Cheap eats around Tucson

You're already spending a lot on the gems and minerals, you don't need to drop a lot on your meals. Try out any of these places for a meal for two people for under $20.

Tucson Citizen

SEARCHING FOR A SANDWICH?

The "Prime Time" sandwich and a calzone from Time Market.
FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson Citizen

Beyond Bread, 3026 N. Campbell Ave., 322-9965; 6260 E. Speedway Blvd., 747-7477

Hours: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays

This is the Cadillac of sandwich makers, where the bread is as big a draw as the fillings.

Austin's - Famous since 1959, 2920 E. Broadway, 327-3892

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays

After gobbling down simple, tasty sandwiches, you can get a scoop of delicious ice cream.

Coach's Deli, 5143 E. Speedway Blvd., 325-1212

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays

Simple. No nonsense, but oh so tasty.

Delectables Restaurant & Catering, 533 N. Fourth Ave., 884-9289

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

While well known for its board meals, this shop's sandwiches are also delectable.

Time Market Deli, 444 E. University Blvd., 622-0761

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; noon-9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Devise your own creation or get one of theirs. It doesn't matter, it will be good.

BREW UP SOME FUN

A meal and a beer. Or, what about a meal and a good beer? Always preferable. Tucson has plenty of options for places to grab a bite and sample a vast selection of beers. Here are some favorites.

Frog and Firkin, 874 E. University Blvd., 623-7507. This English-style pub is just west of the University of Arizona's Main Gate. More than 75 imported beers, and assorted domestic and imported bottles are available. There are also hard ciders in addition to the traditional English fare, soups, salads, sandwiches and appetizers. Check out the fish and chips!

Gentle Ben's Brewing Co., 865 E University Blvd, 624-4177. This brewery next to campus has plenty of choices of its own beer as well as bottles and wine. The food is also worth going for - wraps, sandwiches, salads, wings and pasta.

Nimbus Brewing Co, 3850 E. 44th St., 745-9175. Beer is the main draw at this out-of-the-way brewery. You can get regular bar munchies, sandwiches and burgers, in addition to Nimbus' own beers.

Old Chicago, 2960 N. Campbell Ave., 327-6200. The chain restaurant advertises 110 beers - and the food is pretty good! Sandwiches, pasta, salads, entrees and bar munchies are all featured, but the pizza is the main draw.

Thunder Canyon Brewery, 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd., 797-2652. I am not usually a fruity-beer drinker, but I always make an exception for those at Thunder Canyon. Prices range from $6-$12 for soups, salads, sandwiches, steaks, shrimp dishes, pasta, pizzas and traditional pub food.

OUT OF SIGHT, NOT OUT OF MIND

Don't judge a restaurant by its size - sometimes the best meals are in little

locations. Here are some small ones we like

Daggwood Cafe, 736 E Fort Lowell Road, 903-9663. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Sandwiches, subs, soups, salads and homemade desserts are the attractions at this modest-sized establishment.

Tooley's Tacos, 299 S. Park Ave. No phone. Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, closed Sundays. Vegetarian friendly options intermingle with Mexico City-style fare (including a fabulous chicken mole) and Tooley's trademark turkey tacos.

Sausage Deli, 2334 N. First Ave., 623-8182. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Get deli sandwiches with charming names.

El Rio Bakery, 901 N. Grande Ave., 882-9457. Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays.This popular bakery on the West Side also serves pretty good Mexican food. El Rio's red chile is among the best in the city.

Tania's, 2856 W. Drexel Road, 883-1595, and 614 N. Grande Ave., 622-0685. Drexel hours: 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 5:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Grande hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are available at all hours, or head to the refrigerated section for tamales, rice and more to go.

LATE NIGHT EATS

The turkey reuben from the Kingfisher's menu. They offer up late night eats at 2564 E. Grant Road, 323-7739

It's late, and you're hungry. Here are a few places you can go in Tucson to feed your late-night craving on the cheap.

Bistro Zin, 1865 E. River Road, Suite 101; 299-7799

Lunch: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner: 5-11:30 p.m. daily

The lunch menu offers tasty fare, with only six things more than $10. The late-night salad and appetizer menu is likewise affordable and filling. The calamari with blood orange vinaigrette and the warm brie are both exquisite.

Grill, 100 E Congress St.; 623-7621

Hours: Always open.

This downtown eatery offers everything from large bowls of Captain Crunch to meatloaf, no matter what time of the day or night.

Brooklyn Pizza, 534 N. Fourth Ave., 622-6868

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11p.m.; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

The bars let out and you're hungry. Don't know where to go? Head by this Fourth Avenue establishment for pizza slices until 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Red Garter Bar & Grill, 3143 E. Speedway Blvd., 881-9736

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily.

Mmm, bar food! Sandwiches, soups, fried things and burgers rule the roost until 10 p.m. during the week, midnight on Fridays and 11 on Saturdays.

