Best Dulceria
La Estrella Bakery
Multiple locations
laestrellabakeryincaz.com
Those with a sweet tooth will not want to skip out on this 40-year-old bakery. While more of a panaderia than a full dulceria, Estrella Bakery offers an array of Mexican candies and sweets like palanquetas, paletas and homemade pan dulce and rosca de reyes, alongside its celebrated baked goods.
Reader Recommended
Beyond Bread
Multiple locations
beyondbread.com
Dolce Pastello
120 South Avenida del Convento
520-207-6765
dolcepastello.com
Best Place to Buy a Piñata
Piñata factory
2525 N. Stone Avenue
520-495-0920
Downtown’s Piñata factory has been a staple of Tucson parties and celebrations since its opening in 2009. After operating for 17 years out of its storefront, it recently transitioned to a home-based, phone-and-online order business, while still offering its handmade, meticulously crafted Piñatas in a variety of colors, themes and shapes.
Reader Recommended
Food City
Multiple locations
mifoodcity.com
El Super
3372 S. 6th Avenue
520-300-7610
elsupermarkets.com
Best Birria
Rollies Mexican Patio
4573 S. 12th Avenue
520-300-6289
rolliestucson.com
267 S Avenida del Convento #4
520-372-2799
rolliestucson.com
2026 marks six years straight that Rollies Mexican Patio has taken home “Best Birria,” and it’s no coincidence. Visitors to Rollies’ two locations can’t get enough of its tender beef chuck, braised for 13 to 16 hours daily and paired with its rich, delicious consomé. The restaurant offers birria in the form of tacos, chimis, pizza and even ramen.
Reader Recommended
El Taco Rustico
2281 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705
520-623-3478
1830 S. Park Avenue, 520-367-4607
tacorustico.com
Seis Kitchen
6530 E. Tanque Verde Road
520-849-5570
130 South Avenida del Convento #100
520-622-2002
seiskitchen.com
Best Panaderia
La Estrella Bakery
Multiple locations
laestrellabakeryincaz.com
Work starts early in the morning for the La Estrella Bakery team, which begins its daily baking at 3 a.m. The reason: All items are baked from raw ingredients with no premade components. Practicing time-honored Mexican traditions, La Estrella Bakery is a community gathering place known for its famous pan dulce (traditional sweet bread), bread, fresh tortillas and donuts, which were once rated the best in Arizona.
Reader Recommended
Barrio Bread
18 S. Eastbourne Avenue
520-327-1292
barriobread.com
El Triunfo
6348 S. Nogales Highway
520-573-1884
eltriunfobakery.shop
best michelada
The Neighborhood Bar
3940 E. 29th Street
520-207-4004
theneighborhoodbar.com
61 E. Congress Street
520-849-6539
theneighborhoodbar.com
Between Neighborhood Bar’s two Tucson locations, one thing remains clear: The micheladas are out of this world. Taking home the crown in the 2016 Modelo Especial Michelada Challenge, the Neighborhood crew are masters of this Mexican beer cocktail, crafted with a clamato and house-fermented celery base, fresh lime juice and a tajin rim.
Reader Recommended
BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs
2680 N. 1st Avenue, 520-207-2245
5118 S. 12th Avenue, 520-295-0105
bktacos.com
Che’s Lounge
350 N 4th Avenue
520-623-2088, cheslounge.com
Best Carnicería
Los Amigos Meat Market
3929 S 12th Avenue
520-889-2969
For over 45 years, this family-owned, -operated and -oriented butcher shop has provided its custom cut meats to the Southside community. Customers appreciate its tidy atmosphere, bilingual staff and competitively priced signature meats like its carne asada and house-made chorizo. While in the carnicería make sure to pick up some salsa, dried chiles and corn tortillas.
Reader Recommended
Rancheros Carnicería
3301 E. Grant Road, 520-318-2459
7627 E Speedway Boulevard, 520-200-3511
rancheroscarniceria.company.site
El Herradero
Multiple Locations
carniceriaelherradero.com
Best Guacamole
Guadalajara Grill
Multiple Locations
guadalajaraoriginalgrill.com
Guadalajara Grill’s guacamole is chunky and about as bright green as guac can get, indicating its unparalleled freshness and quality. The Mexican restaurant makes a fresh batch twice a day, and for an extra dollar, a member of Guadalajara Grill’s kitchen staff will prepare the guacamole right at the tableside, allowing the diner to customize its flavor profile and heat levels.
Reader Recommended
El Charro
Multiple locations
elcharrocafe.com
Seis Kitchen
Multiple locations
seiskitchen.com
Best Salsa
Guadalajara Grill
Multiple Locations
guadalajaraoriginalgrill.com
Just like its guacamole, Guadalajara Grill’s famous salsa is prepared tableside on a portable station. This way, diners can adjust the spiciness, smokiness, and chunkiness of the salsa, which is made with core ingredients like tomatillos, red tomatoes, grilled jalapeños or serranos, ground chile de árbol, fresh garlic, diced onions, and cilantro.
Reader Recommended
BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon
533 N. 4th Avenue
520-777-8134
bocatacos.com
El Charro
Multiple Locations
elcharrocafe.com
Best Tamales
El Charro
Multiple Locations
elcharrocafe.com
Some recipes simply stand the test of time. El Charro has been preparing its traditional Sonoran-style tamales using the same historic family recipes it developed in 1922, when the restaurant first opened. With four varieties available for dine-in, pick-up and national shipping, El Charro’s green corn tamales are a Tucson cultural classic enjoyed around the country.
