Looking for the best Phoenix restaurants? You’ve come to the right place. Our 2024 update to the best restaurants in Phoenix features our absolute favorite places to eat in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix is an up-and-coming food scene, home to a wide variety of some amazing food – from dim sum to Italian to sushi, and, of course, Mexican food. (We can’t help it if Phoenix has such great Mexican food!) Some of the best restaurants in Phoenix have a higher price point, but plenty of options are out there for casual spots that are easier on the wallet as well, so there’s something for everyone here!
22. Bakery: Valentine
For the best pastries in Phoenix (and a great space to work!), head uptown to Valentine. One of the best restaurants in Phoenix, they offer a full menu of sweet and savory dishes, but we can’t stop thinking about the sweets. Valentine’s pastries are infused with a Southwestern flair, like their sugar swirl bun with rotating Southwestern flavors like churro and hibiscus. For something heartier, try the churro waffle; with dulce de leche caramel sauce, mesquite chai spice, and a river of fresh whipped cream, it’s crispy on the outside and spongey on the inside – a life-changing waffle.
Valentine
21. Casual Sushi: Sushi Friend
Sushi Friend is tiny, adorable, and one of the best Phoenix restaurants. Order on the iPad at the counter, but feel free to ask the chefs for their recommendations, they live up to their name with friendly staff. If it’s full (their restaurant only seats only 12 people at a time!), they turn over food and tables pretty quickly, or grab your order to go. The menu is small, and the kitchen doesn’t have a fryer or oven, but they don’t need it. Try the Seared Ssalmon, Scallop Dyno, or the Sushislope rolls, and consider adding a side of cucumber salad or a steaming cup of miso soup.
Sushi Friend
20. Sandwiches: Noble Eatery
Anyone in tune with the Phoenix dining scene is familiar with Noble Bread, the supplier for many of our favorite restaurants in this guide (Hush Public House, Little Miss BBQ, Chula Seafood, and The Gladly, to name a few). Noble has not only perfected bread baking but also the art of the sandwich, and they are open every weekday for lunch. Try Noble’s heavenly take on the Caprese sandwich, marrying warm, thin pide bread (the Turkish version of pita bread) with cold, gooey burrata, tomatoes roasted in the woodfire oven, arugula, and a spread of vinegary saba. Or try the Italian sandwich with spicy Giardiniera, creamy aioli, and a dash of oregano vinaigrette on a sesame-seed-encrusted hoagie. The rotating special should also be considered, featuring sandwiches like the braised short rib or confit pork belly, good enough to have you coming back each week.
Noble Eatery
19. Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast
The name here is pretty self-explanatory: for a big, absolutely delicious breakfast, head to Matt’s. Don’t expect frills or fuss here – Matt delights in simple, perfectly-executed breakfast foods, and their shining star is the made-from-scratch griddlecakes. While far from fancy, these pancakes are fluffy, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Craving something savory? You can’t go wrong with the big papa burrito or an order of Matt’s thick-cut bacon served with eggs and breakfast potatoes.
Matt’s Big Breakfast
18. Salad: Citizen Public House/ The Gladly
We rarely find salads that are truly noteworthy, but if you’re looking for one of the best salads you’ve ever eaten, then The Original Chopped Salad, located at two of our favorite Phoenix restaurants, Citizen Public House and The Gladly, is a must. On days when a gorgeous pile of wholesome ingredients is the only thing that will satisfy, this salad absolutely fits the bill. With juxtaposing layers of smoked salmon, freeze-dried corn, arugula, couscous, and diced tomato, all topped with a homemade buttermilk dressing, it’s no wonder this salad has its own Facebook page. If you are looking for something a little more hearty to accompany your dreamy greens, we also love the seared scallops with sweet corn grits.
Citizen Public House
17. Mexican: Casa Corazon
While there are plenty of Phoenix restaurants with great chips and salsa, Casa Corazon takes the cake with its extensive salsa selection. With over 10 varieties of salsa made in-house daily, this salsa bar what dreams are made of. We love all the salsas (some are tangy and fresh, some are earthy and mild, and others are just plain hot – looking at you habanero!), but we always recommend to start with the chipotle and creamy jalapeno. For your main, go with the signature red chile enchiladas – the creamy red sauce absolutely makes this dish, you’ll want to bottle it and put it on everything!
