Foodie 15: Local bakeries serving fresh bread baked in house


October 25, 2019
a man wearing a hat
By Jackie Tran
By Jackie Tran

Oh crumb on, these loaves are pretty swheat.

While the aromas of mesquite bonfires and post-monsoon creosote resonate with Tucsonans, one aroma carries near-universal appeal: freshly-baked bread.

Here’s our list of local bakeries to get fresh loaves of bread baked in-house. Make sure to get there early before they sell out.

Alejandro’s Tortilla Factory

5330 S. 12th Ave.


Alejandro’s isn’t the place to get a baguette or a loaf of sourdough bread. But they are the place to get buns for Sonoran dogs. They also bake birotes, perfect for sopping up menudo and pozole, and teleros, used for making tortas (Mexican sandwiches).

For more information, visit alejandrostortillafactory.com.

August Rhodes Market

2513 E. 6th St.
Sourdough bread loaf at August Rhodes Market (Credit: Jackie Tran)

No longer a stand-alone establishment, that does not mean a shortage of supply for August Rhodes Market. With baked goods now sold from within cousin restaurant Flora’s Market Run, you can get their scratch-made bread from pastries served in the restaurant to loaves available to-go in the grocery section, all are made daily with the quality associated with Ares Collective.

Sourdough and baguettes are the classic go-to options, but keep an eye out for focaccia and Japanese milk bread.

For more information, visit florasmarket.com.

Barrio Bread

18 S. Eastbourne Ave.
Heritage loaves at Barrio Bread (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Heritage loaves at Barrio Bread (Credit: Jackie Tran)

To call Barrio Bread “next level” would be an understatement.

Baker Don Guerra, recently nominated as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s 2019 Restaurants and Chef Awards, uses local heritage grains and century-old techniques for some of the finest bread money can buy. However, it won’t cost you a fortune.

Favorites include:

  • Birote
  • Heritage
  • Pan au Levain
  • Pan Rustico
  • Super Seed Whole Wheat
  • Cranberry Walnut
  • Rustic Olive
  • Polish Emmer and Rye

For the bread menu, retailers, and more information, visit barriobread.com.

Beyond Bread

421 W. Ina Rd. • 3026 N. Campbell Ave. • 6260 E. Speedway Blvd.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Beyond Bread (@beyondbreadbakerycafe)

Beyond Bread features 30 varieties of bread baked daily, including Challah sold after 11 a.m. on Fridays. Quirkier loaves available on certain days of the week include:

  • Parsley & Swiss
  • Brie, Scallion & Chive
  • Ancho, Chipotle & White Cheddar
  • Fig & Pistachio

Set a reminder to stop by on Saturdays for discounted prices on select loaves. A crumby weekend ritual, one could call it.

For the bread menu and more information, visit beyondbread.com.

Caravan Grill

2825 N. Country Club Rd.
Mediterranean Salad, Chicken Shawarma, assorted sweets, Falafel Plate, hummus, pita, and Kafta Kebab Plate at Caravan Grill (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Mediterranean Salad, Chicken Shawarma, assorted sweets, Falafel Plate, hummus, pita, and Kafta Kebab Plate at Caravan Grill (Credit: Jackie Tran)

While the Mediterranean dishes are the main draw, don’t neglect the flatbread and pastry display cases, restocked daily. Try the Manoushe Zaatar, a thin flatbread seasoned with za’atar spices.

For more information, visit caravan-grill.business.site.

NOODIES

1730 E. Speedway Blvd.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Noodies (@noodiestucson)

Although pasta is the star at Noodies, artisan loaves of bread are also available to purchase at the recently opened sister concept of CERES. The bakery program, led by Scottie Orr, offers vegan and gluten-free options, and all of their bread is perfect on its own or used as a vessel for sopping up sauce.

Keep up with Noodies on Instagram

Dedicated – A Gluten Free Bakery and Coffee Shop

4500 E. Speedway Blvd. Ste. 41
Rosemary bread at Dedicated – A Gluten Free Bakery and Coffee Shop
Rosemary bread at Dedicated – A Gluten Free Bakery and Coffee Shop (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Dedicated is on a mission to prove that eating gluten-free shouldn’t mean bland food or hefty price tags. This Midtown bakery offers a wide variety of breads and pastries such as bagels, pizza crust, challah, and dinner roll – all mindfully and dedicatedly gluten-free.

