A pleasant surprise! We were near downtown on a sleepy Monday morning, and hoped to find a place to grab a breakfast. My wife pulled out her trusty phone, where she soon was directed to the highly-rated Raptor Canyon Cafe. So off we went. A warm and sincere greeting was the first of many pleasant things that we would experience in the next 45 minutes or so. The attitude and warmth of the staff here is exceptional. One really feels appreciated and welcomed while here. (*at least, my wife and I did) The place is decorated with a cute desert-Southwest vibe. A large building-sized mural of Father Kino mounted upon his rock-pony, is framed by the cute windows that look out on the quiet downtown streets. "Comfortable, with a slight splash of a mid-1970's Tucson cafe" is the energy I felt as we dined. One of my favorite things in the place is a steel-welded hawk figurine that is perched above the stately kitchen door. I imagined him tapping gently as he sat above the busy floor. And quoth the raptor, "The quesadilla is fy-orre". (Yes, I know, "floor", and "fire" don't really rhyme.) I never said I could spit fire (street lingo for being able to rhyme well.) My wife broke-character and ordered a breakfast sandwich. She normally goes for something more exotic, but as it turns out, this choice was a hit. Sometimes, simple things can offer great pleasures-and her egg and bacon filled biscuit offered proof of this statement. I listened to the imagined whisper of the watchful hawk, and decided to follow his raptorial wisdom/advice. Soon, the bacon quesadilla was placed before me (see photo). I added a splash of the locally produced hot sauce offered with a bit of ketchup and it all came together beautifully. The textures of the grilled tortilla; the barely not too hot melted cheese, and the crispy thick slices of bacon were as close to perfection that plate of breakfast could come. It really was good-eating in the neighborhood. We both ordered the fried potatoes with peppers and onions. If you go and don't get one of these, it will be a rookie move. Do not forget to order this side...esta muy bueno! It is actually a lot of food, and my better-half and I agreed that we could have split the dish. But, as we stood to say our good-byes and thank you's, neither of our plates had any evidence that fried potatoes had recently rested upon them. They actually looked like they had just been taken from the dishwasher--spot less. All-and-all, this place quickly worked its way into my heart. It's got wonderful chow (just In case I didn't emphasize how tasty is was--it was "really-really-really" good eats). The entire Raptor Canyon's staff shared pleasant demeanors, and the place has a comfortable and welcoming ambiance. Officially, I would categorize this establishment as a, "hidden gem" of Tucson. You have my permission to go there, but please keep it, "on the down-low "so that it doesn't get too popular. (*wink) read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - That might be the best quesadilla ever to pass my lips. Seriously. - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What a great place on the corner! From the moment you walk in you feel as if you are visiting your favorite aunt for a meal. I was immediately greeted even though the place was very busy but all in control. Connie that gal working seemed like the owner maybe, knew the customer in front of me, name & gave a cheerful hello. I asked for a menu favorite & she suggested the chicken green chili sandwich. Wow delicious! Kids were coming & going & she seemed to know about school & colleges they were applying too. Amazingly friendly place with a down home feel & the food was equally a great! Worth the stop. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - 1/2 eaten Green Chili Chicken sandwich. So good I couldn't wait to dig in. - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This homey cafe immediately gets 5 stars for friendliness, warmth and service. It's clear why this downtown jewel is highly rated for service alone. It reminds me of a quaint diner. You walk up to the counter and order, get a number and sit down. One of the ladies brought us two cups of cucumber infused water and we decided to try the crumb cake which was very tasty.... Had I not already had multiple cups of coffee I would have gone for another to go with the cake as a perfect pairing. I got a biscuit breakfast sandwich and my husband did the Southwest breakfast burrito. Both were very good but the little sliced apples stole the show for me. How come the apples I get at the grocery store don't taste this sweet and crisp?!? Anyway, it's obvious why folks like Raptor... good food and wonderful service! read more

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We took a large order to go for work. Everyone had add ins or swaps, and one of the owners of Raptor Canyon Cafe was very accommodating - she even put everyone's names on our to go order. The food was delicious and went quickly. Highly recommend this place! read more

What a fun breakfast! You have to order at the counter , then they bring your food to the table. Waitresses were all Sooo WONDERFUL! Food was delicious and plenty! And save room for the home made baked goods, we took them in the car to go and a great treat. Sweet potato fries were over cooked. read more

