Best of Tucson 1996: Best Sopas

Best Sopas

Mi Nidito
1813 S. Fourth Ave.

READERS' PICK: We at The Weekly nearly got sidetracked into a discussion about which restaurant had the best soap. It was a lively debate, with vehement advocates of several local favorites, but eventually we returned to matters at hand. Namely, the best way to take the chill off a damp winter night. Not a problem just yet, but if the bustling ambiance at Mi Nidito isn't quite enough to warm your soul, try one of their superlative soup selections. They offer albondigas, a spicy Mexican meatball soup; casuela, a tasty choice made with carne seca, chile, and potatoes; and for vegetable lovers, a cocido piled Carmen Miranda-like high with an assortment of veggies. And of course, if warmth and good cheer failed to survive the previous night's bender, the traditional menudo, like the waters at Lourdes, will heal the lame and the hungover.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Rosa's Mexican Food, 1750 E. Fort Lowell Road.

STAFF PICK: Come all ye faithful, to 4225 S. Sixth Ave., gather at La Hacienda for a plentiful bowl of caldo de queso, straight from the heavens. Behold, sinners and saints alike, a delicate broth, long strips of roasted green chiles, chunks of potato and cheese, wedges of lime, fat corn tortillas, a cold beer, y tú. Amen!