[Editor's note: this article contains photos of comped dishes. Casa Pita invited the Tucson Foodie team to capture a selection of dishes and drinks. View the full menu here and stay tuned for a Reel on our Instagram page.]
Casa Pita by Mama Amna sits at 5526 E. Grant Rd. in midtown Tucson with a menu that spans from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking to American breakfast and burritos. Owner Amna Al-Qaisi, known to regulars and staff as Mama Amna, spent over two decades feeding Tucson.
A life lived through food and displacement
Al-Qaisi grew up in Iraq and spent years living across eight countries throughout the Middle East, studying the regional cooking traditions of each location. She came to the United States to study, eventually settling in Tucson.
Her late husband introduced her to the restaurant business through Sinbad's, a Middle Eastern spot on University Boulevard that the couple eventually took over when the original owner left. Over the years, the family built and operated a string of Tucson restaurants, including Geronimo's, Gyro King, Arabic Express, and Golden Falafel. Each one drew on Al-Qaisi's cooking and her family's traditions.
Casa Pita is located at 5526 E. Grant Rd. For more information, visit casapitabymamaamna0717.s4shops.com. Keep up with Casa Pita on Instagram.
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.
