Our editorial staff picks for the best dining specials in the Valley in 2025.
Cheap Eats & Smoking Deals
Best “Secret” Savings
Neighborhood Night at Hush Public House
At a time when cocktails run $20 apiece, it’s hard to believe you can get a three-course meal at a nice restaurant for $55. But if you book a Tuesday rez at Dominic and Holly Ruggiero’s vaunted Hush, you can enjoy a feast of, say, green beans with labneh and crispy garlic, halibut with sunchoke purée and date cake with bourbon-toffee sauce for the cost of two and a half steakhouse martinis. Shhh, don’t tell everyone. We still want to be able to get a table. 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-758-5172, hushpublichouse.com
Best HH for Kids
Kids’ Happy Hour at Otro Café
Kids have rough days, too. When they need a little something to take the edge off a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, head to Otro Café’s adjacent Cafecito, where little ones get $1 off handcrafted ice cream all day every Wednesday. It’s a sweet, age-appropriate spin on cracking open a cold one. 6035 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-266-0831, otrocafe.com
Best $8 Burger in Old Town
El Camino
Actually, we’re pretty certain it’s the only $8 burger in Old Town. El Camino opened in the South Bridge area last spring with seemingly one purpose, and it was a noble purpose: to nourish Old Town party animals on the cheap. The $7 “poverty nachos” were a nice stroke, but this tasty, no-frills smashburger is the master stroke. 7133 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, 480-573-7950,
elcaminoarizona.com
Best Value Menu
Inflation Busters at Pita Jungle
A Gilmore Girls-style takeout smorgasbord? In this economy? You can order lavishly yet inexpensively with the beloved Mediterranean/Middle Eastern chain’s Inflation Busters menu. “Skinnies” – smaller versions of classic PJ entrées – are just $3 each, so you can get a cauliflower taco, shawarma chicken taco, petite toum chicken wrap and a small falafel wrap for less than a combo meal at McDonald’s. Multiple Valley locations, pitajungle.com
Best Bargain for Daytime Wine Drinkers
Half-Price Wines at Saint Urban
Explore a new vintage or cozy up with one of your favorite labels at Saint Urban, Christopher Collins’s intimate wine bar in Scottsdale’s McCormick Ranch, where he offers half-price bottles from the wine list at lunch (until 3 p.m.). Pair with a loaded charcuterie board and you’ve got yourself a party. 8260 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480-247-6848, sainturbanaz.com
Best Lunch Deal
Aioli Gourmet Burgers
10652 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 602-971-5555, aioliburger.com
- It’s a food-truck-legend-turned-brick-and-mortar success story, and we love those.
- Slinging burgers from its Shea-area grill, Aioli is a multiple BOV winner… so you know it has the support of the people.
- It’s a steal! For around the same price as a value meal at a national fast-food chain, you can savor a quarter-pound gourmet burger, french fries and a fountain drink every weekday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for just $9.99.
Streets of New York
Multiple Valley locations, streetsofnewyork.com
- It’s a Valley classic! Part of the pre-Bianco, Nello’s/Barro’s populist pizza scene.
- Thin-crust New York style is a nice change of pace from the dough-dominant style at other classic chains.
- Unless you’re a seriously bad tipper, a sit-down lunch for less than $10 in 2025 is hard to come by – but you’ll come close at SNY, with various combinations of salad, soups and massive cheese pizza slices with 50-cent toppings.
BOV Every Day of the Week
Find dining deals and day-specific specials Monday through Sunday at these BOV favorites.
MONDAY
Clever Koi
Kick off the week with the Koi’s “It Takes Two” special. For $70, enjoy any two rice or noodle dishes plus four cocktails or a bottle of wine. Available Tuesday and Wednesday as well! Two Valley locations,
cleverkoi.com
TUESDAY
Harvey’s Wineburger
Tuesday at Harvey’s promises the most diverse crowd of Phoenicians to gather in one place, perhaps due to dependably friendly bartenders, cheap yet quality cocktails and those beloved, juicy burgers. 4812 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-248-9950, harveyswineburger.com
WEDNESDAY
PHX Beer Co.
Seems like it’s been years (decades?) since we found a $5 beer. During happy hour at PBC, they’re $4.50. If you’re drinking at the brewery’s Scottsdale McCormick Ranch location, it’s also sided by lake views. 8300 Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 602-275-5049, phxbeerco.com
THURSDAY
Cornish Pasty Co.
The famed pasty palace’s Downtown locale hosts live jazz in the basement every Thursday. The lighting is low, the music is solid and the mood is festive. 7 W. Monroe St., Phoenix, 602-374-8500, cornishpastyco.com
FRIDAY
Hula’s Modern Tiki
Hula’s 1940s-era Tahitian-sailor-themed bonus bar, the Captain’s Cabin, is only open Thursday-Saturday. Pop in for a classic tiki drink and snacks like poke tacos and pork potstickers. 5114 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 480-393-3843, captainscabinphx.com
SATURDAY
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market
Sling a few empty totes over your shoulder before you head here. You’ll pack them with tasty purchases like artisanal breads, free-range eggs, homemade jams, just-wrapped tamales, locally roasted coffee beans, fresh fruits and Arizona-grown veggies. 3806 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, 623-848-1234, arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com
SUNDAY
Royale Kitchen + Cocktails
Conclude the week in epic style with drag brunch. Queen Barbra Seville hosts the event, welcoming weekly guests to the Royale for what’s become Phoenix’s longest running drag brunch. 635 W. Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix, 602-293-3373, royalekitchenphx.com
More Best of the Valley 2025
- 2025 best of the valley
- aioli burgers
- cheap eats
- Clever Koi
- Cornish Pasty Co.
- dining deals
- el camino
- food & drink
- happy hours
- harvey's wineburger
- Hula’s Modern Tiki
- Hush Public House
- Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market
- Otro Cafe
- PHX Beer Co.
- Pita Jungle
- royal kitchen + cocktails
- saint urban
- specials
- Streets of New York
