A popular Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway will reopen next year with a bigger footprint.
Zemam’s has received the financial backing of the Rio Nuevo board to add an international sports bar at its location, 2731 E. Broadway, near Country Club Road.
The 28-year-old restaurant is temporarily closed during the widening of Broadway but owner Amanuel Gebremariam plans to reopen next year with the added amenity.
He said the new bar will televise sporting events that are hard to find in Tucson area bars, such as soccer, rugby and cricket.
“There are lots of soccer fans from children to adults in Tucson,” Gebremariam said.
Big events such as the Super Bowl and Final Four will be televised, but Z Street will primarily air nontraditional sports.
“We want to fill in that missing part,” he said.
The Rio Nuevo board voted unanimously to provide the restaurant with $500,000 for the addition because it is located within the district’s boundaries and Rio Nuevo will benefit from increased sales tax.
Owners told the board that increasing the seating capacity will grow daily food sales from $1,500 to $4,500 and alcohol sales by $1,000 a day.
Zemam’s has a second location at 119 E. Speedway, which will remain open for now.
“If it’s overwhelming to run the new project, I might rent that property,” Gebremariam said.
40+ new restaurants and bars Tucson welcomed in 2021
Barrio Charro
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The Barrio Santa Rosa, $9.95, from Barrio Charro features Don Guerra's pan levain bread with ripe avocado, pickled red onions, cotija and queso fresco cheeses and balsamic vinegar.
Barrio Charro, 3699 N. Campbell Ave., was brought to Tucson by a "culinary marriage" between the minds behind El Charro Café and Barrio Bread.
Toast 101
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Toast 101, 4699 E. Speedway Blvd., is the place to go for familiar brunch options served in a trendy atmosphere.
Fun fact: co-owner Kalvin Jarvis represented Tucson on "The Voice" when the singer competed in the popular NBC show in 2019.
Transit Tea
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Tea lovers can visit the Transit Tea drive-thru, 2645 E. Speedway Blvd., for a wide selection of drinks including tea sodas, tea lattes, chai teas and slushy-like "tea snows."
Bella's Gelato Shoppe
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Bella's Gelato started as a local food truck but now has a stand-alone shop at 2648 E. Speedway Blvd.
The menu of a dozen gelato and sorbet flavors, plus smoothies, coffee and floats, should cool down anyone in search of a summer treat.
Chicago Bar
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A Tucson favorite for decades, Chicago Bar announced it would close permanently in 2020, but it reopened this April under new owner Yongsoo Seo.
Chicago Bar, 5954 E. Speedway Blvd., no longer has a restaurant, but Seo hopes to get food trucks on site for nights that feature live music.
Edna's Eatery
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The patio area at Edna's Eatery features lots of natural shade trees and lush plants.
Edna's Eatery, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, was formerly Café Botánica inside the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
The name may have changed, but visitors can still grab a drink and something for breakfast or lunch while enjoying the gardens.
El Mezquite Grill and Taqueria
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The confit of pata de pato, or duck confit, $24, is paired with potatoes, plantains and bacon.
El Mezquite Grill and Taqueria, 280 S. Church Ave., and its gourmet Mexican, Spanish and French dishes can be found downtown at the new DoubleTree Hilton next door to the Tucson Convention Center.
Flora's Market Run
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The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sando at Flora’s Market Run includes apple and brussel slaw, a hot honey mustard and pickles.
Flora's Market Run, 2513 E. Sixth St., is part grocery store, part restaurant and features a sushi bar, produce from local Tucson farmers, a cafe and a deli that will provide you the perfect cuts of meat to make an Instagram-worthy charcuterie board.
Taqueria La Esquina
UpdatedTaqueria La Esquina started out as a food truck but has since moved to a storefront at 4876 S. Sixth Avenue, where a variety of tacos, Sonoran dogs and churros can be found.
A full bar is expected to be coming soon, but for now, beer is available for those looking to pair a drink with their Sonoran street food.
Santorini Greek Cafe
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This cafe features all the Greek classics (no, not Homer's "The Iliad"): gyros, lamb skewers, tzatziki, dolmathes and mousakas, to name a few.
