Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country, it’s a great foodie town, and it’s a short easy drive from Tucson. There are so many great restaurants in Phoenix that putting together this list of our favorites was rather difficult. Enjoy!
Authentic Sonoran cuisine in Phoenix from Nogales-born Rene Andrade. A reservation is a must. Ask for the daily specials.
Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza serves up slightly elevated and remarkably delectable dishes from all regions of Mexico.
Located inside the Egyptian Motor Hotel, Chilte was named one of Bon Appétit’s “24 Best New Restaurants of 2023.” The menu is pleasingly small. Bring three to four friends and order everything. A reservation is a must. For drinks, I recommend the Sangre De Maize — a Negroni made with Mezcal Carreño and Nixta Licor de Elote.
With not a lot of true fine dining options in Tucson, Christopher’s is your chance to have an unforgettable dining experience in an incredibly beautiful setting (the 90-year-old Wrigley Mansion with its 180-degree views of the city) with a prix fixe menu from James Beard award-winning chef Christopher Gross. Make a reservation. Plan for three hours.
The hippest and friendliest coffee shop in Phoenix. Their crumble cake is amazing and best enjoyed in their sanctuary-like outdoor patio.
A pick from Tucson’s Chef Feng-Feng Yeh, Disco Dragon is a late-night spot (although they do open for lunch on the weekends) serving up modern dishes with Chinese and Filipino flavors. Best gyoza I’ve had outside of China. For my next visit, I have my eye on the Tempura Fish Sando. Walk-in only.
Many vegans consider the popular Coronado PHX (2245 N. 12th St.) the best vegan spot in Phoenix, yet @deathfreefoodie and I are both wondering if Earth takes the cake with their buffalo wings (SO tasty and SO crispy) and Golden Milk Milkshake.
Best Peruvian I’ve had outside of Peru.
Best chaat I’ve had, even in India.
Get the Hush Burger.
Everyone says the Kale & Pistachio Pesto is the highlight. It is. Might I also recommend the Chanterelle Mushroom & Rigatoni. Fries are listed on the menu as part of the Copper State Prime NY Strip, but you can ask for an order of fries, which you should. Pop into the adorable underground cocktail bar called Little Debbie’s before or after your meal.
My personal favorite in Phoenix. I like to sit at the bar, ask for a recommendation from their highly-curated natural wine selection, and — with a menu that changes frequently with the seasons — order whatever strikes my eye. Incredible service.
A taste of home. The James Bread award-winning Fry Bread House serves up authentic Tohono O’odham recipes from the late Cecelia Miller including stews, tamales, and giant hand-stretched fry bread stuffed with your favorite savory or sweet fillings.
The best Hong Kong-style dim sum in Phoenix.
If you’re craving a Big Mac but don’t want that beef bomb in your stomach, swing by Green and get the vegan Big Wac. If you’ve had Slutty Vegan and thought it tasted like a Big Mac, well… this tastes way better and you can actually eat there and enjoy yourself without screaming your order and wearing earplugs. Sorry… I was pretty disappointed in Slutty Vegan. Go Green!
A favorite of Tucson’s Matt Demery (Executive Chef at Miraval Resort), Lom Wong serves Northern and Central Thai food focusing on fresh ingredients and rich flavors.
I hear about Valentine from more Tucsonans than any other Phoenix restaurant. Start with the white Sonoran wheat pretzel with guinea hen butter and Arizona honeycomb. The twice-cooked potatoes with yuzu aioli were amazing, but fair warning — it’s a large portion and you HAVE to save room for other dishes, like their famous crispy cauliflower with native tahini, stonefruit escabeche, and wolfberry harissa. You can make a whole evening out of Valentine by shopping in the attached Modern Manor, a vintage store with loads of beautiful midcentury furniture (including a lot of beautiful sofas that are hard to find in Tucson), and ending the night in Valentine’s backroom cocktail lounge (you have to go outside and enter through the alley on the north side of the building).
The word on the street is that Welcome Diner will be re-opening their Tucson location sometime in… 2025 (maybe). Until then, you can reminisce at the OG Welcome Diner in Phoenix and enjoy fan favorites like the Bumblebee (crispy buttermilk fried chicken on a scratch-made fresh-baked biscuit with house beer mustard, honey, and pickles) or my personal favorite, the Jackfruit Fries (crispy fries, braised jackfruit, Carolina-style barbecue sauce, and tangy coleslaw).
