The Best Places to Eat and Do in Phoenix

The cracked-laminate menus at this Vietnamese restaurant in a Phoenix strip mall are entirely on purpose. Fourteen kinds of pho anchor the menu, portions are generous enough to require a to-go container, and the hot coffee with sweetened condensed milk is a good reason to linger. Prices hover around $15, the room is multi-roomed and no-frills, and the com tam dac biet piles broken rice with what feels like the entire menu on one plate.

1. Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now

1. AZ Central Best Coronado coffee shop for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best downtown coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

The smoker out back is a salvaged propane tank, and the brisket it produces comes out in thick, wide folds that smell of mesquite and barely hold their shape. Eric's is a cafeteria-style BBQ joint in Avondale where the wood-only smoke method is a point of pride, and the smoked turkey and dry-rubbed ribs carry it through. Sides like cheese-dusted elote keep the backyard cookout spirit intact. Phoenix New Times named it among the top 50 restaurants in the metro.

1. Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now

1. AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best downtown coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes
2. AZ Central Best bars in metro Phoenix
3. Phoenix New Times The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix

1. AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for more than just coffee · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Coronado coffee shop for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best downtown coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

The pastry case sets the pace at this all-day French cafe in Scottsdale: grab a croissant on your way out, or settle into the chic little dining room for a proper quiche with a flaky crust and a side salad dressed in a vinaigrette so good they bottle it for sale. Crepes, eggs Benedict, and omelets round out the menu. French conversation drifts out from the kitchen, which feels less like ambiance and more like a genuine reflex.

1. Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix

1. AZ Central Best Uptown Phoenix coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

Turquoise booths and a menu that hasn't needed rethinking in decades: this Scottsdale franchise of the national pancake-house chain has been the neighborhood's default breakfast spot for a long time. The Dutch Baby, finished with lemon and whipped butter, is the order that regulars treat as non-negotiable. Griddle-focused, diner-priced, and reliably packed on weekend mornings with people who had the good sense to arrive early.

1. Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix

Thick griddled corn arepas, stuffed or served alongside shredded beef and rice, are the spine of this Venezuelan Caribbean restaurant in downtown Mesa. The team graduated from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar, and the kitchen still rolls out hot cheese sticks every morning. The patacon swaps buns for fried plantains, and the cachapa, a sweet corn pancake, earns its own detour. A bar handles tropical drinks.

1. Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now

A Middle Eastern breakfast cafe in the Gilbert suburbs, Rayoog has other locations in Jordan and Iraq, which gives you a sense of what this place is actually for. The move is to come with people willing to share: platters arrive loaded with eggs, hummus, falafel, yogurt, fava beans, and baba ghanoush, and the signature trays stack two metal teapots on top of a ring of small sweet and savory dishes, which is a genuinely dramatic way to start a morning.

1. Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix

1. AZ Central Best downtown Phoenix coffee shops for curling up with a book · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

Yellow booths, green walls, and neon lighting make Tambayan look like someone decorated with pure enthusiasm, which turns out to be the right call for a Filipino homestyle restaurant that spent years as a pop-up and food truck before landing a permanent spot on Camelback. The halo halo, layered and rainbow-colored, is the dessert equivalent of that same energy. Phoenix New Times named it the city's top Filipino restaurant.

1. Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
2. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Filipino Restaurant · Best of Phoenix

1. AZ Central Best downtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central Best downtown coffee shops for working or studying · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

The owl-themed knick-knacks, artwork, and furniture covering every surface are all for sale, which is either charming or a lot to process before coffee. This casual brunch cafe imported its loyal following from Flagstaff, where lines used to stretch down the street on weekends. Giant cinnamon rolls, football-sized burritos, and a full vegan menu cover the table. The Newton location sits conveniently next to Changing Hands Bookstore, for after.

1. Phoenix New Times The 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Flagstaff Import · Best of Phoenix

1. AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Top Chef · David Bowman
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1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

High ceilings, gold cocktail shakers, and a rack of lamb that belongs nowhere near a mall, yet here we are at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Francine is a Mediterranean-French restaurant with the polish of a countryside manor and the energy of a room where people came dressed to be seen. The bar pulls its own weight if you're not staying for dinner, and the wine list gives everyone a reason to linger.

1. Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
2. Phoenix New Times Delicious dozen: The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

Named for the roadside pit stops where Indian truck drivers fuel up on cheap, filling food, this casual Punjabi restaurant in Tempe takes the concept seriously: long menu, affordable prices, homemade breads, and tandoori meats that smell like someone's actually cooking back there. The thali is the move if you want the full picture, chai and dessert included. Street snacks, deep-fried things, and curry round out a menu that rewards indecision.

1. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Neighborhood Indian Spot · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Indian restaurants in Phoenix
3. Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. AZ Central The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants

1. Eater Sonoran Hot Dog · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
2. Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix

The cemita poblana here comes stuffed with thinly pounded, breaded beef cutlet, which tells you immediately what kind of restaurant this is. El Rincon Poblano is a family-run Mexican spot in a strip mall off Thomas Road, with Pueblan art on pastel walls and a menu that goes well past mole. The taco arabe, pork carved off a trompo and folded into a near-translucent flour tortilla, is a lesson in where al pastor came from.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pueblan Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pueblan Food · Best of Phoenix
3. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix

A glass-enclosed bar stocked with specialty bottles sits inside what looks, from the outside, like a busy takeout window. George Yang's is a full-scale Chinese restaurant with spinning lazy Susans for big groups, cocktails for date night, and a sprawling menu that runs from orange chicken to a Kung Pao three-seafood dish that earns its own conversation. The kind of place that handles both a family reunion and a Tuesday equally well.

1. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Canto-American Chinese Food · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix

A mirrored peacock spreads its feathers behind the bar, setting the tone for what this North Scottsdale spot is going for: upscale Indian dining with cocktails, high ceilings, and a room dressed for date night. Curries run from butter chicken to lamb vindaloo, the dal makhani is rich enough to warrant extra naan, and the shareable starters give you an excuse to linger. Phoenix New Times named it the city's top upscale Indian restaurant in 2025.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Upscale Indian Food · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Indian restaurants in Phoenix

The lazy Susans are built into the tables, which tells you this is a big, convivial Chinese restaurant in Mesa that expects you to arrive hungry and in numbers. The menu swings wide, from Hunan-style heat and dry pot to roasted duck and dumplings, with enough Americanized classics to keep the table's one holdout happy. The takeout bags flying out the door suggest the neighborhood has already figured this place out.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Chinese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix

The rice gets as much attention as the fish, which tells you something about how seriously this strip-mall sushi spot takes its craft. Tucked into an Ahwatukee shopping center, Sushi Nakano turns out Edo-style nigiri and sashimi with meticulous sourcing and clean technique. American-style maki are on the list too, but catch the chef on a quiet night and ask what he's feeling, and the room rewards the curiosity.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Sushi · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix

Six seats at the omakase counter is all you get, so book ahead. This intimate sushi shop in a north Phoenix strip mall, wedged between a frozen custard chain and a hearing aid center, runs a 12-to-14-piece nigiri tasting menu six nights a week. The chef, Osaka-born, keeps the fish list tight and seasonal. Walk-ins can still order nigiri and rolls at the surrounding tables, or take the omakase home packed into a bento box.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best High-End Takeout · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix

Mole negro shows up on nearly everything here, the rich, dark kind that takes days to make and coats burritos and chilaquiles alike. Alebrijes is a casual Oaxacan cafe in Litchfield Park with indoor tables, bar seats, and a shaded patio, the sort of place where the specials board does the real work. Concha French toast and coffee cocktails share menu space with pozole. Expect a wait, which the regulars seem entirely unbothered by.

1. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pazole · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix

Shokupan, the pillowy Japanese milk bread, is the anchor of this quiet strip mall pastry shop near Fujiya Market. The egg salad sandwich built on thick slices of it has a following all its own, and the matcha rolls, red bean buns, and strawberry cakes lean subtle rather than sweet. A couple of tables invite lingering over green tea cheesecake, but the filled crepes and melon pan tend to disappear early, so arriving with a plan is not the worst idea.

1. Eater The Best Bakeries in Phoenix, Arizona

1. Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
2. Phoenix New Times The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
3. The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale

1. Phoenix New Times The 10 best Indian restaurants in Phoenix

A Bosnian bakery tucked into a North Phoenix strip mall, where burek, those spiral coils of housemade phyllo filled with beef, cheese, or spinach, arrives golden and still warm from the oven. Mornings also bring kifli, glossy pretzels, and soft rolls alongside sweets when available. Regulars fill the small space sipping coffee and talking in Bosnian, which tells you most of what you need to know. Hours are short and seating is limited, so treat it like a farmers market: go early, go often.

1. Eater The Best Bakeries in Phoenix, Arizona

A cash-only donut shop in South Phoenix with a name that sets expectations high and a vanilla-glazed old-fashioned that does not blink. The craggy cake ring stays light enough that the glaze is doing structural work, which is either alarming or impressive depending on your engineering background. The butterfly, a folded cinnamon roll under glaze and buttery crumble, gives you something to do while you think about ordering another old-fashioned.

1. Phoenix New Times A delicious dozen: The 12 best doughnut shops in the Valley

1. Eater Tequila Sunrise · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix

The panda doughnut, a vanilla-glazed ring with split Oreos standing in as ears, is about as adventurous as this donut shop gets, and that's a compliment. Blooming Donuts keeps things traditional, turning out yeast and cake doughnuts that are sugared, glazed, or sprinkled. The cake variety has a crisp shell and a tender crumb that does most of the talking. Phoenix New Times named it Best Doughnuts in 2025. Pair one with the iced matcha boba latte and call it breakfast.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Doughnuts · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times A delicious dozen: The 12 best doughnut shops in the Valley

1. Phoenix New Times Our top 10 favorite restaurants in Tempe

1. The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale