Guidebook for Phoenix
Food Scene
It's in one of the best historic districts in a beautiful industrial-style building. Lots of hipsters, haha. It's where locals go to enjoy their coffee, and the Matador is a favorite drink !
103 locals recommend
Lola Coffee
1001 N 3rd AveIt's in one of the best historic districts in a beautiful industrial-style building. Lots of hipsters, haha. It's where locals go to enjoy their coffee, and the Matador is a favorite drink !
It's a great cafe on top of being a vibrant farmers market when in season. AZ has amazing produce like citrus, and this is a delicious place to browse.
115 locals recommend
Phoenix Public Market
It's a great cafe on top of being a vibrant farmers market when in season. AZ has amazing produce like citrus, and this is a delicious place to browse.
This urban Italian restaurant has delicious flat-crusted pizza, with the restaurant itself in a charming historic home with great city skyline views. The food is fresh and the Nutella crepes for dessert are a must try, as is the antipasto platter.
191 locals recommend
CIBO
603 N 5th AveThis urban Italian restaurant has delicious flat-crusted pizza, with the restaurant itself in a charming historic home with great city skyline views. The food is fresh and the Nutella crepes for dessert are a must try, as is the antipasto platter.
It's a nationally-recognized pizza parlor with superb pies. The setting is beautiful and intimate, as it's housed in historic brick homes. Be prepared to wait for a few hours, though, on account of its reputation. The wait is an event unto itself, and expect to go next door, have some good conversation, and order some wine. If you purely want the food and not the wait/ambiance, there's a second location on 24th St/Camelback, a 15 minute drive.
237 locals recommend
Pizzeria Bianco
623 E Adams StIt's a nationally-recognized pizza parlor with superb pies. The setting is beautiful and intimate, as it's housed in historic brick homes. Be prepared to wait for a few hours, though, on account of its reputation. The wait is an event unto itself, and expect to go next door, have some good conversation, and order some wine. If you purely want the food and not the wait/ambiance, there's a second location on 24th St/Camelback, a 15 minute drive.
This is a beloved Arizona chain known for good healthy Mediterranean food. The location is lovely in the historic Goldspot, and it's worth a drive (or walk!) around the Roosevelt neighborhood after lunch and dinner.
57 locals recommend
Pita Jungle - Downtown Phoenix
1001 N 3rd AveThis is a beloved Arizona chain known for good healthy Mediterranean food. The location is lovely in the historic Goldspot, and it's worth a drive (or walk!) around the Roosevelt neighborhood after lunch and dinner.
This place is FABULOUS and super LGBT-friendly. The garlicky hummus is delicious, as are the sandwiches. It's a happening brunch spot to see and be seen.
73 locals recommend
FEZ
105 W Portland StThis place is FABULOUS and super LGBT-friendly. The garlicky hummus is delicious, as are the sandwiches. It's a happening brunch spot to see and be seen.
This is an all-vegan restaurant where they play on things like chicken parm sandwiches and po boys. Its vegan junk food but delicious. Nami is next door and is an all-vegan bakery full of guilty pleasures like cupcakes, soy ice cream and snickerdoodles.
163 locals recommend
Green New American Vegetarian
2022 N 7th StThis is an all-vegan restaurant where they play on things like chicken parm sandwiches and po boys. Its vegan junk food but delicious. Nami is next door and is an all-vegan bakery full of guilty pleasures like cupcakes, soy ice cream and snickerdoodles.
Best Thai food in the city, hands down. The peanut sauce is phenomenal and the curries are rich and aromatic. Great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The teas are lovely, and definitely get the sampler platter for the best of what's on offer.
41 locals recommend
The Wild Thaiger
2631 N Central AveBest Thai food in the city, hands down. The peanut sauce is phenomenal and the curries are rich and aromatic. Great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The teas are lovely, and definitely get the sampler platter for the best of what's on offer.
This place is a Phoenix darling loved by locals, and one should expect a wait if desiring some good eggs and toast.
227 locals recommend
Matt's Big Breakfast
825 N 1st StThis place is a Phoenix darling loved by locals, and one should expect a wait if desiring some good eggs and toast.
Beautiful rich, smoky BBQ. It's not quite a hole in the wall, but it's no nonsense and offers the best ribs in the city.
19 locals recommend
Honey Bear's BBQ
2824 N Central AveBeautiful rich, smoky BBQ. It's not quite a hole in the wall, but it's no nonsense and offers the best ribs in the city.
Oreganos is another favorite Arizona joint that's proliferated across the city. This is namely Chicago style pizza but theiy can pull off a good thin crust, too. The guacatony isn't to be missed, and the Oregano's salad is fantastic, too: pine nuts, sun dried tomato, raisins, roasted pepper... good stuff.
