The Top 100 Places to Eat and Drink Near The Peppermill
-
- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Curry Lamb Pot Pie · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
-
-
Rank 3. Bar Capri
Italian
A strip-mall Italian spot with deep green walls, gold candelabras, and the intimate feel of a historic downtown room, Bar Capri serves straightforward, satisfying plates of lasagna, calamari, and arrancini alongside a carefully chosen wine list and stellar cocktails. Linger over tiramisu or chocolate torte at the small bar in back and you'll understand why this cozy neighborhood joint has become a genuine destination.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best new Phoenix restaurants of 2025
- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
-
Rank 4. Feta Cowboy
Mediterranean
-
Rank 5. Shimogamo
Sushi
A polished sushi counter in a Chandler strip mall where the focus lands on pristine raw fish rather than elaborate rolls, with occasional treasures like escolar and sweet shrimp alongside more familiar nigiri and sashimi. The Zen Roll—spicy yellowtail with shishito peppers and pickled burdock, topped with albacore and spicy soy—shows the kitchen's willingness to riff without abandoning restraint.
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Best World Flavors
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Japanese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Sushi · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 6. Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine
Modern Indian
Chefs Sujan Sarkar and Karan Mittal push Indian cuisine in new directions at this bright spot in a Chandler shopping center, where cocktails arrive infused with masala chai and ghee and small plates invite family-style grazing. The Kashmiri lamb chops are stunning, the black dairy dal is essential, and the gulab jamun cheesecake shows they're not afraid to reimagine the classics.
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Best World Flavor
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Upscale Indian Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Upscale Indian Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 7. Ban Chan Korean Cuisine
Traditional Korean
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 8. Old Town Taste
Sichuan Chinese
A bright neon sign marks this strip-mall Sichuan spot where turquoise booths and lazy susans signal you're in for a casual, convivial meal. The Chongqing-style spicy chicken—tender meat in crunchy batter studded with chiles and numbing Sichuan peppercorns—is worth the trip alone.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Traditional Chinese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Traditional Chinese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
-
Rank 9. All Pierogi Kitchen
Eastern European
A charming family spot in Mesa that trades strict Ukrainian borders for the meat-and-potatoes soul of Eastern Europe, with thick, buttery pierogi stuffed with everything under the sun and sausage griddled to a juicy snap. Beef goulash and pork schnitzel that outshine the competition, plus a market counter stocked with frozen pierogi and chilled soups to take home.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Eastern European Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Eastern European Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Eastern European Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 10. Supreme Shawarma
Spit-roasted Middle Eastern
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
-
-
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 14. Cocina Chiwas
Mexican
Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin have built a comfortable, chic room around an open kitchen where mesquite and pecan smoke chars everything from stuffed poblanos to crispy quesadillas, taking you on a journey rooted in their Chihuahuan family cooking. The sweet corn panna cotta alone—creamy and singing with corn flavor against seasonal fruit—signals that these are serious chefs having fun with the food they grew up eating.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurateur · Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin
- USA Today 2024 · Restaurants of the Year
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Chiles Rellenos · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 15. Joe's Italian Ice
Italian Dessert
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Italian Ice · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Italian Ice · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Italian Ice · Best of Phoenix
-
-
Rank 17. Drunken Tiger
Korean
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 18. Happy Baos
Northern Chinese
A modest counter tucked into Mekong Plaza's food court, Happy Baos has stayed put while restaurants around it come and go, turning out chewy handmade dumplings and plump steamed buns that justify the loyalty. The 20-piece dumpling combo hits five different fillings, and the dan dan noodles with crunchy peanuts are sharp enough to remember on the drive home.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
-
-
-
Rank 21. Origami Ramen Bar
Noodles
An Osaka-born chef who trained at Nobu cooks classical ramen with real depth—his paitan broth is creamy and unctuous, his miso blends Hokkaido pastes into something that rivals the Valley's best. Casual counter spot slinging solid bowls alongside takoyaki made the way his mother taught him.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Ramen · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Ramen · Best of Phoenix
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 22. The Dhaba
Punjabi Indian
The Dhaba takes its name from Indian roadside truck stops, and this cozy Tempe spot captures that same unpretentious energy with homemade breads, tandoori meats, and fried street snacks at prices that won't hurt. Order one of the three thali options if you want to sample across the menu without deciding—you'll get masala chai, fresh naan, and dessert bundled in with your choice of vegetable or meat curries.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Neighborhood Indian Spot · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Neighborhood Indian Spot · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Indian restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 23. Peixoto Coffee