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OMG what a find in downtown Tucson. Very homey feeling restaurant, order at the counter and they bring you your food. Delicious, fresh food with the southwest burrito being a standout! The cinnamon roll was good but not the best we've had. I would recommend it be served warmed vs room temperature. It had nuts in it (not sure what kind for anyone with an allergy)- that was not listed. Great service for how busy they were. Would absolutely try anything on their menu. And don't skip the homemade cookies! read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Cinnamon roll - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Looking for a local place to eat - this is it. We stopped in for breakfast and were not disappointed. The southwest burrito is fire. Everything was cooked to perfection and the burrito was one of the best assembled burritos I've seen in awhile. My wife had the one-egg sandwich with bacon, which was egg-celent. The homemade banana bread makes a great snack to take home. Laura served us and did a great job. They gave our daughter free chocolate chip cookies to go, which made her morning. We'll definitely come back here the next time we visit Tucson. read more

I used to live downtown and would walk by Raptor Canyon Cafe often thinking I should try this place, but they're only open during the week until 2 PM. I'm normally at work then. Today I was around downtown in the morning and so glad I finally went. The meal I got wasn't anything exotic, but I was simple dishes made well. The service is counter service and the staff is friendly. The menu was pretty extensive, but I went for a simple breakfast of home fries, biscuits & gravy, and a sausage patty. Everything was cooked to perfection. The sausage had a nice brown crust and was flavorful. The biscuits and gravy had great textures across the board from the perfectly toasted biscuits to the gravy that had smaller sausage pieces. The home fries were extra crispy and I didn't need to ask. As Guy Fieri would say, "GBD" or golden brown deliciousness on all the items. The space is small and can probably take less than 50 customers at one time. The restaurant is clean and basically a small mom & pop cafe. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Wow! Great place. Peaceful neighborhood, great outdoor patio seating, really friendly staff, generous portions, reasonable pricing, familiar foods with a Tucson flair. Delicious. Staff gave great recommendations. Will come again any time we're in Tucson. read more

Nope. Dirty. Tired. Limited menu. I am sure it was a neighborhood favorite at one point but it needs love. My wife and I waited too long to get even drinks with three other people in the restaurant. I believe the owner was working the front as well. Customer Service will be important in the coming year. And I am sure the to go order the waitress was assembling was important, but it takes mere seconds to step away and help walk ins. read more

Excellent food. Breakfast burritos spot on, breakfast quesadillas Yummo! Service on point. Not a quiet place but very energetic. Had a wonderful meal with family while in town. read more

The food is fresh and tasty. The combination of hash browns, avocado, chorizo and pico is on point. Coffee is okay, drinkable for my taste, but you get refills. Well priced, not cheap, but you get what you paid for. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast taco with chorizo - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Delicious and quick breakfast in downtown Tucson. Breakfast tacos were yummy with crispy potatoes and great salsa. The staff is very friendly too. read more

While visiting the university for lab work I stayed at an Airbnb around the corner from this cafe. I went here for breakfast four mornings in a row and didn't regret it. Great service, relatively busy every day, and felt super homey. The breakfast burritos and breakfast quesadilla were super tasty and hit the spot, and the coffee refills were much welcomed. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast quesadilla, breakfast potatoes, and coffee - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The food was delicious but the owner, who took our order could not have been any nicer or more helpful, even going so far as to recommend a coffee shop nearby to get a latte. I would highly recommend this place. The bacon was amazing and I had the chorizo tacos. They were great too. We'll definitely be back! read more

The food was good. The best biscuit and gravy I've ever had...no. For $15 I got the items shown: BISCUIT and gravy with a loaf of banana bread. The banana bread was delicious but it was tiny for $3.75, the loaf gives the illusion that it's worth the price. I don't think it is. Especially when commercial loafs are around $5 and much bigger. It was delicious but the size was overwhelmingly disappointing that I wouldn't get it again. The BISCUIT and gravy had good flavor. Lots of sausage which places around town are definitely lacking. However, $10 for a singular biscuit NO SIDES in my opinion is egregious and quite frankly unfair. It's a fairly inexpensive dish to make. The biscuit had good flavor and was soft, but the amount of gravy was criminal. I could see my biscuit through the gravy, which for $10 shouldn't it be submerged? Maybe I was jiped because it was a takeout order. Since First Watch's biscuit and gravy is similarly ranked I tried it the next day. It's actually on par with this one. It's flavorful and the biscuit is soft. $5.89 for a la cart (one biscuit covered in gravy). For a meal it's $12 and comes with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Although it's made with turkey not pork you can't tell. Because I live closer to First Watch, I wouldn't make the drive down town for the meal I received from Raptor. The interior was rustic. I didn't stay just did a pick up. The cashier was friendly and helpful. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Banana bread - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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The food is awesome, went with my parents and had to come back. The people here are super nice and friendly. I got the steak tacos one day and chicken parm sandwich (with perfect fries) the next and they were great. My dad got biscuits and gravy and it made me like them for the first time. I would add pictures of the food but it was eaten immediately. read more

