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    Substance Diner

    4.8 (45 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Services - Substance Diner

    Vegan catering

    Substance Diner Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Substance Diner

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    Spicy Fricken Sandwich
    Reed B.

    The Barby's Roast Peace and Spicy Fricken Chickn sandwiches are both great. Wish I had come with more of an appetite because the Sonoran Dog looked really good too. It's always great to find a fully vegan menu in Tucson but even better when they have unique menu items and you can bring them into Screwbean next door to eat. Will definitely be back for more.

    Sonoran Dog
    Ernesto L.

    Enjoyed this spot today. Ordered a few items on the menu. The grilled cheese was really cheezy. The bread is what made it stand out. Same for the Roast Peace sandwich. Not stingy at all the protein at all. Very filling and flavorful. A must try in Tucson

    1/2 Spicy Fricken Sandwich and 1/2 Mushroom Philly Cheezesteak Sandwich
    Bob N.

    This is definitely my first time going here and I was totally surprised. I was surprised first that I found the place because they're right behind the brewery. You can order food from the brewery and they will get it to you, but you have to find it and they will deliver it to the restaurant as well. The vegan comfort food was such a delicious and amazingly tasty food that I will definitely be back. The gentleman that was there was so friendly and helpful with ordering for my first time. if you are looking for a great plant-based getaway from the norm definitely visit here. Even if you're not vegan, you will love this place!

    Sonoran Dog
    Abner H.

    We were happy to find this gem in Tucson, AZ The seitan was one of my favorites I've had Delicious food and cute ambience Loved the retro look of the trailer! Check them out!

    Crispy fried pickles and homemade ranch
    Gabrielle R.

    ALL vegan menu and food truck located right outside the Screwbean brewing co. Location, -The food we ordered was fantastic, one of the best Seitan spicy crispy chickun sandwiches I've had, big huge crispy patty, finely sliced lettuce, and yummy fluffy bun. Also had the Philly cheese steak sandwich that was hearty and packed full, along with the crispy lightly breaded fried pickles with homemade ranch, yum! Finally, we also thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate-peanut butter milk shake that was knock our socks off delicious!!! :P Service was friendly, kind, and very prompt, with every item made to order! Nice blocked off petite outdoor table sitting area with quiet surroundings. I truly can't wait to come back to this little gem! :D

    Fricken Chicken Sandwich
    Talisa M.

    Love this little oldies themed diner that's right outside local bar MotoSonora Brewery. The owner is a hard worker, he makes all the order fresh and most of the food it house made. On the busier nights there can be a bit of a wait, we'll worthwhile and while one is relaxing and waiting, they can enjoy the space and drinks of Moto. Classic favorites like fries, shakes and a chicken sandwich or spice things up with the fried pickles... a personal top fave. Totally vegan friendly. Really delicious comfort food.

    Substance Diner's new spot on Park and 10th
    Brittany G.

    Great vegan diner food, we can always rely on Substance for the good stuff. Best vegan Sonoran dogs we've ever found. Thick diner fries that are seasoned great, and great vegan ranch. We love their new spot behind Screwbean Brewery, I hope it serves them well! We always go out of our way to find Substance Diner. Yum!

    Mushroom Philly Cheezesteak Sandwich
    Joseph S.

    Had this yesterday at MotoSonora Brewery. It was stellar! I had the Mushroom Philly Cheezesteak Sandwich, and was super impressed. They have their act together too. All you need to do is get the QR code off the table in the brewery, place your order, and go pick it up after they page you. Nice to see people actually using technology for a change! The cheese steak was generous in size, and tasted amazing. The toppings were a bit expensive, but that's just what restaurants do I guess. I'd definitely have this again. It's great to know I can get such amazing food at a great brewery!

    Fried pickles
    Taylor H.

    Absolutely delicious diner inspired vegan food truck. The food is made to order and worth the wait. I opted for the fried pickles, which were a generous portion for $7 and a side of ranch. I also ordered the substance burger and it had this carnivore fooled! Full of flavor, loaded with toppings and cooked to perfection. 10/10 would order both items again and I can't wait to! If I could prepare vegan food this good, I'd eat it everyday.

    Vegan Sonoran Dog & Mac'n'Cheese Croquettes with spicy mayo dipping sauce
    Monica R.

    Rainy day in Tucson called for a drive to the Substance Diner! Vegan Sonoran Dog & Mac'n'Cheese Croquettes with spicy mayo dipping sauce were amazing. The tastes! Every bite was full of flavor. Truly spoiled myself.

    Menu
    Violet C.

    Fantastic flavorful food. All vegan paradise. Ordered online, picked up. Long wait times are worth it, they are making the food with love.

