16. G&L Import Export
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 790-9016
Address: 4828 E. 22nd St.
Description: Tucsonans need not go to the Far East to find anything Asian—it’s all right here at this large store specializing in Asian imports. It’s filled with Japanese, Chinese, and Middle Eastern food products in bottles, boxes, cans, and bags, including soy sauces, pastas, wines, seasonings, and vegetables. There’s also a large selection of cooking tools such as woks, tea utensils, strainers, chopsticks, and even a few Asian furnishings and accessories.
17. India Dukaan
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 321-0408
Address: 2754 N. Campbell Ave.
Description: This shop offers a wide variety of Indian foods, from papadums to rice of all kinds. You’ll find unusual condiments, spices, curries, naan, dals, sweets, nuts, frozen dinners, and ayurvedic medicines along with a library of original “Bollywood” videos and DVDs to rent. Not sure how to cook up these fragrant ingredients? There’s a selection of cookbooks, too. Open daily.
18. La Buena Mexican Foods
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 624-1796
Address: 234 E. 22nd St.
Description: You’ll find great Mexican food prepared daily here, such as flour and corn tortillas, taco shells, green corn and red chili tamales, plus the ingredients to make your own, such as masa and nixtamal. The store has fresh menudo daily.
19. La Mesa Tortillas
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 298-5966
Address: 7823 E. Broadway Blvd.
Description: La Mesa makes fresh, delicious whole wheat, original, corn, and jalapeno tortillas daily. Other offerings include burros with a variety of fillings and tamales by the dozen. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other locations are at 2112 E. Pima St. (520-777-6172) and 3923 E. Grant Rd. (520-623-9703). The stores are closed on Sun.
20. Leelee Oriental Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 638-8328
Address: 1990 W. Orange Grove Rd.
Description: This massive, sparkling-clean Asian market is a welcome addition to the Northwest part of town. One of 3 stores in Arizona, they carry products from just about every Asian country. Aisles are organized by region, and you’ll find fresh produce, fresh fish and meats, and bazillions of fascinating canned, dried, and frozen products—plan to spend the whole day. You’re likely to see some of Tucson’s top chefs hovering in the aisles. Open daily.
21. Rincon Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 327-6653
Address: 2513 E. 6th St.
Description: This corner market and deli in central Tucson is almost an institution and a favorite of locals. The store specializes in spit-roasted chicken and has other deli delights as well, plus a complete market with butcher shop and fishmonger. You can take your deli food to go or dine inside or on the outdoor patio.
22. Roma Imports
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 792-3173
Address: 627 S. Vine Ave.
Description: If you’re cooking Italian and want authentic ingredients, shop at Roma’s, where you’ll find pastas, cheeses, sauces, sausages, pancetta, prosciutto, biscotti, cannoli, tiramisu, olive oils, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and lots more, all imported or made on-site. You can also get a great sandwich, specials, and salads to eat in or take out. If you want to eat Italian at home without cooking, Roma’s offers frozen lasagna, meatballs, soups and sauces, all microwave or oven ready. The shop is closed on Sun. Make sure to get directions; it’s hard to find.
23. Rum Runner Wine And Cheese Company
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 326-0121
Address: 3131 E. 1st St.
Description: Wines and cheeses are definitely the specialty of this upscale shop, but it carries other things as well, such as homemade deli items, gift baskets, breads, and regional food products. The wine selection is one of the best in the area. The shop also has a full-service bistro and wine bar. The new location is just down the street from the old.
24. 17Th Street Farmers’ Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 792-2588
Address: 830 E. 17th St.
Description: This huge market is hidden away on 17th Street between Euclid and Park. It’s stuffed with every ethnic ingredient imaginable. They also have tons of fresh organic produce, a huge selection of seafood (some swimming in tanks), and fresh meats. You can spend days roaming the aisles here. Closed Sun.
25. Tania’S Tortillas And Mexican Food
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 883-1595
Address: 2856 W. Drexel Rd.
Description: For a selection of prepared food that’s as large as any Mexican restaurant’s menu, stop by Tania’s. This tiny shop has soups, red and green chilies, machaca, carne asada, menudo, flour tortillas, and lots more.
26. Ted’S Country Store
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 325-3122
Address: 2760 N. Tucson Blvd.
Description: This place is like a homey old-time country corner store that has an updated style and an upscale selection of products. They have a great wine selection, a deli with sandwiches made to go, and regional food products such as spices, jellies, and honey. You’ll also find the basics here. Closed Sun.
27. Viro’S Real Italian Bakery
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 885-4045
Address: 8301 E. 22nd St.
Description: If you have a hankering for Italian baked goods like those sold in ethnic neighborhoods back East, try Viro’s. Along with all kinds of breads, Viro’s has sweets such as biscotti, panettone, and pizzelles. The bakery is closed Mon.
28. Whole Foods Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 795-9844
Address: 3360 E. Speedway Blvd.
Description: This chain of upscale organic grocery stores carries lots of regional and local specialty products in addition to their normal grocery items. You’ll find locally made prickly pear juice and syrup, Tucson-made salsas, homegrown olives, Arizona pistachios and pecans, wines and beers from local vineyards and microbreweries, along with cotton clothing, hats, unusual gift items, and Southwestern-themed kitchenware. If they don’t have it, they’ll go out of their way to order it for you. An additional location is at 7133 N. Oracle Rd. (520-297-5394).
29. B&B Cactus Farm
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 721-4687
Address: 11550 E. Speedway Blvd.
Description: On Tucson’s far east side, B&B features more than 600 species and varieties of cacti and succulents from all over the world in its greenhouses and outdoor displays. You’ll find desert-garden kits, container cactus gardens, Mexican pottery, and hanging baskets for the patio. Take your camera along, and you can photograph some amazing blooms. B&B packs plants for traveling and shipping and also has mail-order selections. The nursery is closed Sun and Mon.
30. Bach’S Greenhouse Cactus Nursery
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 744-3333
Address: 8602 N. Thornydale Rd.
Description: Located in the far northwest, Bach’s has hundreds of species of cacti to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a cactus for your home or yard or an unusual one for a gift, you’ll surely be able to find it here. The nursery sells planted cacti gardens and will pack your selections. Bach’s is closed on Sun.