Tucson was the first city in the United States to be named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy (2015), recognising 4,000 years of continuous agriculture in the Santa Cruz valley and the city's distinctive Sonoran Mexican food culture. The Sonoran hot dog — bacon-wrapped, in a soft bun, with pinto beans, salsa, mayo, mustard, jalapeño — is the city's signature street food.
For Sonoran Mexican, start with El Charro, the oldest continuously family-run Mexican restaurant in the country. For carne asada and tacos al pastor, BK Tacos and El Güero Canelo. Café Poca Cosa serves modern Mexican from a daily-changing chalkboard menu. For Sonoran hot dogs, El Güero Canelo or Ruiz's. Bread from Don Guerra's Barrio Bread, baked from local heritage wheat, was a 2022 James Beard winner.