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Dinning in Tucson Arizona - Restaurants to enjoy during the Tucson Gem and Jewelry Trade Show
Indian
Gandhi’s (http://www.gandhicuisineofindia.com/)
150 West Fort Lowell Road
Tucson, AZ 85705-3812
(520) 292-1738
Gandhi’s has the best Indian lunch buffet in town; and, at just around $6, it’s by far the best deal. Open from 11-3 for lunch, and 5-10 for dinner, their authentic cuisine is affordable and reliably delicious. Plenty of vegetarian options, but the lamb meatballs are a local favorite.
India Oven
2727 North Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719-3108
(520) 326-8635
This cozy little restaurant has long been a Tucson favorite for its large (100-plus items) menu. The lunch buffet features a great selection, and the samosas are consistently fantastic. Call for hours.
Japanese
Yoshimatsu (http://www.yoshimatsuaz.com/)
2660 North Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719-3102
(520) 320-1574
Yoshimatsu specializes in healthy, authentic, and consistently excellent Japanese food. Because of its extreme popularity, you may have to wait a few minutes to order, but the wait is worth your while. Try any of the bento boxes for a little, multi-course meal, or show up at happy hour (5-7) for discount Japanese beer and hot sake. If you’re a sushi buff, visit their little side project in the same building, Sushimatsu (see below). Open 7 days, 11:30-2:30 for lunch and 5-9 (5-10 on Friday and Saturday) for dinner.
Sushimatsu (http://www.yoshimatsuaz.com/SushiNetindex.html)
2660 North Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719-3102
(520) 320-1574
Come here for the best sushi in town. In addition to a massive list of fancy rolls, their nigiri and sashimi plates feature the freshest, most beautiful cuts of fish this side of California. Since this is a tiny restaurant, call ahead if you’re coming with a big party.
Sushi Cho (http://www.sushichotucson.com/)
1830 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85719-5968
(520) 628-8800
Known for tempura and fresh cuts of fish, this restaurant in central Tucson also specializes in vegetarian rolls. Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11-2:30, dinner Monday-Saturday 5-10, and Sundays 4-8:30. If you’re low on cash, go on a Sunday: they’re running a 20% special for a limited time!
Mexican
Café Poca Cosa (http://cafepocacosatucson.com/)
110 E Pennington St
Tucson, AZ 85701-1508
(520) 622-6400
If you’ve only ever thought of Mexican food as burritos and enchiladas, you’ve got to try this place. Most likely the best restaurant in Tucson, the Café Poca Cosa thrives on bringing the food of Mexico City to southern Arizona. With a menu that changes daily and a killer house margarita (not to mention a full page list of tequilas), this is absolutely the best place to eat. Try the Plato Poca Cosa: a chef-chosen sampler from the day’s menu. Open Tuesday-Thursday 11-9pm and Friday and Saturday from 11-10pm.
Little Poca Cosa (http://www.littlepocacosa.com)
Stone Avenue at Alameda Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
If you’re a little low on cash and can’t afford the Café Poca Cosa (above), stop in for lunch or breakfast at its little sister restaurant, right down the street. The Little Poca Cosa will give you the same taste of Mexico City, at half the price. The music is loud, the place is crowded, and the food is fabulous. Make sure to order one of their homemade strawberry limeades, and don’t forget to give Sandra a hug before you leave! Open Monday-Friday, 7:30-2:30; and bring your cash, because they don’t accept anything else.
El Charro (http://www.elcharrocafe.com)
311 North Court Avenue
Tucson, AZ
(520) 622-1922
This world-famous restaurant is the home of the chimichanga (actually!). Situated in a massive old house on a quiet sidestreet in downtown Tucson, this place is a full-on authentic Tucson Mexican food experience. Try the Tamale Temptation Trio, and come in between 5 and 7 for half-priced house margaritas and appetizers. Open 7 days, 11-9.
Crossroads (http://www.crossroadsrestaurante.com)
2602 South 4th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85713-4815
(520) 624-0395
This South Tucson favorite is best at happy hour (5-7), when you can drink your fill of discount beer or $1 margaritas. Decent food and a fun, casual atmosphere make this a great place to decompress after gem show madness. This is one of the few places in town where they serve everything with a side dish of key limes.
La Indita
622 North 4th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705-8449
(520) 792-0523
Located at the northern end of the 4th Avenue shopping district, La Indita serves up wholesome and delicious options, and is vegetarian-friendly. Try the Mexican hot chocolate!
Martin’s Comida Casera
557 North 4th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705-8448
(520) 884-7909
This is a great place to pick up lunch or an early dinner. With the best veggie chorizo in town, Martin’s specializes in healthy Mexican food. Martin will make any dish plate-style (sans tortillas), and there are endless vegetarian options. Don’t ask for guacamole, though—that’s not real Mexican food! Enjoy 4th Avenue on their sidewalk seating, and don’t forget to bring the booze: this place is BYOB! Open daily 11-2:30 and 5:30-11.
