Three Valley restaurants recently made the cut on Yelp’s yearly Top 100 Places to Eat list, a nationwide ranking based on ratings, volume of reviews and user submissions. But do they pass the PM test?
De Babel (No. 33)
14884 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale
480-9991-2022, de-babel.com
“For the most part, De Babel is de bomb,” we wrote of the Scottsdale Airpark-area Mediterranean fast-casual when it opened in 2021, and none of the falafels, shawarmas or ridiculously good lamb kaftas we’ve had in the intervening five years changes that assessment. A PHOENIX lunch meeting favorite.
Corazon de Agave (No. 41)
4010 E. Bell Rd., Phoenix
480-597-7475, corazondeagaverestaurant.com
Chilaquiles for lunch? When it’s the magisterial chilaquiles at this affordable Modern Mexican gem in North Phoenix, quilted in a faintly sweet mole negro and plated with generous, fluffy heaps of scrambled eggs… yes, dammit, chilaquiles for lunch. And for dinner: a shank-style cochinita pibil so eye-popping, we wonder how we missed reviewing the place when it opened in 2024.
Taco Viva (No. 52)
2815 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix
480-360-2324, tacoviva.com
Gonna have to push back a little on this one. Love the Chipotle-ish efficiency and overall value at the Arcadia Lite newcomer, but there’s an assembly-line sameness to the food that we find off-putting. To wit: The quesadilla-like mulas are pretty much just the tacos with a bit of melted cheese, which are the same as the vampiros but for a dip in the deep fryer, which are the same as the tostadas minus the beans. And though carved off a trompo, the al pastor is only más o menos.
