Where to eat in downtown Phoenix: 23 essential restaurants
There are many reasons you might find yourself in downtown Phoenix — a Suns game, a concert, a night out on the town, a date, a cozy study session with a friend or an important business meeting. Whatever the reason, there are outstanding downtown Phoenix restaurants for every mood.
Craving an affordable late-night meal? Dos Michis and Bad Jimmy's have you covered. Looking for a quiet coffeeshop with delicious drinks? Check out Skoden, where you can browse records as you sip. And gourmands can visit one of several restaurants with national recognition, like Bacanora, Lom Wong and Chilte.
Here are 23 essential restaurants in downtown Phoenix.
Asadero Norte de Sonora
One of the most satisfying and affordable meals has to be the parillada at Asadero Norte de Sonora on 16th Street. Choose your meats, like carne asada, barbacoa, cabeza or their famous pollo, and soon your table will be filled with mixed grill, fresh tortillas, beans and salsas. The large is $23.50 and the medium, which is more than enough for two, is only $13.50. If that still feels like too much, the grilled chicken plates start at just $5.50 for a quarter bird with all the fixings to make your own tacos. Absolute perfection.
Details: 122 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-253-4010 asaderonortesonora.weebly.com/menu.html.
—Felicia Campbell
Bacanora
Bacanora is tiny but mighty. And if the menu posted online has you wondering how the chef won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, that's because the majority of the nightly dishes are specials. You may think you know what you're ordering, but chef Rene Andrade will still find a way to surprise you with the flavor he coaxes out of his mesquite-grilled dishes. Ordering is easy. The challenge is getting through the door in the first place. The restaurant opens its reservation at 9 a.m. on the first of each month for the following month. Head to OpenTable to book. Sunday brunch is walk-in only.
Where: 1301 NW Grand Ave., #1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018, bacanoraphx.com.
— Bahar Anooshahr
Bad Jimmy’s
The burgers live up to the hype and the bar is excellent. The late '90s playlist seals the deal. My go-to order is two crispy Arizona-raised beef patties, American cheese, "secret sauce," griddled onions and pickles on a soft bun with a side of fries and a perfectly balanced old fashioned — the definition of simple pleasures.
Details: 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. badjimmys.com.
— Felicia Campbell
Chilte
Chilte has been getting serious national attention since opening as a brick-and-mortar in downtown Phoenix at the Egypitian Motor Hotel in February 2023. Within a year, it made best restaurant lists in Bon Appetit, Esquire and Mashed. More recently, Lawrence "LT" Smith was named on Food and Wine's list of 13 Best New Chefs of 2024. Smith's menu is informed by the soul food of his upbringing in the southern United States and the Sinaloan heritage of his wife and business partner Aseret Arroyo — all amped up with thoughtful global touches. The mole, presented in different forms, has been a hit from day one and recently was served with rich lamb neck flautas. Just as exciting are the dishes where he take a global approach to Mexican classics with the likes of refried beans topped with za'atar and a shareable plate of sauteed pears and mushrooms served with Chinese hot mustard and chicharron crunch. The small, but impactful restaurant consistently surprises.
Details: 765 Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-807-5225, chiltephx.com.
— Felicia Campbell
Cibo
This quaint little downtown Phoenix Italian restaurant is nestled inside a bungalow near Roosevelt Row. When the weather permits, I recommend the patio with its warm string lights and forest of plants. My absolute favorite thing about Cibo is the gluten-free pizza. Where most gluten-free pizza crust is flat and not particularly flavorful, Cibo's is so thick and fluffy that if it weren't for the little toothpick label, I would ask the server if the kitchen messed up and served me gluten. Sometimes I still ask, because it's really that hard to believe that gluten-free bread could be so bread-like.
Details: 603 N. Fifth Ave., Phoenix. 602-441-2697, cibophoenix.com.
— Endia Fontanez
Cielo Rojo
Cielo Rojo feels like a love letter to regional Mexican food, from the cochinita pibil of Yucatán to the chiles en nogada from Puebla, every dish captures the essence of home-cooked comfort. With a menu that highlights specialties from every region, I like to go and indulge in all my favorite antojos.
Details: 1919 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-358-7882, cielorojo.restaurant.
— Tiffany Acosta
Dos Michis
Surrounded by high rises and sterile streets, this taco stand dominates its corner of a block in downtown Phoenix, with the wafting aroma of birria and the sizzle of fresh tortillas hitting the stove. Dos Michis offers two meats for tacos and quesadillas: carne asada and birria. Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the tacos are perfect for a filling lunch during daylight hours or a comforting late-night snack after a concert at the Footprint Center.
Details: On the corner of Adams Street and Second Street. @dos.michi on Instagram.
