With all of the well-deserved hype centered around downtown Tucson these days, it’s easy to forget that great restaurants exist outside of downtown.

Most Tucson foodies are aware of Campbell Avenue’s “restaurant row” and Skyline & Campbell’s swath of choice Foothills restaurants.

But, little love gets tossed around the East side of town. Don’t get me wrong – there’s no food mecca east of Craycroft, but there are a few little hidden gems – and not so hidden gems.

One of those hidden gems is Baja Cafe, tucked away in the shopping center on the Southwest corner of Broadway and Kolb behind The Gaslight Theatre and Little Anthony’s. Baja Cafe is a small, charming little breakfast joint that you’d miss if you weren’t looking for it.

Owned and operated by local couple Kim Scanlan and Gerard Meurer, Baja Cafe brings a creative, regional edge to breakfast and lunch on the Eastside. Billing themselves as “traditional and Baja-style”, Baja Cafe uses regional ingredients, such as nopales in Oscar’s Nopalitos, (scrambled eggs, grilled nopalitos, tomatoes, sweet onions and queso fresco), and offers many regional favorites such as Chilaquiles and Huevos Rancheros.

But, it’s the pancakes that are really getting people talking. Where else can you get (or have you even heard of) Red Velvet Pancakes? Or, how about a pancake version of the Snickerdoodle cookie? Baja Cafe also switches up their pancake special weekly. Recent pancake special highlights include:

• S’mores
• White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
• Strawberry Chocolate Chip
• Peanut Butter Cup
• Salted Caramel

Kim and Gerard bring years of experience, community involvement, and tons of passion to Baja Cafe. And, it’s not just breakfast, either. Open until 2pm daily their large selection of lunch items include salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and quesadillas. Lunch menu highlights include:

• Chipotle Mac & Cheese with a choice of three mix-ins
• Diamond Back Chicken Sandwich with house made adobo sauce, fresh pico, melted pepper jack, Hatch green chilies, and avocado
• Prickly Pear Salad with grilled nopalitos, tomatoes, red onions, pulled chicken, cilantro, Hatch green chilies and mixed greens in a prickly pear vinaigrette
• Baja Fish Tacos

Whether you’re looking for a new breakfast joint, a quick tasty lunch, or the only known red velvet pancakes in town, give Baja Cafe a try.

And, let us know what you think when you do.

Baja Cafe is located at 7002 E Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710 behind The Gaslight Theatre and is open daily from 6am – 2pm. For more information visit the Baja Cafe website, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and Like them on Facebook.