The Tastiest Meat Shops in Tucson

Mercado Y Carniceria La Mexicana

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (11)

"Came in here looking for few items and was pleasantly surprised on the hot food selection. I came for specific chili's for something I was making. Although they didn't have them, they had good substitute. My only gripe is that the chili's, tomatillos, and potato's that were available were almost bad. I had to pick through the bins to get decent ones. I'll def head back and try the hot foods!"

Super Carniceria El Herradero

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"Herradero is a family meat market and deli chain in Tucson, with some of the most excellent Mexican food and ingredients in the Sonoran Desert. Whether it's their meat and Mexican cheese selection, the deli, or their selection of delicious corn and flour tortillas among the most well-made available anywhere (La Noria Brand corn tortillas come in two sizes and are THE BEST corn tortillas in town), or their fresh green corn and pork tamales, you can't beat it. The chorizo is fabulous. They sell both pork and beef and a third kind which is a mix of both pork and beef. Unlike the greasy meatless thing that passes for chorizo in L.A., this is the real deal. Their nopales en chile colorado con carne de puerco is scary good and I seem to keep discovering more goodies everytime I go there. Jamaica, spices, herbs, cactus, chiles, veladoras, you name it. Next to the check-out counter they have a small pharmacy section that sells Mexican medicinal products that are effective and popular for good reason. You can even get a quick lunch from the small deli that will fill your tummy but won't break the bank. Love this place!!!!"

Los Amigos Meat Market

★★★★★ 5 (13) • $$

"Still amazing as ever! Super clean and sanitized for those looking for cdc guideline updates. But realistically, this place has always had the clean feeling. They take the extra time and go the extra mile to make sure their products and facility are top notch. I recently fell for their fajita meat and ask for it to be prepped in their asada mix.. well worth it! And still this place has my heart for their chorizo! Take a stroll in here, they will not disappoint. They also sell dona tortillas as well as others and bonus... coke products. I'm a sucker for you!"

Sonora Market

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3) • $$

"Kinda hood location but it always seems these holes in the walls are great. They got a carniceria in here, and prices are low. I have had multiple cows processed at the slaughterhouse, and it's about $5/lb for most cuts of meat, wholesale killing my own cow. Not much higher here. Selection is everything from cheap cigarillos, bum wine (wait, MD 20 still exists, LOL)? Mexican over-the-counter meds, lots of beer, and a decent chip aisle. The service was friendly and is a good local market. Next time I'm on this road and am craving a Coke Zero and some Turbos Flamas, I'll be back."

Carniceria El Aguajito

★★★★☆ 4.4 (26) • $

"You know the saying that "Mom knows best?" Totally accurate. My mom alerted me to this carniceria and during times of COVID19 they have been on our regular rotation for a "take-out" type of option. Their "Arrachera" skirt steak is delicious and they grill it for you! We go with a nasioc marinade, salt and pepper it's still the most tender skirt steak I've ever had. They also have provided us with instructions for keeping the steak in the warmer so it doesn't overcook. Seriously, it's perfection! Their tortilla selection is also really good. their flour tortillas from Doña Esperanza and corn from La Noria are my personal favorites. Both are also made locally. Like other carnicerias, they have fresh salsas, guacamole, beans and various other side dishes and condiments to have a complete meal at home!"

Sausage Shop Meat Market and Deli

★★★★★ 4.5 (275) • $

"Oh man, believe the hype. This may be the best sandwich shop in Tucson. I've been shopping at Sausage Shop for years for sausages and meats to cook at home like for gumbo and BBQ, but hadn't eaten in before. This is mostly due to working so far away and not trying them on a Saturday. I should have come sooner for a sandwich. I got the Tubby sandwich and it didn't disappoint at all. The ingredients of the sandwich all complimented each other. I got the hot mustard on the side to not mess up the reheating later. I had a feeling the sandwich was going to be too much for me in one sitting. The place is a mom & pop meat counter kind of place. They are old school, but like an old school place you get great old school service. An example of this is they have a sign to be off your phone. I'm guessing too many customers were unable to extend the courtesy of being off the phone when being waited on. Yeah don't make the same mistake I did and wait too long to try some amazing sandwiches."

