Ethnic and Regional Cuisines

Nikki's Five Picks for Arizona Restaurant Week (May 18-27)

Arizona Restaurant Week -- the Spring 2013 Edition -- begins Saturday, May 18 and ends Monday, May 27 (which is Memorial Day, when most of us will be grilling burgers and drinking beer at home . . . but never mind). By the end of this week, ARW officially will be upon us: a 10-day eating extravaganz ... More >>

CLOSED: X-Tapa Joe's in North Scottsdale

Oh, Joe, say it ain't so. X-Tapa Joe's, the North Scottsdale Mexican restaurant, has been X'd out: The restaurant has shuttered. See also: - Cheuvront Restaurant in Phoenix to Close at the End of May - CLOSED: Busters on the Lake in Scottsdale Located at 7500 East Pinnacle Peak Road, the lively M ... More >>

New Korean Barbecue Spot Opens in Glendale

West Valley residents looking for Korean barbecue and other specialty dishes can now head to Koryo Korean BBQ at 10040 North 43rd Avenue in Glendale (inside the Great Skate Mall). See also: - Bao Bing, the Cool and Fruity Asian Treat, Gets Its Own Shop in Central Phoenix - New Conveyor Belt Sushi S ... More >>

Miu's Cuisine: Sichuan Food That's Anything but Familiar

13 Metro Phoenix Restaurants and Bars with Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Okay, so maybe you don't know exactly why it's a tradition to eat, drink, and party on Cinco de Mayo (FYI, it's to commemorate the 150-year-old Battle of Puebla, a victory of the Mexican militia over the French army). But those pesky details shouldn't stop you from having a truly awesome modern Amer ... More >>

New Conveyor Belt Sushi Spot Opens in Gilbert

Since Chandler's Sushi Eye in Motion closed last fall, all's been quiet on the kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi, front -- at least until now. See also: - Postino Owners to Open Joyride Taco House in Gilbert in June - Hot Dogs & Pie: Mamma Toledo's to Open Space Inside New Short Leash Hot Dogs R ... More >>

Vincent Guerithault on Wolfgang Puck and Kevin Binkley

This is part two of my interview with Vincent Guerithault, chef-owner of Vincent on Camelback and Vincent's Market Bistro. If you missed part one, where Guerithault talks about being an apprentice, famous people he's cooked for and where he buys his macarons, read it here. Disclosure: I dated Vince ... More >>

Taquitos Jalisco: Easy Familiarity and Robust Flavor in Mesa

Fiona Dunlop's Mexican Modern is on Minerva's Must-Read List

Mention the words 'Mexican food' and the descriptors 'rustic' and 'peasant food' as well as 'burrito' and 'killer tacos' may come to most minds. This narrow and pastoral view of Mexican cuisine -- held not only by the average Joe, but by food writers and chefs alike -- is my greatest current frustra ... More >>

Ten More Picks for Easter Brunch and Dinner in Greater Phoenix

Easter is less than a week away. Forget to make plans? You're not alone. Get in on the last-minute scramble to make reservations now before it's too late. To help you find the perfect restaurant for your family or friends, here are 10 more top picks for Easter brunch and dinner throughout the Valley ... More >>

10 Best Burritos in Metro Phoenix

The burrito is America's Mexican food, and here in Phoenix, we're lucky to have some of the nation's best -- fresh, flavorful, and more often than not, fearsome in size. Check out our list of 10 burritos that remind you why you choose to live in Arizona. See Also: - The World's First Airborne Mexi ... More >>

St. Patrick's Day Guide 2013

Chanpen Is Back in the USA. Lucky Us.

Muy Gigante: La Merced Supersizes It in Mesa

Falafel Fracas: Haji-Baba vs. Al-Hana at Baiz Market

Anyone who's had a foray into vegetarianism or traveled around Europe on a budget has made fast friends with the falafel sandwich. It's cheap, filling, and easy to eat on the go, with a pita outside to hold the lightly fried chickpea goodness on the inside. Other famous falafel companions include t ... More >>

Ask a Mexican on Losing Jobs to DREAMers

Ramen Rematch: Republic Ramen vs. Sushi Ken

When you've had ramen done right, you just know. It's a shame it's even referred to by the same name as its Styrofoam cup counterpart. The base is always a flavorful, unique broth with an extra boost from added traditional Japanese veggies like seaweed (Japan's bay leaf) and kamaboko. All that's pou ... More >>

