Tucson for Foodies

The first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States isn’t New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco; it’s actually Tucson, a mid-sized city an hour north of the Arizona–Mexico border. Not only does the city have great restaurants, it’s home to the oldest farm in the nation and dedicated to preserving the heritage foods of the Southwest.

Foodies and adventurous eaters can sample new foods and heritage dishes, tour the historic farm and visit a seed bank, as well as explore the city’s great destinations, like the Pima Space and Air Museum and the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, while vacationing in Tucson.

Tucson San Xavier Mission. Photo: Teresa Bitler

Mission Garden

People have farmed the four-acre Mission Garden for roughly 4,100 years, making it the oldest, continuously farmed land in the nation. Come Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. October to March) for a guided tour of the farm, divided into plots dedicated to the Hohokam, Spanish, Mexican and more recent eras.

Since much of what is growing here today began as clippings from historic ranches, missions and agricultural communities, you’re literally tasting history when your guide offers you a sample on the tour.

Native Seeds/SEARCH

Founded in the 1980s to preserve traditional seeds from the Southwest, especially those from Native American communities, the Native Seeds/SEARCH store on Campbell Avenue is a fun stop for all ages. While gardeners can purchase seeds, foodies will find specialty items for sale, including chili powder, spice blends, beans, grains and jams. There are also children’s books, kid-sized gardening tools and souvenirs.

Tucson Native Seeds Store. Photo: Teresa Bitler

El Charro Café

Hungry? Stop by El Charro, the oldest Mexican restaurant continuously operated by the same family in the nation, and order a chimichanga. Founder Tia Monica Flin is credited with inventing the deep fried burro when she accidentally dropped one into her fryer. Or, opt for another Arizona dish, the cheese crisp, a large, baked tortilla covered in melted cheese.

The menu also features Sonoran-style favorites like chile rellenos, chicken mole, enchiladas, tamales, tacos and grilled steak asada. Meanwhile, kids 10 and under get their own menu, featuring tacos, nachos, chicken nuggets and a bean and cheese burrito.

El Guero Canelo

Tucson is also known for the Sonoran hot dog, a traditional hot dog wrapped in bacon, placed in a split-top roll and topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, salsa, mayo and mustard. Although many restaurants offer this Mexican take on the all-American classic, El Guero Canelo won a James Beard Foundation award for its version.

Tucson Sonoran Hot Dog. Photo: Teresa Bitler

In addition to the Sonoran hot dog, El Guero Canelo serves burros, tacos, quesadillas and tortas, as well as Mexican sodas, horchata and aquas frescas. There’s also a salsa bar to spice things up, and flan for dessert.

San Xavier Mission

Tucson is more than Mexican food. At one of the city’s most popular attractions, the historic San Xavier Mission, you can try fry bread, a fluffy, fried dough often topped with powdered sugar or with meat, beans and cheese. Native American vendors typically sell fry bread in the mission’s parking lot along with jewelry and craft items.

Before or after the fry bread, tour the historic mission, founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Free docent-led tours are available Monday through Saturday mornings, when the church is not in use by the congregation.