Tucson folk like to drink without spending a fortune. (Who doesn't?) Thankfully, Tucson's BYOB (bring your own bottle) options aren't particularly formal — this means you don't have to fuss over etiquette and can also save a fortune.
Since you're bringing a whole bottle however, pairing with food can be trickier. The key is to not overthink it and enjoy yourself.
If you're a wine newbie and don't even know where to start, we've provided a few suggested pairings below. Cheers!
If you can get your hands on the Ethiopian honey wine tej, bring it. Mead makes a suitable substitution. High-acid whites like Chenin Blanc pair well with the spice.
Corkage fee: NO
For more information, call (520) 370-7000 or visit cafedesta.com.
With such a beefy menu, bring a red wine such as Zinfandel or Barbaresco.
Corkage fee: NO
For more information, call (520) 887-5305 or visit alisahrestaurant.com.
If you're coming in the morning, bring sparkling wine for mimosas. If you're coming for dinner, bring a dry Sauvignon Blanc to pair with carne asada and birria.
Corkage fee: NO
For more information, call (520) 881-2710 or visit franksrestaurant.com.
Martin's Chicken Mole pairs with partially oaked, dry Chardonnay.
Corkage fee: NO (but you have to be seated indoors).
For more information, call (520) 884-7909 or keep up with Martin’s Comida Chingona on Facebook.
Believe it or not, champagne is fantastic with hot dogs. The acidity and bubbles help cut through the rich dogs and sausages. Mutts also sells orange juice if you'd like to make mimosas.
Corkage fee: NO (but you have to be seated indoors).
For more information, call (520) 529-7277 or keep up with Mutts on Facebook.
Bring a Syrah with spicy notes to complement the berbere-rich Eritrean stews.
Corkage fee: $1 per beer/wine bottle
For more information, call (520) 276-3476 or visit queenshebatucson.com.
Assuming you'll put the spicy, creamy Rollies sauce or tangy salsas on everything, bring a Portuguese Vinho Verde.
Corkage fee: NO
For more information, call (520) 300-6289 or keep up with Rollies Mexican Patio on Facebook.
A light Mexican lager naturally goes well with tacos, but try stepping it up a notch with a bottle of cava. The bubbles work magic with the rich meats and pickled veggies.
Corkage fee: NO
For more information, call (520) 623-8775 or keep up with Taqueria Pico de Gallo on Facebook.
Even though the Tasteful Kitchen is vegetarian, they know how to use ingredients such as miso to create deeply savory dishes. A rosé will pair nicely with most of the menu, but the robust Miso Eggplant can handle a Merlot.
Corkage fee: $7 per bottle of wine or six pack of beer
For more information, call (520) 250-9600 or visit thetastefulkitchen.com.
For the Doro Wat, an oaked chardonnay pairs marvelously. The heavily-spiced dishes go well with hoppy lagers and IPAs.
Corkage fee: $3
For more information, call (520) 323-9928 or visit zemams.com.
Do you have a favorite BYOB restaurant to add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran's Fats. Although he...
