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Our Favorite Cafe Review Photos of 2020
Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 8 a.m.

Lom Wong
The Kaeng Hang Lay from Alex and Yotaka Martin’s Lom Wong pop-up.
1/48

Lom Wong
Laap Muang, served at a recent pop-up.
2/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Que Chevere’s patacon, a brick-like sandwich built on plantain slices.
3/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The chachapa at Que Chevere.
4/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
A spread from Que Chevere in downtown Mesa.
5/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Crab ravioli with citrus, fennel, and saffron from Francine.
6/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Whole branzino cooked in a salt crust at Francine.
7/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Francine's eggplant mezza.
8/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Colorful syrups from Francine's bar.
9/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The hand-poured Hotate Aguachile at Kaizen PHX.
10/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Octopus Tiradito with Gyoza at Kaizan.
11/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Gyoza from Kaizen.
12/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Fresh ginger and wasabi at Kaizen.
13/48

Charles Barth
Lutong Bahay’s halo halo special.
14/48

Chris Malloy
Homemade ube pandesal — stuffed bread dyed purple with yam from Phx Lechon Roasters.
15/48

Chris Malloy
Longsilog plate at Deez Buns.
16/48

Chris Malloy
Skewers and a lechon baboy remix at Toduken
17/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
All the housemade barbecue sauce you can handle from Word of Mouth Grill.
18/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Word of Mouth’s Demetrious Makel at his smoker.
19/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Hotlinks, ribs, tips, turkey, and sides at Word of Mouth.
20/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Hot links, ribs, and a corn muffin at Word of Mouth Grill.
21/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The Octopus Fritto dish at The Americano.
22/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Reviewing Pizzeria Virtu and The Americano — where meatballs are the star of the short takeaway menu.
23/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
At The Americano, it’s largely steak, meat-centric dishes that lean Italian or American.
24/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The Americano’s elegant Versace on the Floor cocktail.
25/48

Chris Malloy
Chef Gio Osso probes for doneness at Pizzeria Virtù.
26/48

Chris Malloy
Topping a margherita pizza with olive oil at Pizzería Virtù.
27/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
These noodles at Sherpa Kitchen have more color than most in town.
28/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The dish of creamy curry is a lot like a big bear hug at Sherpa Kitchen.
29/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Chef Subash Yadav presents his food like an artist Sherpa Kitchen.
30/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The a la carte oysters at Century Grand.
31/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Chef Sasha Levine's reimagined beef cheek Wellington.
32/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Get some dim sum shrimp at Century Grand.
33/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Dim sum carts frequently swing by at Century Grand.
34/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The sensory course of Navajo tea poured over creosote, desert broom, and jojoba at Kai.
35/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Kai's Pee-Posh Garden.
36/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
A vivid new plate of fish three ways at Kai.
37/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Colorful pickings from the salsa bar at Taco Boy's.
38/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Tripas at Taco Boy's.
39/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
A carne asada platter with beans at Taco Boy's.
40/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Ropa vieja French dip sandwich with a side of jerk sauce from Little Cay.
41/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
"Tostonadas," a Little Cay creation.
42/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The picadillo empanadas at Little Cay.
43/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
A plate of oxtail, ropa vieja, and white rice at Fe La Cubana.
44/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
A small but mighty side of yucca at Fe La Cubana.
45/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Elote also gets the Hot Cheeto treatment at Urban Phoenix Cafe.
46/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
The FFS taco goes next-level with crisped cheese and ghost chile oil at Urban Phoenix Cafe.
47/48

Jackie Mercandetti Photo
Another keeper: the Cho, a chorizo taco, at Urban Phoenix Cafe.
48/48
Our Favorite Cafe Review Photos of 2020
It's 2020, which means a whole new year of our now monthly cafe review. Food critic Chris Malloy is ready to talk about some outstanding tacos, Nepalese dishes, Neapolitan pizza, and much more — all accompanied by some stunning food photography. Enjoy your spin.
It's 2020, which means a whole new year of our now monthly cafe review. Food critic Chris Malloy is ready to talk about some outstanding tacos, Nepalese dishes, Neapolitan pizza, and much more — all accompanied by some stunning food photography. Enjoy your spin.
Related Stories
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Cafe Review: Tacos With a Circus TouchJanuary 9 at 7 a.m. | by Chris Malloy
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Cafe Review: The Elusive Joys of Cuban FoodJanuary 23 at 7 a.m. | by Chris Malloy
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Cafe Review: An Arizona Icon Shuffles Its Menu Yet Remains GreatFebruary 27 at 6 a.m. | by Chris Malloy
Use Current Location
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Urban Phoenix Cafe
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Little Cay – Latin Caribbean Kitchen
Little Cay – Latin Caribbean Kitchen
4912 E. Shea Blvd., #108, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
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Fe La Cubana
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Taco Boy's
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Kai
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler, AZ 85226
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Century Grand
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