Tucson's restaurant scene continues to grow, welcoming more than 50 local eateries in 2022.
We happily embraced Argentine empanadas, Cuban food, dim sum, soft-serve gelato, basement bars and a food truck park. What will 2023 bring?
Here are 53 restaurants, bars, pop-ups and food trucks that opened this year, but let us know if we missed any!
2 Hermanos Taqueria
Sports bar with big TVs and drink specials on the east side, featuring Mexican favorites like margaritas and tacos dorados.
Location: 8270 S. Houghton Road
For more information, click here.
Ajuua
Sinaloan seafood restaurant in midtown serves octopus and a regional take on barbacoa.
Location: 2310 N. Country Club Road
For more information, read our story or click here.
Alejandro Serious Mexican Food
Find your favorite Mexican dishes at this sit-down restaurant in Marana.
Location: 7850 N. Silverbell Road
For more information, click here.
Barbata is a European-style bar that serves a menu of 10 small plates with a curated selection of cocktails, wine and beers.
Barbata
Basement bar attached to buzzy fine-dining restaurant Bata, of the Reilly Craft Pizza empire.
Location: 35 E. Toole Ave.
For more information, click here.
Bata
Fine-dining restaurant themed around the Japanese use of open flame, listed as one of Bon Appétit's best new restaurants of 2022.
Location: 35 E. Toole Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
BoMo
Rita Ranch boba tea shop sells novelties like mochi doughnuts.
Location: 9040 E. Valencia Road
For more information, click here.
Find Bun Dock at 3225 N. Swan Road.
Bun Dock
Casual Vietnamese restaurant makes fresh vermicelli noodle bowls and limeade.
Location: 3225 N. Swan Road
For more information, click here.
Ciao Down Pizza Studio
Pizza truck turned studio in the Metal Arts Village makes specialty pies like the Snakebite, with jalapeños and raspberry chipotle jam.
Location: 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
For more information, click here.
Che Cafe Empanadas Argentinas
Casual but elegant spot on the south side to get Argentine-style empanadas: baked, with a thin wheat crust.
Location: 1998 E. Irvington Road
For more information, read our story or click here.
The Chicharron de Pargo, red snapper filet with vegetables and salsas, for the new restaurant Cruda, 31 N. Scott Ave., Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 10, 2022.
Cruda
Mariscos and oyster bar downtown that’s part of The Neighborhood and La Chingada family.
Location: 31 N. Scott Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Desi Snacks and Sweets
Desi Mall’s attached counter-service restaurant has a short menu of entrees, and a wide selection of hard-to-find appetizers and confections.
Location: 4662 E. Speedway
For more information, read our story or click here.
Ezbachi
This restaurant started as a hibachi food truck. Now it’s a bar and grill that serves Japanese-style izakaya grill items without the pageantry.
Location: 63 E. Congress St.
For more information, click here.
Fatboy Sandos
Buzzy food truck serves Japanese-style sandwiches with some Mexican fusion sides.
Location: For up-to-date info, track their website.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Go Dim Sum offers traditional Chinese small bites in a fast-casual setting. Pictured clockwise from top left: sesame balls with red bean paste, pork and shrimp siu mai, Portuguese egg tarts and pork soup dumplings.
Go Dim Sum
Counter-service dim sum spot run by a co-owner of the cult classic next door, Noodleholics.
Location: 3504 E. Grant Road
For more information, read our story or click here.
Good Pierogi
Innovative pierogi from a stylish vendor fresh out of LA.
Location: For up-to-date info, track their website.
For more information, click here.
Hello Bicycle + Cafe
Seattle-inspired spot near The Loop, slinging espresso drinks and Houlden’s Rise Above pastries, attached to a bike repair outfit.
Location: 3702 E. Hardy Dr.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Hillhouse Coffee
Cold-roasted coffee kiosk located near Sabino Canyon.
Location: 8991 E. Tanque Verde Road
For more information, click here.
Holy Focaccia
Find homemade focaccia at Rachael Colasanto's home bakery.
Location: Address will be disclosed upon confirming your order.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Houlden’s Rise Above
Iconic vegan bakery’s brick and mortar sells fresh pastries and cakes that can’t be found at any other locations.
Location: 5029 E. Fifth St.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Consomme, a Philadelphia dog, two quesabirra tacos and garnish from La Yaquesita.
La Yaquesita
Brick-and-mortar location of a beloved quesabirria truck from the far southwest side.
Location: 500 N. Fourth Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Licks Catalina
This small-batch ice cream shop has quickly become a popular destination in Catalina.
Location: 16130 N. Oracle Road
For more information, click here.
Louie’s Cantina
Second location of Louie’s Pub, this time reflecting Louie’s Mexican heritage.
Location: 8060 E. 22nd St.
For more information, click here.
Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar
Midtown Cuban restaurant serves unique appetizers and a great mojito.
Location: 1929 E. Grant Road
For more information, read our story or click here.
Find the “chicken” avocado salad at Midtown Vegan Deli and Market.
Midtown Vegan Deli and Market
One-stop shop for dedicated vegan eating, specializing in dupes of non-vegan deli classics.
Location: 5071 E. Fifth St.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Muncheez
Find comfort classics from hamburgers to quesabirria at this pop-up vendor.
Location: For up-to-date info, check their Instagram.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Mt. Lemmon Coffee Bean
Summerhaven coffee shop offers specialty drinks and a few baked goods.
Location: 12903 N. Sabino Canyon Park
For more information, click here.
Nattha’s Bann Thai Asian
Nattha is the Thai-born and -trained owner of this restaurant that also serves some Chinese specialties.
Location: 6970 E. 22nd St.
For more information, click here.
