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Mi Nidito Cafe
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
19 reviews for Mi Nidito Cafe
On a Saturday night -- sometime near midnight -- I decide to sample Tucson's Mexican food. After some quick research, I discover that Mi Nidito is open late night.
As I arrive, I note that the parking lot is near filled. Thankfully, I successfully secure a spot near the entrance.
"Great success," I thought.
I get out of the car, I quickly note the seemingly vigilant security guard at the front of the restaurant.
"Good parking spot," he exclaims in a thick Spanish accent.
"Thanks," I replied.
As I enter the wood door, I note the number of people standing. I figured that this place must be good.
After being seated, I order.
I went for the "President's Plate," which apparently was the same meal that Bill Clinton ordered when he visited this restaurant in 1999.
The President's Plate had a bean tostada, taco, chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and beef tamale.
I also ordered a horchata as a beverage.
The meal was good.
I then opted for the "Mango' Chimichanga" for dessert.
Appetizers range from about $7 to $11. Entrées range from about $7 to $13.
The food was certainly above average. And the service was great, considering how busy the restaurant was. However, I would not necessarily say that "I'm a fan."
Nonetheless, if you're in mood for Mexican food while in Tucson, you can't go wrong with Mi Nidito Cafe.
4
63
A Tucson favorite with consistently better-than-good Mexican food. Don't listen to the idiots who think this place serves uninspired slop - they don't know what they're talking about. "...but it would probably make good hangover food." Yeah buddy - I'll bet you're a credible authority on things that suck.
The President's Plate is pretty much a perfect tourist introduction to standard Tucson Mexican Restaurant food. The carne seca is better than El Charro's (darker and richer), and the chili rellenos are top-notch.
That said, it's not without its flaws. The salsa is terrible. No pitchers of margarita or sangria. While the cotija cheese (crumbly white cheese on top of stuff) is awesome, the cheese used inside enchiladas and such is heavy and bland.
And the wait? Yes, plan ahead - maybe send someone ahead to put your name on the list. But pay no mind to those who bash the place because of the wait. That's like saying the band was bad because the concert sold out. The wait is long because the place is popular, and it's popular because the food is good.
Two questions.. First, why do people think this place is awesome? And second, why is there even a wait in line for this place? I went here after hearing this was the place to hit for a fantastic plate of Mexican food. You keep hearing that famous people like Clinton, Enrique Inglesias, and Julio Inglesias have dined here.. but seriously, I have indeed had better in a small mom and pop shop in Chicago. More authentic and way tastier.
The margaritas are sadly weak and very small. They don't sell shots of tequilla.. and there is no bar. You order them at the same place where you pay. They had good guacamole. Besides that.. not impressed. I had the chorizo dish and the chorizo wasn't even good. Not spicy and not tasty. I also tried their expensive soup which was nothing more than tough beef and some corn boiled in some broth.
Dissapointing.. oh well. Sucks for people in Tucson if they are worshipping the wrong Mexican restaurant.
I can't get enough of the sour cream here. Absolutely delicious. I usually get the flautas which come with the aforementioned SC, guacamole, cheese, and crumbly cheese. Its just good, I don't know what else to tell you. I don't like waiting so I either go around 2 or 3 or later at night since they're open late.
They are closed on Monday and Tuesday, so too bad if you get a craving during those days, as I usually do.
I love the consistency in this Sonora-Style restaurant. Sure, Bill Clinton ate here, but people from Tucson really know good Mexican food when they have it. They have great chimichangas and the ambiance is kind of loud, but always festive.
I loved this restaurant when I lived in Tucson because it was open late. After a good night of partying, chimichangas always sounded good. But, the wait was always atrocious and frankly, I could get this kind of food many other places in Tucson. It is an old, established restaurant that has stood the test of time, but the wait isn't always worth it, especially when I'm kind of drunk.
Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors.
Mi Nidito: chiles not parallel. Orange
See photos.
I ate lard...and I LOVED IT.
I dream of the burrito I ate here. I think I might make Elena take me there tonight...a Saturday night where the wait will be a year...but oh man when I get that burrito, I won't give a shit.
The ambiance ain't much, everyone elses food was slopped on a plate, but the food was so good and satisfying and fatty. I guess it would be amazing hungover food, but I think its pretty damn amazing anytime food.
Look, I really do have the stomach of an old man, I eat tums like mints, I drink ginger tea to aid digestion, I am lactose intolerant and I don't eat meat-and all the rules are thrown out the car door when I sit at this table. I am willing to lay on the sofa, crying softly at the dairy and fat in this burrito when I am done eating, but I am oh so satisfied.
Mr President Clinton ate here a few times and anywhere he has eaten is a good pick in my book!
I love this place. From the enormous presidential platter and their kooky atmoshpere. This is a Tucson institution and with good reason!