Super Carneceria El Herradero

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4) • $$

"This is the only carneceria I will buy my carne asada from simply because they have they best skirt steak and marinade and I have no desire to even try anyone else. Get the Ranchera cut of skirt steak and you can't go wrong. It's a few dollars more than the lesser quality skirt, but trust me, it's worth it. Their maranade makes the steak come out tender, juicy and bursting with flavor off the grill. The longer you let it sit, the better it gets. It makes a great meal when camping too. I also get their guacamole sauce, salsa, and the little tortillas they sell. Make these tacos for guests and they won't forget the party."

Lee Lee International Supermarkets

★★★★☆ 4.2 (319) • $$

"So far in Tucson, this is the only International market I have been to. I like coming here, for cooking ingredients that I don't find in regular stores. I cook a lot of Asian dishes, so this is my go to place. They have a lot of produce and cuts of meat that other stores doesn't have. They also have a wide variety of seasonings from other countries, mainly Asian. A lot of interesting snacks and beverages available as well. Seafood is also available in the store. They have fresh or frozen fish, shellfish and more to mention. There are 2 restaurants inside the store, Chinese and Vietnamese. It's always been fun coming here."

Double Check Ranch

★★★★☆ 4 (11) • $$

"Locally produced, sustainable, grass-fed beef. I was very excited to see there was a ranch here that had humanely raised cows, in a natural environment. I bought some New York steaks from Double Check Ranch (2 lbs for approximately $28 retail price) and got out the iron skillet to pan fry them. The meat was delicious, very flavorful, and lean. Since their beef is leaner than most mass-produced beef, cooking times and temps are lower to prevent overcooking. Although pricey, I think it's worth it for both the taste and the ethics/environmental aspect of buying Double Check Ranch beef."

Dickman's Meat and Deli

★★★★☆ 4.2 (182) • $$

"I had called ahead for veal/calf liver but it didn't come in Next delivery day Tuesday. I ll be back. Plan b , Wisconsin Brauts and a Bbq steak for the grill. Best from here."

El Herradero Supermarket

★★★★☆ 4.3 (60) • $

"I just want to say that this is an unexpected surprise!The shopping center at Flowing Wells and Prince is not the best, meaning it would be a place I would pass up. I went there when I was getting a haircut close by. It is amazingly clean and has an incredible meat counter. There's a lot of Mexican food and Jamaica flowers. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have prepared salsas and great tortillas. They also have a restaurant that pumps out amazing looking food. I have not eaten there yet, but it's always busy. I go about every 2 weeks."

Carniceria Wild West

★★★★★ 4.6 (96) • $

"I popped into Wild West to see what their tortilla selection was like. The place is really clean and presentable. They definitely have a solid selection of meats and other prepared foods, salsas, etc. in addition to traditional Mexican pastries (concha's, hebilla, etc), candies, dry goods and more. I did not purchase any meat or order from their food menu, but will definitely return to try it. Their tortilla selection came in short for me. I purchased some flour tortillas made in Hermosillo and they unfortunately tasted like Mission tortillas. What's a disappointment! Especially since they come from Mexico. Wild West also had tortillas packaged and labeled with their name in them but I am not sure they make them. I should have asked. I'll go back and try more. Wild West is a good option near home."

Mercado Y Carniceria Los Primos

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5)

"We were driving on Nogales Hwy and my husband saw a sign for a Meat Market so on our way back from the grocery we went looking for this meat market since we were having a BBQ that day. We wanted to try a small meat market place because they usually carry the best tasting meat. We made our way to this Carniseria and they also had a sign that they would grill your meat for free if you buy it during the weekend. So we had it grilled didn't wait too long for the meat to be ready. Wasn't undercook nor burned. Store is small but they have the essentials. We bought some Tajin and Chamoy for margaritas. Once we tasted the meat it was AMAZING! The meat was very tender and had a great taste. We're usually very picky with our carne asada and we usually go out of our way to get to good meat markets. We just moved from CA so we were looking for that Carniseria that carries the good meat. This is definitely a hidden gem for Tucson...must try location for your carne asada."

76 Beef

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Like chorizo? Like meat? You're in luck with this meat market which not only has the best Beef Chorizo but all kinds of cuts of meat at a very reasonable price. I also purchased some raw Orange and Cactus Blossom flavored honey!!! Check out the pics...Come check it out"

Carniceria El Novillo

★★★★☆ 4.3 (54) • $

"We came here for the tacos ....and then come extras. Seeing the great reviews is why we stopped, and I can see why. We got a couple birria tacos which were awesome and soaked in the flavorful seasonings. I recommend these for sure. The meat was tender and perfectly seasoned in my opinion. We also got a carne asada and carnitas tacos. The asada was a bit tough to chew unfortunately and the carnitas was good. The corn tortillas were tasty and made with quality ingredients. Finally, I ordered a green tamale but I didn't see anything green about it. Maybe it was missing the sauce? It was good and I liked the sweetness of it. I'd come back for some birria tacos for sure."

