When it comes to where folks in the Southwest want to eat, Tucson’s James Beard-nominated vegan/vegetarian Mexican restaurant Tumerico is the most popular choice.
That according to the just-released Yelp list “Top 100 Places to Eat in the Southwest 2023.”
Tumerico, with 975 diner reviews and an average Yelp rating of five stars, topped the list. No. 2 Garlic Yuzu in Las Vegas got five stars and less than half the reviews (440).
The list covered restaurants of all genres, from Mexican food and burgers to upscale dining and pizza, in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The list ranked restaurants based on the total number of reviews and Yelp ratings among other factors including that restaurants had a passing health department score as of Jan. 31, according to Yelp’s listing methodology.
This is the second time this year that Tumerico and its chef-owner Wendy Garcia has landed on Yelp’s best of 2023 lists. In January, the restaurant, which Garcia opened in 2014 at 2526 E. Sixth St., finished No. 8 on Yelp’s “Top 100 US Restaurants 2023.”
Tucson’s plant-based Urban Fresh at 73 E. Pennington St. downtown finished No. 18 on the Southwest list while the west-side family-owned Barista Del Barrio at 1002 N. Grande Ave. ranked No. 28.
Benson’s Mi Casa Restaurant came in at 68 on the list.
All told, Arizona had 32 restaurants on the list including four from northern Arizona and 24 from the Phoenix area. Five of the top 10 restaurants were from Arizona including Glendale’s Mediterranean vegan restaurant Casa de Falafel, which came in third; and Sedona’s healthy Korean restaurant Momo’s Kitchen, which came in 10th.
In addition to Tumerico on Sixth, Garcia has the neighborhood café Tumi on Fourth, 402 E. Fourth St., and La Chaiteria at 1002 W. Congress St. in Menlo Park.
New restaurants and bars that have opened in the Tucson area in 2023
Jewel Cafe
UpdatedThe Jewel Cafe & Juice Bar officially opened Jan. 30 serving up a farm-to-table concept with a menu consisting of omelets, pastries, sandwiches, burritos and pressed juices.
Where: 431 N. Fourth Ave.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday
Website: The Jewel Cafe on Facebook
Miss Dessert
UpdatedMiss Dessert is a small chain from Phoenix that has made its debut in Tucson. Find Hong Kong-style desserts, like snow with sticky rice, and lots of drinks.
Where: 1800 E Fort Lowell Rd #140
Website: Miss Dessert
Pasta La Vista
UpdatedPasta La Vista advertises itself as to-go, but they do have a dining room. Their menu rotates around pasta, pizza and subs — all of which are customizable.
Where: 2425 N. Tucson Blvd
Website: Pasta La Vista
Just Churros
UpdatedJust Churros makes Spanish-style churros using beloved Mexican toppings like cinnamon sugar, chocolate and cajeta.
Where: 4280 N. Oracle Road
Website: Just Churros
Agave House
UpdatedAgave House is a sit-down Mexican restaurant with "a modern flair.”
Where: 943 E. University Blvd
Website: Agave House
Better Bevs
UpdatedBetter Bevs combines techniques of boba tea shops with Mexican flavors and aguas frescas, as seen in their chamoy mango shave ice and cucumber lemonade with spicy chile popping boba.
Where: 210 N. Fourth Ave.
Website: Instagram
Sumaj
UpdatedSumaj is a mother-daughter-run food truck that serves up Bolivian street food.
Where: 403 N. Sixth Ave.
Website: Sumaj
Sumaj is a new food truck slinging Bolivian street food near downtown Tucson. It's the only place that makes Bolivian food in Tucson, and they make it all from scratch.
Chick-in Waffle
UpdatedChick-in Waffle is the first chicken and waffles restaurant in Tucson since May’s Counter Chicken & Waffles on East Speedway closed in 2018. Several Tucson restaurants, including The Drunken Chicken on North Fourth Ave., serve chicken and waffles, but none of them focuses on it exclusively.
Where: 5524 E. Grant Road
Phone: 816-800-4041
Website: Chick-in Waffle
For Star subscribers: A Kansas City, Missouri, restaurant has opened its first location outside its homebase in Tucson, with two locations coming soon to Phoenix.
Brillé Mead Company
UpdatedMead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and in Ethiopia, a version of mead called te’j is a familiar household drink, consumed out of long-necked vessels called bereles. Brillé Mead Company's David Woods is bringing te’j to Tucson.
