Sabores de Tucson — America’s Best Mexican Food Festival — is happening on Friday, May 2, at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr.
The event is all about the diverse flavors of Mexico’s culinary region — more than 30 local chefs and purveyors, live music, artisan vendors, and art experiences. Through food, you’ll be transported to Mexico, celebrating the heart and soul of Mexican culture.
“Tucson’s Mexican food traditions run deep,” said Kate Marquez, Executive Director of Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA). “This festival is a chance to celebrate that in a way that goes beyond just eating—we’re telling the stories, honoring the artistry, and bringing the flavors of Mexico to life through an immersive experience.”
A Culinary Journey Through Mexico
Each regional hub will be paired with authentic music, craft vendors, and other experiences that highlight the deep-rooted traditions of each region:
- Northern Mexico – Known for its grilled meats, flour tortillas, and seafood, featuring carne asada, burritos, and fish tacos.
- Central Mexico – The birthplace of tacos al pastor, mole poblano, and barbacoa, celebrated for its complex sauces and indigenous corn-based dishes.
- Pacific Coast – A coastal haven of ceviche, aguachile, and slow-cooked birria, highlighting the region’s seafood-driven flavors.
- Southern Mexico and Yucatán Peninsula – A showcase of rich indigenous traditions and tropical flavors, featuring cochinita pibil, tlayudas, and mole negro.
Get Your Tickets!
The list of participating food vendors will be announced in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, snag your tickets ASAP (the event is likely to sell out).
- VIP Admission (5 – 8:30 p.m.)($150) – Exclusive early access to the festival, VIP lounge, specialty drinks, custom tote bag, and upgraded seating.
- General Admission (6 – 8:30 p.m.)($115) – Full access to all regional tasting stations, live entertainment, and artisan experiences.
- Buy tickets here.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit SAACA and the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, supporting cultural education and arts initiatives across Southern Arizona.
Participating Vendors
- [POPPED] Artisan Popcorn – Mole Caramel Artisan Popcorn
- Westbound and Tap & Bottle – Azul Mule Cocktail
- Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen – Birria Street Tacos and Elote con Rajas Tacos
- Mujer Bonita Catering – deep-fried corn gordita topped with cochinita pibil, finished with pickled watermelon radishes and a silky roasted garlic mousse.
- Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar – Elote Nachos and a Spicy Margarita
- Westin la Paloma – Pozole and Fish Tacos
- Westin La Paloma VIP menu – Mini Tres Leches Push Pops, Boozy Pops, Baja Stipe Bass Crudo, Aguachile, Lobster tostadas
- Dante’s Kitchen & Cocktails – TBD
- Seis Kitchen – Baja-style Shrimp Tostada
- GUT Chefs – focusing on the Pacific Region with dishes like Aguachile, Carnitas, Fish Tacos
- La Chingada – TBD
- El Charro Group – Gary Hickey preparing Tomahawk Carne Asada Tacos & Capirotada
- CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar – TBD
- Tabu Restaurant and Bar – TBD
- JPs Seafood Restaurant – Sonoran-style Shrimp & Fish Ceviche prepared with our special house salsas, accompanied with Mexican Fritos Aztecas, Shrimp Culichi ( Shrimp in Creamy Poblano sauce ), and Arroz con Camaron (Rice with shrimp)
- Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ – TBD
- La Estrella Bakery – a variety of regional pastries
- El Guero Canelo – Sonoran Dogs
- Compa Spirits – assorted agave spirits
- Borderland Spirits – assorted Bacanora
- Creo Spirits – four Mexican wines, Sotol, Bacanora, Mezcal
- Churros Inzunza – Churros and Coconut Horchata
- Finley – Tecate and Modelo
- Breakthru – a variety of wines and Agave Spirits
- Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea – original and Prickly Pear
“People travel here just for the food, and we’ve already been identified as a culinary destination as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S.,” said Felipe Garcia, President and CEO of Visit Tucson. “This event is the perfect way to celebrate our close ties to Mexico and showcase the authenticity of our region’s food scene.”
Mexican Restaurant Week
At Tucson Foodie, we’re proud to be a promotional partner, and as the event approaches, we’ll be highlighting Southern Arizona restaurants during Mexican Restaurant Week — stay tuned for more details!
Sabores de Tucson: America’s Best Mexican Food Festival is happening at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit saaca.thundertix.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
