Kid Sister is a great wine bar that’s swapped the charcuterie and cheese routine for seasonally rotating tapas. Think savory broccoli toast with red curry and honeynut squash, and fuller plates like the beef tataki zhuzhed with black garlic and pickled mushrooms. And they keep it simple with the wine list—it’s effortlessly scannable and features orange blends, chilled reds, and low-ABV options.

This Phoenix spot is a long-time Arizona favorite, and for good reason: the fry bread. Native American fry bread is a pillowy, frisbee-sized fried dough that serves as a vessel for honey and jam or filling toppings like beans, vegetables, and meats and cheeses. Cecelia Miller of the Tohono O'odham Nation opened The Fry Bread House in the early 1990s, and it remains owned and managed by the family today.

You’ll find this Grand Avenue spot inside the restored Bragg’s Pie Factory building, but with the exception of the dessert menu, you won’t find many sugary treats. Instead, you’ll get a solid introduction to the different cuisines of the Mexican state of Sonora, which on any given day, might include a list of specials like the lime-cured halibut aguachile or bone-in ribeyes. Reservations open at the start of each month, but you can try your luck at the bar where you might find an empty seat.

The pies at Pizzeria Bianco have launched Phoenix’s food scene into the orbit of national conversation. Seriously, these pizzas are so famous they moved to Downtown Los Angeles, where a new Bianco’s debuted in 2022. Head to the original Heritage Square spot for pies like the Biancoverde, with mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, ricotta, and arugula, before a Diamondbacks game, or a weekday lunch when there’s less of a wait. Go with a group and order family-style so you can try everything.

Chilte is like that laidback cousin you only see during family reunions: liked by everyone, effortlessly cool, and randomly spent one spring break in Tulum with Kristen Stewart. Come for dinner to try Chilte’s experimental Mexican food, where you should start with an appetizer like the mussels with green chorizo in a broth made from wine and corn. Nothing tops the pozole recado entree, which comes with a huge, well-cooked pork tomahawk.

Eating at this anything-but-stuffy French restaurant feels a bit like getting a hug from a friend who’s wearing a very soft cashmere sweater. There’s a lot to love about this charming hideaway off of Roosevelt, like all the orange wine, low-ABV cocktails, and unpretentious takes on classic French dishes. Start with the baked brie or caper-topped tartare before moving on to the steamed mussels bathed in fumet with creme fraiche.

Bad Jimmy’s is basically the tattooed version of your classic American burger joint—a little rebellious, kind of loud, and always fun after dark. The menu at Bad Jimmy’s is tight, which comes in clutch when choosing between the Classic Double or the L.A. Burg after crawling the breweries and bars on Roosevelt. For the sides, get the criss-cut fries and the salad. Bad Jimmy’s has a soft serve selection perfect for filling your soft spot for chocolate, vanilla, or swirl.

Head to the original University location of this Texas-style barbecue spot for some of the best pork ribs, sausage links, and brisket in Phoenix. Sure, you’ll likely have to stand in line before calling dibs on one of the outdoor picnic tables, but that’ll give you some time to sort out your game plan: sandwich or a plate? Pulled pork or ribs? When they’re on the menu, get the oversized beef ribs and try the pastrami brisket. And whatever you do, don’t skip the sides.

Ollie Vaughn’s is your go-to for a low-key, high-reward brunch in Phoenix. The coffee is legit (hello, grapefruit espresso tonic), the croissants are flaky perfection, and the breakfast sandwiches here put your sad pocket granola bar to shame. You’re here for brunch, but this isn’t some bottomless mimosa circus that could send you into a Sunday spiral—don’t worry, there are mimosas on the menu though.

The move at Taco Chelo is to go with a bunch of people and order practically one of everything. Start with the crispy rolled tacos and snappy chicharrones before going all-in on the beef barbacoa tacos or beer-battered fish tacos. Add a round of house margaritas for the table and relish those Happy Hour prices ($5 cocktails and $15 buckets of beer) while watching the art walk crowds buzz by on their way to First Friday from the relaxed corner patio.

