October was a big month for Tucson.
Fall is here and with the change of seasons comes the return of the flavors associated with it. Some of which I’ve seen reflected in seasonal menus across the city. There will also be an increase in the overall menu, from the return of his local favourite, Karuna’s Thai Plate, to the highly anticipated introduction of the Mojo Cuban Kitchen & Rum Bar.
Take a look back at what the Tucson Hoodie team had the most fun with in October. Not only will these serve as reminders of the dishes we ate, but they will also guide your own decisions about what to eat here in Tucson.
Adi Ibarra
Mojo Cuban Kitchen & Rum Bar
Having sampled Mojo’s Cuban food, I was really looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. It comes with samples of Ropa Vieja, Mojo Chicken and Lechon Asado. All items were incredibly well seasoned and in sufficient quantity to ensure there were leftovers. We also had a (rum) flight which consisted of pisco, agricol and cachaça.
Flavors of Havana at Mojo Cuban Kitchen & Rum Bar and flights of Pisco, Agricole and Cachaça (Photo by Addie Ibarra)
Terra Alta Bistro
Recently had to check out Terra Alta Bistro with Sariya Jarasviroj. The atmosphere is cozy and homey, almost familiar. The cheese board we sampled had a great selection of goodies that go well with what you were tasting.
Cheese board at Terra Alta Bistro (Photo by Addie Ibarra)
Darris Shepard
Karna tie plate
The thought of living without Karuna’s Thai was something I just couldn’t handle… Luckily for me and the rest of Tucson, they’re back, so we don’t have to. Vegetarian Thai fried rice is a perfect dish. The color of the dish alone is appealing, but nothing beats the juicy popping sound of tomatoes when you take a bite of rice. it’s wild. Don’t walk out to devour this dish.
Karuna’s Thai Plate Thai fried rice (photo by Da’Lice Shepard)
eddie jarolim
delta
I celebrated my October birthday at The Delta with bougie donuts for dessert. The filling was described as a sweet foie gras her cream and the topping was called a spicy mole glaze. Both the foie gras and the mole were too subtle to taste, but I can attest that the donuts were delicious and that I couldn’t blow off the birthday sparkler. I had to put it in a water glass.
Bougie Donuts at The Delta (Photo courtesy of The Delta)
Hannah Hernandez
Del Cielo Tamales Restaurant
Del Cielo just released a new menu and the Vegan Sonoran Hot Dog is now available. The vegan breakfast plate is still one of my favorite Del Cielo his.
penelope’s pizza
Penelope’s ‘pammy’ without mozzarella and jalapenos was pretty good.
Jackie Tran
Myer Avenue Cafe & Mercantile
Meyer Avenue Cafe’s Steelhead Gravlax Plate comes with perfectly toasted crostini (a moist, soft crunch on the inside), tangy horseradish labneh, and Israeli salad for a light and satisfying breakfast.
Steelhead Gravlax plate at Meyer Avenue Cafe & Mercantile (Photo by Jackie Tran)
Kim Johnston
The Dutch – DAM Good Food
Dutch Quail Wellington: Tastes like chicken (but much better).
Quail Wellington from The Dutch (Photo by Kim Johnston)
Janet & Rays
Janet & Rays Chicken and Waffles strips away the bells and whistles to simply serve delicious fried chicken and delicious waffles. If you like bells and whistles, they have Heath bars and peach cobbler chicken and waffles available.
Chicken & Waffles from Janet & Rays (Photo by Kim Johnston)
PY Steakhouse
Thin, lightly flavored octopus slices made this octopus carpaccio the star of the Halloween dinner at PY Steakhouse. Combining fresh herbs and fennel to add crunchiness to the smooth tenderness of the octopus, this dish was as elegant as it looked and almost too good to eat. largely.