167 locals recommend
Oregano's Pizza Bistro
523 West University DriveOreganos is another favorite Arizona joint that's proliferated across the city. This is namely Chicago style pizza but theiy can pull off a good thin crust, too. The guacatony isn't to be missed, and the Oregano's salad is fantastic, too: pine nuts, sun dried tomato, raisins, roasted pepper... good stuff.
I'll straight up say Cafe Lalibela in Tempe is the better option, but Abyssinia ain't bad for those looking for good flavorful Ethiopian. If new to the cuisine, give it a shot! I actually have yet to meet a person who has tried Ethiopian and hated it, so give the sampler a chance. Injera is like a spongy sourdough crepe, and it can be stacked with lovely earthy lentils, greens, cabbage and carrots, and potato. It's rarely spicy or too oily, and one comes away feeling pleasantly full. The meat is simmered and full of flavor, too.
Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe Ethiopian Cuisine
842 E Indian School RdI'll straight up say Cafe Lalibela in Tempe is the better option, but Abyssinia ain't bad for those looking for good flavorful Ethiopian. If new to the cuisine, give it a shot! I actually have yet to meet a person who has tried Ethiopian and hated it, so give the sampler a chance. Injera is like a spongy sourdough crepe, and it can be stacked with lovely earthy lentils, greens, cabbage and carrots, and potato. It's rarely spicy or too oily, and one comes away feeling pleasantly full. The meat is simmered and full of flavor, too.
The Vig has some good food, but like Postinos, can be juuuust a smidge pretentious. Still, it's one of those restaurants that reminds me Phx is becoming a viable foodie city on account of its elegant menu and wine offerings. It's in a cute neighborhood, too.
129 locals recommend
The Vig Fillmore
606 N 4th AveThe Vig has some good food, but like Postinos, can be juuuust a smidge pretentious. Still, it's one of those restaurants that reminds me Phx is becoming a viable foodie city on account of its elegant menu and wine offerings. It's in a cute neighborhood, too.
Rice Paper is good, fresh food but it's not the most authentic. Still, the servings are plentiful, the offerings are creative and well-combined. Plus it's around the corner from our spot, so it makes the list.
28 locals recommend
Rice Paper Vietnamese Cuisine & Bar
Rice Paper is good, fresh food but it's not the most authentic. Still, the servings are plentiful, the offerings are creative and well-combined. Plus it's around the corner from our spot, so it makes the list.
This place is upscale comfort food in a fun, easy going restaurant. Play a round of ping pong while waiting for a custom made antipasti platter. The rest of the menu offers sandwiches, soups, and meat-and-potato type dishes, but in clever, elevated ways.
561 locals recommend
Culinary Dropout
7135 E Camelback RdThis place is upscale comfort food in a fun, easy going restaurant. Play a round of ping pong while waiting for a custom made antipasti platter. The rest of the menu offers sandwiches, soups, and meat-and-potato type dishes, but in clever, elevated ways.
Postino is great for a romantic dinner since it has great wine, a good patio, and fresh food. It's a trendy joint that can borderline on pretentious with things like goat cheese and fig bruschetta, but the quality of the food is high enough to justify its good reputation among locals.
215 locals recommend
Postino Central
5144 N Central AvePostino is great for a romantic dinner since it has great wine, a good patio, and fresh food. It's a trendy joint that can borderline on pretentious with things like goat cheese and fig bruschetta, but the quality of the food is high enough to justify its good reputation among locals.
Elements is the place to go not because the food is anything amazing, but because it's in one of the most beautiful places in AZ. Situated in the mountains at a boutique hotel called Sanctuary (and among million dollar homes), the views are insane and the desert landscaping is at its finest. If you don't want to break the bank, then just grab a few drinks at the Jade bar.
49 locals recommend
elements
5700 E McDonald DrElements is the place to go not because the food is anything amazing, but because it's in one of the most beautiful places in AZ. Situated in the mountains at a boutique hotel called Sanctuary (and among million dollar homes), the views are insane and the desert landscaping is at its finest. If you don't want to break the bank, then just grab a few drinks at the Jade bar.
Suuuper fancy restaurant in one of the most exclusive zip codes of AZ. Located in the Royal Palms Resort, it offers sophisticated food at a somewhat steep price tag ($130 for two people, I reckon). Get your money's worth by strolling around the grounds after dinner.
33 locals recommend
T. Cook's at Royal Palms
5200 East Camelback RoadSuuuper fancy restaurant in one of the most exclusive zip codes of AZ. Located in the Royal Palms Resort, it offers sophisticated food at a somewhat steep price tag ($130 for two people, I reckon). Get your money's worth by strolling around the grounds after dinner.