5 Points is one of the rare places in Tucson where I like everything, but my favorite dishes are:

• Kale Caesar
• Smoked Beet Sandwich
• Huevos Rancheros
• Barrio Bread Heritage Toast with house preserves
• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

The Smoked Beet Sandwich is a truly remarkable dish. Everyone I’ve introduce it to–from my friend that follows the Carnivore Diet to Dr. Andrew Weil himself –can’t get enough. Even my daughter, who thinks she hates beets, loved it at age 8.

The Huevos Rancheros at 5 Points are also always on-point and one of the best of its kind in Tucson.

Agustin Kitchen’s menu rotates seasonally, so take a look at their website before you go.

My favorites:

• There’s always a mushroom entree. Get it. Right now it’s the Mushroom Bourguinon (Roasted onion, slow braised mushroom, creamy polenta and jus)
• Chickories Salad
• Pommes Frites–shoestring cut, cooked correctly (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside), and served with a garlic aioli
• Matilda Chocolate Cake

I like to hit Alafia after a morning at Healing Spirit Soaks next door. Here’s what I order:

• The Ginger Juice (packs a punch)
• Egusi Soup w/ Fufu
• Fried Plantains

ANELLO is another spot where everything is good. Here’s what I order:

• Seasonal Vegetables
• The Margherita
• The Bianca
• The Verde
• Any sweet

If you see Ate Kei at a market or food festival, get an Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookie. This was my first introduction for Ube. I haven’t found a more delicious use of Ube around town yet.

I just love being in this space. Try the Kitt Peak Old Fashioned or the Bigelow Martini.

The line is worth the wait. My favorite drink + dish:

• Horchesso
• Breakfast Burrito with Soyrizo. Order it grilled.

Don’s bread is as good as everyone says it is. Get in line early. My favorite loaves:

• Barrio Mesquite
• Community Loaf
• Whole Wheat Sesame

My favorite dishes at this BBQ joint might not be what you’ll order the first time you go, but I’ve tried everything and I’m sticking with:

• Smoked Jackfruit Sandwich
• Smoked Crack Pie

BATA stands out as one of the more innovate and beautiful restaurants in Tucson. For the ultimate experience, I recommend making a reservation at the “kitchen counter.”

From BATA’s website: “We offer a prix fixe tasting menu experience at our “kitchen counter”. It is a chef-curated experience featuring approximately 10 courses and lasting ~2+ hours. Beverage pairing is available. To book, please email hello@batatucson.com.”

The Sonoran Hot Dog at BK is good and the salsa bar is stacked with every topping you can imagine. Order 1 or 2 + a Michelada and have yourself a classic Tucson lunch.

Underrated downtown lunch spot that is slightly off the beaten path. My favorite order:

• Aloo Matar Samosa
• Curried Lentils

An Everything Bagel, Sesame Bagel or Flake Sea Salt Bagel with Calabrian Pepper Schmear.

The wait at Buendia for weekend brunch can be over an hour–and that’s for a reason. I like to go in the off-hours. My order:

• House Pancakes
• Breakfast Stuffed Poblano Pepper
• Cafe la Olla

I love this place. The food is delicious and consistent. I always find free parking within a block. There’s rarely a wait, but I’m never alone. My order:

• Shorba
• Misir
• Tikil Gomen
• To drink, the Yekemem Shai Tea

Best place to grab a snack on the way to hike Seven Falls or Tanque Verde Falls. My favorite pastries:

• Twice Baked Almond Croissant
• Cardamon Brioche Roll

Cafe Passe has one the quirkiest patios in Tucson. I go here to get work done or to grab a coffee with friends. My favorite dish + drink:

• Bagel with pesto
• Americano

Cafe Santa Rosa serves simple but authentic homemade Native American food. My order:

• Bean & Cheese Popover (Indian Fry Bread)
• Banana Pancakes

Get a 1/2 lb of carnitas with nothing but their house-made corn tortillas and spicy peanut oil-based salsa matcha. Maybe add a little pickled cabbage from the condiments bar but don’t overdo it because the carnitas and the tortillas are perfection on their own.

A full-service taco spot where everything is cooked on an open mesquite grill and the tacos are piled high with quality meat cooked perfectly. My order:

• Elotes
• Carne Asada tacos
• Cantarito

A gem. Make a reservation. My favorite dishes:

• Fresh Salad with Tender Herbs
• Talapia al Papillote

Ask Chef Doma for a taste of her house-infused vodkas.