Latha is in a historic downtown bungalow with a big open-air porch that doubles as a live music stage, making it one of the coolest places to grab a weekend dinner. You won’t even care if your friends are late (again) because one of the rum-based cocktails can keep you company. Once everybody in your party finally shows up and has had a chance to look at the menu, dig into dishes like the shrimp moqueca, oxtail shakshouka, and vegan mushroom criollo.

Valentine knows the way to our hearts: pastries, pasta, natural wine, and late-night cocktails. The atmosphere here feels familiar—think more living room than dining room, with retro modern furniture and soft lighting. The Melrose spot puts Arizona ingredients at the center of every dish, and we particularly love the brunch spread: the avocado squash toast and the churro waffles with dulce de leche are some of our favorites.

Located inside The Churchill, this casual spot deals bagels, bagel sandwiches, burgers, coffee, and sometimes burritos to crowds of college students and cool moms from its compact side-order window. Stoop Kid’s bagels are sourced locally from a small batch bakery (go early, before they sell out) headed by a Brooklyn-born chef, a fact bagel purists can feel good about.

You know that friend you’ve been wishing would invite you over for dinner? Lom Wong, with its homey vibe and family recipes, is the restaurant equivalent. Bring a group and get the cold-and-sweet green mango salad along with the fried chicken you can dunk in Thai red chile sauce. Eating on the patio is always nice—it’s heated for chilly days and has misters for when it’s hot. They also have a great wine list, specifically put together to pair with the spicy dishes on their menu.

In its early days, The Stockyards was a watering hole for cattlemen, cowboys, politicians, and bankers. Today, 75 years later, the spirit of the Old West is still very much alive here, though the restaurant has been resorted with oversized leather booths and twinkly crystal chandeliers. The facade may have changed, but the old-timey charm and menu, which is heavy on hand-cut aged steaks, wild game, and baking soda biscuits, remain pretty much the same.

In Phoenix, you’re never far from a good taco—and they’re more than good at Tacos Chiwas. Chiwas draws on an archive of family recipes, including beef lingua and beef tripe, two things you won’t find at just any ordinary walk-in taqueria. Other notable menu items include the pillowy gorditas, cheesy quesadillas, and hefty burritos.

This Garfield diner has a nostalgic vibe that makes it feel like you’re walking into the smoking section at your family’s favorite restaurant in the 1980s. Sure, Sidewinder does cheap late night eats. The back patio is a solid spot for slurping down a Bud Heavy. And there’s just nine stool seats inside. But it’s not your average greasy spoon. Sidewinder’s appeal is in its Southwestern dive aesthetic. And there’s a menu to match the outlaw country atmosphere.

Huarachis Taqueria is like the carne asada you want to get an invite to—the vibes are right, the food keeps coming, and the music is turned up to a level that has the neighbors doing their own little cumbia shuffle. Like any good carne asada, Huarachis hits the spot with a lineup of meat-heavy dishes like the whole-roasted chicken platter and the Bistec Ranchero which features just under two pounds of ribeye and all the sides you could possibly want.

When we're entertaining out-of-towners, they'll often say things like “we've got an appetite as big as the Grand Canyon.” That's when we know to take them to Gallo Blanco for big plates of eggy chilaquiles and elote. Known for its Oaxacan-inspired Mexican food, the Garfield spot brings the heat with tacos and burritos, plenty of sides to share, spicy ceviches, grilled tortas, and enchiladas drenched in red and green sauce. Save room for the sugar-dusted churros and tres leches.

Lovebite Dumplings is your best bet for a quick meal on Roosevelt Row, and honestly, maybe all of downtown. The grab-and-go dumpling shack specializes in pot stickers, pink rice, noodles, and every box (which includes five pot stickers) is just $12. Mix-and-match your box with rice and noodles and why not go all out: try every dumpling—pork, vegetable, chicken, and shrimp. If you’re looking for fast food that feels like a treat, and not just a last resort, this is the place.