After a tumultuous year for restaurants and bars caused by the coronavirus pandemic, these are the new spots opened in and around Tucson in spring 2021.
If we missed your favorite new place to eat that opened this year, let us know at jtellez@tucson.com.
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.
The patio area at Edna's Eatery features lots of natural shade trees and lush plants.
Andi Berlin | This Is TucsonEdna'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.
The confit of pata de pato, or duck confit, $24, is paired with potatoes, plantains and bacon.
Andi Berlin | This Is TucsonEl 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.
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.
The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sando at Flora’s Market Run includes apple and brussel slaw, a hot honey mustard and pickles.
Gloria Knott, Arizona Daily StarFlora'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.
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.
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!
This is Deliciocho's signature raspado called La Vencindad, which includes every fruit at the shop including strawberry, mango, pineapple, melon, coconut and pecans.
Gloria Knott, This Is TucsonDeliciocho, 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?
The Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery is located at 11011 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Gloria Knott, This Is TucsonThe 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.
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.
This 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 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.
Taqueria 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.
Sakari 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.
The former Coronado Hotel, future home of a Dillinger Brewing Company location, 402 E. Ninth St., on the corner of Fourth Avenue.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarThe 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.
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.
Andi Berlin/Arizona Daily StarThe 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."
Digital Editor
From burger joints to tea and coffee shops, here are some new spots opened in the Tucson area this autumn.
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