Restaurants in Tucson

Tom and Kenny Lam's recipe for delectable banh mi—Vietnamese sandwiches on a baguette—is a matter of public record. The Arizona Daily Star sought out the father-and-son team to publish their techniques, guiding readers through prepping the bread, pickling the vegetables, and marinating the pork. The instructions stem from the kitchens of iLuv Pho, the restaurant owned by Tom and managed by Kenny, where their variations of banh mi comprise a popular lunchtime segment of the menu.

The sandwiches have been labeled "out of sight" by Tucson Weekly, though they only cover a small subheading of the Lams' authentic Vietnamese plates. Also on the list are hearty bowls of pho, dappled with rice noodles, beef, and seasonings. Curries and stir-fries imbue entrees with fiery aftertastes, combated by the cool sips of slushes in flavors such as mango, red bean, and coconut. Chewy balls of tapioca—or boba—hide inside the frosty drinks, waiting to be slurped through straws or launched into a free-for-all game of marbles.

Vegetarian entrees, piquant soups, and simmering noodles fill plates at Asian Bistro, where specialty drinks such as the mango-and-pineapple-infused Hawaiian Escape provide sweet accompaniment to meals. Happy hour ushers in discounted meals and desserts such as house-made mango pudding, and swift delivery service whisks meals directly to one's door or backyard tree fort.:m]]

Monkey Burger's menu boasts a variety of two-handed nibbles. Burgers crafted from 100% natural Angus-beef patties sleep between soft, fresh rolls from Tucson's own Viro’s Bakery and snuggle with heaps of toppings. Chef Mattie's Monkey ($9.50) comes packed with roasted poblano peppers, sautéed mushrooms and onions, lettuce and tomato, bacon, and a bi-cheese blend of cheddar and swiss, and the Plymouth ($8.50) is made with turkey, smoked mozzarella cheese, sundried tomato, shredded lettuce, and avocado pesto. Vegetarians appreciate the portobello-based patty on the VegHead burger ($7.50). Salad options include baby spinach dressed with honey dijon ($6.50), grilled chicken and Granny Smith apples ($8.50), and mixed greens with goat-cheese crumbles and heavily buttered croutons ($6.50).