International Bacon Day was on September 2, but we’re not going to let an unofficial observance tell us how to live life.
Had a bad day? Eat bacon. Hungry? Eat bacon. Ugly? Well at least you’ve got bacon.
Bacon should always be celebrated, and for that we’ve gathered 10 quirky dishes that feature bacon in Tucson to keep you busy year-round.
Bread & Butter Cafe
4231 E. 22nd St. #101 • 9431 E. 22nd St. #137
Bread & Butter, now with two locations on 22nd Street, is a cozy cafe that serves 10 – 15 varieties of pie daily. Though they don’t have a bacon pie (yet), they do serve up Bacon Cakes. Efficient, delicious, sweet, and savory, bacon pancakes make the ultimate breakfast of champions.
For more information, visit breadandbuttercafetucson.com.
The Coronet
402 E. 9th St.
If you haven’t made your way to the Coronet for their happy hour deals, what the duck are you doing with your life? Their Duck Bacon BLT Sliders give new meaning to the century-old sandwich classic.
FYI, their new fall happy hours are 5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 3 – 6 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.
For more information, visit cafecoronet.com.
The Drunken Chicken
429 N. 4th Ave.
A new addition to Fourth Avenue and worthy dish featuring bacon in Tucson, The Drunken Chicken is already making a splash with its simple savory menu centered around fried chicken, waffles, and craft beer. The Beast features a bacon-wrapped, waffle-battered chicken strip on a skewer. While there is a wide variety of dipping sauces, go for the ancho ranch and bourbon maple syrup.
Elliott’s on Congress
135 E. Congress St.
The bacon rangoons at Elliott’s bring together two crispy favorites: cream cheese rangoons and bacon. These beauties come with a dipping sauce of a spicy mix of sweet and sour. If you’re sticking to liquids, try their bacon vodka instead — maybe even add it to a Bloody Mary.
For more information, visit elliottsoncongress.com.
Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar
434 N. 4th Ave.
As part of Ermanos’ Late Night Menu, you can try their BCB & JJ — house-cured bacon, cashew butter, and jalapeño jam, on challah. The thick and chewy bacon pairs marvelously with the sweet and spicy jam. If that isn’t enough to entice you to stay out past your bedtime, maybe their rotating draft beer list will.
For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com.
The Oink Cafe
7131 E. Broadway Blvd.
The purest form of bacon. Try Oink’s Flight of Bacon which includes eight different strips of bacon: Apple Cider, Applewood-Smoked, Chef’s Choice, Hickory, Honey-Cured, Jalapeño, Pepper, and Sugar-Cured.
For more information, visit oinkcafe.com.
The Parish
6453 N. Oracle Rd.
Not since Miss Piggy and Kermit have we seen a better intertwine of pork and amphibian. At The Parish, Tucson’s Southern fusion gastropub, you can nosh on Hot Legs Le’Jean: Black pepper & horseradish rubbed frog legs wrapped in bacon, creole remoulade. For a simpler but addictive snack, order the Bacon Popcorn.
For more information, visit theparishtucson.com.
Prep & Pastry
6450 E. Grant Rd. #160 • 3073 N. Campbell Ave.
The Maple Bacon Dossant at Prep & Pastry is in all likelihood their crowning jewel. This flaky deliciousness usually sells out quickly on brunchy weekends so hurry up and grab one before it’s too late. Though you can just always order a side of their thick-cut, brown-sugar bacon, and be quite happy.
For more information, visit prepandpastry.com.
WhataBurro
4860 S. 12th Ave.
Biting into the Bacon-Wrapped Percheron Burro is almost a religious experience. The carne asada in the burro is grilled to perfection, the ingredients mingle nicely together, and it is wrapped in bacon, grilled to crispy perfection. A quintessential newcomer and probably the most well-known dish featuring bacon in Tucson.
Keep up with WhataBurro on Facebook.
Union Public House
4340 N. Campbell Ave.
A haiku for bacon ramen:
Bacon is good
Ramen is good too
Together they are so good
Union’s Ramen features bacon dashi, oyster mushroom, scallion, soft egg, black garlic oil, and house-made noodles.
For more information, visit uniontucson.com.
What dishes featuring bacon in Tucson do you love? Let us know in the comments.
Article written by:
Addie Ibarra
More about AddieAddie Ibarra, native Tucsonan, is a fierce lover of adventure, travels, and food. Addie has her Masters in Legal Studies and hopes to one day apply that towards helping people (and animals) around the globe, while traveling and tasting along the way. So far she’s hit 4 continents and counting!
You’ll likely find her on a patio sipping wine with her 4-legged best friend, Spaghetti.
