The Housechick Blog

 If you’ve read this blog for more than about a week, you’ll notice I talk quite a bit about food.  Mexican food, in particular - my favorite.  If food isn’t spicy, it probably isn’t worth eating.  I nearly had to fire a client the other day because he said he didn’t like jalapenos.  I’ll forgive him though, as he is from Houston and accustomed to that nasty Tex-Mex stuff.

So today, I present the Guadalajara Grill, at 1730 E Prince Road, in Tucson.

Worst part about this place is the parking - it’s a little awkward, but they’ve now got a parking lot attendant to help things out.  Okay - and the building is a bright yellow and looks like a revamped convenience store from the front.  Trust me - go park, sit down, and eat.

As the popularity of the place grows, so does the seating area.  There’s a huge patio now, and a little bar area around the corner, which is where we were seated last weekend.

Soon after you’re seated, the salsa lady will come by with her cart-o-salsa-fixin’s.  Mild, Medium, or Hot?  We go medium, as it has nice flavor and a decent level of spice, not too overpowering.  No onions for us though, Hubby doesn’t like them.  She’ll create salsa at the table for you.  Don’t like cilantro?  Want more tomatillo?  Just ask, and your wish is her salsa command.  The fresh, tableside salsa is one of the best parts to this place.

The menu has grown over the years as well.  It’s not your typical taco/tostada/burrito place.  There’s an excellent green chile pork dish, lots of seafood, intricate moles and sauces.  The Guadalajara Grill is a great place to move out of your food comfort zone, try new things. 

This is Pop’s meal, the three item combo meal.  No fancy sauces for him, no sir.  The mark of a good Mexican food restaurant is always either in the enchilada sauce (atop the tamale here) or in the chile rellenos.  So Pop always orders those items.  At Guadalajara Grill, he is not disappointed.

Place gets busy on weekends and Friday nights, so call ahead.  The mariachis come around in the evenings as well, serenading customers during their meal.  The tableside salsa is excellent, but try not to fill up on the chips and salsa at the start - you’ve got a fabulous meal coming!