related items
It’s no surprise that Guadalajara Grill has become a sort of Tucson hub: a guaranteed lively atmosphere any night of the week, with fresh salsa and steaming stone-bowl hot pots of bell peppers and plump shrimp. The Guadalajara Grill experience is always satisfying, and sometimes—with enough margaritas under your belt—almost ethereal.
Unfortunately, the mariachi music and bubbling steak cutlets come at a price. If you’re indulging as the atmosphere suggests, it’s hard to get out of there for less than a Jackson. (Especially if you tip the salsa lady!) No matter: Guadalajara Grill offers a cheap happy hour with discounted margaritas and entrée-sized appetizers.
The deal: From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, Guadalajara Grill takes $2 off select appetizers such as nachos, mini-chimichangas, quesadillas and more. They also do $2.50 draft beers and a $3 margarita the size of a goldfish habitat. These specials are offered at both the Kolb location and the original Guadalajara Grill on Prince.
Atmosphere: The new Guadalajara Grill on Kolb Road is pretty much a clone of the original, with intricate murals covering the walls, colorful decorations and rows of plush booths. But in the off hours, the restaurant is more laid-back. If you’re there to party, I suggest attending the later happy hour. The salsa ladies don’t come in until around 4:30, and the mariachis should still be around to dedicate a song or three.
Food: There’s nothing I like more than a tub of cheese, so we started off with the queso fundido con chorizo ($6.49 during happy hour), a mixture of melted manchego and Monterey jack cheeses in a cast-iron skillet. I’ve had this Mexican fondue before at La Parrilla Suiza, but Guadalajara’s is more complex, with garlic, onions and large chunks of mushrooms hidden inside to give it some depth. (Although, the chorizo portion was not as liberal as it was in the picture on the menu.) This is a great item to wrap in the tortillas and cover with some more of that delicious, made-to-order salsa, letting it ooze out the edges when you take a bite.
If you’re dining with a friend, the deal works best if you order two apps and share them. The fajita mini-chimis ($7.95 during happy hour) substituted well for a meal and had a nice, flaky crust holding in small shreds of chicken. If I did it again, however, I’d probably order the regular mini-chimis, which were a dollar cheaper and lacked only the tiny chops of grilled vegetables thrown over the top.
Drinks: Although the appetizers were discounted, the best deal of the night was the margarita, which was twice as large and half as expensive as others around town. If you’re not in the mood to drink (but want a little something), I suggest splitting one.
Bottom line: Dinner at Guadalajara Grill is more of an “experience” than a meal anyway. (If all you cared about was the food, you’d probably be somewhere south of 22nd Street.) But this way, you can enjoy the restaurant and keep a little something for the raspados stand on your way home. What’s that? You only go to Dairy Queen? Ay ay ay!
