It's officially spring in Tucson. After a few months of relief from the heat, 80-degree weather and sunny skies are making their way back, forcing us to pack away our cute jackets and sweaters in favor of tank tops and shorts.
As we mourn the cold weather and rainy days, we can at least stuff our faces at one of the many restaurants that opened in town this winter.
From upscale Mexican to backyard barbecue, we saw plenty of new and inventive restaurants pop up in the last few months — as well as expansions of iconic eateries we already know and love. And unlike the cold weather, these restaurants aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
A. Toraño Wines
When you think of wineries, Sonoma County is one of the first places that might come to mind. If you've ever wanted to visit their legendary vineyards, you would have to take a 13-hour road trip, not to mention the cost of hotels and gas.
A. Toraño Wines, a winery based in Hopland, California, has opened a tasting room in Broadway Village. You can taste and buy A. Toraño Wines, which are made from some of the best-sourced fruit in Sonoma County, their website said.
Location: 14 S. Eastbourne Ave.
Visit their website or Instagram page for more information.
Bourbon Bent recently opened on University Boulevard, specializing in cocktails and Southern comfort food.
Bourbon Bent
On University Boulevard, you can get sushi, Italian and Mexican food. But there was never a place where you could put on your cowboy boots and enjoy a Southern comfort meal. Mobeen Moslem and Rick Cano decided to put an end to the country drought near the University of Arizona.
Bourbon Bent opened earlier this year, aiming to bring a modern dive-bar experience to Main Gate Square. While you listen to country classics, you can enjoy meals like their steak and fries plate, chicken and waffles, bourbon balls and their not-chos. You can wash your meal down with one of their many refreshing cocktails, which can even come in a boot-shaped glass.
Location: 820 E University Blvd.
Visit their website, Instagram or read our story from more information.
Barbizzas
Editor's note: Following publication of this story, we received a tip that Barbizzas is now closed. A lock-out notice from the landlord is taped to the window, dated Feb. 26.
Craving barbecue? Barbizzas has you covered. At this new restaurant you can enjoy Memphis-style barbecue dishes like ribs, loaded potatoes, pulled pork sandwiches and smoked sausage. Aside from their barbecue, Barbizzas also specializes in pizza, serving up classic meat-lovers pies and spinach and bacon Alfredo pizza.
Location: 6310 E. Tanque Verde Road
Visit their website for more information.
Marybeth Pyle gets a high-five from a customer at Cabali, 8195 N. Oracle Road, on March 14.
Cabali
Doug “Fini” Finical knows what it takes to run a good tiki bar. He runs The Landing and Fini’s Landing, beach-themed restaurants that are each decorated with fish trinkets and surfboards. In his latest venture, Finical has created a modern speakeasy-style tiki bar. Cabali features nine specialty cocktails and appetizers like Spam sliders and wonton tacos. Finical’s love for tiki will also be on full display with his 1,000-tiki-mug collection highlighted at the new bar.
Location: 8195 N. Oracle Road
Read our story for more information.
The quesabirria tacos at El Rustico are filled with melty cheese and shredded beef birria and then fried on the flattop.
El Rustico 2
Chef Juan Almanza’s birria is a Tucson favorite. Whether it’s in a taco or on top of a Zio Peppe pizza, Almanza’s birria recipe has had people flocking to El Rustico for years.With all the popularity, it only makes sense to expand and bring this fan-favorite restaurant to a different part of the city.
In early March, El Rustico’s second location opened on South Park Avenue, serving up the same iconic tacos as the original location. Personally, I love the birria and tripa tacos.
Location: 1830 S. Park Ave.
Visit their website or Facebook page for more information.
Mantis Gourmet Chinese Food
When this beloved Chinese spot closed down in Marana, customers were devastated. Luckily, their reign in Marana isn't over. Mantis recently moved into a new location, transforming an old Nico's Taco Shop into their adored restaurant.
After months of hard work, the wait is finally over. Mantis Gourmet Chinese Food has opened its doors back up, serving the same iconic meals people have loved for years.
