Breakfast and coffeehouses
Brawley's Restaurant — 6367 E. Broadway. This neighborhood place dishes up a delicious, affordable breakfast (lunch, too) and some of the best coffee in town. Tucson casual. 722-5571. ¢ E
Crying Onion — 3684 W. Orange Grove Road. Whether you want an order of toast or a breakfast of champions, this eatery gets you going. Breakfast and lunch only. No credit cards. Tucson casual. 531-1330. $ NW
The Egg Connection — 3114 E. Fort Lowell Road. Lots of food and choices — including home fries or grits — that are good, cheap and fast. Breakfast and lunch only. Tucson casual. 881-1009. $ C
Wags Family Restaurant — 4026 E. Grant Road. "Iowa style" diner serves up everything from griddle cakes to pork tenderloin sandwiches. Breakfast and lunch only. Tucson casual. 323-2345. $ C
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Asian and Pacific Rim
Firecracker — 2990 N. Swan Road. The bistro's exhibition kitchen serves up innovative dishes such as wasabi cream-stuffed chicken breasts and fresh salmon, wok-charred and served with cilantro pesto. High casual. 318-1118. $$ C
Szechuan Omei — 2601 E. Speedway. This UA-campus-vicinity restaurant serves Szechuan, Mandarin and Cantonese fare. Tucson casual. 325-7204. $$ C
Thai China Palace — 4853 E. Speedway. Offers a Chinese and Thai menu with some of the best kung pao dishes in town. Beer and wine only. High casual. 881-5068. $$ C
Yoshimatsu — 2660 N. Campbell Ave. Healthy Japanese in a kitschy setting. If sushi is your food of choice, try Sushimatsu, on the same premises as Yoshimatsu. Tucson casual. 320-1574. ¢-$ C
Cafe Pacific — 3607 N. Campbell Ave. They serve up all things Asian here, from Malaysian to Indonesian. Tucson casual. 326-5174. $-$$ C
Bangkok Cafe — 2511 E. Speedway. Try the pad Thai, a bowl of wide rice noodles, moistened with a sweet tamarind, squirted with lime juice, laced with chile and dotted with eggs, bean sprouts and shrimp. Tucson casual. 323-6555. $-$$ C
Ha Long Bay — 6304 E. Broadway. This small, unpretentious restaurant serves Vietnamese food with fresh ingredients; subtle, sometimes exotic flavors; and thoughtful presentation. Tucson casual. 571-1338. $-$$ C
Mina's Thai Restaurant — 5575 E. River Road, Suite 141. Thai food can offer a bit of heaven: The filling and flavorful Tom Yum Goong soup, for instance. Tucson casual. 299-0453. ¢-$ FH
Sushi Ten — 4500 E. Speedway. Fish so fresh it practically flaps on the plate. Tucson casual. 324-0010. $-$$$ C
P.F. Chang's China Bistro — 1805 E. River Road. This sleek restaurant serves out-of-the-ordinary Cantonese, Shanghai, Szechuan and Mongolian cuisine. Tucson casual. 615-8788. $$ FH
Sakura — 6534 E. Tanque Verde Road. If you want dinner and a show, here's your place. The cooks whip up Japanese meals and do fancy knife work at your table. Tucson casual. 298-7777 $$-$$$ FH
Border crossings
Guillermo's Double L Restaurant — 1830 S. Fourth Ave. Mainstay on South Tucson's Mexican restaurant row serves traditional dishes prepared with plenty of queso and care. Also, American cuisine, including sandwiches, fried chicken and fried shrimp. Reservations accepted. Tucson casual. Smoking section. 792-1585. $ SW
Pepe's Mexican Food — 9816 S. Nogales Highway. Although the restaurant is connected to a tire shop, its Sonoran-style fare — such as green tamales and red menudo — will delight your taste buds. Cash and checks only. Tucson casual. 889-6273. $ SW
Cocoyaya Mexican Food — 3156 E. Fort Lowell Road. We've loved everything we've had here, but especially the posole. Don't stop there, though. Try the shrimp enchiladas with tomatillo and cream salsa or the Sonoran-style flat enchiladas. Tucson casual. 322-0977. $-$$ C
Molina's Midway Restaurant —1138 N. Belvedere Ave. The albondigas is prize-worthy; so is the carne seca. And the portions, thankfully, are big. Tucson casual. 325-9957. $-$$ C
Mariscos Chihuahua — 1009 N. Grande Ave. (623-3563); 2902 E. 22nd St. (326-1529); 3901 S. Sixth Ave. (741-0361). The fresh, filling, chilled seafood cocktails will change your life. No reservations. Tucson casual. $$ C S
El Buen Sonorense — South Sixth Avenue at East 23rd Street. Tucson's taco stands are tops, and this is one of the best for Sonoran-style Mexican food. Lunch only. No alcohol. Tucson casual. No telephone. $ SW
Papagayo — 4717 E. Sunrise Drive. This family-owned Mexican restaurant satisfies, especially with its chile rellenos. Tucson casual. Smoking at the bar. 577-6055. $ FH
El Indio Restaurant — 3355 S. Sixth Ave. Soup to feed the soul. Devotees can debate which is the best — the albondigas, the cocido or caldo de queso. Tucson casual. 620-0504. $ S
Las Cazuelitas de Tucson — 2615 S. Sixth Ave., 792-0405; 1365 W. Grant Road, 206-0405. Of course you'll love the burros, burritos and flautas, especially when paired with the guacamole prepared fresh at your table. But did you know they also serve American dishes on the breakfast-lunch-dinner menu. Tucson casual. 792-0405. $ S
Teresa's Mosaic Café — 2455 N. Silverbell Road. Specializes in Oaxacan specialties such as lomo adobado (a succulent, spicy marinated pork loin) and pollo en mole, along with the standard Mexican fare. Tucson casual. 624-4512. $-$$ S
