The Top 100 Places to Eat and Drink Near Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
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Rank 2. Ta'carbon Mexican Grill
Sonoran Mexican
- USA Today 2025 · Restaurants of the Year
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Tacos · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Carne Asada · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 3. Blooming Donuts
Dessert
A bright counter shop in west Phoenix serving up straightforward, excellent doughnuts: the raised ones are pillowy with a tender chew, but the cake doughnuts—crisp outside, moist within—are the real draw. The vanilla glaze hits that perfect sweetness spot, especially when you pair it with their iced matcha latte with boba.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Doughnuts · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times A delicious dozen: The 12 best doughnut shops in the Valley
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Rank 4. Tatemados
Sonoran Mexican
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Rank 8. Ta'Carbon
Sonoran Mexican
Step up to the counter at this casual Sonoran spot and survey the overhead menu before ordering small plates of smoky carne asada, tangy al pastor, and the house Hazz blend of meat, green chile, and melted cheese. Build your own tacos or burritos from the a la carte options, then hit the salsa bar for fresh green, red, and orange varieties to dress up each bite.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 9. Longbranch Saloon
Dive Bar
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Rank 11. Taco Boys
Mexican
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Rank 13. Pho 43
Vietnamese
At this casual Vietnamese spot on the west side, order the bánh xèo—a crispy rice-flour crepe stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts—and wrap it in lettuce with a dab of nước chấm for a hit of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy all at once. Prices hover around four bucks a plate, so you can eat well without much deliberation.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pho · Best of Phoenix
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 14. Tortas Manantial
Mexican
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Aguas Frescas · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Aguas Frescas · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 15. Los Arbolitos de Cajeme
Mexican
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Eat Before a Glendale Event · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Eat Before a Glendale Event · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 16. El Tataki Sushi Fusion
Japanese/Mexican
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Rank 19. Eric's Family Barbecue
Barbecue
The meats smoked in salvaged propane tanks behind Eric's are the product of old-fashioned labor—no gas assist, just mesquite and patience—which means the brisket arrives in thick, pungent slices that nearly melt on your tongue. A spacious cafeteria-style room and homestyle patio serve up those slices alongside tender smoked turkey, dry-rubbed ribs with pleasant heat, and sides like cheese-dusted elote that echo backyard barbecue fiestas.
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Rank 21. El Rincon Poblano Mexican Grill
Poblano Mexican
A warm, family-run spot in a strip mall on Thomas Road where Puebla's culinary traditions come alive through Mole Poblano, herbaceous Pipian Verde, and a signature Cemita Poblana that demands both hands. The Agustin family's lesser-known specialties—including the precursor to al pastor—taste like history on a plate, with Puebla's art adorning pastel walls to match.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pueblan Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pueblan Food · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 22. Haus Murphy's
German
Brett Hoffman has been running this cozy German restaurant for over 25 years, turning out house-made sausages, schnitzels, and an outsized pretzel that's achieved minor fame on the Food Network. The patio glows with string lights and giant beers under a vaguely Bavarian sky, making it feel like a corner of the Old World transplanted to Glendale.