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    Photo of Fringe O.
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    5 years ago

    Prices and oil are high but they have true diner food and most of it vegan. The food is good if you can stand the oil.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Tumerico - Cuban tacos

    Tumerico

    4.8(1.5k reviews)
    1.3 miSam Hughes
    $$

    Last year for 2025, Tucson took six coveted spots on Yelp's 100 Best Places to Eat in 2025. This…read moreyear there is only one spot at #32 and it goes to Tumerico, a vegan place. You bet your ass I am going to check it out on this Taco Tuesday. Okay, the guy that greets you welcomes every customer with wide open arms. I mean, never ever have I ever met someone that awesome!!!! He walked us through the menu that seemed to have a hundred plus items. We were so overwhelmed. He told us his favorite and that is what my son ordered. The guy took the time to ask what we were in the mood for. And as we were leaving he shouted goodbye all across the room. When someone is that happy, it's infectious. Here is what we ordered: - Chocohata (authentic Oaxacan chocolate) - Mesquite Latte - Frida Khalo Tostadas - Chile Relleno - Taco Plate Warning: portions are huge!! Everything is so fresh and delicious. Vegan at its best. I could not tell that I was not eating meat. I can see how it made it to the top 100. The hours on the business page is incorrect but I am too lazy to make the correction so make sure you look it up on Google.

    TL;DR: If I were blindfolded, I would never have guessed this was vegetarian/vegan. Amazing…read moreexperience and will absolutely be coming back. For what it's worth, I don't necessarily agree with Yelp's rating that Turmeric is the #1 (!) spot to eat in America. That's a stretch. HAVING SAID THAT, Turmeric is doing everything right and is outstanding in every way. The service the minute you walk in is friendly, patient, and welcoming. The salsa bar is well-stocked and flavorful. Coffee for while you wait, which honestly isn't long even when it's busy. The turnover on tables is fast because the food comes out hot and fresh, you can't stop eating The cuban tacos!!! Wow - really couldn't have told you the difference between these and actual meat tacos. Juicier than most and definitely more flavorful than any other vegetarian option I've ever had. The Freida tacos were alright - a little blander than I had hoped and wasn't trying to be anything other than a veg taco. Personally, get the Cuban tacos. You won't regret it. Promise. Salud, Tumerico!

    Photos
    Tumerico - Dining area vibe

    Dining area vibe

    Tumerico - Chefs custom plate with two tacos, tamale and mole enchiladas

    Chefs custom plate with two tacos, tamale and mole enchiladas

    Tumerico - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Noodleholics - Taiwanese beef noodle

    Noodleholics

    4.4(700 reviews)
    3.0 miPalo Verde
    $$

    This meal honesly healed me. I saw this place through yelp and Tiktok and had to give it a try. The…read moreladies who helped us were super sweet. You order at the register and can choose to sit anywhere. Our food came out quickly. We ordered the Guilin dried style and the other bowl with broth. The noodle bowl includes rice noodles. meat-based spiced sauce, spicy pickled greens & bamboo, pickled long beans, roasted peanuts, and you can choose between 2 proteins. For my two proteins, I chose crispy pork belly and pork intestine. I wish they gave a little more because it was so good. I personally loved the dry one because the noodles soaked well with the sauce. The sauce was sooo gooodddd. The noodles were perfectly cooked - had a good soft bounce to it. The guilin with broth was also so good. The broth was perfectly cooked chicken broth. The pickled greens were a nice touch to balance the flavors. I wish this place was closer to me because I literally would go every week. This is one of the best noodle bowls I had in such a long time. Next time when I am in Tucson, I am going to try their other menu items because everything looked so good. Very reasonable price and great portions. There were lots of tables inside. Restaurant was clean. Parking was spacious. You have to try this!!

    Absolutely LOVE the sizzling garlic dish with tofu. Everything on that dish is absolutely perfect…read more The side of bok choy is also a good addition. Get the app you earn points and dollar drinks on certain days. Staff is always very nice. It's clean and super fast service.

    Photos
    Noodleholics - Water station and bathroom entrance 11/2024

    Water station and bathroom entrance 11/2024

    Noodleholics - Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

    Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

    Noodleholics - Noodleholics.

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    Noodleholics.

    Falora - This was definitely my favorite- the Figaro- so good!

    Falora

    4.2(411 reviews)
    1.7 miBroadmoor-Broadway Village
    $$

    Oh my goodness, I forgot how much I miss woodfired pizza. I used to live in New Haven and this used…read moreto be my favoriteeee style of pizza. After grabbing a drink next door at Sidecar, I was pleased to see that Falora was open just a few steps away. It's a tiny place, but we were able to be sat immediately at the communal table. We ordered a couple of drinks and started with the butter pecan salad. This was so yummy. I loved the goat cheese and the apricot dressing. It was definitely a refreshing choice for this hot summer day. We also split a couple of pizzas: the marinara and the Margherita. Both of these were topped with fresh basil and the crust was perfect perfectly crispy. Like all woodfired pizza, it does have a little bit of a char to it, but I love that. Overall, the service here was great and I would definitely come back. It also looks like you can order pizza to go and take it to the cocktail lounge next door. There's plenty of parking here, but it does get packed on a Friday night. There's some outdoor seating but on a rainy night it can get pretty cramped inside.

    I am a big fan of this plaza and the surrounding businesses…read more My husband and I have made it a mission to try all pizza spots in town so this was next on our list. We made reservations and I'm glad we did as this is an extremely small space. We were seated at the bar where they have their kitchen. Generally we don't like sitting at the bar but it was nice to watch the crew make food. It's impressive what they can do with this small space. Very small menu- My husband and I are sober so we are always looking for spots with good NA/ mocktail options but it fell short here so we just got a bottle of sparkling water. We ordered the butter pecan salad which was amazing. Loved everything about it, I was hesitant that they only had butter lettuce but I think I appreciated the soft lettuce with the crunch of the apple and pecans in it. The dressing was phenomenal. For a pizza we got just the pepperoni, I saw a lot of margarita pizzas with pepperoni being made and I think we would've liked that option better with the fresh chunks of mozzarella. The cheese they use for the regular pizza is a very strong flavor, probably a nice aged parm so that really came through. We are sauce people so it was hard to appreciate the sauce with the strong profile of the cheese which is why I think we would've liked the margarita pizza better We had the panna cotta for desert and my husband LOVED it. They prep it in advance in cute little mason jars. Overall not a bad spot. Service was great, salad was phenomenal. I think if we would've had a table and maybe tried a different pizza this would've made our top 5 spots for pizza.

    Photos
    Falora
    Falora - Giardino

    Giardino

    Falora - Outside

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    Outside

    Govindas Natural Foods Buffet - Yummy and healthy and cooked with love!

    Govindas Natural Foods Buffet

    4.3(230 reviews)
    2.7 miHedrick Acres
    $$

    Food is plentiful and delicious. Menu changes daily…read more Buffet style is good value. Ambiance is pleasant with outdoor seating and exotic birds. Service is kind and unobtrusive cashier. Serve yourself food

    I read other Yelp review ls before coming here and they were so helpful. I knew to follow the signs…read morefor Govindas, navigate through the gift shop, then beeline for the cashier to pay before getting my tray and plate. I knew the drinks cost extra, but the reverse osmosis water was included. I also knew to get a new plate when I went back for seconds. I also knew there was a koi pond and aviary on the property. My mom and I were on a girls trip and we enjoy eating healthfully whenever we can. That's not to say we don't also love desserts! We heard this place was vegetarian and were intrigued. Walking in from the parking lot, we were struck at how beautiful the whole temple/grounds were. Beautiful art/water features and statues. The food changes daily, I believe, but on our visit there was a salad bar (with spinach and lettuce options, shredded carrot, cucumber, two kinds of sprouts, chickpeas, grape tomatoes, and zucchini- also don't miss the delicious dressings! I got seconds on salad so I could try multiple dressings!). There was also brown rice and yellow rice options, steamed veggies and curry veggies, coconut chutney, chowmein, and vegan pizza. Oh and rice pudding and halva. Everything was simple and delicious. They have signs on the table about the food being prepared with the utmost cleanliness and love and I believe it. We sat inside (even though the courtyard was beautiful, it was still a bit sunny). Inside they were playing pan flute music and there was the gentle gurgle of a water feature and large crystals lining the wall. Heck yeah! After dinner we wandered around the grounds, admiring everything. I particularly enjoyed seeing Sufi the white turkey, and the peacocks, the pheasants, and the parrots! They were all adorable and seemed happy. The koi pond was also very zen and beautiful. I would definitely recommend this spot with the caveat that it's not for everyone- you have to go in with the knowledge you're eating simply, and all vegetarian, and you're entering a space where others live and worship. For the price, this was a great bargain. I'd love to visit again one day!

