[Editor’s note: this article contains food from both paid and comped visits.]
Here’s a look back at what the Tucson Foodie team enjoyed during March!
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
Gen Korean BBQ
6129 E. Broadway Blvd.
We tried Gen Korean BBQ this month and it was a really fun family experience. It’s really blue and gives space age vibes inside. The menu is really eclectic and I would consider it a really great introduction to Korean BBQ. They had al pastor tacos (and other varieties) that you can grill up.
Read our article Gen Korean BBQ Tucson Location Now Open, and for local restaurants, Best Korean Restaurants in Tucson.
OBON Sushi Bar Ramen
350 E. Congress St. #120
I’ve been enjoying the Milk Tea Old Fashioned at OBON for as long as they’ve been open and it’s consistently good. If I’m gonna check out a show at The Rialto, I make it a point to save time to stop in and enjoy some Bird Buns and an Old Fashioned.
Read our article And the Iron Chef Tucson 2025 winner is…
Potwhale
3620 N. First Ave., Ste. 154
We did a lot of cook-your-own-food at a restaurant this month. We also tried Potwhale. I’m a big spice weenie so we just did the standard broth, but it was fun to add all the veggies, mushrooms, meats and tofu.
Read our article Newly opened “Potwhale” brings addictive Chinese hot pot back to Tucson.
NEX
220 N. Fourth Ave.
The UFO Burger at NEX is a quirky addition to their menu. It’s like a beautiful melted cheese with a surprise burger inside. The bread was toasted to my liking and it would hit so right after a night out on 4th Ave. Good thing they’re open late!
Read our article NEX Now Open on Fourth Avenue [PHOTO FEATURE].
barbata
35 E. Toole Ave.
The burger at barbata was just what I needed after a long day on my feet. Grilled onions, good cheese, soft bread, patty grilled to perfection — paired with a delightful Tempranillo. Amaze, amaze, amaze!
Read our article barbata launches new cocktail menu & sandwich special.
Hannah Hernandez
Kneller’s Delicatessen & Appetizing
2545 E. Speedway Blvd. #115
Kneller’s vegan olive oil cake is fluffy and lightly sweet. Perfect after a loaded breakfast bagel sandwich.
Read our article Jewish-Inspired Soul Food and Tradition Shine at Kneller’s Delicatessen.
Samurai Sombrero
American Eat Company, 1439 S. Fourth Ave.
Some things never get old. My favorite sushi roll in town. Death Free Foodie Roll: Creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, lightly fried tempura jalapeños, topped with baked chef’s special sauce and vegan eel sauce.
Read our article Samurai Sombrero Fuses Sonoran Roots With Bold Tucson Sushi.
Holy Focaccia
831 E. 17th St.
I ate this vegan balsamic tofu panino so fast. It absolutely made my day. The vegan sesame date cookie after was the perfect cherry on top of my experience at Holy Focaccia’s new space.
Read our article The Best Bakeries in Tucson.
Jackie Tran
The Coronet
198 W. Cushing St.
The soft leeks had a nutty char, served with bouncy fresh peas. One of my favorite spring dishes so far this season.
Read our article Q&A with Coronet Chef Mallorie Hart + New Menu Photos.
Anello
222 E. Sixth St.
I love the adventurousness of making a negroni glaze for carrots. The bitterness complimented the natural sweetness of the carrots.
A shame they change their specials so frequently and this dish is long gone.
Read our article A love letter to Anello.
Fentonelli’s Pizzeria & Bar
7262 N. Oracle Rd.
I forgot how much I love a warm, fresh bagel. I ravenously devoured these bagels in my car, leaving crumbs everywhere. A bit of stretchy chew with a delicate crisp. I always pick the everything bagel at any bagel spot that offers them, but even the plain bagels here impressed me.
Read our article Bagel pop-up arrives at Fentonelli’s Pizzeria & Bar.
Tumerico
2526 E. Sixth St.
The butternut squash tostada made for a simple, light-yet-substantial lunch. It inspired me to try more veggies on tostadas.
Read our article Color and Connection: A Mindful Meal at Tumerico.
Arizona Inn
2200 E. Elm St.
While working on an upcoming article for them, I learned these Brussels sprouts were their most popular item; they actually had to bring it back on due to popular demand from the regulars.
These sprouts were tender and nutty, complimenting the rich, supple goat cheese panna cotta and acidity of the pickled mustard seed and balsamic. Pistachios added crunch.
Article coming soon.
D’Kutsilyo
2938 E. 22nd St.
With the cafeteria-style setup, I ordered two combo plates to-go. I got to try a few Filipino dishes for the first time, but the soup specifically reminded me of my Vietnamese mom’s home cooking. It tasted porky and “healthily green.”
Article coming soon.
NEX
220 N. Fourth Ave.
I’m addicted to the exact type of craggy crunch you get from Popeyes. Using seafood and lemon helps brighten it all up.
Read our article NEX Now Open on Fourth Avenue [PHOTO FEATURE].
Sunshine Wine
15 N. Santa Rita Ave.
These Spaetzle & Peas was my first true taste of spring. The masa in the spaetzle complemented the fresh peas and lemon, while the parm brodo and pecorino amped up the umami.
Read our article Q&A with Sunshine Wine Chef de Cuisine Wyatt Carrizosa.
Cafe Francais
3855 E. Broadway Blvd.
Their Broadway location isn’t as busy as their east side location, so I’ve conveniently been stopping by for their weekly savory pastry. A recent favorite: the pearl-onion-forward Danish Alsace.
Shane Reiser
Passaggio
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
Passaggio is one of the restaurants at Starr Pass Resort. This cocktail is the Italian Sparrow. It’s just Prosecco and peach puree, but it’s refreshing and it’s a bag of laughs for the entire table to watch you drink out of a bird’s ass.
Read our article Resort Dining & Staycation Experiences in Tucson.
Sachiko Sushi on Wilmot
1101 North Wilmot Rd.
My friend raved about a cold soba noodle dish he had in Japan, so I went looking locally. I found it at Sachiko Sushi. It’s a simple dish where you use your hands to dip soba into a simple “tsuyu” sauce made of bonito flakes, mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and kombu. I’ll be getting this everywhere I find on the menu from now on.
Read our article The Best Sushi In Tucson.
BATA
35 E. Toole Ave.
I love hitting up BATA at least quarterly to see what kind of new creations they’ve added to the menu. There were two standouts this visit: a mango sorbet with chili crisp on top (brilliant flavor combination) and a super yummy squash dish with a rich mole sauce.
Easily my favorite dish of the year so far. This on BATA’s menu simply as ‘halibut.’ It sits in a buttery fumet (broth). The fish itself melts in your mouth. The eye-closing experience comes when you create a bite with every element in the dish on the spoon — the fish, the fumet, the squash, the daikon, etc. The combination of everything is a taste sensation.
Read our article Downtown Restaurant Recognized Nationally as a One of the ‘Best in the West’.
The Makan Bowl
Mobile
I tried The Makan Bowl (Singaporean food) at the last Vegan Night Market for the first time. Their tofu satay with peanut sauce was the best thing I had that night.
Chef’s Brian Comfort Kitchen
804B S. Sixth Ave.
The Saturday Afternoon Chicken Sammy at Chef Brian’s Comfort Kitchen is shareable. Bring a friend. His house-made “paprika and herb mayo” makes it a stand-out dish, but the pineapple, melty provolone, and Texas Toast takes it to another level.
Read our article Chef Brian’s Comfort Kitchen now open at 5 Points area.
