We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Mexican, Southwestern
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service
Reviews (162)
Filter reviews
162 results
Traveller rating
37
42
35
22
26
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
37
42
35
22
26
Show reviews that mention
All reviews peach margarita shredded beef tamales ate here sour cream oro valley location filler masa specialty arizona
Sort and selected filters
Sort FilterEnglish
Updating list...
Reviewed 4 February 2024

It's the best Mexican food restaurant I've ever eaten. The flavor is a true journey into Mexican cuisine; every bite, every spoon put in your mouth takes us back to authentic Mexican cuisine. The flavor is from history, and the flavor and seasoning are genuine.

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 July 2023

My husband and I just had a long day drove from California to Oro Valley. El Molinito was just next to our hotel where staying so we decided to dine in. As the moment we walked in and the moment we sat down we felt...very welcomed. We had Felix as our server. He was down to earth, veey friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The most unforgettable moment during our dined in was that, Felix and the crew came and sang happy birthday ( I briefly mentioned to Felix it was my birthday , my husband and I where veey busy finishing our move between California to Oro Valley) but what Felix and El Molinito made my birthday even special was they brougth cake, candle and sang happy birthday. That was very sweet and awwwwed moment. We're moving jusy 5 minutes away, and definitely will come and visit again and again. The consistency of the excellent amazing customer was there from the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out. Thank you again Felix, to the crew and the manage?(wearing button up shirt who spoke with us on the table). What a great dined in experience. I highly recommend El Monilito, especially theyre specialty and MargaritasMore

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 May 2023 via mobile

We ate here as we were staying in the hotel next door, and it was convenient. Selection was limited, and the food ordinary. The margarita was not to my taste - couldn't drink it, so I had a glass of wine instead. I'd had wonderful...margaritas in Santa Fe and Las Cruces, NM, so I know a good one from a poor one. Service was slow with our waitress; another waitress stepped in and followed up the order. They close around 8pm, but the bar stays open later - the barman was friendly and professional.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 April 2023

We visited the Oro Valley location on Oracle for lunch. Information on my phone said they have outdoor dining - they do not. We sat in a very comfortable room that might have been a patio area years ago, but is now enclosed with large...windows looking out over the parking area. Fresh tortilla chips and a very tasty, slightly spicy salsa were brought to the table immediately. My wife and I both ordered iced teas. I do enjoy beer, but they have no beer on tap - only bottles and I prefer tap. The menu is quite extensive and there are Lunch Specials which are a buck or two lower in price compared to standard menu pricing. My wife selected the Beef Tamale and Cheese Enchilada Combo($7.99). I ordered the Burro of Choice With Works. I chose shredded beef as my burro protein and when ordering 'With Works', you have options to get the burro enchilada style (ranchero style sauce and melted cheese over the burro), guacamole side, and sour cream side - any or all of these. I got it all! All lunch specials come with either rice or beans. Unlike most restaurants where lunch specials tend to be a smaller portion of a standard menu item, these dishes were anything but small. My wife had an excellent tamale filled with an abundant amount of flavorful shredded beef. A perfect ratio of masa to beef. Her chicken enchilada was excellent topped with a bit of spicy enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. As the sauce was a little spicy for her, she asked for some sour cream. Out came a bowl with maybe a full cup of sour cream ($2.49 add-on) and was a perfect pairing with the sauce. The Mexican rice had more flavor than most. Centered between the enchilada and tamale was a small undressed salad. My plate could hold no more. A very large sauce and cheese covered burrito, large sides of sour cream and one of the best guacamoles I've had in Arizona. I also had some undressed salad. The refried beans were tasty, especially when I added some of the salsa. The burro is packed with shredded beef. No beans or other fillers. I brought home 2/3 of my burro, my wife did likewise with her enchilada, plenty for another lunch. We recommend this place for sure. Go hungry and you'll still bring food home.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 January 2023 via mobile

We can’t review the food because we were never given the opportunity to order food or even get water. It wasn’t that we weren’t noticed, we were simply ignored. For 15 minutes. We got up to walk out and still nobody stopped us so I...walked up to one waitress and told her what happened - she was nice and seemed genuinely concerned about their lack of response or attention and went to get the manager. The manager didn’t introduce himself, we had to ask him if he was the manager. He didn’t offer an apology, he did offer to be the one to wait on us but at that point we didn’t want to stay. There are so many choices for good Mexican food in our lovely city and we will never know if this one is good because we wont go back. And obviously, they don’t care.More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 18 August 2022

I did not have a meal here but ran in for a drink to chill for a few minutes. They have a great peach margarita! Chips and salsa were good too. All the food that I saw in passing looked wonderful.

