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

Explore Tucson

Save This Page +

Photo courtesy of DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails

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 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
  Chilled Andalusian Style Mango Gazpacho^
  
  olive oil, scattered pomegranates + orange fennel salad ($10.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano
  
  $6.50
  
  $10.00
  Shrimp, Calamari + Scallion Pancake^
  
  housemade kimchi + dipping sauce ($12.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($11.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Hamachi Crudo^
  
  cucumber, lime, sesame, shiso + spicy sweet 'n' sour sauce ($14.00)
  
  Baja Gardener's Tostada^
  
  crisp corn tortilla, spicy peruana beans, roasted Anaheim chiles, heirloom carrots, radish, poached garlic cloves, snow peas, roasted corn vinaigrette ($11.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts, watercress + green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Watermelon Salad
  
  candied jalapenos, verdolagas, apples, pickled red onions, feta, spiced pepitas, chicharrones, guajillo-pineapple mojo ($10.00)
- Entrées
  
  Warm Grilled Quail, Pickled Cherries, Slow Roasted Tomatoes* ^
  
  frisée, roasted golden beets, basil, mint, cherry balsamico, polenta croutons ($25.00)
  
  Pan-Roasted Salmon + Corn Swim through Sonoran Summer* ^
  
  corn with smoked poblano butter, salmon chicharrones, basil, EVOO + late-summer tomato goodness ($29.00)
  
  Bo Ssam^
  
  slow-roasted pork shoulder, lettuce wraps, housemade kimchi, ginger-scallion and ssäm sauces ($25.00)
  
  Stir-Fried Rice Cakes + The Red Dragon with Fish Puffs^
  
  Korean style dashi broth, cabbage, scallions + caramelized onions ($23.00)
  
  L.A. Galbi* ^
  
  Koreatown cut of marinated beef short ribs, ssäm jang, pickled radish, scallions, housemade kimchi, steamed rice ($27.00)
  
  Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, Fennel / Cherry Mostardo* ^
  
  olive oil crushed potatoes with Castelvéltrano olives ($26.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry^
  
  steamed rice, tofu, lime ($22.00)
  
  Morrocan Chicken Tagine^
  
  Silk Road seasonings, cauliflower, tomatoes, dried apricots, herbed Israeli couscous, minted yogurt ($25.00)
- Sharing Sides
  
  Chorizo Black Beans^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Israeli Couscous w/ Mint Yogurt, Dried Apricots^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Sweet 'N' Sour Eggplant w/ Spicy Peanuts
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Corn w/ Smoked Poblano Butter + Salmon Chicharrones^
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Stir-Fried Rice Cakes w/ Cabbage, Scallions, Caramelized Onions^
  
  ($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 batter 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 + French fries ($5.00)
  
  Hamachi Crudo^
  
  cucumber, lime, sesame, shiso + spicy sweet 'n' sour sauce ($14.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($8.00)
  
  Calamari*
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette ($9.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($6.50)
  
  Chilled Andalusian Style Mango Gazpacho^
  
  olive oil, scattered pomegranates ($7.00)
  
  Shrimp, Calamari + Scallion Pancake^
  
  housemade kimchi + dipping sauce ($9.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($10.00)
  
  Baja Gardener's Tostada^
  
  crisp corn tortilla, spicy peruana beans roasted Anaheim chiles, heirloom carrots, radish, poached garlic cloves, snow peas, roasted corn vinaigrette ($8.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($6.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry
  
  shiitake mushrooms, tofu ($12.00)
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 batter 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 + French fries ($7.00)
  
  Hamachi Crudo^
  
  cucumber, lime, sesame, shiso + spicy sweet 'n' sour sauce ($14.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($11.00)
  
  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)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($10.00)
  
  Chilled Andalusian Style Mango Gazpacho^
  
  olive oil, scattered pomegranates ($10.00)
  
  Shrimp, Calamari + Scallion Pancake^
  
  housemade kimchi + dipping sauce ($12.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($15.00)
  
  Baja Gardener's Tostada^
  
  crisp corn tortilla, spicy peruana beans roasted Anaheim chiles, heirloom carrots, radish, poached garlic cloves, snow peas, roasted corn vinaigrette ($11.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($8.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry
  
  shiitake mushrooms, tofu ($12.00)

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.