Welcome to Minervaland

Welcome to Minervaland. In Minervaland, all food is Mexican -- or should be -- and tostadas are easily consumed all the way through without breaking. Strawberry ice creams bars can be found on every corner, every cup of coffee is face-smackingly strong and is always served with a concha; those dome ... More >>

14 More Valley Places to Wine and Dine Your Honey Bun on Valentine's

Remember last year when you swore you'd make Valentine's Day plans way ahead of schedule so as not to repeat the twelve-hour scramble of years past? It might be too late to get a reservation at the top spots in town, but you haven't missed the window entirely -- not yet. But put off calling around ( ... More >>

Lunch Under $10 at La Tolteca in Phoenix

Downtowners know to hit up La Tolteca to satisfy all their Mexican food cravings -- from tamales and enchiladas to an entire case of fresh baked cakes and other goodies. There's usually a pretty big lunch rush and it's not hard to see why with their cheap prices and huge portions. The brightly col ... More >>

Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket in Chandler: What We Bought, What We Skipped, and What We're Still Lusting Over

The Spot: Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket in Chandler, Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. See Also: - Downtown Phoenix Public Market: What We Bought, What We Skipped, and What We're Still Lusting After - Owners of Lee Lee International Supermarket Talk History, Journey, Future in New Video - My Mini ... More >>

The Secret Is Out on New India Bazaar & Cuisine

New India Bazaar & Cuisine: Shedding Light on a Grocery Store's Secret Restaurant

New India Bazaar & Cuisine didn't always have a secret restaurant. For four years, it was strictly an Indian grocery in a strip mall on Seventh Street in Central Phoenix. It wasn't until January 2012 that its Punjabi-minded eatery opened, ever so quietly, for business. And for those in the know, th ... More >>

Nightmare Fuel: Ramen Ice Cream Is A Real Thing

As Wake Up Call has frequently highlighted, the Japanese and Asia on the whole are fearless culinary travelers, nomnauts if you will. But even by the most generous of standards, miso ramen flavored ice cream is pretty strange and apparently not exactly delicious. See Also: --Wendy's Japan Presents ... More >>

See, We Told You Rice Cakes Are Dangerous

As was noted in a previous story, one of the most hazardous parts of the holiday season for Japanese are the days directly after New Years when pounded rice cakes known as mochi are consumed in great quantities. The Tokyo Fire Department is reported to have transported more than 17 people to the hos ... More >>

Django Unchained and Dinner at Baby Kay's

While a jumbo tub of hot buttered popcorn is one of our most frequently indulged guilty pleasures, we think a good movie deserves a little better company than junk food. Try out our movie and meal pairings for yourself or feel free to suggest one of your own favorites in the comments. The Movie: D ... More >>

Jamburritos Cajun Grille Announces New Weekly Location on Roosevelt Row

Food truck fans rejoice: starting on Monday, January 7, it's going to be easier than ever to find a mobile eatery at lunchtime from Monday through Thursday. Jamburritos Cajun Grille Express will be serving up New Orleans eats from a semi-permanent space on Roosevelt between 3rd and 5th Streets from ... More >>

Pho Fight in Phoenix: Pho Thanh vs. Da Vang

There are few things more comforting than a big bowl of soup on a cold(ish) winter night. The great thing about pho (pronounced like fuh, not foh fo' the n00bz) is that you don't have to sacrifice flavor and spice for that comfort. This Vietnamese staple has blown up in the Valley over the past few ... More >>

Lunch under $10 at Tacos Atoyac

Tacos Atoyac is pretty much known by every foodie in the Phoenix Metro area as the best spot to grab a taco or five. Reasonably priced and well made with fresh, quality ingredients, the small, simple tacos are great for anyone who loves variety but adheres to a budget. Not to mention all of the othe ... More >>

12 Favorite Spots to Score Tamales in Greater Phoenix

When it comes to the holiday season, living in the Southwest means enjoying the bonus of fresh tamales in addition to the rest of the country's more traditional fare. Whether they are green, red, vegetarian, or sweet, several places throughout the Valley are happy to serve up your favorites. Here ar ... More >>

A Culinary Crossroads at Khyber Halal

Tortas Ahogadas Pours It On with Tasty Cheap Eats

Polish Goodies Like Grandma Used to Make

Happy Hour Report Card: Davanti Enoteca

The Spot: Davanti Enoteca 6316 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-659-1800 www.davantiscottsdale.com See also: -Happy Hour Report Card: Rusconi's American Kitchen -Pete DeRuvo Dishes on the Mouthwatering Italian Food He Grew Up On and Praises Three Local Chefs Hours: Happy Hour is offered 3 to 6 ... More >>

Shine: Eating in Scottsdale

Bread Pudding Blitzkrieg: Fuego Bistro vs. Cornish Pasty Co.

