La Olla Mexican Cafe Wins the Taste of Marana STANDOUT Award

Marana, Arizona - La Olla Mexican Cafe in Southern Marana is the latest Taste of Marana STANDOUT Restaurant Award winner! The restaurant's dedication to fresh ingredients, exceptional service, and strong community ties has earned it this coveted spot on the STANDOUT list.

This hidden gem received several nominations, with customers highlighting the restaurant's fresh meals, outstanding customer service and the way the owners make everyone feel like family when they dine there.

Husband-and-wife team Ken and Diane Gallardo take pride in their unique take on Sonoran flavors, adding a distinctive twist that sets them apart. Each weekend, Chef Diane prepares a special menu featuring several inventive main dishes and a unique dessert, like her Turtle Churro Sundae.

Several nominators also mentioned Diane’s calabacitas–a zucchini based side-dish–as a can’t miss!

The Gallardo’s met in the hospitality industry, gaining invaluable experience at the Westward Look, Janos Wilder’s restaurants and the Oro Valley Country Club. They went into business for themselves in 2007 and have successfully navigated economic challenges, including the recession and the pandemic.

The Gallardo’s told Discover Marana, “We’re honored to win the STANDOUT award. It means everything to us to be recognized by our local customers and community.”

Curt Woody, Economic Development and Tourism Director for the Town of Marana, said, “We thank the Gallardo’s for their 17-year commitment to the town and community. We also appreciate residents who have put in Taste of Marana STANDOUT nominations, helping to shine a spotlight on local favorites!”

The Taste of Marana STANDOUT award presentation took place at the Marana Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting at The Highlands in Dove Mountain on Thursday, August 15th.

Amanda Wiggins, President and CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce offered her congratulations, “Nearly 200 business and community leaders gathered at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Luncheon to celebrate and honor building a thriving community through connected business leadership. It was wonderful to highlight Discover Marana’s Taste of Marana STANDOUT recipient, La Olla Mexican Cafe, at this annual event. This culinary champion in our community has been rooted here for nearly two decades and beloved by so many in the region.”

La Olla Mexican Cafe is located at 8553 N. Silverbell Road in Southern Marana. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 8pm.

Photos from the event and La Olla are available at this link.

About the Taste of Marana Standout Restaurant Award

The Taste of Marana STANDOUT Restaurant Award is part of Discover Marana’s initiative to promote the local dining scene and showcase the stories behind the restaurants. A strong dining scene is an important part of tourism and a thriving community, especially in light of the challenges that restaurateurs have faced in the last several years due to labor shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation.

Discover Marana invites the public to nominate their favorite local restaurants for the next award. The nomination form can be found on Discover Marana’s website.

Discover Marana hopes to honor up to 10 local restaurant owners who stand out in their field. The first STANDOUT award winner was Nana’s Kitchen back in August of 2023 and Vero Amore - Dove Mountain in November 2023. Both restaurants have been in the community for 15 years!

The trophy awarded to the winners is an individual art piece by local artist Trevor O’Toole.

About the Town of Marana Restaurant Task Force

The Marana Restaurant Task Force for the Town of Marana is a coordinated effort to bring sit-down restaurants to our community for the benefit of our residents, our economy and tourism. Read more about how we’re working to attract more dining options to the community here.

About Discover Marana

Discover Marana the official destination marketing organization for the town of Marana, Arizona.

For more information about Discover Marana and its programs, visit DiscoverMarana.org

Contact:

Stefanie Boe, Discover Marana

sboe@Maranaaz.gov