Andy Lin's Lickity List (Amazing $10 Authentic Meals in Tucson)

Sometimes the best food in the world isn't served at a 5-star restaurant with menu items so complex to read that you feel like you're reading another language.  I hope you are enjoying Andy Lin's Lickity List, dedicated to authentic meals in Tucson for around $10.  This list features meals not about crazy and creative ingredients, but about great tasting food.  When the food is just so good, nothing else really matters!

This list will be a running log that I will update whenever I go to one of my several favorite restaurants in Tucson, so be sure to check back for my latest recommendations via the link under my Hot Topics section!

Andy Lin's Lickity List
Amazing $10 Authentic Meals in Tucson

Frog & Firkin
874 East University Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85719

Date Visited: May 12, 2014
Style: English Pub
Go-To-Lick: The Firkin Burger with Cheese
Price: $9.13 including tax

Raves: The "Frog" has been around in Tucson for several years and sits along University Blvd, a high traffic area close to the University of Arizona with several restaurants and bars.  I won't usually comment on the atmosphere at restaurants on this list since it's all about the food, but hey, having some beautiful college girls walking by to look at while you're enjoying your food and a beer at an outdoor table is always a welcome perk!

At Frog & Firkin, my Go-To-Lick is the Firkin Burger with Cheese.  All the ingredients in their burgers seem homemade, from the tasty bun, to the burger meat, and the American cheese.  This burger does not disappoint, and the fries are great (they have several options on fries that are pretty popular, but I just like the original ones).  I recommend getting the normal bun and if you're feeling up for it, why not be adventurous with one of the specialty burgers.

 
El Guero Canelo
2480 North Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85705 

Date Visited: May 3, 2014
Style: Sonora Mexican
Go-To-Lick: 2x Carne Asada Burro Jr. with Extra Cheese
Price: $9.27 including tax

Read this Review.

Andy Lin is your typical Tucson resident and is a not food connoisseur.  He is simply a man who knows what pleases his tastebuds and belly.   Special thanks to Nate M. and Matt H. for help with coming up with a title for this list.

Crunching Along (RE: Crunch Time!)

Following up on my leagues coming to an end...

Basketball finals for IBM went well and my team was able to put it all away in the first game, finding our way to a 54-40 victory.  Our team went undefeated on the year (11-0), the first time that's happened in IBM Basketball League in almost 10 years I'd say.  I probably won't get this lucky at the draft again, so I will have to indulge in the victory for as long as I can.  This will make a 3rd championship in 5 years and another trophy goes on top the cabinet in my office. :)

I wish I could say that I had the same success in Season 4 of After Hours Gaming League, but Microsoft once again defeated us in the semifinals.  Their team is just too good and they are likely going to win their 3rd championship.  To make matters worse, a couple of key players are leaving IBM after this season, which makes Team IBM significantly weaker for future seasons.  While it would've been nice to achieve the highest plateau in this league just once, IBM's fate looks short-lived.

Fortunately, I am able to enjoy some success in pool league!  After being denied 1st place for the session, my team played well and won the playoffs, sending us back to Big Money and winning plaques for everyone and $200 for the team.  That's now 4 straight sessions with a plaque, which is something to be proud of.  Now we just need to get back on top!

As I enter the off-season for my leagues (although pool is year-round), I am starting to plan my usual dose of trips and vacations.  I'll be going to San Fransisco in early June, Reno in late June, Washington D.C. for July 4th, and Seattle in August.  Many blogworthy items to come ahead!

Andy Lin's Lickity List (Amazing $10 Authentic Meals in Tucson)

Every city has its secrets, and if you're crazy about food as much as I am, you yearn to know where the best authentic food in the city is.  I've lived in Tucson for 13 years now, and today I introduce you to Andy Lin's Lickity List!  This list includes authentic restaurants that only appear in Tucson and that I continuously return to for a meal, which costs around $10.  I love specific menu items so much that I will almost always get the same thing every time I go to the restaurant!  I also won't be commenting on the service or atmosphere of a restaurant; nope, it's all about the food for this list!

This list will be a running log that I will update whenever I go to one of my several favorite restaurants in Tucson, so be sure to check back for my latest recommendations via the link under my Hot Topics section!

Andy Lin's Lickity List
Amazing $10 Authentic Meals in Tucson

El Guero Canelo
2480 North Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85705 

Date Visited: May 3, 2014
Style: Sonora Mexican
Go-To-Lick: 2x Carne Asada Burro Jr. with Extra Cheese
Price: $9.27 including tax

Raves: If you're a Tucson resident, you're no stranger to El Guero Canelo.  Tucson is home of many "messy Mexican" a.k.a. fast food Mexcian restaurants and there will be plenty to make my Lickity List!  El Guero Canelo has all types of items from burritos to caramelos to Sonora dogs.  My Go-To-Lick here is the Burro Jr. for $3.29.  The burritos all come with cabbage and beans that I'm not a fan of in this burrito, so I elect for the Burro Jr., which only contains the precious carne asada meat.  I then ask for them to add queso (cheese) for $1.29.  One Burro Jr. is not enough to satisfy my hunger, so I'll end up getting two.

While you wait for your food, you have to make your way to the salsa bar and grab some Mexican condiments to put in each burrito.  I get a solo cup of hot red salsa, a cup avocado sauce, and a cup of pico de gayo for each burrito.  That makes 6 cups of condiments and 2 burritos, for a countless amount of authentic amazingness!

I think what makes Guero so delicious is their carne asada.  The meat differs at each of these types of Mexican restaurants in Tucson and Guero has one of the best!  If you're a soda drinker, you can also try a Mexican bottle of Pepsi, which tastes different because they're made with sugarcane sugar.

Andy Lin is your typical Tucson resident and is a not food connoisseur.  He is simply a man who knows what pleases his tastebuds and belly.   Special thanks to Nate M. and Matt H. for help with coming up with a title for this list.