La Herradura Mexican Grill & Seafood — Restaurant in Tucson

Walking into the restaurant, my expectations were set pretty high, despite the lack of other guests. Though to be fair I mostly attributed this to it being a wednesday. The atmosphere was sincerely quite nice, and authentic. I'm not sure if the birthday cow is a regular or not, but it was certainly a fun decoration piece.

The waitresses were quite attentive, hopping over to help us with a smile on their face as soon as they noticed us. Thanks to the mostly empty restaurant, we were seated quickly, which was nice as me and the person that was joining me that night were quite hungry. Being handed the menus and our drink orders being taken, it didn't take long for an appetizer of chips and two bowls of dip to join me and my company at our table.

At first, we thought it was two different kinds of salsa, one slightly more orange than the other. After taking bets about which one might be spicier, the orange or the red, the thickness of the orange dip surprised me. As it turns out, it was mostly unseasoned refried beans. The salsa was equally as exciting. At first brush, the flavor was quite nice, until the ketchupy aftertaste began to take note. Sincerely, I could see the store-bought-tasting salsa maybe tasting passable on a breakfast burrito, but that's about all I can muster for compliments.

In retrospect, the salsa quality should have been a clearer warning about the food.

I got a number 22, trying both the breaded fish taco and the grilled, while my company got a pair of beef enchiladas. The food came out pretty quick, and well... my company's first comment was about the lack of color. Both plates looked quite bland, though in fairness there was decent serving sizes. I would say the rice was the most edible part of the meal.

I'm not professional food critic. I wasn't even planning to write this review, but the shocking quality of the food provoked me into action. The breaded fish almost tasted like an undercooked, soggy fish stick. The vegetables were at least not rotten, and the sauce was the only thing aside from my hunger that got me through the breaded taco. Neither could not carry me all the way through the grilled fish taco. I know it's part of my job as a reviewer to put things into words, but the best I can say is 'bad flavour, subpar texture, wet taco.' And the flavourless beans that it was soaking in did not compliment it.

All this being said, if you're a fan of chef boyaurdee ravioli then I have good news for you about the enchiladas! If you want something tasting authentically mexican, and fresh cooked however, you're in for some disappointment. I only had a single bite of these, and my company, despite his hunger, couldn't even stomach the modestly sized portion he received.

Unfortunately, despite the friendly staff and cozy atmosphere, I have to leave this establishment with a 2 star rating, propped up only by the aforementioned positives. If I was rating on food alone, this would be a 1 star review. There is a chance that maybe we came on a bad night, or that their other foods are good, but it's very unlikely I'll ever be returning to La Herradura's. Thank you for the kind...

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this place! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was so warm and inviting—it felt like a true taste of Mexico right here in town. The décor is colorful and authentic without feeling overdone, and the music created such a fun vibe without being too loud.

Now let’s talk about the food—WOW. Every single bite was packed with flavor. We started with the chips and salsa, and I have to say, the salsa was absolutely perfect—fresh, tangy, with just the right amount of spice. You can tell everything is made in-house. For the main course, I ordered the carne asada tacos and they were out of this world. The meat was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, served on soft, warm homemade tortillas that tasted so authentic. My friends ordered enchiladas and fajitas, and we all kept stealing bites from each other because everything was that good.

Drinks? Don’t even get me started! The margaritas were phenomenal—fresh lime juice, not too sweet, and a great tequila flavor. The staff also recommended their specialty horchata, and it was hands down the best I’ve ever had—sweet, creamy, and super refreshing.

But what really makes this place shine is the service. The entire staff was so friendly, attentive, and genuinely happy to make sure we had an amazing experience. They checked on us just enough without hovering, and they even took the time to explain the different dishes and make recommendations, which I really appreciated.

Overall, this restaurant completely exceeded my expectations. You can feel the love and care in every detail—from the food to the service to the atmosphere. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican cuisine with a warm, welcoming vibe, this is the spot. I’ll definitely be coming back and bringing all my friends! 10/10...

Last time I ate in this building, I had a pleasant lunch at a place called Taco Giro. I’m wondering if these are the same people as it looks like there are a couple of Giros and Herraduras around town — but I’m really not wondering that much — you’ll have to do your own research.

Back in October, I noticed the sign advertising their breakfast special at $5.99 — I told my buddy about it and we went in November to check it out. Our server didn’t know if the special was still available (even though the large sign on the building formally promotes it) — she went to ask the manager or chef, came back announcing indeed, there were 6 or 7 items available at $5.99.

Sign me up! I had a green chile dish that was generous on the pork, served with my sunny-side up egg and potatoes. My friend’s dish came with bacon, which provokes consternation from his cardiologist, so I assisted with dispatching that sow.

There were only two or three other diners — shame, because this place is a great pick for a tasty and reasonably priced breakfast! …and looks like they have a full bar, so if you want to stop for a drink before hitting the Safeway on your way...