    Photos
    Govindas Natural Foods Buffet - Beautiful grounds to walk around

    Beautiful grounds to walk around

    Govindas Natural Foods Buffet
    Govindas Natural Foods Buffet - Beautiful grounds to walk around

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    Beautiful grounds to walk around

    Renee's Tucson - Chilies and Cream Pizza

    Renee's Tucson

    4.4(957 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Romantic vibe

    Renée's was such a great experience from the moment we walked in. The atmosphere is warm, intimate,…read moreand inviting without feeling overly formal. It's the kind of place that works perfectly for date night, a special occasion, or even just treating yourself to a really good meal. The hospitality really stood out to me. Everyone was welcoming and made the entire experience feel comfortable and thoughtful. And the food was easily the highlight. Everything we tried was packed with flavor and tasted fresh. I also really appreciated having options for different lifestyles. If you're looking for something lower carb, definitely check out the zoodle dishes. They still had so much flavor and didn't feel like you were missing out on anything. My personal favorite was the pesto ravioli. The pesto was so flavorful and it's absolutely something I would order again. If you're in Tucson and looking for a cozy spot with great hospitality, an intimate atmosphere, and genuinely delicious food, Renée's is definitely worth checking out. Perfect for your next date night or a treat yourself evening. I'm already looking forward to going back!

    It was okay. I'm not a huge fan of Caesar salad not tossed and dressing globbed on the top…read morecafeteria style. Pizza wasn't very good. Just like the salad the pizza sauce was globbed on the top of the pizza over all the ingredients. Maybe that's the style but not mine. Lasagna wasn't very okay-good. Focaccia was good. Price didn't match quality in my opinion. Staff was nice. Nothing bad just expected a little more refinement.

    Photos
    Renee's Tucson - Zoodles primavera with pesto + meatballs

    Zoodles primavera with pesto + meatballs

    Renee's Tucson - Fettuccine Alfredo

    Fettuccine Alfredo

    Renee's Tucson - 12" Papas Con Queso Pizza

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    12" Papas Con Queso Pizza

    Penelope - Figgy Piggy

    Penelope

    4.5(303 reviews)
    6.8 miBroadway-Northeast
    $$

    Tried the know better now cocktail and it was good. It came with a sidecar of champagne, so it was…read morea decent sized cocktail by the time you get both. It was smoky, sweet and refreshing. Very well balanced, a lot of effort went into it. We had 30 min wait in small upstairs area for our table on a Thursday night. They don't have much waiting area, most nights you have to wait outside. It was over a 100 after the sun went down, so I'm glad there was room available. Ordered the vodka chicken Parmesan and the burrata. They were both amazing. The pasta that came with the chicken Parmesan was super tender light, tasted fresh. Their pasta is all handmade daily. All the ingredients were simple and fresh for the burrata. The pesto was chunky and gave a good texture contrast. The tomatoes were very flavorful, olive oil and balsamic were all high quality. Very flavorful dish. I liked that you could order a half order. We wanted to try it, with two entrees a full order would have been too much. I would definitely return for both. Tried the pepperoni, sausage and jalapeño pizza and it was good as well. It's very toasty and dark on the crust, made in a a very high temperature pizza oven. We had some leftover pizza to take home. I was definitely more impressed with their pasta, good handmade pasta at an affordable price is hard to find. Would definitely go back if we are ever in the area and try other items. My sister ordered a salad and she had to modify some things due to her auto immune condition. It got screwed up, but the server was so apologetic and they fixed it. It wasn't the end of the world to us. She kinda deals with this all the time since her diet is super restrictive. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, checking in with us. This place is a true gem. It's not cheap, or expensive. Mid range, but feels like you get a good value for the quality and quantity.

    I stopped into Penelope Pizza on Sunday, August 9, and grabbed a seat at one of the high-top…read moretables. One thing I really liked was that there are plenty of servers working the floor, rather than having just one person assigned to you. Multiple people help with the menu, drinks, food, and whatever else you need, which made the service feel especially attentive and seamless. I originally went in planning to get pizza, but then I spotted the vegetarian lasagna and immediately changed my mind. Ten layers of vegetables and ricotta between homemade pasta? Instant winner. It was honestly the best vegetarian lasagna I've ever had--and the best part is that I got to enjoy it without spending hours making it myself! I also ordered the bread with olive oil, garlic, and green onions as a dipping sauce, along with a glass of their house wine during happy hour. Everything was delicious, and the whole meal felt like such a treat. If you're looking for a great meal at Penelope Pizza, don't overlook the vegetarian lasagna. It absolutely stole the show for me!

    Photos
    Penelope - Bar

    Bar

    Penelope - House-made Meatballs Appetizer

    House-made Meatballs Appetizer

    Penelope - Burrata: fresh Mozz and yellow tomatoes ($14) 6/2026

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    Burrata: fresh Mozz and yellow tomatoes ($14) 6/2026

    Substance Diner - vegan - Updated August 2026

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