Central Records
Mediterranean
824 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-638-0433, centralrecords824.com
Breakfast is served daily until 3 p.m. and a selection of Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches, salads and small plates are available all day. Many are built around exceptional breads from Nice Buns, including a crusty yet tender baguette, drizzled with rosemary oil, smeared with soft mushroom pâté and garnished with watermelon radish, cornichon and fresh dill. $$-$$$
Andes Peruvian Cuisine
Peruvian
6025 N. 27th Ave.
602-368-9205, losandesphx.com
Everything is yummy at this small, charming west-sider. When it comes to Peruvian in this town, he’s the man, turning out spot-on versions of the classics, including Los Andes Jalea, a platter of lightly battered and fried fish strips, served in a steaming heap with sautéed crab, shrimp, scallops, calamari, octopus, clams and mussels. $$
Bacanora
Latin
1301 N.W. Grand Ave.
602-612-4018, bacanoraphx.com
Chef-owner Rene Andrade’s tiny, vibrant eatery, a heartfelt homage to the rustic cooking of his native Sonora, has earned universal raves for its flame-licked pollo asado, caramelos stuffed with succulent carne asada and otherworldly grilled octopus (which he offers on Saturday only). $$-$$$
Casa Corazon
Mexican
2637 N. 16th St.
602-334-1917, casacorazonrestaurant.com
With its vaulted ceilings, pretty tiled floors and frescos, this classy Mexican restaurant transcends its “barrio” neighborhood, offering Mexican classics as well as specialties of Southern Mexico. Everything drinkable – from margaritas to aguas frescas – is first-rate, as are the ceviche, guacamole, tacos al vapor, cochinita pibil and steak Mexicano. $-$$
Durant’s
American
2611 N. Central Ave.
602-264-5967, durantsaz.com
This midtown institution has been serving beef and booze for the past 50 years. Phoenix’s movers and shakers come for Florida stone crabs, excellent lunchtime sandwiches and classic martinis. $$-$$$
Eden’s Grill Inn
Middle Eastern
13843 N. Tatum Blvd.
602-996-5149, edensgrill.com
Housed in a strip mall, this small Middle Eastern restaurant is far prettier than you’d imagine, and the made-from-scratch food is wonderful. Try dolmeh, baba ghannouj, excellent kebabs, catfish and baklava. $-$$
Federal Pizza
Pizza
5210 N. Central Ave.
602-795-2520, federalpizzaphx.com
The food is good, the drinks are better and we dig the vibe of the redeveloped circa 1969 building designed by modernist architect Alfred Beadle. $$
Glai Baan
Thai street food
2333 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix,
602-595-5881
Pornsupak “Cat” Bunnag escapes the Americanized Thai restaurant tropes with her spin on classic Thailand street food and specialties from her home province of Isan. Glai Baan (loosely translated as “far from home”) offers a small menu of small plates meant to be shared, like out-of-this-world steamed pork dumplings and crispy chicken wings with garlic chips. $$
Hana Japanese Eatery
Japanese/Sushi
5524 N. Seventh Ave.
602-973-1238, hanajapaneseeatery.com
This beloved sushi restaurant captures the hearts, minds and bellies of locals who appreciate the warmth of the staff, the freshness of the fish and chef Lori Hashimoto’s inventive chalkboard menu. $-$$$
Indian Delhi Palace
Indian
5104 E. McDowell Rd.
602-244-8181, indiandelhipalace.com
Phoenix’s oldest Indian restaurant has been spruced up and is still going strong. Feast on Goa-style delicacies including chicken tikka masala, the benghan bhartha and the palaak paneer. $-$$
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Globally inspired bar bites
1 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
602-340-1924, bitterandtwistedaz.com
From Arizona Cocktail Week founder Ross Simon comes this award-winning Downtown cocktail bar with brash, inventive drinks, globally inspired food and the kind of big-city feel that leaves pretension at the door. Must try: the addictive Hurricane popcorn and any of the umpteen Negronis. $-$$$
JINYA Ramen Bar
Japanese/Ramen
5120 N. Central Ave.
602-612-3796, jinyaramenbar.com
Ramen bowls available for purchase include the “black” tonkotsu with meaty wood ear mushrooms, fork-tender chashu (braised pork belly), and a spritz of lusty black garlic oil. $$
Kaizen
Japanese/sushi
515 E. Grant St.
602-432-0752, kaizenphx.com
Chef Gustavo Muñoz brings a Latin vibe to this hip fusion sushi spot in the warehouse district, where you can expect to find ceviche, scallop aguachile and tiradito alongside florid sushi rolls made with striking ingredients and Japanese standards gone fancy. $$
Latha Restaurant and Bar
Modern African
628 E. Adams St.
480-640-6183, lathaphx.com
Friendly, upbeat Latha (“flavor” in Swahili) celebrates the diverse foodways of the African diaspora, serving modern riffs on classic dishes from Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and the American South. Given the Afrobeats music, cocktails and snacks (think piri-piri and escabeche with tostones), this just may be Downtown’s hippest new hangout. $$$
Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata
Thai
218 E. Portland St.
602-675-0522, mrbaans.com
Downtown Phoenix welcomes a new bar and restaurant from the folks behind Lom Wong, which focuses on the regional cuisine of northern Thailand. The bar and grill serves a blend of shabu-shabu and Korean barbecue along with a variety of rotating grilled skewers. $$
Noble Eatery
Deli/sandwiches
4525 N. 24th St.
602-688-2424, nobleeatery.com
Local breadmaker Jason Raducha showcases organic legumes, artisanal meats, fresh local produce and mouth watering loaves. Look for rotating daily sandwiches, salads and starters, including tart pink grapefruit with fennel, and bruschetta-like smorgas with seasonal ingredients like Blue Sky cherry tomatoes and milky mozzarella. $
Pocha 54
Korean
705 N. First St.
480-659-6355, pocha54.com
“Korean tapas” head to Northern Phoenix via 30 tiny shareable dishes inspired by South Korean street food. Gochujang makes its appearance in many dishes, including shrimp, Brussels sprouts and tteok-bokki (simmered rice cake). $$-$$$
Qué Sazón
Colombian
622 E. Adams St., 602-919-2246
Enjoy succulent, ají-crema-drizzled empanadas and open-face, crispy-chewy tostones served in one of the city’s true historical treasures. Colombian chef Fabian Ocampo’s seasonal, evenings-only menu of ceviche and tiraditos (essentially, Colombian crudo) are bewitching and not quite like anything else we’ve had in the Valley. $$
Rusconi’s American Kitchen
American
10637 N. Tatum Blvd.
480-483-0009, rusconiskitchen.com
From talented chef Michael Rusconi comes a snug and unpretentious home-away-from-home. The Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame-nominated chef has been spotted lugging in grocery sacks hours before opening and it’s not uncommon for him to launch into tableside explanations of gastronomic technique over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try the curried rack of lamb and luscious Durham Ranch buffalo sirloin with pungent, wholesome apple-bleu cheese. $$
The Stockyards
Steak/American
5009 E. Washington St.
602-273-7378, stockyardssteakhouse.com
Established in 1947, this recently spruced-up reminder of Phoenix’s cowboy roots – complete with a hand-carved bar and crystal chandeliers – turns out great steaks, prime rib, buffalo meatloaf, citrus-chile-glazed salmon and barbecue baby-back ribs. $$-$$$
Tacos Chiwas
Mexican
1028 E. Indian School Rd.
602-358-8830, tacoschiwas.com
At first glance, this Midtown taqueria may appear to be a bare-bones operation in modest surroundings – but this James Beard nominee is hardly just another mom-and-pop taco joint. From the slow-roasted meats to the tripe tacos, Tacos Chiwas screams authenticity. Try the trailblazing elote or the signature Chiwas taco with beef, ham and Anaheim chiles. Other locations: Chandler (480-590-2891), Mesa (480-590-7163). $
Valentine
Global
4130 N. Seventh Ave.
602-612-2961, valentinephx.com
This hip hangout is a brunch/lunch/dinner go-to for grazing on chef-owner Donald Hawk’s wildly creative menu, which draws from his Korean upbringing, his past life as the raw bar chef at The Gladly and his commitment to local ingredients. Imagine churro waffles, molasses-glazed hushpuppies and crispy cauliflower with native seed tahini, laved with tangy raisin escabeche. Hawk also makes arguably the city’s best chicken dishes – a brined and smoked half-bird set on a puddle of creamy yogurt with durum wheatberries. $$-$$$
Welcome Diner
Southern
929 E. Pierce St.
602-495-1111, welcomediner.net
This Garfield neighborhood diner, beloved for its Southern-inflected comfort food served late, puts hip, impressionistic spins on classics like the fried green tomato sandwich, gooey mac and cheese and an insanely good chorizo meatloaf. Save room for old-fashioned pie. $$
ZK Grill
Middle eastern
4757 E. Greenway Rd.
602-354-3663, zaytoonkabob.com
These cheery, bustling, fast-casual restaurants specialize, obviously, in kabobs. Chicken, beef filet, lamb, ground beef – each is treated with utmost respect. Carefully trimmed, marinated and grilled to order, they come as entrées with superlative rice or as wraps, nestled in wonderful flatbread. All the usual go-withs are available: taboule, hummus, eggplant dip. Iranian specialties are offered daily. Saffron ice cream makes the perfect meal punctuation. Other location: Phoenix (480-961-2353). $-$$
About this guide
The restaurants listed are noteworthy and randomly selected from our rotating master list. We suggest that you confirm information, and we solicit your help in correcting any errors in the guide. We also ask readers to send us complaints in writing when one of the listed restaurants fails to meet expectations. Please note that, unless otherwise indicated, the listed restaurants offer free parking and recommend reservations for peak hours and large groups. Price categories reflect average dinner entrée prices; drinks, tax and tip are extra.
$=under $10
$$=$11-$15
$$$=$16-$25
$$$$=$26 and over