Not a restaurant, but always worth mentioning. This place is about the atmosphere. Order from whatever food truck is parked out front, get a beer you’ve never tried before, and chill to whatever movie is playing. Best with friends.

• Housemade guacamole
• A beer
• A game of pinball

A super unique walk-up window dishing out some of the best handmade pasta in town. My favorite dishes:

• Arugula Salad
• The Weekly Pasta Special
• Tagliatelle with Pesto
• Cup of gelato (your choice of weekly flavors)

Most people go for the steak, but they’re sleeping on the seafood. My favorite dishes:

• Chilled Jumbo Shrimp
• Seared Ahi Tuna Tostada

This restaurant sits inside the Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain. It’s only a 30 minute drive from downtown Tucson and it’s some of the best fine-dining around. Their menu is seasonal, incorporating ingredients from the desert surrounding the resort.

Their Winter Mushroom Ravioli is one of the best things I’ve every tasted in my life.

Perhaps the most beautiful courtyard in all of Tucson, owned and operated by one of the most beautiful people in Tucson, Sally Kane.

What I get in the morning:

• Curried Carrot Soup
• Any pastry

What I get at night:

• Olives with Preserved Lemon
• Roasted Artichoke Hearts
• At least one main dish I’ve never had before (their menu is seasonal)
• The Coronet Burger

These guys are everywhere. Follow them on Instagram @cowpig13 to find where they’ll be parked next.

Get the Buffalo Ranch Fries.

Another hidden late-night gem. Most people still don’t know they have food, which blows my mind because it’s delicious. I usually get:

• Homemade tamales
• Chipotle chicken
• Black beans

Owners Ben & Julie are two of the coolest people in Tucson. They love they put into their work shows with some of the most interesting and delicious beers in town. You’ll find something for everyone here, but my favorite beers are:

• Full Moon Brew
• Sonoran Sour
• Tamarindo Sour

Don’t sleep on their NA shrubs either.

Hotel Congress and its restaurant, Cup Cafe, are the epicenter of downtown Tucson and always a good choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  My perfect order:

• Country Fried Tofu Sandwich
• Cafe Fries

Owner and chef Herminia is the real deal. Her menu boasts extensive meat and vegan options, but I go here for pancakes. The vegan pancakes are just as good as the regular.

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Tucson. In the Mexican category, it’s in my top three. My favorite dishes:

• Enchiladas Suizas De Pollo, Came, O Queso – the tangy green sauce is to die for
• Mole con Pollo – I love their style of mole. Thick and sweet. They give you these little handmade tortillas–ask for double – you’re gonna need them.

Charro is the oldest family-owned and continually-operated Mexican restaurant in the country for a reason. My favorite dishes:

• Table-side Guacamole
• Shrimp Poblano Elegante
• Hola Hemp Tamales

The best place to experience quesabirria tacos. This place sells over 100,000 every year. I think their Mahi Mahi Birria Tacos pack more flavor than the traditional beef, but that’s just me.

I’d say El Torero is a hidden gem, but this place is quite popular, though definitely off the beaten path.

Order anything off the Specials menu.

Also:

• Ahi Tuna Agua Chile Negro
• Canitas Tacos
• Mahi Mahi Tacos
• Get a dozen of Lerua’s Famous Tamales on the way out.

Expect to take as much food home with you as you ate. The portions are huge.

The Banana Tots are the perfect sweet treat before or after a show at The Fox. Ideally you’re dining with Colby Elliot because watching him enjoy them makes them taste even better.

Empire is famous for its Elote Pizza, but I’m a fan of the classic Pepperoni.

The best move is to let Eris ask you a few questions and then tell you what you want.

My favorites:

• Persian Persuasion
• Matcha Latte

One of the most Tucson places in Tucson. You’ll find me with an Americano just admiring the building and the vibe.

Italian and hip, like me 😉. My favorite dishes:

• Bread service
• Salad: The Kale
• Pasta: Cavatelli
• Pizzas: Manhattanara and Giardino

Chinese indulgence. My favorite dishes:

• Xian Oil Splashing Noodles – you can’t get this dish anywhere else in town. It’s made with hand-stretched wide noodles, chili oil, garlic, scallions, and bean sprouts.
• Garlic Chinese Greens
• Ma Po Tofu

Read more about Fatman and see photos here.

The owner of Fiamme won the World Pizza Championship’s Master’s Division Dough-Tossing Acrobatics contest. That’s a lot of words and I’m not sure how much it matters to you, but some say his pizzas are the best in town. I can’t disagree. My favorites:

• The Grandma Neo-Brooklyn
• Pizza Bianca

This place is hidden in a rundown strip mall, but I love the down-home Indian vibe and the lunch buffet.