Santorini Greek Cafe is at 2545 E. Speedway Blvd., a couple doors down from The Screamery ice cream shop.
Gallery of Food Bodega
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The Gallery of Food Bodega, at 2522 E. Fort Lowell Road, had its grand opening this June, despite technically first opening back in October 2020.
This store, run by Kristine Jensen of the Gallery of Food catering company, sells locally-sourced products and offers grab-and-go meals, all of which can also be bought online.
Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen
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After its original location closed in 2011, Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen has returned to Tucson, this time at 2708 E. Fort Lowell Road.
The menu features popular Mexican dishes like quesadillas, chimichangas, tacos and desserts like flan and tres leches cake.
Snakes & Lattes
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Short ribs, burgers and pozole are a few items on this cafe's menu, located at 988 E. University Blvd. in Main Gate Square.
Snakes & Lattes also offers cocktails, beer, and wine but what makes this Toronto-based chain special is the selection of more than 400 board games available to play while guests sip and eat.
The Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery
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The Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery is located at 11011 E. Tanque Verde Road.
The Barnyard's burgers, pizza, wings and other American staples can be enjoyed in its outdoor dining area or inside the restaurant that was formerly an actual barn house, located at 11011 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Pops Hot Chicken
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You may recognize Pops Hot Chicken as the popular Tucson food truck, but now it has a new location at 600 N. Fourth Ave.
The new shop offers a larger menu, including brunch options like chicken biscuit sandwiches, and a bar.
Five-To-Oh! Coffee
UpdatedThis small new coffee shop is right under the dome of the historic Pima County Courthouse at 115 N. Church Ave.
5-to-Oh! Coffee, a play on southern Arizona's area code, serves hot and cold coffee drinks, teas and daily snacks like hummus and pita, muffins and croissants.
Fullylove's
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Fullylove's shares a marijuana-friendly space with Arte Bella, a "puff-and-paint" studio, located at 340 N. Fourth Ave.
Burgers, wings and several desserts are a few of the offerings Fullylove's has for anyone with a case of the munchies.
Deliciocho
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This is Deliciocho's signature raspado called La Vencindad, which includes every fruit at the shop including strawberry, mango, pineapple, melon, coconut and pecans.
Deliciocho, 6308 S. Nogales Highway, is one of the newest spots in Tucson to grab some raspasados on a hot day.
The mom-and-son-owned shop also sells tacos, tortas, Mexican street corn and several desserts...churro ice cream sandwiches, anyone?
Zio Peppe
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This new Italian-American restaurant, at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, incorporates Tucson's Southwest flare into its pastas, pizzas and desserts.
Fun fact: Zio Peppe has an all-female pizza crew!
Sakari Sushi
UpdatedSakari Sushi, 2962 N. Campbell Avenue, is one of the newest spots in Tucson to grab your favorite sushi dish, whether that is an Arizona roll or a Red Dragon roll.
This sushi restaurant also offers several kinds of lo mein, soup and fried rice if those are more your speed.
Dillinger Brewing Company
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The former Coronado Hotel, future home of a Dillinger Brewing Company location, 402 E. Ninth St., on the corner of Fourth Avenue.
The former Coronado Hotel has become the Dillinger Brewing Company's second taproom in Tucson, located right off Fourth Avenue at 402 E. Ninth Street.
The beers, ciders, wine, cold brew coffee and kombucha offered here can be drank inside or on the patio of the new taproom.
Fun fact: There is an arcade game table inside the taproom where visitors can play classic games like Pac-Man.
Noodleholics
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The Taiwan beef soup has fatty chunks of roast in a lighter beef broth with housemade wheat noodles.
Noodleholics' first shop opened on Grant Road back in 2018 and has since opened an Oro Valley location at 7850 N. Oracle Rd.
The new Oro Valley spot has a larger kitchen and a patio dining area for noodle-lovers in the area who might not want to make the trek down to midtown.
Tuk Tuk Thai
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Khao Soi chicken is a popular dish from Northern Thailand, with crispy egg noodles bathed in a rich coconut curry with chicken and pickled vegetables.
The Oro Valley Marketplace got a taste of Thai food in May when Tuk Tuk Thai opened its new location at 12125 N. Oracle Road.
