Restaurants in Tucson
Variety, they say, is the spice of life, and Tucson certainly dishes up plenty of variety (and spice) when it comes to eating out. For its wealth of eating opportunities and the quality of the food served here, in 2015 Tucson was named a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy, the first in the United States. (San Antonio, Texas, earned the second title a couple of years later.) Tucson is a city that lives for spice, and in the realm of fiery foods, Sonoran-style Mexican reigns supreme.
If you’re one of those rare people who aren’t fans of Mexican food, don’t despair—there are plenty of other restaurants serving everything from the finest French cuisine to innovative American, Italian, Asian, and African food. Southwestern food, Mexican-inspired but a creation of the region, is prevalent, too, and you should be sure to dine at a Southwestern restaurant early in your visit. This cuisine can be brilliantly creative, and after trying it, you may want all your meals to be Southwestern.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight dining budget, look for early-bird dinners, which are quite popular with retirees.
The Secret of Carne Seca
Housed in an old stone building in El Presidio Historic District, El Charro Cafe (311 N. Court Ave.; tel 520/622-1922) is Tucson’s oldest family-operated Mexican restaurant, and it’s legendary around these parts for its carne seca, a traditional air-dried beef that is a bit like shredded beef jerky. To see how they make carne seca, just glance up at the restaurant’s roof as you approach: The large metal cage is filled with beef drying in the desert sun. You’ll rarely find carne seca on a Mexican menu outside of Tucson, so indulge while you’re here. El Charro also claims to be ground zero for the deep-fried burrito called the chimichanga, and though historical fact points elsewhere, it’s an enjoyable local legend. The adjacent ¡Toma!, a colorful bar/cantina, is under the same ownership. There are other El Charro locations at 6910 E. Sunrise Dr. (tel. 520/514-1922), and 7725 N. Oracle Rd., Oro Valley (tel. 520/229-1922), as well as in Concourse B of Tucson International Airport.
Hot Dogs, Sonoran-Style
You might think it a scenario out of a detective show, but the early days of Sonoran-style hot dogs in Tucson were accompanied by industrial espionage, extortion, and considerable bad blood. The dust settled, and one pioneer stood standing: El Guero Canelo, which in 2018 was awarded a coveted James Beard America’s Classics prize for its take on the salchicha rojo. The hot dog, wrapped in bacon and slathered with beans and salsa, will thrill the connoisseur, and the restaurant scene itself is a pure joy. For a slice of authentic Tucson culture, this place is not to be missed. The original El Guero Canelo is at 5201 S. 12th Ave. (tel. 520/295-9005), and there are locations in central Tucson (2480 N. Oracle Rd.; tel. 520/882-8977), on the East Side (5802 E 22nd St.; tel. 520/790-6000), South Tucson’s hip new “meat market,” or carniceria (4519 S 12th Ave.; tel. 520/889-3935), and even, as an act of clemency toward its northern neighbor, on the west side of Phoenix (5131 W. McDowell Rd.; tel. 602/278-8560). Main courses run between $2.50 and $8; it’s open Monday–Thursday 10am–10pm; Friday–Saturday 8am–midnight; Sunday 8am–10pm.
Market Timing
Saturday and Sunday mornings are great times to stop by St. Philip’s Plaza, just across the street from a historic Episcopalian church on the corner of Campbell Avenue and River Road. On weekend mornings, there is a wonderful little farmers’ market here. You can pick up organic bread, prickly-pear cactus juice and jelly, homemade tamales, Mexican cheeses, and plenty of produce. Stock up here, and then head to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area for a picnic.
Late-Night Noshing
If your movie didn't let out until 10pm and the popcorn wasn't enough to fill you up, where do you go to satisfy your hunger? Try Kingfisher, 2564 E. Grant Rd. (tel. 520/323-7739), which stays open until midnight every night, or Pastiche Modern Eatery, 3025 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/325-3333;), which stays open until 11 on the Saturday and Sunday. T
Bakeries, Cafes & Quick Bites
For some of the best espresso in Tucson, head to Raging Sage Coffee Roasters, 2458 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/320-5203); prices are high, but the espresso here sure is tasty. If you've been visiting the museums on the University of Arizona campus and need a pick-me-up, try Caffe Luce, 943 E. University Blvd., no. 191 (tel. 520/207-5504), which is directly across the street from the campus. If you're a tea person, be sure to check out Seven Cups, 2516 E. Sixth St. (tel. 520/881-4072), a traditional Chinese tearoom in a hip residential neighborhood near the University of Arizona.
