It’s safe to say the Tucson restaurant industry has been booming and bustling now that we’re halfway through 2023. From restaurants making their first appearance in town to those opening second or even third locations throughout the city, it’s without question that the scene has seen its fair share of growth.
Also, this is most and likely not all of the restaurants and bars that opened so far in 2023.
Better Bevs
210 N. Fourth Ave.
“Some of the team’s favorites are things such as our Churro Cold Brew, Cha-Mango Slushee, Strawberry Cheesecake Snow, Longan Green Tea, Blueberry Coco-Lime Italian Soda, Cucumber Lemonade, and Toasted Black Sesame Seed Milk Tea,” said Nikki Zazueta of Better Bevs. “And our Hawaiian Shaved Ice has many flavors for everyone’s unique combinations.”
Blue Front
110 E. Congress St.
Disclaimer: The restaurant is currently closed due to a fire.
The space actually used to be a fine clothing store in the early 1900s by the same name. Fast forward 100 years, Blue Front is ready and roaring to open its doors in its current iteration as an American dining restaurant.
Borderlands Brewing Company
2500 E. Sixth St.
Perhaps one of the most exciting additions to the taproom is the partnership between Borderland’s Brewing Company and award-winning chef, Maria Mazon. Mazon, known for her restaurant BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon, has created a new menu for the location — she’s really put her heart into every dish.
Brillé Mead Company
3895 N. Oracle Rd.
Brillé Mead Company is the first meadery in Tucson and only the fifth commercial meadery in all of Arizona. The meadery is a labor of love project for David Woods and his business partner Andrias Asnakew, who have been busy brewing up batches of their Ethiopian-inspired honey wine in anticipation of the big opening day.
Chef Brian’s Comfort Kitchen
611 N. Fourth Ave.
Before moving to Tucson, Hill has had a lot of fun experiences in the kitchen. He was on the very first season of “Top Chef,” he’s appeared on other reality TV shows like “Master Chef” and “Beat Bobby Flay,” and he was once the private chef for celebrities Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Eddie Murphy.
Chick-in Waffle
5524 E. Grant Rd.
“We are thrilled to bring Chick-In Waffle to Arizona,” said Dennis Alazzeh, founder and CEO of Chick-In Waffle. “We’ve always had a goal of spreading waffly good chicken across the country, and this is a great opportunity to do just that.”
Comida Park
4100 S. Palo Verde Rd.
“The addition of Comida Park will be the perfect complement to the already lively evening vibes at Tanque Verde,” said Rob Sieban, President, CEO, and co-owner of United Flea Markets. “Guests can shop, then grab some of their favorite food and beverages from the food trucks, enjoy some music and connect with the community all in one location.”
Dandelion Cafe & Bakery
200 N. Court Ave.
On Friday, February 24, the creative minds behind Ceres and Noodies officially opened their latest concept at 200 N. Court Ave., Dandelion Cafe & Bakery. However, the new spot, which is within walking distance of Ceres and LaCo, isn’t serving up noodles. It’s a full-on bakery that’s now serving sweet treats and bread, sandwiches, salads, coffee, and espresso options.
The Dandelion Lounge
200 N. Court Ave.
The cocktail bar is its soft opening on Friday, June 23.
The new spot, described as a cocktail bar serving “eclectic modern and classic cocktails with vintage textures in the historic Presidio Duplex,” is nestled inside the same location as Dandelion Cafe & Bakery and will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 – 10 p.m.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
5615 E. Broadway Blvd.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is known for its Hot Chicken Sliders and Tenders, which are served in seven spices that range in intensity levels. Folks can choose from No Spice to Reaper, which requires a signed waiver. Menu items also come paired with their classic sides like mac n’ cheese, fries, kale-slaw, and other small bites.
Doughbird
2960 N. Campbell Ave. #160
With an unexpected but tasty focus on specialty, housemade pizzas, and juicy chicken, Doughbird offers unique flavor combinations that capture guests’ taste buds and invite them back to discover more. In addition to pizzas, expect mouth-watering tenders and wings cooked low and slow.
El Antojo Poblano
1108 W. St. Mary’s Rd.
If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the food cart prior to the grand opening of the brick-and-mortar restaurant, the Cemita is a must-try along with the Chalupas Poblanas, Gorditas Rellanas, and the Tacos Ahogados.
El Jefe Cat Café
3025 N. Campbell Ave. #151
On the coffee side of things, you can walk in and order anything from the menu and shop around the gift shop. They have a couple of comfy couches if you want to stick around, too. Next door, there’s a three-story cat lounge if you’d like to sip on your coffee with four-legged friends.
Fatboy Sandos
1439 S. Fourth Ave.
Now, this doesn’t mean the truck will no longer be making its rounds. While owner Rafael De La Cuesta is super pumped about the opportunity inside American Eat Co., he also assured that the truck will remain poundin’ the pavement around town. “The truck is going to stay operating throughout Tucson,” said De La Cuesta. “It’ll just be more toned down to around one to two days a week.”
FireTruck Pizza Company
800 N. Kolb Rd.
Since the brewery’s debut nearly 10 years ago as Sentinel Peak Brewing Company, FireTruck Brewing Company has expanded and opened up two other taproom locations — one serving the east side and the other pouring beers in Oro Valley. Now, the brewery is slicing and dicing into the pizza business.
Flower Child
2960 N. Campbell Ave.
“Opening a restaurant is a show of love for the city and for the people who will eat there,” said Sam Fox. “Bringing Flower Child to Tucson — to all my friends, family, and the incredible community who has supported us since the beginning – is immensely special. I‘m looking forward to serving our Tucson friends Flower Child.”