Casa Corazon
16. Dim Sum: Happy Baos
Located in Mesa’s Asian district, Happy Baos serves steamy, delicious dumplings and noodles from a compact restaurant inside Mekong Market. The spicy chili wontons stuffed with pork and shrimp and the xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, filled with pork and a savory, warm broth are also an absolute must. Poke a hole in the dumpling to slurp up the broth, dip it liberally in their housemade vinegar sauce, add a bit of housemade chili oil, and enjoy. Craving noodles? The dan dan noodles, topped with pork in a Chinese five-spice sauce, fresh cucumbers, cilantro, and scallions, have just the right kick.
Happy Bao’s
15. Seafood: Chula Seafood
Chula started as a restaurant supplier, providing freshly caught seafood to some of our favorite Phoenix restaurants (re: Hush, Citizen Public House, Vecina), but after realizing how high the demand for fresh fish in Phoenix was, they opened up to the public. Stop by Chula for a fresh catch to prepare at home, or choose from a full menu featuring a wide variety of seafood prepared at their counter-service restaurant in Uptown Phoenix. Options include fresh poke and sashimi, incredible sandwiches (like an out-of-this-world tuna melt), and our absolute fave – the California burrito. Choose from mahi-mahi or shrimp with crispy fries, guacamole, Oaxaca cheese, and a generous amount of Baja sauce – truly a heavenly combination. Save room for a side or two – we love the clam chowder and potato mac salad.
Chula Seafood Uptown
14. Italian: Tratto
The Godfather of Phoenix pizza, Chris Bianco, has done it again with Tratto. At his homey Italian restaurant, he has perfected the art of pasta and to-die-for al dente noodles. Check out the credenza near the front of the restaurant to see your bread being freshly sliced before being delivered to your table. The bread is followed by a small amuse bouche like an understated, juicy, marinated plum with a slight dusting of sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil, a clever palate teaser. The menu is limited and changes regularly. You’ll typically choose between three to four pasta dishes but they are all sure to be incredible. The cacio e pepe has thick, chewy spaghetti alla chitarra noodles that are covered in a rich, cheesy sauce combined with the exact right amount of pepper. (Good news: since this dish has developed a bit of a cult following here in Phoenix, it’s usually available. Even if it’s not on the menu, just ask!)
Tratto
13. Bagels: Bagelfeld’s
First, two warnings: this small spot is hidden behind the red Prompt Titles office in Uptown Phoenix, and despite being hard to find, you’ll need to go early, as Bagelfeld’s is known to sell out as early as 9 am on Saturdays. But make it easy on yourself and order online the day before to guarantee your favorite bagel and to skip the line. (Orders can be placed anytime before 4 PM the night before.) The menu is simple: your choice of bagel and cream cheese or halve your bagel to try two flavors of cream cheese. We highly recommend this strategy because even after multiple visits, we haven’t been able to pick a favorite schmear. The honey brown butter is divine, the smoked salmon is a perfect balance of big chunks of our favorite fish mixed with fresh herbs, and the pepper and garlic with fire-roasted bell peppers is creamy and flavorful. Try as many bagel cream cheese combos as you can because these bagels rival those in San Francisco and NYC.
Bagelfeld
12. Fancy Tacos: Taco Chelo
Looking for a taco place that’s ideal for girls’ night, date night, or just a nicer Mexican restaurant that serves absolutely killer tacos? Taco Chelo is exactly that place, and is definitely one of the best Phoenix restaurants for downright amazing tacos. The tortillas are homemade, the chips and guac are fantastic, and the tacos are truly next level. Taco Chelo’s taco menu isn’t huge – divide and conquer with a friend to try one of everything. Or, if you’re dining alone, the costra with carne asada + caramelized onions and cheese or the classic beer-battered fish taco are both musts.
