40 cheap eats places in Tucson, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Tucson: the places editors actually return to. All Tucson food.
Barrio Bread ★ 4.9
midtown · 18 S Eastbourne Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716
Barrio Bread on South Eastbourne in Tucson is Don Guerra's James Beard Outstanding Baker 2022 bakery, milling heritage white Sonora wheat loaves.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the James Beard 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship from Daniel Contreras, the founding Tucson dogo.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the James Beard 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship from Daniel Contreras, the founding Tucson dogo.
Exo Roast Co. ★ 4.8
fourth-avenue · 403 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705
Exo Roast Co. on North 6th in Tucson is the Fourth Avenue cafe-roastery serving the heritage chiltepin cold brew, sourdough muffins and beans.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is Daniel Contreras's James Beard America's Classic 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship, started as a cart in 1993.
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
south-tucson · 5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
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.
Presta Coffee Roasters ★ 4.7
mercado-district · 100 S Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745
Presta on Avenida del Convento at Mercado San Agustin in Tucson is the Nordic-style coffee bar with single-origin espresso and a quiet courtyard.
Tacos Apson ★ 4.7
south-tucson · 3501 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
Tacos Apson on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is the canonical Sonoran carne asada taqueria, mesquite-grilled and on house-made tortillas since 2006.
Tacos Apson ★ 4.7
south-tucson · 3501 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
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.
BK Tacos ★ 4.6
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is Benny Galaz's Sonoran hot dog chain founded as a cart in the 1990s, with bacon-wrapped dogos and caramelo.
La Estrella Bakery ★ 4.6
mercado-district · 100 S Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745
La Estrella Bakery at Mercado San Agustin in Tucson is the Jalisco-style Mexican panaderia (since 1986), with conchas, empanadas and tres leches.
5 Points Market ★ 4.6
south-tucson · 756 S Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
5 Points Market and Restaurant on South Stone in Tucson is the bohemian cafe-meets-bistro at the Five Points intersection, with scratch baking.
Yellow Brick Coffee ★ 4.6
campbell · 800 N Country Club Rd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Yellow Brick Coffee on North Country Club in Tucson is a single-origin specialty coffee roaster and cafe, with pour-overs, espresso and a quiet morning bar.
BK Tacos ★ 4.6
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
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.
La Estrella Bakery 12th Avenue ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 5266 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
La Estrella Bakery on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is the Jalisco panaderia's South Tucson outpost, with conchas, empanadas and tres leches by the case.
Beyond Bread Campbell ★ 4.5
campbell · 3026 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Beyond Bread on North Campbell in Tucson is the family-owned European-oven bakery and sandwich counter since 2000, with house artisan bread.
Beyond Bread Speedway ★ 4.5
midtown · 6260 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712
Beyond Bread Speedway in Tucson is the eastside outpost of the family bakery, with the European-oven loaves, scratch sandwiches and a counter at lunch.
Cup Cafe ★ 4.5
downtown · 311 E Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701
Cup Cafe inside Hotel Congress on East Congress in Tucson is the downtown all-day diner-bistro since 1990, set in the historic 1919 hotel lobby.
El Guero Canelo Oracle ★ 4.5
downtown · 2480 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705
El Guero Canelo Oracle Road in Tucson is the north-side outpost of the James Beard 2018 dogo flagship, with bacon-wrapped Sonoran hot dogs daily.
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
south-tucson · 1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
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.
La Estrella Bakery ★ 4.5
mercado-district · 100 S Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745
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.
Beyond Bread Sandwich ★ 4.5
campbell · 3026 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Beyond Bread on North Campbell in Tucson runs the city's gold-standard scratch deli sandwich on European-oven house bread, an Annapurna staple.
Baja Cafe on Campbell ★ 4.4
campbell · 2970 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Baja Cafe on North Campbell in Tucson runs all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch with Southwestern-flair classics like the snickerdoodle pancake and huevos.
Prep and Pastry ★ 4.4
campbell · 2660 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Prep and Pastry on North Campbell in Tucson is the scratch-baking brunch counter with croissant French toast, biscuits and a busy weekend morning queue.
Cafe a la C'Art ★ 4.4
el-presidio · 150 N Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Cafe a la C'Art on North Main in Tucson runs brunch and lunch inside the historic 1865 Stevens House at the Tucson Museum of Art, with a shaded garden patio.
BK Tacos ★ 4.4
south-tucson · 5118 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
BK Tacos on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is Benny Galaz's Sonoran hot dog flagship, with bacon-wrapped dogos, caramelos and micheladas at the dogo row.
Eegee's ★ 4.4
midtown · 8320 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710
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.
Bisbee Breakfast Club ★ 4.3
midtown · 2936 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Bisbee Breakfast Club on East Broadway in Tucson is the Phoenix-Tucson all-day breakfast chain, born in Bisbee, with skillets and Benedicts daily.
Pat's Drive In ★ 4.3
mercado-district · 1202 W Niagara St, Tucson, AZ 85745
Pat's Drive In on West Niagara in Tucson is the walk-up burger and chili dog stand running since 1961, a beloved west-side Tucson institution still.
Time Market Bakery ★ 4.3
main-gate · 444 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85705
Time Market's bakery on East University in Tucson supplies the deli, pizza counter and the cafe's morning baked goods, milling house bread and biscuits daily.
Bisbee Breakfast Club Bakery ★ 4.3
midtown · 2936 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Bisbee Breakfast Club on East Broadway in Tucson bakes scratch pies in-house, including the apple pie that the Bisbee, AZ location made famous.
Time Market ★ 4.3
main-gate · 444 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85705
Time Market on East University in Tucson is the deli-cafe-grocer that has served Sam Hughes since 1920, with wood-fired pizza, espresso and house-baked bread.
Rollies Mexican Patio ★ 4.3
south-tucson · 4573 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85714
Rollies on South 12th Avenue in South Tucson is the chivichanga (rolled chimichanga) and Sonoran taco patio, family-run since 2018, with mesquite carne asada.
Pat's Drive In ★ 4.3
mercado-district · 1202 W Niagara St, Tucson, AZ 85745
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.
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
barrio-viejo · 354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
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.
Raging Sage ★ 4.2
campbell · 2458 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Raging Sage on North Campbell in Tucson is the Sliker family coffeehouse since 1998, with in-house roasted beans, scratch pastries and a dog-friendly patio.
Cartel Coffee Lab ★ 4.2
downtown · 210 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701
Cartel Coffee Lab on East Broadway in Tucson is the Tempe-Tucson roaster's downtown cafe, with pour-over, single-origin espresso and house pastry.
Bisbee Breakfast Club ★ 4.1
midtown · 2936 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Bisbee Breakfast Club on East Broadway in Tucson is the all-day breakfast cafe born in Bisbee, with skillets, Benedicts and miner-sized plates from 6 a.m.
BK Tacos First Avenue ★ 4.1
campbell · 2680 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
BK Tacos First Avenue in Tucson is the north-side outpost of the Sonoran hot dog chain, with the same bacon-wrapped dogos and carne asada and micheladas.
Caffe Luce ★ 4.0
main-gate · 943 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719
Caffe Luce on East University in Tucson is the U of A Main Gate coffeehouse with Italian-leaning espresso, baked goods and student-friendly counter seating.