioned the tacos being terrible but that is my husband and sons favorite menu item. They are stuffed with very flavorful and juicy beef (to much for me!) and sit on a huge plate of lettuce.Thier taco salad is great and comes with a whole chicken stuffed inside it seems. Everything is very big and stuffed and usually covered in cheese. I also highly suggest the cheese crisp especially with everything on it. The carne seca is fantastic. I am not fond of the Sunday buffet. I know many people like it but its just not the same for me and the restaurant is quite packed when it runs. We avoid Sunday and go on a Saturday afternoon or in the evenings. Its quiet and relaxed.
(4)mitty b.
Shame on Casa Molina! First they have no Carne Seca and then they cover their nachos with disgusting cheese sauce, not real cheese???? Gross!!! I insisted on a dinner here while honeymooning at Starr Pass, we make the trek out here and they 100% disappointed us!! My 11 year old can make better nachos than what we were served.
(1)Tom D.
Once great, now average. Prices have crept up but quality has slipped a little. Place could use a little maintenance. When they had problems with one of the restrooms, they closed it instead of fixing it. Still good on the Sonoran basics. Cheese crisps, burros, chimis, totopos. Best refried beans in town, bar none. And strong margaritas. But El Charro at Kolb and Sunrise has better food and ambiance, and has kept up with times on food. And Lerua's still does traditional Sonoran right. Casa Molina has fallen a bit behind both of them. Hoping they make an effort. Sitting on the old patio on Speedway is still a great Tucson tradition.
(3)Ingrid T.
I would give it 3 stars but the food was way under par. The service was great however most of us go to a restaurant for great food & service. This restaurant has been in Tucson quite some time and is a local favorite. I am not a native to Tucson and honestly don't quite get it. The food was not good. We didn't finish it either. The salsa was good. However I don't recommend this place there is so much better in Tucson.
(2)JD H.
Casa Molina....I have walked past this place a hundred times & never went in, but not today! Very good food and very nice service! Carne Seca is always a weakness of mine so I tried the Carne Seca Chimi Enchilada style! Great chips and salsa to start....wonderful grita to wash it down with. The Chimi was excellent and I really enjoyed my meal. My only complaint was that the meat could have used one more washing to reduce the saltiness but hey that goes with the Carne Seca...right? Give this place a try....its family owned and not a boxy corporate Mexi-Americano chain! Good food in tough times!
(3)Lakota M.
Being a patron of this local establishment , I forget some of the kitsch fun traits of this family owned restaurant. As we pull up , it's apparent there was a bachelorette party the night before as, the large statue of the bull outside has been decorated by the ladies , the evidence remaining is a set of very large blue testicles and streamers flowing so elegantly behind. I usually head straight to the bar and order my usual" a margarita and a half cheese crisp with everything". Today was different , my sister and her family are in town so, we venture to the outside courtyard ! Ahhhhhh, how refreshing! The brick lined patio, 3 tiered fountain, chirping finches and blossoming orange trees lend itself to a lovely ambiance. It's pretty surprising considering it's Speedway location. We ordered a many fan favorites - enchiladas, machaca tacos , guacamole, cheese crisp & chicken mole. My family raved about each dish and the portions were so large we all had a chance to sample each one. Great local spots like Casa make it easy for people to fall in love with Tucson and it's little big town attitude.
(4)Lisa G.
Love this place! Very generous portions, margaritas are great. Cheese crisp is huge. Great enchilada sauce and the chicken & rice soup is amazing. Great service. Authentic Mexican restaurant to take out of towners to.
(5)Sanford R.
My fiance thinks this is the greatest Mexican food on the face of the planet. I personally would rather go and have an Americanized burrito at Chipotle, but I didn't think this restaurant was bad. We both really love the cheese crisp. I didn't like the chicken burrito here though. It was very plain and not at all tasty. The restaurant seating was interesting and it was a fun place to eat dinner, although not my choice as far as the food goes.
(3)Eric G.
I've got to say I really like the look and feel of this restaurant. The interior as well as the patio has the feel of a truly rooted Mexican restaurant. The service is also pretty good. Nothing out of the ordinary spectacular, but certainly nothing poor either. The food is decent, but clearly not the best in Tucson. I could understand complaints about their salsa--it's basically spiced up marinara sauce. I'll admit though, I kind of like it. OK, I really like it. I've sampled numerous plates here. The green chili & cheese crisp is tasty, and huge--this is not a 2-person appetizer! While enjoyable, I have to say though, that it is even better reheated as leftovers at home. Odd how that is sometimes the case. The burritos I've sampled are fair in taste, huge in portion. Again, nothing bad, but nothing spectacular. That said, the top choice I've sampled is their mole offering. Could be that I've yet to find a mole I don't like, but it is quite tasty here. Lastly, they do have a bar area as well. I've never gone back to it as it is through some glass doors (maybe form the old days when smoking was permitted?). I know there's happy hour, but I think it is mostly limited to Bud/Bud Light. Blech.