Beef Master Meat Market

★★★★☆ 4.1 (17)

"This place is great. The food quality is amazing, the selection is sufficient, and the prices are reasonable. What I think sets this place apart is the staff though. I was greeted, asked what I was looking for, suggestions were made, and I got what I came in for. The staff also made recommendations on things I should try next time I drop in. I'm looking forward to coming back. I strongly encourage people to give this place a try."

Villa's Market

★★★★☆ 3.5 (8)

"This is probably the only place I have ever been in Nogales that has excellent customer service. Considering most family owned grocery stores/markets are a little more on the pricier side, Villa's is not. You would think they would have a limited amount of items to choose from this family-owned market but this market has it all. I have checked everything off my grocery list while shopping here and they have never not had something I need. Not to mention the prices are unbeatable.There have been times I can't find something I am looking for and one of the employees will come up to me before I have to even ask and help me find what I need. The employees always greet you and they're always friendly. Not to mention they always have a full store but you never wait in a long line because they always have if not all the registers open, the majority of them are open. Great meat/produce dept. & did I mention they have a huge wine selection? Bonuuuus!! They also accept Apple Pay. I stop by Villa's at least once a week & I always will. I love this market not only for all the ingredients for a successful cook-out, but also for every day grocery shopping. Don't let that full parking lot scare you off. It's always busy because the service is top-notch and you won't be in line for half an hour like you would be at Walmart & Safeway in Nogales. Whether it's for a few simple ingredients, a cook-out, lunch or my whole grocery-list...Villa's is my go-to market in Nogales."

Alejandro's Tortilla Factory

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (41) • $

"I love Alejandro's! Their Mexican bread is always fresh and delicious. We get their hotdog buns often. They are quick and everyone is very friendly."

El Herradero Carniceria y Panaderia

★★★★★ 4.5 (53) • $

"Nice little store. Everything looks fresh and the store is very clean. We were traveling through and decided to look for a Mexican bakery. We are happy to have found this store, as we got some pastries and snacks for the road that included freshly cooked tomales, cold drinks, fresh salsa and chips, as well as an apple covered in Tajin. Yum!"

La VaKita

★★★★☆ 4.3 (31)

"I live across the street from this market. I have had nothing but great service and excellent food. I often purchase from the butcher and grab a few incidentals on my way out. The prepared food is top notch, and the availability is great as we do not have much to choose from in our neck of the woods (who wants to pack a lunch to get all the way to a grocery store miles away). I can send my teen on his bike, or just a short walk to get what I need in a pinch. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

Forbes Meat Company

★★★★★ 4.6 (68)

"Forbes is now settled in its new home at the BAffert building in Five Points. They've taken their modest butcher operation that was formerly inside the Thunder Canyon Brewery space and expanded to include a full service eatery. So now you can have the best of both. You can pop in and pick up meat, fresh fish and other seafood and have lunch or dinner too. They also have a nice wine selection and retail space. The restaurant/brasserie dinner menu is meat heavy with dishes such as beef tartar, salads, filet, NY strip, Wagyu beef and more. Additionally they add specials based on what they've sourced that week. You might see Ahi crudo one day and Oysters another. It's just a fun rotating menu. I have not been yet for lunch but they offer various sandwiches and specials as well.We also enjoyed their Valentines dinner which was a pre-fixe menu with optional wine pairings. It was a big. undertaking but they really pulled it well! It shows their potential to continue to great things in their kitchen. My only critique, which comes down to personal taste, is that I found the meats to be overly seasoned, to the point of overpowering. I may just request less seasoning in the future, but the meat is excellent quality and perfectly cooked. The best way to stay updated on their menu specials and butcher/seafood updates is via their Instagram page, as their website does not appear to be updated frequently. Ben is really aiming at sourcing the best quality he can get while being a sustainable butcher."

