Itβs more than 100 degrees outside and the University of Arizona students have packed up and gone home: That means itβs time for the locals to enjoy summertime in Tucson.
While the temperatures continue to rise, business around town begins to get a little slow.
And though it may be easier to stay indoors to avoid the heat, youβll feel much cooler supporting local businesses this summer. And what better way to do that, than by checking out a new restaurant.
These 16 new eateries opened up this spring:
A Webooo! Mexican Bar and Grill
Next time youβre strolling through Fourth Avenue and craving a birria taco, you can stop by A Webooo!
This new Mexican spot has all the classics: giant plates of aguachiles, juicy quesabirria tacos, enchilada-style burritos and of course, ice-cold margaritas with a chamoy rim. Simply scrolling through its Instagram, its food not only looks delicious, but is beautiful enough for a social media post.
Location: 605 N. Fourth Ave.
Check out its Instagram page or website for more information.
The Cuban Corner
TA-PAS, a beloved local food truck founded in downtown Tucson, has brought authentic Cuban dishes to midtown with its new spot, The Cuban Corner.
Right next to the Sahara Apartments, it features vibrant dΓ©cor and flavors, including addicting cilantro dipping sauce, pork tacos, ropa vieja and cortados. You can sip on a Latin-American soda while enjoying tostones, croquetas, empanadas and papas rellenas. For your entrΓ©e, Iβd suggest the Cuban tacos. I havenβt been able to stop thinking about them since I had them.
Location: 919 N. Stone Ave.
A tostone topped with ropa vieja, pickled onions and avocado from the Cuban Corner.
Check out its Instagram page or read our story for more information.
The District Bites and Brew
The former Pastiche building on North Campbell Avenue is now housing a new spot filled with tasty food and games.
The District Bites and Brews opened at the end of May, offering fun drinks and a culinary experience. Its menu includes dishes such as spin burgers, baked mac and cheese topped with chicharrones crumbs, various flatbreads and, of course, wings. They even have a pool table and shuffleboard if you want to play a few friendly rounds of pool after your meal.
Location: 3025 N. Campbell Ave.
Check out its Instagram page for more information.
A honey bear latte from EspresSoul CafΓ©.
EspresSoul Cafè
This beloved vegan espresso truck opened its first brick-and-mortar location back in May, and its new peaceful cafΓ© serves all its fan favorites, including strawberry matcha and Ferrero Rocher lattes as well as a variety of baked goods.
Every week, it features a specialty drink that is only available that week, so youβll want to check back regularly so you never miss anything. They also have live music, so you can sip your drinks to the sounds of soothing tunes. Trust me, every drink you have here will leave a smile on your face.
A honey bear latte from EspresSoul CafΓ©.
Location: 1525 N. Wilmot Road.
Check out its Instagram page for more information.
A couple of Katsu House's menu items.Β
Katsu House
Katsu House is Rafael del Cuestaβs newest venture, bringing all the warmth and comfort of classic Japanese comfort food dishes to Brick Box Brewery.
At Katsu House, they specialize in katsudon bowl, which is made up of four main ingredients: katsu meat, scrambled eggs, rice and caramelized onions. Aside from its savory bowls, they also offer Japanese-style smashburgers and hot dogs, as well as classic fruit and cream sandos made with Japanese milk bread.
Location: 220 E. Broadway
Check out its Instagram page or read our story for more information.
Customers take a number rather than waiting in line at Knellerβs Delicatessen.
Knellerβs Delicatessen
This new deli has brought Jewish delicacies like knishes, lox and pastrami to midtown. Jeremy Kneller-Hernandez, the mastermind behind the deli, has transformed this former carniceria into a quintessential New York-esque spot.
Simply take a number and order all the delicious food you can dream of. Sitting at its long counter, complete with an old-fashioned TV, you might feel like youβve just stepped out of a time machine. Here, you can start your morning with breakfast sandwiches, lox, various knishes, or even hot dogs with deli mustard. Itβs like being on the East Coast but without the hefty plane ticket.
Location: 2545 E. Speedway
Check out its Instagram page, its website or read our story for more information.
Quistyβs Sandwiches
Everyone loves a good sandwich. At this new sandwich spot on Sol Block, the renovated Solot plaza on Broadway, they use fresh baked local bread, premium Italian-imported meats and house-made signature sauces to craft these go-to meals. If youβre not in the mood for cold sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, paninis, wraps and salads can all be found on the menu, too.
Location: 2575 E. Broadway
Check out its Instagram page or website for more information
Rancheros Carniceria
This local favorite has opened its third location in Tucson, occupying the former Robertβs Restaurant building on Grant Road.
Here, you can pick up all kinds of fresh meat and salsa, perfect for summer carne asadas. The best part: they can grill the meat for you. They also have a food counter where you can pick up tasty tacos or burritos for your lunch or dinner.
Location: 3301 E. Grant Road.
Check out its Instagram page or website for more information.
Customers at The Scented Leaf can request glitter in any drink.
Scented Leaf Tea House
Scented Leaf is taking over Tucson one strawberry and cream matcha at a time.
They recently opened their fourth location at Sol Block, where you can get all their classic on-tap teas. They also share the shaded patio with Decibel, so if you want tea and your friend wants coffee, you donβt have to compromise.
Location: 2627 E. Broadway
Check out its Instagram page for more information.
Seasons Eats
After nine years in business, 4Seasons Restaurant took a break and closed its doors. Thankfully, the family behind 4Seasons couldnβt shake their passion for cooking, and they have recently opened a new spot: Seasons Eats.
