[meteorite-list] 4th Annual Eating Your Way Around Tucson - 2014

[John Teague]

Hey, List Members!


I have it on good authority that Tucson is fast approaching!  With that in mind, I am once again giving my “Annual Eating Your Way Around Tucson” list, a slight name change from last year.  This list has been put together with over twenty years of attending the shows.  These are my opinions (well, my wife, Cookie, too!) only.  I have no vested interest in any of these establishments, no free food, etc!  I just like good food!  Maybe you will find my/our tastes different from yours but all of these are worth a try!

I’m leaving for Tucson mid-January! This will be my third year to make the 2200 mile (each way!) drive to Tucson.  Cookie is flying out later!  Guess that she is a bit smarter than I!  

I am adding some new locations suggested by list members last year after my initial post.  We did get to try some of them and enjoyed them VERY much.  I hope to add more this year!

I know that some/much of this will be a repeat for many of you.  Sorry!  There are NEW selections near the end!  I hope each of you will find something to tempt you!  We have added a new ‘personal favorite’, Guadalajara Grill below!  Try it if you have the chance!

* Pat's Drive In, 1202 West Niagara Street, 520-624-0891
I should not list this first, but I AM!  I first read about Pat's in Arizona Highways magazine.  It is a tradition in Arizona!  It is on a side street off N. Grande Ave, between Speedway and St. Marys.  It is near the condo that we rent each year.  I had driven within half a block of it for years and did not know it existed!  If you like the old drive in restaurants, this IS the place for you!  If you like greasy fries by the pound, this is for you!  If you like GREAT chili hotdogs, this IS the place for you, please note that they have three degrees of heat for their chili!


We have "favorites" that we think everyone should try at least once.  In no particular order:

NEW!  NEW!  NEW! This is our NEW “favorite” from 2013:
* Guadalajara Grill was suggested by good friend, Dennis Beal Beals (Room 120, Hotel City Center, Marty Zinn’s Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show).  We have learned that if Dennis suggests a restaurant, you BEST try it!  He has never sent us to a bad one, not even a mediocre one!
Guadalajara Grill – West, 1220 E Prince Road-520-323-1022 (also 2nd location: East, 750 N Kolb Road, 520-296-1122.  We went to the one on Prince the very last night we were in Tucson 2013.  Large parking lot that was FULL!  It took us 15 minutes or more to find a parking place … then about 30-45 minutes to get a table … BUT it was more than worth the wait!  HUGE portions of GREAT food at reasonable prices! You WILL enjoy it!

* La Fuente Restaurant, 1749 N. Oracle Rd., 520-623-8659
REALLY good Mexican/Tex-Mex food.  The lunch buffet is very good and very reasonable.  If you're there for dinner, be sure to order the Guacamole made table-side.  It is VERY GOOD!

* Silver Saddle Steak House, 6th Ave. & I-10 (310 E. Benson Highway), 520-622-6253
This place is near downtown and has some of the best steak that I've had in Tucson.  If you're going for dinner, it is best to get there early or be prepared to wait 30 minutes to an hour.  It IS worth the wait!  I do not think that they take reservations.  We ate at Silver Saddle at least twice in 2013 … and probably will top that this year!

* Lil Abner's Steakhouse, 8501 N Silverbell Rd., 520-744-2800
This is a MUST for Tucson show visitors.  I remember going there a lot of years ago when this place was truly "in the middle of nowhere"!  If you go this year, you'll she how that has changed.  It use to be a drive out into the desert!  Any of the show weekends will have tons of show folks there!  The steaks rival Silver Saddle but everything is served with a salad, beans, and bread!  LOVE the atmosphere there!

* Daisy Mae's Steak House, 2735 W. Anklam Rd., 520-792-8888.  This is just down the street from the condo we rent while in Tucson.  Great steaks!

Other recommendations:

Breakfast recommendations:
* Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ  520-327-7577
If you want to take time for a nice, leisurely breakfast, this is THE place!  Food is great, prices are reasonable.  It is in a house converted to a restaurant.  

* Los Betos Mexican Food, 3680 East Grant Road (520) 318-4787 and 2100 West Grant Road (520) 624-7751, plus several other around town.
If you're looking for something that will keep you going through MOST of a day visiting shows without having to stop to eat lunch, try the burritos at any Los Betos!  There are many breakfast burritos available and VERY reasonably priced.  Last year the one on Speedway was closed for remodeling.  I hope it has reopened as it is so convenient to several of the shows.  Look for a Los Betos!

Fun evening choice:
* Chuy's Baja Broiler, 3100 E Speedway Blvd, 520-326-4969  plus several other around town!
Good food, GREAT chip and salsa bar, but if you go, you MUST the pitcher of Margaritas!  Don't order a pitcher just for yourself IF you are driving!  'Nuff said!  See notes about Chuy’s farther down in the list!