Brazilian
Julia and Jeff Peters roast their family's Brazilian coffee beans right in the corner of this bright Chandler cafe, where the straightforward menu—espresso, cappuccino, cortado, nothing fancy—lets the sourcing and roasting speak for themselves. Pair your cup with pastries from Pistol Whipped or empanadas from AZ Food Crafters, and you've got a casual spot that takes its coffee seriously but wears it lightly.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Coffee Roasters · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Coffee Roasters · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Coffee Roasters · Best of Phoenix
-
-
Rank 25. Little Miss BBQ - University
Texas-style Barbecue
You'll stand in line with your nose in the smoke, watching the menu board get taped over as items sell out, then order your meat from the counter guy before moving on to sides that range from mac and cheese to jalapeño cheddar grits. This casual Texas Hill Country-style barbecue shop run by competitive pitmasters does straightforward, top-tier brisket, pulled pork, and butter-soft beef short ribs on weekends.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Scott Holmes
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
-
- 50 Top Pizza 2025 · #26 · 50 Top Pizza USA
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Honey Bee Pizza · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
-
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Salads · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Salads · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 28. Chou's Kitchen - Chandler
Northeast Chinese
-
A 1910 house in Tempe where college kids and seasoned drinkers mix happily over cheap drinks and solid food, with the kind of homey chaos that makes you feel like you've always belonged there. The place has earned its reputation as the real heart of the town—and possibly a ghost or two—by never taking itself seriously and always getting the good times rolling.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Neighborhood Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Neighborhood Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Bar · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 30. The Chuckbox
Southwestern
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: The Great One · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
-
-
Rank 32. The Bagel Man
New York
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Bagels · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Bagels · Best of Phoenix
-
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Chinese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 34. The Chill Room
Coffee
-
-
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 37. Catalyst Crafted Ales
Beer Bar
Will Walthereson's sleek 2023 brewhouse in Tempe makes a serious play for adventurous beer drinkers with playful sours, assertive IPAs, and an Italian pilsner poured European-style with a dramatic foam collar. The in-house taco counter keeps pace with the bold brews, and the sprawling patio gives you plenty of room to work through the list.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best New Brewery · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best New Brewery · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 38. Don Guerra's Barrio Bagel & Slice
Sonoran Bakery
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Tucson Import · Best of Phoenix
- Eater The Best Bakeries in Phoenix, Arizona
-
Rank 39. Ted's Hot Dogs
American
A New York transplant runs this casual counter joint where the hot dogs are properly plump and juicy, the brats equally impressive, and both land on fluffy toasted buns. The real draw is the sides—fries smothered in gravy, a regional rarity—and specials like the White Hot, which pairs sauerkraut and mustard with dead-serious intent.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Hot Dogs · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Hot Dogs · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 40. Woodnotes Cellar
Belgian Beer Bar
-
Rank 41. Cafetal Coffee
Columbian
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Coffee Shop · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 Best Coffee Shops in Phoenix
-
The Stone is a bright, casual Korean spot in Mesa's Asian District where bubbling soondubu arrives in an earthenware crock and you crack a raw egg into the fiery broth yourself, watching it cook alongside house-made tofu and your choice of seafood or beef. Beyond the signature tofu stews, there's beef bulgogi and bibimbap, though fair warning: the red broth means white shirts don't survive the meal.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Korean Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 43. Skysill Rooftop Lounge
Cocktail Bar
Eighteen stories above Mill Avenue, this rooftop bar trades indoor comfort for unobstructed views of A Mountain, downtown Tempe, and the glittering Mill Avenue Bridge at night—grab a cocktail at the covered bar and wander the open deck with a drink in hand. The food menu of carne asada tacos, Caesar wraps, and flatbreads works hard to keep up with Arizona beers and seasonal drinks that shift with the weather.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Rooftop Pool · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Rooftop Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Rooftop Bar · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 44. Cafe Lalibela
Ethiopian
A husband-and-wife team has run this stripped-down Tempe spot for decades, serving some of the best Ethiopian food in the Phoenix area with an emphasis on vegetarian dishes and the spongy injera bread that anchors most meals. The key sega wat—a spicy beef stew—is worth the trip, and the glossary menu means newcomers won't feel lost navigating unfamiliar territory.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
-
