Chef Travis Peters showcases his distinct Tucson flair with Southern specialties and upbeat Mardi Gras energy at the Parish. Although classics such as gumbo and hush puppies are easy picks, regulars don’t hesitate to try Peters’s experimental weekly specials. Also, check out their evolving line of hot sauces and infused spirits as well.

Owner Salvador Gastelum hails from Ciudad Obregón, which shows on the menu’s regional specialties. The Papancha, popular in Obregón, is a baked potato topped with mesquite-grilled carne asada, mushrooms, and melted cheese. The Lorenza is a similar to a tostada, but the tortilla is grilled until crunchy and topped with meat and shredded cabbage.

This Chinese noodle shop offers a variety of dishes with rice noodles and freshly made wheat noodles in a modern fast-casual environment. The small dishes are also key to the full experience; don’t miss out on the salt and pepper wings, spicy chaoshou (folded) dumplings, and cooling garlic cucumber.

A former swap-meet stand, chef Juan Almanza signed the lease to open his restaurant mere weeks before the pandemic. Regardless, the spot is now thriving with regulars enjoying slow-grilled costillas and crunchy tacos of tender tripas. The trendy quesabirrias have also become a popular must-have.

Zemam’s began as a five-seat restaurant almost 30 years ago. While the original Broadway location is temporarily closed, the secondary Speedway location still offers the icon’s Ethiopian cuisine with dishes such as beef simmered in spicy berbere sauce and spiced cauliflower roasted with peppers and garbanzo flour.

Barista del Barrio offers a simple but well-executed breakfast menu with marvelously friendly service. Rather than serving one massive burrito, the restaurant serves two smaller, grilled breakfast burritos in an order. The lattes feature distinctly Mexican flavors such as horchata and mazapan (peanut candy).

Use a map to locate this treasure tucked away in a residential neighborhood. The pillowy flour tortillas make every burro memorable, whether stuffed with luscious red chile beef or machaca (dried meat) and eggs. Take a pack of warm tortillas to go and try not to eat them all in the car.

A 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist and previous contestant on Top Chef, Maria Mazon has earned an honorary title as Tucson’s salsa queen. Diners receive a variety of creative salsas that rotate daily, which can include unconventional ingredients such as raspberries and bananas. Just a few doors down, Mazon also operates Sonas tortillas, a small market and tortilleria.

Savor the Neapolitan-style pizza with a side of vegetables kissed with char from the wood-fired oven at Anello. Pizzeria Bianco alumnus Scott Girod showcases seasonal, local ingredients beautifully in a minimalist fashion, matching the minimalist interior. The building doesn’t have any sign or window decal, but keep an eye out for the red bar of light above the window.

A downtown staple, Reilly serves Italian favorites in a laid-back yet elegant environment suitable for both business lunches and romantic dates. Share some of the fresh pasta and Brussels sprouts with pecan brittle crumbs. Downtown parking is easily available in the garage across the street.

Although the Flores family is best known for chimichangas at their iconic El Charro Cafe, their downtown steak restaurant steps it up with premium steaks and seafood. The restaurant’s signature lobster tamalada features a split lobster stuffed with masa and green and red salsas.

The historic space includes a quaint patio with regularly scheduled live music, a cozy neighborhood café, and a craft cocktail bar. The menu showcases a wide, yet cohesive blend of international influences. Start with a Barrio Bread baguette and high-end tinned seafood, then move onto the steelhead trout with marinated olives, walnuts, herbs, and the rice dish tahdig.

This neighborhood eatery started as a brunch hot spot, but expanded with dinner hours and a curated natural wine selection. Dishes such as the smoked salmon Benedict gracefully juggle elements of comfort food with “conscious eating,” using stellar produce from local farms. The dessert cases display tantalizing options such as cookies with toffee, chocolate chips, sea salt, and brown butter.

One of Tucson’s lesser-known treasures, PY Steakhouse is located at the southwestern edge of town at Casino Del Sol. While steak is in the name, the restaurant truly stands out with its sophisticated use of seasonal local ingredients with components such as their own beef garum and Whiskey Del Bac barrel-aged white balsamic.