El Charro Cafe ★ 4.6
El Charro Cafe on Court Avenue in Tucson is the United States' oldest family-run Mexican restaurant (1922), and the claimed birthplace of the chimichanga.
Signature: Chimichanga, Carne seca
The restaurants worth the trip in Tucson. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Tucson
Penca ★ 4.5
Penca on East Broadway in downtown Tucson serves Patricia Schwabe's Mexico City menu, with mole poblano, cochinita pibil and a mezcal-led bar.
Signature: Mole poblano, Cochinita pibil
BOCA Tacos y Tequila ★ 4.7
BOCA Tacos y Tequila on North 4th Avenue is chef Maria Mazon's modern Mexican room, a Top Chef finalist, with 26 tacos and 40-plus tequilas in Tucson.
Signature: 26 taco varieties, Salsa flight
Charro Steak Del Rey ★ 4.5
Charro Steak Del Rey on East Broadway in Tucson is the El Charro family's downtown steakhouse, with mesquite-grilled steaks and a deep tequila list.
Signature: Mesquite-grilled ribeye, Carne asada
Tito and Pep ★ 4.6
Tito and Pep on East Speedway in midtown Tucson is the chef-driven seasonal kitchen with mesquite-fired vegetables and a tight cocktail program.
Signature: Wood-fired vegetables, Bone-in pork chop
Mi Nidito ★ 4.5
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the same family kitchen since 1952; the President's Platter recalls Bill Clinton's 1999 dinner stop.
Signature: President's Platter, Chile relleno
Cup Cafe ★ 4.4
Cup Cafe inside Hotel Congress on East Congress Street in Tucson is the downtown all-day diner-bistro since 1990, in the historic 1919 hotel lobby.
Signature: Eggs Benedict, Lamb burger
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink ★ 4.5
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink on East Pennington in Tucson runs wood-fired pies, house pasta and an underground cocktail club in a historic mortuary.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House pasta
The Coronet ★ 4.4
The Coronet on West Cushing in Tucson's Barrio Viejo serves Sally Kane's European small plates in the historic Cushing Street building, with weekend brunch.
Signature: Mussels frites, House charcuterie
5 Points Market and Restaurant ★ 4.5
5 Points Market and Restaurant on South Stone in Tucson runs scratch-made brunch, lunch and dinner from a historic brick warehouse since 2014.
Signature: Brunch hash, Farm-egg sandwich
Maynards Market and Kitchen ★ 4.4
Maynards Market and Kitchen on North Toole in Tucson runs a market-plus-bistro inside Tucson's restored 1907 train depot, with seasonal dinners.
Signature: Steak frites, Roasted chicken
La Cocina ★ 4.2
La Cocina on Court Avenue in Tucson runs Southwestern lunch and dinner inside the Old Town Artisans courtyard, with shaded patio and nightly live music.
Signature: Green chile stew, Prickly pear margarita
El Minuto Cafe ★ 4.3
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo has run the Mexican-American menu since 1936, famous for oversized cheese crisps and topopo salads.
Signature: Cheese crisp, Topopo salad
La Indita ★ 4.3
La Indita on North Stone in Tucson serves Maria Garcia's Tarascan menu, a family staple since 1983, blending Mexican and Native American kitchen traditions.
Signature: Indian taco, Chicken mole
El Charro Cafe Ventana ★ 4.3
El Charro Cafe Ventana on East Broadway in Tucson is the eastside outpost of the 1922 downtown original, serving the same carne seca and chimichanga.
Signature: Carne seca, Topopo salad
Feast ★ 4.6
Feast on East Speedway in Tucson runs chef Doug Levy's seasonal new American menu, with a rotating tasting menu and a long-standing wine reputation.
Signature: Crispy duck confit, Rotating tasting menu
Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails ★ 4.5
Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails on South 6th in Tucson is the Janos Wilder downtown room, James Beard Best Chef Southwest 2000, with global small plates.
Signature: Global tapas, Seasonal small plates
El Guero Canelo ★ 4.8
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.
Signature: Sonoran hot dog, Caramelo quesadilla