(3)Katie S.
Cheese crisp is to die for! Other food, is not worth dying for. Service was slow and surly!
(2)Jennifer V.
Great service, excellent cheese crisp and yummy salsa. Green tamale was not good.
(5)Brian M.
Killer Margaritas and food ranging from okay, to good to great. Carne Seca is among the best in town; the Carne Seca Tostada is a meal unto itself and the Carne Seca con Huevos can cure the worst of hangovers. Chimi's are long and skinny but good and then there's all that "other stuff" that is just "ok." I love the patio after the dinner rush with the the Mariachi music playing softly in the background and a less frantic pace and the possibility of a light breeze ensuring a perfect setting for a late dinner.
(4)Paulie D.
This is our family restaurant. Every friday we are there. Its great when you walk in and can have the same server who knows your order without even asking. When he brings you a bowl of the salsa you like, Jorge knows my dad likes the hot stuff, and me I like a bowl of stewed tomatoes, which he brings to the table as soon as we sit down. I always get the chicken chimichanga. ITS HUGE and amazing! My dad always has the red chili burro or chili con carne. Some days its good some days its not hot at all. But we always love how friendly everyone is.
(5)Geoffrey A.
When we moved here 7 years ago, it was the first restaurant that we ate at, and it is still one of our favorites. Lots of people seem to think it isn't authentic, but from my travels in Sonora Mexico, this is about as authentic as it gets. I usually get one of the Burros, and it is always good. The Cheese crisp, as many have noted is an excellent, high calorie, starter that always pleases. I also love their margaritas. The house margaritas, are good, strong, and have plenty of real lime juice.
(4)Kelly K.
The bottom line at this place is "Good service, bad food." I usually rate each place on a per trip basis and not really as an overall. I believe each time should be an experience. Unfortunately, this experience was terrible. Some of our food came out burned, some of it came out cold. The good service actually came from 2 different waitresses fighting over our table. Since the food is really most important to me, I have no plans of going back.
(2)Peter B.
Hmmm, they deserve 4-1/2 stars, actually. Casa Molina has become a Happy Hour Staple, for me (great food, excellent margaritas, good price). Old School Authentic Mexican cuisine, and ambiance (the building must be older than me, so that's a good sign). Sebastian kicks butt; he's Da Man. The margaritas (pre-mixed by hand) are really good (even though I can't really taste the tequila, they do the trick). The chimichangas ARE THE BEST, I've ever had. Period. Light, slightly flaky shell, and jam-packed full of meat. Honestly, never had a better chimichanga (appetizer). Order chimichangas, cheese crisp w/chili's, and on top of the chips n salsa, that'll fill you up, good. Will try more items on the menu, each time I go back, but the 3 times I've been there, it's been great.
(4)Lenny M.
First of all, the two stars is only because the service was excellent. The food was not. If you think this place is authentic, you are high. This is pure tex-mex. They simply use mostly spanish on the menu to make you think it is more authentic. The food quality was extremely sub-par. Maybe it is just that I come from Colorado where the Mexican food is excellent. I thought I couldn't go wrong in southern Arizona. That is a failed assumption. My chile relleno had more egg batter than chile. My enchilada cheese was all dried out even though it was still hot. Why are enchilada/relleno combo plates $15? That is absurd.
(2)Susan F.
Awful food. When the salsa & chips are bad, it only goes downhill from there.
(1)Michael R.
My wife and I are visiting from Michigan and I wanted an authentic Mexican restaurant while here. I was not disappointed. We sat in the outdoor seating area and loved the ambiance. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, albeit a bit too efficient. She started to clear my plate before I was done and we received the bill before I could even order a second beer. Other than that, the food was great, in healthy portions and very reasonably priced. My wife enjoyed her strawberry margarita. My only real complaint was the draft beer offering was quite limited, sticking to only the standards like Corona, Dos Equis, Tecate and the like.
(4)Laurel T.
Casa Molina is a family favorite. With every trip to Tucson, I know I can plan eating here at least 3 times. The ambiance is fantastic, many rooms and a warm, earthy patio. There is a separate bar and curio shop. The wait staff know and love my grandmother so I suppose I could be a bit biased when I say the service is fantastic. You must order a cheese crisp as your appetizers, preferably with green chiles and a pitcher of their margaritas. I recommend foregoing the salt on the glass however as the food here is a bit on the salty side Other favorites here are the chile colorado, the topopo salad, and my favorite a guacamole taco. The guacamole taco is stuffed with guack and covered with lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese and a mild tomato sauce. I love it. The beans here are also very, very good. A meal would not be complete sopapillas, the pockets of sweet dough deep fired and served with honey. Prices are extremely reasonable and the food does not disappoint.
(5)Kerry F.
