The Chowder Family just got back from a week in Arizona where Chowder Mom obsessed over tortilla soup. The clam chowder situation seems to have fizzled out recently. Luckily, there are other kinds of chowder and even soups out there.

Casa Grande:
Creative Cafe – The place was cute and the food was fine. And the soup was chock full of stuff and tasty. But nothing special.

Tucson:
Maya Quetzal – When we lived in Tucson, this was my favorite place in the world. I still love it. It was fantastic. And their tortilla soup, while just cheese, broth, and tortillas, was as tasty as I remembered. And light enough to allow me to eat their vegetarian taquitos and 2 helpings of special cheesey rice.

La Parilla Suiza – Speaking of cheese. Their broth is totally different from Maya Quetzal’s but my god, if I could marry a soup, I would marry this one. With a side of queso.

Old Tucson Studios – I should know better than to eat much at a trap like this but following my rules, I tried it. And it was so hot, I couldn’t even eat it. I got a pretzel.

El Charro – It was onioney, no tomatoes, and thin. Not great. Nor were the chips.

All that said, tacos at the roadside stands in Tucson are still better than the best Mexican food in NYC.