Anselmo Felix cooks up peppers, onions and carne asada on a grill outside of American Eat Company, 1439 S 4th Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on October 1, 2025. Felix is a cook with Asada Patron, which is the newest restaurant in the complex.

There’s two kinds of carne asada.

One is the chopped up, smaller pieces of steak that lay on top of a flour tortilla, usually seen at taco spots and taco trucks.

While still delicious, let's face it, these pieces of steak can sometimes be a little greasy and chewy, with fatty bits scattered throughout.

Then, there’s the carne asada cooked at family parties.

The grill is hot, emitting a hypnotizing aroma that’s fills the entire backyard, making your mouth water as you impatiently wait for the carne asada to be done.

Long slices of steak are placed on the tortillas, along with a heap of cabbage, onion, and spicy salsa. This carne asada is a mix of smoky and savory flavors, pairing perfectly with the tangy lime juice that’s squeezed on top.

That same hypnotizing smell that hangs in the air at family parties was present in the American Eats Co. parking lot on Wednesday morning. As you float off the ground like a cartoon character, trying to find the source of the heavenly scent, you’ll be led to Asada Patron, where you’ll have two arrachera tacos waiting for you.

Mariel Figueroa and Julian “Nene†Vargas are the owners of , bringing that delightful backyard carne asada taste to ,

Vargas first learned how to cook from his family, picking up all the tips and tricks from his very own family carne asadas.

Julian Vargas, owner of Asada Patron, the newest taco place inside American Eat Company, 1439 S 4th Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on October 1, 2025.

Later, he and Figueroa opened up their first food spot, in American Eat Co., where they specialize in massive Sonoran dogs and birria-centered dishes. You may recognize them as the place that serves their hot dogs in red buns!

After six years of running Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs, the couple felt ready to take on a new venture. When a spot right next to them opened up in the American Eat Co. food court, it was too good to pass up.

Soon the empty spot was transformed into Asada Patron, complete with colorful Talavera tiles on their sign, and bright neon letters that spell out their name.

This time around, the couple decided to switch things up and focus on another delicious Mexican delicacy: mesquite grilled carne asada.

Using a mesquite grill to cook the arrachera (skirt steak) helps the meat get a nice, charred flavor that adds an extra umph to the meal.

“We want everybody to get that smoky or wood taste,†Vargas said.

The longer grilling process also makes the meat less greasy. The best part: no chewy fat!

Anselmo Felix sprinkles sea salt over the meat cooking on a grill outside of American Eat Company, 1439 S 4th Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on October 1, 2025. 

To make his arrachera tacos, Vargas first sources his skirt steak from Los Amigos Meat Market. Once the meat is cooked, it’s sliced into thin, long strips and placed on a fresh flour tortilla; ready to be served to hungry customers.

Of course, they also have a salsa bar that features all their homemade salsas, ranging from mild to spicy.

The salsa is made fresh daily every morning at Asada Patron, the newest taco place inside American Eat Company, 1439 S 4th Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on October 1, 2025.

Two beautiful arrachera tacos sat in front of me as I squeezed some limes on top. I poured on their avocado cilantro salsa for good measure, and took a big bite: it was pure bliss.

The steak was flavorful without being too overbearing, but what really took my breath away was the salsa. It was limey and creamy with the perfect amount of spice to it.

When that salsa combined with the arrachera, it was like fireworks went off in my mouth. It was everything I want in a carne asada taco, and more.

As I finished my two tacos, I was sad I didn’t order more!

Aside from aracherra tacos, Asada Patron also serves carne asada tortas, caramelos, short ribs, and all kinds of tacos like tripa and pastor.

In the future, the couple also wants to add big steak plates and loaded baked potatoes to the menu.

Next time you’re craving a carne asada taco, check out Asada Patron, where one bite of their arrachera will transport you to your grandma’s backyard, waiting with your cousins for the carne asada to FINALLY be ready.


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Jamie Donnelly is the food writer for #ThisIsTucson. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com