Come with a group, order some margaritas and prepare to wait!
The fact that they push your food to your table on a wobbly old cart is reason enough to go here. Other reasons? The margaritas. This place is open late, although they are closed sometimes for a month or so. Who cares? When it's open, it's open and it's good. Ignore any bad reviews, it's yummy and worth any sort of wait. C'mon, do it for the cart pushin' waitresses!
ps
down the street is Tucson Greyhound Park. While I do not condone gambling or $2.00 steaks, I do suggest checking out the Chihuahua Races. Dinner at Mi Nidito, entertainment at TGP , an evening of fun for all!
Have eaten here several time before and was always surprised that people were willing to wait for what I thought was average Sonoran Mexican food. So while at the gem show, one of the attendee's I was with wanted to try it, so we got there and no wait, plenty of parking! Same aloof service, unless you are a local Mexican and than its all smiles and greetings. Chips were the same and you get everywhere, bland. The salsa had too much of a tomato paste consistency and too harsh of a tomato taste. Margarita was made with a chemical sweet and sour. Why can't you buy fresh lime juice? We ordered some of the taco's which I liked the cotija cheese, the green chile chimichanga was good, but not the best. The bacon grease refried beans were good. All in all this visit was better cuz we didn't have to wait to be seated. But I still don't understand the raves.
I feel for the people who actually think this is good Mexican food. Just because its on the South side doesn't mean its good or authentic. The best thing about my experience was the margarita. First off nothing in this place is made from scratch. I ordered a chimi enchilada style. I hate enchilada sauce from a can. When enchilada sauce is homemade it is red not orange. Yuk! The atmosphere was cool but i will never, not even if I am with someone who wants to go there, go back! The salsa wasn't even homemade, it was almost like marinara, yuk! And the service wasn't that good either. If you want good sit down Mexican with an even better Margarita Guadalajara Grill is where it's at.
I am a native Tucsonan who now lives in the Bay area of Northern California. Our first grandchild arrived last June, and when we landed at TIA, picked up the rental car, we IMMEDIATELY headed for MI Nidito, timing our flight arrival to when they opened! We ordered what we always order and CRAVE: Carne Seca Chimichangas Enchilada Style with Margaritas on the rocks, and then made the same order (sans margaritas) to bring home for the new mom and pop!
My mouth is watering now, just writing this review. There is NOTHING to compare up here; the "Mexican food" is totally different, and actually more Central American than Sonoran.
We are planning to come down in a couple of weeks and will most probably do the same thing! YUM!
God, I'm homesick!
Mi Nidito = My Little Nest...Former President Bill Clinton and other so-called famous people have eaten here so I had to see what all the fuss was about. Well I have had more than my share of Mexican restaurants and I was sad to learn that it was over-hyped in my opinion. I mean don't get my wrong the food was good but not excellent in my opinion. I enjoyed the refried beans and spanish rice but the enchiladas I had (two different occasions) were, in my estimate, just okay. I would come here again but I wouldn't make it my first choice, especially since its in a shady part of town at that. I most definitely wouldn't wait more than 15-20 minutes to get served--I know too many other good Mexican joints to eat where the wait is not this long. One last review is on the chips and salsa...very weak tasting. Not much flavor and definitely "no kick" to it at all. Chips were typical. An average restaurant.
I was really excited to try this place out when I moved here in 2000. We waited an hour for a seat and then got the same Mexican we could have gotten from Losbetos.
Excellent Mexican Food and Excellent Service! I have been going to this restaurant since I was 10! Jimmy is an exceptional owner who you can find there at the restaurant 99% of the time. We even have a favorite waitress who we request when we go. Ask for Gloria! She always gives service with a smile and she keeps your Iced Tea cup full no matter how many tables she has! My recommendations are the Birria Burrito or Chimichanga, the BEANS, the guacamole and the great salsa. There seems to be an endless supply of chips to go with their hot or mild salsa. I will say that there is always a wait unless you get there right when they open. If you go for dinner you can expect to wait for about an hour before you are seated, but the food is worth it. The Authentic, homemade flavors keep you coming back! Even Bill Clinton ate there!
Authentic Mexican food. I have never had complaints here! And it was good enough for Bill Clinton!
This is my most favorite hung over food in town. But even not hung over I HAVE to go there at least once a month. I rarely stray from ordering the same thing. Frozen marg with salt, Carna Seca tacos, and a side of beans. Pure genius. Best Mexican food in town. Only the wait is a drag but always worth it . This place is always consistent.
there is usually a long wait for a table, the food is the ever present sludgy sonoran mexican conglomeration all running together on the plate. Sometimes this is really tasty...like when you have a hangover . Otherwise it is just burger king/mcdonalds/wendys/taco bell with a twist.
I grew up in Tucson and this use to be one of our favorite restraruants to have dinner at.
