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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.
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.
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
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.
One of Tucson's most popular upscale
bistros, Feast has a contemporary setting that is bright,
cheerful, and conducive to conversation. The eclectic menu,
which changes monthly, is filled with interesting
combinations of flavors such as rosemary–goat cheese risotto
with artichoke hearts and tomatoes, and orange-glazed
chicken breast with roasted beets on sesame-cream noodles.
Many of the herbs and veggies are grown in the
restaurant's garden. A similarly eclectic array of
wines is available for both dining and retail. Though the
cuisine may be hard to categorize, it is always
yummy—including the homemade desserts.
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.
A modern Italian bistro in a lovely Foothills setting, Vivace has long been a favorite with Tucsonans. Wild mushrooms and goat cheese in puff pastry is hard to resist as a starter, and the fettuccine with grilled salmon is a nice, lighter alternative to such entrées as a rich osso buco. For dessert, the molten chocolate cake with spumoni is worth the 20 minutes it takes to create. Patio seating, with either city or mountain views, is especially inviting on warm evenings.
6440 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85718, USA
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