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Tucson boldly proclaims itself to be the "Mexican Food Capital of the United States," and most of the Mexican food in town is Sonoran-style. This means prolific use of cheese, mild peppers, corn tortillas, pinto beans, and beef or chicken. It's the birthplace of the chimichanga (Spanish for "whatchamacallit"), a flour tortilla f
Tucson boldly proclaims itself to be the "Mexican Food Capital of the United States," and most of the Mexican food in town is Sonoran-style. This means prolific use of cheese, mild peppers, corn tortillas, pinto beans, and beef or chicken. It's the birthplace of the chi
Tucson boldly proclaims itself to be the "Mexican Food Capital of the United States," and most of the Mexican food in to
Tucson boldly proclaims itself to be the "Mexican Food Capital of the United States," and most of the Mexican food in town is Sonoran-style. This means prolific use of cheese, mild peppers, corn tortillas, pinto beans, and beef or chicken. It's the birthplace of the chimichanga (Spanish for "whatchamacallit"), a flour tortilla filled with meat or cheese, rolled, and deep-fried.
The best Mexican restaurants are concentrated in South Tucson and Downtown, although some favorites have additional locations around town. If Mexican's not your thing, there are plenty of other options: you won't have any trouble finding excellent sushi, Thai, Italian, and Ethiopian food at reasonable prices.
For sampling regional flavors, upscale Southwestern cuisine flourishes at several resorts in the Foothills, most notably the Grill at Hacienda del Sol and Flying V Grill at Loews Ventana Canyon. A recent trend in Tucson dining is combining hip restaurants with chic shopping locations. Choose from sushi, steak, Italian, or Mexican at La Encantada in the Foothills. Casas Adobes Plaza, in the Northwest, is home to upscale shops alongside Wildflower Grill and trendy, thin-crust pizza at Sauce—and the gelato shop, Frost, is handy for dessert. Downtown has recently exploded with first-rate dining and drinking establishments, from modern comfort food and homemade ice cream to gourmet pizzas, craft beers, and contemporary Mexico City cuisine.
Tasty fare as varied as Indian, Greek, and Middle Eastern can be enjoyed on the west side of U of A's campus, along University Boulevard and 4th Avenue—another great area for people-watching and barhopping as well as quelling hunger pangs.
On Friday and Saturday nights and during the Gem Show (first two weeks of February), reservations are usually a good idea at upscale and popular restaurants. Dress ranges from casual to casual-dressy here; jackets for men aren’t required at any restaurant, even at resorts.
One of Tucson's premier chefs, Albert Hall, relocated his fine-dining restaurant to high in the Catalina Foothills, so now patrons can enjoy stunning city views from both the restaurant and the expansive, more casual bar. Roasted plum tomato and basil soup, a recipe from Hall's mom, is a favorite starter. Creative dishes like wild salmon with a pecan honey-mustard glaze and wood-roasted quail filled with pancetta, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and Oaxacan risotto are among the many tempting, organically grown (or raised) entrées. Vegetarians have choices here, too, including a sweet corn–and–green chile custard with roasted vegetables, fettuccine, and wild mushrooms, and an Asian noodle salad.
3001 E. Skyline Drive, Gallery Row, Tucson, Arizona, 85718, USA
At one of Tucson's oldest and most elegant
restaurants, dine on the patio overlooking the lush grounds
or enjoy the view from the dining room, which has
Southwestern details from the 1930s. The culinary range here
is broad, from roasted duck in a tart cherry demi-glace to a
vegetarian tomato and mushroom cannelloni. Locals mostly
come for weekday power breakfasts, business or special
occasion lunches, and Sunday brunch.
Tucked inside the Stevens Home, part of
the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, this gem of
a café serves breakfast frittatas, burritos, and
pancakes as well as delightful salads, soups, and
sandwiches daily from 8 to 4, and is open for happy hour
and dinner Wednesday through Saturday until 9.
This charming spot off the lobby of Hotel
Congress is at the epicenter of Tucson's hippest scene,
but it also serves up excellent food from breakfast through
late night. Try the cast-iron baked eggs or huevos rancheros
for breakfast, and the ahi poke bowl or "Queer Steer"
(veggie burger) later in the day. It's open late—until
10 pm weeknights and 11 pm on weekends—and becomes crowded
in the evening with patrons from Club Congress, the
hotel's nightclub.
Beer lovers should head to Gentle
Ben's, a friendly, laid-back burger-and-brew pub
that also makes a scrumptious veggie burger. The deck
upstairs offers a good view of the sunset.
865 E. University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA
A standout for classic American cuisine,
Kingfisher has an emphasis on fresh seafood, especially
oysters and mussels, but the kitchen does baby back ribs and
steak with equal success. Try the delicately battered
fish-and-chips or the clam chowder on the late-night menu,
served from 10 pm to midnight nightly. Bright panels of
turquoise and terra-cotta, black banquettes, and neon
lighting make for a chic space in the main dining room, or
sit in the cozy bar area with locals who appreciate a good
meal with their cocktails.
With freshly roasted coffee, breakfast pastries, and generous sandwiches, salads, and soups, this pleasant little eatery smack in the middle of Tubac village is a very convenient and friendly place to "set awhile" with the locals.
Well known—and loved—for its creative American
fare and stunning presentation, Wildflower has compelling
choices like a salmon and seafood bouillabaise; bow-tie
pasta with grilled chicken, tomatoes, spinach, and pine
nuts; and red wine–braised short ribs. The decadently huge
desserts are equally top-notch. A glass wall separates the
bar from the dining area, where an open kitchen, high
ceiling with painted flowers, and blue-green banquettes
complete the light and airy effect. Request a banquette or
seating on the patio in the evening if you want quiet
conversation, as the room can be noisy.
Have a glass of wine or a cocktail with your gourmet burger and fries at this high-energy, somewhat noisy, and unquestionably hip burger joint. Zinburger delivers tempting burgers—try the Kobe beef with cheddar and wild mushrooms—and decadent milkshakes made of creative combinations like dates and honey or melted chocolate with praline flakes. A few creative salads, including one with ahi tuna, round out the menu. The restaurant also has a second location on the northeast side of town.
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Elvira's
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