Locations: 8295 N. Cortaro Road
Visit their Facebook page for more information.
Marc’s Blue Smoke BBQ
Marc Panas has had a lifelong passion for BBQ, learning the secrets to making great barbecue from his family. After surviving a near-fatal car crash, putting himself through culinary school and beating cancer, he is ready to go all in, his website says.
Marc’s Blue Smoke BBQ is dedicated to serving up locally-sourced and handcrafted BBQ, cooking everything low and slow using pecan and hickory wood. Chicken legs, pulled pork, ribs and brisket are all on the menu — and are dry-rubbed for 24 hours to ensure the best possible flavor.
Location: 4450 S. Houghton Road
Visit their website for more information.
Percheron Mexican Grill
The food truck famous for its giant bacon-wrapped burritos has officially opened a brick-and-mortar. Get carne asada burritos wrapped in bacon, plus hot dogs, tacos, quesadillas and caramelos.
Location: 4860 S. 12th Ave.
Visit their website or read our story for more information.
Tabu
Yet another super-chic restaurant has made its way to Congress Street. Tabu is a Latin-infused restaurant that is inspired by dishes seen in Mexico City and Sonora, Mexico. Aguachile, birria tacos, ribeye and bone marrow are just a few of the dishes on Tabu’s menu. They also have Instagram-worthy cocktails and a DJ on the weekends.
Location: 128 E. Congress St.
Visit their website, Instagram or read our story for more information.
The Bistro
Coffee X Change is bringing more than just coffee to Tucson — now they are expanding to dinner.
Right next to Coffee X Change is The Bistro, which serves up pasta dishes and other Italian appetizers. Pesto pasta, penne alla no vodka, Alfredo and spaghetti are some of the entrees featured at The Bistro. They also have various soups, salads and appetizers like bruschetta, smoked salmon and baguette bites.
Location: 6841 E. Camino Principal
Visit their website or Facebook page for more information.
The Jewel Cafe and Juice Bar, 431 N. Fourth Ave.
The Jewel Café
Julia “Jewels” Russell and her husband Jonathan have transformed a vacant building on Fourth Avenue into a new farm-to-table café. The Jewel Café is dedicated to bringing awareness to what people are eating, showing them it is possible to have ethical and sustainably-sourced food.
The menu includes meals made by local chef Ben Twilegar, coffee from Decibel Coffee Works, pressed juices and pastries from gluten-free vendors like Dedicated.
Location: 431 N. Fourth Ave.
Visit their Facebook page or read our story for more information.
Brothers Leo, left, and Luis Mejia pose for a photo in what will be their restaurant/nightclub Chela’s Latin Cuisine, 256 E. Congress St.
On the horizon
- Raspaderia El Sahuaro, a raspado shop from the owner behind La Yaquesita, is set to open any day now in the space that was once home to Hub Ice Cream, 245 E. Congress St. Read more here.
- Calvin Hoang brought Korean corn dog franchise Two Hands to Tucson. This spring, he'll open a Korean barbecue spot called Kotu at 4545 N. Oracle Road. Read more here.
- Chela's Latin Cuisine, from the family behind El Sur, is bringing a fusion of Honduran and Sonoran food to downtown, 256 E. Congress St. Read more here.
- Borderlands Brewing is slated to open its third location this spring, this time featuring an arcade at 5605 E. River Road. Read more here.
- The family behind Taqueria La Esquina is planning to open a second concept, dubbed Copal at 5340 E. Broadway, in late April. Read more here.
- Whole Slvce Pizza, from the owner behind Falora and Beaut Burger, is slated to open in April at 160 S. Avenida del Convento. Read more here.
- Reds Tacos has food trucks at spots in downtown and midtown, but they're officially opening their first brick-and-mortar at the Tucson Premium Outlets, 6401 Marana Center Blvd. The goal is to open in early April. Read more here.
- The iconic La Estrella Bakery is planning to open its fourth location in April, this time in downtown Tucson. Read more here.
- Local food truck Samurai Sombrero is opening a location in American Eat Co., 1439 S. Fourth Ave. Read more here.