My husband and I just ate here this morning, and I'm so glad we drove a little out of the way to try this place! My husband is from AZ, I'm from CO, and we're living in ND. North Dakotans do not know flavor and we miss good food :-/ I literally chuckled when I took my first bite- it was so good! The salsa is some of the best either of us have ever had. I had a breakfast quesadilla with sausage and my husband had the Southwest burrito. This is not complicated food; it's simple, homemade, and absolutely delicious. The flavors were balanced, the food was filling, the staff was super friendly, and did I mention the fantastic salsa?! read more

This place is awesome! Opens at 7:00AM, so very convenient. The food is excellent, the staff are super friendly and the atmosphere is very laid back. A great way to start the day! We were in town visiting and ate there every morning! It is an easy walk from many downtown locations. When we return to Tucson, we will definitely be back! read more

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I am so happy we found this restaurant. I was in town visiting my Wildcat and wanted to take him out for a great breakfast. We walked in and you could tell each and every person loves their job! That goes a long way for me. Now onto the food. Amazing! My son had a breakfast sandwich followed by the homemade crumb cake. Both were excellent. I branched out and had the breakfast tacos with chorizo. The portion was perfect and the taste was unbelievable! The simple touches and homemade taste made it wonderful. Run don't walk to the Raptor Canyon Cafe! Oh and parking was easy right on Pennington. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast tacos with chorizo - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Reasonable prices, fast & personable service, tasty food. Did a lunchtime breakfast. Looks like a welcoming hang out.

Came in for breakfast on a business trip. I was the only one eating in but as people entered for take out, the cashier knew each person by name. I knew then, this was going to be my kind of place. Got the breakfast quesadillas with chorizo. Comes with side of faux, salsa and sour cream. Perfect breakfast if your like me and worried about spilling food on yourself before a work meeting. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast quesadillas - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Chicken, bacon and guacamole sandwich on a delicious fresh roll with piping hot french fries. That was a perfectly spiced chopped chicken , fresh romaine and tomato slices. Got some fresh baked snickerdoodle to go!! Highly recommend this gem. The service was the best and very attentive staff. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Chicken, bacon and guacamole sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The customer service was outstanding. Rare and so thoughtful. I went to the ladies room after my food was delivered and when I came back I found it had been kept warm under a foil wrap. Delicious breakfast. Homemade pastry. I'll come back the next time I'm in town. We saw the biggest plate of m & c I've ever seen anywhere. Folks said it was delicious with sour cheeses and a bit of heat. Perfect carb load. read more

No pictures sadly, but IMHO this is about as perfect of a classic diner as you can get with actually really good food! I went with my kids for lunch, it was busy and the service was warm, friendly, enthusiastic and extremely attentive. You go a few times, I'm certain they'll get your name and you'll be a regular. It's not inexpensive, but for what you get, the quality and the service, I love it! Have been twice so far and will return again. Keep it up Raptor Canyon Cafe because I sure appreciate what you bring to the downtown community! read more

Looking for a diner and this has great reviews. No pancakes or waffles but lots of eggs, burritos, sandwiches and wraps. The food was great. Homemade biscuits, crispy home fries, well done bacon and home made chips--the best we've ever had. Parking is convenient but have to pay for it if you want to use the large lot. Staff was friendly and service was fast. read more

Fresh food, lots of things made in house, (salsa, bread etc...). Great service. Highly recommended.