If you find yourself craving a cupcake, head over to the university area to Red Velvet Cupcakery, 943 E. University Blvd., Ste. 165 (tel. 520/829-7780). For eight-layer cakes and light food in an edgy atmosphere, I like to stop in at the Cup Cafe, at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. (tel. 520/798-1618). At La Baguette Bakery, 1797 E. Prince Rd. (tel. 520/322-6297, which is affiliated with Ghini's French Caffe, you can get all kinds of delicious French pastries. AJ's Fine Foods, 2805 E. Skyline Dr. (tel. 520/232-6340), a gourmet supermarket in La Encantada shopping center at the northwest corner of Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, is another good place to grab a pastry. If it's a hot day, head to Frost, A Gelato Shoppe, 7131 N. Oracle Rd., Ste. 101 (tel. 520/797-0188), a great little gelateria in the Casas Adobes shopping center. Other Frosts can be found at 7301 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (tel. 520/886-0354), which is conveniently close to Sabino Canyon, and at 2905 E. Skyline Dr., Ste. 286 (tel. 520/299-0315), in La Encantada shopping center.
If you need a quick lunch, head for the nearest Baggins Gourmet Sandwiches for a delicious sandwich. Baggins has several locations, including 7233 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/290-9383), 1800 E. Fort Lowell Rd. at Campbell Avenue (tel. 520/327-1611), and downtown at 33 N. Stone Ave. at Church and Pennington streets (tel. 520/792-1344). Good pizza can be had at Magpies Gourmet Pizza downtown at 605 N. Fourth Ave. (tel. 520/628-1661), 105 S. Houghton Rd. (tel. 520/751-9949), and 6342 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-2712). Whole Foods Market is a good place to get picnic supplies: organic fruit, delicious baked goods, cheese, meats, and wine. Locations are at 3360 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/795-9844) and 7133 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-5394).
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37 Results
- French/American
Arizona Inn -- Main Dining Room
The dining room at the Arizona Inn, one of the state’s first resorts, is consistently excellent. Pink-stucco pueblo-style buildings surround the courtyard and the bar patio, romantic dining spots that overlooking colorful manicured gardens. The menu changes regularly, but includes…$$$Blenman-Elm - American/Bakery
Beyond Bread
Although ostensibly a bakery, this place is really a bustling sandwich shop that also sells great breads and pastries. You can even get hot breakfasts here, but most Tucsonans dash in for coffee and a treat from the pastry case. The sandwich list is long and inventive, with both hot…$Around Town - Mexican
Blanco Tacos + Tequila
The retro Swedish-modern decor at this restaurant is about as far as you can get from the usual perpetual-fiesta styling of most Mexican restaurants. However, Blanco, from the same restaurant group responsible for Wildflower, is far from an average Mexican restaurant. The food here…$$The Foothills - American
Blue Willow
The crowds of people waiting on the front patio for a table on weekend mornings should be a clue that this place does great breakfasts. Better yet, the breakfasts are massive, and they’re available all day long. The Blue Willow Special—made with scrambled eggs, green chilies,…$Central Tucson - Pizza
Brooklyn Pizza Company
Solar-powered pizza? That’s what the sign says, and if you look on the roof of the building housing this little pizza joint, you’ll see dozens of photovoltaic panels. While the pizzas themselves are baked in a gas-fired oven, everything else in the restaurant runs on the power of the…$University Area - Barbecue
Brushfire BBQ Co.
