Join Joana at the much-loved vegetarian, Tumerico in March.

Vegetarian Mexican cuisine even a meat-eater could love? Vegans and carnivores alike are raving about Tumerico’s inventive plant-based fare, which racked up 5-star reviews this year and snagged the #1 slot on Yelp’s Top 100 Southwest Restaurants list in 2023. This is “not vegetarian food that happens to be great—it’s great food that happens to be vegetarian,” says Yelper Kate S.

James Beard Award semifinalist Wendy Garcia is the chef-owner and culinary wizard behind the popular Tucson cafe. “When I opened Tumerico, I wanted people to try traditional Mexican food, but vegetarian and vegan,” says Wendy, who grew up on a farm in Hermosillo, Mexico, making salsas, tamales, and other favorites from handed-down recipes. “It’s all about those recipes I made with mom, dad, and grandma—tamales, chilaquiles, enchiladas, barbacoa—whatever Mexican dish you can think of, we can make [a vegetarian version] at Tumerico.”