Casa Molina is pretty typical for a Mexican restaurant. They have a nice bull and matador statue outside...hahaha. A Tucson landmark pretty much. The food is okay. I should have ordered something else. My friend really loves the cheese. The service is slow, but that's okay because it's very relaxed. I would come back again!
(4)Micha M.
Meh. The food was not that great - and I was really in the mood for sonoran style mexican. I got a chile relleno and paid extra to get beans and a tortilla on the side. The relleno itself wasn't too bad, but it wasn't great either. The beans were WAY too salty - I couldn't finish them. The tortilla was huge. I felt my meal was overpriced for what I got. Hubby got steak fajitas and he had a HUGE serving of fajita filling. He got one tortilla with his meal (also huge), and I shared part of mine so he could finish off more of his fillings. He liked it OK. I wouldn't go back. We've eaten at Casa Molina del Norte as well, and it seemed better than this...
(2)J. G.
We stopped in after 30+ years away and found that the food was actually better than we remembered. I had the shredded beef chimi and it was certainly the biggest I have ever seen. Perfectly crisp everywhere and with good flavor. My wife had the beef taco salad and it was over-the-top enormous, and good too. We carried out enough leftovers to make two substantial lunches for us the next day. The service was very prompt and attentive. I hope that the fairly good lunch crowd on a Friday afternoon is a sign they might pull out of the threatened closure.
(4)James M.
No visit to Tucson is complete without trying to get to Casa Molina for a meal. Always great. Very cool old building and always friendly staff. Do you know about cheese crisps? If not, have one! Add the green chiles. A Sonoran favorite.
(5)Julie M.
Was not impressed at all. I didn't even care for the margs.
(2)Ryan M.
Great lunch, reasonable price. Ice tea was not watered down... Salsa was just right not to hot...
(4)Megan R.
I use to frequent the location on Columbus however im not sure if it's still there. When I lived in Tucson back in 2006 I loved this joint! My favorite mexican restraunt in town for sure. Great service, great food, great maragaritas! I always ordered the tortilla soup with a side of guacamole and shared a pitcher of margaritas which is cheaper for sure!
(4)Joe F.
Bad service, slow and not very friendly. Fajitas were bad, poor decor and dingy. Skip this place when in Tucson.
(2)Erin H.
I eat here often - a great place to get good, basic traditional Mexican classics. I like the decor - sort of in the round in the main room with an adobe feel. It's always mellow here too.
(3)Christina K.
This place was recommended to us, but overall we were pretty disappointed by the food quality. The service was excellent, but the food was very greasy.
(2)Dave C.
In planning my trip to Tucson I wanted to find a good Mexican food restaurant. Casa Molina had a lot of good reviews from various sites so we gave it a try. The only word the host ever said was "Four?". He grabbed four menus and walked to a table. He set the stack of menus on the table and walked away. Classy! Our server was the only really good part of the experience. He was attentive and prompt. The $10 cheese crisp was good, but not $10 good. My wife and I both ordered the taco/tamale plate. Neither of us could finish the taco. It was horrible! The shells weren't even home made. There was just a dab of cheese, no tomato or olives. Just some ground beef and a whole head of lettuce. The tamale was OK so was the tostada. I do like their beans (a little salty, but I like them that way). My wife didn't like the salty taste. The sopapias were awesome! The restroom was worse than a Blythe gas station's. There was liter in the hall between the dining room and the restroom. There were servers standing around doing nothing. Seems to me that they could be cleaning up the joint. We won't be going back.
(1)Steve M.
Way overpriced for mediocre food.
(2)Jim H.
Whenever I have family in town, this is the place we take them for great tasting Mexican Food. They have a good variety, it's fairly priced, and the service is always good.
(4)Annie P.
One of the places we always go to when I'm in town visiting the fam. Their cheese crisp is to die for!
(4)Aaron F.
Amazing and truly authentic Mexican food. Great service ask for Alma.
(5)Bonnie F.
Gotta love Casa Molina. Have eaten here countless times and order the same thing everytime - cheese crisp w/green chilies, carne seca burro enchilada style, and a picture of margaritas. If it is nice out - and it typically is in Tucson - the patio is so lovely as you feel like your in old Mexico. The cheese crisp is to die for and nobody's rivals it. Ditto for the carne seca. Only four stars are being given instead of five because the margaritas used to be better....they have changed something. It used to be where you'd be scared to drop a margarita at Casa Molina for fear it would blow up...yes, that potent. At that point in time a small picture between two people would leave you with quite a buzz - even after dinner. Not so any more. They've watered them down and that is so incredibly sad as they were the best - bar none - and now they are simply okay. If you read this Casa Molina please change them back to how they used to be. Raise your price on them, I couldn't care a less as they were sooooo good. But you're not fooling anyone and other members of my party noticed it as well, so it wasn't just me.
(4)