CCGA Meats - UA Meat Sciences Lab

★★★★☆ 4.4 (15) • $$

"If you're looking for locally raised meats, it doesn't get any more local than this. This is small farm operation run by the University of Arizona, located on Campbell near River Road. I know... descriptors like "comparative biomedical sciences" and "meat laboratory" sound unappealing at best, and frightening at worst. Had it not been vouched for by a friend of mine who works at the College of Agriculture, I probably wouldn't have tried it either. Now, it's the only place we go to purchase beef. Most people don't know that this place exists because their advertising is limited to a rather cryptic looking wooden A-frame sign placed out on Campbell every Friday that says "MEAT SALE 9-6." I don't fully understand why they aren't allowed to do any real marketing, but it's supposedly some state law that prohibits them from competing with local businesses. For a lot of folks, their hours aren't convenient either, since it's only open on Fridays. I also get the impression that a lot of customers prefer to keep this place their little secret. ;)The quality is as good or better than what you'll find in any high-end butcher shop or restaurant in Tucson. Most beef that you'll find anywhere else is going to be USDA "choice" at the highest, but the product here is considered "prime" and it doesn't get any better than that. They stock pretty much any cut of beef imaginable, but if there is something specific you want, you can put in a request and pick it up during the next meat sale. We like to make our own grass fed beef jerky, and these folks are always happy to slice up our choice of meat to our specifications which makes it a lot less work for us. We've also preordered prime rib roasts for the holidays, and the meat is always superb. We usually just get beef, but we've also purchase things like lamb chops and uncured bacon from here - which is also excellent. They do have a wide variety of pork and lamb, and I've seen bison and goat here on occasion. In years past, they've stocked turkeys around Thanksgiving, and I hope they bring them back, because the turkeys were terrific. Also terrific are the prices, which are unbeatable, especially considering the quality. The students who run this place know their stuff, so if you have questions about what cut or section of meat would work best for a given recipe, they can help you. I'm not a big meat expert, but I do try to stick with organic grass fed animal products, and those can be found here. I've read a lot about how a cows diet effects the quality and taste of the meat - but the UA College of Ag has actually done their own studies, and they've got a poster presentation in the lobby that demonstrates their findings (food for thought). They make dog treats, too - and since their USDA license is limited to human consumption, all of their dog treats are human food grade (so you know your dog isn't getting weird byproducts or icky stuff in these treats)."

The Jojoba Beef

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I love browsing farmers markets because you never know what unique foods and goodies you'll find. Jojoba Beef Company is one of those cool finds at the Uptown Farmer's Market on Saturdays. I've been searching for a new local beef supplier and I was intrigued by the idea of Jojoba fed beef. Grass fed beef, with local native grasses? Even better! I barely know what jojoba smells like, let alone tastes like, but I'm all for trying jojoba raised meat! The Jojoba Beef Company operates out of A-Diamond Ranch. According to the Uptown Farmer's Market website, owner Gregg has been honored with the title Conservation Rancher of the Year by AZ Game and Fish. While I browsed their menu of cuts offered, I overheard the person at the counter say that their ground meat was the most popular. I can imagine so since it tends to be one of the most versatile and cheapest options for beef but I can get good ground beef anywhere so bring on the specialty cuts! I initially was going to get hanger steak but when I saw the package of flat iron steak peeking out at me when the person at the counter opened the freezer chest I knew I had to get some! There were several sizes available. You basically had your Goldilocks pick of beef (Butcher edition) of small, medium and large. I opted for around a pound of the steak. I've cooked flat iron steak before so I already have a good idea of how I'd want to prepare it but I did appreciate the person at the counter giving me tips on the best way to cook the steak. Taking it home I stuck it snugly in my freezer until we felt like grilling. Thawing took maybe a day in the fridge. I ended up placing it in the sous vide then finishing it on our hibachi grill, seasoned simply with salt and Malaysian long pepper. Oh so tender and oh so good! Reading from the Uptown Farmer's Market website apparently jojoba fed beef has a greater concentration of Omega 3 fatty acids than Omega 6 so it is better for your heart health (Theoretically).Details:- At Uptown Farmer's Market on Saturdays- Cattle are 100% free range raised- Also known as "The Rancher's Daughter" (The seller in Phoenix is the actual rancher's daughter)"

Al Basha Grocery

★★★★★ 4.5 (13)

"This is a great place for middle eastern findings ! My mom and I come here all the time. We get our Ghee, Chocolate, Spices, Turkish Ladneh (cream cheese) , Feta, and Meat from here. They have Turkish Pistachio Cotton Candy. Which is super flavorful.I only recommend that the shelves can be more organized, for example : cans with cans, spices with spices, sauces with sauces, rice with rice etc etc. it would be more helpful if the shelves were organized so the isles had correct structure so we're not running around trying to find one thing after another. Other then that. This is a great place for Mediterranean Items!"

