Postino
Wine Bar
3939 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix
602-852-3939, postinowinecafe.com
Housed in the old Arcadia post office, the aptly named Postino offers panini, salads, interesting wines, and great snacks. Don’t miss the bruschetta sampler. Check online for other locations. $$
Central Records
Mediterranean
824 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-638-0433, centralrecords824.com
Breakfast is served daily until 3 p.m. and a selection of Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches, salads and small plates are available all day. Many are built around exceptional breads from Nice Buns, including a crusty yet tender baguette, drizzled with rosemary oil, smeared with soft mushroom pâté and garnished with watermelon radish, cornichon and fresh dill. $$-$$$
Azlin at The Clarendon
Global fusion
401 W. Clarendon Ave.
602-252-7363, azlinattheclarendon.com
In the lobby-adjacent Clarendon Hotel spot where Gallo Blanco trailblazer Doug Robson first proved his Modern Mexican mettle, chef Pierce Azlin massively outperforms expectations. Hamachi crudo arrives in a fragrant bath of chipotle-infused yuzu aguachile, while confit tomatoes drizzled with pesto on a cloud of stracciatella cheese are liable to excite feelings of competition at the table. $$-$$$
Belly Kitchen + Bar
Southeast Asian
4971 N. Seventh Ave.
602-296-4452, bellyphx.com
Known for slinging adventurous cocktails and turning out edgy riffs on the classics: crispy crab bánh xèo; PEI mussels, afloat in a fragrant broth of coconut milk and lemongrass; salty king mushrooms, zapped with Sichuan peppercorns; and crispy fried chicken shellacked in a funky, fish-sauce-based glaze. $$
Carolina’s Mexican Food
Mexican
1202 E. Mohave St.
602-252-1503, carolinasmex.com
By 11 a.m., this bare-bones south Phoenix stalwart is knee-deep in customers, lined up for homey, straightforward tacos, tamales, burritos and enchiladas. Other locations: north Phoenix (602-275-8231), Mesa (480-912-3420), Peoria (623-487-1400). $
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. $$-$$$
El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar
Peruvian
2605 N. Seventh St.
602-225-2925, elchullorestaurant.com
Chef Omar Velarde transforms starchy staples such as corn and potatoes into tart drinks, munchable table snacks and appetizers such as papa rellena, a meat- and raisin-stuffed tuber that’s like a Coney Island knish on steroids. $$
Federal Pizza
Pizza
5210 N. Central Ave.
602-795-2520, federalpizzaphx.com
The food is good, the drinks are better and we dig the vibe of the redeveloped circa 1969 building designed by modernist architect Alfred Beadle. Pizzas hit the spot without draining the wallet. $$
Glai Baan
Thai street food
2333 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix,
602-595-5881, glaibaanaz.com
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. Using locally sourced ingredients where possible, 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. $$
Hillstone
American
2650 E. Camelback Rd.
602-957-9700, hillstone.com
Hillstone is a stone’s throw away from the former Houston’s at the Esplanade, with many of the same mouthwatering menu items. Don’t miss the Osaka-style pressed sushi, Thai steak and noodle salad, barbecue pork ribs, and warm five-nut brownie. $$-$$$
Indian Delhi Palace
Indian
5104 E. McDowell Rd.
602-244-8181, indiandelhipalace.com
Phoenix’s oldest Indian restaurant is still going strong. Feast on Goa-style delicacies including chicken tikka masala, the benghan bhartha and the palaak paneer. $-$$
JINYA Ramen Bar
Japanese/Ramen
5120 N. Central Ave.
602-612-3796, jinyaramenbar.com
Jinya travels from Southern California to Uptown Phoenix. Ramen bowls available for purchase include the “black” tonkotsu ramen with meaty wood ear mushrooms, fork-tender chashu (braised pork belly), and a spritz of lusty black garlic oil. $$
Latha Restaurant and Bar
Modern African
628 E. Adams St.
480-640-6183, lathaphx.com
Friendly, upbeat Latha (“flavor” in Swahili) celebrates the diverse foodways of the African diaspora, serving modern riffs on classic dishes from Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and the American South. Given the Afrobeats music, cocktails and snacks (think piri-piri and escabeche with tostones), this just may be Downtown’s hippest new hangout. $$$
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. Inspired by the cuisine of the city of Chiang Mai in the Thai highlands, the bar and grill serves a blend of shabu-shabu and Korean barbecue along with a variety of rotating grilled skewers, including pork and curried corn on the cob. $$
Noble Eatery
Deli/sandwiches
4525 N. 24th St.
602-688-2424, nobleeatery.com
Local breadmaker Jason Raducha showcases organic legumes, artisanal meats, fresh local produce and mouth watering loaves. Look for rotating daily sandwiches, salads and starters, including tart pink grapefruit with fennel, and bruschetta-like smorgas with seasonal ingredients like Blue Sky cherry tomatoes and milky mozzarella. $
Over Easy
Breakfast
4730 E. Indian School Rd.
602-468-3447, eatatovereasy.com
With its bright yellow interior and covered patio, Over Easy is one of the most likeable breakfast spots in town. Everything on the menu is great, but don’t miss the malted waffle, blueberry pancakes, chilaquiles, chicken and waffles, or banana-nut French toast. Check online for other locations. $
Pepe’s Taco Villa
Mexican
2108 W. Camelback Rd.
602-242-0379
The tacos are good here, but there are dozens of other great reasons to give this homey Mexican restaurant a try. Chicken mole, chilaquiles, albondigas soup, carnitas and cocido are just a few. Lunch and dinner daily. $
Qué Sazón
Colombian
622 E. Adams St.
602-919-2246, quesazonrestaurant.com
Enjoy succulent, aji-crema-drizzled empanadas and crispy-chewy tostones served in one of the city’s true historical treasures. Colombian chef Fabian Ocampo’s seasonal, evenings-only menu of ceviche and tiraditos (essentially, Colombian crudo) are bewitching and not quite like anything else we’ve had in the Valley. $$
Rosso Italian
Italian
2 E. Jefferson St.
602-218-6001, rossoitalian.com
Don’t wait for a Downtown event to check out this modern Italian café from legendary Pomo chef Stefano Fabbri, devoted to Americanized Italian classics done uncommonly well. Graze on excellent appetizers such as calamari fritto and short ribs with polenta and be sure to order a Neapolitan-style pizza. $$
Sottise
French
1025 N. Second St
602-254-6378, sottisephx.com
Sit on the porch and sip a carefully curated wine at this charming French bistro and wine bar, baby sis to TJ Culp’s Restaurant Progress. The grazing menu, which offers a few entrees, runs to classic French – escargots, baked and melting Camembert, pâté and salmon rillettes, all of it outstanding. $$-$$$
Tacos Chiwas
Mexican
1028 E. Indian School Rd.
602-358-8830, tacoschiwas.com
This James Beard nominee is hardly just another mom-and-pop taco joint. From the slow-roasted meats to the tripe tacos, Tacos Chiwas screams authenticity. Other locations: Chandler (480-590-2891), Mesa (480-590-7163). $
Vovomeena
Breakfast
1515 N. Seventh Ave.
602-252-2541, vovomeena.com
This fast-casual breakfast gem from DJ Fernandes is easy to zip past on this busy stretch of McDowell Road, but once found, it quickly becomes a regular stop for Japanese cold-brewed coffee and breakfast vittles. Blow your daily sugar quota on fantastic banana bread pudding turned into French toast served with whiskey-kissed caramel sauce. $$
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 chorizo meatloaf. $$
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.
