Although a four-and-a-half star rating on Yelp is indicative of a must-visit restaurant, what makes a restaurant earn the extra half star?
Having five stars doesn’t mean a restaurant is perfect, but chances are, it’ll earn a place near and dear in your heart.
We filtered through several hundred restaurants on Yelp and picked out restaurants with a five-star average. To be fair, we didn’t include the restaurants that only had a few reviews.
Here’s the lowdown.
Tumerico
2526 E. Sixth St. • 402 E. Fourth St.
Even though Tumerico is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, meat-eaters (including myself) flock in regularly to enjoy the fresh bountiful meals from the ever-changing blackboard menu. Free coffee helps, along with service that will remember you even if they haven’t seen you in months.
Read our August 2019 article Tumerico charms locals with quality food & warm vibes (& free yoga).
For more information, visit tumerico.com.
Barista Del Barrio
1002 N. Grande Ave.
Barista Del Barrio doesn’t have the most exotic coffee beans or hip lounge chairs, but they have some of the friendliest servers in town. It’s impossible to not love them, all of them.
To top it off, they have one of the best breakfast burritos in town. The horchata coffee is also something to return regularly for.
Read our September 2019 article Barista del Barrio: Mexican mochas & breakfast burritos by the Briones family.
Keep up with Barista Del Barrio on Facebook.
Urban Fresh
73 E. Pennington St.
The vegan menu at Urban Fresh features a list of staples along with creative daily specials ranging from stroganoff to veggie ribbon pho. Service is friendly as can be.
Read our December 2018 article Urban Fresh: Plant-based Foods with a Powerhouse of Flavors.
For more information, visit urbanfreshtucson.com.
Cocteleria La Palma
1143 S. Sixth Ave.
A food truck in the middle of the desert might not sound like the best place for seafood but trust us here. La Palma features fresh mariscos with food truck prices.
Read our February 2019 article 3 Must-Visit Sonoran Food Stops on 22nd St. & Sixth Ave.
Keep up with Cocteleria La Palma on Facebook.
Juice N Fruit Raspados
3502 S. Sixth Ave., Ste. 100
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7kQpOgMOh/
One of Tucson’s most beloved raspados shops, Juice N Fruit, also features tortas and welcoming service.
Keep up with Juice N Fruit Raspados on Facebook.
El Antojo Poblano
1114 W. St. Mary’s Rd.
El Antojo Poblano features the distinctive cuisine of Puebla, Mexico. The must-try cemita is one of Tucson’s best Mexican sandwiches. The friendly service and flowers at tables make it feel more like a brick-and-mortar patio than a dirt lot food truck.
Read our April 2019 article Newly Opened El Antojo Poblano Serves Tucson’s Best Mexican Sandwich.
Keep up with El Antojo Poblano on Facebook.
Raptor Canyon Cafe
75 E. Pennington St.
Raptor Canyon Cafe captures the feeling of stepping into an American grandma’s home with both the decor and the comforting food. You will always receive service with a smile.
For more information, visit raptorcanyoncafe.com.
Juice Envy
1980 W. Orange Grove Rd., Ste. 180
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByLd7aMh0qS/
A northwest side favorite, Juice Envy offers acai bowls and smoothies in a clean and friendly environment. Their balance of sweetness seems to be just right for many of the folks who left a review on Yelp.
For more information, visit juiceenvybar.com.
El Perro Loco
Intersection of S. Country Club Rd. and E. 36th St.
In the city of Sonoran hot dogs, El Perro Loco is the king on Yelp. The Super Chipilones feature buns toasted with a generous coating of garlic powder for extra umami.
Keep up with El Perro Loco Hot Dogs on Facebook.
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.