For more information, visit dedicatedgf.com.

Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro

5845 N. Oracle Rd.
Bread from Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro
Bread from Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Northwest gluten-free bakery, Gourmet Girls, offers a wide selection of pastries and a variety of breads. The weekly selection varies, but some of the standards include baguettes, French loaves, carrot sunflower seed sandwich bread, rosemary sea salt focaccia, breakfast scones, and pizza crusts.

Call ahead for special orders at (520) 408-9000.

For more information, visit gourmetgirlsglutenfree.com.

La Baguette Bakery

1797 E. Prince Rd.
Baguettes and pain de campagne at Ghini's French Caffe and La Baguette Bakery (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Baguettes and pain de campagne at La Baguette Bakery (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Attached to Ghini’s French Caffe, La Baguette Bakery offers a wide range of bread and other baked goods. The baguette is naturally the star, but grabbing a chocolate croissant or macaroon while you’re there won’t leave you disappointed.

For more information, visit ghiniscafe.com.

La Baguette Parisienne

7851 E. Broadway Blvd.

La Baguette Parisienne has no relation to above-mentioned La Baguette Bakery, but it, too, brings the French flair of Flavortown to Tucson. Old school in both technique and technology, be sure to pack your cash because they do not accept credit cards.

For their rotating bread menu and more information, visit labaguetteparisienne.com.

La Estrella Bakery

5266 S. 12th Ave. • 120 S. Avenida Del Convento Ste. 100
Pan Fino at La Estrella Bakery Inc. (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Pan Fino at La Estrella Bakery Inc. (Credit: Jackie Tran)

While La Estrella is most famous for its assortment of pan dulces, you can also replenish your stash of birotes, teleras, Virginia rolls, and dinner rolls while you’re there. They’re also one of the few places in Tucson that offer Sonoran hot dog-worthy buns.

For more information, visit laestrellabakeryincaz.com.

Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant

60 N. Alvernon Way
Locale Cafe
Photo courtesy of Locale Cafe

The final piece of the Locale puzzle took form as a lovely cafe nestled into the southeast corner of their Midtown space, and pastry chef Karen Lustig has been dishing out tantalizing baked goods to the community ever since.

Their grab-and-go personal loaves of focaccia, with nooks for days and a $2 price tag, have the unquestionable power to become a highlight of your day.

Visit their website for hours and menus.

Mendez Bakery & Tortillas

1219 S. Sixth Ave.
Telera bread at Mendez Bakery
Telera bread at Mendez Bakery (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Located in the former Le Cave’s space on South Sixth Avenue, Mendez Bakery features a range of pan dulce and Mexican breads. In the mood for homemade tortas? Stop by for a loaf of telera bread, super soft, just the way you’d find it at the panaderias in Mexico.

Follow their Facebook page to learn more. 

Time Market

444 E. University Blvd.
Caprese Sandwich at Time Market (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Caprese Sandwich at Time Market (Credit: Jackie Tran)

While the bread menu is small with pain au levain, baguettes, and walnut bread at Time Market, the crusty loaves are exceptional.

Straight from the oven around 10:30 a.m. each morning (and replenished throughout the day), it’s the perfect chance to pick up some fancy cheese or cultured butter from the nearby fridge to enjoy with a fresh slice or ‘wich.

For more information, visit timemarket.xyz.

Viro’s Real Italian Bakery

8301 E. 22nd St.

Serving up traditional Italian bakery and deli items, the fresh fixins and friendly atmosphere of Viro’s will keep you coming back and feeling like famiglia. From loaves of bread to pizza crusts and pastries, you can’t go wrong.

For more information, visit virosbakery.com.

[This article was originally written on November 2, 2018, and most recently updated on June 9, 2022]

Upcoming Events

View all events
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.

Article By

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon...

Related Stories