The Top 100 Restaurants Near SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
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Rank 3. Quiessence At The Farm
Arizonan
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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 2023 · Best Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Neighborhood Bar · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Neighborhood Bar · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 5. 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
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Rank 6. 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
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Rank 7. 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
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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Double Burger · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- Phoenix New Times The top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
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Rank 9. 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
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Rank 10. The Stockyards
Western Steakhouse
The Stockyards has been slinging corn-fed steaks and prime rib since 1947, in a dining room that feels like it's been waiting for you since the cattle-baron days, with baking soda biscuits that haven't changed and a wood-paneled saloon designed by a rancher's wife. Order the Arizona cut rib-eye, nurse a whiskey, and settle in among the Western leather and old-school swagger of a place that takes its steakhouse pedigree seriously.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Steakhouse · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Steakhouse · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Historic Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 11. 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
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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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Rank 14. Taco Chelo
Mexican
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
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Rank 15. 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 Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best new Phoenix restaurants of 2025
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Rank 16. 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 Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
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- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Curry Lamb Pot Pie · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
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Rank 19. 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 2024 · Best Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
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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
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Rank 23. Mandi House
Yemeni Middle Eastern
- Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 24. 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
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Rank 26. Haji-Baba
Middle Eastern
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Rank 29. 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 2024 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Dumplings · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 30. Taco Boys
Mexican
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Rank 31. Taco Boys
Mexican
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- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Salads · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Salads · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 33. Golden Restaurant & Bakery
Levantine Middle Eastern
A casual Tempe spot where the flatbread menu alone—over 30 varieties, from za'atar manakeesh to spiced tomato wraps—could keep you coming back for months. The Levantine classics like hummus and baba ganoush are properly made, the slow-cooked beef dishes hit hard, and the house-made kenafa is the kind of dessert that justifies the trip.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Middle Eastern Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Middle Eastern Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Middle Eastern Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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- Foodist Awards 2023 · Winner: The Joy Bus · Favorite Local Craft Beer
- Eater The Best Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 35. JL Smokehouse
Barbecue
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 36. Pita Jungle
Mediterranean
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Rank 39. Feta Cowboy
Mediterranean
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Rank 41. Hola Cabrito
Mexican
Maria Lopez has been roasting whole goats in banana leaves since 2011 at this South Phoenix counter, following her mother's recipe from Guanajuato, and the consommé runs clear and deep while the meat stays tender with a gentle gaminess. Order the birria tatemada—meat pressed on the griddle with rendered fat until it crisps—and you'll understand why locals line up here instead of chasing the Instagram version.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Birria · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Birria · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Birria · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 42. 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
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Rank 43. Supreme Shawarma
Spit-roasted Middle Eastern
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 44. Drunken Tiger
Korean
- 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 Chinese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
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- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 48. 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
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- 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 51. 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
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Rank 53. Shaanxi Garden
Northern Chinese
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix
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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
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Rank 55. Hai Noon
Japanese
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Sashimi Spoons · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
- Eater Sashimi Spoons · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 56. 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
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Rank 57. 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
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- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Vegan Burger · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Vegan Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Vegan Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 62. Kare Ethiopian Restaurant
Ethiopian
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best East African Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best East African Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 63. Mister Pio
Peruvian
Smoke from an enormous rotisserie oven fills this small, modern counter spot the moment you walk in, announcing exactly what you came for. Order a whole or half bird with salad and Peruvian sauces, thick-cut fries, and an Inca Kola, and you'll understand why the parking lot smells the way it does.
- Eater 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best French Fries · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
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Rank 64. Tacos Chiwas
Chihuahua-style Mexican
A husband-and-wife operation that started as a tight counter serving Chihuahua-style street food and has grown into a proper local chain without losing its edge. The barbacoa and pastor tacos are the ones to order, though the rajas quesadilla—spicy enough to make you crave horchata—proves they're equally skilled with everything else on the menu.
- 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 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
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Rank 66. Com Tam Thuan Kieu
Vietnamese
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Rank 67. Mariscos Playa Hermosa
Sinaloan seafood Mexican
Bright pink and blue chairs face walls painted with Mexican landscapes at this Sinaloan seafood spot, where the dining room is almost as much fun as the food itself. The multipage menu spans grilled shrimp Micheladas, aguachiles, and seafood towers, best paired with a Serrano margarita on the colorful patio.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Mariscos · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Mexican Seafood · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Mexican Seafood · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 68. 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
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Rank 69. Los Dos Molinos
Mexican
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 70. Jewel's Bakery And Cafe
Gluten-Free Bakery
A breakfast counter in east Phoenix where the entirely gluten-free menu somehow makes carbs the main event—doughnuts with real spring, waffles sturdy enough for crispy chicken and spicy bacon, burritos in supple tortillas. Whether you're avoiding gluten or just hungry, nothing here tastes like it's missing a thing, and bottomless mimosas help seal the deal.
