Global cuisine, Americana favorites and tons of breweries hold court in the East Valley.
About this guide
The restaurants listed are noteworthy and randomly selected from our rotating master list. We suggest you confirm information, and we solicit your help in correcting any errors in the guide. Price categories reflect average dinner entrée prices; drinks, tax and tip are extra.
Iconic Arizona Restaurant – IAR
Best New Restaurant – BNR
$=under $10 $$=$11-$15
$$$=$16-$25 $$$$=$26 and over
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
american/brewpub
721 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert
480-284-9863, azwbeer.com
This popular microbrewery sports a distinctly outdoorsy vibe, reflected in lodgepole furnishings, beam ceilings and national forest signage, yet its brews are remarkably light and refined. Grub is a heavier affair, with jalapeño meatloaf sliders, pork-smothered fries and frenched wings leading the appetizer charge. $-$$
Ban Chan
korean
2909 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa
480-414-2525
This pleasant little restaurant features excellent dishes such as spicy pan-fried octopus and squid, Korean-style pork belly (sam-gyeopsal), and monkfish stew (agujjim). $-$$
Blue Adobe Grille
Southwestern
144 N. Country Club Dr., Mesa
480-962-1000, originalblueadobe.com
Mesa’s best bet for grown-up food in a stylish setting. The menu ranges between Southwestern cuisine (try the Tucumcari tenderloin) and New Mexican specialties like hatch garlic shrimp. Keep an eye out for daily specials. $$
Blue Wasabi Sushi & Martini Bar
Sushi
2080 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert
480-722-9250, bluewasabi.net
Panels of multi-colored glass dominate the decor at this stylish sushi bar. The hip menu features sushi rolls filled with surprising ingredients like seared beef, mango and Fritos. $$-$$$
The Brickyard
tapas
85 W. Boston St., Chandler
480-963-1373, brickyarddowntown.com
Trendy but substantive downtown Chandler gastropub tucked inside a vintage newspaper building. Chef Aaron Rickel’s addictive small plates include soy-glazed shishito peppers, fork-tender octopus and quail egg carpaccio. $$
Cap’n Ron’s Fish& Chips
Seafood
6144 E. Main St., Mesa
480-832-4134
This far-flung fry shack offers flaky fish and chips, a fried shrimp combo and a flawless catshish sandwich.Even landlubber’s grub like quiche is excellent. $
The Coffee Shop
Coffee
3000 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert
480-279-3144, thecoffeeshopaz.com
Housed in the heart of Agritopia, The Coffee Shop is a bustling breakfast spot specializing in coffee, cupcakes, scrambles and sandwiches. $-$$
Crackers & Co.
American
535 W. Iron Ave., Mesa
480-898-1717, crackersandcompanycafe.com
Housed in an industrial park, this ultra-feminine restaurant turns out homemade soups, imaginative sandwiches, entrée salads, hearty breakfasts and wonderful homemade desserts. Other locations: Mesa (480-924-9977), Tempe (480-705-7900). $
Cyclo
Vietnamese
1919 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
480-963-4490, azeats.com/cyclo
Chef/owner Justina Duong offers great Vietnamese food in a pretty setting. The menu features specialties such as banh xéo (a shrimp- and pork-filled crêpe), goi du du (green papaya salad) and bun rieu (an amazing seafood soup), which you’ll love at first bite. $
Da’Bayou Creole Kitchen
creole
313 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert
480-704-3405, dabayoucreolekitchen.com
Chef-owner Ali Biller trafficks in Creole cooking – the saucier, more Caribbean half of the Creole-Cajun chimera. The fried green tomatoes are firm and bready, but it’s down-menu – e.g. redfish Pontchartrain, a seared filet of spottail bass under red pepper cream with a very Creole retinue of mushrooms, tomatoes and shrimp – where Da’Bayou really shines. $$$
DC Steak House
STEAKhouse
98 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler
480-899-4400, dc-steakhouse.com
Short for “Downtown Chandler” Steak House, this cozy-yet-classic spot in Chandler’s historic square is fully loaded with a menu featuring nine kinds of steaks and chops, plus salads and sandwiches. $$-$$$$
El Sol Bakery
Mexican
760 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
480-786-0811
You’d never guess that inside this Mexican bakery is some of the best down-home Mexican food you’ll find anywhere. Made-on-the-premises tortillas are killer. $
Famous Dave’s BBQ
American
3250 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
480-782-1212, famousdaves.com
Famous Dave serves up piping hot ribs, pulled pork and the “Texas Manhandler,” a mountain of brisket and hot-link sausage on a toasty bun. Multiple locations. $$
The Hidden House
new american
159 W. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler
480-275-5525, hiddenhouseaz.com
Tucked away on a quiet street behind the bustle of Chandler’s historic square, this sweet New American gastropub is a stone-cold gem, offering crowd-pleasing food, a terrific patio, cool bar and great cocktails. $$
Jalapeño Bucks
Barbecue/Mexican
3434 N. Val Vista Dr., Mesa
480-459-3050, jalapenobucks.com
Set in an old orange grove, this cultish walk-up barbecue joint turns out great brisket and pulled pork. $
Joe’s Real BBQ
American
301 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert
480-503-3805, joesrealbbq.com
Housed in an old brick building dating back to 1929, Joe’s features pecan-smoked barbecue and good sides – cheesy potatoes, barbecue baked beans, potato salad and mac and cheese. A classic. $
Kai
CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler
602-225-0100, wildhorsepassresort.com
Explore contemporary, seasonal spins on indigenous regional cuisine at Arizona’s only AAA Four Diamond, Forbes Five Star dining destination. The impeccable service and remarkable Estrella Mountain views only bolster this high-end resort restaurant’s natural charms. Dinner only. $$$$
Katsu
korean/asian fusion
1135 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa
602-225-0100, wildhorsepassresort.com
From a tiny food stall in a Korean food court in Asiana Market comes modern Korean fusion fare, Don’t miss the topoki (fish cake) carbonara spaghetti. $
Santan Coffee Shop Trio
Get your caffeine fix at these East Valley java joints.
1 Peixoto Coffee
Jeff Peters and Julia Peixoto-Peters roast coffee grown on Julia’s family farm in Brazil. Creative baristas craft seasonal coffee, tea, cascara and mocktail specials, and rotating treats purveyors mean you could pair your cortado with pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) or a pastry from a local bakery.$
721 W. Boston St., Chandler, 480-275-2843, peixotocoffee.com
2 four silos Brewery, coffee & beer house
There’s a story behind every item on the menu at Four Silos. Owner Mike Barclay was born and raised in Phoenix and puts his stamp on everything from the Magic Breakfast Sandwich to the nitro cold brew coffee. $
143 S. Higley Rd., Gilbert, 480-210-7456, foursilosbrewery.com
3 Bergies Coffee Roast House
Walking into Bergies’ garden is like strolling into the backyard of an old friend – a friend who whips up a mean mocha. Sprinkled with plants and cute patio furniture, it’s the perfect place to enjoy your espresso, with the confidence that your coffee was roasted in small batches – six pounds at a time – to ensure that each cup is brewed to perfection. $
309 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, 480-497-3913, bergiescoffee.com
La Tiendita
colombian
456 W. Main St., Mesa
480-898-5546, latienditacafe.com
This Colombian grocery and restaurant features dishes from the old country. Don’t miss fried empanadas served with cilantro and jalapeño sauce, and arepas filled with oozy, salty white cheese. $-$$
La Ristra
NEW MEXICAN
638 E. Warner Rd., Gilbert
480-545-2880, laristraaz.com
Spicy and approachable, this relative of the Los Dos Molinos restaurant empire shines with updated takes on time-tested New Mexican family recipes. Come for the New Mexican chile, linger for the heavy-duty menu of premium tequilas. $$
Lee’s Sandwiches
Sandwiches
1901 W. Warner Rd., Chandler
480-855-1778, leesandwiches.com
Started by two brothers from Vietnam, this fast-casual operation specializes in sandwiches, classified European or Asian, made on croissants or house-made baguettes. The Asian sandwiches are topped with pickled veggies, cilantro and jalapeño. There’s also great coffee, house-made ice cream and smoothies. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $
Liberty Market
American
230 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert
480-892-1900, libertymarket.com
Joe Johnston (of Joe’s Real BBQ), brings us this fast-casual eatery housed in another historic building in downtown Gilbert. Highlights include the antipasto and cheese platters, fresh baked goods, Sicilian pizza, sweet potato salad and griddled bread pudding. $-$$
Mambo’s Dominican Kitchen
Dominican
1950 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
480-718-9210
In the Valley’s lone Dominican restaurant, enjoy sophisticated, savory fare like mofongo de camarones, carne de res guisado and maybe the best chicken soup you’ll ever taste. $
Mikado
Japanese/Sushi
3125 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler
480-726-0255, mikadosushiaz.com
Except for the imaginative maki-zushi, there’s nothing trendy about this cozy neighborhood restaurant and sushi bar, which offers oshibori and old-school hospitality. $-$$
Nello’s
Pizza
2950 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa
480-820-5995, nellospizzamesa.com