Taco Chelo
READ NEXT: 10 BEST PIZZA IN PHOENIX
11. Latin American: Vecina
Phoenix is known and loved for its incredible Mexican food, but there’s also a thriving scene for other Latin cuisines. Vecina, with its Peruvian-inspired cuisine, is one such example, and one of the best Phoenix restaurants. At Vecia, you can expect beautifully plated dishes with brilliantly-paired sauces that will tempt even the most well-mannered diner to lick their plate clean. Start with the chicken karaage, tender fried chicken with creamy aji amarillo (yellow pepper) sauce and topped with fresh cilantro, spices, and thinly sliced lime that add a burst of flavor. Pair it with coconut milk ceviche or gambas, large shrimp doused in paprkia garlic butter, topped with dollops of spicy serrano cruda, and served with griddled Noble bread to mop up the buttery broth.
Vecina
10. Thai: Glai Baan
Stepping into Glai Baan feels like being transported to Thailand (the vibe is spot-on!), and the food continues the illusion with a focus on authentic Thai street food. This cozy spot is decorated with the owner’s family photos and memorabilia from their home country and is strung with twinkling, colorful lights. Start your journey with the Kanom jeeb steamed pork dumplings – paired with a ginger soy sauce, these dumplings are practically perfect. For the main dish, order the Panang curry, a rich and creamy curry with melt-in-your-mouth braised beef, which somehow manages to outshine the dumplings. Order both for a truly phenomenal dining experience – we promise you won’t regret it.
Glai Baan
9. Farm to Table: FnB
One of the most memorable meals you’ll have in Phoenix is dinner at FnB, an impressive farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Scottsdale and of one the best Phoenix restaurants in all of The Valley. Perfect for date night or special occasions, the food at FnB is truly swoon-worthy. The menu regularly rotates dishes, capitalizing on seasonality. Chef Charlene, also known as “the vegetable whisperer,” is renowned for using unique ingredients and the best local produce to make creative, flavorful dishes, like the pictured avocado shrimp aguachile. Ask your server to help you pick out favorites from each section of the menu, and whatever you do, save room for dessert!
FnB Restaurant
8. Barbecue: Little Miss BBQ
While Phoenix is no mecca for barbecue, you can in fact enjoy some of the best, award winning central Texas-style barbecue at Little Miss BBQ, one of the best restaurants in Phoenix. We will always have a soft spot for the fatty brisket, but true Texas barbecue is more than just brisket so we recommend trying a little bit of everything (leftovers are never a bad thing). As far as sides go, make sure to get the jalapeno cheddar grits and mac-and-cheese. Only the Sunnyslope location offers the mac and cheese, but we promise it’s worth the drive. As is typical with barbecue, favorites often sell out quickly (we’re talking about you, brisket!) so be sure to show up early to get your pick from the full menu.
Little Miss BBQ – University
7. Southwest: Tia Carmen
Tia Carmen is one of those rare restaurants where the ambiance and the food are equally impressive. Located at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, this beautifully designed restaurant offers stunning interiors and picturesque Southwest food that tastes as good as it looks. The sweet pan frito, or fried bread, is paired with whipped honey butter for a sticky, sweet, and delicious starter. Trust us: the tuna crudo is a can’t-miss item consisting of fresh tuna in a coconut corn broth with a few drops of smoked chili oil. Your waiter may give you permission to drink the broth, which seems like a joke until you taste it. Follow it with your choice of entree–we’re partial to the striped sea bass or one of the tostadas.
Tia Carmen
$$$ New American, Mexican, Cocktail Bars
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort, 5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054
(480) 293-3636
RELATED: 10 BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN PHOENIX
6. Authentic Tacos: Ta’Carbon
If you’re looking for authentic Mexican street tacos, head to Ta Carbon, one of the best restaurants in Phoenix, and our favorite place for an inexpensive, delicious Mexican meal. These tacos are simple and certainly no-frills: just delicious warm tortillas piled high with meat, dressed with onion and cilantro. And the meats at Ta Carbon are what keep us coming back again and again. Order at least one each of carne asada and beef barbacoa tacos as well as a Hazz taco (carne asada with melted cheese and green chilies). Top your tacos with copious amounts of avocado salsa and wash it all down with a glass of refreshing horchata.
