Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
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.
Take the American tradition of ballpark franks, give it a Mexican spin, and you'll have a Sonoran hot dog, created by and sold at El Guero Canelo restaurants and their strategically placed food trucks around town. If hot dogs aren't your thing, choose from their equally delicious renditions of standard street food fare: tacos, burros, quesadillas, and tortas (sandwiches).
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 more casual Maynard's Market, open from 9 am to 7 pm daily, sells pastries, sandwiches, and wholly satisfying lighter fare to take out or dine in, as well as regional wines, tamales, and ice cream.
The term "market" is slightly misleading for this neighborhood gathering spot serving delectable pizzas, creative sandwiches on freshly baked breads, house-made pastries, espresso, and craft beers. Sit a while or take it to go, along with all the wonderful local and imported treats you've loaded into your shopping basket.
Twenty-seven varieties of bread are made at this bustling bakery with Central, Eastside, and Northwest locations, open daily from 7 am to 7 pm. Highlights from the menu of generous sandwiches include Annie's Addiction (hummus, tomato, sprouts, red onion, and cucumber) and Brad's Beef (roast beef, provolone, onion, green chiles, and Russian dressing); soups, salads, and desserts are equally scrumptious. Eat inside or on the patio, or order takeout, but either way, splurge on one of the incredible desserts. The other locations—larger and just as busy—are at 6260 East Speedway Blvd. and 421 West Ina Rd.
This upscale eatery at the eastern end of the foothills is known, and loved, for their sophisticated comfort food, happy-hour specials, and relaxed vibe. Everyone can find something that satisfies, from burgers and fried chicken sandwiches to mussels expertly prepared in a Thai curry broth. Chat with the friendly bartenders, sit in the airy, contemporary dining room, or bring your pooch and chill on the sizeable patio with a view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Beer lovers should head to Gentle Ben's, a friendly, laid-back burger-and-brew pub that also makes a scrumptious veggie burger and bountiful salads. Open until midnight---a rarity in Tucson---this place is an institution for students and locals alike. 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.
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.
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 numerous vegan choices like the Austin, with a spinach and mushroom filling. Basmati rice and salad greens are satisfying sides.