This new spot has a wider variety of different cuisine options on the menu, including Thai, Chinese and sushi meals. From egg rolls to noodle bowls, this new restaurant has it all.
Location: 1710 E. Speedway
Check out its website for more information.
Seis Kitchen
East-siders rejoice: Seis Kitchen is now on Tanque Verde Road. This popular Mexican restaurant opened its fourth location in May, at the La Plaza Shoppes.
Crispy taquitos, horchata cold brew, birria burritos and their coveted Seis sauce can all be found at their new location. The new spot also has their biggest bar yet, perfect for summer happy hours with friends.
Location: 6530 E. Tanque Verde Road #110
Check out its website for more information.
Sam Freedman looks over the gelato flavors at Treat, a new dessert concept brought by Ciao Down Pizza Studio, located next door. Treat offers gelato and in-store baked goods at 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
Treat by CIAO
After chowing down on a Legendary Snake Bite pizza at Ciao Down, you can now walk next door for dessert. Treat by CIAO is the pizza placeβs new dessert spot, where you can find all kinds of goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Customers can get fresh bread and homemade desserts, like giant caramel chocolate chip cookies, colorful bite-sized French macarons and so much more. They also have gelato made by a Phoenix-based company called Grateful Spoon. The cinnamon churro flavor had chunks of churro throughout, it was a 10/10.
Location: 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
Check out its Instagram page or read our story for more information.
Kristel Johnson, the owner of Vertigo Wines, pours wine straight from the barrel.
Vertigo Wines
Vertigo Wines is not only Tucsonβs newest urban wine bar, itβs also one of the only places in the United States that offers wine blending and a barrel-to-glass experience.
Not only can you get your wine served straight from the barrel, you also have the opportunity to come up with your own blend. Vertigo Wines offers a special tasting board with five carafes that each come with two ounces of wines of your choice. From there, you get to mix and match those wines in a beaker, figuring out what tastes good and making your own recipes.
Location: 410 N. Toole Ave.
Check out its Instagram page or read our story for more information.
Yellow Brick Coffee
Now, when you are walking downtown, you can stop by Yellow Brick Coffee for some shade and a sweet drink.
This new cafΓ© opened up inside of the Pima County Historic Courthouse, serving specialty lattes like its B.A.N.A.N.A.S latte or its raspberry matcha latte. Hungry for a bit more? No worries. They also offer grab-and-go options such as breakfast sandwiches, salads and turkey sandwiches.
Location: 115 N. Church Ave.
Visit its Instagram page for more information.
Sergio Sierra, barista, takes Olivia Garciaβs order at Zedamo Coffee & Tea, 2719 E Broadway. The new coffee shop is part of Z-Street, which includes Zemamβs Ethiopian Cuisine and Zeraiβs International Bar. International coffee is the focus of the cafΓ©.
Zedamo Coffee & Tea
Zedamo Coffee & Tea is the newest addition to Z-Street, Tucsonβs first international dining and entertainment district that includes Zemamβs Ethiopian Cuisine and Zeraiβs International Bar.
The coffee spot is a collaboration between the Gebremariam family and Savaya Coffee, and they encourage you to stop by to discover the essence of Ethiopian coffee culture. Not only are the drinks great, but the inside of the cafΓ© is so pretty. If youβre looking for somewhere with a relaxed vibe, Zedamo is the perfect place to enjoy a book or catch up on some work.
Location: 2719 E. Broadway
Check out its Instagram page for more information.
Zona Donut
The Park Place food court just got sweeter.
Zona Donut is like Chipotle for doughnuts: you start with a fresh batch of mini doughnuts tossed in cinnamon sugar and then you get to choose your toppings. Strawberry cheesecake, Cinnamon toast crunch, Oreos with Nutella, and lemon blueberry are just a few of its topping choices. The warm doughnuts melt in your mouth with every bite. Itβs a great way to end your shopping trip.
Location: 5870 E. Broadway
Check out its Instagram page for more information.
On the horizon
- Ciao Down Kitchen: Paul Reyes is bringing his beloved pizzas to the north side. He is currently working on opening
- Ciao Down Kitchen, at 6781 N. Thornydale Road, that will be like a combination of Ciao Down and TREAT. Expect to see its pizzas as well as sandwiches, salads, appetizers and of course, gelato on the menu here.
- Slice and Ice: Ed Iriving, one of the masterminds behind Eegeeβs, is coming back to the east side.
- Slice and Ice, which is now on the west side, will be opening a second location in a former Eegeeβs building at 6810 E. Tanque Verde Road, bringing pizza, Italian heroes and gourmet Italian ice with him.
- Sonoran House/Redbird Scratch Kitchen: This new coffee shop and restaurant are teaming up to take over the empty Floraβs Market Run building at
- 2513 E. Sixth St., where the historic Rincon Market was once housed. Sonoran House will be setting up its coffee/tea bar and retail offerings in the dining room space, while Redbird will be taking over the kitchen.
- Luna Y Sol CafΓ©: One of Tucsonβs most anticipated cafes has been holding soft openings this year, so a grand opening could be near. Selina and Abraham Barajas bought the old Balloon Land building on South Sixth Avenue and have been hard at work renovating it to transform into the
- Luna y Sol CafΓ©, 137 W. 29th St. The space will serve as a place for the community to come together and catch up over great coffee and pastries.