Ta Carbon Mexican Grill Phoenix
5. Burger: Worth Takeaway
If you’re looking for a dang good sandwich or burger in Phoenix, or perhaps a great spot to eat in Mesa, Worth Takeaway is one of our must-try Phoenix restaurants. Worth serves a dozen or so homemade sandwiches along with choice sides and house made desserts. A small but mighty brunch menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays as well. The crispy chicken sandwich is so satisfying, with crispy chicken breast, house-made pickles, lettuce, sriracha honey, and mayo on ciabatta. Or try the Worth burger, our pick for the best burger in Phoenix, or the BLT with siracha candied bacon. Order a side of fries or house-made sea salt potato chips, and the banana cream pudding for dessert is a must. #worthit
Worth Takeaway
4. Sushi: Uchi
Uchi (a Female Foodie favorite from Austin) has finally arrived in Scottsdale, bringing top-quality sushi to the heart of the desert. Start with the Hama Chili (an absolute must!) featuring fresh yellowtail, tart oranges, ponzu sauce, and Thai chilis for a bit of heat. Follow it by the crispy fried chicken karaage and copious amounts of fresh nigiri. Your waiter will ask your preferences, and then give you personalized recommendations of which fresh catch to order. Trust their guidance, and be ready to branch out; you might just discover a new favorite.
Uchi Scottsdale
3. Pizza: Lamp Pizzeria
For the best pizza in the valley, head straight to Lamp. Their style is not strictly Neapolitan or strictly anything for that matter; it is just Lamp, and – spoiler alert – it works. The crust is just the right amount of chewy, the sauce is flavorful without being overpowering, and with well-thought-out, high-quality topping combinations, you’ve got yourself a ridiculously tasty pizza. The classic Margherita is simple but perfectly executed. Another favorite is the Gem – house-made sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and ricotta take a traditional favorite to the next level.
Lamp Pizzeria
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2. New American: Hush Public House
In North Scottsdale, an unassuming spot in a strip mall houses one of the best restaurants in Phoenix. The menu is bold, featuring dishes from many different cuisines, but each dish, no matter the category, is some of the best in its class. You can trust that whatever you order, from pasta to fresh seafood, will be perfectly executed. While the menu changes regularly, we have never tasted anything less than exceptional at Hush. But the duck fried rice, Italian beef, and date cake are some of the only dishes that are always on the menu, and each is a must-try. Order a few different plates to share, and if you have trouble deciding, trust your waiter’s recommendations. Or, if you’re lucky enough to sit at the bar/open kitchen, ask one of the chefs!
Hush Public House
$$ Cocktail Bars, New American, Italian
14202 N Scottsdale Rd #167, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 758-5172
1. Sonoran-Style Mexican: Bacanora
This small, hip spot in the eccentric Grand Avenue district, Bacanora grew to fast acclaim, known for having the best Mexican food in a city known for great Mexican food. The elote (street corn) is one of the few things that is always on the menu and it’s a non-negotiable; covered with two different cremas and a secret blend of spices. The menu is as small as the restaurant, with a rotating features fresh and local combinations. Some standouts from previous rotations have been their fresh ceviche, crispy pork belly, slow-smoked birria, or immaculately executed carne asada and scallops. Trust your waiter’s recommendations, order as much as you possibly can, and most importantly, plan ahead; reservations open the first day of the month and book up fast!
Bacanora PHX
$$ Mexican
Suzanne Vilardi
You spelled Taco Chelo wrong.
Brooke Eliason
Thanks for letting me know!
Kirk Baumgartner
Oh my! We used your suggestions on our short trip to Phoenix to eat at tacos chiwas, LGO, Snooze and the Madrigal restaurant for churros. All were so good and we were grateful to have a reliable source for eating! Thank you!
Brooke Eliason
Thank you Kirk! So happy to hear it. Hope that you had the BEST trip!