Villa's Market

★★★★☆ 4.1 (7)

"This grocery store originated in Nogales, Arizona. It quickly became my favorite due to the great toilet paper shortage of 2020. Even though they were metering people at the door they allowed you to grab 4 rolls and a package of paper. I think they have the best assortment of marinated meats at a reasonable price. They also have a lot of items you would expect to purchase in Mexico. Even though this is a small location it has almost everything you could want good want in a grocery store. Food, snacks, household items, and Mexican candles if you are going to setup a shrine. Be warned, if you are caught stealing and try to run your photo will be posted on the wall of shame by the front door. Honestly this is was probably my favorite part - seeing all the new faces weekly."

La Vakita Meat Market

★★★★☆ 3.7 (18)

"La Vakita meat market The owners of the business are smart by offering multiple types of services for local working people who live in nearby rancheros and senior citizens at Tucson estates They have wonderful hot Arizona Mexican style food I had the street tacos and it was great. They cut and grilled the carne asada right while I was there. I also got some Mexican baked goods which were wonderful. They have other regular Mexican groceries. The employees gave nice friendly fast service and the steaks and other meat looked great behind the counter."

Dickman's Meat & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.1 (219) • $

"Quick service, fantastic meats! Try the ugly steaks -- you can't go wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Vera Earl Premium Beef

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"We recently drove to Sonoita and stopped at Vera Earl Beef. We bought the bacon and blue cheese burgers. Definitely rated as 5 stars. We will be back. Great customer service."

Rancheros Market

★★★★★ 4.6 (86)

"Man, I keep getting so lucky with these little places. I'm doing laundry around the back of the building and I see the sign that says breakfast so I come inside. It's a whole meat market and grocery store full of tortillas and hot sauce and old, cowboy coffee, pots, and all kinds of stuff I get to smash biscuits and gravy and it is so amazingL the service was immediate. The ambience is great. There's flags all over the ceiling and some kind of doily cup of coffee was good and their meat selection is crazy awesome all kinds of spicy bacon and beef. I bet you can get a hell of a steak from here and bet they'll cook it up for you. If you are ever in Catalina, swing by here and try a steak."

Carniceria los Toritos

★★★★☆ 3.5 (11)

"Fantastic customer service, good selection, solid / quality meats with delicious marinades, and wonderfully fresh salsas.Reduced to 4 stars ....only because the selection at the 22nd street location is noticeably better. Still good location, closer to my home. Keep up the good work Carniceria Los Toritos!"

Ken’s

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"First of all, I want to say that this gentleman that runs this place is whole heartedly kind and a sweetheart. We met Ken on the side of the road at his stand. He's open everyday from 9-5 except on Sundays. He's at church on Sundays. We were making our way to Bisbee for the day and saw his big sign for fresh eggs and I turned my Jeep around. I was happy to find freshly shelled pecans, It's a Texas thing, I have to have them when I see them. Come to find out, Ken is from Texas too! I guess Texan knows Texan and instantly felt those good vibes. I should have bought more pecans to go home and bake me a pecan pie but this time I was unprepared with cash... yeah, please bring cash if you stop by. He's got bee pollen, local honey, a variety of flavored pistachios, my favorite, habanero, chili lime, jalapeño, and about 5 more flavors, plain pecans, salted roasted and candied. You can also find the freshest eggs, chicken, duck, and turkey! He is so friendly, informative and helpful. We found Ken by pure accident and I am happy to have met such an amazing human being. He's just one of those good people that are hard to find nowadays that are genuinely honest and kind. If you happen to come this way, stop by and buy some goodies from Ken. Maybe if you get lucky you'll catch a glimpse of his (Cardinal) friend, Jean Arnold. Thank you for eggs Mr. Ken, they were all delicious!"

Houghton Meat Market

★★★★☆ 4.3 (30)

"I would highly suggest stopping by the Houghton meat market! They have sausage that are made in house, lots of premium meat selection, I love there "unique" meat selection (see pictures)! They have what you need for your BBQ from sauces to wood chips! As well as other treats such as premium jelly's ranging to snacks and food for your pet!!! The staff and owner were super helpful with all the questions I had!!! You should definitely stop in and check this place out!"