French Quarter, 3146 E. Grant Road, 318-4767

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday-Sunday, 11-2 a.m.

A little bit of New Orleans. Go there until midnight for po' boys and gumbo.

ASIAN DELIGHTS

Looking for tempting Asian food around Tucson? Here are a few to start you off:

Seri Melaka, 6133 E. Broadway, 747-7811.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m-10 p.m. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m Sundays and 4-9:30 p.m. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Bottom line: Get Malaysian or Chinese at this East Side eatery. The lemak and the Singapore bee hoon are worth the trip.

Pei Wei Asian Diner, 845 E University Blvd., 884-7413 or 5285 E. Broadway, 514-7004

Hours: 10:45 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Bottom line: The fare spans all Asian foods - Chinese to Thai, Vietnamese to Japanese.

Bangkok Cafe, 2511 E. Speedway Blvd., 323-6555

Hours: Lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Dinner 5-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Bottom line: This tasty Thai food is close to the university.

Char Thai, 5039 E. Fifth St., 795-1715

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Fridays, 5-10 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

Bottom line: The service is outstanding and the food is delectable. Try the Thai toast and the tom yum goong soup. You won't be sorry.

Szechuan Omei, 2601 E. Speedway Blvd., 325-7204

Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon-9:30 Sundays.

Bottom line: Though Magdalene Gerrish has sold it, this midtown eatery still serves up good Chinese food.

Miss Saigon, 1072 N. Campbell Ave., 320-9511.

Hours: 10:30 a.m-9:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon-9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Bottom line: The noodle dishes and the pho are amazing, make sure you get a snow or a slush for a real treat.

DOWNTOWN DINING

The meat plate at the Monkey Box.
NORMA JEAN GARGASZ/Tucson Citizen

No more whining that there is nowhere to go downtown. Check out these great places that run the gamut from Mexican food to greasy spoon:

The Monkey Box, 100 N. Stone Ave., Suite 100; 623-3500.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 5-10 p.m. Saturday. Go for jazz and fresh, yet simple gourmet food. Enjoy the patio as weather permits.

El Minuto Cafe, 354 S. Main Ave., 882-4145; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Go for the excellent Mexican food and mariachi music. We have a weakness for the chicken chimichanga.

Cushing Street Bar and Grill, 198 W. Cushing St., 622-7984; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, bar open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The long wooden bar and delightful patio are reasons enough to go, but the eclectic menu makes it worth the trip.

Barrio Grill, 135 S. Sixth Ave., 629-0191; 11 a.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Fridays; 5 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, 5-9 p.m. Sundays. The decor is beautiful, the food exquisite. The meat dishes and soups are especially well prepared.

Grill, 100 E. Congress St., 623-7621, 24 hours, seven days a week. As the name implies, expect grilled sandwiches, tater tots and a large bowl of Cap'n Crunch? Trust us - it works.

The Cup at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., 622-8848; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A perfect place to grab a great meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner. The soups they are out of this world.

Cafe Poca Cosa, 88 E. Broadway, 622-6400; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. If you haven't been to this nouvelle Mexican restaurant, you are missing out on one of Tucson's gems.

El Charro, 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922; 11 a.m.-9 p.m.Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Since 1922, El Charro has been serving up yummy traditional Sonoran- and innovative Tucson-style food.

Enoteca, 58 W. Congress St., 623-0744; 9 a.m.-9 p.m.Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. Pizzas, salads and wines are the treats at this eatery.

Sushi Savvy, 110 S. Church Ave. No. 4199, 903-2600; delivery 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and 6-9 p.m. through October. Grab some sushi and dine al fresco, or have it delivered if you're downtown.

Ike's Coffee and Tea, 100 N. Stone Ave., 792-1800; 7 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Besides good coffee, you can grab some wonderful sandwiches and salads.

REFUELING STATIONS

A latte from the Flying Saucer at 439 North Sixth Avenue.

If you're like me and wish you could carry around an IV drip of coffee but still need solid sustenance, then these are the places for you. Get your java fix while fueling up.

Bentley's House of Coffee & Tea, 1730 E. Speedway Blvd., 795-0338.

Hours: 7 a.m.-midnight Mondays-Saturdays, 8 a.m.-midnight Sundays.

This coffee shop has amazing coffee milkshakes. Also try the sandwiches or tasty baked goods.

Chocolate Iguana, 7125 E. Tanque Verde Road, 886-9070; 7090 N. Oracle Road, 219-6353; and 798 N. Fourth Ave. 798-1211.

Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.

In addition to killer coffee and scrumptious sandwiches and salads, this is also the place to go for candy confections. Don't say I haven't warned you.

Caffe Nation, 3191 E. Valencia Road, Suite 111, 294-4995, caffenation.com.

Hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

Salads, soups and panini plus baked goods and coffee and tea.

Caffe Diva Fine Coffee, 2965 N. Campbell Ave., 318-3460

Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.

Good coffee at a drive-through! Also try the sandwiches, salads, baked goods and yummy breakfast sandwiches.