A burger is an easy thing to find in metro Phoenix, but a great burger? That’s a little harder. Aioli Gourmet Burgers, which also has a food truck, is our pick when we’ve got a burger craving. Aioli’s offerings start with a Kobe beef patty, and it just gets better from there. Our favorite is […]
Fast Casual in Phoenix
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The “chop” portion in the name of this fast-casual place of healthy eats in Old Town Scottsdale refers not so much to meats (although it has them), but to its handling of vegetables. Here, carrots, kale, cucumbers, and the like are pressed into juices, placed into bowls, and packed into sandwiches and wraps for a […]
Colados Coffee and Crepes is where you’ll find the best crepes in the west Valley. We suggest the balsamic chicken crepe, which you may pair with a Colados cold brew or latte. If you’re hoping for a sweeter option, try the tropical crepe and add ice cream for an extra $1.25. During the hotter months, […]
A sunny yellow-and-hot pink exterior, a flashing neon open sign and glowing window frames, and bright Loteria-inspired artwork hint at the explosion of flavors on deck at Emilio’s Tacos & Hotdogs on 19th Avenue. Customers on the go can pick up their orders at the drive-thru, but we recommend grabbing a table either inside or […]
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At many a food festival, the Hot Bamboo booth has served dumplings, rice bowls, and bao looking like cute characters. Now, the family-run food stand, owned by Jakarta, Indonesia-born Anna Heinbach, has opened a brick-and-mortar setup in Chandler. However, Hot Bamboo still plans to be a heavy hitter in the food festival world.
If you’ve never been to Kabob Grill N’ Go and don’t know what to order, don’t worry, you’re in good hands. Because chances are that co-owner Hasmik Chilingaryan will be at the front counter to greet you with a warm smile. She’ll assure you that everything is made fresh in-house and that her husband, Tony, […]
The setting is a cute converted brick home. The cuisine is classy central Mexican, with exotic ingredients like Cotija (dry crumbly white cheese), rajas (poblano chile strips), string-style white Oaxacan cheese, pumpkinseed, and cilantro crema. Everything is homemade, like killer guacamole, grilled chicken in mole poblano, sweet-spicy lamb adobo, and pepita-crusted snapper.
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Mucha Lucha Taco Shop, with locations in south Scottsdale and south Tempe, is a lucha libre-themed taco shop that specializes in guisados, the home-style Mexican braises that are slowly simmered for hours, and prepared with different blends of chiles and seasonings. You’ll find about a half-dozen varieties of meat preparations, including an excellent chipotle chicken […]
Local minichain NakedQ has three locations around the Valley that serve some of the best barbecue in Scottsdale, Glendale, and north Phoenix. As the name indicates, this ’cue is light on the sauce and served in a style that not only lets the meat shine but also offers it nowhere to hide. Tender slices of […]
At this small but comfortable, fast-casual eatery in Surprise, ex-New Yorkers, or those who just want to eat like one, can find great-tasting food for less than a ferry ticket to see the Statue of Liberty. Featuring an all-day breakfast and lunch menu of New York-style grinders, salads, burgers, and other bites, sandwich favorites include […]
The “chop” portion in the name of this fast-casual place of healthy eats in Old Town Scottsdale refers not so much to meats (although it has them), but to its handling of vegetables. Here, carrots, kale, cucumbers, and the like are pressed into juices, placed into bowls, and packed into sandwiches and wraps for a […]
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Grand Avenue has gotten a lot of press for Mexican food lately, thanks to Sonoran sweetheart Bacanora. But just up the street sits Testal. This small counter-service spot offers intense flavors and soul-satisfying dishes from Chihuahua – as well as some of the most unusual burritos in town. The first thing to know is that […]