The menu intimidated me at first, but I found my favorites:

• Salade Niçoise
• Le California Chicken Club

An excellent lunch spot in midtown, right behind Noodleholics. My favorite dishes:

• Portuguese Egg Tart
• Salt & Pepper Tofu
• Lavender Milk Tea with oat milk and Crystal Boba

Get the mushroom dumplings if they have them (but don’t expect them to).

When I was seven years old, I discovered a wrinkle in the time/space continuum. My curiosity got the best of me, and I ended up disrupting not just my own timeline but the fate of everyone in this physical dimension. I’ll save the full story for another time, but the silver lining is that Govinda’s and its surrounding property got ripped from rural India and crash landed here in Tucson, where it now graces us with therapeutic vegetarian food.

Hit the buffet and say hi to the peacock on the way out.

Best table-side guacamole in Tucson.

Their wine dinners are consistently mind-blowing. Worth the $$$.

I love this place! My favorite drink, pastry, and dishes are as follows:

• Matcha Latte
• Custard Donut
• Avocado Toast
• KFC Udon

The Sunday market at Rillito is everything you want from a farmer’s market, including plenty of actual produce, meat, and other food for sale (less arts and crafts). I go for breakfast and 9/10 times I’m stopping at Mi Salsa‘s booth for a vegan breakfast burrito.

Perhaps the best pastries in town. They also happen to be vegan, but you wouldn’t know it. Expect to wait in line. Always worth it. You can also find Houlden’s for sale at what seems like half the coffee shops in Tucson, including Yellowbrick and Presta.

A great buffet to hit after a hike. My go-to Indian buffet because of its central location.

My favorite drink and dishes:

• Turkish tea
• Combo vegetarian plate (includes Falafel)
• Sutlac (rice pudding)

You may think of Jackrabbit as a bar, but it’s a lot more than that. It’s a community-gathering space with a full restaurant. My favorites:

• Akuma Eggs – the best deviled eggs in town, topped with crunchy fried onions.
• Cauliflower Fritters – these are very filling
• Sweet & Spicy Brussels Sprouts
• Parmesan Herb Fries
• Kara-age Chicken Sandwich (in my top two or three chicken sandwiches in Tucson) — get it spicy

I love what JoJo’s has turned into after LaCo sadly closed. They have one of the best courtyards in Tucson, which is great even when it’s hot out because of all the trees. Live music is almost always happening. My favorite dishes:

• Market Salad
• Grilled Carrots
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts
• Tallboy Tots (lunch only)

My go-to at any Thai restaurant is the Pad See Ewe, and Karuna’s does not disappoint. I order it with extra egg. 3/5 heat.

Tucson is home to one of the few remaining “true tiki bars” from the mid-century tiki era. My favorite dish, drink, and helpful tip:

• Dish: Two orders of Coconut Shrimp
• Drink: Three Pyrat Mai Tais
• Request a Lyft or Uber to get home

If Yomato is the best traditional Japanese cuisine in Tucson, Kakai is the best spot for modern/hip Japanese food. My favorite dishes:

• Korokke – deep-fried potato croquettes
• Vegan Spicy Miso Ramen
• Spicy Crunch Roll

Kung Fu Noodle is my favorite Chinese spot in Tucson. It’s always on point. My favorite dishes:

• Fungi Salad – trust me on this one
• Sizzling Eggplant Tofu
• Spicy Salted Crispy Tofu – this is a dish I think about and return to again and again

La Chaiteria is Tumerico’s sister restaurant. It’s the same menu, but with meat options (Tumerico is all veggie/mostly vegan). Both are awesome. I go to Chaiteria because it’s closer to my house. My favorite dish + drink:

• Green Goddess Smoothie
• Cuban Tacos (also great as a grilled burrito)

When El Gorrion on S. 12th closed, I lost my favorite chimichanga in town. I found my new love when La Chingada opened. My favorite dishes:

• Chicken Tinga Mini Chimis
• Trio De Enchiladas

The best classic glazed doughnut in Tucson. I will fight you about this.

Everything you’d want out of a small family-run restaurant, from great service to delicious food.

Get the Indian Tacos.

Their Empanadas are so good. Listen to this description: “…stuffed with cilantro-basil pesto, shrimp, sweet corn, green chili, and manchego cheese, atop chipotle cream sauce, garnished with cabbage slaw, corn salsa, and Anaheim crema.”