Mosaic Dos — 7350 N. La Cholla Blvd. Serves a variety of Mexican food — some from northern Mexico; some from southern Mexico. Tucson casual. 297-8470. $ NW
International
Ali Baba Restaurant and Market — 2545 E. Speedway. Good Middle Eastern delicacies such as kebbeh and kafta — beef and lamb dishes, respectively. Another favorite with customers: the chicken shawarma and the Ali Baba Sampler of vegetarian cuisine. Tucson casual. 319-2559. $ C
Evangelos — 4405 W. Speedway. Global gastronomy in a stunning setting near Gates Pass. The tapas bar has multiple choices. Reservations suggested. High casual. 792-3055. $$-$$$ NW
India Oven — 2727 N. Campbell Ave. The tandoori dishes here are scrumptious, but the lamb korma is sublime. Tucson casual. 326-8635. $-$$ C
Gandhi — 150 W. Fort Lowell Road. Treat yourself to the exotic taste of India. Gandhi's food more than makes up for what the restaurant lacks in ambience. Many vegetarian choices. Tucson casual. 292-1738. $$ C
New Delhi Palace — 6751 E. Broadway. Tasty array of Indian food with an atmosphere that puts you right in Punjab. Reservations accepted. High casual. 296-8585. $$ SE
Olive Tree Restaurant — 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. The Tucson mainstay serves Greek food in a dark, cozy setting. A menu favorite: split lamb chops with side dishes of potatoes or orzo and vegetables. High casual. Smoking in the bar. 298-1845. $$$ FH
Tork's Café — 3502 E. Grant Road. Middle Eastern restaurant and grocery also has a good selection of vegetarian items, including stuffed cabbage rolls and fava bean combination dishes. No alcohol. Tucson casual. 325-3737. $ C
Le Delice — 7245 E. Tanque Verde Road. This casual French restaurant is also a bakery. Check out the traditional meals, but save room for the scrumptious baked goods. Tucson casual. 290-9714. $$-$$$ FH
Kon Tiki — 4625 E. Broadway. It's the fruity tropical drinks here at this longtime Tucson establishment that keep 'em coming back for more. Steak and seafood are on the menu, too. Tucson casual. Smoking in the bar. 323-7193. $$ C
Late-night nosh
Barrio — 135 S. Sixth Ave. Open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, this hip Downtown bistro offers Southwestern selections. High casual. Smoking in the patio. 629-0191. $$-$$$$ D
Delectables Restaurant & Catering — 533 N. Fourth Ave.. Healthful late-night meals set this quiet place apart from the Fourth Avenue frenzy. Tucson casual. 884-9289. $$ C
Kingfisher — 2564 E. Grant Road. Open until midnight daily, this American grill and bar serves up tasty late-night fare, such as fish and chips and shrimp cakes. Reservations recommended. High casual. 323-7739. $$-$$$ C
Grill — 100 E. Congress St. The funky, friendly diner in Downtown Tucson is open all the time with food that practically jumps with freshness. Tucson casual. 623-7621. $-$$ D
Make mine meat
Cattletown Steakhouse and Saloon — 3141 E. Drexel Road. A country-style steakhouse with Texas-size tables. No checks. Tucson casual. Smoking section. 295-1141. $$ S
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar — 6360 N. Campbell Ave., No. 180. The noise level is high, but the satisfaction level is even higher. Reservations recommended. Tucson casual to dressy. 529-5017. $$$$ FH
McMahon's Prime Steak House — 2959 N. Swan Road. Upscale restaurant with glassed-in wine room features meats and seafood. Smoking section. High casual. 327-2333. $$$$ C
Taste of Texas — 8981 E. Tanque Verde Road, 760-8599; 8310 N. Thornydale Road, 572-5968. Serves dinner daily in an old-town, family-style atmosphere. Tucson casual. Smoking at the bar. $$ FH, NW
Sam Hughes' Place — 446 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 150. Championship dining — try to find a classier sports bar anywhere else. Tucson casual. 747-5223. $$-$$$ C
Sullivan's Steak House — 1785 E. River Road. It's worth the indulgence. High casual. Smoking in the lounge. 299-4275. $$$$ FH
Firebirds — 2985 E. Skyline Drive, at La Encantada. Steaks here are aged, thick and juicy. Tucson casual. 577-0747. $$$-$$$$ FH
OK Corral — 7710 E. Wrightstown Road. Cowpokes love it here: It's casual, it's Western, and it has mighty fine steaks cooked over a mesquite fire. Tucson casual. 885-2373. $$-$$$ FH
Pinnacle Peak — 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road in Trail Dust Town. Ol' West hullabaloo can put you right in the mood for a thick steak. Tucson casual. 296-0911. $$ FH
Where is it?
C–Central E–East
D–Downtown F–Foothills
GV–Green Valley NW–Northwest
S–South SW–Southwest
SE–Southeast
What does it cost?
Price-range estimates are for dinner for two. Drinks, tax and tip are not included.
¢ – About $10 $ – $10-$20
$$ – $20-$30 $$$ – $30-$40
$$$$ – above $40
WHAT TO WEAR
Dressy: Fancy. Dress to impress.
High casual: Polish up. Polo shirt and khakis are OK.
Tucson casual: Just about anything goes. Shirt and shoes, of course.
The fine print
A rotating list based on staff reviews. Don't see your favorite place? Let us know at caliente@azstarnet.com. Restaurants are smoke-free unless otherwise indicated.