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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
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Rank 24. El Caprichoso Sonoran Hotdogs
Sonoran Mexican
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Rank 25. Blue Corn Cafe & Bakery
Artisanal Bakery
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Rank 27. Taqueria El Trompo
Mexican
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Rank 29. Taqueria El Fundador
Mexican
This freshly renovated west Phoenix taqueria does the classics with serious skill—the carne asada is properly smoky and juicy, and the al pastor comes shaved hot off the spit. The menu sprawls generously across tacos, tortas crisped on the griddle, weekend menudo, and burritos stuffed with grizzled meat that actually justifies the bulk.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Al Pastor · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Tacos al Pastor · The 10 best bites we tasted at Phoenix restaurants
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Rank 30. Tacos Veganos
Vegan Mexican
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Rank 32. La Mejor Barbacoa
Mexican
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Rank 33. Great Wall
Cantonese Chinese
A sprawling dim sum hall in the West Valley where carts of Cantonese staples trundle past your table and weekend afternoons descend into controlled chaos, with crowds queuing for lacquered duck, chewy lo mein, and fried wontons. It's the kind of place where you point at what you want and let the noise and bustle of hungry diners around you make the meal feel like an event.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Dim Sum · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dim Sum · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dim Sum · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 34. Birrieria Obregon 2
Mexican
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 35. Inca Fusion
Fusion Peruvian
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Rank 36. La Purisima Bakery
Mexican Bakery
A line usually snakes out the door of this traditional Mexican bakery in Glendale, where the pastry cases overflow with molasses cochinitos, fruit-filled pan dulce, and those giant pink pig-shaped cookies that are dangerously addictive. The fresh tortillas and chile tamales are stellar, but come hungry and bring cash—it's the kind of place where you'll want to try everything.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Mexican Bakery · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Mexican Bakery · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Mexican Bakery · Best of Phoenix
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- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Sonoran Hot Dog · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Sonoran Hot Dog · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 41. Juanderful Tacos
Mexican
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- Spirited Awards 2026 · Top 10 Nominee · U.S. Bartender of the Year · Libby Lingua
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Top 10 Nominee · Best U.S. Bar Team
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
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- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Matcha · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Mest Matcha · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 Best Coffee Shops in Phoenix
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Rank 46. Alebrijes Cafe & Grill
Oaxacan Mexican
Alebrijes is a casual, colorful Oaxacan spot in Litchfield Park that draws steady crowds for brunch chilaquiles and mole-soaked burritos, with specials like pozole and concha French toast rotating through the dining room. Expect a wait at peak times, but the kitchen's rich, carefully made sauces and a full bar with fruit-forward margaritas make the pause worth it.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pazole · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 47. Valentine
Southwestern
A cozy Melrose spot in a midcentury furniture store where chef Nico Zades builds the entire menu around Arizona ingredients—Sonoran wheat pretzels with guinea hen butter, elote pasta with local cheese, grass-fed beef at brunch. The adjacent Bar 1912 speakeasy leans into the same hyperlocal obsession with cocktails built on foraged pine liqueur and Arizona-sourced spirits, all served in a sophisticated but entirely unsnobby room.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
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Rank 48. Carry On
Cocktail Bar
Step into a meticulously designed 1970s first-class cabin where flight attendants in vintage uniforms serve martinis and roving beverage carts dispense cocktails crafted by award-winning bartender Jax Donahue, all while the city vanishes from the cabin windows. It's an immersive splurge that requires advance reservations and a willingness to suspend disbelief—think Mad Men luxury without the turbulence.
- 50 Best 2025 · Best Bar Design Award
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Top 10 U.S. Nominee · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Jax Donahue
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Rank 49. Bacanora
Sonoran Mexican
Rene Andrade mans the grill alone at this bare-bones Sonoran spot, rotating a tight menu of mesquite-charred beef, grilled octopus, and shrimp aguachiles that nod to his childhood street food while reflecting years in fine dining kitchens. His caramelo—a crisp flour tortilla layered with melted cheese and impossibly rich carne asada—is the kind of plate that lingers in your head long after.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Winner · Best Chef: Southwest · Rene Andrade
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Rene Andrade, Roberto Centeno, and Derek Christensen
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Winner · Top Mixologist/Bartender · Moises Castro
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Rank 50. Little Rituals
Cocktail Bar
Ascend to this fourth-floor hotel bar where a metal beaded curtain announces your arrival at a glittering den of upholstered luxury, and order a cocktail from a menu illustrated like a picture book with drinks you won't find elsewhere. The sophisticated crowd here ranges from hotel guests to locals making a night of it, and the bar snacks run from small bites to proper meals.