Back in the ’80s, this Chicago-style pizzeria was the hottest thing going. Nello’s still turns out imaginative pizzas, Italian appetizers, salads, pastas and sandwiches. And cheesecake. Multiple locations. $-$$
Original Cuisine
chinese/sichuan
1853 W. Broadway Rd., Mesa
480-255-7810, originalcuisine.eat24hour.com
An offshoot of one of California’s most admired Chinese restaurants, this clean, efficient East Valley eatery really brings the heat, specializing in the one-two punch of ma la – dried red chilies and tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorn. For more nuance, start with mapo tofu— silky cubes of tofu, bathed in a gravy-like sauce of chili oil, doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste), Sichuan peppercorn, garlic and ginger. It’s absolutely off the charts, releasing subtle sweetness and layers of controlled heat. $-$$
Pita Jungle
Vegetarian/Middle Eastern
1949 W. Ray Rd., Chandler
480-855-3232, pitajungle.com
These hip little havens for health nuts offer tofu, tempeh and veggie burgers, plus Middle Eastern dishes such as chicken shawarma, hummus and baba ghanoush. Great deals on tapas at happy hour. Multiple locations. $
Rancho de Tia Rosa
Mexican
891 N. Higley Rd., Gilbert
480-396-8787, ranchodetiarosa.com
Tia Rosa offers familiar Sonoran standbys as well as extra-regional specialties such as semisweet chicken mole and carnitas. $-$$
Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse
steakhouse/american
5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler
480-502-5600, rawhide.com
The Rawhide menu celebrates the spirit and hospitality of its Western roots through traditional cooking, barbecue food challenges, true hungry-cowboy portions and the use of indigenous ingredients from the Gila River Indian Community. $$
Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q
barbecue
7300 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
480-874-6440, rudysbbq.com
This Texas-based chain’s Chandler outpost draws long lines for its wood-fired meats, rubbed down with a signature dry spice blend. Buy brisket, turkey breast, pork loin, pork ribs, half-chickens, sausage, jalapeño sausage and prime rib by the half-pound. $-$$
3 Must-Visit Asian District Eateries
This culinary hub in Mesa is your one-stop solution for spectacular Far East food.
1 Shaanx
You can visit this welcoming restaurant for chop suey, but why would you when there are specialties of China’s north-central Shaanxi province to explore? Don’t miss the wide, 2-foot-long noodles called biangbiang, which show up in a half-dozen permutations, or the sloppy Joe-like roujiamo. $$-$$$
67 N. Dobson Rd., Mesa, 480-733-8888, shaanxibiangbiang.com
2 best hong kong dining
This Hong Kong-style barbecue and noodle restaurant is a lot of fun and dirt cheap. Try the half roast duck, pork with a broodingly sweet garlic sauce, shrimp with scrambled egg chow fun or the spicy Singapore-style fried rice vermicelli. $-$$
1116 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, 480-655-8262, besthongkongdining.com
3 Daruma
This unassuming charmer offers a big bang for the buck, turning out noodle dishes, classic entrées and traditional sushi standards as well as edgier selections such as tuna carpaccio with creamy onion sauce and a California roll with poke on top. $-$$
1116 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, 480-590-7979, darumabyrie.com
3 Can’t-Miss Main Street Spots
Check out these must-visit eateries on Mesa’s main drag.
1 Worth Takeaway
The crispy chicken with house-made pickles and honey Sriracha is the masterpiece at this white-board-menu gourmet ’wich shop, but all 14 sandwiches are exhibit-worthy. $
218 W Main St, Mesa, 480-833-2180, worthtakeaway.com
2 Que Chevere
Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Orvid Cutler and Maria Fernanda, this Venezuelan restaurant evolved from a popular food truck. Now, arepas, empanadas and unique sandwiches can be enjoyed in a plainly furnished but charming little spot in downtown Mesa. $
142 W. Main St., Mesa, 480-474-4954, quechevereaz.com
3 Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea & Gallery
Sip on creative coffee drinks like the Peanut Butter Mocha Blast while perusing an abundance of art and jewelry or enjoying live music.$
154 W. Main St., 480-822-7146, jarrodscoffeeteaandgallery.com
Saigon Pho
Vietnamese
1381 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
480-786-8828
This pretty restaurant serves the Vietnamese specialties you already know and then some. Try the Saigon Special Lobster and the tom ram man. Lunch and dinner daily. $-$$$
Sasha’s Kitchen & Cocktails
American
81 W. Boston St., Chandler
480-284-7447, sashaskitchenaz.com
This cocktail lounge and restaurant situated in a historic 1929 building offers upscale pub grub, from pork belly lollipops to a fried chicken maki roll. $$-$$$