At this tiny barbecue joint, you pick the size of your meal (regular or hungry), the type of sauce you want (they’ve got six flavors), and what sides you’d like (be sure to get the flavored slaw of the day). Those are a lot of choices to make on an empty stomach, but once you’ve made…$Samos - Ligh Fare
Café à la C'Art
In the courtyard on the grounds of the Tucson Museum of Art, this cafe serves up tasty sandwiches and sophisticated main courses; it’s a good spot for a meal break if you’re downtown wandering the Presidio neighborhood or touring the museum. Try the Parmesan-crusted turkey croissant…$$Downtown - Contemporary Mexican
Café Poca Cosa
At this stylish downtown restaurant, the cooking of owner/chef Suzana Davila has earned a devoted local following, as well as write-ups in just about every major international food magazine. Although nominally Mexican, this food is not just any Mexican food; with plenty of…$$Downtown - New American/Southwestern
Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails
Chef Janos Wilder, Tucson’s most celebrated chef, got his start in downtown Tucson years ago, and with this casual restaurant he has returned to his roots. Downtown’s eclectic menu draws on influences from all over the world, and its bar is a favorite hangout for local cultural…$$Downtown - American/Mexican
Eclectic Café
After a day of hiking at Sabino Canyon, the Eclectic, founded in 1980 by the mastermind behind Frank’s and Francisco’s, is a fun and delicious refueling station—and also a good place to stoke up before any such enterprise. A weekend breakfast favorite is the Mexico City–style…$The Foothills - Light Fare
Eegee’s
In 1971, two kids, Ed Irving and Bob Greenberg, concocted a particularly delicious slushy lemonade and, driving a beat-up panel truck, took a batch to a construction site on Tucson’s east side. The construction workers loved the cold treat, but they clamored for food as well. So it…$East Tucson - Mexican
El Minuto Cafe
Downtown at the edge of the Barrio Histórico next to El Tiradito shrine, El Minuto is a meeting ground for Anglos and Latinos, who come for the lively atmosphere and Mexican home-cooking. In business since 1936, this establishment is a neighborhood landmark and a prototype that other…$Downtown - International
Feast
Feast has evolved from a takeaway place to an elegant sit-down restaurant, its menu propelled by a highly innovative chef. The menu changes periodically, but duck meatballs, vegetable dumplings, and beef short ribs turn up regularly.$$East Tucson - Southwestern
Flying V Bar & Grill
Creative Southwestern dishes that emphasize local ingredients, some even sourced from local Tohono O’odham farmers, make this restaurant at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort a good bet for anyone wanting to sample some regional flavors. Popular dishes include guacamole prepared…$$$The Foothills - American/Mexican
Frank’s and Francisco's
By day Frank’s, not far from the Tucson Botanical Gardens, is an unassuming greasy spoon whose marquee warns, “Elegant dining elsewhere.” The dining at Frank’s is just fine, though, with the best chicken-fried steak and home fries in town, and breakfast and lunch specials that will…$Palo Verde - French
Ghini's French Caffe
A French cafe and breakfast spot in the middle of Tucson? Mais oui! This casual little spot is a real gem. The owner is from Marseille and reproduces plenty of favorites from the home country. At breakfast, there are flaky croissants, a Marseille-style omelet made with anchovies, and…$Central Tucson - New American/Southwestern
Harvest Restaurant
This Oro Valley restaurant, affiliated with both the Grill at Hacienda del Sol and Tucson’s two Zona 78s, emphasizes fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. It’s an excellent choice if you’re staying in the northwest foothills area. The empanadas have a lusciously flaky crust and come…$$Oro Valley - American
Hub Restaurant and Ice Creamery
Hub has proved to be a—well, a hub of the new downtown, shaped by the arrival of the urban streetcar and the rebirth of Congress Street as a dining destination. Hub’s food ranges from burgers and meatloaf to elegant variations on comfort classics such as lobster mac and cheese. The…$Downtown - Seafood
Kingfisher Bar & Grill
If you’re serious about seafood, Kingfisher is definitely one of your best bets for a memorable meal in Tucson. The freshest seafood, artfully blended with bright flavors and imaginative ingredients, is deftly prepared as appetizers, sandwiches, and main dishes. You may have…$$Central Tucson - American
Little Anthony's Diner
This place is primarily for kids, although lots of big kids enjoy the 1950s music and decor. The menu includes such offerings as a La Bamba burger and Chubby Checker triple-decker club sandwich, along with a healthy salad-driven menu dubbed “Things Elvis Wouldn’t Eat.” Daily specials…$East Tucson - Vegan
Lovin' Spoonfuls
Chili dogs, turkey sandwiches, tuna melts, bacon cheeseburgers. The menu at this casual little place may not sound too interesting until you realize that not one of those dishes actually has meat in it. This is a vegan restaurant, so there are no eggs or dairy products to be seen (or…$Shaheen Estates - Mexican