- The Pinnacle Guide 1 Pin
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Ross Simon
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Rank 52. Bikini Lounge
Tiki Dive Bar
A wood-paneled relic from 1947, Bikini Lounge still pulls you in with drafts poured into frozen glasses and a bar dressed in kitschy tiki tchotchkes, pool tables, and a patio for smoking. Tuesday nights transform the place into a dance floor when a DJ spins vinyl, though come prepared with cash and patience for a crowd that won't let you leave early.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Place to Party on a Tuesday · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dive Bar · Best of Phoenix
- AZ Central 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
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Rank 53. Chilte
Modern Mexican
LT Smith and Aseret Arroyo run this modern Mexican restaurant in a converted motor lodge on Grand Avenue with a swagger that matches the food—birria stuffed into hand-pressed squid ink tortillas, mole de la casa, grasshopper quesadillas. The seasonal menu and frequent chef collaborations reward repeat visits from people who take their eating seriously but refuse to take themselves too seriously.
- Food & Wine 2024 · Best New Chefs · Lawrence "LT" Smith
- Bon Appétit 2023 · America's Best New Restaurants
- Esquire 2023 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 55. Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Cocktail Bar
- The Pinnacle Guide 2 Pins
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Top 10 Nominee · Best U.S. Hotel Bar
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
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Rank 56. Lom Wong
Regional Thai
In a black bungalow downtown, Lom Wong serves northern Thai food rooted in owner Yotaka Martin's childhood in Chiang Rai—hand-pounded curry pastes, charcoal-grilled sausage, and dishes meant for sharing. Boozy cocktails spiked with fish sauce and rose water pair beautifully with the bold, layered flavors.
- Food & Wine 2025 · Yotaka Martin · Best New Chefs
- Esquire 2023 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Yotaka and Alex Martin
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- Esquire 2023 · The Desert Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Most Creative Handcrafted Cocktail Program
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best One-Two Punch · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 58. Testal Mexican Kitchen
Chihuahuan Mexican
A small counter-service spot on Grand Avenue where Chihuahuan cooking gets intense and soulful, Testal makes unusual burritos that arrive open at both ends like overstuffed rolled tacos—small enough that you'll want two, big enough to justify trying the bright birria and the creamy rajas with their crisp poblano slices. The burritos are the essential order, though bowls, tacos, and breakfast round out a menu built on flavors that linger.
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Fernando Hernández
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Chihuahuan Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Mexican Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 59. Japan Express
Japanese
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Rank 60. Seido Sushi
Sushi
- Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best West Valley Sushi · Best of the Valley
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Rank 61. Estero Beach
Mexican
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 62. Barcoa Agaveria
Mexican
A converted warehouse on First Avenue houses two agave-focused bars run by the Phoenix food-festival producer David Tyda: the energetic main-level cantina opens onto a patio where you can sip mezcal cocktails among local artists' work, while the basement bar downstairs trades volume for intimacy and an encyclopedic selection of spirits. Provecho food truck camps outside if you want tacos with your tequila.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Most Creative Handcrafted Cocktail Program
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Agave-Based Cocktails · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 63. Gracie's Tax Bar
Beer Bar
A faded pink building tucked off Seventh Avenue conceals a dive bar that's part neighborhood living room, part rotating nightclub, where cheap beer and a jukebox set the tone for games of Scrabble and late-night DJ sets on the patio. Gracie's Tax Bar, housed in a former tax office since 2017, keeps things loose with themed watch parties and tournaments, the kind of place where strangers become drinking buddies by closing time.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Jukebox · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Jukebox · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Jukebox · Best of Phoenix
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- USA Today 2026 · Restaurants of the Year
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 65. Huarachis Taqueria
Sonoran Mexican
Under the electric pink glow of its neon sign, this casual Sonoran spot serves family-style platters of charred meats—ribeye, roasted chicken, carnitas—with an abundance of sides meant for sharing and tucking into soft tortillas. Chef René Andrade's approach balances earnest technique with playfulness, backed by shareable snacks like loaded asada fries and one of Phoenix's more inventive cocktail programs.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Massive Portions · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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Vayals Indian Kitchen moved from a food truck into a strip-mall brick-and-mortar where servers steer you right and booths fill up fast with neighborhood regulars seeking rich curries and tender flatbreads. The dal makhani is chunky with whole black lentils, and the kothu parotta—a pan-grilled flatbread chopped up with spicy vegetables and your protein of choice—hits hard.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Neighborhood Indian Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Indian restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 67. Restaurant Progress
