Going to Phoenix AZ in August and need suggestions on where to eat. (Tucson: best city, luxury)

[lubby]

BTW price is not a huge factor, if you know of a place that's a little fancy I'd be willing to check that out too. It's a vacation and since our last one was in 2011 we like to splurge a little.

[Taz22]

Originally Posted by lubby

Cuisine's we like
Tex Mex
BBQ
Mexican
open to any type places for Breakfast
Italian
Seafood
good ole stick to your ribs home-style cooking (comfort food)
Steak
wings

Someone suggested PF changs, been there done that. We have it here. Houston's we have that here too.
not looking for any common chain places that's why we chose Lo Lo's because we don't have something like that here.I can have pizza anytime here in NY so not looking for that. I am looking for that diner drive and dive type place like on Guy Fieri's show.

I recommend Carlsbad Taverns for Tex Mex, a little fancy but not too expensive.
Andreoli Italian grocer is a good place for subs and Italian food.
Uncle Sam’s is my go to for wings and subs.
Texaz Grill for chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, comfort food
Bobby-Q, Famous Dave’s, Dickey’s are all places I can recommend for good BBQ
Pappadeaux Seafood and Bluewater Grill are good if a little on the pricey side
Commodore Guadalajara is the best for Mexican, but Carolinas is wildly popular with the tourists and is more of the hole in the wall you’re looking for
Some of the above restaurants are nicer, some are casual. Have fun on your trip! If more restaurants come to mind, I’ll post them

[Gingercoyote]

If you like hotdogs I highly recommend getting a Sonoran style hotdog somewhere. I like El Guero Canelo.

El Guero Canelo
El Güero Canelo - Fine Mexican Food
5131 W McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 8503
(602) 278-8560

[lubby]

Originally Posted by Taz22

I recommend Carlsbad Taverns for Tex Mex, a little fancy but not too expensive.
Andreoli Italian grocer is a good place for subs and Italian food.
Uncle Sam’s is my go to for wings and subs.
Texaz Grill for chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, comfort food
Bobby-Q, Famous Dave’s, Dickey’s are all places I can recommend for good BBQ
Pappadeaux Seafood and Bluewater Grill are good if a little on the pricey side
Commodore Guadalajara is the best for Mexican, but Carolinas is wildly popular with the tourists and is more of the hole in the wall you’re looking for
Some of the above restaurants are nicer, some are casual. Have fun on your trip! If more restaurants come to mind, I’ll post them

Both of the places I highlighted in bold sound really good. I printed the menu for Blue water Grill.
They have some fish on the menu that we don't get on LI. Thanks

[lubby]

so far we want to try:
Hoosier café
Santan Brewery
Lo Lo's
Espos Mexican
still looking at some others online that were recommended.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by lubby

so far we want to try:
Hoosier café
Santan Brewery
Lo Lo's
Espos Mexican
still looking at some others online that were recommended.

We lived in phoenix metro (specifically Chandler and Mesa) for 25+ years). We go back every year - and food is a major draw. We eat what we cannot satisfactorily find in Raleigh as well as a few favorites.

Many of the places mentioned in this thread are chains or touristy or what I define as Gringo Mexican. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but I sense it's not what you are after.

Overwhelmingly, we eat Mexican, Vietnamese and Thai when we visit. Raleigh does have those ethnic restaurants, but they don't measure up to Phoenix (due to the large ethnic population for those specialities. Raleigh can compete with any U.S. city for Indian, and does a good job with certain other things).

LoLo's has had a great reputation for years. If you want chicken and waffles, that's the spot.

Espos used to be terrific and is, in fact, the first place I ever tasted REAL Mexican good (courtesy of my then boyfriend who was Hispanic). That was in 1991 and I STILL remember the green Chile sauce. It was a revelation. I haven't been back in years, but the place is legend, and I can't imagine it's not great.

Matt's for breakfast. No contest.

We're very fond of Carlsbad Tavern, and I'd recommend it for a Mexican/Tex Mex fusion - very nice place with reliably excellent food.

San tan Brewery - good food, typically excellent service, but nothing that you can't find in any city.

Phoenix isn't a standout for Italian, but I'll mention a couple because they are in Chandler. We used to eat frequently at La Stalla. Pretty place in the downtown. Thin crust wood fired pizzas were excellent, but we never had a bad meal. I've heard that Stone and Vine is excellent, and we are likely going to try it in September during our next visit.

If you insist on deep dish pizza (I'm not a fan, but DH hails from Chicago), just go to Lou Malinotti's. The famous Chicago restaurants have an outpost in Tempe that even imports the water to get the exact pizza they make in chicago.

Want the BEST bahn mi you've ever tasted? IMHO you can't find better than Lee's Sandwiches. Bread made in house. Cheap and casual order at the counter place. Roast pork is best, I think.

I can't avoid mentioning Portillo's. I know, I know - it's a chain, it's not an ethnic, hole in the wall gem. But it's the best sandwich I've ever tasted, except Lee's bahn mi and the pastrami at Katz in NYC. Get it with hot peppers.

I've been a long time fan of Rita's for burritos. Want more upscale Mexican - venture into Phoenix and go to Barrio Cafe. Be prepared for some of the most inventive, delicious Mexican ever. This is a menu that you will NOT find anywhere else. AFAIK they do not take reservations. Go on a weekday and get there before they open. Many people would call this the gem of Phoenix restaurants. The wine list was very overpriced the last time we were there, but oh my, that food!

