El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
El Guero Canelo's $5 Sonoran hot dog on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the city's signature cheap eat, a James Beard America's Classic 2018.
Try: Sonoran hot dog (bacon-wrapped, in bolillo bun)
Eat well in Tucson for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Cheap eats worth seeking out
Eegee's ★ 4.4
Eegee's on East Broadway in Tucson is the local frozen-fruit drink and submarine sandwich chain since 1971, the canonical cheap summer relief in Tucson.
Try: Frozen-fruit eegee and Italian sub combo
Pat's Drive In ★ 4.3
Pat's Drive In on West Niagara in Tucson is the walk-up burger and chili dog stand running since 1961, the canonical Tucson cheap-eat West Side lunch.
Try: Chili dog with cheese and onions
BK Tacos ★ 4.6
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is Benny Galaz's Sonoran hot dog and taco counter (founded as a cart in the 1990s), with $3 carne asada tacos.
Try: Sonoran hot dog and carne asada taco
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the combo plate Bill Clinton ordered in 1999, hearty Sonoran Mexican plates since 1952 family-style.
Try: Combo plate with chile relleno, enchilada, taco
La Estrella Bakery ★ 4.5
La Estrella Bakery at Mercado San Agustin in Tucson sells the city's canonical pan dulce since 1986: conchas, empanadas and a strong cafe de olla under $5.
Try: Concha and cafe de olla
Tacos Apson ★ 4.7
Tacos Apson on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson runs the canonical mesquite-grilled carne asada Sonoran taquero, three tacos for under $10 since 2006.
Try: Mesquite carne asada tacos
Beyond Bread Sandwich ★ 4.5
Beyond Bread on North Campbell in Tucson runs the city's gold-standard scratch deli sandwich on European-oven house bread, an Annapurna staple.
Try: Annapurna or Tucson sub
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo runs Mexican-American lunch and dinner the family has served since 1936, with oversized cheese crisps.
Try: Cheese crisp and topopo salad