* Country Folks Restaurant, 1015 East Benson Highway, 520-622-8844
This is right next door to Marty Zinn's show at the Quality Inn on Benson Hwy.  They have a very reasonable priced buffet for all three meals!  Good food and plenty of it.  We usually try to schedule a couple of days around Country Folks for breakfast or lunch!  Really nice folks!  I must say that sometimes the buffet is not up to par after the "regular" breakfast or lunch times.  Other times it is GREAT!  And you can walk next door to or from the show!

Traditional choices:
El Charro Cafe, Bar Toma! & Gift Shop, 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922
This place has been in business since 1922 in Tucson!  That says it all!  The restaurant is located in the original family home in the El Presidio
Historic District.

El Minuto Cafe, 354 S. Main Ave., 882-4145
This is my wife's favorite for Mexican food!

Mi Nidito Cafe, 1813 S. 4th Ave.; 622-5081
I have not visited this one but it comes HIGHLY recommended by locals.  We tired to get in a couple of times and the wait was between 1 and 2 hours!

I'm sure there are other great places to eat.  We are open for suggestions!  I hope others will offer their suggestions!  (I am including some suggestions from others at the end of this e-mail.  I am certainly going to try some of them this trip!)

Bon appétit!  (Being from Tennessee, I'm not quite sure what that means ... but it sounds good!)

Hope to see you in Tucson! (Look for the bearded guy wearing a Tennesse orange "T" cap, and with a hungry, bewildered look on his face ... and with the Tucson 'stoop'!  If you don't understand that last one, you've not been to Tucson enough!!!)

New suggestions are ALWAYS welcome!


John Teague
Volunteer Gems
Melbourne, FL
(Formerly Knoxville, Tennessee!)
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Suggestions from Jim Baxter:  
Anyone who doesn't want to put up with the hour plus wait at Mi
Nidito should at least order the cheese tostada with guacamole as take
out. About the size of a medium pizza with a thin really flaky crust,
a thin layer of melted cheese and radial 'spokes' of guacamole.
Simple..... and..amazingly good!!
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Suggestions from Paul Head:
Poco and Mom's on Kolb Road just north of 22nd Street. They specialize in Hatch Chile dishes.  1060 S. Kolb Road.   520-325-7044
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Suggestions from Elayne (sorry, I’ve lost your last name!):
Breakfast-Lunch: The Ajo Cafe on Ajo and Country Club by TEP and the sister cafe Bread and Butter on NW corner E. 22nd St. and S. Columbus Picture Mel's diner and Flo is there taking your order at the counter or booth. Home made pie and cinn. rolls!!

Great Italian: Caruso's.... on N. 4th Ave at 6th. Do not miss the spumoni... fabu. Gavi's on Broadway at Pantano out East usually a wait at both.. go early.

Great Sushi: Kampai Sushi... NW corner Swan & Speedway Also Sushi Cho on SW corner Broadway and Campbell/Kino look for Carl's Junior.

Mexican: I agree with El Minudo on Main close the the convention center not the other one. But then I got turned on to Rosa's Mexican Food on SW corner Fort Lowell and N. Campbell set back in the SW corner look for it.. It is worth it! Pick up a dozen tamales at Tucson Tamale company to take back to the hotel... don't eat there too small. And for the very best go to Nogales Mexico.

Indian: Gandi's on Fort Lowell at Stone.. good spicy food and nan wonderful nan

French: Le Rendez-Vous on Fort Lowell at Alvernon real French food.... heaven.
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Suggestions from Michael Mulgrew, So. Cal.:
You forgot the Sky Bar, best pizza in town!
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Suggestions from Paul Swartz:  The pizza at Sky Bar comes from Brooklyn Pizza, next door to the Sky Bar and owned by the same people. Order at BP and they'll deliver to the SB, where you can have a beer with your zah.

A restaurant I like is Mariscos Chihuahua. The original is on Grande just south of Speedway and there are others around town. Seafood only, estilo Mexicano.
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Suggestions from Carl – Meteoritemax:
Chuy's on Speedway  is now Native New Yorker and they sell Pizza and Wings that are just OK IMHO. There is a Chuy's owned by a different person way east side.

Chuy's on Speedway is closed due to immigration violations. But right next door is a wine shop called the Rum Runner that has it's own restaurant inside called "The Dish". It is fine dinning at it's best and many consider it to be Tucson's Finest restaurant. 
see here;
http://www.rumrunnertucson.com/thedish/index.html
Mi Nidito is Tucson's finest Mexican restaurant. Try the "presidential platter". This is actually what President Clinton ordered when visiting Tucson a few years ago. And easily worth the long wait.  But, Rosa's is a close second for Mexican. Too many celebrities to list eat here when in Tucson. Check out the pictures on the walls. 
On the East side at Broadway at Wilmot the best breakfast is at Brawley's. Low Low price for amazing food. 
My 2 cents. And I'm lucky enough to live here in Tucson. 
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Suggestions from AL Mitterling:
Also add In and Out Burger. 257. 3711 BROADWAY BLVD.
TUCSON, AZ 85716, 1978 E. AJO WAY TUCSON, AZ 85713.
Mag Pie Pizza and Old Town Pizza are also good pizza places.