Services
- Live entertainment
- Dancing on Friday and Saturday Nites
- Excellent Mexican food
- Seafood the way you like it.
- Juicy steak dinners
- Full Service Bar
- Great Prices and Service that you expect.
- Our Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 5:00pm till 12:00 Midnight
Links to;
Serving you for 13 Years
106 W. Drachman Tucson, Arizona 85705-7327
Phone (520) 791-7793 Fax (520) 624-9003
El Mariachi is about good food and great fun. We are the best restaurant and bar in Tucson, AZ. Why can we say that?, because for the past 13 years we have been bringing this community to life with great drinks and a friendly atmosphere. If this is what you are looking for, then we welcome you to visit us.
It's always a party at El Mariachi
By: Julie SzekelyAssistant Feature Edtor
It's party time at El Mariachi. When? Just about any time. Gilbert Velez opened El Mariachi eight years ago to showcase International Mariachi America. The group plays nightly, across a large stage area and into the crowd.
The show is thrilling from the first blow of the horn and draw of the bow, through solos by various members of the talented group. Velez acts as emcee, welcoming the crowd and recognizing everyone who is there to celebrate an event, be it a wedding anniversary or the return to town of someone who has been gone on vacation.
The group was honored at the Edinburg Music Festival in Scotland in 1985. It was named one of the top three groups among the 3,000 that competed that year.
The atmosphere is festive, with a wild assortment of instruments hanging on the walls. We were hungry and arrived early early enough to hear the musicians tuning up before their appearance - a grand one, into and through the dining room to the stage.
The child wanted taquitos, and they were available, with mini chimis, as an appetizer. These taquitos had tender dark chicken meat within. The mini chimis were plump with tender, crisp shells. A side of guacamole, served on a bed of lettuce, with chips was spicy and fresh. Another time, we'll try the ceviche shrimp, scallops and fish in lime juice,or the chabela de camaron-Guadalajara style shrimp cocktail. Meanwhile, we satisfied our seafood palates with the caldo de marisco and the award-winning jumbo tequila shrimp.
The quantity of seafood - shrimp, scallops, clams, crab legs and fish - in the caldo was enormous, and all were at the point of delicate tenderness. On the side were lime slices to add to the seafood broth and a toasted bolillo slathered with butter. The shrimp were sauteed in garlic butter and flambed in tequila. These were highly flavored by the tequila and were smothered in green and red pepper slices, onions and mushrooms, which also strongly absored the tequila flavor.
We couldn't pass up the Mango Delight, which was much moore than we had bargained for. A giant globe of whipped cream arrived generously decorated with mango slices and encompassing a mound of fresh mango ice cream.
El Mariachi has won its share of awards for its food. In 1988's and 1989's Orgullo de Valle de Tucson competitions, the restaurant won for its green corn tamales, salsa, tequila shrimp, barbacoa, chili con came, and for the Mango Delight dessert.
House specialty
Award-winning jumbo shrimp sauteed in garlic butter and flambed in tequila, caldo de marisco—shrimp, scallops, clams crab legs arid fish in a fish broth; mesquite-broiled steaks.
- Pluses: Fiesta atmosphere with music by International Mariachi America. Take your mother-in-law on her birthday.
- Minuses: The huge dining room, perfect for the full tones of mariachi music, has no room for intimacy.
- Bar: Full.
- Attire: Casual.
- Hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
- Smoking and non-smoking sections: Yes.
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes.
- Credit Cards: All major cards.
- Checks: Not taken.
- Reservations: Available.
Tucson Citizen February1993