🍻🥨 Oktober Foodie Fest — Saturday 9/26 @ Corbett'sGrab Tickets
Tucson FoodieCelebrating local food, drink, and community.
Weekend Notes, August 19-21

Weekend Notes, August 19-21

Aug 23, 20112 min read
Raspados from Oasis
(Raspados from Oasis)

This was a fun, food-filled weekend.

I started off Friday evening with happy hour at Fleming’s. I don’t usually mention chain restaurants, but Fleming’s sets the bar high. Appetizers for $6. I’m not talking about old french fries and bar nachos. Try Tenderloin Carpaccio, Seared Ahi Tuna and their Prime Burger with cheese and bacon. It’s high end quality at Jack In The Box prices. They feature great deals on drinks, too, and the service is excellent. If they don’t know your name after 3 visits, I’d be surprised.

Saturday morning, a friend and I met at Le Buzz before a trip up to the top of Mt. Lemmon. Le Buzz is one of my favorite bakeries in town. Along with Frog’s Organic Bakery and Beyond Bread, they feature baked goods you can’t find anywhere else. We both had the breakfast sandwich and split a Vanilla Bean Scone after the hike. I think I skipped lunch. But for dinner I went to La Botana at Ft. Lowell and First Avenue. This place is great. Their Adobada, Green Chile, and Red Chile tacos were delicious. The bean dip starter and tri-salsa is a unique twist on the standard chips and salsa. And, their patio is awesome. I’m reluctant to sit underneath the oleander bush, though.

La Botana
Menu from La Botana

Sunday was my go-to breakfast – KG’s Westside Cafe. (RepreSENT!). They have the best pancakes. Perfectly balanced and fluffy. The servers always go above and beyond. They even brew me a stronger pot of coffee . Although I gotta admit… get coffee elsewhere. Even stronger, it’s just… um… get coffee elsewhere.

Later that day we went to Oasis for Raspados. Big mistake. I might have to go there WAY more often now. I ordered the Strawberry Raspados Con Nieve (with ice cream). It’s a good place to start if you’ve never had one (which I’m shamed to admit, I hadn’t. But, I grew up here and only made it to the rodeo for the first time a couple years ago, too).

Next, as if that wasn’t enough, a friend, who takes the term “locavore” into obsessive-compulsive disorder territory had slaughtered, butchered and was spit roasting a lamb from the east side of town where it was raised.

Local Spit Roast Lamb in Tucson
Spit roasting a Tucson raised lamb

There were other minor events that involved peanut butter cups, but I don’t consider that newsworthy.

Until next time…

Article written by:

Adam Lehrman

Adam Lehrman

More about Adam
Adam Lehrman started Tucson Foodie in late 2008 as a way to track his search for the best food Tucson had to offer.

Advertisement

Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.

Take us with you.

Discover the best local spots, browse the dish database, build and share your to-visit lists, support local, and join the Foodie Club when you're ready.

Follow @TucsonFoodie135.2K followers
@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark.

Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️

• @chefjosetucson
• @vindiola.claudia
• @nick_avram 
• @dcsanner 
• @travisgarypeters 

🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music

Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS.

Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark. Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️ • @chefjosetucson • @vindiola.claudia • @nick_avram • @dcsanner • @travisgarypeters 🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS. Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.
Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal.

This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal. This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥
LAST CALL!

It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. 

Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week.

Produced by Tucson Foodie 
Presented by @Visittucson 

#sonoranrestaurantweek #tucsonLAST CALL! It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week. Produced by Tucson Foodie Presented by @Visittucson #sonoranrestaurantweek #tucson
@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory.

Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant.

Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

Photos by @tortillaschiwas 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory. Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant. Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable. Photos by @tortillaschiwas Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews