Is best Mexican food in Phoenix or Tucson? Valley 101 podcast digs in

Where is the best Mexican food in the U.S.? Which big city has the best Mexican food in Arizona? These are complex questions fueled with fiery debates and passionate proclamations.

Googling the questions brings up all sorts of answers. However, Arizona cities remain at the top of the national conversation.

One city is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, in major part because of the Mexican food scene. It is worth noting that it is the first city in the United States to win this distinction, and it’s rubbing shoulders with culinary giants like Phuket, Thailand, and Parma, Italy. 

You might think, and quite understandably, that this city must have the best Mexican food in the country. If the world recognizes it, so should you. 

But it’s not that simple.

Oh, and that city with the fancy title? It’s Tucson. It boasts 23 miles of quality Mexican food.

However, Phoenix is more than happy to step into the ring to duke it out over which metro area has the best Mexican food. With literally hundreds of shops, from humble food trucks to exquisitely high-brow dining concepts, Phoenix holds its own as a culinary contender.

This week, Valley 101 plays referee between two Mexican food heavyweights: Phoenix and Tucson. Which do you think does Mexican best?

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