Don't sleep on these secret Tucson eats (2024)

Some of the best restaurants can be in the most unexpected places. From gas stations to mall food courts, the food scene in Tucson teaches you to never judge a book by its cover.

These hidden gems may be underrated or easy to miss, but the food they serve will make you wish you discovered them sooner.

Jewel’s Noodle Kitchen

5683 E. Speedway, jewel

Sandwiched between a Big Five Sporting Goods and a spa sits Jewel’s Noodle Kitchen, a small restaurant that’s been serving up meat pies, noodles and so much more since 2019. While it doesn’t have all the glitz and glam seen in other restaurants now a days, Jewel’s Noodle Kitchen makes up for it with some of the best dumplings in the city.

Twisted Indian

twistedindian

Typically, the food you see at a convenience store are hotdogs rolling on a grill and a nacho cheese dispenser, but inside of a gas station off of Interstate 10, you can get rich butter chicken and garlic naan. Twisted Indian, the south side’s only Indian restaurant, runs out of a kitchen in the Chevron. The menu matches what you’d find in their midtown counterpart, Indian Twist, so you can expect the same great flavor and quality.

Oh My Chicken

Mall food courts are often overlooked. You can almost always count on finding a Panda Express or Jamba Juice, but once in while, you’ll strike gold. At Park Place, Oh My Chicken is that treasure. Oh My Chicken has some of the best fried chicken. The Korean flavors they use, like their sweet and spicy sauce, mixed with the crispy chicken will have you coming back for more.

Lick’s Ice Cream & Coffee

About 30 minutes from the city, you can find Lick’s tucked away in a small shopping center in Catalina. The ice cream sundaes and creative flavors are worth the drive up north. At Lick’s, you won’t be getting your usual toppings. Here, you can get ice cream topped with sweet treats like cannoli cream, cocoa puffs, cheesecake, animal crackers and Teddy Grahams. You can also get bubble waffles topped with their creamy ice cream.

The Quesadillas

Quesadillas may seem like a dish that’s easy to make; all you have to do is warm some cheese up in a tortilla. But there’s so much more to it. From the type of cheese and meat that’s used to how long the tortilla is cooked, making the perfect quesadilla is a science. The Quesadillas on the corner of Grant and Craycroft Road get it right every time. Their carne asada quesadilla is jam-packed with smokey meat and gooey cheese.

Nate’s Italian Kitchen

Nate’s Italian Kitchen may be small, but it packs a punch. Next to a Little Caesars and Fry’s, you may overlook it, but this Italian spot is a fan favorite. Reviews rave about their big portions and pasta dishes such as their lasagna and fettuccine alfredo.

Solid Grindz

Some of Tucson’s best Hawaiian food can be found at a local bar. Inside Just 1 More is Solid Grindz, serving up authentic Hawaiian barbecue and poke bowls. Katsu chicken, spicy bang shrimp and buttery Hawaiian rolls are on the menu, bringing a piece of island paradise to the Sonoran Desert.

Substance Diner

Parked behind Screwbean Brewing is Substance Diner, where they are making comfort food that is 100% plant based. Their all-vegan menu includes typical diner favorites like pancakes, milkshakes and juicy burgers. They also have spicy chicken sandwiches and Sonoran dogs if you want something with a kick. Many reviewers said they were surprised to find out the food was vegan.

Penelope Wood Fired Pizza

Pizza and coffee may be an unusual combination, but it works for Cartel Roasting Co and Penelope Wood Fired Pizza. This pizza spot, which blends Italian and New York flavors, can be found in the back of Cartel’s downtown Tucson location. From jalapeños to buffalo ranch, their wood-fired pizzas incorporate unique flavors that keep customers lining up.

Birria Munchies Truck

At Comida Park, there are a variety of food trucks to choose from, but no one does it like Birria Munchies. At this truck, you can get tasty birria on top of pizza and nachos. The real star of the show is their birria bombs. Gooey cheese and juicy birria are packed inside fried dough, so when you bite into it, you get hit with an explosion of flavors.