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Restaurant of the Week: Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe

Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe (Photo by Hannah Hernandez)

Restaurant of the Week: Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe

Sep 4, 20242 min read

Each week, we want to highlight one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson!

With all of the warm smiles, brightly-colored dining room, and incredible food that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, it’s no surprise that the cafe is a favorite here in Tucson.

Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe‘s popularity is spreading, too!

Last year, the restaurant landed on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in 2023.”

Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe (Photo by Erika Howlett)

At Buendia, nestled between the salt and pepper shakers on each table, you’ll find a third shaker labeled “alegría”— Spanish for “joy.” For owners Julio and Jael Garcia, this simple touch represents their mission and the lasting legacy they aim to create.

If you’re looking for a class breakfast experience, there’s plenty of that on the menu, but if you’re in the mood to try something unique, give the Buendia’s Poblano Pepper Stuffed with Corn Tamale and Cheese.

You’ll go home with a smile just as big as the one you were greeted with when you arrived.

Read our March 2024 article, “How Julio & Jael Bring Alegria to Tucson.”

Jael and Julio Garcia of Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe (Photo by Erika Howlett)
Sonoran Restaurant Week 2024

Buendia is also participating in Sonoran Restaurant Week, which begins on Friday, September 6, and ends on Sunday, September 15 — that’s 10 days to experience some of the best food in Southern Arizona!

The restaurant is offering multiple prix fixe menus at $15 each.

Sonoran Restaurant Week Menu (September 6 – 15)

Breakfast Menu
  • Option One:
    • Entrée: Machaca & Eggs or Chorizo & Eggs
    • Dessert: Arroz con Leche
    • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea or Cafe de Olla
  • Option Two:
    • Entrée: Huevos Rancheros or Huevos Divorciados
    • Dessert: Arroz con Leche
    • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea or Cafe de Olla
Lunch Menu
  • Option One:
    • Entrée: Tacos Dorados
    • Dessert: Arroz con Leche
    • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea or Cafe de Olla
  • Option Two:
    • Entrée: Burritos Carne con Chile or Burritos Deshebrada
    • Dessert: Arroz con Leche
    • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea
Vegetarian Lunch Menu
  • Entrée: Caldo de Queso Cup and Flour Tortilla Quesadilla
  • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea or Cafe de Olla
Vegan Lunch Menu
  • Entrée: Nopales with Red Sauce or Nopal Ranchero; and Poblano Pepper Rajas Taco
  • Drink: Sweet Cinnamon Iced Tea or Cafe de Olla

To learn more about Sonoran Restaurant Week, visit sonoranrestaurantweek.com.

Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe is located at 2530 N. First Ave. For more information, follow Buendia on Facebook

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Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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@Talegacoffee at 177 N. Church Ave. transforms into @_Velvetcowboy after 4 pm, bringing cocktails, tapas, disco lights, and a lively bar atmosphere to the same space. The dual concept comes from the team behind Talega Coffee Co., with coffee and scratch-made breakfast and lunch served during the day, followed by happy hour and bar service at night.

Velvet Cowboy’s grand opening is Oct. 16, with upcoming events including drag brunches, DJs, and live music.🪩 

“Opening this place feels a little surreal. To now have a space where we can bring together coffee, food, art, booze, and all the weird things we love feels like a reflection of how far we’ve come.” —Tyler Melo 

Photos courtesy of @_velvetcowboy 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonnews@Talegacoffee at 177 N. Church Ave. transforms into @_Velvetcowboy after 4 pm, bringing cocktails, tapas, disco lights, and a lively bar atmosphere to the same space. The dual concept comes from the team behind Talega Coffee Co., with coffee and scratch-made breakfast and lunch served during the day, followed by happy hour and bar service at night. Velvet Cowboy’s grand opening is Oct. 16, with upcoming events including drag brunches, DJs, and live music.🪩 “Opening this place feels a little surreal. To now have a space where we can bring together coffee, food, art, booze, and all the weird things we love feels like a reflection of how far we’ve come.” —Tyler Melo Photos courtesy of @_velvetcowboy Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonnews
@Sonoranrestaurantweek runs through September 13, 2026, offering a variety of prix fixe menus across Tucson.🍝🍕

Where to get pizza & Italian durning Sonoran Restaurant Week:

@anello_pizzeria 
@dominicksrealitalian 
@doscabezas
@fentonellispizzeria 
@fiammepizza 
@reillypizza 
@frescotucson 
@zio_peppe_az 

For more details, visit tucsonfoodie.com/srw

#tucsonfoodie #sonoranrestaurantweek@Sonoranrestaurantweek runs through September 13, 2026, offering a variety of prix fixe menus across Tucson.🍝🍕 Where to get pizza & Italian durning Sonoran Restaurant Week: @anello_pizzeria @dominicksrealitalian @doscabezas @fentonellispizzeria @fiammepizza @reillypizza @frescotucson @zio_peppe_az For more details, visit tucsonfoodie.com/srw #tucsonfoodie #sonoranrestaurantweek
@Asaditoszulmyta started with a tent and a grill on Tucson’s south side. Now, a year later, the Salvadoran food stand has grown into a food truck, a Central American market, and a gathering place for Tucson’s Latin American community.

Stop by Asaditos Zulmyta for their grand opening and Central American Independence Day celebration on Sept 12th from 7-10pm! Enjoy free aguas frescas, specials, a DJ, and more. 

Don’t forget to walk over and grab a coffee at @Redcaptaincoffee! 

4004 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 

Thanks for having us, @Asaditoszulmyta!@Asaditoszulmyta started with a tent and a grill on Tucson’s south side. Now, a year later, the Salvadoran food stand has grown into a food truck, a Central American market, and a gathering place for Tucson’s Latin American community. Stop by Asaditos Zulmyta for their grand opening and Central American Independence Day celebration on Sept 12th from 7-10pm! Enjoy free aguas frescas, specials, a DJ, and more. Don’t forget to walk over and grab a coffee at @Redcaptaincoffee! 4004 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ Thanks for having us, @Asaditoszulmyta!
This year, 18 Mexican restaurants are participating in @sonoranrestaurantweek from September 4-13. Also, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins immediately afterwards on Sunday, September 15.❤️

Here’s the full list, in alphabetical order. 

@agavehousetucson 
@ameliastucson 
@bktacos 
@bocatucson 
@buendia.breakfast.lunch 
@asadataqueria 
@casadelrioaz 
@elcharro.cafe 
@crudamariscos 
@elmezquitetucson 
@humo.tucson
@lachingadacocina 
@lafridamexicangrill 
@laollamexicancafe 
@nanas_kitchen_2008 
@reformatucson 
@seiskitchen 
@sonoramoonshine 

Don’t forget to upload your receipts to enter our giveaway🎉

More on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw
Presented by @Visittucson 

#tucsonaz #tucsonfoodieThis year, 18 Mexican restaurants are participating in @sonoranrestaurantweek from September 4-13. Also, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins immediately afterwards on Sunday, September 15.❤️ Here’s the full list, in alphabetical order. @agavehousetucson @ameliastucson @bktacos @bocatucson @buendia.breakfast.lunch @asadataqueria @casadelrioaz @elcharro.cafe @crudamariscos @elmezquitetucson @humo.tucson @lachingadacocina @lafridamexicangrill @laollamexicancafe @nanas_kitchen_2008 @reformatucson @seiskitchen @sonoramoonshine Don’t forget to upload your receipts to enter our giveaway🎉 More on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw Presented by @Visittucson #tucsonaz #tucsonfoodie