Vietnamese - Cyclo used to be THE place and you'll hear it recommended. Pass on it. Go over to yelp and pick one. Hard to go wrong If you sort based on most current reviews. (These places change owners and chefs so often that what was great 6 months ago could be carp today). The place on Southern Avenue in Mesa (something nhat?) has excellent pho but it's definitely hole in the wall. I've never tried anything else on The menu because I can't resist the pho.

I've never been to seafood restaurant in phoenix that impressed me very much, but if pushed, it would be The Salt Cellar in Tempe. Pricey, but it's underground and a very, very cool atmosphere. Well worth at least stopping for a drink.

Thai - same advice. Use yelp looking at current reviews.

Happy hours are an AMAZING way to eat great food and save money. The fact that they are illegal in NC is probably my biggest complaint about living here (liquor laws of the dinosaurs).

Any other questions - ask and I'll try to help.

[jlawrence01]

Here is a guide that was developed by Dominic Armato, a dining critic for the Arizona Republic. It was posted on a Chicago culinary site for people traveling to MLB's Spring Training and features restaurants close to various baseball stadiums. It covers about 30 restaurants and includes pictures. I have to confess that I have been trying these restaurants one bu one on my 4-5 trips to Phoenix each year and have not been disappointed.

An LTHer’s Guide To Cactus League Eats | LTHForum.com


Personally, of all the various Mexican cuisines, my least favorite is Sonoran which is what dominates both Phoenix and Tucson. Generally, I do not head to Mexican restaurants much unless they have something exceptional to offer.

When I head to Phoenix, I generally head to Asian restaurants. There is a mall in Mesa - Mekong Plaza that has about 15 restaurants, mostly Vietnamese but there are some Thai, Cantonese, and Philippine restaurants. I have never been disappointed at any of the restaurants and they all feature at least some dishes that the average American has never seen.

My favorite restaurant in the mall is a stand called Hue Gourmet which features the dishes from Central Vietnam.

Down the street from the mall is a place called Nan Zhou Noodle House which makes great hand drawn noodles to your specification and serves some of the best bowls of noodle soups that I ever had.

If you want a "once in a lifetime experience" Kai in Chandler offers upscale dishes that feature fresh ingredients from the various Native American reservations.However, it is one of the priciest restaurants in the area.


==============================

Since everyone has mentioned a chain or two, Phoenix has their share of national and regional chains. In Chandler, we particularly enjoy Rudy's Country Store and BBQ. I have found their food to be consistently good and the guests that we have taken there have been very satisfied. It is a stop that we usually make when we are picking people up at Sky Harbor and returning to Tucson.

Not to be overlooked, IMO, are a number of the casino dining options. I have eaten at several of the restaurants at the Talking Stick Resort and found them to be reasonably priced and quite excellent.


Hope that helps.

[Jkgourmet]

Interesting list, JLawrence. I meant to mentioned Mekong Plaza and SHOULD have. Richardson's/Dick's Hideway is a good suggestion, too - though I think Richardson's is too loud and would personally prefer Dicks.


I've never been to any on the luxury portion of this list, including Kai. Too much of a cheapskate.


I'd definitely disagree with a couple of these - Los Olivos and Pizzeria Bianco. Both are essentially tourist haunts. The latter hit it's apex 15 years ago. I'd suggest Los Dos Molinos (in South Phoenix, on central, not the other locations) long before those two.



I tried to keep my suggestions to the East Valley area since OP will be in Chandler.



I'm taking note of Cafe Ga Hyang for our visit in September - thanks!

[lubby]

Just to mention I have never eaten Thai or Vietnamese food. I am curious where the fresh seafood comes from since this is the middle of the dessert. looked at Matts for breakfast and I am sure it's good but wasn't impressed with the menu. Pizza I plan on eating since I can get that anywhere and I have already had Chicago style. I'll check out Kai online and see if it's something worth trying. Are there any decent food trucks? I am thinking along the lines of the show diners drive ins and dives. Mom and pop places are welcomed suggestions. I don't want to eat just Mexican food.

[Jkgourmet]

Typically, Fresh seafood comes from the west coast. They drive it in on freezer trucks - just like they do when they drive it anyplace - it's just a matter of how far. Phoenix has plenty of well regarded sushi restaurants, so they are getting the stuff fresh.



I'm not a fan of that show, but here's the link:



https://www.abc15.com/entertainment/...-ins-and-dives


On this list, I've been to Andreoli and De Falco's (Italian deli's) which I thought were fine, but overpriced. BARRIO CAFE is on the list and I highly recommended it in my prior post. Matt's is on the list as well. I was going to mention Chino Bandido, but they are way up on the West side, and since it's a Mexican/Chinese fusion, I'm thinking it's not for you (and I wasn't enamored of it either. But it is unique.) Joe's Farm Grill is beloved by many, and its kitchy, but I never quite got the appeal.



There was no food truck scene when I lived there. Maybe it's changed now?



But Mom and Pop places in an area that's heavily Hispanic are likely going to be Mexican. They large population of Vietnamese in the East Valley (Chandler, Mesa, Tempe) generates Asian mom and pops.



Hope you find something that you enjoy.