Here’s a look back at what the Tucson Foodie team enjoyed during January!
Not only are these reminders of the dishes we ate, but they can also be a guide for your own decisions on what to eat here in Tucson.
Addie Ibarra
Forbes Meat Company
747 S. 6th Ave.
The fried chicken sandwich at Forbes is a winner. I inhaled it so fast I didn’t take the time to identify the nuances in the sauce, but it was tangy and played well against the crispy, fried breading on the chicken.
Read our article Q&A with Forbes Meat Company Executive Chef Mataya Phillips.
Seaview & Main
Mobile Business
Freshly shucked oysters from Seaview and Main absolutely hit. I paired mine with shrimp and a delightfully crisp green mignonette that elevated the experience.
Read our article Inside Seaview & Main’s Mobile Oyster Bar.
Sisters Restaurant & Bar
800 N. Country Club Rd.
I’m a bit of a Caesar salad whore so I try them out wherever I can. Sisters has a lightly dressed Caesar with home made focaccia croutons – it was love at first sight for me.
La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood
7230 E. 22nd St.
Frida’s Mexican Grill has a large mocktail list. And this particular drink was freaking amazing; the Angel. It’s got lime, lavender, and tonic. Well balanced and refreshing!
Oh and obviously the food is excellent, they’re not a James Beard Award nominee for nothing.
Read our article Q&A with Claudia Vindiola, owner of La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood.
Sawmill Run Restaurant
12976 N. Sabino Canyon Pkwy, Mt Lemmon, AZ 85619
The Bone Marrow at the Sawmill Run Restaurant was so good I made the drive to Mt Lemmon twice in 1 month. It’s topped with a chili crisp that helps cut the fat. It’s rendered well and scoops perfectly onto the grilled bread that comes with it. Once you’re done with the bone, chase it down with a bone marrow whiskey luge.
Hannah Hernandez
Los Milics Vineyards Tucson tasting room
98 E. Congress St.
The Masa Mushroom Sando at Los Milics’ new downtown location features a blue corn maseca–battered oyster mushroom, pickled onion powder, salsa macha pickles, cashew aioli, and shredded red cabbage. It’s vegetarian but can be made vegan by substituting their house-made focaccia bread. I loved everything about it.
Read our article Los Milics Vineyards Tasting Room Now Open in Downtown Tucson..
Falora
3000 E. Broadway Blvd.
One of my favorite dishes in town: hazelnut gnocchi with shiitake mushrooms, vegetable broth, and a ginger glaze. Comforting and so satisfying.
Chrissy Mance
Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress St.
Cup Cafe is one of my fave downtown dinner spots and these vegan lettuce wraps are so tasty. They have chickpea fritters in them, pickled veggies and this really yummy spicy harissa sauce. They’re topped with cashews and the overall texture and taste is spot on. 10/10!
Read our article Brunch Must-Have of the Week: Cast Iron Baked Eggs.
Jackie Tran
Sawmill Run Restaurant
12976 N. Sabino Canyon Pkwy, Mt Lemmon, AZ 85619
Even though I was surrounded by snowy mountains, the direct sun made it warm enough for a cozy lunch on the Sawmill Run patio. I noshed on dishes from their Chef’s Menu program; bone marrow (the same one above that Addie raved about), pan-seared ducked breast with a warmly spiced root veggie puree and tart huckleberry reduction, and succulent braised Vera Earl beef with black garlic chimichurri over rich Southern polenta. I’m particularly grateful to have destination-worthy cheffy dishes like theirs whenever I plan a day trip for Mount Lemmon.
Seoul Shi
6462 N. Oracle Rd.
Even though they haven’t been open for long, I’ve already been to Seoul Shi several times. While the restaurant name involves word play with sushi, I find myself coming back for the Korean seafood and soups instead. The intensely umami marinated raw crab and its rich roe mingle with white rice for an immensely pleasurable bite.
Read our article Seoul Shi Opens With Japanese, Korean Cuisine & Raw Marinated Crab.
Los Milics Vineyards Tucson tasting room
98 E. Congress St.
The pesto on their focaccia pizza caught me off guard with how bright and herbaceous it tasted. It even had almost a citrus zest quality of freshness to it. But, it was apparently just a classic pesto recipe.
KOTU Korean BBQ
4545 N. Oracle Rd. #121
The same owners of Seoul Shi also run my favorite Korean barbecue in town. I like to order a variety of items every time I go, but I get extra orders of the marinated boneless short rib thanks to its marbling, along with radish wraps to help with digestion and refresh my palate. I also love the little cup of sparkling plum juice they provide at the end of the meal.
El Antojo Poblano
1108 W. St Marys Rd.
Sometimes I just crave a pile of rice and braised meat in a lush sauce. El Antojo Poblano’s mole is my preferred Mexican way of filling that void.
Read our article Monday Munchies: Chalupas at El Antojo Poblano.
Ursa
110 E. Congress St.
My first Ursa visit took place late last year in October. The entire menu had changed with my second visit in late January. While the mesquite dessert was my favorite course from the first visit, savory courses were my highlight this time. My two favorite courses were the bison with squash sashimi and I’itoi onion and the venison with amaranth and dumpling.
Detailed feature article coming soon.
Hotdogs 501
1111 N. Main Ave.
While lurking through Facebook food groups, I saw Hotdogs 501 promote themselves. They prided themselves on their higher quality ingredients at the cost of higher prices, so I wanted to see how much the quality really came through.
The welcoming family vibes were a promising first sign. Next, the smoky aroma came through. With the first bite, I noticed the all-beef dog and how easily it was to bite through the rendered bacon without needing to tug my head.
Afterwards, I promptly made sure we had an article on them.
Gem Show had recently started and traffic was chaotic, but now that the show is over, I’m excited to more easily return to this hidden little spot.
Read our article Hotdogs 501 Brings Sonoran Flavor and Story to Main Avenue.
Bisou Burger
Food Truck
Bisou Burger quietly earned their place as one of my favorite food trucks with their house-made components and attention to detail. As a sucker for a breakfast burger, I was excited to see them park at Presta and offer a waffle burger. I think it had chiltepín honey that tied everything together.
I interviewed them a few days ago. Detailed feature article coming soon.
Shane Reiser
Sunshine Wine
15 N. Santa Rita Ave.
Sunshine Wine changes their menu often so you might not be able to get exactly this dish, but last time I went in they had a gnocchi on the menu with a spicy/silky sauce that melted all my anxiety away.
Read our article Q&A with Sunshine Wine Chef de Cuisine Wyatt Carrizosa.