After being served five-dollar coffees with a scowl at a legendary-but-will-go-unnamed hotel, my wife and I were delighted to be welcomed into Raptor Canyon Cafe's warmth, welcome, and generous coffee pours. I had a breakfast burrito. My wife, breakfast tacos. Both were excellent and reasonably priced. A great morning reboot. read more

Everything was reasonably priced, the breakfast tacos were amazing and the staff were polite, kind, and attentive read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast tacos w chorizo - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Excellent food. Amazing service! Highly recommend. Love the entire feel of the restaurant. Both my husband and I loved our dishes. It dose t look like you can go wrong regardless of what you order. Yummy!! read more

Yum!!!! Loved this family owned and operated restaurant. Don't miss it, it's that good. I had the breakfast quesadilla and it was made to perfection. I'll definitely be back again the next time I'm in Tucson for work. Thank you! read more

I've been here a few times, so far only trying the Chef Salad. Comes with a little bit of everything (but no chicken, as they explain, unless you add it as an extra). The bits of avocado, egg, tomato, croutons and cheese make a wonderful salad. But the bacon, the bacon! Little bits of thick bacon tie this all together, served on a bed of lettuce. I highly recommend. Others with me have enjoyed the Street Tacos, which, by the way, can be easily adapted to be gluten-free. Every single time I've been there, the service has been friendly, informative and efficient. The daily special is described and clarification questions asked, and I get exactly what I ordered. I always feel welcome. The atmosphere isn't fancy but is comfortable. Expect plastic cups and lacy tablecloths under plastic. Neat and relaxed. read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Chef Salad - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What a super cute restaurant! We were in town for the gem show and heard about this cute cafe so we decided to grab breakfast here. The team working were SO nice- everyone was friendly with us and everyone else in there. It was clear that some people were definitely regulars and others were like us, just visiting. I enjoyed the breakfast burrito with the homemade guac, and my boyfriend enjoyed a yummy breakfast sandwich. Both were tasty and filling. Great experience! read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Amazing service, great people. Forgot to give us our salsa and came to my car to give it to us

Great food and service. The food came out quickly and was delicious. Can't wait to return.

First things first, Konni is one of the sweetest people you'll ever get to meet, and she's always there to greet you when you walk in. You can tell that she loves what she does and that she genuinely wants everyone who walks through those red doors to have a wonderful experience there. The food? Incredible. And there's such a variety in what you can order to eat, so it's great for going out to lunch with a group! A majority of the food is made from scratch, and you can taste the difference. Nothing perks up your workday like some good home cooking, and they have it in droves. ALSO- PSA to the Disabled Community!!!! I can personally attest to the fact that they are super accessible for wheelchair users and service dog teams. And they will go out of their way to make sure that you are comfortable and have all the accommodations you need. I can't say enough about how wonderful this place is- between the food, the staff, and the atmosphere, it's definitely going to be my new favorite lunch hang out! read more

Unfortunately I ate so fast I forgot to take a photo. I had a sausage and cheese biscuit and coffee. Nothing fancy but it was excellent. The staff was very friendly and the service was quick. It's casual and has a very local feel in the downtown area. Next time I'm in Tucson I'll be back. read more

Food: Yummy and light Service: Super friendly, maybe owners? They are very caring and nice. Ambiance: family dinner Ordered: breakfast tacos and omelette and side of potatoes. Note: the side guacamole is hand made! read more

Friendly little place with delicious food. Order from the sweet lady at the counter then find your seat. Lime cucumber water was a refreshing treat. The breakfast tacos with chorizo were bursting with flavor and had crunchy hash topping. I usually find biscuits and gravy too bland, but my husband's were quite flavorful. We considered this a great find. read more

Met a friend downtown for breakfast and decided on Raptor Canyon Cafe based on the reviews. It did not disappoint! We were greeted by the friendly owner, who told us about various menu items and answered our questions. We both ordered breakfast tacos, my friend's with spinach and mine with avocado for the "meat." Of course, I ordered the much-lauded banana bread with butter. We sat on the lovely patio, and our food came quickly. The breakfast tacos are large and filled amply. We both loved the crunch supplied by the hash browns. The owner asked if she could bring our bread out right from the oven vs. toasted since it would crumble if she tried to slice it while that warm. Yes, please. The bread smelled delicious when it arrived. Those with nut allergies note: it contains walnuts. Since my friend has allergies and the tacos filled my belly, I opted to get a to go box for the bread. It made a delicious dessert a few hours later! Bottom line is that this is a friendly, family run business with tasty food. Give it a try when in the area! read more

Raptor Canyon Cafe - Breakfast tacos w/avocado for the "meat" - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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