European
A corner of the historic Wagon Wheel building in Melrose has been transformed into a lush, intimate dining room where plants and twinkle lights set a quietly romantic mood. Chef-driven European cooking arrives as a five-course tasting menu or à la carte—handmade pasta and steak tartare are equally at home whether you're committing to the full experience or just dropping in with a bottle of wine.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · TJ Culp
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Date Night Spot · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Date Night Spot · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 68. Boycott Bar
Cocktail Bar
A welcoming lesbian bar in the Melrose District marked by a pink light, Boycott pours cold beers and well-made cocktails alongside drag shows and dancing. The event calendar rotates through Pride parties, Latin nights, and country dance floors, making it equally good for a casual drink or a full night out.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Lesbian Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Lesbian Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Lesbian Bar · Best of Phoenix
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- Phoenix New Times The 10 Best Coffee Shops in Phoenix
- AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best Neighborhood Coffee Shop: Phoenix · Best of the Valley
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Rank 70. Stardust Pinbar
Cocktail Bar
You yank open a freezer door at Ziggy's Magic Pizza and slip into Stardust, where a glowing dance floor, pinball machines, and disco ball await behind the speakeasy's barely-concealed entrance. It's the kind of place where goths, Disney adults, and whatever just-released concert crowd is nearby converge most nights to sing in English and Spanish until the small hours.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Dance Floor · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Hidden Bar · Best of Phoenix
- AZ Central 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
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Rank 71. The Fry Bread House
Native American
The Fry Bread House has been a Melrose institution since 1992, serving Tohono O'odham dishes in a family-run spot that predates the neighborhood's current wave of trendy arrivals. The pillowy namesake fry bread — whether stuffed with beef and beans or topped with chocolate — is why people keep coming back.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Authentic Arizona Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Authentic Arizona Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Authentic Arizona Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 72. First & Last
New American
The Gold Spot building's soaring ceilings and candlelit booths make this a date-night spot where the Hammonds' rotating menu swings from buttery clams to inventive sourdough bolognese, anchored by craft cocktails with real backbone. By day it's a counter operation slinging focaccia sandwiches and grandma pizza slices that draw lines, though dinner is when the romance kicks in.
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Winner · Emerging Restaurant of the Year
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Sandwiches · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
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Rank 73. El Horseshoe Restaurant
Mexican
A modest Mexican spot tucked between auto shops on Buckeye Road, El Horseshoe trades decor for deeply satisfying breakfast and lunch—think cheesy chilaquiles swimming in salsa and warming bowls of caldo de res. The kind of place where Sunday menudo and albondigas soup taste like someone's home kitchen, not a restaurant trying too hard.
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Chilaquiles · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Mexican Diner · Best of Phoenix
- Eater Machaca · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
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Rank 74. Pretty Penny
International
A sleek Roosevelt Row dining room draped in forest green where two bartenders known for rowdy nightlife pivoted to cooking serious food—think hamachi al pastor and orecchiette with charred-tomato bolognese, plus caviar service if you're splurging. The cocktails (charred tomato martini, passionfruit negroni) are built to match the boldness on the plate, making this an upscale celebration of a meal.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Top Mixologist/Bartender · Brenon Stuart
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Rank 75. Melindas Alley
Cocktail Bar
Duck into the alley beside the Renaissance Downtown and descend into a crimson cocktail lounge that swallows all other colors whole, its low velvet seating and rotating chalkboard of drink specials designed for lingering. Open just two nights a week, this moody basement spot rewards the effort to find it with glamorous coupe glasses and the sense that you've stumbled onto something truly private.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Top Mixologist/Bartender · PJ Vader Baron
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Speakeasy · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 76. Kid Sister
Wine Bar
Kid Sister is an intimate wine bar on Seventh Street where Progress alumni and friends have created a vibrant, airy neo-bistro inspired by travels across Europe and the U.S. The condensed, evolving wine list offers plenty by the glass alongside chef Isaac Mendoza's small bites, and don't sleep on their spritzes.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service · Zac Adcox
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best New Bar
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Small Plates · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 77. Frank's New York Style Deli
