100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Xiaolongbao at Chou’s Kitchen

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 38. Xiaolongbao at Chou’s Kitchen…

Maple-Bacon Doughnut Melee: Welcome Chicken + Donuts vs. Born & Glazed

Is there a more contemporary-turned-classic breakfast treat than the maple-bacon doughnut? We don’t think so. Combining some of our favorite morning meal picks — bacon, maple syrup, and doughnuts — it’s a complete package rolled into one pastry. Obviously, a good maple-bacon doughnut is the sum of its three parts…

3 Best Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Freeride Bike Co. Pub Crawl Saturday, August 8 Wheel out your bicycle, grab your helmet, and join Freeride Bike Co. this Saturday for an epic pub crawl. Starting at the new Freeride Bike Co. location in Gilbert, riders will travel to World of Beer, Cantina Laredo, and finish off with…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Hummus at Princess Market

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 39. Hummus at Princess Market …

The Authenticity Trap of Mexican Food in America

In researching the best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix for a recent assignment, the difficult part was not in sorting through a mind-numbingly large number of reviews by legitimate restaurant critics, customers on Yelp, and amateur bloggers. The challenge came in trying to separate the real experience of the food —…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Fried Saimin at Aloha Kitchen

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 40. Fried Saimin at Aloha…

July Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

Last month’s biggest restaurant openings include the long-awaited location of Eliot Wexler’s Nocawich in Tempe and a third Valley location of Snooze, An A.M. Eatery. On the downside, we said goodbye to three local dining spots — including Franks A Lot, a longstanding hot dog stand.  Openings The Hash Kitchen,…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Whole Chicken from El Pollo Supremo

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 41. Whole Chicken at El…

The Ostrich: Brandon Casey to Open Craft Cocktail Bar in Chandler

As of early July, Brandon Casey has vacated his position as Citizen Public House Beverage Director in order to take on a new project that  brings him and his creative cocktails to the East Valley. He’s taken a job as Beverage Director for Scottsdale-based Crust restaurants — and, in partnership with…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Carolina Dog at Joe’s Farm Grill

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 42. Carolina Dog at Joe’s Farm…

The Fundamental Flaw of Oreo Thins

The Guilty Pleasure: Oreo Thins Where to Get It: Grocery stores Price: $3.99 What it Really Costs: The belief that junk food still wants to be junk food Outside of Taco Bell, Oreo has probably put out more “unique” flavor combinations than any other brand in recent memory, with each…

Mews: Area’s Second Cat Cafe to Open in Downtown Phoenix

When Sheri Geiss describes her cafe, she imagines a place with good coffee and fine art. The cafe will sell local artists’ work, and musicians might play intimate concerts. Located somewhere in downtown Phoenix, the cafe will draw an eclectic mix of people. “The place will have a cozy, homey…

La Piñata Moving to Old Mary Coyle Location on Seventh Avenue

La Piñata, the classic Phoenix Mexican restaurant on 19th Avenue, is headed to a new location you might know — 5521 North Seventh Avenue, the former site of Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashioned Ice Cream, which closed its doors last October. “An opportunity arose for us to go north, and we needed…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Mac n’ Cheese at Lux Central

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 43. Mac n’ Cheese at…

3 Best Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Arizona Breakfast Weekend Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2 Arizona Breakfast Weekend will debut in restaurants across the Valley from Thursday through Sunday. Participating eateries, including Kale & Clover, Barrio Urbano, and Perk Eatery, will offer special breakfast and brunch dishes priced at $7, $15, or $25. The event…

100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Carne Adovada Enchiladas at Los Dos Molinos

This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com. 44. Carne Adovada Enchiladas at Los…

The Bagel Man vs. Lox Stock & Bagel: Battle of Bagel and Lox

Lox, or brined salmon, takes an ordinary bagel with cream cheese and turns it into a savory and hearty meal. Then add capers, onions, and tomatoes and call it a day. This deli staple is available at many Valley restaurants, but we wanted the best of the best, so we…

Luncha Libre Moves to Change Name After Cease and Desist Letter

Phoenix’s Luncha Libre food truck is looking for a new name.  On Facebook, the popular food truck’s crew wrote that it received a cease and desist letter from San Diego’s Lucha Libre Taco Shop. According to the Facebook post, the San Diego shop is claiming Luncha is violating federal trademark…