Mi Nidito: An Authentic Culinary Delight
Deep in the heart of South Tucson is a culinary treasure: Mi Nidito. From its unassuming humble exterior, you might not think it’s much different from other restaurants, but Mi Nidito is truly an authentic Mexican food experience.
President Bill Clinton knows it. So does singer Willie Nelson, singers Julio and Enrique Iglesias, Secretary of State Madeline Albright, as well as a myriad of other celebrities whose photos adorn the walls just inside the entry. This “Wall of Fame” serves as a testimonial to the superiority and quality of the food served at Mi Nidito.
Mi Nidito (which means “little nest”) was founded in 1952 by Ernesto and Alicia Lopez. Passed down through three generations of the Lopez family, Mi Nidito has maintained its culinary stronghold in the region with authentic Sonoran-style recipes for decades.
Serving an average of 600-800 customers a day, the usual wait time for a table is 45 minutes to an hour. There is a small waiting area inside the restaurant where you will find hungry diners sipping on one of the many flavors of frozen margaritas, which help customers pass the time. Outside the restaurant, patient diners-in-waiting position themselves along chairs or along the stone wall benches listening intently for their name to be called over the loudspeaker.
Randy and Coleen Keedah and Velda Mangan were among the bench sitters. The group traveled from Marana, Arizona (a 45 minute drive) to dine at Mi Nidito. It would be another 45 minutes to an hour before they could get a table, but they didn’t mind the wait.
“It’s good Mexican food,” said Randy Keedah
The inside décor - with brightly colored walls, palm trees, and twinkling white lights woven through green foliage on the ceiling - gives diners a vacation setting. In the middle of the restaurant is a long table with the Presidential Seal and a photo of Bill Clinton and his entourage when they dined at Mi Nidito on February 25, 1999. There is also a photo of what he ordered, now called the Presidential Plate.
Other items on the menu include the Birria, a spiced shredded beef, the Carne con Chile Colorado, and the Nopalito (Prickly Pear Cactus) enchilada. Most combo plates range in the $6.95-$9.95 range. The #8 Combo comes with rice, a cheese enchilada, a tamale, and a chile relleno. The rice is to-die-for - light and fluffy, cooked in a chicken base with cilantro and onion. The cheese enchilada and tamale are topped with a savory sauce, and the chile relleno is flavorful with a light batter, cooked to a golden brown and topped with a white sauce.
The menu also includes a good variety of Mexican soups such as menudo (made with tripe), albondigas (meatball soup), and several others, each with a distinct flavor and all delicious.
For those who wish to relax with a drink, there is a good variety of Mexican beers including Corona, Pacifico, Dos Equis and Tecate, as well as a list of domestic beers and wines. In addition to the traditional "on the rocks" margaritas, Mi Nidito offers frozen margaritas in Mango, Strawberry, Tamarind, Guava and Pina Colada flavors.
The food at Mi Nidito is so delicious that you'll want to eat slowly, savoring the flavors in every bite. But be sure to leave room! The grand finale is the desert menu. The mango and cream desert is creamy, light, and refreshing, but the flan is something to write home about. With a rich caramel flavor and topped with a dollop of cream, it is a perfect accompaniment a great way to end a wonderful meal.