Best Exotic Fish Dish
Nodoguro at Hai Noon
When it’s available, chef Nobuo Fukuda offers nodoguro (a rare and difficult-to-catch deep-sea fish) on his omakase menu, using every bit of the fish to create sweet, delicate fish balls, three cuts of sashimi and, finally, the head, tail, spine and fins – all edible! – hibachi-grilled to crunchy, caramelized sweetness. There’s literally no trace of it when you’re done. 7017 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, 480-306-4023, hainoonaz.com
Best Hole-in-the-Wall Sushi Restaurant
Icho Izakaya Sushi & Grill
This modest storefront may not look like much, but chef-owner Shaun Chen’s carefully rendered Japanese food is terrific and surprisingly affordable, whether it’s flower-garnished sashimi, hamachi kama, sizzling beef tongue yakitori or miso-marinated Chilean seabass. Bonus points for tamago, an old-school sushi bar standard that takes chops to make properly. 1911 W. Broadway Rd., Mesa, 480-828-3428, ichosushiphonix.com
Best Eggplant
Krachai Thai Kitchen
The eggplant at this cheery westside Thai spot is bathed in a special nine-ingredient sauce and paired with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, duck, seafood, veggies or – particularly agreeable – tofu. But Krachai’s take on this reliable meat substitute goes great by itself. Or even with more eggplant. 3361 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, 602-942-0504, phoenixbestthaifood.com
Best Fast-Casual Japanese
Japan Express
If it’s one thing we’ve learned from the Valley’s evolving culinary scene, it’s that some of the best meals come from the most unassuming places. To wit: this strip-mall sushi spot that specializes in made-to-order rice and noodle bowls, hand rolls, sashimi, bento boxes and other Japanese classics. What it lacks in frills, it makes up for in freshness and flavor. 5162 W. Olive Ave., Glendale, 623-435-9195, japanexpressaz.com
Best Hidden Gem Asian Restaurant
Mifan Claypot Kitchen
Valley hot pot pioneer Johnny Chu (Shabu Fondue) is back. His latest offers traditional cuisine with Southeast Asian and Malaysian flavors. Claypot cooking means less oil and fat in your food – try the steamed veggie gyoza (with radish and sesame oil) and the lap cheong bao steamed buns with sausage-soy dipping sauce. 1616 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-334-1516, mifanaz.com
Best Kao Soi
Thai Recipe
A saucy noodle dish originating in Laos and Northern Thailand, khao soi is popping up more often in Valley restaurants – and we haven’t found a better version than the one at this Coronado-area Thai diner. Wafting out of the bowl, the cardamom-kissed coconut curry broth is poured over a massive tangle of crispy egg noodles and endless morsels of tender, stir-fried chicken. One order will feed a small family. 2234 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-262-5454, thairecipebistro.com
Best Late-Night Ramen
SoSoBa Phoenix
Whether you’re wrapping up a Downtown bar crawl or just starting one, the steaming soup bowls at ramen rebel SoSoBa can be a godsend. The menu’s motto is “Uncommon Ramen,” so expect dishes like chicharrón- and carnitas-studded Mic Drop!, to be anything but traditional. 214 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 602-795-1005, sosobaphx.com
Best Peking Duck
China Chili
China Chili’s phenomenal Peking Duck – crisp-skinned and glistening outside, moist and tender within – is a feast for two, arranged on a giant platter and accompanied by either thin Chinese pancakes or fluffy steam buns. Add green onion and plum sauce to make the world’s best wraps or sliders. Available daily. 302 E. Flower St., Phoenix, 602-266-4463, chinachilirestaurant.com
Best Chinese Hand-Pulled Noodles
Kungfu Ramen
To be clear, Kungfu Ramen makes lamian (“pulled noodles” in Mandarin), not ramen, a pronunciation confusion that clears up when you behold the obviously Chinese menu, offering eight different types of silky, springy, mile-long noodles – hand-stretched and quickly added to soups and stir-fries. Super-fresh, super-delicious. 1845 E. Broadway Rd., Tempe, 480-268-7331, phoenixramen.com
Best Chop Suey
Bamboo Asian Kitchen
Once synonymous with “Chinese” food for American diners, chop suey has become a throwback treat in recent years. So, it’s not surprising that this OG noshery near Christown Spectrum serves a fine version. Ordered with or without protein, Bamboo’s plate of sprouts and shredded vegetables is nostalgic Asian American comfort food. 1818 W. Montebello Ave., Phoenix, 602-242-2578, bambooasiankitchenaz.com
Best Korean Fried Chicken
Tipsy Chicken
This dimly lit bar-cum-restaurant trounces the Korean fried chicken competition, offering bone-in or boneless pieces in three different order sizes (seven,14 or 21) with four different sauces (original, soy-garlic, sweet-spicy and sweet fish sauce glaze). Each generous, twice-fried piece is a perfect melding of crunch and drippy sauce. 1933 W. Main St., Mesa, 480-265-8766, tipsychickenaz.com
Best Pineapple Fried Rice
Little Asia Cuisine
This toothsome union of brightly sweet pineapple and the curry-tinged, savory tenderness of grilled white meat chicken is a standout among the excellent dishes on Little Asia’s extensive menu. Carrots, peas, egg and green onions are the lively supporting cast in this Pacific Rim buddy picture. 4212 W. Cactus Rd., Phoenix, 480-823-1944, littleasiacuisineaz.com
Best Tripe
Uncle Panda Dumpling & Noodle House
Tripe is wonderfully flavorful. But it also tends to be chewy. The beef tripe from this dumpling house is cut and cooked to minimize the chewing on a rubber eraser effect, and bathed in a light, zingy chile sauce. These guts are as good as it gets. 5626 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, 602-675-3838, unclepandadumplings.com
Best Smelling Rice
Charm Thai Cuisine
In the judging of restaurants, the taste of the food very rightly holds supreme. But fragrance is also vital. With the jasmine-tinged aroma of a carry-out order of plain, white rice filling your car on the drive home, you may be in danger of pulling over before you reach your destination. 11 W. Boston St., Chandler, 480-917-7222, charmtc.com