Gyro Shack
5775 E. Broadway Blvd.
What’s important to note about this opening is that it’s Gryo Shack’s very first out-of-state location since opening in Boise, Idaho back in 2010. Seth Brink, President of Arete Food Group, LLC, is overseeing the development of the new Tucson location, which is expected to be exactly like its Idaho restaurants.
Hillhouse Coffee
1060 S. Kold Rd.
They’ve been working hard to renovate the former Poco & Mom’s and Sonoran Brunch Co. spot near 22nd Street, and now it’s in prime position to be your go-to Cold Roast hangout. Cold Roast, which is not to be confused with cold brew, is something Logan Power and Eric Haberman are proud to serve in this desert climate.
The Kava Den
67 E. Pennington St.
If you’ve yet to try kava, the roots are ground into a pulp and added to cold water. This then results in a thick brew. Over time, it’s been compared to the social equivalent of having glasses of wine in France.
Main Event
4700 S. Landing Way
Much like Round1 at the Park Place Mall and its parent company Dave & Busters, Main Event will be serving up pizza, nachos, burgers, greasy sandwiches, chicken wings, and more.
Maynards
400 N. Toole Ave.
Maynards underwent a summer refresh and reopened on Thursday, June 15. Located at 400 N. Toole Ave. next to the historic train depot in Downtown Tucson, the restaurant and recently reopened market are now under the expert guidance of native Tucsonan, chef Nick Creamer and his talented culinary team.
Miss Dessert
1800 E. Fort Lowell Rd. #140
The team behind Miss Dessert has enjoyed their time so far in the complex that also houses restaurants like China Szechwan, Taqueria El Pueblito, and Dolce Vita Italian Bistro. Other Arizona locations include Mesa, Gilbert, and Phoenix.
Monsoon Chocolate
3630 E. Fort Lowell Rd.
“We’re treating the summer like a ‘soft opening’ phase, so we can get into the flow of service. If you’ve been to our previous cafe, you can definitely expect to find old favorites. But in Cafe 2.0 we have lots of new goodies to share! Then in early fall, we’ll expand hours, increase market offerings, and add some savory menu items.”
Mr. Patron
5754 E. 22nd St.
The sushi/Mexican restaurant’s menu is a cornucopia of variety including Mexican-style sushi rolls, jumbo burros, tacos (both surf and turf selections), tostadas, hamburgers with melted manchego cheese, drinks like micheladas and cocktails, shrimp cocktails — you name it.
Oralia Coffee + Kitchen
501 N. Sixth Ave. #101
Beginning at 7 a.m., the daily menu features mochas, lattes, cappuccinos, and a simple drip coffee that’ll all have you lifting off the sidewalk with a heel-click jump. Also, they’re serving other options like a new organic, ceremonial-grade matcha consisting of antioxidants, l-theanine, and light caffeine. Try the Honey Vanilla Matcha out if you’re in the mood for a coffee alternative.
Portillo’s
3761 E. Broadway Blvd.
The 7,800-square-foot restaurant is massive in size compared to your typical fast-food joint and is equipped with a double drive-thru lane. The first Arizona location opened up in Scottsdale back in 2012 and has since expanded to three others in the Phoenix area. The menu includes beef and sausage sandwiches, burgers, Chicago-style hot dogs, milkshakes, crinkle fries, and even salads.
Street Taco & Beer Co.
8898 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
If you’ve been to any of the other three locations, you can expect the same menu of tacos, burritos, and beverages. Plus, as mentioned earlier, they’re opening on Tuesday/Taco Tuesday so maybe that’ll make your decision-making much easier. The new location is destined to be the perfect pit stop, too, if you’re heading up to Mount Lemmon for the day or taking a hike in the area.
Turkish Grill House
1485 W. Prince Rd.
Conveniently located off of I-10, Old Times Kafe has been serving its breakfast and lunch since 1986. Now, they’ve got some company in the 1940s ranch house-turned-restaurant that’s offering authentic Turkish cuisine.
Vitality Bowls
2959 N. Swan Rd.
Vitality Bowls offers a variety of tasty options, such as the Dragon Bowl (featuring pitaya, pineapple, coconut milk, goji berries, and bee pollen), Green Bowl (with Graviola, strawberries, kale, dates, spirulina, and hemp seeds), and their signature Vitality Bowl (with organic açaí, strawberries, banana, organic granola, and honey).
Voltron Brewing
330 S. Toole Ave. #200
The brewing site at 330 S. Toole Ave. #200, which is a combination of Borderlands Brewing Company and FireTruck Brewing Company, shared the news on Instagram. They even included a beer special to get folks amped up about the reopening. The taproom also offers other local craft beers on tap.
Yellow Brick Coffee
800 N. Country Club Rd.
One of the most unique features about the setup inside the new cafe is that they’re using a Modbar system that makes it easier for you to interact with baristas. “The Modbar is essentially an under-counter espresso machine that creates a very limited obstruction. There’s basically no obstruction between you and the barista, and therefore, you’re involved and immersed in the experience if you want to be,” said David Perreira.
Zyka Twist
621 N. Fourth Ave.
Indian Twist chef and owner Jimmy Aujla is no newcomer to Downtown Tucson’s food scene. With a former residency as the original Indian Twist at The Boxyard Tucson, Aujla delighted metropolitan residents and visitors with his culinary creations and vibrant hospitality as a pop-up stand.
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