How are we already a quarter of the way through 2025?
From restaurants making their first appearance in town to those opening second or even third locations throughout the city, the food scene has some great newcomers. Here are some of the new restaurants, bars, and other local spots that have opened in Tucson this year.
Also, for a larger list of openings, check out our interactive guide.
There’s a lot to talk about on the menu, and you’re in luck if you’re a seafood lover here in the dusty desert. There’s a nifty lineup of fish, shrimp, aguachile, etc. and, for those looking for something fun, disassembling the torre de marisco — a piled-high tower of seafood surrounded by tortilla chips — should be on your list.
The food is solid! The hummus was smooth, and the falafel was spot on, but the Shish Tawook stole the show. It’s a smoked chicken dish served over perfectly cooked long-grain rice that has this warm, spiced flavor — maybe cardamom.
“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who came out to experience the vibrant flavors of Mexican street snacks and the lively atmosphere we’re bringing to Tucson,” the team shared. “Your support means the world to us, and we’re so excited to keep the momentum going.”
“We decided to move our bakery location closer to our coffeehouse to better integrate our two concepts,” said Lydia Lane, General Manager. “It allows our bakery staff to focus their time and efforts fully on baked goods. We have such a talented staff, and we wanted to make sure we gave them the opportunity to make something really special here in the plaza.”
“At our new location, we want to continue and expand on the things we’ve been doing at our Annex location for years,” said Michael “Gonzo” Gonzales, General Manager at Decibel. “With our new location, we have the opportunity to expand our menu a lot more.”
So, everything you love about the MSA Annex location is here, with some new additions sprinkled in here and there.
What started as LemonShark Poke back in 2019 has officially transformed into Desert Shark, a locally owned and operated restaurant that’s bringing a fresh perspective on poke and more.
You’ll still find your favorite Build-Your-Own-Poke bowls, but Moreno has also introduced new signature items like the Desert Heatwave, featuring sushi rice, crispy wontons, ahi, shrimp, mango, takis, and his signature Shark Bite sauce.
Stop by for drip coffee, espresso, lattes, tea, and more from 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Also, the shop, which is owned and operated by the same folks at Frost Gelato, there’s gelato on the menu in the afternoon.
This quaint, brand-new, Mexican restaurant is serving some delicious food and the wings did not disappoint. Their mole wings are served on custom-branded wooden cutting boards.
“The wings had that great mole flavor of a semi-sweet rich and slightly spicy chocolate sauce,” according to the Tucson Wing Expert.
La Esquina is generating buzz in the local scene — not just because it’s new, but because the team behind it brings serious expertise. The wine list is a carefully curated journey through the Mediterranean, highlighting Spanish and Portuguese selections alongside Greek and Moroccan finds. The refreshed event space strikes a balance between cozy and airy, featuring photojournalistic art and accents of emerald tile. Even the Sunday DJ keeps things laid-back, spinning a set that perfectly matches the atmosphere.
The space, which used to be a Cycle Gear store, is part bar, part gathering place for the city’s moto community, and part workshop.
“I first got the idea to open the taproom while on a motorcycle trip out to the Mojave desert — a motorcycle race called the Biltwell 100. It is a 100-mile race through the desert,” said London. “I was thinking about how many people rode motorcycles here in Tucson, but the groups were fragmented and there wasn’t a direct community space for riders. There are some amazing places like MotoSonora Brewing and Gear Shifters, which do a lot for the moto community here in town. I wanted to do my part as well.”
“I love NYPD cheesy garlic ties,” said Chrissy Mance of Tucson Doobie. “It’s more like a bowl of chewy hot bread with melted crispy cheese on top than it is a typical knot. You’ll need a knife and fork! And the pepperoni and garlic pizza slice was huge and completely satisfying!”
Signature dishes include glazed chicken boxes, the Oh My Chicken Rice Bowl with scrambled egg and seaweed, and MJ’s Chicken Sandwich. Sides like sweet potato fries, rice cake fries, and pickled red cabbage add texture and variety, while drinks like sikhye and flavored Korean milk round out the menu.
The food truck often found parked outside of Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge on Fort Lowell Road has expanded again! This time, offering some new and fresh to the Tucson Mall’s food court.
A lot has been happening lately with the Serial Grillers/Transplant Pizza folks. Earlier this year, the masterminds behind Serial Grillers welcomed Chef Travis Peters (formerly of The Parish) as an equity partner. Some of the newbies on the menu are chopped cheese sandwiches and fried chicken sandwiches — hand-breaded in-house — with fun flavors like a kimchi fried chicken and their version of a Detroit hot chicken.
“I grew up in Sonoma County and naturally fell in love with the geometric scenery of wine agriculture,” said Katie Larsen. “I’ve worked on all sides of the wine industry custom crush pads in San Francisco, sales with Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco and Stonestreet Estate in Alexander Valley, harvest with family friends in Russian River Valley, distribution through Classico Fine Wines (specializing in small production Italian wines and winemaking methodology) in Tucson and Phoenix, and bar management at REVEL for about five years.”
This is the newest addition to the nifty Five Points neighborhood. The new pizzeria/beer garden, located at 733 S. Stone Ave., joins Cafe Desta, Forbes Meat Co., and 5 Points Maret & Restaurant at the intersection decorated with large arches at each of its points.
Here’s some neat history: Over the years, the “Ugly But Honest” has become a landmark, and has even appeared in a couple of movies: 1982’s “Hanky Panky” and 1991’s “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.”
UnCork’d Kitchen & Cocktails invited us over to check out their new space and try a few items from their menu. Executive chef Noah Tellez recently worked at Mountain Oyster Club, where he earned a reputation as a “palate wizard.”
Longtime Tucsonans may recognize owners Kristel and Dominic Johnson from their previous business, Isabella’s Ice Cream. Kristel also spent time as general manager for HUB Ice Cream Factory and business development manager for Sand-Reckoner Vineyard before working on opening Vertigo Wines. She landed on the name Vertigo Wines after a personal experience with vertigo.
Reminder: We have a larger list of openings, check out our interactive guide.
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