Monday Munchies: El Rustico Birria Pizza at Zio Peppe

Tucson Foodie’s “Monday Munchies” articles are brought to you by NatureMed.

Monday Munchies make Mondays more manageable. How’d you like that tongue twister of alliteration to get your work week started?

Over on the east side of town, Zio Peppe has a treat that’ll cure your cravings on Monday and any other day of the week, too.

If you really want to make the most out of your visit to Zio Peppe, which is owned and operated by Mat Cable (who also owns Fresco Pizzeria) and Devon Sanner (who worked alongside Janos Wilder for years), order the El Rustico Birria pizza.

It packs a punch of flavor and includes chef Juan Almanza’s popular beef birria of El Taco Rustico in the form of a pizza. The mozzarella, onion, cilantro, and consommé make it all complete.

“The idea for the birria pizza was there right from the beginning when we knew we wanted to do Sonoran-Baja Arizona-Tucson pizzas,” said Devon Sanner co-owner of Zio Peppe. “Actually, we were first conceiving of it as a calzone, which would be a natural to pair with the consomé for dunking.”

The epic pizza is $20 and big enough to share with at least one other person. Also, if this pizza isn’t what you’re looking for they’ve got at least five others on the menu.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily (except for certain holidays).

Zio Peppe is located at 6502 E Tanque Verde. For more information, visit ziopeppe.com.

Other Monday Munchies options:

• Bacon-wrapped burritos, elote & loaded potatoes at Salsa Verde
• Kalifornia cheesesteak sandwich at Serial Grillers
• Thanksgiving Tamales at Tucson Tamale Company
• ‘Western Bacon Chi’ burger at Midtown Vegan Deli & Market
• Lunch Combo & other specials at Fiamme Pizza
• The 420 Burger at Thunder Bacon Burger Co.