...your night isn't complete without a stop at the neighborhood Nico's

With many open 24/7, this local shop is an oasis for the late-night eater. The portions are large enough to satisfy the insatiable hunger most often found at 3 a.m. when the bars close and patrons have drank away their inhibitions and self-control. Menu items range from loaded nachos, burritos, fish tacos, and the ever-popular bacon-potato-egg-and cheese breakfast burrito.
As seen above, the many flavors of Horchata, flavored rice drinks, complement the greasy comida perfectly. I've discovered that the flavors of the Horchata's differ greatly with each location. Fort Lowell/Campbell has the best, 22nd/Kino the worst.

I consider Nico's the ultimate Tucson initiation. For the 20-something crowd, Tucson attractions pale in comparison to the nearby Phoenix area. What this city does have over the giant metropolis to the north is charm. It may not be the nightclubs of Scottsdale or Fashion Square Mall, but Nico's is part of this Tucson charm.

Last weekend at about 2:30 a.m. the Nico's on the Fort Lowell and Campbell location was buzzing with hungry customers. We waited in line ordered our food, and waited for the line cook to shout "onea-static-burro toco-mumble-ameta" over the 1800's-era intercom, indications that our food was ready. Then we chose between the two flavors of sauce, red and green, and sat down to eat.

There was a unique combination of many drunk kids, and a fewer number of sober drivers. The social spectrum was bright that night, and many customers came up to talk to me as if we were old friends. I met one dude with a tattoo on his forehead and about 5 piercings on his face that said he hates football and wished smoking was a sport (he wouldn't let me take a picture of him). There were also two scandalously dressed (or not dressed) women who apparently are strippers at a local club. I say apparently because they were shouting "You all wish you were strippers!" at anyone who would listen.
We went because my friends sister was in town from Portland. It was her last night and before she left and we "Oh My God HAVE to go to Nico's!" Once you get past the strange smell of fish tacos and that orange scented cleaner, the often strange and eclectic mix of people, and the questionably-sound building, you start to see how great this place really is. I have memories dating back years of the good times at Nico's where and anything-goes ambiance and lively conversation always makes for a great bookend to the night. Once I practiced my Spanish-speaking skills with the kitchen staff, and asked if I could run the drive through for a while. Me and two other friends had fun delivering burritos to about 4 cars before we got bored.


But my favorite story about Nico's was when we were driving South on Campbell Road on the morning of May 6th and saw that an entire corner of the Nico's building was missing. I looked over concerned, and then laughed and said, "You know you're in Tucson when Nico's gets hit by a car on Cinco de Mayo."