My favorite order is all three of these:

• Cortado
• Fresh Squeezed Carrot, Beet, & Orange Juice
• Whatever pastry is calling my name

Such a beautiful building/property. The food is fantastic. I’d describe it as slightly upscale Italian but with a rustic small-town-somewhere-in-Italy taste.  My favorite dishes + drink:

• Artichoke (starter)
• Lasagna
• Sfoglia
• Cardamaro Spritz

This is where vegans go when they need to fill-up or satisfy their comfort food cravings. My favorite dishes:

• Fried Chicken Dinner
• Orange Mango Creamsicle Smoothie

I lived down the street from Maico during my first seven years in Tucson, so I went a lot out of convenience. As I started to explore more of Tucson’s restaurant scene, I came to appreciate Maico even more. I love the walk-up window, their willingness to modify anything (which means it’s all cooked from scratch), and how happy everyone there seems to be.

These days, I stop by for the Chile Relleno Burrito. It’s a chile relleno inside a burrito. Great for eating on the way to the airport.

Their breakfast burritos are also worth trying. Try the Machaca, Potatos, and Eggs Breakfast Burrito.

Chef Michael Elefante knows what’s up. He’s cooking with recipes handed down from his mama, plus some inventions of his own. My favorite dishes:

• Chicken Parmigiana
• Trash Can Waffle Fries (off the Guido-Q menu, his separate but in-house barbecue food truck concept)

Anyone who lives in Tucson has to stop by Mariscos Chihuahua and try their most famous dish, the Camarones Culichi – shrimp sautéed in house spices served in a creamy green chile sauce. It’s all about the sauce.

Maru Plus used to be called Yoshimatsu, but they changed the name when they went from full service to counter service. My two favorite dishes stayed on the menu:

• Agedashi Tofu (appetizer)
• Pumpkin Kale Ramen – mad flavor

Mojo’s food is good, but the Trigo Batido keeps me coming back. Make it dirty by ordering a shot of rum and dumping it on top. They should really put that on the menu…

My Favorite Drinks:

• Sonoran Hot Chocolate
• Chocolate Shake – soooo rich

My Favorite Products:

• Sonoran Sea Salt Bar
• Chocolate Covered Ginger Balls

I like the Victory or Death IPA, but I also just really like their patio and the owners are groovy dudes.

Their Fresh Taro Smoothie puts me at ease.

Nightjar is the bar inside The Coronet. It’s easy to find, yet it has old-school speakeasy vibes. Dark, moody, and extremely friendly. My favorite drinks:

• Butter Worker
• The Antidote (NA)

Don’t sleep on Nook. I’ve got the perfect order for ya:

• Warm blueberry scones
• Nourish bowl
• Cinnamon roll griddlecakes

The Nourish bowl is delicious but also super healthy, so it cancels out the indulgence of the scones and the griddlecakes. That’s how it works, right?

OBON can get very busy but I still think it’s underrated. My favorite dishes:

• Boa Buns: the Jackfruit and the Bird
• Vegan Street Noodles
• Death Free Ramen – made with a savory mushroom-based broth

I’m surprised how many people aren’t aware of Penca. It’s right downtown on Broadway and it’s a beautiful space to be in. My favorite dishes:

• Guacamole Con Salsas Caseras
• Vegan Chile Relleno
• Frijoles Negros

I live on the west side, so I was bummed when they moved out east. But it was a good move because they are busier than ever and now they have a bigger menu to enjoy. Now when I’m on the east side, I’m always stopping in for a pie.

If it’s your first time at Penelope, order the O.T.C. pizza.

This place is underrated. Pairs well with a show at The Fox. Try the Pollo Piccata.

Nuthin’ too fancy here, folks. But I like the escapism of it. Get a Cowboy Steak, medium rare. Add extra pepper to it. Make it a meal (baked potato and fruit cobbler).

Awesome downtown craft brewery you can feel good about supporting. Start with the Cereus IPA and go from there.

People go for the chicken sandwiches, but I think the sleeper dish is the Chiles Rajas Tacos.

Get a reservation. My favorite dishes:

• Brussels Sprouts
• Pizzas:
  • Fennel Sausage and Roasted Peppers
  • Roasted Crimini Mushroom

I’m into the deep dish Kitchen Sink pizza.

I’m also into Rocco — he’s a cool dude.

Delicious Mexican food with a slight twist. My picks:

• Birria Pizzadilla
• Chimi Sumo –  Cheesy, birria-filled chimichangas topped with cilantro, onion, cotija, jalapeños, Rollies sauce, and dipping consume

Roma Imports is a blue-collar Italian lunch spot nestled into an industrial neighborhood, with a surprisingly large selection of pre-cooked dishes in their freezers.