This new store features the same menu items as Tuk Tuk Thai's 2990 N. Campbell Ave. location, such as the Khao Soi coconut curry noodles, which ThisIsTucson's Andi Berlin said "are a must."
La Estrella Bakery
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La Estrella Bakery is opening its third location at 901 N. Grande Ave. in the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood.
La Estrella Bakery opens its third Tucson location on July 31 at 901 N. Grande Ave.
The Franco family, who opened their flagship bakery in the '80s, is putting this new location in Barrio Hollywood where their Tucson roots began.
Transplant Pizza
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Transplant, a Detroit-inspired pizzeria has opened next door to Craft, A Modern Drinkery taproom on East Speedway.
This new pizzeria "born in Tucson, inspired by Detroit" at 4603 E. Speedway Blvd. comes from the minds of William and Travis Miller, the brothers behind Tucson's Serial Grillers.
The duo opened the doors of Transplant Pizza this summer right next to Craft, A Modern Drinkery, a taproom which they also run.
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink
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Reilly's pizza oven is being seasoned in preparation for the opening of the newest Reilly Pizza on the northwest side.
You may be familiar with Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink's popular downtown location at 101 E. Pennington Street, but now you have the chance to grab a pie and a cocktail up north.
Reilly's second location opened Aug. 1 on Tucson's northwest side at 7262 N. Oracle Road.
Salad and Go
UpdatedSalad and Go has over 30 locations in Arizona and now Tucson's first is open at 5501 E. Speedway Blvd.
Although the name says "salad," you can also grab breakfast burritos and seasonal soup there. Another Tucson location is planned to open later this year at Tucson Marketplace.
Buena Vida
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This luchador-themed spot at 919 N. Stone Ave. had its grand opening at the end of August, which featured a car show and live wrestling.
Buena Vida's menu offers a variety of tortas, loaded "Lucha Fries," Sonoran dogs, and salads with a Mexican cuisine-inspired twist. They have indoor and patio seating and offer carry out as well.
Noble Hops
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The popular Oro Valley gastropub, Noble Hops, opened up a new location this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
Noble Hops's new spot offers mostly the same menu items as the original location, in addition to craft beers and cocktails.
Perché No Italian Bistro
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Krissy and Bruno Girardi plan to reopen the space that once housed Caffé Milano as Perché No, which means “why not?” in Italian. The Girardis say they fell in love with Tucson while on a cross-country road trip.
Meaning "why not?" in Italian, Perche' No opened this fall in the former Caffé Milano space downtown at 46 W. Congress St.
Some of the new Italian bistro's menu items include pesto ravioli, lamb lollipops, spaghetti puttanesca, and calamari fries.
Black Rock Coffee Bar
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The new Black Rock Coffee Bar at 1821 E. Broadway will be the first of at least four Tucson locations for the boutique coffee chain.
Tucson recently welcomed a Black Rock Coffee Bar store at 1821 E. Broadway Blvd., where customers can stop in or use the drive-thru to grab their favorite javas, teas, energy drinks, and smoothies.
This is the first of at least four locations the Portland-based company plans to open in Tucson.
EspresSoul Cafe
UpdatedThis new coffee truck opened just in time for pumpkin spice latte season and you will most likely see it at various locations across Tucson.
EspresSoul Cafe's honey lavender espresso, cookies and cream frappes, and fruit smoothies are some of the items available at the traveling cafe. To see where they will be stopped next, check out the EspresSoul Facebook page.
Bubbe’s Fine Bagels
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Bubbe's Fine Bagels brings east-coast style bagels to the east side of Tucson.
If you have been looking for a locally-owned place to grab a bagel and schmear, look no further than Tucson's newly-opened Bubbe's Fine Bagels at 1101 N. Wilmot Road.
If you happen to come across the framed photo of Barbra Streisand inside the shop, make sure to say "Hello, gorgeous" before chowing down on a bagel sandwich.
Thunder Bacon Burger Co.
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The Thunder Classic burger is two patties topped with bacon, American cheese, thunder sauce, lettuce and a pickle.
