Owner Daniel Contreras said he wanted to open three Valley locations of his iconic Tucson restaurant El Güero Canelo “as soon as possible.”
That was in 2011.
Well, it took four years but Contreras finally found a site he liked. Unfortunately for East Valley residents, it’s on the northeast corner of 51st Avenue and McDowell in west Phoenix.
El Güero Canelo has been featured on numerous national TV shows, including “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” “Man v. Food,” and “Food Wars.”
Its three Tucson locations offer burros, tacos, and tortas, but what’s made El Güero Canelo famous are the Sonoran hot dogs.
The dogs are wrapped in bacon and topped with beans, tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayo, and jalapeños, all stuffed in a Mexican bolillo roll. All for just $2.78.
Contreras, who started his food empire in 1993 with a single hot dog stand, also owns a carniceria (meat market) in Tucson and a bakery in Mexico to ensure he has quality components.
The west Valley location is expected to open in mid-June.
Asked whether other Valley locations were in the works, an employee at the corporate office somewhat cryptically replied, “Nothing’s been announced yet.”