My pick for lunch:

• Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

At the counter:

• Dried Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola and Walnuts

From the freezer:

• Beef Ravioli
• Chicken Farfalle
• Italian Meatballs with Homemade Marinara Sauce and Grated Parmesan

Best new bakery in Tucson. Everything here is delicious and high quality. Get whatever scone, cookie, or hand pie catches your eye.

Though the dogs at Ruiz are not true Sonoran Dogs because they aren’t wrapped in bacon, they’re still my my favorite dog in town. They’re a little on the smaller size, which I prefer because I can shove it in my face more easily. Their buns are perfectly buttered and toasted.

Everything at Samurai is yummy, but my favorite dish is The Death Free Foodie Roll – creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and lightly fried tempura jalapeños, topped with the chef’s special sauce and vegan eel sauce.

Best restaurant for delivery or takeout in Tucson. Fast, priced fairly, and delicious.

My favorite dishes:

• Veggie Pakora
• Chana Masala

Order too much so you have leftovers. Everything heats up well in a pan the next day.

Please go here instead of Chipotle. My favorite dish is a Burrito Bowl with Pollo Asado and Calabacitas.

Comes with unlimited chips and salsa.

There’s a huge menu to explore here, but my favorite dish is their Coliflor & Everything burrito, enchilada-style (red sauce). They boil and then batter and lightly fry the cauliflower for a perfect exterior crisp with a soft interior.

Possibly the sweetest restaurant family in Tucson. Teresa is a gem of a person. This restaurant should train other restaurants on how to do service right. They are always staffed, fast, and friendly, even when they get slammed.

For Breakfast:

• Mole Enchiladas de Huevo

Dinner:

• Mole Negro Oaxacaqueño

The Coronet’s rotating menu shows how well owner Sally Kane and chef Tanner Fleming collaborate. To truly experience The Coronet, go and go often. Sally is obsessed with using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local purveyors and farmers. The food is cooked with love, and the aesthetic was designed with careful attention to detail. Best courtyard in Tucson.

I go for the hugs and always order the same thing:

• Lunch Surprise Plate
• Fresh Juice of The Day

My favorite burger in Tucson. I like the:

• Loaded Tots Dirty Thunder Style (hold the bacon)
• Shroom Burger, sub housemade veggie patty — it’s house-made and so tasty, even for my fellow meat-eaters out there

The kind of place that makes Tucson feel the a bigger city than it is. My favorite dishes:

• Tamal Plate
• Fried Chicken Sandwich
• Slice of Cheese Pizza
• Slice of Shiitake Pizza
• Slice of Boscaiola Pizza

Exactly as good as you’ve heard. My favorite dishes:

• Sea Bass Crudo
• Roasted Squash or Roasted Beet Salad
• Posole (likely either the Harvest Vegetable Posole or the Spring Vegetable Posole Verde)

I found my perfect combination:

• Adaptogen Blend
  • Sparkling
  • +Wonderlust
  • +Chill

Go classic. Get the Uptown Burger (made with 100% certified Piedmontese beef), regular French fries, and a chocolate shake. Split it with your daughter so that you get most of it.

Another underrated spot. My favorite dishes:

• Ginger Snap Smoothie
• Pad Thai Wrap
• Bombay Burrito

Get all the wood-fired stuff:

• Wood-fired bread
• Wood-fired pizza (I like the Margherita)
• Wood-fired cookie

I’ve noticed a pattern when I talk about Vivace with locals — people over 55 say it’s one of their top spots, while people under 40 say it’s overrated. I have to agree with my elders on this one. My guess is the youngsters don’t vibe with the vibe. Too bad for them — they’re missing out. Vivace is friendly, charming, and the food is fantastic. If you’re reading this and you’re in your twenties or thirties, suspend your preconceived notions and make a reservation (you’ll need one).

• Seafood Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
• Pear and Walnut Salad
• Fish of the Day (hopefully Branzino or Sea Bass)

First, read this story by Jackie Tran about Yamato.

My favorite dishes:

• Oshinko
• Miso Soup
• Vegetable Tempura
• Chef’s Choice of Sashimi

The coffee is great and the staff are wonderful, but I go for:

• Banana Toast
• Green Smoothie

My favorite spot on the east side of town. My favorite dishes:

• Elote Arancini
• Mesclun Salad
• Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese
• The Salmon
• Figgy Stardust pizza