Visit This Arizona Restaurant for a Bowl of Soup So Good, You’ll Crave It All Winter Long

Now that the weather is getting cooler, you’re probably searching for places to find something to warm your soul. Nothing brings me more comfort than a warm bowl of soup during the colder season. But do you know what restaurant serves the best soup in Arizona? Well, if you ask Tucsonans, they might say El Sur Restaurant. In fact, a past diner stated that the Albondigas (meatball) soup is “the best I've found in Tucson.” Come with me to explore the El Sur menu, which features several soul-warming soups.

Soup season is here, and El Sur Restaurant is the place to be! Located just minutes from downtown Tucson on E. 22nd Street, El Sur is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been serving delicious Sonoran Mexican cuisine for over two decades. 

Almost 30 years ago, the restaurant began as a humble taco truck serving construction sites, car dealerships, and other businesses in the area. Soon thereafter, Isela Mejía and her husband, Luis, expanded to a second truck and then to their east side, brick-and-mortar location in 2022. I love the cool, laid-back vibe of the restaurant, decorated with splashes of artwork from Sonoran culture. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, so it’s no wonder that Tucsonans keep coming back for more. 

The Mejía family uses authentic recipes that have been passed down through generations, which are filled with bold flavors and the secret ingredient, which is love. On the menu, you can find traditional favorites like tacos, tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and more. In addition to lunch and dinner, the eatery also has several delicious breakfast and dessert options. 

Over the years, the restaurant has gained recognition as one of the top places to eat in Tucson. The owners and staff have strived to “provide the community with the best Sonoran Mexican food in Tucson," and it shows! Plus, the patrons can’t stop raving about the food and the service at this beloved staple.

But what makes this restaurant stand out amongst the rest is its delicious soups. And with 10 warm, mouthwatering, and flavorful options to choose from, you can’t go wrong with any of them. The restaurant prepares gallons of its mouthwatering soups every day. The soup menu includes albondigas, cocido beef soup, caldo de pollo, birria, tortilla soup, birria ramen, and pozole (on Wednesdays only). El Sur's award-winning soups include the chicken tortilla soup, which comes with tortilla chips; caldo de queso, a cheese, potato, and green chile soup; and red or white menudo, served all day, every day. In addition to the regular menu, the restaurant also offers specials to die for.

Not only can you order a bowl of soup to soothe your soul, but you can get it at a reasonable price too. And the portion sizes of these hearty soups are more than enough to fill you up. Did I mention that you can enjoy their soups all year long? This means you don’t have to wait until the temps are chilly outside to soothe your soul. 

So, the next time you want to cozy up with a bowl of soup, head to this beloved restaurant in Tucson. It arguably serves some of the best soups in Arizona.

Visit the El Sur Restaurant website for a full list of soups and other menu items. I recommend following El Sur on Facebook for specials and upcoming events. Also, the family opened Chela's Latin Cuisine in recent years, and it's a Latin-inspired restaurant and nightclub that's quite a hot spot downtown. Be sure to check it out, too!

Where do you go when craving a warm bowl of comfort during soup season? Send us a message through our nomination page to share your favorite soup spot in Arizona. If you're looking for things to do this season, check out 6 Winter Day Trips in Arizona, or you can plan your own trip this season using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.