Rank 45. Shaanxi Garden
Northern Chinese
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
-
-
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Double Burger · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- Phoenix New Times The top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
-
Rank 48. Mandi House
Yemeni Middle Eastern
- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 49. Aruma Cafe
Mexican
-
Rank 50. The 480 Bar
Dive Bar
-
Rank 51. Haji-Baba
Middle Eastern
-
Rank 52. Harlow's Cafe
Diner American
Harlow's has been the kind of place where regulars camp out with coffee for hours, turning University Drive into a proper neighborhood corner near Arizona State's campus. The kitchen does unfussy breakfast and lunch—creamed chipped beef on toast, French dips, chicken-fried steak—with the kind of competence that only comes from nearly three decades of doing the same things right.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Old-School Diner · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2026 · The 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix
-
-
Rank 54. Sushi Nakano
Edo-style Sushi
Leo Nakano left Scottsdale's sushi establishment to open this strip-mall counter in Ahwatukee, where he crafts Edo-style nigiri with meticulous sourcing and a respect for rice that most neighborhood joints never bother with. The prices stay humble despite the quality, and if you ask nicely on a slow night, he'll make you signature preparations like salmon with pickled kombu or cold-smoked kuro-dai.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Sushi · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix
-
Rank 55. The Hidden House
New American
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 56. The Ostrich
Cocktail Bar
-
Rank 57. Taco Chelo
Mexican
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
-
-
Rank 59. The Brickyard Downtown
Cocktail Bar
-
-
-
Rank 62. Mensho Ramen
Noodles
Mensho brings an imported ramen concept to Mesa with an open kitchen ringed in light wood, where ambitious broths layered with unexpected flavors like matcha and five-fold garlic preparations pair with silky handmade noodles. It's a casual counter spot that's already spawned a second location in Phoenix, drawing crowds eager for something genuinely different in the local noodle scene.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Emerging Restaurant of the Year
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Ramen · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 63. Tacos Chiwas
Chihuahuan Mexican
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurateur · Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
-
-
Rank 65. KAI
American
Chef Drew Anderson sources saguaro fruit, tepary beans, and wild sumac from the Sonoran Desert and Gila River Community lands to build an ambitious tasting menu that filters indigenous ingredients through global fine-dining technique. It's an intimate, rooted experience where cactus key lime pie and buffalo with saguaro syrup sit alongside dishes that feel both deeply local and expansively creative.
- Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Five Star
- AAA Five Diamonds
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Hospitality
-
Rank 66. Palo Verde Lounge
Dive Bar
At this dark, cash-only Tempe dive, the crowd swings wildly—construction workers at happy hour, ASU students, neighborhood regulars—and so does the vibe, from pool-and-TV quiet to packed dance floors to metal bands in the parking lot. Owner Chuck Marthaler pours drinks strong and cheap, and remembers what you drink.
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Dive Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
-
-
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Winner: The Joy Bus · Favorite Local Craft Beer
- Eater The Best Bars in Phoenix
-
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Winner · Top Arizona Brewery, Winery, or Distillery Experience
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: American Pie · Favorite Local Craft Beer
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Mango Foxtrot · Favorite Local Craft Beer
-
Rank 70. Quiessence At The Farm
Arizonan
-
Rank 71. Taco Boys
Mexican
-
Rank 72. Espiritu
Mexican Cocktail Bar
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Emerging Chef · Roberto Centeno
- Eater 2022 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Roberto Centeno
-
Rank 73. Main Burgers
American
Retro-cool burger counter from a trio of James Beard-nominated restaurateurs, with pastel tiles and a cartoon burger on the wall, where semi-smashed patties arrive hot off the line. The Sonora burger—griddled cheese, chiltepin, bacon—is the real draw, best enjoyed with crispy fries and an eventual craft beer from their upcoming brewery next door.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Sonora Burger · The 10 best bites we tasted at Phoenix restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best new Phoenix restaurants of 2025
-
Rank 74. Wren Südhalle
German Beer Bar
-
Rank 75. Devil's Hideaway
Cocktail Bar
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rank 81. Com Tam Thuan Kieu
Vietnamese
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rank 90. Arai Pastry
Japanese Bakery
-
-
-
Rank 93. Taco Boys
Mexican
-
Rank 94. Rayoog Cafe
Middle Eastern
Rayoog Cafe, a Gilbert outpost of a Middle Eastern mini-chain, serves sprawling shared breakfasts built around runny eggs, housemade falafel, and creamy spreads that demand bread for mopping. The Mam's Tray is the real draw—a theatrical platter crowned with stacked metal teapots and ringed with small dishes of sweet and savory bites.
-
Rank 95. Pita Jungle
Mediterranean
-
-
-
Rank 98. Low Key Piano Bar
Cocktail Bar
Head down the basement stairs to a quirky amphitheater where dueling pianists lead crowds through singalong standards and jazz covers, the energy raucous and everyone well-lubricated on fish bowls. It's the kind of place you go with a crew to stay until closing time, and the mango mule doesn't hurt.
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Piano Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
-
-