Tucson, Arizona | Best Restaurants | Where to Eat | Five Points | Tumerico | El Charro | Screamery

The city of Tucson is found in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, just 60 miles from the border with Mexico. We visited eight famous restaurants: Five Points, BK Carne Asada, Mariscos, Tumérico, El Charro, Culinary Dropout, Sonoran Delights, and the Screamery. Here Native American, Colonial Spanish and Mexican cultures mix to create the regional Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine. It is this unique and rich history that helped Tucson become the first U.S. City of Gastronomy by UNESCO, an international organization that designates the world’s top natural and cultural examples.
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CONTENTS
0:00 Intro Teaser
01:00 Tucson Overview
02:20 Five Points
04:35 BK Carne Asada
06:18 Mariscos
07:42 Tumérico
09:04 El Charro
10:50 Culinary Dropout
13:17 Sonoran Delights
14:11 The Screamery
15:27 Outro
Tucson is also home to the University of Arizona, a globally respected school that has distinguished alumni including yours truly. Here you’ll find San Xavier Del Bac, a Catholic mission founded in 1692 that inspired this stunning church built in 1797, the oldest European structure in Arizona. The area is also home to Saguaro National Park, a protected area established in 1933 to showcase the giant cacti and the only place in the world it grows. Finally, Southern Arizona is home to Old Tucson and Tombstone, two places known for Wild West history and reenactments.
Five Points is a neighborhood café and market with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. It is named for the intersection on which it sits and where Chef Miles Bartlett has created a menu featured across media outlets. In fact, New York Times travel writer Guy Trebay raved about the huevos rancheros at his “favorite hipster brunch spot.” The Pork Torta has also been dubbed as one of Food Network’s can’t-miss Tucson dishes.
BK Carne Asada is where folks flock to feast on hot dogs dressed up Sonoran-style. The Food Network has boasted this restaurant’s distinctly Mexican street food as one of the top dishes to try in Tucson. The Sonoran hot dog has indeed gained international fame. It's a grilled bacon-wrapped hot dog served in a soft, sweet bolillo roll, and topped with Mexican condiments ranging from pintos to chile.
Mariscos serves up Sonoran-style seafood in a semi-permanent food truck. They have a sizable menu with some obscure seafoods, but the staples include refreshing ceviche that rivals any we have had. Famed International food lovers like Mark Wiens have come here to delve into the delectable Mexican seafood dishes.
Tumérico is one the most acclaimed restaurants in the state. It is here that Chef Wendy Garcia uses plant-based foods to create regionally-inspired dishes. Guy Fieri highlighted this stop on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and immediately called his mother after he tried the jackfruit based Carne Asada. Notoriety is not uncommon as Wendy was also nominated as a semifinalist for Best Southwest Chef at the James Beard Awards.
El Charro was founded by the beloved Tia Monica Flin back in 1922, making it the nation’s oldest continuously running Mexican restaurant. A part of Tucson’s rich culinary history, it is here that an accidently fried burro became the first chimichanga. And the Carne Seca, a sun-dried shredded beef, has been dubbed as a must-try dish by Food Network. Gourmet Magazine declared El Charro as “One of America's 21 Most Legendary Restaurants".
Culinary Dropout is a British-style gastropub from restaurateur genius Sam Fox. Fox dropped out of the University of Arizona and used tuition money to fund his first Tucson eatery back in 1992 - the same year I graduated there. While I created CZcams content, he created epic restaurant brands, including the Culinary Dropout which first opened in Scottsdale in 2010. Today there are six locations in Arizona and plans to open additions in Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte.
Sonoran Delights is a casual eatery that brings many of the classic Sonoran fare under one roof. Featured on Food Network’s top places to eat, they serve up street cuisine from egg scrambles, cabeza tacos, carne asada burritos and sonoran hot dogs. But make no mistake: we came for the Raspados, a Mexican-style snow cone that is prepared in more complex flavor combinations than a gringo tongue is used to.
The Screamery makes legendary ice cream from scratch right here in Tucson - becoming Arizona's first ice cream pasteurizer. They are a six-time Daily Star reader’s choice winner and have won Best of Tucson for the last three years. They also took home best overall at the Maynards Ice Cream Showdown. In the seven years since opening, co-owner Linda Sarnoski has played with some 200 different flavors. But the new fan favorite is also ours as well: Sweet Cream Honey Comb.

[@jerrygoodmen6577]

Tucson Arizona 💯

[@FreedomFighter2112]

Great video...subscribed

[@sovietsoldierz]

Gotta add Guadalajara!

[@shoncross3360]

Just came across your channel. I appreciate you bringing parts of America I may never see. Can't wait for the next video.

[@criscale3667]

Thanks for the kind words. We're working on Savannah, GA and hope to release this week. We appreciate giving the time to watch our videos - and leave a comment. Best wishes!

[@elchicharron9503]

The gentrification is strong. Ugly but honest? Not any more! Amazing how fast it all went down.

[@user-ub8bu2fy5s]

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[@jaimealvarado1384]

Obviously, a texmex crap .....not appealing at all ...

[@cliftonmcmullen7167]

I can see your point. I live in Tucson and some places mentioned are overpriced for the portions.