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Just as the Valley of the Sun has attracted visitors from around the world, it has also been attracting a record number of worldly residents. Fortunately for everyone, many of those people are skilled chefs and/or restaurateurs who have opted to share their gifts with the public.
Phoenix and its surroundings have metamorphosed into a melting pot for every type of cuisine imaginable: northern to Tuscan Italian; mom-and-pop to Mexico City Mexican; low-key Cuban to high-end French- and Greek-inspired Southwestern; Japanese- to Spanish-style tapas; and kosher to American classics with subtle ethnic twists.
Eateries like La Grande Orange grocery are revolutionizing Phoenix's "fast-food" concept with gourmet takeout. Four-star cuisine, some concocted by celebrity chefs, also awaits all over the Valley, from Kai in Chandler to Scottsdale's Bourbon Steak, along with Binkley's and Cafe Blink in nearby Carefree. Dotted with massive strip malls, Phoenix’s outskirts are becoming a haven of corporate eateries, but don't worry, there's plenty of divine, independent dining for all tastes and all trends in between.
Many of the best restaurants in the Valley are in resorts, camouflaged behind courtyard walls, or tucked away in shopping malls. Newer, upscale eateries are clustered along the Camelback Corridor—a veritable restaurant row, running west to east from Phoenix to Scottsdale—and in Scottsdale itself. Great Mexican food can be found throughout the Valley, but the most authentic spots are in North Central and South Phoenix.
Restaurants change hours, locations, chefs, prices, and menus frequently, so it's best to call ahead to confirm. Show up without a reservation during tourist season (October through mid-May), and you may have to head for a fast-food drive-through window to avoid a two-hour wait for a table.
Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza has taken Mexican cuisine to a new level, routinely winning accolades for modern specialties such as cochinita pibil, 12-hour slow-roasted pork with red achiote and sour orange, and chiles en nogada, a delicious traditional dish from central Mexico featuring a spicy poblano pepper stuffed with fruit, chicken, and raisins. In short, this is no taco joint.
With its hip, Pacific Northwest–chic interior and a patio that feels more like a secret garden, Chelsea's Kitchen can easily make you forget you're dining in the desert. Expect a wait on the weekends but don't fret: it's an opportunity to grab a drink on the patio bar. Specials are good and change frequently, but regulars love the shrimp ceviche, burgers, and pan-fried chicken.
Durant's has endured in the same location since 1950 with the same menu and waiters who've been on staff for decades, making it one of Phoenix's legendary eating establishments. Supreme steaks, chops, and fresh seafood, including grilled scallops and oysters Rockefeller, dominate here; when the restaurant once tried to update its menu, regulars protested so furiously the idea was shelved. Those in the know enter through the kitchen door and frequent the Rat Pack–style bar for jumbo martinis fit for ol' Blue Eyes himself.
This San Francisco–inspired grocery and eatery sells artisanal nosh and novelty items, along with a formidable selection of wines. Valley residents flock to LGO, as they call it, to see and be seen, and to feast on mouthwatering sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and decadent breads and desserts. The small tables inside fill up quickly at breakfast and lunch, but there's also seating on the patio.
Fresh, filling, and simply fantastic, the food at this itty-bitty, retro cool diner is a great way to start any day, especially when you have time to walk or sleep it off afterward. Ingredients like hearty bacon strips, jams, and whole-grain breads come from local sources, and each one is of the highest quality. Lunch options include sandwiches and chili or breakfast (again). Be prepared to wait at the Downtown Phoenix location.
Chef-owner Chris Bianco is known for his pizza-making skills, but it turns out he creates to-die-for sandwiches, too. This no-frills eatery offers just a few sandwiches and salads, but don't let the limited menu fool you: they're all delicious. The mozzarella sandwich just might have you consider vegetarianism.