- Phoenix New Times 2026 · The 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix
- Eater The Best Bakeries in Phoenix, Arizona
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 71. Vecina
Latin-Inspired
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Exceptional Culinary Experience
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Hiramasa Ceviche · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
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Rank 72. 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 74. pa'la wood-fired cooking
Wood-fired Mediterranean
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Exceptional Culinary Experience
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Navarro Grain Bowl · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in 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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Rank 76. Asadero Norte De Sonora
Sonoran Mexican
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Uniquely Arizona
- Eater Flour Tortillas · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
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Rank 78. Latha
African
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Best World Flavor
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Emerging Restaurant of the Year
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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Rank 79. Gallo Blanco
Mexican
Gallo Blanco occupies a historic brick building in Garfield with big windows and an airy feel, serving straightforward Mexican food across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Start with the guacamole and chips, then move on to something like the barbacoa burrito or Taco Dorado, ideally chased with a house Paloma.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Paloma · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Phoenix
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Rank 80. Ollie Vaughn's
Bakery
Ollie Vaughn's is a neighborhood bakery and cafe tucked into a strip mall on McDowell Road, where a decade of careful cooking with local ingredients shows in things like pork chile verde with fried egg in cast iron or lemon ricotta pancakes topped with blueberry compote. Grab a pastry from the case and a cozy table inside, or linger on the small patio while the morning light stretches across.
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 81. 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
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Rank 82. 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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Rank 83. 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
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Top Mixologist/Bartender · Brenon Stuart
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
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Rank 84. Rosita's Place
Sonoran Mexican
A modest storefront hides a dining room of colorful tile and weathered wood, where a small waterfall burbles in the corner while you eat some of the best tacos in the Valley. Rosita's has been serving Sonoran classics for over three decades—the albóndigas are impossibly tender, the flan is pure caramel cream—and the place still runs circles around younger competitors.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Chimichangas · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Chimichanga · Best of Phoenix
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At Sizzle, the servers do the grilling tableside while you sit back with a drink, moving around the room like seasoned dancers to flip cuts and manage the flow. Order a sampler platter of pork or beef and you'll get a rotating parade of different cuts, vegetables, and sides that turns dinner into something between a meal and a show.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 87. 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
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Rank 88. 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 top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: In-Good Spirits · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Bernie Kantak
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Salad: The Original Chopped Salad · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 90. Pizzeria Virtu
Wood-fired Pizza
Chef Gio Osso runs this wood-fired pizzeria out of a house with a backyard patio in Old Town Scottsdale, where fine dining ease meets casual neighborhood warmth. The pies come topped with San Marzano tomatoes, chestnut honey, rapini pesto, and peppered bacon, all cradled in fluffy, bubbly dough.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pizza · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
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Rank 91. 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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A casual burger joint in Scottsdale that borrows In-N-Out's stripped-down playbook but trades it for higher-end beef and a taco menu that justifies the upgrade in price. Most dishes hit hard enough to make you a regular, even if a few menu items don't quite earn their place.
- USA Today 2026 · Restaurants of the Year
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Milkshakes · Best of Phoenix
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Tiradito · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
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Rank 94. Uchi
Japanese
Chef Tyson Cole's upscale Japanese restaurant brings its Austin sophistication to Old Town Scottsdale, with precise sushi and sashimi anchoring a menu that ranges from tempura to grilled meats and inventive crudos. Order à la carte, go full omakase, or build a custom tasting menu, but don't skip the signature Hama Chili with yellowtail, ponzu, and Thai chile.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Top Sushi Restaurant
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 95. Taco Boys
Mexican
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Horchata · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 96. Taco Chelo
Mexican
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In 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 98. 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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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
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A midcentury diner transplanted into Scottsdale's neighborhood breakfast scene, The Eleanor pairs cozy booths and a counter with a menu that moves easily between fluffy blueberry pancakes and avocado toast. Ellefson and Macaulay built the place to let you linger over slow coffee or grab something quick, and their in-house maple butter alone justifies the trip.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Breakfast · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix