Tucson’s culinary reputation just earned another national nod. InsideHook named Tucson the “Best American Food City” in its inaugural Journey Awards, a travel-focused list highlighting standout destinations, hotels, airlines and travel experiences around the world.
Read the Journey Awards here.
The publication pointed to Tucson’s 2015 designation as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, along with the region’s thousands of years of agricultural history, Mexican and Indigenous culinary traditions, Agave Heritage Festival and Sonoran hot dog trail.
What InsideHook highlighted
InsideHook also highlighted the city’s food trucks, Mexican restaurants, bakeries, mezcal bars and wood-fired restaurants. The write-up specifically mentioned BATA, Ursa, and BOCA.
Tucson’s City of Gastronomy legacy
The recognition adds to Tucson’s growing profile as one of the country’s most distinctive food cities.
UNESCO lists Tucson as a Creative City of Gastronomy and notes the city’s long agricultural history in the Sonoran Desert, including traditions tied to vineyards, orchards, livestock ranching and local heritage foods.
How InsideHook chose the winners
InsideHook’s Journey Awards took a broader approach than typical “best of” lists. Travel editor Lindsay Rogers wrote that the publication selected winners by consulting travel writers who nominated, debated and refined the list.
A continued spotlight on Tucson food
For Tucson, the honor reinforces what local chefs, farmers, bakers, brewers, distillers and diners have long known: the city’s food scene tells a story rooted in place, history and the people who keep those traditions moving forward.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