American
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 78. Saint Pasta
Italian
Chef Racan Alhoch runs a boisterous downtown pasta spot that channels East Coast red-sauce nostalgia through a neon-lit open kitchen playing Frank Ocean and the Sopranos on loop. The rigatoni in vodka sauce and Caesar salad are worth the wait at this no-reservations room where the food stays composed even as the energy around you doesn't.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Sauce · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 79. Bad Jimmy's
American
Bad Jimmy's is a casual downtown burger joint with a cocktail bar tucked in, where a pop-up concept has solidified into a breezy hangout slinging smash burgers and rotating specials. The waffle fries are properly crisp, the wings move fast, and the vanilla soft serve finished with olive oil is the kind of small flourish that keeps people coming back.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Double Burger · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Smashburgers · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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Rank 80. The Vig
Beer Bar
The Vig is a neighborhood bar with an ambitious drinks list and gastro-pub food that doesn't take itself too seriously, anchored by a sprawling patio that has its own bar and a bocce court. Local bands and DJs keep things lively, and the kitchen stocks plenty of vegetarian options alongside its more indulgent fare.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Daily Specials · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 81. Tambayan Filipino Food
Filipino
After years as a pop-up and food truck, Tambayan finally landed a permanent home on Camelback in a bright, neon-lit dining room where everything tastes better against yellow booths and green walls. The lemongrass chicken arrives grilled and crispy on a banana leaf, the pancit overload reads like a greatest-hits sampler of lechon and lumpia, and the halo halo is a rainbow of shaved ice and ube that sends you out happy.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Filipino Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
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Rank 82. Sauvage
Natural Wine Bar
Sauvage is a natural wine bar tucked into a historic cottage on McDowell Road, where owner Chris Lingua pours only wines from lesser-known producers and chats up customers about fermentation and terroir over charcuterie and tinned fish. Occasional pop-up dinners from local chefs turn the space into something more ambitious, but the everyday draw is the chance to taste wines that taste like nothing else on a mainstream wine list.
- Esquire 2024 · The Best Bars in America
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Find a Pop-Up · Best of Phoenix
- Eater The Best Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 84. Rough Rider
Cocktail Bar
A hidden basement speakeasy in downtown Phoenix where you take the elevator down to a moody, wood-lined room that feels plucked from another century, all dark corners and cozy nooks. Cocktails carry cheeky Victorian names and the kitchen matches the mood with chicory-rubbed duck, black garlic pork chops, and fried cauliflower that tastes like upscale fish and chips.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Underground Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Imbibe Where to Drink in Phoenix
- Eater The Best Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 85. Killer Whale Sex Club
Cocktail Bar
A moody Roosevelt Row cocktail lounge decorated with beautifully smutty polaroids shot inside the bar—a cheeky visual joke that somehow feels democratic rather than sleazy. The veteran mixologists behind the counter match the playful irreverence with inventive, experimental drinks that taste like intimate treats.
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Top Mixologist/Bartender · Brenon Stuart
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Cocktails With a Side of Tasteful Nudity · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 86. Lovebite Dumpling
Chinese
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Affordable Downtown Lunch · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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Rank 87. Chula Seafood
Seafood
The owners of this seafood counter in Uptown Plaza catch their own swordfish and deep-sea buoy fish off California waters aboard their harpoon boat, then sell it never-frozen by the pound or in composed dishes. Poke bowls, confit tuna sandwiches, and swordfish tacos anchor the menu, with grilled oysters and Mexican wild shrimp filling out a rotation that takes sustainability seriously without sacrificing flavor.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Kyle Kent
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Thai Peanut Poke Bowl · Standout Signature Dish
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Rank 88. Sottise
French
A converted white bungalow on Second Street draws crowds who settle into marble-topped tables under exposed brick to work through the wine list and oysters on the porch. The French bistro moves easily from casual (baked brie with pear and sage) to splurge-worthy (caviar by the gram), backed by a soundtrack of vinyl records and the warm hum of people having a genuinely good time.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Date Night Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best French Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best French Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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A brewpub in a converted warehouse on Roosevelt Row with an outdoor bar built into a shipping container, where the rotating seasonal beers are matched by serious bar food—massive burgers that change monthly, duck fat fries, and a hot fried chicken sandwich. The vibe is relaxed and social, with long communal tables perfect for an evening of drinks and eating well under the Phoenix sky.