Say what you will about bread pudding (a lead-heavy gut bomb of an overplayed dessert), it's still crazy-popular for one very good reason: nobody gets tired of warm, sugary, bread-based goo. It's been around in one form or another for over 500 years, created in most cultures as a thrifty way to sal ... More >>

8 Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurants: Best of Phoenix 2012

We've spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we're finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoen ... More >>

Dolce Vita Italian Grocer Offers a True Taste of Italy

Dolce Vita Italian Grocer: Ninety-Nine Percent Exceptional Italian Eats

"I was desperate for the food I was accustomed to," Walter Bergamaschi says on why he and wife Marti decided to open Dolce Vita Italian Grocer in east Mesa. "Ninety-nine percent of what we sell and use here is imported from Italy. The other 1 percent," he jokes, "is the mistake of the supplier." If ... More >>

So-So Huevos and Fabulous French Toast at SOL Mexican Cocina

Welcome to Brunched, where Chow Bella samples local restaurants' offerings for our favorite meal. Hey, you get to sleep in and eat breakfast -- what's not to like? See also: Two New Brunches Hit the Valley in October: Mastro's Gets Its First (Bloody Mary Bar!), Lon's Updates Theirs With Outdoor M ... More >>

Schnitzel Showdown: Haus Murphy's vs. Bavarian Point

It's October, which means Oktoberfest, which means we all have a semi-legit excuse for drinking copious amounts of beer and dancing the polka (sorry, there are no excuses for wearing dirndls or lederhosen). So it seems like a good time to re-visit two of the Valley's longest running German restauran ... More >>

Chimi Challenge: Macayo's vs. El Molino

Everybody tells the same story about how the chimichanga was invented: somebody accidentally dropped a meat-filled burrito into a fryer. And according to the publicity machine for Macayo's Mexican Kitchen, that somebody was its founder Woody Johnson, who opened his first restaurant here in Phoenix i ... More >>

J.K. Grence: Pei Wei Makes the Best Beef and Broccoli in Phoenix

The Guilty Pleasure: Ginger Broccoli Steak Where to Get It: Pei Wei Asian Diner, locations Valleywide Price: $8.75 What It Really Costs: Admitting you ate at a national chain and liked it. Oh yeah, that plate you polished off? It's supposed to serve two. I love lots of authentic Chinese joints arou ... More >>

Hue Gourmet: Vietnamese Cuisine Fit for Royalty

So What Exactly Do We Mean When We Say "American Cooking"?

As a food writer, I'm required to describe or categorize the food served at restaurants so that readers know what to expect and whether or not they want to go. Sounds easy enough, right? Especially since most of the time, chef-owners or their PR teams do the heavy lifting for me. See also: Eliot W ... More >>

Four Favorite German Restaurants in Phoenix

With several Oktoberfest celebrations right around the corner, we thought it only fitting to share our favorite Valley restaurants for German eats like schnitzels, sauerkraut, and sausages -- all washed down with a stein-full or two of German ale, of course. Want the German goodness to go? Pick up ... More >>

Nikki's Got Four More Picks for Arizona Restaurant Week -- It's Not Too Late!

Arizona Restaurant Week kicked off last Saturday and ends this coming Sunday, September 23 -- which means there's still time to find a great bargain if your favorite restaurant isn't already booked. "You snooze, you lose" definitely applies here. See also: Nikki's Top Four Picks for Arizona Restau ... More >>

Davanti Enoteca: Believe the Buzz; It's Sensational

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few item ... More >>

Carolina's Oaxaca Special Burro, Enchilada-Style: A Must-Try Classic.

The Guilty Pleasure: Oaxaca Special Burro, enchilada style. Where to Get It: Carolina's Mexican Food Price: About five bucks. What It Really Costs: No more damage than your average Mexican meal in this town. Which is to say, your cardiologist will make his boat payment this month. See also: 10 Favo ... More >>

Pork Belly and Chawanmushi for Bento Box Brunch at Nobuo at Teeter House

Welcome to Brunched, where Chow Bella samples local restaurants' offerings for our favorite meal. Hey, you get to sleep in and eat breakfast -- what's not to like? See also: Clove-Scented Ham and Baked Pancakes at Wy-Knot Cafe See also: Frescas and Pozole at Distrito What: Nobuo at Teeter House Wh ... More >>