Date of visit: August 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 22 July 2022 via mobile

The orders were incorrect. Then enchilada was rubbery and beans cold. Stale chips. Waitress was told about the problem. Not even an offer to heat the items.

Date of visit: July 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 23 February 2022

Their menu says “margaritas are our specialty” Their margaritas are not worth the cost. With a restaurant that claims to have amazing margaritas I was expecting more. We ordered two different margaritas and they were served in a wine glass and the cups were filled...to the top with ice. They were wear and tasted like they were made with cheap ingredients. The food was ok, nothing to get excited over. The service is very slow. We were not offered any refills or checked on during our meal. I did like the ground beef taco, greasy but it was good. The tamale had a lot of masa. The mild salsa actually tasted like ketchup, very sweet.More

Date of visit: February 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 November 2021

Bad customer service waited 30 minutes before someone asked if I needed help will not recommend this place to anyone

Date of visit: November 2021
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 17 November 2021

We actually ate at the one on 7882 North Oracle Road.It was OK, but nothing special. It was walking distance from our motel.

Date of visit: November 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 October 2021

I had seen mixed reviews about food and service so went with some doubts. Firstly the food was good; I ordered the chili con carne plate. Service was rapid and friendly/professional. Food came very quickly. Draft Lagunitas was good too. Finally a comment about service;...this was my third choice since the others were closed on this Monday night. So I think that says something in itself about service!! I will be back here.More

Date of visit: October 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 23 May 2021 via mobile

had shredded beef taco and rice. Both very good. Chips could use a wee bit salt. Traditional mexican restaurant decor. nice staff.

Date of visit: May 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 May 2021

We visited this restaurant for the first time on a Tuesday for lunch. Met a couple who recommended it and they were correct, we had the Taco Lunch Special and it was great! The portions were huge, the taco shells were crisp and tasty. Hubby...had an Amber beer. It was pretty quiet for lunch and everyone was practicing social distancing. The Service was great, we will be returning!More

Date of visit: May 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 February 2021

El Molintos is by far one of the best Mexican Food establishments in Tucson, AZ. Always excellent service! Their margaritas are wonder, too, Highly recommend!

Date of visit: January 2021
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 January 2021

In years past, I suspect that El Molinito used to prepare food in advance and microwave it when it was ordered. Too often the food would come almost immediately after it was ordered, and there was no way it could have been cooked that quickly....But not anymore. The last time we went there, the dishes were noticeably fresher and much tastier. Dare I say the chicken enchiladas and beef chimi rivaled Mi Niditos? Nah... But both were delicicious. A second visit confirmed that the food has really improved. The wait is a little longer while it's prepared, but well worth it for the higher quality of food.More

Date of visit: January 2021
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
View more reviews
Best nearby
Best nearby hotelsSee all
Fairfield Inn & Suites Tucson North / Oro Valley
222 reviews
.08 km away
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort
3,221 reviews
.78 km away
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oro Valley-Tucson North, an IHG Hotel
203 reviews
2.38 km away
The Golf Villas at Oro Valley
65 reviews
3.49 km away
Best nearby restaurantsSee all
Pho Saigon
7 reviews
1.19 km away
First Watch
157 reviews
.87 km away
MOD Pizza
67 reviews
.99 km away
Sushi Valley
61 reviews
.71 km away
Best nearby attractionsSee all
Pedego Electric Bikes Oro Valley
37 reviews
4.13 km away
Linda Vista Trail
20 reviews
1.18 km away
Oro Valley Aquatic Center
29 reviews
1.95 km away
Oro Valley Farmers Market
16 reviews
1.96 km away
Questions & Answers
Get quick answers from El Molinito staff and past visitors.
Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page.
Submit
Posting guidelines
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing

El Molinito, Oro Valley - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about El Molinito

Yes, El Molinito offers takeaway services.

El Molinito is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 3.5
  • Value: 3.5
  • Atmosphere: 3.5