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Winner: Vegan Bahn Mi · Best Vegan Delight
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist: Refuge IPA · Favorite Local Craft Beer
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Birthday Beer Deal · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 90. Cibo Pizzeria
Wood-fired Pizza
Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta arrive in a twinkling garden patio and 1913 bungalow that feels like dining in a friend's lush, candlelit home. Chef Guido Saccone's kitchen also turns out killer burrata and fresh limoncello from a family recipe, making this downtown spot worth the reservation scramble.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Restaurant Patio · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Restaurant Patio · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Restaurant Patio · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 91. Pizzeria Bianco
Neapolitan Pizza
Chris Bianco's compact brick room in Heritage Square has been the reason Phoenix became a pizza town—his Neapolitan pies, built on tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil, inspired a generation of American pizzaioli since 1996. Lines still wrap around the block for wood-fired pizza from a man who won two James Beard Awards and fundamentally changed how Americans think about pizza.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Food Pioneer · Chris Bianco
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
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Rank 92. CC's On Central
Cajun & Creole
Sharon and Devan Cunningham run this cozy neighborhood spot where Louisiana and Mississippi roots show up in a shrimp étouffée that's light and bright, and beef debris so tender and rich it demands grits underneath. The menu moves restlessly between Southern breakfast classics and creative left turns—cardamom-spiced French toast, Hong Kong-style pralines, whatever they feel like cooking that day—and it all lands.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Southern Food · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Southern Food · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Southern Food · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 93. JL Patisserie
French Bakery
A European bakery where owner Jenna Leurquin turns out exceptionally flaky croissants, kouign-amann, and pain au chocolat alongside thick slices of quiche. The seasonally rotating coffees and buttery viennoiserie justify a morning detour, and the macarons and fresh bread travel well for later.
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pastries · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pastries · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 94. Platform 18 at Century Grand
Cocktail Bar
Platform 18 at Century Grand recreates the interior of a Prohibition-era Presidential train car with wood paneling and digital windows showing mountain vistas, making it easy to forget you're in downtown Phoenix. The bar specializes in reimagined classic cocktails and original drinks inspired by 1920s New York—try the Film Star, a Vesper variation with olive oil-washed gin and lemon Lillet served with orange and thyme caramel corn, though you'll need a reservation to board.
- The Pinnacle Guide 2 Pins
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Top 10 Nominee · U.S. Bartender of the Year · Nicole Giampino
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Top 4 Finalist · Best U.S. Bar Team
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Rank 95. Hana Japanese Eatery
Japanese
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Sushi/Japanese · Best of the Valley
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Honeymoon Shooter · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
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Greenwood Brewing's bright, marble-and-brass taproom on Roosevelt Row feels nothing like a typical brewery, which makes sense since it was built by a former home brewer intent on welcoming everyone to craft beer. The pale ale called Herstory anchors a rotating lineup of thoughtful brews, and you can settle into one of two courtyards with a food order from nearby restaurants.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Unusual Beer: Mango Lassi · Best of Phoenix
- Imbibe Where to Drink in Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 97. Copper Star Coffee
Coffee
A converted gas station in Melrose churns out bagels and lattes from 6 a.m., with a drive-thru window and a shaded patio where you can linger or grab-and-go. The house-made bagels come in flavors like jalapeño cheddar and sun-dried tomato, stacked into breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese, and your choice of meats.
- AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 98. Taco Chelo
Mexican
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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- AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes
- AZ Central 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 100. D & Y Chinese Food
Chinese