Happenin' Happy Hours
Blanco Tacos + Tequila
It’s all bustle at this pretty, cobalt blue-hued restaurant, with servers running to and from the exposed kitchen and bartenders hustling up and down the long, open bar smack dab in the center of this expansive space. But don’t worry – the service here is attentive despite the manic tempo. If all lounge seats are spoken for, hover until a spot opens up. Happy hour runs 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday with half-off cheese crisps, starters, house margaritas and draft beer. The creamy, spicy guacamole is always a hit; so is the mouth-watering short rib and avocado crisp.
Info: 6166 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 601, Scottsdale; 480-305-6692, foxrc.com

District American Kitchen & Wine Bar
Settle into a handsome palette of soothing earth tones and modern architecture. Admire the wall of glass tiles sparkling behind the bar. Gaze out floor-to-ceiling windows at office drones and conventioneers strolling by. Then tip one back and nibble on fantastic snacks. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. or 10 p.m. to close Monday through Saturday, bar bites like meatloaf sliders are $3 to $5; drink specials include $6 martinis, $5 wines, $4 wells, $3 draft beers (good Arizonan stuff like Four Peaks, Oak Creek and Nimbus) and, the best deal here, sumptuous sangria for $3.75.
Info: Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 320 N. Third St., Phoenix; 602-817-5400, districtrestaurant.com

Famous Dave’s
Ooey, gooey, fall-off-the-bone ribs are the main attraction at these slightly hokey “roadside shacks,” so just throw your inhibitions to the wind and dig in. Two thick, meaty ribs are $3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; or you can get six wings, onion strings, three chicken tenders, two BBQ sliders or a basket of rib tips for the same price. Domestic drafts are $3 (16 ounces) and $4 (23 ounces); import drafts are $4 and $5.
Info: 16148 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria; 623-979-3706; other locations: Chandler (480-782-1212) and Mesa (480-615-1444), famousdaves.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
You say you have tenderloin taste on a burger budget? Fleming’s “5 for $6 ’til 7” happy hour is the ticket, with five of their decadent full-size appetizers – and a burger – for $6 until 7 p.m. daily. This includes an outstanding beef carpaccio with Creole mustard sauce, and the pièce de résistance, their juicy 8-ounce prime burger with cheese and bacon on a golden, buttery bun. It gets better. Pair these with one of five quality wines by the glass or five cocktails for $6, too. The classic Ketel One martini with blue cheese olives is a steal.
Info: 905 N. 54th St., Chandler, 480-940-1900; other locations: Peoria (623-772-9463), Scottsdale (480-596-8265), north Scottsdale (480-538-8000), flemingssteakhouse.com

Geisha a Go Go
Great gyoza, super sushi, indoor/outdoor ambience and the most interesting toilets in town (really, check them out) have made Geisha a desirable downtown Scottsdale destination for a few years now. Daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., get half-off appetizers, house maki, sake bombers, seasonal wine/sake infusions and specialty drinks, including their famous Hello Kitty. Check out Astroboy, Pokemon and Racer X sushi rolls (and their cheeky descriptions to match). Feeling all Lost in Translation? Private karaoke booths are half-off at happy hour, too.
Info: 7150 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale; 480-699-0055, geishaagogo.com

North
Ah, a beautiful spot for beautiful people to hang out after a grueling day of shopping at Kierland Commons. Take a load off those Louboutins on the comfy, cushy patio furniture and unwind with a nosh and a sip, discounted from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The trio of spreads ($4.50) is a good place to start. Well drinks are $4, bottled beer is $2.50 and all wines (nearly a few dozen) are half off, meaning you can snag a glass of refreshing Friulano or a decent Valpolicella for under $5.
Info: 15024 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, 480-948-2055; other location: Glendale (623-537-4500), foxrc.com

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
P.F. Chang’s always seems to have a line, but here’s the trick: Get there early for the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour, and as a bonus, get a great selection of beers, wines, cocktails and appetizers for $3 to $6. The Happy Valley location is especially happening, thanks to an open floor plan with a long bar configured at each end to be conducive for groups – or for making new friends. Share plates of crunchy spring rolls ($3), crab wontons ($4), crispy calamari ($5), spare ribs ($6), and the tried-and-true, crowd-pleasing chicken lettuce wraps ($5).
Info: 2420 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, 623-707-4495; other locations: Chandler (480-899-0472), Goodyear (623-536-3222), Mesa (480-218-4900), Peoria (623-412-3335), Scottsdale/Kierland (480-367-2999), Scottsdale/Waterfront (480-949-2610), Tempe (480-731-4600), pfchangs.com

Ra
Ra has always known how to keep us happy, from their killer sushi specials to the prime people-watching opportunities. We’ve been fans of their half-price happy hour for as long as we can remember, and now that Saturdays are part of the deal, we’ve gone from happy to seriously slap-happy. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Ra rocks our world with half-priced sushi (we love the Tootsy Maki and Crunchy Calamari Roll); half-priced appetizers, including two new items, Kaisen ceviche and grilled short ribs; plus $1, $2, $3, $4 and $5 drink specials, including beer, wine, sake and cocktails. Happy yet?
Info: Locations in Ahwatukee (480-940-1111), Tempe (480-303-9800), Mesa (480-632-9500), north Scottsdale (480-951-5888) and Old Town Scottsdale (480-990-9256), rasushi.com

Roaring Fork
The granddaddy of all happy hours, thanks to the full-pound Big Ass Burger for $7 (regularly $13), as well as green chili pork stew ($7), grilled fish tacos ($10), $5 wines, martinis, mojitos and margaritas, $4 well drinks and $3 domestic bottles. The killer deals, rustic ambience and wood-fired food act as one of those old iron dinner bell triangles for the Scottsdale workforce unleashed from the daily grind, so go early to stake your claim before the suits show up. Happy hour runs 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the saloon and on the patio, and Sunday and Monday from 4 p.m. to close.
Info: 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480-947-0795, roaringfork.com

Trader Vic’s
Maybe management has gone koo-koo from a tiki curse, à la the Brady Bunch. Or they’ve had one too many Mai Tais. How else to explain the insane happy hour prices, like a 6-ounce Chinese oven-roasted Maui burger for $2? And nothing on the Asian-inspired menu is more than $3, even the spare ribs or calamari. Drink specials include $6 signature cocktails. It runs 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily; go late on weekends when you can eat and drink on the cheap and see a live band.
Info: 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale; 480-421-7799, tradervics.com