Octopus carpaccio from PY Steakhouse (Photo by Kim Johnston)
Mark Whitaker
ciao down
Once again, a big shout out to Hannah, the vegan town of Tucson Foodies herself, who inspired Paul Reyes, chef and owner of Chao Daung. Well, it’s got cheese on it, but it’s vegan cheese, and it’s actually a delicious, melty vegan cheese. The tangy marinated jackfruit makes up for any protein you may be missing, but you don’t miss the meat at all. Better put up a bed and a tent with a beer from the Tucson Hop Shop across the patio. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
Vegan pizza at Chao Daung (Photo by Mark Whittaker)
lobby
A few weeks ago I was very lucky to write about The Lobby. Mostly because it introduced me to their Classic Burger. It’s insane how delicious this is. First, the burgers are big, bold, and boast high-quality cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and Thousand Island dressing. That’s all. That’s all you need. If you order a classic burger with longer cook times than medium rare, you’re in for a meaty misfortune. This is a burger to be tasted and appreciated, and I highly recommend scheduling yourself unavailable for at least 30 minutes while eating. is. There. I said it very good.
The Lobby Classic Burger (Photo by Mark Whittaker)
Surly Wench Pub
What else would you expect from Surly Wench, the infamous bar on 4th Avenue? Blackened, playing punk rock, paying upfront with honest drinks and really good food, with fiery cocktails on the menu One of my home favorites they serve has to be the Prickly Heat Margarita because it’s delicious and spicy. That’s because it’s a chili-infused tequila, made with prickly pear syrup and rimmed with a tagine. With images from the Baphomet hanging on the wall, the devil overlooking the bar, and the burlesque show from Hell, Prickly Heat Her Margarita is the perfect companion on the devilishly drunken path to salvation. Long live Surly!
Prickly Heat Margarita from Surly Wench Pub (Photo by Mark Whittaker)
Nodies
I had Nudie’s Chinese Chorizo Carbonara. Really delicious, really rich and spicy. This was my first Chinese chorizo dish and I hope it won’t be my last. Cheers!
Noodies Chinese Chorizo Carbonara (Photo by Mark Whittaker)
Rita Connelly
Rocko’s Little Chicago
The best thin crust pizza in town comes from Rocco’s Little Chicago.
Thin crust cheese pizza at Rocco’s Little Chicago (Photo by Rita Connelly)
Herminute Cafe
We also recommend El Minuto’s Beans and Beans Tacos, another longtime favorite.
Beef tacos with rice and beans at El Minuto Cafe (photo by Rita Connelly)
thumb jump
Karna tie plate
Ganpanan with Thai spicy shrimp from the karuna Thai plate. The balance of sweetness and heat transmitted through this creamy dish made every bite at least as delicious as the last. 10/10 will be back for more.
Shane Reiser
Mojo Cuban Kitchen & Rum Bar
Try a batido (Cuban milkshake) at Mojo. Similar to American milkshakes, but with a more exotic flavor. Mojo offers Guava, Mango and Trigo. Trigo (puffed wheat) is probably the most interesting. It tastes like cereal milk. I couldn’t stop drinking it. Insider tip #1: If you ask to go vegan, you get oat milk and an extra spoonful of sugar instead of condensed milk. Hmm. Insider Tip #2: If you order a shot of dark rum and pour it on top, you’ve got a liquor milkshake.
Trigo Batido at Mojo Cuban Kitchen & Rum Bar
fatboy sandos food truck
Portobello cap cutlet sandwich from Fatboy Sandos. I’m not normally a fan of portobello, but the seasoning and sauce on this breaded and fried sandwich gave it a flavor that I can only describe as ‘addictive’.
Obon Sushiya Ramen
Obon Street Noodles (spicy yakisoba, chicken, egg, bean sprouts, peanuts) – ask them to make it vegan.
taylor tenneth
La Chingada Cocina Mexicana
La Chingada’s Quesadilla-Birria Street Tacos are some of the best in recent history. Sweet, bitter, sour and fresh, it cuts through the meat’s rich, greasy decadence.
Stephanie Verokin (Community Pick)
Noble hop
Noble Hops Stuffed Squash, roasted acorn squash with quinoa, tart cherries, greens, pepita, and a “green goddess” salad dressing, was Marana’s Doctor and Foodie Fan’s October winner.
Squash stuffed with noble hops
