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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.
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.
An anchor in the downtown district, this French-inspired bistro, bar, and gourmet market takes up part of Tucson's historic train depot. Clever thematic touches—a dining room fashioned long and narrow like a train car, with wheel-like divider walls and lamps made from rail spikes—and the attentive yet relaxed service evoke the romance of a largely bygone era. Choose a table by the window and watch the trains go by. Or, if you prefer, sit outside on the vast patio overlooking the tracks. Menu choices range from starters like fresh oysters and steak tartare to bouillabaisse, coq au vin, and burgers served with pommes frites. The market, open from 7 am to 8 pm daily, sells pastries, sandwiches, and lighter fare to take out or dine in, as well as regional wines, tamales, and ice cream.
Hip in an understated way, this classy bistro
and bar is firmly ensconced at the top of local "best of
Tucson" lists, and its cocktails have garnered national
attention. The minimalist setting—walnut banquettes, exposed
pipes, and bare-bulb lighting—contrasts with the great care
taken in preparing entrées like phyllo-wrapped chicken
stuffed with spinach and goat cheese or steamed mussels with
andouille sausage and pommes frites. Try a bold,
herb-infused cocktail such as the Brick House old fashioned
with bacon-washed rye.
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.
Ever-evolving maverick and master chef Janos
Wilder draws inspiration from warm-weather regions around
the world as he fuses French technique and Southwestern
flavors. His emphasis on locally grown, organic foods
informs the seasonally changing menu, but you can always get
his signature J Dawg, a Sonoran hot dog with black beans,
bacon, and smoked–poblano chile crema. The interior,
decorated in soft blues and greens and exposed-brick walls,
encourages relaxation and quiet conversation.
Started by Monica Flin in 1922, the oldest
Mexican restaurant in town still serves splendid versions of
the Mexican-American staples Flin claims to have originated,
most notably chimichangas and cheese crisps. Located in an
old stone house in El Presidio Historic District, the
colorful restaurant and bar exude a festive, if slightly
touristy, vibe.
Popular with local families and the business crowd at lunch, this bustling restaurant in Tucson's Barrio Historico neighborhood has been serving topopo salads (a crispy tortilla shell heaped with beans, guacamole, and many other ingredients), huge burritos, and green-corn tamales (in season) made just right for over 50 years. The spicy menudo (tripe soup) is reputed to be a great hangover remedy.
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