Brooklyn native Chris Bianco became famous for his pizza made with passion in this small establishment on Heritage Square. His wood-fired thin-crust creations incorporate the finest and freshest ingredients, including house-made mozzarella cheese. The brick oven was imported from Italy. Bar Bianco next door is a good place to relax with a beverage while you wait for your table. Bianco opened a second location in Central Phoenix that has less of a wait, but also less ambience.
Richardson's lures back locals with heat-filled dishes that test the limits of your palate—but not in a threatening way. This is fine New Mexican cuisine, which means everything (including heat and quality) is ratcheted up about three notches. The beef-tenderloin chile relleno is the star of the menu, which incorporates New Mexican hatch chiles in just about every dish. If you're feeling adventurous, order a platter or a combination. You won't be disappointed.
This well-known Scottsdale destination transports you back in time to a 1950s malt shop, complete with great burgers and lots of yummy ice-cream confections.
A favorite for locals or those just passing through, Anita's Cocina serves reliable Mexican fare including fresh tamales for lunch or dinner and warm, sugary sopapillas (piping-hot, fried pastry pillows) for dessert. When in doubt, order a combination platter and opt for the green sauce.
The attention-grabbing name is intentional, as is the in-your-face decor and cuisine of this Downtown Phoenix not-quite-bar, not-quite-restaurant. It's noisy, but that's part of the charm: you'll sit next to couples on their first date, bachelorette parties, families having a reunion, and concertgoers who are prepping their vocal cords for an upcoming show. Make a meal out of the charcuterie platters and to-die-for pretzel fondue. If you're craving home-cookin', order the meatloaf, and then call your mom.
Located inside the Hotel Palomar Phoenix, this restaurant is a great place for cocktails or appetizers before a show and, if you have the time, a fantastic meal. The menu of elevated American cuisine changes frequently. If you're not feeling like a full dinner, order a sampling of appetizers. Brunch is one of the best in the Downtown Phoenix area; get a reservation if you plan on dining before an event.
This small, nondescript restaurant in North Phoenix makes the most delicious, thin-as-air flour tortillas imaginable. The tacos, tamales, burros, flautas, and enchiladas are served in takeout containers, and you'll find a line out the door on most days. You can buy tortillas to take away, but good luck getting home with a full bag.
Don't judge this book by its cover: cozy and unassuming in a Phoenix strip mall, Christo's keeps its tables filled with loyal customers who enjoy fine Italian cuisine. Attentive servers ensure that your water glass never empties, and folks rave about the fresh seafood dishes, the roasted rack of lamb, the veal, and the delicious pasta dishes.
In the shadow of Arizona State University, Curry Corner serves some of the best Indian food in town. The naan is plentiful at this mom-and-pop eatery, and the chicken tikka masala is the house specialty. Don't worry if the spice gets to you—there are pitchers of water nearby to cool your palate.
Perched on the side of Camelback Mountain at the Sanctuary resort, this stylish modern restaurant offers breathtaking desert-sunset and city-light views. They're the perfect complement to the culinary delights that fuse hearty American traditions and Asian flavors.
This casual treasure is a hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern favorite that gets consistent rave reviews. The reasonably priced menu includes hummus, lebni (fresh cheese made from yogurt), fabulous falafel, gyros, shawarma, and kebab plates, all served by a friendly and efficient staff. The adjoining store stocks an ample selection of imported Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian, and European foods, including delicious cured olives, fava beans, grape leaves, chocolate-covered halvah bars, rose water, and countless other hard-to-find specialties.
Cave Creek's oldest restaurant is a rustic spot for barbecued pork ribs and steak, but the real star is the fried chicken. The quirky menu features a range of fare from soup "de joor" to Icelandic cod and carne asada.
In an adobe hacienda hand-built by cowboy artist Lon Megargee, this romantic spot has sweeping vistas of Camelback Mountain and the perfect patio for after-dinner drinks under the stars. Megargee's art and cowboy memorabilia decorate the dining room. The menu changes seasonally and includes appetizers like salt-seared ahi tuna; Snake River Wagyu and lobster tail are main-course options. Phoenicians love the weekend brunch.
