Food Reviews,  USA

Is Tucson Food Worth It? Weekend in Arizona Reveals It’s Secrets

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Is Tucson food worth it? The answer may surprise you.

I recently took a seven hour road trip east from Huntington Beach, California to Tucson, Arizona. I had never spent any time there, and I would only be around for the weekend. There was an almost historic amount of rainfall during my very short trip, so I was not able to spend a lot of times outdoors to soak in the desert landscape. This only left me with the option to check out both the Tucson food scene and the nightlife.

I came with little to no expectations about the food I would consume, and I have to say, this town knows a little something about FLAVOR. In fact, every single meal I had there was packed full of flavor and something I would choose to order again! I find a lot of times, new restaurants and dishes can be hit or miss.

My food experience was so delightful, that I thought it only right to share what I ate with you, for the next time you’re in Tucson and looking to try a new dish.

1. REFORMA MODERN MEXICAN

Carnitas Benedict ($14)

(Poached eggs on top of orange and cinnamon braised pork, smothered in chipotle hollandaise, with potatoes on the side)

Tucson food. Carnitas Benedict. gs on top of orange and cinnamon braised pork, smothered in chipotle hollandaise, with potatoes on the side.
Here goes Tucson with an AMAZING sauce! I need to know how to make this myself so I can enjoy it at home. The potatoes were great as well, but the bread underneath was a little lackluster for my liking.

Queso Reforma ($8 or $11 with Chorizo)

(Cotija, manchego, cilantro, monteray jack cheese sauce, chorizo)

Tucson food. Queso Reforma. Cotija, manchego, cilantro, monteray jack cheese sauce, chorizo.
Chorizo truly makes everything better. Our table kept reordering this dish because we could not get enough of this irresistible dip, which I definitely appreciated after a long night of bar hopping! There’s something about a good savory dish that can hep to soak up the lingering alcohol.

Chicken Tinga Flautas ($12)

(Chicken tinga, chipotle, tomato, onion, flour tortilla, guajillo, house salsa, cotija, lime crema, cilantro)

Tucson food. Chicken Tinga Flautas. Chicken tinga, chipotle, tomato, onion, flour tortilla, guajillo, house salsa, cotija, lime crema, cilantro.
Flautas have been done many times before, but these blew me away.
Reforma Modern Mexican restaurant.
What I loved about the interior of the restaurant was the balance of styles and colors. The browns, greens, and pinks gave life to the space, blending traditional Mexican elements with modern sensibilities. I adored the pink booth in the back of the bar area which really helped to make the room pop.

2. FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL

Seared Ahi Tuna ($16.50)

(Sushi-grade ahi tuna, spicy mustard sauce, house salad)

Seared ahi tuna. Sushi-grade ahi tuna, spicy mustard sauce, house salad.
I know what you’re thinking…what the hell is THAT smeared on the side of the plate? This dish proves that presentation is truly not everything. I wanted to buy a bottle of that sauce and take it home with me. Thats’s how good it was!
Selfie in bathroom mirror with neutral tan colors, Louis Vuitton bag, and iPhone 12.
I had to add a selfie from the bathroom of a Tucson bar as some sort of proof I was there. The whirlwind trip for my friend’s birthday weekend meant I completely dropped the ball when it came to the number of pictures I ended up taking. I did not have my blogger hat on that weekend, that’s for sure. 🙁

3. CULINARY DROPOUT

Meat, Cheese, and Snacks Board ($33, but customizable based on your choices)

(Crusty bread, garlic & balsamic, dolce gorgonzola, aged manchego, strawberries, pistachio & brie, prosciutto di san daniele, monilari sopressata)

Tucson food. Meat, cheese, and snacks board. Crusty bread, garlic & balsamic, dolce gorgonzola, aged manchego, strawberries, pistachio & brie, prosciutto di san daniele, monilari sopressata.
My ideal plate has several elements, because I like to taste a bit of everything. If I see a meat and cheese board on a menu, I will most likely give it a shot. Yes, this type of offering is nothing new, but I loved that all the options I chose were fresh and tasty. I did not think I would be able to eat something of this quality in that establishment, which offered games like corn hole, foose ball, and ping pong. Culinary Dropout is almost the size of a warehouse, geared to college aged students with elevated taste buds. A mix between a Dave & Buster’s and a Yardhouse. Kind of. You get the picture. The modern-ish menu items mixed with the fun activities was the perfect place to bring a group of people.

4. PREP & PASTRY

Cast Iron Duck Confit ($13.50)

(Braised duck, spinach, potatoes, shallots, cabernet braised cherries, over easy eggs, cherry goat cheese mousse)

Cast Iron Duck Confit. Braised duck, spinach, potatoes, shallots, cabernet braised cherries, over easy eggs, cherry goat cheese mousse.
This dish was the last meal I had before the 7 hour road trip back to California. First of all, the interior of the restaurant was super cute and the perfect place to enjoy a modern brunch. I loved the plating of this dish and it was quite tasty. It would have been nice if there was a sauce to help bring it together, as the duck was a bit on the dry side and the eggs were over hard, so there was no runny yolk to spread around. The idea of this was great, but the execution was not the greatest. The dish did come recommended, so perhaps I just got unlucky that day.

I will definitely come back to Tucson to discover some more amazing dishes to share with you all. My Tucson food experience definitely did not disappoint! I look forward to visiting when it isn’t raining, in order to check out the amazing desert scenery and go on a hike. The rain didn’t kill my mood because I do love when it rains and I’m sure the desert was in desperate need.

Have you ever been to Tucson? What are some of your favorite Tucson food dishes? What activities and sites should I check out next time I visit Tucson? Let me know in the comments below!

***PIN FOR LATER***

Tucson food pin for Pinterest with desert landscape and cast iron duck confit.

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