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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 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.
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.
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.
From curry to kebab, the tasty and plentiful dishes at Kababeque satisfy for a quick bite Indian-style.
This trendy eatery in upscale La Encantada Shopping Center melds an urban-loft look with rustic Italian touches, including bright red chairs and metal tables. North draws crowds who come for the excellent thin-crust pizzas, pasta, fish, and steak, all prepared in the open kitchen. Alfresco dining on the wraparound patio affords views of the city and quieter conversation; on most evenings the expansive bar area inside buzzes with Tucson's young professionals.
Don't let the bland interior or the strip-mall setting dissuade you: many locals consider this the best Japanese restaurant in Tucson. Inside, perfectly prepared sushi and sashimi and generous combinations of tempura and teriyaki await, along with friendly service. The owner's wife is Korean, so the menu also has quite a few Korean classics, like beef and pork bulgogi (barbecue with vegetables) and tofu kimchi. Try a bowl of udon noodles, served in broth with assorted meat, seafood, or vegetables—it's a satisfying meal in itself.
Nestled in the verdant Geronimo Plaza, Sinbad's serves falafel and other Middle Eastern fare, and has a great patio.
A good homemade tamale is special, and a restaurant that prepares and serves them fresh every day with all sorts of creative fillings is a find indeed. Carnivores can indulge in beef, pork, or chicken tamales while vegetarians can opt for traditional, cheese-filled green-corn tamales, or "Blue" tamales, made of blue corn and filled with squash, onion, tomato, and cheese; there are also vegan choices like the Austin, with a spinach and mushroom filling. Breakfast tamales and eggs are served on weekend mornings. Salad, rice, and black beans are side options; most items are gluten-free and made without animal fat. Eat here in the no-frills dining area, or take your tamales to go.
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