Where: 3895 N Oracle Rd
Phone: (520) 207-2312
Website: Brillé Mead Company
Brillé Mead Company is a new place to find mead in Tucson. The mead is inspired by Ethiopian te'j, from owner David Woods' home country.
Doughbird
UpdatedRotisserie chicken and pizza is the premise of Sam Fox's six-year-old concept Doughbird, which opened its first Tucson location on May 31.
Where: 2960 N. Campbell Ave.
Website: Doughbird
For Star subscribers: Doughbird, a rotisserie chicken and pizza restaurant, is opening next door to another new Fox eatery, Flower Child.
Mr. Patron
UpdatedWhile there are lots of Mexican sushi food trucks in Tucson, Mr. Patron is the first sit-down restaurant slinging the deep-fried rolls. It even has a patio.
Where: 5754 E. 22nd St.
Phone: (520) 372 2346
Website: Mr. Patron
11 new restaurants have recently opened in Tucson. Find a second location of Indian Twist, a new pupuseria in a food truck park and a Japanese-style sandwich spot at American Eat Co.
Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ
UpdatedThis small chain, started in Myton, Utah, has one restaurant in Casa Grande and opened its third location in Tucson on April 3. They offer steak cooked on a hot stone right at your table along with other steakhouse classics.
Where: 5475 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Phone: (520) 702-2227
Website: Hideout Steakhouse
For Star subscribers: The Hideout Steakhouse and BBQ will open next year on Tucson's south side, creating about 50 new jobs.
Gyro Shack
UpdatedIdaho-based Gyro Shack, serves up Greek staples in a "fast-causal" setting.
Where: 5775 E. Broadway Blvd
Phone: (208) 853-5840
Website: Gyro Shack
The new Greek-inspired joint will host its soft opening on April 14 across from Park Place Mall.
The Backyard Food Truck Park
UpdatedThe Backyard has a rotating roster of 20 trucks, though a core few will be posted up 20 days of each month and 7-8 are featured at a time. The park is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 890 W. Grant Road
Phone: (520) 668-0074
Website: The Backyard
The Backyard, located on Grant Road, is Tucson's newest food truck hub. With a roster of 7-8 food trucks at a time, you'll find Mexican sushi to Persian-inspired coffee.
Zyka Twist
UpdatedWhere: 621 N 4th Ave
Phone: (602) 544-6766
Website: Zyka Twist
Tucson's Indian Twist just opened a second location, this time on 4th Ave. Zyka Twist serves a curated selection of items you love from Indian Twist's midtown location.
Flower Child
UpdatedFlower Child features a menu of salads and bowls, many of them vegetarian and vegan.
Where: 2960 N Campbell Ave. #110
Phone: (520) 276-4550
Website: Flower Child
Kava Den
UpdatedKava Den is a new extension of the Kava Bar, which offers Kava drinks and products.
Where: 67 E. Pennington St.
Phone: 520-323-1832
Website: Kava Den
Uptown Burger
UpdatedUptown Burger is a counter-service, fast-food restaurant that serves a half-dozen eclectic burgers, salads, fries and gelato.
Where: 6370 N. Campbell Ave. suite 160
Phone: (520) 638-6182
Website: Uptown Burger
For Star subscribers: The scion of Tucson's famous Italian restaurant family has dove into his passion for burgers.
Yellow Brick Coffee
UpdatedYellow Brick Coffee is at a new location offering hand- and batch-brewed coffees, espresso-based beverages and pastries made in-house.
Where: 800 N. Country Club Road
Phone: (520) 226-4068
Website: Yellow Brick Coffee
For Star subscribers: A Tucson-based coffee roaster is opening its flagship location at the iconic Benedictine Monastery in midtown.
Comida Park
UpdatedA new food truck park opened in February at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet.
Where: 4100 S. Palo Verde Road
Phone: (866) 440-2810
Website: Comida Park
Blue Front
UpdatedBlue Front, home to American comfort foods, opened in January.
Where: 110 E. Congress St.
Phone: (520) 849-7964
Website: Blue Front
Dave’s Hot Chicken
UpdatedWhere: 5615 E. Broadway Blvd.
Phone: (520) 613-2420
Website: Dave’s Hot Chicken
Portillo's
UpdatedThis popular chain that specializes in Chicago-style hot dogs opened in February where Claim Jumper once stood at the El Con Center.
Where: 3761 E Broadway Blvd
Phone: 520-246-2300
Website: Portillo's
Main Event
UpdatedMain Event is a family-friendly bowling, arcade and entertainment venue that opened its first Tucson location in March.
Where: 4700 S Landing Way
Phone: (520) 503-3301
Website: Main Event