- Instagram user @getsdead
- Love you forever, Pico de Gallo
As I mentioned in this week’s Editor’s Note, we’re putting together an issue themed around Tucson’s 100 Essential Dishes for March, but since we don’t want to miss anything, we could use your input.
What dishes – individual items on menus of fine dining establishment to food trucks – make Tucson’s food culture what it is? Which entrees, appetizers, desserts, whatever should everyone try at least once? I personally take everyone who visits town to Pico de Gallo for their signature spiced, lime-soaked fruit in a cup. Certainly, the hive-mind of the Tucson Weekly readership can come up with some items that have to be on our list. Comment below and we’ll add your picks to the list of dishes under consideration for the March 28 issue. Thanks!
This article appears in Feb 21-27, 2013.
Raspados.
From anywhere in particular, TooDarnHotN AZ (a name that seems wistful, on a weirdly snowy day like today)?
The Pueblo at Mother Hubbard’s. Bliss in the form of a green chili waffle.
Cincinnati chili.
The kale salad at Feast is amazing!
The tomato soup at Choice Greens is amazing.
Sonoran hot dogs at almost any stand–but the original El Guero Canelo location is always nice…The new bulgogi torta at Umi Star on N. Campbell is a fun Mexi-Korean dish…Cheese Crisp with green chili at El Charro…And MaFooCo at a food truck round-up is a winner–their kimchi quesadillas are as good as what you might get at a taco truck in L.A.
Machaca and eggs smothered with green chile sauce and cheese at poco & moms
The meatless Mongolian chicken at Guilin Chinese Restaurant tastes like real chicken– except better!!
I love pho’s grilled pork spring rolls are to die for.
Pat’s Chili Dogs. Shrimp cocktail at any Marisco’s. Sammy dog at El Guerro Canello (the southside location). I wholeheartedly agree with the Pico de Gallo signature fruit cup; as for raspados…the Raspados place right next door to Pico de Gallo. Pico de Gallo’s fish or shrimp tacos are pretty darn tasty as well.
The skirt steak at Little Mexico Cardnal and Valencia.
The Pho at Com Tam Thuan Kieu is just fantastic and you can shop at Lee Lee’s as well..!!!
The Flying Saucer at Bobo’s.
Pat’s Chili Dogs
Red Chili Chimi at Molina’s midway
Steak and egg burrito at Chaco’s
The scallops at The Dish
the Macadamia crusted Hawaiian fish at Kingfisher
Al Pastor Caramelo at BK’s
The Sonoran Dog at BK’s
Puerco Verde tacos at Boca
Cheesesteak at Frankie’s
the Panang Neau at Char
the Short Ribs at DOWNTOWN
the “Italian” pizza at Dry River
Just to name a few… Man I am hungry now
Frankies Cheesesteak wit wiz and onions, Sausage deli the Omar, Teds country store Lobster Bisque, Nicos Pollo Asado burrito, Papoules Gyro, Tridents Chicken Strips and Clam Chowder, No anchovies potato pizza, Ghinis calamari, Rios Burger, yeah…. Imma stop now
Tater Todd’s and Spicy Lobster Roll at @UmiStarAZ along with their rad cocktails like Lo Pan cocktail for $4: coconut and green tea-infused rum w/ fresh lime. Best dessert: fresh local-made green tea ice cream. It’s scrumptous! Umistar.com 2502 N. Campbell, 1 blk n. of Grant.
Carne Seca Plate at Casa Molina (Campbell Ave) paired with one (or two…three with cab) of their house margaritas.
Anything at Beyond Bread!
G-burro at El Charro
Braveheart at the Cup Cafe
Roberts’ Restaurant’s cinnamon rolls. I have personally flown home with 2 dozen in carry on.
Who “dislikes” these fun comments? You are beyond odd and poopy panted!
Duck crepes at The Abbey.
My choices have to be: not in order…
the baked eggs from cup cafe,
pork belly and squid bulgogi from kimchi time,
Iced mocha from Bentleys
A room temp slice from empire pizza
Chile verde con queso burrito from el Torero
Pho ga from Miss Saigon
Blueberry pancake from bobos
Burger from Downtown Kitchen
Grilled Cheese from Feast 🙂
Mixed berry pie from b-line
Ahh man @eulaliane you realize El Terrero closed? 🙁
The best after hours eating on the “fly” place…Robdogs on 4th Ave..Right across the street from O’Malley’s & Maloneys. They’re open until 3:00AM andt they have by far the
best Sonoran Dogs in town, along with 15 other choice hotdogs and they have vegan choices too!
The Molcajete and table made salsa at Guadalajara grill!
The HOT POT from CHINA PASTA HOUSE!! hot spicy broth, mushrooms, tofu, sea vegetables, pungent unique delicious and LOCAL!!
Much to my surprise and delight we have not had the standard douche answer such as “The Double Double at In n Out” and the like.
bravo commentors
original grinder (warmed up) – Eegee’s
green corn tamales – Little Cafe Poca Cosa
red menudo – Mi Nidito
hurricane pizza – Thunder Canyon Brewery
raspados with ice cream – Oasis Fruit Cones
fry bread – near San Xavier del Bach
YYEEAAAHH TUCSON FOOD
Huevos Entamalados @ Little Cafe Poca Cosa (2 eggs on a green corn tamale!)
So we’re all clear, El Torero is open for business.
Now then, quit sniping at one another, folks. It’s getting obnoxious.
Hey! I requested a personal e-mail conversation, of which, he denied. Therefore, he should not have had anything else to say.
LOVE, LOVE all of the Southwestern influenced food but I have to throw some Japanese-fusion sushi in the mix. Can’t go wrong with RA Sushi’s (at La Encantada) Viva Las Vegas Roll. I try to resist and order something else, but every time I give in!
Ra Sushi is a chain, NOT Tucson food.
Hey @Burnie Mak – who appointed you moderator of the comments? I’m not really sure what your snotty comments accomplish. RA Sushi actually originated in Arizona, so regardless of the fact they have multiple locations, they are still home grown. The article simply requested items you must eat while in Tucson. Everyone is entitled to their own favorites and that is my choice.
tater todds at umi star!
Breakfast for Dinner at the Abbey
@hharmon – I self nominated. Your key phrase is “RA Sushi actually originated in Arizona”, still not Tucson. Why would you need to eat a roll here that you can have in Chicago, San Antonio and wherever else? What if you are from those places, and in Tucson for the first time? You still HAVE to have it while here? Makes no sense. But good try.
The mesquite pancakes and prickly pear torte at Coyote Pause Cafe (on Kinney Road), also try the neplis (prickly pear) meatloaf! Yummy!
The split peas at Zemam’s. I don’t understand how they make split peas taste so ridiculously good.
Polle Bolognese at Gusto’s.
Almost anything at Poco and Mom’s.
Pad Thai Shrimp at Pei Wei.
Me Pho Soup at Ha Long Bay.
Shrimp frittata @ Gavi’s; A medium Ghanduia @ Frost; Pot Roast @ The Abbey; Lobster Spinach Queso @ Firebird’s, Lobster Potabello @ Guadelajara Fiesta Grill; Organic popcorn @ The Loft; kids size flavor of the month @ Eegee’s; The Almost Ruebin, Sundown and a slice of Carrot Cake @ Baggin’s!