Non franchise non snooty places to eat in Tucson?

Question

I'm looking for suggestions on good neighborhood places to eat, not rubber stamp franchise chains or where food is overpriced overdressed foo foo art rather than a meal.  

Your favorite neighborhood joint, whether your favorite obscure family owned hole in the wall at the local shopping center or bar/grill, somewhere that is consistent good quality somewhere you would go on your own or take out of town friends for a good no BS almost home cooked style meal for a decent price. Best place for a hearty keep you going all day breakfast?  favorite place for a good hamburger? ethnic foods?  places that serve Halal prepared food for my Muslim guests? (AliBaba is my favorite)

I'm in the hills far SE end of Tucson so primarily interested in what might be found lets say, in the area south of Speedway and east of Swan, but I am open to all suggestions. tell me what in particular keeps you coming back for more. I'd like personal experiences, not web page listings.

Mary B · Accepted Answer

Mama Louisa's on Craycroft (close to the Golf Links intersection). Great homemade Italian Food. Qualifies as a "hole in the wall"!
Gavi at Broadway and Pantano. Fab authentic Italian + other types of food. I like the small, casual, quaint atmosphere....awesome soccer memorabilia, too!
Zivaz on Broadway (between Craycroft and Swan) Creative Mexican...yummy!

Louie · Answer

One of my favorites is Cafe Poca Cosa (downtown on Pennington). It looks a little pretentious, but I've gone in shorts without a worry.  The best value is at lunch time (dinner gets a little pricey).  It is by far, the best Mexican restaurant in town.  They don't serve the usual burritos and tacos.  Stay away from the mole if you have never had it.  They close for summer, so call before you go.

If you want Indian food, try Gandhi's (Ft. Lowell and Stone) for the lunch buffet and Shari-Punjab (Grant near 1st) for dinner.

Best Thai food in my book is Karuna's Thai Plate (Grant near Campbell).  It is a tiny hole in the wall, though.

JOHN Q · Answer

Have You Tried Pinnacle Peak? Its a Good Place For Steak In That Area If You Like That Sorta Thing. It Also Has A Few shops there, and an awesome gun show after you eat.

Suzie K · Answer

For a really great, hearty and inexpensive home cooked Breakfast, I always go to The Bread and Butter Cafe on 22nd.
Lunch there is great too.
And you can't go wrong with TTT Truck Stop for any meal.
If your looking for a family owned and great Italian place go to Argenziano's on Houghton Rd. about 8 miles south of Rita Rd in Vail - Awesome !!

marquie · Answer

I don't know if you like sushi but Sushi garden (corner of broadway & alvernon) is good & prices are reasonable.  they have a lunch buffet for $7.95 from 11:00-2:00 Mon.-Fri. & 12:00-3:00 Sat.& Sun. & that is when they open on those days as well.  then they have an all u can eat sushi all day for $19.95.  it is good & has lobster selections as well. they also have a menu you can order from that has other Japanese & also Korean food & you can also order sushi by the piece as well.  For Mexican food, I say Maria's on so. 6th ave.  & also Mi Nidito on south 4th ave. (where President Clinton ate). & also I don't know the name of the resturaunt but it is a little Chinese place on the corner of 22nd street & Kolb.  just west of Kolb enter on 22nd st. it is good & yes i ate there several times.

Anonymous · Answer

if you like mexican i always would recomend el cantina it has an amazing atmospher and has a duck and geese pond in the center of the building - luv it !! i always go there when im in the us in az

- hooroo !

Ryan G · Answer

Blancos mexican food at La Encantada is really good!

boredTOdeath · Answer

joes crab shack, el paso bbq company!

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Non franchise non snooty places to eat in Tucson?

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