Open Tue–Sun · lunch + dinner

Tucson weather: hot. Patio: shaded.

418 N 4th Ave · (520) 555-0142

Mesa Roja Reserve

Oaxacan kitchen · Tucson, AZ · since 2016

MesaRoja

Tlayudas off the comal, three moles, mezcal flights and barbacoa by the pound every weekend. Walk right in — or book the long table for ten.

See the menu Book the long table
  • Tlayuda$17
  • Mole negro$24
  • Barbacoa$26/lb
  • Mezcal flight$22
A cook in a checked apron laying fresh tortillas on a wide outdoor comal in the morning light
01/02 Doña Rosa on the comal, 7:40am
Three women laughing together in a turquoise-walled kitchen during prep
02/02 Prep crew, mid-joke, mid-mole

Page 02 · the house plates

Three plateswe'd fight for

A wide crisp tlayuda topped with beans, quesillo, tasajo, avocado and cabbage on a clay plate $17tlayuda

No. 1

The tlayuda

A tortilla the size of a hubcap, crisped on the comal, painted with asiento and black beans, then piled with quesillo, cabbage, avocado and tasajo. Fold it or eat it flat — we've seen both, we judge neither.

Chorizo $16 · Hongos + quesillo $15

Chicken under glossy black mole with sesame seeds, red rice and warm tortillas on a green clay plate $24mole negro

No. 2

Mole negro

Thirty-one ingredients, three days, and one abuela who still comes in on Tuesdays to taste it. Chicken leg, red rice, a stack of warm tortillas. Wear the dark shirt.

Coloradito $22 · Amarillo $20

Three memelas with beans and queso fresco, a bowl of toasted chapulines with lime and a cup of esquites $9memelas

No. 3

Memelas + chapulines

Thick masa, beans, queso fresco, salsa verde. The grasshoppers are optional, crunchy and extremely lime-y — a great story for the group chat.

Chapulines $8 · Esquites $7

A hand dipping a barbacoa taco into a clay cup of steaming consomé beside a plate of two more tacos, salsa verde and lime

Page 04 · weekends only

Sat + Sunfrom 10amtil it's gone

Lamb, slow-cooked overnight in agave leaves, sold by the pound with consomé, onions, cilantro and a bag of warm tortillas. It's usually gone by 1:30. Set an alarm.

  • By the pound$26/lb
  • Taco plate (3)$16
  • Consomé cup$7

Pre-order by Friday 6pm and we'll hold yours — call (520) 555-0142.

Page 05 · the flight

Mezcal flight$22

Three 1-oz pours — an espadín, a tobalá and whatever Beto is excited about this week. Orange slices, sal de gusano and zero judgement. Sip it; this isn't spring break.

Three hands clinking clay copitas of mezcal over orange slices and sal de gusano
01 Salud · three pours
Clay copitas of mezcal on a wooden board with orange slices, sal de gusano and a bowl of chapulines
02 Espadín + tobalá · 47–49%
Mezcal being poured from a clay jug into a jícara cup beside orange slices
03 Beto's pick · ask him
A long table from above with tlayudas, mole, barbacoa and salsas, and many hands reaching in to share

Page 06 · the long table

Ten chairs,one table

Family-style for up to 10: two tlayudas, two moles, barbacoa on weekends, a round of nicuatole. You bring the people; we bring more tortillas than you think you need.

  1. 1$38 per person, kids under 10 half price
  2. 2Book 48 hours ahead — no deposit
  3. 3Birthdays welcome. Piñatas negotiable.
Book the long table

Page 07 · come by

Walk in.We saved youa seat.

We hold half the room for walk-ins, every service. Reservations are for groups, birthdays and people who like certainty.

Tue – Thu
11am – 9pm
Fri – Sat
11am – 10pm
Sunday
10am – 3pm · barbacoa
Monday
Closed (mole day)

418 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705
Street parking on 4th, bike rack out front, streetcar stop at 4th & 7th.
(520) 555-0142 · hola@mesaroja.example

Reserve a table

Pull upa chair.

The comal's hot from 11. The mole's been ready since Monday.

ReserveRead the menu