El Güero Canelo, the local joint famous for its Sonoran hot dogs and carne asada, is opening an eastside location.
The new location—which will be similar to the other two locations, but with a drive-through —is going in at an old Los Betos at 5802 E. 22nd St., said Corina Miranda, an El Güero Canelo spokeswoman.
“It’s going to be a nice one,” said Daniel Contreras, who owns the restaurants with his wife, Blanca. “I’ve been waiting for many, many years to do this, because I have a lot of support from our eastside customers, and finally we have a building over there. So it’s very nice.”
The new location is expected to open in late May or early June.
Contreras opened the first El Güero Canelo inside a tiny food trailer in 1993, and worked his way up. He said he comes from the humblest of beginnings, and that he thanks his loyal customers and a higher power for the degree of success he has known.
“I never had anything. I came from doing shoe shines and selling newspapers. I never went to school,” Contreras said today. “There has to be a higher power.”
Contreras said his business skyrocketed after the restaurant was featured on the national television shows Man V. Food and Food Wars. He also said that Janos Wilder played an enormous part in his success.
“Janos is the one that got me into the national media,” Contreras said today. “He brought people from out of state to eat here, and I have to thank him so much for everything. He’s such a good man, and he does so many good things for people in Tucson.”
“He’s definitely invited to the opening,” said Contreras.
