Tofu Scramble Hash at Blue Front (Photo by Taylor Noel Photography)

Travel + Leisure lists Tucson as one of the ‘Best Food Cities in the U.S.’


March 22, 2023
By Matt Sterner

"The best Tucson restaurants incorporate locally sourced ingredients into their drinks and dishes."

Coming off an epic mention by TIME magazine, the Old Pueblo has now made it to a “Best Food Cities in the U.S.” list by Travel + Leisure.

There are only 10 cities on this list, which showcases the likes of New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, and San Francisco, and Tucson is listed as number six.

Best Food Cities in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure
  1. New York City, New York
  2. New Orleans, Louisiana
  3. Chicago, Illinois
  4. San Francisco, California
  5. Houston, Texas,
  6. Tucson, Arizona
  7. Cleveland, Ohio
  8. Asheville, North Carolina
  9. Louisville, Kentucky
  10. Greenville, South Carolina
BATA (Photo by Anna Smirnova)
The article, written by Lauren Dana Ellman, said the following about Tucson:

“Tucson was the first U.S. city to be deemed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2015. Today, the destination continues to wow culinary connoisseurs with its distinct Native American and Mexican offerings dating back thousands of years. The best Tucson restaurants incorporate locally sourced ingredients into their drinks and dishes. With this in mind, prickly pear margaritas are a staple here, as are nopales (edible cacti). Tucson’s vibrant downtown district has 85-plus bars and restaurants, including BATA (which offers a largely veggie-focused menu — 90 percent of which is sourced within 400 miles of the restaurant) and BOCA. Helmed by James Beard finalist Maria Mazon, BOCA is famous for its flavorful tacos and salsa flights. An additional 13 new eateries will call Tucson home in 2023, including the brand-new Blue Front, where menu highlights include orange wines, creative cocktails, made-from-scratch pies, and deviled eggs.”

You can check out the full article at travelandleisure.com.

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