Lunch
Original Hamburger Works Mesquite broiled goodness makes this tasty eatery, featuring burgers and chicken sandwiches on the southeast corner of 15th Avenue and Thomas, a must-stop for lunchtime eats. Order up a third-pound flame-broiled patty like the classic Big One or the Border Burger with jalapeño cheese and grilled green chili, then make your way to the Fixin's Wagon to pile on your choice of condiments and toppings. Chow down inside or out on the patio where games of ping-pong and pool await your post-patty pleasure.
El New Yorican Owner Alberto Rivera provides the hospitality, the food, and the explanation behind this restaurant (pronounced yor-EE-can) whose name means "a Puerto Rican born in New York." Prepared in the style of Créole cooking, this family-run eatery serves up a tight menu of wallet-friendly fare. Start with the fried plantains, then try the fried chicken rubbed with adobo, the classic Puerto Rican pork roast pernil, or a softball-size lump of garlic-heavy mofongo. Wash it down with a bottle of Malta, and you'll be swaying to a Puerto Rican salsa in no time.
Fu-Fu Cuisine If you're looking for a restaurant to break the humdrum of familiar eats, it's time to head to West Africa and the Caribbean or, more specifically, this friendly and affordable restaurant on the west side of Phoenix. Featuring West African and Caribbean fare from owner and chef Esther Mbaikambey, stellar dishes include the baseball-size fried sweet dumplings called pof-pofs, yassa chicken, and deep-fried whole tilapia. Picky eaters will appreciate the restaurant's most curious dish: tasty spaghetti and meatballs.