This new burger joint at 621 N. Fourth Ave. is the newest venture of Lindon "Lindy" Reilly, who founded Lindy's On 4th.
Several of Thunder Bacon Burger Co.'s burgers feature the flavors of the Southwest, specifically roasted green chiles and chorizo, and of course, they all have bacon.
Little Love Burger
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The BarBQtie at Little Love Burger includes swiss and cheddar, bacon, tomato, arugula, pickled onion and barbecue sauce.
Downtown Tucson welcomed another burger-centric restaurant this fall, this time at 312 E. Congress St.
Little Love Burger, brought to us by the minds behind Playground Bar & Lounge and Hub, opened in October in the former Diablo Burger location.
In addition to burgers, the menu here offers hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and a full breakfast menu.
8 Degrees Ice Cream and Cookies
UpdatedIf you get a sweet tooth while shopping at St. Phillip's Plaza or grabbing a drink in the center courtyard, 8 Degrees Ice Cream & Cookies is just a few steps away.
The new ice cream shop at 4320 N. Campbell Ave. gives you several options of ice cream flavors, toppings and cookies (including vegan-friendly ones) to design your own ice cream sandwich.
You can also choose one off the menu or buy cookie dough to bake at home.
Meyer Avenue Cafe
UpdatedMeyer Avenue Cafe, opened Sept. 20, 2021 on the same property as the Coronet and Nightjar, offers reimagined brunch staples, pastries, and an array of coffee and other beverages.
The attached Mercantile, 353 S. Meyer Ave., offers homemade goods and gifts, including beer and wine selections.
Wow Wow Lemonade Stand
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Wow Wow Lemonade Stand started in Maui in 2012 and opened a stand this week at 7705 N. Oracle Road.
This Hawaii-based all-natural lemonade shop, which has a drive-thru, recently opened at 7705 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley.
Some of Wow Wow's colorful lemonade flavors include strawberry mint, lava flow, and lavender blackberry. The menu also features health-conscious treats like smoothie bowls, avocado toast, and flatbread sandwiches.
The Jackrabbit Lounge
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Kaitlyn Mills and Chris Vick line up a shot with the backgrounds, tripods and lights set-up in the Instragram hallway at The Jackrabbit.
This new retro-themed bar is bringing drinks, live music, drag-queen-hosted trivia nights, karaoke, and an Instagram-worthy atmosphere to 2000 N. Oracle Road.
Adult bourbon-infused milk shakes and Old Fashioneds can be found on The Jackrabbit's menu, along with shareable dishes like cauliflower fritters, mac 'n' cheese, and spicy Korean-style meatballs.
Flaps and Racks/Acai Paradise
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Jeffrey Flores, left, and Auxi Navarro at Flaps and Racks and Acai Paradise, 3253 E. Valencia Road.
Jeffrey Flores and his wife/business partner Auxi Navarro are bringing twin restaurants Flaps and Racks and Acai Paradise to 3253 E. Valencia Road.
Flaps and Racks will offer bone-in and boneless chicken wings and Korean-style barbeque ribs, while Acai Paradise serves housemade oatmeal and acai bowls and fruit smoothies.
Ding Tea
UpdatedThis Taiwanese tea house opened as Tucson's first location in September at 2739 E. Speedway Blvd.
Ding Tea offers trendy milk and boba teas, as well as fruity, flavored teas and slushies. Their full menu can be found here.
Fiesta Filipina
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Thelma Ward, owner of Fiesta Filipina, talks with friend and longtime customer Beth Jacobsen while preparing Jacobsen's order.
Fiesta Filipina got its start as a food truck a few years back, but now has a spot inside the Park Place Mall food court, at 5870 E. Broadway Blvd.
Filipino food can be hard to find in Tucson, but Fiesta Filipina offers some classic dishes like lumpia, pancit rice noodles, chicken and pork adobo, halo-halo and dinuguan, a pork blood stew.
Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe
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Buendia’s poblano pepper is stuffed with a fresh green corn tamale.
Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe opened two months ago at 2530 N. First Ave., where the now-closed Asian Sofrito used to operate.
Buendia's breakfast and lunch menus feature a range of burritos, huevos rancheros, nopales, tacos, soup, seafood, and vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.