Sherpa Kitchen
nepalese
1533 W. Elliot Rd., Gilbert
480-687-1187, sherpakitchenaz.com
If you love Indian food, don’t miss this small, friendly spot, specializing in Nepalese cooking. Besides Nepalese dumplings called momo, you’ll find excellent samosas, lush tikka masala and what may be the best daal in town, offered as soup or in Nepal’s signature daal bhat platter. $$
Shimogamo
Japanese
2051 W. Warner Rd., Chandler
480-899-7191, shimogamoaz.com
Traditionalists and foodies will both be happy at this elegant Japanese restaurant, which offers everything from saikyo-yaki and chirashi-zushi to seafood wonton wraps and portobello beef rolls. The monkfish pâté is not to be missed. $$-$$$
Shula’s Steak House
Steak
5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler
520-796-1972, shulas.com
The filet mignon and rib-eye are luscious and smoky at this football-themed restaurant named after Hall of Fame coach Don Shula. Standard sides such as poached asparugus are pricey, but the wedge salad, generously topped with blue cheese and bacon, satisfies, and the West Coast beet risotto is worth the splurge. $$$$
The Seafood Market
Seafood
3406 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa
480-633-1580, azeats.com/seafoodmarket
There’s nothing fancy about this pleasantly decorated little seafood restaurant and adjoining market, but the fish is always fresh. Healthfully prepared, too. $$
Sekai Sushi
Japanese
1017 S. Gilbert Rd., Mesa
480-545-8131, sekaisushi.net
One of the best sushi bars in the East Valley, this friendly place offers plenty of traditional Japanese dishes as well, including ramen and katsu don. Lunch M-F; dinner nightly. $$-$$$
SoCal Fish Taco Company
MeXICAN
219 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert
480-807-6225, socalfishtacos.com
This breezy fish shack incongruously nestled in downtown Gilbert serves Baja-style seafood and fried fare, from tequila-glazed shrimp and fried cod tacos to creamy clam chowder and onion-laced blue crabcakes. Try the peel-and-eat shrimp for a deliciously hands-on dinner. Everything is so fresh, you’ll forget you’re in a landlocked state. $
Steak and Stone
STEAKHOUSE
2613 N. Thunderbird Cir., Mesa
480-830-6100, steakandstone.com
Located a stone’s throw from Falcon Field Airport, this carnivore paradise is known for choice-cut meats cooked tableside on a 500-degree slab of rock. Land at the secluded front bar room for drink specials including $3 off house wine and $2 off well drinks. $$-$$$
Stufrageous Stuffed Burgers
Burgers
1036 W. Southern Ave., Mesa
480-969-1305, stufrageous.com
This fast-casual burger joint offers moist, flavorful stuffed beef and chicken patties. Look for Greek, Hawaiian and veggie options, plus decadent sides sich as fried pepper jack macaroni balls and crispy tempura green beans. The caprese burger marries the salty mozarella and zesty basil of the popular salad with the satisfying ooze of margherita pizza. $
Tasty Pot
ASian
66 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa,
480-809-6780, tastypotusa.com
The specialty at this hot pot chain is several varieties of Taiwanese soup, served in an individual bowl of boiling broth chosen from a five-level spice spectrum. $-$$
Tao Garden
Chinese
2050 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
480-857-4188, taogardendining.com
Seafood is the specialty at this Hong Kong-style joint, so expect to find everything from oysters, crab and lobster to tilapia and catfish. The gigantic menu also features soups, noodles and rice dishes. Everything is first-rate. $-$$$
Tempura Takeover
seafood
2371 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert
480-857-4188, tempuratakeover.com
From a little nook in a corner of a Gilbert gas station, a self-taught Californian proprietress cheerfully delivers jaw-droppingly tasty lobster rolls, lobster tacos and other bounties of the sea. Start with the Sloppy Lobsta Roll, succulent, flawlessly fried shellfish dressed with the orangey, slow-igniting Takeover Sauce $$
Tryst Cafe
American
4205 S. Gilbert Rd.
480-656-1011, trystcafe.com
Sit in a pleasant, sunny dining room and feast on hearty but not oppressive Hawaiian breakfast, a bowl with eggs, jasmine rice, cabbage, kalua pork (or vegetarian protein option) and paper-thin wontons in a luscious, sweet soy glaze. The banana quinoa pancakes are similarly substantial, but light. Other location: North Phoenix (480-585-7978). $-$$
Venezia’s New York Style Pizzeria
Pizza/Italian
744 W. Ray Rd., Gilbert
480-786-3200, venezias.com
Owner Domenick Montanile gives loyal diners a New York feel and a touch of Italy. Everything is authentic, down to the family photos displayed throughout the restaurant. Enjoy award-winning pizza, along with delicious calzones. $