Reader Recommended
El Torero
231 E. 26th Street
520-622-9534
eltorerotucson.com
Tumerico
2526 E. 6th Street
520-240-6947
tumerico.com
Best Tortillas
Alejandro’s Tortilla Factory
5330 S. 12th Avenue
520-889-2279
alejandrostortillafactory.com
Operating out of an 11,000-square-foot facility with nearly 100 employees, Alejandro’s Tortilla Factory is responsible for providing Arizona with millions of corn and flour tortillas each year. Despite the high volume, the quality of the tortillas is undeniable. Alejandro’s supplies supermarkets and restaurants around the state, but anyone can pick up its tortillas, bread, chips and more at the South Tucson factory.
Reader Recommended
La Estrella Bakery
Multiple locations
laestrellabakeryincaz.com
Anita Street Market
849 N. Anita Avenue
520-335-3731
anitasstreetmarket.com
Best Burrito
Tanias 33
614 N. Grande Avenue
520-622-0685
ordertaniasongrande.com
Located in the heart of Barrio Hollywood, Tanias 33 is a must-try for its burritos, due to its housemade tortillas, massive portion sizes and enormous range of choices. The restaurant’s name actually references its 33 unique breakfast and lunch burrito options. It is also a great choice for dietary-diverse diners, offering 19 vegetarian and vegan options.
Reader Recommended
Seis Kitchen
Multiple locations
seiskitchen.com
Barista del Barrio
1002 N Grande Avenue
520-244-5285
Baristadelbarrio.square.site
Best Raspados
Raspados El Paraiso
Multiple Locations
raspadostucson.com
In Tucson, a cold treat is often a necessity. Raspados el Paraiso answers the call with its vast selection of Raspados options. The shop offers 11 flavors of the Mexican shaved ice, and a slew of toppings including fresh fruit, pecans and chamoy. Visitors can also order smoothies, ice cream and obispos, which is a mixture of ice cream and raspado.
Reader Recommended
Sonoran Delights
921 W. Congress Street
520-623-3020, sonorandelights.com
Funland Raspados & Munchies
2100 W Grant Road #110
520-849-5533
funlandraspados.menufy.com
Best Torta
Seis Kitchen
Multiple locations
seiskitchen.com
Though Seis Kitchen’s menu overhaul removed Tortas from its menu earlier this year, its traditional Mexican sandwiches were among Tucson’s favorites. The restaurant is now focusing on its other scratch-made signature dishes from six regions of Mexico, like its fan-favorite Mexico City-style quesadilla, cochinita pibil tacos and refreshing aguas frescas.
Reader Recommended
Tacos Apson
3501 S. 12th Avenue
520-670-1248, tacosapson.com
Rollies Mexican Patio
4573 S. 12th Avenue, 520-300-6289
267 S Avenida del Convento #4
520-372-2799, rolliestucson.com
Best Margarita
Hacienda Del Sol
5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol Road
520-299-1501, Haciendadelsol.com
Hacienda Del Sol’s menu of craft cocktails features several excellent margarita options. The most popular, its Margarita Verde, brings together silver tequila, jalapeno, cucumber, cilantro, agave syrup, housemade sours and a jalapeno sugar rim. Diners return to Hacienda Del Sol for the cocktail’s fresh, vibrant and spicy flavor profile.
Reader Recommended
El Charro
Multiple Locations
elcharrocafe.com
Guadalajara Grill
Multiple Locations
guadalajaraoriginalgrill.com
Best Elote
BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon
533 N. 4th Avenue
520-777-8134, bocatacos.com
Maria Mazon is a master of Modern Mexican, and her elote is no exception. The traditional grilled Mexican corn on the cob with crema, cotija cheese and house seasoning is loaded with flavors that visitors describe as smoky and creamy, and is a delicious accompaniment to BOCA’s gourmet tacos and rotating salsa flights.
Reader Recommended
Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar
6444 N Oracle Road, Tucson
520-495-5353, redbirdrestaurants.com
Zio Peppe
6502 E Tanque Verde Road
520-888-4242, ziopeppeaz.com
Best Empanadas
La Estrella
Multiple locations
laestrellabakeryincaz.com
La Estrella’s empanadas come filled with sweet options like pumpkin, pineapple, apple, cherry and mango. The dough is flaky and baked fresh daily. “Apple and cherry are my go-to flavors,” one customer said.
Reader Recommended
Anita Street Market
849 N. Anita Avenue
520-335-3731, anitastmarket.com
Bombole
100 N. Stone Avenue
520-777-5011, eatbombole.com
Best Tacos
BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon
533 N. Fourth Avenue
520-777-8134, bocatacos.com
BOCA offers tacos with fillings like jerk chicken, carnitas, al pastor, chorizo con papas, mole de pollo and seafood like fish, camaron and salmon, using fresh tortillas and salsas. The menu changes with seasonal flavors but maintains core favorites. Chef Maria Mazon’s creative approach keeps the offerings exciting.
Reader Recommended
Tacos Apson
3501 S. 12th Avenue
520-670-1248, tacosaspon.com
Rollies Mexican Patio
4573 S. 12th Avenue
520-300-6289, rolliestucson.com
Best Menudo
El Minuto
354 S. Main Avenue
520-882-4145, elminutotucson.com
El Minuto serves menudo, a traditional soup made with corn kernels and beef paired with a flour tortilla or bread. Customers can choose between white or red menudo depending on their spice preference. It’s one of the go-to spots to start the day with this classic dish.
Reader Recommended
Tania’s 33
614 N. Grande Avenue
520-622-0685, tanias33grande.com
Mosaic Cafe
2456 N. Silver Mosaic Drive
520-624-4512, teresasmosaic.com
