The Arizona Cheese Crisp

I just recently discovered an Arizona foodigenous called a cheese crisp that’s omnipresent at most Mexican restaurants from Tucson to Phoenix, Arizona. I was surprised when I heard what it was, basically a flour tortilla covered with a mix of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, broiled to crispy orange hue and served on a silver pizza pan. I’m pretty sure I invented it one hungry night in college when I MacGyver’d a few Kraft Singles and a lone burrito wrap into an open-faced quesadilla. But I didn’t go to college in Arizona and apparently the cheese crisp has been a thing for decades which begs the question, can you invent something that already exists, if you didn't know if already existed? That's some Joe Rogan high level "does a tree make a sound if it falls in the forest" thinking.

Don't All Mexican Restaurants serve this?

There's no clear origin story as to who first created it, when or even who named the cheese crisp, but the general consensus was that whoever did it was trying not to waste food. Its simplicity caught on. In Tuscon, it's been on old-school Mexican restaurant menus like El Charro Cafe, for decades. Quick side note, El Charro invented the chimichanga when Tia Monica accidentally dropped a burrito into a frying pan of oil and let out a censored G-rate curse word in front of her Sobrinos . Kinda cool.

Likewise, El Minuto Cafe, another Tuscon Sonoran- Style institution, now in their fourth generation of ownership serves a variety of crisps like the Bandera (featured) and a $20 The Minuto with house dried carne seca, tomato, onion and green chilies.

I've visited a decent amount of Mexican food restaurants in all my travels and while I feel that most of them have elements of this dish on their menu. This Arizona cheese crisp seems to be unique for the simple fact that it's not folded. It probably could be known nationally if it was given a more creative name. The obvious "Mexican Pizza" stands out, or maybe a "lazy man's quesadilla" would have been apropos, or they could have gone full edgelord with something like the "uncircumcised nacho"- get it? For the record, my friend advised me not to add that last comment, you know the whole kid friendly food blog and all, but sometimes you just gotta go rogue to get the views!! 👀

If this interests you and you have no immediate plans to travel to Arizona, make this at home, it's simple and delicious and it is perfect to put out for gametime. If you happen to be heading out to Phoenix, Sonoran Style Mexican is a must and be sure to add this on to your order. I find it goes equally really well with a Modelo or a Mexican Coke and some guac!