Maya Quetzal, Tucson

Maya Quetzal, a South American restaurant on 4th Avenue, has long been an under-the-radar destination for Tucson foodies. And in recent years, praise from media outlets such as Tucson Weekly and Tucson Citizen has cast a bit of a spotlight on the spot's sumptuous cuisine. Regulars come back again and again to savor plates of slow-cooked meats, pupusas, and other specialties native to Guatemala and El Salvador. First-timers looking for guidance can either consult their pocket-size Ouija boards or try the carne en pepian (a shredded-beef dish simmered in a rich sauce), which Tucson Foodie named on an October 2014 list of must-try ethnic dishes around the city. Other dishes include chile rellenos, pollo en mole, and tortitas de espinaca, which are grilled spinach patties topped with a tomato sauce, Beer and wine flow behind the bar, and live Peruvian music sets a lively mood on certain evenings.