— Reia Li
Forno 301
This authentic Italian pizzeria on the ground floor of the Muse Apartments at Central Avenue and McDowell Road is the perfect way to cap a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum, even if you just stop by for drinks and appetizers, especially when the weather’s nice enough to take advantage of the outdoor seating at the patio bar. The vibe isn’t nearly as wild as it was at their much smaller former location on Roosevelt Row, but it’s still a good time, and the food is outstanding, from woodfired pizzas to handmade pasta and bruschetta. Don’t forget to ask about their daily specials, which are always worth a try.
Details: 1616 N. Central Ave., #104, Phoenix. 480-787-5654, forno301.com.
— Ed Masley
Hanny’s
Known for martinis and bar bites like their hot honey pizza, shrimp prosciutto and brown butter cake, what makes Hanny's truly special is its rich history. The building once served as a fire department and later a department store, with quirky touches like dressing rooms turned into bathrooms and a basement filled with a creepy doll shrine. Between drinks, be sure to explore.
Details: 40 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-252-2285, hannys.net.
— Tiffany Acosta
Hot Daisy Pizza
Brought to my attention by a friend raving about a pizza topped with corn, Hot Daisy is the perfect lunch spot when you're in downtown Phoenix. Order a simple slice of margherita or the sausage, pepperoni and meatball-topped Italian Stallion, but whatever you do, save room for a slice of the elote pizza topped with roasted corn, cilantro, mozzarella, cotija cheese and chipotle oil. It's one of the best bites you'll find anywhere.
Details: 610 E. Roosevelt #145, Phoenix. 602-840-3644, hotdaisypizza.com.
— Monica Navarro
Huarachis Taqueria
Huarachis is James Beard Award winner and Bacanora chef Rene Andrade’s take on a taco shop. The visual is 1980s-style Miami Vice and the energy is high thanks to the music and the super friendly, super knowledgeable staff. Chicharron tacos are crunchy, deeply porky bites of joy, and you will want more than one side of papas al disco, seasoned potato nuggets elevated with chiltepin chile crema, cotija cheese and olive oil.
Details: 814 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-773-1413, huarachis.com.
— Jill Cassidy
Ingo’s Tasty Food
First opened in 2013 in Arcadia and since expanding to downtown Phoenix and North Scottsdale, Ingo’s Tasty Food — a concept from the restaurant group behind Buck & Rider — offers the comfort food of casual dining made with premium ingredients. That approach helps Ingo’s live up to the “tasty” in its name and made it my go-to when I need to fulfill a burger or chicken sandwich craving. Breakfast is available all day, up until the restaurant closes at 9 p.m.
Details: Multiple locations; original location is 4502 N. 40th St, Phoenix. 602-795-2884, ingostastyfood.com.
— Michael Salerno
Lom Wong
Lom Wong is an example of a restaurant that just keeps getting better. The regional Thai restaurant is uncompromisingly homestyle. This is not the place to go for your usual pad thai, but to explore dishes like the exceptional yam mamuang boran, a green mango salad with shrimp, crispy shallot and peanuts tossed in a sweet-savory coconut, lime and fish sauce. The boo pad pong garee features huge chunks of crab meat fried with dry curry, egg and Chinese celery and is my new favorite comfort food. When I dine out, I want to be surprised, and at Lom Wong, I feel like I learn something new with every meal.
Details: 218 E. Portland St., Phoenix. 602-675-0522, lomwongaz.com.
— Felicia Campbell
Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café
Elizabeth White received a commendation from Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2023 when White turned 100, which is a good indication of just how much she, and her iconic soul food restaurant, have meant to Phoenix during the past 60 years. Since 1964, Mrs. White’s has served Southern dishes like fried catfish and chicken and candied yams to ordinary folks and celebrities alike. High-profile guests over the years have included the Rev. Jessie Jackson and U.S. Sen. John McCain. It remains a great place for a meat and two sides plate.
Details: 808 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-262-9256. Mrswhitescafe.com.
— Reia Li
New Garden Restaurant
Opened in the 1940s by Mary Ong, New Garden still serves basically the same menu of American-style Chinese food all these years later, including huge, deep-fried eggrolls that are sometimes mistaken for fried burritos. Generations of customers from the surrounding neighborhoods in the warehouse district and south Phoenix grew up going to the restaurant, which is a living reminder of the Chinese community that settled in downtown Phoenix seven decades ago, relying on connections with each other and with neighbors to survive. The appeal may be more nostalgic than anything else, but downtown certainly wouldn't be the same without it.
Details: 823 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-9110, newgardencafe.com.
—Reia Li
Novel Ice Cream
Novel never misses. I brought my parents there on the first day I moved to Phoenix, and they, who are not huge fans of sweets, both got root beer floats, which apparently my dad had never tried before. He was delighted, raving about how the drink was so much lighter and more refreshing than a milkshake for the rest of the visit. I brought my friend who is vegan and she marveled over the creaminess of the mango sorbet. I went alone on a late summer night and sat cozily in a corner, people-watching and enjoying the soft, warm donut that ensconced my ice cream in their signature Dough Melt. It's a happy place.
