Source
Italian
3150 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert
480-687-7732, eatatsource.com
Chef and co-owner Claudio Urciuoli is quickly becoming a neighborhood fixture at this sleek but unpretentious fast-casual, where the Italian menu has a Mediterranean accent. Eat anything involving bread (bruschetta, flatbread, sandwiches) and don’t miss the extraordinary pizza. $$
At My Place Café
Filipino
3450 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
480-838-1008, facebook.com/atmyplacecafeaz
As casual and welcoming as its name, this cute Filipino café draws loads of Asian cuisine lovers who show up for lechon kawali, adobo, beef caldereta, breakfast silogs (offered all day), pork sisig, lumpia, empanadas, buko pandan and more – basically, all the Filipino classics, deliciously prepared. $-$$
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 napped with jalapeño Hollandaise) and New Mexican specialties. $$
Café Lalibela
Ethiopian
849 W. University Dr., Tempe
480-829-1939, cafelalibela.com
Eating with your hands is not only accepted but expected at this friendly restaurant, where injera (spongy tortilla-like bread) functions as silverware. Try the doro wat (chicken and hard-cooked egg in traditional berbere sauce) or the gomen (collard greens). $-$$
Daruma
Japanese/sushi
1116 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa
480-590-7979, darumabyrie.com
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. $-$$
El Sol Mexican Café & Bakery
Mexican
760 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
480-786-0811
You’d never guess that inside this Mexican bakery is some of the best down-home Mexican food you’ll find anywhere. Made-on-the-premises tortillas are killer. $
Famous Dave’s BBQ
American
3250 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
480-782-1212, famousdaves.com
Famous Dave serves up piping hot ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken and the Texas beef brisket sandwich. Check online for other locations. $$
Ghost Ranch
Southwestern
1006 E. Warner Rd., Tempe
480-474-4328, ghostranchaz.com
Sure, you could eat a juicy, outrageously good green chile burger at this elegant ode to Southwestern cuisine, but then you’d miss out on wonderful dishes that redene the genre. If you’re willing to fork out the cash, the grilled trout is sensational, as are the pollo asado and the ceviche (technically an aguachile), one of the best in town. $$-$$$
The Halal Guys
Middle Eastern
1015 S. Rural Rd., Tempe
480-275-7502, thehalalguys.com
Decorated in red and yellow – the latter color an homage to the Muslim cabbies who were early customers – The Halal Guys has morphed from Manhattan food cart to multinational fast food chain. Regulars love chicken, gyros and falafel platters with plenty of the eatery’s signature white sauce, a spin on toum, a garlicky Middle Eastern sauce. Check online for other locations. $
Joe’s Farm Grill
American
3000 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert
480-563-4745, joesfarmgrill.com
Gilbert serial entrepreneur Joe Johnston converted the house in which he grew up into a flashback-to-the-’60s restaurant, featuring excellent hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken baskets, fries and milkshakes – all made with fresh, top-notch ingredients. $-$$
Kai
Contemporary Native American
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd. (Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass), Chandler
602-225-0100, wildhorsepassresort.com
Explore contemporary, seasonal spins on indigenous regional cuisine at Arizona’s only AAA Four Diamond, Forbes Five Star dining destination. $$$$
La Tiendita
Colombian
456 W. Main St., Mesa
480-898-5546
Owner German Prado runs a Colombian grocery and restaurant featuring traditional dishes from the old country. He’ll insist you try small fried empanadas served with a thin cilantro and jalapeño sauce, and arepas – thick, griddled corn cakes filled with oozy, salty white cheese. And you should. $-$$
Mambo’s Dominican Kitchen
Dominican
1950 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
480-718-9210, mambosdk.com
Another Gilbert institution from Joe Johnston, this fast-casual eatery is housed in a historic building in downtown Gilbert. Highlights include fresh baked goods, wood-fired pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and all-day breakfast. Terrific espresso bar, too. $-$$
Nello’s
Pizza
2950 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa
480-820-5995, nellospizzamesa.com
Back in the ’80s, this Chicago-style pizzeria was the hottest thing going. Nello’s still turns out imaginative pizzas, Italian appetizers, salads, pastas and sandwiches. Multiple locations. $-$$
Original Cuisine
Chinese
1853 W. Broadway Rd., Mesa
602-625-4405, originalcuisineaz.com
An offshoot of one of California’s most admired Chinese restaurants, this efficient eatery really brings the heat, specializing in the one-two punch of ma la – dried red chiles and tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, an acquired taste for some. For more nuance, start with mapo tofu— silky cubes of tofu bathed in a gravy-like sauce of chile oil, doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste), Sichuan peppercorns, garlic and ginger. It’s off the charts, releasing subtle sweetness and layers of controlled heat. $-$$
Pedal Haus Brewery
American/Gastropub
730 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
480-314-2337, pedalhausbrewery.com
This buzzy, bike-themed brewery is arguably restaurateur Julian Wright’s most popular concept. Meaty pub grub such as smoked chicken wings, burgers and crispy pork schnitzel are balanced with a vegan menu of pizza, cauliflower wings and a Mediterranean board. Lots of gluten-friendly options, too, including gluten-reduced beers. Multiple locations. $$
Rancho de Tia Rosa
Mexican
891 N. Higley Rd., Gilbert
480-396-8787, ranchodetiarosa.com
A longtime favorite for quality Mexican cuisine in the East Valley, Tia Rosa offers familiar Sonoran standbys, as well as extra-regional specialties such as a toothsome, semi-sweet chicken mole and first-rate carnitas. Other location: Mesa (480-659-8787). $
Shimogamo
Japanese
2051 W. Warner Rd, Chandler
480-899-7191, shimogamoaz.com
Traditionalists and iconoclasts will both be happy at this serenely elegant Japanese restaurant, which offers everything from saikyo-yaki and chirashi-zushi to seafood wonton wraps and portobello beef rolls. Don’t miss the monkfish pâté. $$-$$$$
Tao Garden
Chinese
2050 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
480-857-4188, taogardendining.com
Seafood is the specialty at this friendly Hong Kong-style restaurant, so expect to find everything from oysters, crab and lobster to tilapia and catfish. The gigantic menu also features soups, noodles and hot pots, and everything is first-rate. $-$$
Zu Izakaya
Japanese
2210 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe
480-625-4372, zuizakaya.com
Owned by Chef June Kang of Scottsdale’s Bei Sushi, Zu captures the spirit of a Japanese izakaya pub without its more traditional trappings. A massive menu of tempura, hot pots and grilled meats includes gyoza, chile-garlic edamame and tempura sweet potatoes, with fried cheese SPAM katsu sliders for more adventurous appetites. $-$$
Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Cajun/Seafood
740 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
480-634-6285, hotnjuicycrawfish.com
Grub is served family-style in a traditional Cajun crawfish boil, with bibs and gloves handed out to protect diners’ clothes. Crawfish is as bright and refreshing as a Louisiana sunrise, while clams prepared in the eatery’s signature four-sauce blend are surprisingly tender. Other location: Glendale (623-872-2984). $$
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