This fun restaurant is a must-do dining experience if you want true New Mexican–style food. New Mexico chiles form the backbone and fiery breath of the dishes here. Don't even bother asking for your dish to be prepared mild; there's no such thing at "Los Dos," and that's part of the fun. There are other locations across the Valley, but this, set in a hacienda that belonged to silent-era movie star Tom Mix, is considered the original.
The food will take your taste buds to new levels at this dark and sophisticated space adjacent to a historic Catholic mission. Sit at the elegant bar or fireside on the patio, and enjoy a spicy hibiscus margarita with supreme starters or sides. House favorites include the pineapple habanero pork shoulder and the homemade chorizo porchetta. The weekend brunch menu alone could keep this place afloat.
This plain yellow building has been the best place in town for true Southern cooking for more than 50 years. The humble lunch counter and few surrounding tables are the setting in which to enjoy rich entrées, including fried chicken, catfish, and oxtail. The portions are hearty and might convince your sweet tooth to order some sweet tea or Kool Aid to make the meal complete. Get here early: the restaurant closes at 7 pm.
Tucked into the south side of the high-traffic, high-priced Scottsdale waterfront complex, Olive & Ivy is a pleasant surprise. By day the light comes from the wall of windows that look out onto the ample patio with cozy couches and fire pits; by night the giant space becomes intimate with dim, designer lighting. A full dinner menu, featuring a mix of fish and meat creations with Italian and Mediterranean twists like veal and spinach ravioli, is available, but the delicious variety of appetizers, like bacon-wrapped dates, beet salad with goat-cheese and pistachio, and flatbreads make for a good meal. Wash them down with something from their ample wine list or one of their unique signature cocktails.
The neighborhood's not fancy, and neither is this restaurant, but in a town with a lot of gringo-ized south-of-the-border fare, this is the real friendly, real deal. Tacos rancheros—spicy, shredded pork lathered with aromatic adobo paste—are a dream, as are the green-corn tamales and Monterrey tacos filled with imported machacado (air-dried beef). The chiles rellenos may be the best in the state. All are perfect with a margarita from the full bar. Don't leave without trying the sensational mole.
This North Central Phoenix neighborhood eatery has amassed a loyal following over more than 25 years. From burgers to pasta, all of the quintessentially American fare served here is infused with a hint of the Southwest. For dinner, the short ribs can't be beat. At brunch, try the stacked green chile enchiladas---the egg on top means it's brunch.
This restaurant serves classic Italian plates and pizzas that are sure to satisfy. Try the short rib ravioli bathed in a porcini mushroom sauce, or the house fettuccini served with a lemon-infused cream sauce.
Old West ambience emanates from every corner of the Tonto Bar & Grill, from the hand-carved ceiling beams to the latilla-covered (stick-covered) patios with views of the pristine Sonoran Desert. Try the cowboy Cobb salad or the Tonto burger piled with fried onions and cheddar for lunch; braised short ribs or onion-crusted walleye are good choices at dinner.
The family-owned restaurant looks a little rough around the edges outside, but it's what's inside that counts—an accommodating staff, an enormous and authentic Mexican menu, and one of the best-tasting and best-priced house margaritas in town. Entrées are ample and include more than just tired combinations of beef, beans, and cheese. Try the fajitas calabacitas with a yellow- and green-squash succotash, or the delicious chicken delosantos, a cheesy chicken breast and tortilla concoction. You'll wait on weekends, either at the bar or outside, but the experience will be worth it.
A meal at Zinc Bistro provides just enough of a Parisian vibe to ease a bit of the desert heat. One of the most happening lunch spots in the Kierland area, Zinc turns on the romance for dinner. Sit at the oyster bar or have a traditional plate of steak frites complemented by glass of red wine.