Noodies is the new sister restaurant to downtown's Ceres. If Ceres is inspired by old-world Italy, Noodies is the Italian-American "wild child" follow-up.
Noodies
Popular University of Arizona-area pasta shop that also sells some Italian sandwiches and my editor’s favorite: soft-serve gelato.
Location: 1730 E. Speedway
For more information, read our story or click here.
Oh My Chicken
The owners of Oh My Chicken brought fried chicken recipes and ingredients from Korea to Park Place Mall.
Location: 5870 E. Broadway
For more information, read our story or click here.
On The Rocks
Family-owned bar and grill on the east side serves a late-nite, classic menu.
Location: 7930 E. Speedway
For more information, click here.
Penelope Wood Fired Pizza
Pizza food truck turned brick and mortar inside Cartel Roasting Co.'s downtown location.
Location: 210 E. Broadway
For more information, read our story or click here.
Pocha’s Grill
Midtown grill serves Michoacan-style Mexican food.
Location: 5224 E. Pima St.
For more information, click here.
A pedestrian walks by Peace, Love & Pops, 845 E. University Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. on March 24, 2022. The shop is now known as PopHeads.
PopHeads
Main Gate Square boutique selling fresh-made popsicles.
Location: 845 E. University Blvd.
For more information, click here.
Puro Ice
Mexican Italian ice shop run by the mastermind behind Tanna’s Botannas. Their menu will soon include ice cream made from Sullivan’s old recipes.
Location: 314 E. Sixth St.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Salad Nation
Find salads, wraps, soups, chicken and burgers at this spot at Park Place Mall.
Location: 5870 E. Broadway
For more information, click here.
Squared Up Pizza
Pizza parlor in Park Place Mall slings Sicilian-style square pies made with custom filtered water.
Location: 5870 E. Broadway
For more information, read our story or click here.
Snake and Barrel
Basement expansion of downtown Batch whiskey and doughnut bar features ambitious mixology.
Location: 118 E. Congress St.
For more information, click here.
Special Eats
A grilled sandwich truck with a goal: "empowering individuals with special needs through work and food."
Location: For up-to-date info, check their website.
For more information, click here.
Sweetie’s Shave Ice & Raspados
This shop combines two of our favorite kinds of shaved ice in one, along with some classic antojitos.
Location: 5460 E. Speedway
For more information, click here.
Tacos y Mariscos Jaliscos
Find seafood plates alongside Jalisco-style tacos at this midtown spot.
Location: 999 N. Swan Road
For more information, click here.
Tanna's Botannas
The Tanna's Botannas food truck now sits in its own permanent outdoor space. It's the site of markets and other events, the truck catering candies and fun snacks.
Location: 4426 S. Sixth Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
The Century Room
Mezcal bar and jazz club inside Hotel Congress.
Location: 311 E. Congress St.
For more information, click here.
Jeff Lowry talks with his wife, Heather Pagone, as they enjoy a drink at the bar in The Citizen Hotel on August 11, 2022.
The Citizen Hotel
Boutique wine hotel featuring a lobby bar, plus a wine cellar in the basement and wine tastings in the mezzanine.
Location: 82 S. Stone Ave.
For more information, click here.
The Delta
Sister restaurant to The Parish, The Delta’s chef Travis Peters brings Southern rock-star flair to a bar and grill menu.
Location: 135 S. Sixth Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
The Hoppy Vine
This new beer and wine bar has a little something for everyone, whether you’re a beer nerd or are looking for cider.
Location: 12125 N. Oracle Road
For more information, click here.
The Lobby
Fast-casual restaurant inside the Seasons Apartments, serving burgers, shakes and shareables.
Location: 811 E. Wetmore Road
For more information, click here.
The Monica
Downtown restaurant from the El Charro dynasty, featuring breads made by Barrio Bread’s Don Guerra, in addition to full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Location: 40 E. Congress St.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Bemo's Ol' Joe's tot-chos are tater tots loaded with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, cheese and slaw. Find Bemo's at The Pit.
The Pit
This food truck park is tucked into a former gas station parking lot. Trucks include barbecue, tacos, Mediterranean and more.
Location: 7889 E. 22nd St.
For more information, read our story or click here.
The Union Jack Bar
A British Pub comes to Main Gate Square. Find pub food like fish and chips, bangers and mash, and a full English breakfast with grilled tomatoes and British bacon.
Location: 800 E. University Blvd.
For more information, click here.
Tita Tita
This pop-up serves Filipino favorites including lumpia, barbecue skewers, adobo ribs and tofu tots.
Location: For up-to-date info, check their Instagram.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Turkey tacos were always a fan favorite at Tooley’s. They returned to the menu when the cafe reopened on June 3.
Tooley’s Cafe
After six years, this Tucson classic finally reopened with their original menu from 1989. In the time since Tooley’s closed, regulars missed their turkey tacos and plate-sized cookies.
Location: 299 S. Park Ave.
For more information, read our story or click here.
Tran’s Fats
Local foodie Jackie Tran finally opened his long-awaited food truck at Hotel McCoy, offering beef pho dumplings, cauliflower bites and wings.
Location: Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road
For more information, read our story or click here.
Under Pressure Grill
This new food truck serves paninis around town. Menu items are named after Queen songs.
Location: For up-to-date info, check their Instagram.
For more information, click here.
Unitea
Find teas, coffees and other drinks (plus gelato, bubble waffles and mochi doughnuts) at this shop that draws influence from several different countries.
Location: 1710 E. Speedway
For more information, click here.
Wooden Tooth Records
This local record shop has expanded, this time to a space with a bar! Pick up a record, all while enjoying a beer.
Location: 108 E. Congress St.
For more information, click here.
Watch now: #ThisIsTucson's food writer wraps up 2022 by reflecting on her 10 favorite foods and food trends of the year.
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