Why I’m Excited About the First-Ever Vegan Tucson Restaurant Week

When I took over Tucson Foodie about two and a half years ago, I knew I wanted to continue the mission of showcasing the incredible culinary talent in this city. Tucson’s food scene is diverse, creative, and always evolving.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of building events that celebrate our community’s love for food — like the Vegan Night Market, which draws 3,000–5,000 people quarterly, and Sonoran Restaurant Week, which generates a $3 million economic impact and brings tens of thousands of diners to explore locally owned restaurants.

Building on the success of these events, I’m thrilled to announce our next big celebration: the first-ever Vegan Tucson Restaurant Week, happening Sunday, December 1 – Saturday, December 7.

This event has been a long time coming. Over the years, I’ve watched local chefs and restaurants embrace plant-based cooking with bold innovation, from vegan tamales to wood-fired pizzas and mind-blowing desserts.

I’m partnering with Hannah Hernandez of Death Free Foodie to make this event a reality. Hannah has been a passionate advocate for the vegan community, and her enthusiasm for this project is infectious. Together, we’re bringing you a week that highlights the creativity and flavor of plant-based cuisine across Tucson.

What You Can Expect

During Vegan Tucson Restaurant Week, participating restaurants will feature special vegan menus or spotlight their most popular plant-based dishes. It’s an invitation to step outside your comfort zone (or lean into your love for vegan food) and discover something new.

This isn’t just an event for vegans — it’s for anyone who loves great food. It’s a chance to support our local restaurants, experience their creativity, and maybe even find a new favorite dish.

We’re working with an incredible lineup of restaurants, including:

• 5 Points Market & Restaurant
• 520 Taco Stop
• Beaut Burger
• Dedicated Gluten-Free Bakery & Coffee Shop
• Del Cielo Tamales
• Ermanos Bar
• Falora
• JoJo’s Restaurant
• La Chaiteria
• Lovin’ Spoonfuls
• Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar
• OBON Sushi Bar and Ramen
• Sawmill Run Restaurant
• The Coronet 
• The Little One
• Tumerico
• Urban Fresh
• Whole Slvce Pizza

The list of participating restaurants keeps growing. You can explore their menus at veganrestaurantweek.com starting Wednesday, November 27.

Why This Event Matters

For me, this isn’t just about celebrating great food — it’s about supporting the incredible chefs, restaurant owners, and food artisans who pour their hearts into creating plant-based dishes. Tucson is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and events like this remind us why: we’re a city that celebrates food in all its forms.

Hosting an event like this also feels personal. As someone who works closely with Tucson’s food industry, I’ve seen how challenging it can be for restaurants to showcase their vegan options and reach new audiences. That’s why we’ve made this event accessible — there’s no participation fee for restaurants, just an opportunity to shine.

Join Us!

Let’s make this event a success. Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 1 – Saturday, December 7, explore the incredible menus from participating restaurants, and share your experiences with us. Let’s show the world that Tucson is a hub for phenomenal plant-based cuisine.

If you’re a restaurant owner and want to get involved, there’s still time to join the lineup. Email me at shane@tucsonfoodie.com, and we’ll get you set up.

For more information, visit veganrestaurantweek.com and follow Vegan Tucson Restaurant Week on Instagram.