Eating the Old Pueblo: 10 Best Restaurants for Exploring the Tucson Food Scene

Explore Tucson

DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails

Cuisine: American, Ethnic

Price Range: $$$

10Best Says

This lively downtown Tucson restaurant celebrates the city and its confluence of culinary traditions. Chef Janos Wilder has developed strong ties to the Southern Arizona gardeners and farmers for a farm-fresh menu with a strong emphasis on regional and indigenous ingredients. Try the Shrimp with a Sense of Place, a delectable entree featuring shrimp mojo de ajo on freshly ground corn masa, spicy black bean puree, salsa fresca, cholla bud escabeche and queso fresco. For an entree rich in local ingredients, try the ancho chile and chipotle braised lamb shank Tohono O'ohdam squash, served with local honey puree, greens, braising liquids and minted jalapeno vinaigrette.

Address:

135 South 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
5206237700

Hours:

Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 3:00pm
Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:00pm - Close, Sunday: 4:00pm - Close

EXPERT TIPS BY: Patricia Escarcega
Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson Local Expert

Best Restaurants: "Happy hour food and drink specials are available every day from 4 pm to 6 pm."

Recommended as Best Restaurants Because: Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails offers a unique menu that marries Southern Arizona terroir with a unique fine dining sensibility.

Dinner
- Appetizers
  
  Tsuruoka Mushroom Soup^
  
  pickled shiitake, enoki, crimini + roasted oyster mushroom florets in mushroom/ginger broth with soy, sake, green onion, cellophane noodles, tofu, bok choy ($11.00)
  
  Cross-Cut of Iceberg with Ranch^
  
  blue cheese, bacon, tomatoes, chives ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts, watercress + green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Patacones with Shrimp Salad (3)* ^
  
  fried plantain chips, Panamanian style shrimp salad tossed in aji amarillo aioli, potatoes, manzanilla olives, cilantro ($12.00)
  
  Trotter Salpicon Tostada^
  
  shredded pork in spicy, refreshing citrus marinade on fresh corn tostada with cucumbers, onions, cilantro + chicharrones salad ($12.00)
  
  Ceviche Leche de Tigre* ^
  
  octopus, shrimp, squid, cabrilla in coconut milk-lime-soy broth w/ mango + squid ink ($14.00)
- Entrees
  
  Carniceria Grilled Rib-Steak*
  
  Native Seeds/Search Mole, street vendor's corn, radishes, green chile vinaigrette, tortilla ($25.00)
  
  Pan-Seared Salmon on a Magic Carpet Ride*
  
  w/slow-roasted eggplant, beets, snow peas, carrots, dried apricots red currant, pine nuts, lemon, mint + blood orange citronette ($28.00)
  
  Ham, Green Pea + Porcini Butter Farfalle^
  
  smoky ham hock broth, summer squash, fresh herbs, garlic toasted bread crumbs ($22.00)
  
  Grilled Lamb Chops (3), Minted Carrots, Polenta Croutons* ^
  
  slow-roasted tomatoes, caramelized red onions, whole roasted garlic cloves, dark cherry-ginger balsamico ($26.00)
  
  Pollo con Arroz^
  
  chicken stuffed with Spanish chorizo+ olive tapenade, on rice with peas, piquillo peppers, tomatoes, tomato scented dark chicken jus ($25.00)
  
  Cochinita Pibil, Achiote Vinaigrette, Caramelized Pineapple + Bananas* ^
  
  black bean refritos, fufu ($25.00)
  
  Slow-Roasted Eggplant, Beets, Snow Peas, Roasted Oyster Mushrooms
  
  carrots, red currant, pine nut, lemon, mint + blood orange citronette, Moroccan olive relish ($23.00)
  
  Grilled Cabrilla* ^
  
  carrot, passion fruit, coconut milk sauce with aji amarillo, char siu fried rice + stir-fried baby bok choy ($30.00)
- Sides
  
  Chorizo Black Beans^
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Street Vendors Corn, Chiltepin Salsa^
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Honey Glazed Minted Carrots^
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Char Siu Fried Rice^
  
  ($7.50)
  
  Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy^
  
  ($8.00)
Happy Hour Menu
- Main
  Warm Oaxacan Peanuts
  
  w/ lime, roasted garlic + chiles pequin ($3.00)
  
  Slow Braised Beef Cheek Taco^
  
  cilantro + cabbage slaw, radishes + chiltepin salsa ($2.50)
  
  DTK + C Fish Taco* ^
  
  beer- battered fried fish, shredded cabbage, remoulade, chiltepin salsa, flour tortilla ($3.00)
  
  J Dawg^
  
  beef hot dog, chorizo black beans, smoked poblano crema, mustard, nopalitos, red onion ($5.00)
  
  Ceviche Leche de Tigre* ^
  
  octopus, shrimp, squid, cabrilla, in coconut milk-lime-soy broth with mango + squid ink ($14.00)
  
  Calamari
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish, peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette
  
  $9.00
  
  $12.00
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Slow-Roasted Eggplant, Beets, Snow Peas, Roasted Oyster Mushrooms
  
  red currant, pine nut, lemon, mint + blood orange citronette, Morrocan olive relish ($23.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Trotter Salpicon Tostada^
  
  shredded pork in spicy, refreshing citrus marinade on fresh corn tostada with cucumbers, onions, cilantro + chicharones salad ($12.00)
  
  Cross-Cut of Iceberg with Ranch^
  
  blue cheese, bacon, tomatoes, chives ($7.00)
  
  Tsuruoka Mushroom Soup^
  
  pickled shiitake, enoki, crimini + roasted oyster mushroom florets in mushroom/ginger broth with soy, sake, green onion, cellophane noodles, tofu, bok choy ($7.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($7.00)
  
  Downtown Burger* ^
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun ($10.00)
  
  Patacones with Shrimp Salad (3)* ^
  
  fried plantain chips, Panamanian style shrimp salad tossed in aji amarillo aioli, potatoes, manzanilla olives, cilantro ($12.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi*
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($7.00)
Bar
- Main
  Warm Oaxacan Peanuts
  
  w/ lime, roasted garlic + chiles pequin ($4.00)
  
  Slow Braised Beef Cheek Taco^
  cilantro + cabbage slaw, radishes + chiltepin salsa
  
  $4.00
  
  (3): $11.00
  DTK + C Fish Taco* ^
  beer- battered fried fish, shredded cabbage, remoulade, chiltepin salsa, flour tortilla
  
  $5.00
  
  (3): $14.00
  J Dawg^
  
  beef hot dog, chorizo black beans, smoked poblano crema, mustard, nopalitos, red onion ($8.00)
  
  Ceviche Leche de Tigre^
  
  octopus, shrimp, squid, cabrilla, in coconut milk-lime-soy broth with mango + squid ink ($14.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish, peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Slow-Roasted Eggplant, Beets, Snow Peas, Roasted Oyster Mushrooms
  
  red currant, pine nut, lemon, mint + blood orange citronette, Morrocan olive relish ($23.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  $5.00
  
  $7.00
  Trotter Salpicon Tostada^
  
  shredded pork in spicy, refreshing citrus marinade on fresh corn tostada with cucumbers, onions, cilantro + chicharones salad ($12.00)
  
  Cross-Cut of Iceberg with Ranch^
  
  blue cheese, bacon, tomatoes, chives ($11.00)
  
  Tsuruoka Mushroom Soup^
  
  pickled shiitake, enoki, crimini + roasted oyster mushroom florets in mushroom/ginger broth with soy, sake, green onion, cellophane noodles, tofu, bok choy ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Burger* ^
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun ($15.00)
  
  Patacones with Shrimp Salad (3)* ^
  
  fried plantain chips, Panamanian style shrimp salad tossed in aji amarillo aioli, potatoes, manzanilla olives, cilantro ($12.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi*
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($9.00)

Disclaimer: Always check with the business for pricing and availability of menu items. SinglePlatform is not responsible for menu or pricing changes, but the information is believed to be accurate when posted. Listing of a menu does not mean that there is any affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship between SinglePlatform and the listed business.