Cafe Lalibela
849 W. University Drive, Tempe There is a strong argument to be made that Cafe Lalibela, open for nearly three decades, cooks the best African food in all of metro Phoenix. An injera, or flatbread with a moonlike landscape has measured tang that doesn't blot out the fragrance of the teff; it also features a pleasant sponge that's ideal for sopping up stews and vegetables. Whether it's tender lamb fragrant with turmeric or beef deepened with berbere, the beauty of Ethiopian food is on full display here — no more so than in the vegetable dishes. It's marvelous what Cafe Lalibela can do with lentils and split peas.
Caffe Boa
398 S. Mill Ave., Tempe On any given day at Tempe staple Caffe Boa, you’ll see a wide variety of customers. Young couples looking to impress on first dates fill tables in the cozy dining room next to ASU students celebrating milestones, groups of friends grabbing a sophisticated bite before heading to Gammage for a show or professors showing off the best of Tempe to new faculty members. The restaurant serves Italian classics with a modern twist, such as lasagna with hint of cream in the rich tomato sauce, ravioli filled with butternut squash swimming in sage and garlic butter, flatbreads, salads and customizable charcuterie boards. Cocktails are served in cut-glass coupes, the wine list is extensive and there’s a selection of rakijas, which the menu describes as a Serbo-Croatian alcoholic drink made from distilled fermented fruit. Brunch is served on the weekends until it’s time for candles to cast light on the brick walls of this romantic setting.
Cocina Chiwas
2001 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe Cocina Chiwas builds on the familial traditions of Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, while also bringing new flavors and dishes inspired by what the couple have learned while eating and working around the Valley. They may be better known for their Tacos Chiwas taquerias, but this restaurant, which opened earlier in 2023 in a slick contemporary building as part of Culdesac Tempe, starts a new chapter in their culinary journey. New Times’ food critic Dominic Armato praised their riffs on quesadillas and Caesar salad, as well as the restaurant’s asado de puerco, blue heirloom corn empanadas and the sweet salsa macha that shows up across dishes as “one of the menu’s secret weapons,” he writes. The desserts are equally impressive. The sweet corn panna cotta is a rich and surprising treat. Fruit compote adds a tartness that cuts through the sweetness from the corn. It adds up to an experience that differs from a traditional Mexican restaurant but is true to Hernandez and Holguin.
The Dhaba
1872 Apache Blvd., Tempe It’s easy to know when you’ve reached The Dhaba, or even when you’ve arrived in the restaurant’s general neighborhood. The warm, enticing aroma of cooking spices forms a fragrant bubble around this Tempe classic. The restaurant serves a selection of Punjabi food ranging from snackable appetizers to hearty stews and curries. Specialties come straight from the tandoor, and each dish has an accompanying wine recommendation on the menu. For an excellent cross-section of the restaurant’s offerings, order one of the three Thali options. These sampler platters offer a veggie of the day and multiple varieties of chicken or lamb, as well as yellow veggie-studded rice, cool yogurt raita and fluffy naan. They also include a warming mug of chai plus a small sweet to end the meal. The Dhaba also serves imported soft drinks, beers and lassis in flavors including mango, rose, sweet, salty and plain.Haji-Baba
1513 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe ASU students, Tempe residents and really anyone who has spent time eating in Tempe over the past nearly 40 years will tell you Haji-Baba is an essential and iconic spot. Open since 1984, the restaurant has served Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare to generations of customers. Stop in at the small market for takeout, or grab a table in the connected dining room. Not sure what to order? Try the combination plate, a sampler that lets you taste a little of everything. The hummus is creamy and rich with tahini. The Tabooli is fresh and bright, the chicken shawarma is seasoned to perfection, and the lamb Shish Kabab is juicy, savory and satisfying. The falafel and stuffed grape leaves make for excellent meat-free options, and fresh baklava finishes everything on a superb sweet note. 
Hundred Mile Brewing Co.
690 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe Hundred Mile Brewing Co., as the name suggests, is first and foremost a brewery. But aside from in-house crafted beer, the Tempe spot also serves an exceptional food menu with dishes that go way beyond what one might expect of a classic brewpub. Yes, there are burgers and sandwiches to pair with a pint. But they’re massive, juicy, balanced in flavor and endlessly filling. There are fresh salads studded with golden beets and sesame-crusted ahi tuna. At dinnertime, there are short ribs with stout demi-glace and a salmon bowl with green tea jasmine rice. The space itself is open and bright with a breezy patio and indoor-outdoor bar. Pair a fresh and hearty meal with a cocktail or one of the rotating beers on tap. We’re partial to the Solar Flower Kolsch, a crisp and refreshing sip.
At Mandi House, the entrees are served on large platters with rice and multiple sauces.
Sara Crocker
Mandi House
1639 E. Apache Blvd., TempeIt’s hard to miss Mandi House. The bright blue stuccoed building beckons from the street. Inside, the halal restaurant serves comforting Middle Eastern cuisine – highlighting specifically Yemeni recipes. Warm spices offer depth to the meat and rice dishes among its entrees, which come on massive platters, often accompanied by garlicky yogurt and a chile sauce made with tomatoes and jalapenos that has bite. Both add acidity and brightness to these stick-to-your-ribs meals. The restaurant offers takeout and dine-in service, with options to sit inside the dining room or on comfortable floor seating areas.Old Town Taste
1845 E. Broadway Road, Tempe Though this strip mall Chinese restaurant offers food from a few regions of the country, most of its greatest hits are Sichuan. These include twice-cooked pork spotlighting strips of belly that melt in delicate puffs of meat and carried into fragrant, beautiful territory by ample leeks. Another absolute instant classic is the Chongqing-style chicken, a pile of crisp-fried chicken charged with mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. At Old Town Taste, you'll find standout fried fish, thoughtfully prepared soups and top-notch Ma Po tofu brimming with soul and spice. Bring a group of friends and grab a table with a Lazy Susan, perfect for spinning as you taste your way across the menu. 
Although the Peppermill is a steakhouse, don't skip over the exceptional poultry options.
Tirion Boan