American
Cup Café (http://www.hotelcongress.com/cup/)
311 East Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701-1811
(520) 798-1618
Located in the historic Hotel Congress downtown, the Cup Café is a local favorite. They have recently revamped their menu to include a broad variety of American eats. The food is consistently good, but the specials are excellent. The Cup features one of the best signature cocktail menus in town, hands down the best tres leches cake you’ll ever have, and a super cool penny floor. Have dinner, and then saunter across the lobby to the Club to party the rest of the night! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday-Sunday.
Grill
100 E Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 623-7621
Their slogan pretty much says it all: “When dining out, insist on food.” So true: this place is open 24 hours, and reaches its business peak around 2am. A greasy spoon with a heart of gold, the Grill serves up 4-egg omlettes, giant spaghetii platters, tasty burgers and tater tots at any and all hours of the day. Be prepared to wait a bit, the service is slow, but the ambiance and late-night munchies make it all worthwhile.
Time Market
444 East University Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85705-7851
(520) 622-0761
With a recently expanded bottled wine and beer selection, Time is one of the best university-area spots to stock your liquor cabinet. They also have beer on tap, a tasty sandwich deli, and constantly rotating pizzas by-the-slice; not to mention one of the best cups of coffee in town. If you’ve come to wifi camp during lunch, though, be prepared to get kicked out! Open 7 days, 7am-10pm.
Maynard's Market and Kitchen (http://www.maynardsmarkettucson.com)
400 N Toole Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701-1815
(520) 545-0577
A relatively new addition to the downtown Tucson foodies’ scorecard, Maynard’s caters to a wide customer base. Whether you want a sandwich or soup to go or a full sit-down meal, you can find them here. And don’t forget the Beer Olympics Beer Tasting on January 30th! The market is open Sunday-Thursday 7am-8pm, and Friday-Saturday 7am-10pm; the kitchen is open 7 days 11am-bar close.
Other
Zemam’s — Ethiopian
2731 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85716-5307
(520) 323-9928
Ethiopian dining is not for the faint of heart. With no silverware to speak of, you use your hands and a sour-flatbread to do the work. Zemam’s is by far one of the best dining experiences in town. The flavors are complex, bold, and consistently delicious. Try the combo plate—you’ll get to sample several dishes—and remember you’ll be sharing, because all food is served family-style. Call ahead for hours/availability, as this place fills up quickly; and stop by the store on the way: Zemam’s is BYOB!
Miss Saigon — Vietnamese (http://www.misssaigonbarandgrill.com/)
1072 North Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ
(520) 320-9511
Whether you know and love Vietnamese food or you’ve never had it, Miss Saigon won’t let you down. They specialize in pho, a tasty beef broth-based soup with rice noodles and pretty much whatever else you want in it. Try the #21 or 25. If you’re not in the mood for soup, they make a killer coconut curry, and fresh, crunchy spring rolls. There’s nothing bad on the menu in this place. Open 7 days, 11-9:30.
Bangkok Café — Thai (http://www.bangkokcafe.net/)
2511 East Speedway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85716-3816
(520) 323-6555
The massive menu at Bangkok Café doesn’t make ordering any easier than it usually is, but odds are you’ll enjoy whatever you end up picking. Pad Thai is a no-brainer, and all of their curries are excellent. Open 7 days, call for hours/availability.
Ali Baba — Middle Eastern (http://www.alibabatucson.com)
2545 East Speedway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85716-3801
(520) 319-2559
Located in one of the unprettiest strip malls in Tucson, this treasure is easy to miss. What you’ll find here is a mix of Lebanese and Persian delicacies, plus your standard falafel, pita, and hummus combinations. Try the lamb, and don’t forget the baklava—it’s excellent! Call for hours.
Char’s Thai
5039 E 5th Street
Tucson, AZ 85711-2113
(520) 795-1715
The best Thai restaurant in town. Though this place is a bit out of the way for downtown visitors, the drive is worth it. The soups, curries, and vegetarian dishes are always fantastic, and the quirky atmosphere makes for a fun experience. Call for hours—not open for lunch on weekends!
Enoteca — Pizzeria and wine bar
58 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 623-0744
A great place to decompress after a stressful day, Enoteca has successfully combined an upscale dining experience with a sports bar. Two bigscreen tvs grace opposite walls, next to a fully-stocked wine bar and wall of pizza ovens. The antipasti platters are excellent, and you’ll want a pizza as soon as you walk in the door. Open Monday-Saturday, call for hours.
Caffé Milano (http://www.caffemilano.us/)
46 W Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 628-1601
Caffé Milano serves some of the best food downtown Tucson has to offer. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday 8:30-3:30, and dinner Friday and Saturday 5:30-9:30pm. Rustic and bold Italian recipes fill out the menu, and don’t forget to leave room for dessert! If you’re coming in for lunch, get there early—it seems half of downtown workers frequent this place. And if you do have to wait, it’s entirely worth it.
Rocco’s Little Chicago (http://www.roccoslittlechicago.com)
2707 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85716-5307
(520) 321-1860
With creative names like 'the Big Bad Wolf' and 'U505,' the Rocco’s menu will delight and entice. A straight-ahead Chicago-style pizzeria, they also serve up the hottest wings in town, hearty salads, and a delicious appetizer called ‘Spicy Hot Sticks.’ Open Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm.