Details: 40 N. Macdonald, #2, Mesa and 1028 Grand Ave., #6, Phoenix. 602-579-7773. novelicecream.com.
— Reia Li
Phoenix Blue Fin
This small Japanese eatery is worth a trip just for the history. Owner Betsy Yee is a second-generation Phoenician whose father, also a restauranteur, helped found the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Yee partnered with a Japanese chef in 1981 to open Blue Fin, which has been serving affordable Japanese comfort food, and resisting pressure from developers, ever since.
Details: 1401 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-3171, phxbluefin.com.
— Reia Li
Pizzeria Bianco
Chris Bianco embodies the gold standard of artisan, wood-fired pizzas, perfected at his signature Phoenix restaurant that started in the back corner of a Phoenix grocery store. It took a vacation for me to fully comprehend how wide his influence is; I stopped at a restaurant in Utah whose menu included their own twist on Pizzeria Bianco’s Rosa pie with red onions, parmesan, rosemary and pistachios, they even named it after Bianco and gave him credit. Those who truly appreciate pizza as an art form can best experience the pie at the source at Bianco's namesake Phoenix pizzeria, whether their tastes lean toward the hearty salami and olive toppings of the Sonny Boy or the simple yet outstanding tomato, mozzarella and basil combination of the margherita.
Details: 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-8300, pizzeriabianco.com.
— Michael Salerno
Que Sazon South American Cuisine & Ceviche Bar
This family-owned establishment offers authentic South American cuisine in a beautiful setting — Teeter House, a historic Victorian cottage in Heritage Square across from Pizzeria Bianco. The menu features a diverse array of pan-South American dishes, from the loaded fries that won first place at a French Fry Throw Down event in 2019, when owners Fabian and Julie Ocampo were still serving them from a food truck, to a delicious appetizer of sweet plantains topped with cotija cheese, a Peruvian-style ceviche bar and decadent dessert empanadas.
Details: 622 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-919-2246, quesazonrestaurant.com.
— Ed Masley
Sake Haus
When friends come to town, Sake Haus is included in my Phoenix tour. It’s not your average sushi spot, and its owners are proud of that. Inspired by modern, Tokyo-style cuisine, I always order the coconut Miso Soup that has just the right hint of tamarind. I'm also a fan of the Ryujin maki roll made with spicy tuna pepped up with cilantro and the crunch of fried garlic. The vegetarian eggplant Midori roll with miso dressing is also a must-try. If you can't decide, let the chefs impress with their 3 or 5-piece nigiri omakase. Don’t get me started on the amazing happy hour they have most days of the week. Deals abound. Come for the food, stay for the best sake and Japanese whiskey selection in town.
Details: 214 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. (602) 218-6734, sakehaus.net.
— Joanna Jacobo Rivera
Skoden Coffee
This queer, Indigenous-owned coffee shop shares a space with Central Records in downtown Phoenix where they offer a menu of coffee and pastries made with traditional Navajo ingredients, like Diné tea and blue corn doughnuts. They also have a menu of delightfully sweet "drinks that are just cute" like a Diné matcha latte and a horchata latte. But the absolute best reason to go to Skoden is for the community. If you've been in once or twice, owner Natasha John probably already knows your name. Surrounded by plants and vinyl records, it is far too easy to lose track of time talking to other customers and making new friends, which is exactly what the owners, who are largely focused on community outreach and activism, had in mind for their unique cafe.
Details: 824 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. @skodencoffee on Instagram.
— Endia Fontanez
Sottise
Located inside a beautifully restored bungalow, Sottise’s French menu and intimate dining room make it a perfect date night spot. Try an Escargot De Bourgogne or baked brie made with pear, hazelnut and calvados honey served with baguette crisps. The calvados honey is one of the many combinations inspired by the bar program, which pairs fine wine and cocktails with the food. If you're lucky, you could even learn to saber a bottle of wine while you're there.
Details: 1025 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-254-6378, sottisephx.com.
— Bahar Anooshahr
Tratto
There’s a reason this upscale Italian restaurant — an American trattoria from James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco — landed on the New York Times food desk’s 50 favorite restaurants in America a few years back. Before that, it earned a five-star rave from The Republic’s former dining Dominic Armato, who was not free and easy with the five-star raves. Located at 1505 E. Van Buren St., in the old Roland’s Market building, Tratto gives classic Italian dishes a Southwestern accent with local ingredients in a breathtaking setting — exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, rustic charm — it’s a go-to for a romantic evening.
Details: 1505 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix. 602-296-7761, trattophx.com.
— Ed Masley
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
Reach dining editor Felicia Campbell at felicia.campbell@azcentral.com.