Mariscos Chihuahua
In the dining room of this funky little westside Mexican joint, a life-size marlin leaps out of a wall that has been painted with a mural of the open ocean. This unusual decor should give you a hint about what they serve here—seafood, Mexican seafood. Fish, shrimp, and octopus,…$West Tucson - New American/Southwestern
Maynard's Market & Kitchen
A cousin of the Hotel Congress’s Cup Cafe across the street, this restaurant in Tucson’s restored downtown train station carries out a railroad theme, with old trolley track used for a foot rail at the bar and railroad spikes turned into table lamps. Serving steak, seafood, and a…$$$Downtown - Mexican
Mi Nidito
When he was president, Bill Clinton stopped by Mi Nidito, a beloved culinary venue on Tucson’s south side, and demolished half the menu. Ever since, Mi Nidito has boasted the “President’s combination” plate, and it’s a delicious doozy. It takes a Secret Service detail to bust through…$Downtown - American
Pat's Drive-In
In business for more than 60 years, Pat’s was originally located in the heart of downtown, then expanded to four locations, then shrank to this last one, an old-fashioned drive-in, with its distinctive red-and-white striped paint job, famous in Tucson for its chili dogs. The dogs…$West Tucson - Eclectic
Saguaro Corners
This cavernous far-eastside hangout is an ideal place to stop for a nosh on the way home from a day exploring Saguaro National Park. The menu is all over the map, ranging from tacos and pasta to steaks and shrimp and grits, but somehow it all works, and the clientele and staff are…$East Tucson - Italian
Scordato’s
Helmed by Daniel Scordato, scion of Tucson’s best-known Italian culinary dynasty, Scordato’s has the best pizza in Tucson, along with a range of Italian dishes that are far from ordinary. Try, for instance, the grilled asparagus and arugula salad, or the penne with wafer-thin sliced…$$The Foothills - Mexican
Seís Kitchen
Tucson’s finest street taco, Mexico City–style, used to be found in a food truck called Seís, Spanish for “six,” after the six Mexican food regions from which the menu drew. Then the owners found a location in Tucson’s ultrahip Mercado San Agustín, the anchor of a booming…$Downtown - Mexican
Teresa's Mosaic Café
A mile or so west of I-10, this casual Mexican restaurant, with colorful mosaic tile tables, mirror frames, and a kitchen counter, may be hidden behind a McDonald’s on the corner of Grant and Silverbell roads, but it’s well worth finding for breakfast or lunch. Try the legendary…$West Tucson - Regional American
The Grill
Great food, historical Southwest character, views, live jazz, design by the storied architect Josias Joesler—this place has it all. Located in a 1920s hacienda-style building at the Hacienda del Sol resort (p. ###), the Grill is one of Tucson’s best restaurants. The menu changes…$$$The Foothills - American
The Parish Gastropub
Some days you need a beer. Some days you need bacon popcorn. Some days you need hushpuppies—or an eggplant croquette, or a slab of mesquite-broiled salmon. On such days, Tucsonans head to The Parish, an inconspicuous but comfortable bistro in a nondescript strip mall on a corner of…$$The Foothills - Mexican
Tucson Tamale Company
Tamales, stuffed cornmeal dumplings steamed in corn husks, are a staple among the Southwest’s Hispanic population, but the owners of this restaurant are taking tamales to a broader audience. To that end, the tamales here are made without lard and sometimes include some very…$Around Town - Italian
Vero Amore
Everyone loves pizza, but some people are absolutely fanatical about it. Solidly in the fanatics category are the owners of this cozy midtown pizza place, whose menu has grown from pizzas to include treats like Caprese salad, steak, pasta dishes, and gelato. Vero Amore adheres to the…$East Tucson - New American
Wildflower
Stylish comfort food in large portions is the order of the day at this chic and casually elegant northwest-Tucson bistro. The heaping plate of fried calamari with mizuna greens is a good bet for a starter, and entrees run the gamut from a comforting mesquite-broiled cheeseburger with…$$The Foothills - Japanese
Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Eatery
Yoshimatsu is an authentic Japanese restaurant in a city with a sizable Japanese population, largely because of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Not only is there a long menu of health-conscious Japanese dishes, but the decor in this ultracasual place features little glass cases…$Central Tucson - American
Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar
Burgers and beer? Yes. Burgers and wine? It doesn’t seem like a logical pairing, but it works, and there are five Arizona Zinburgers to prove it, three in the Phoenix area and two in Tucson. Kids aren’t barred from the place, and there’s a kids’ menu, but it’s really—well, a hip,…$The Foothills - Pizza
Zona 78
Try the Tuscany, which is covered with Italian sausage, mozzarella, kalamata olives, fennel, roasted garlic, onions, mushrooms, and fresh basil. This pie is just bursting with flavors. To really get the most out of a visit to Zona 78, you need to bring enough people so that you can…$$East Tucson
