TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — 2022 was a big year for Tucson restaurants—between several James Beard nominees, and recognition for local eateries in the New York Times and Food and Wine Magazine, the Old Pueblo food scene received national attention.
Now in 2023, two more Tucson restaurants are seeing the spotlight in Yelp's 'Top 100 Places to Eat' list, taking the #8 and #26 spots.
Tumerico, 2526 E. 6th St., received top ten honors on the list for its "Latin Inspired Vegan & Vegetarian Food."
Well known in the Tucson community for its plant-based cuisine, Tumerico chef Wendy Garcia focuses on using local ingredients for her vegetarian take on classic dishes like tacos al pastor, ropa vieja and mole.
RELATED: Chef Wendy Garcia of Tumerico, La Chaiteria is a James Beard semifinalist
Tumerico has a second location at the corner of 4th Street and 4th Avenue.
Placing at #26 on the list is Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe, 2530 N. First Ave.
Julio Garcia, who owns and operates the restaurant with his wife Jael, says Buendia sells more than just food.
"It's about making memories and letting people enjoy the moment," Garcia told KGUN 9. "When people walk into the restaurant we want them to start enjoying the food, the music, the flavors, the company...they can forget about the bad news out in the world."
He says many of their dishes are based on recipes Jael learned from her grandmother, and that they put more of a focus on homecooked food that emulates what someone might make in a household in Mexico—different, Garcia says, than what Tucsonans are used to seeing in restaurants here.
Garcia says when you go to Buendia you'll find common salt and and pepper shakers at each table, and a third alongside them that you may not typically see—that's alegría.
"It's like sprinkling something symbolic," says Garcia. "Alegría puts some emotion on your food, and you gather to enjoy the moment."
The eatery keeps limited hours, closing by 3 p.m. on most days, and says their menu is partly inspired by their roots based in Nogales, Sonora.
Even with the daytime-only hours, the restaurant's menu is loaded with selection—breakfast favorites include their breakfast-stuffed poblano pepper and chilaquiles share a menu alongside vegetarian offerings, desserts and their signature cafe de olla.
The Yelp 'Top 100' is a curated list, compiled after the company reached out to select Yelp users for favorite restaurants.
The site, which is a user-driver restaurant review site, ranked those suggestions against the website's overall user reviews, ratings and geographic representation.
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Anne Simmons is the digital executive producer for KGUN 9. Anne got her start in television while still a student at the University of Arizona. Before joining KGUN, she managed multiple public access television stations in the Bay Area and has worked as a video producer in the non-profit sector. Share your story ideas and important issues with Anne by emailing anne.simmons@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.
