El Charro Cafe
Food & Drink· 1922· Tucson

El Charro Cafe

Good forFood & drink loversHistory buffs

Founded 1922, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson and reputedly the oldest in the US continuously operated by the same family; its founder Monica Flin is widely credited with inventing the chimichanga.

Quick facts
  • ·Monica Flin's father Jules, a stonemason, helped build Tucson's St. Augustine Cathedral. Chimichanga origin (~late 1940s-50s): a burrito dropped in the fryer; she swapped a curse starting 'chi-' for 'chimichanga' ('thingamajig') with children present. Now run by great-grandniece Carlotta Flores. Original location 311 N Court Ave in El Presidio. Anchor for Tucson's UNESCO City of Gastronomy story. Coords approximate from address. K-10: 4+ facts.

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Editorial content compiled with AI assistance. Place details verified against public records.