Although we love living in LA and exploring the diverse food scene since we moved here three years ago, we are native Phoenicians (Axel since birth, me since 7th grade) and we still have a great appreciation for the strong food scene in Phoenix. Every time we go home for the holidays, we have a list of favorite restaurants to hit while we are in town. From delectable sourdough pizza to inventive Asian fusion, here is a list of the best Phoenix restaurants (according to us).
Restaurants
- La Grande Orange (Arcadia)
- My love affair with La Grande Orange (also known as LGO) begins and ends with their Roasted Corn Pizza. The sourdough crust combined with their delectable cheese mix, fresh corn, full basil leaves, and dollops of goat cheese takes me to heights of flavor ecstasy that I cannot adequately describe.
- Beyond the corn pizza, I highly recommend trying the Gladiator pizza, which is topped with sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and red sauce (be sure to get a side of their homemade ranch for dipping). I have not really tried their dishes outside of the pizza menu but I have heard good things about the Evil Princess Thai Chicken Salad as well.
- Tip: go for dinner rather than lunch or brunch. During the day, LGO operates as a counter service model which is a lot more chaotic than their evening full-service situation. We were also disappointed that when we ordered a Caesar salad at lunch, we were told to grab it out of the refrigerated case, where all the salads were pre-made and boxed up. At dinner, the salads are made fresh. The counter service area of LGO doubles as a boutique stocked with cute kitchen items, lovely perfumes and body lotions, a gelato counter, and a sizable wine selection. The music is always on point and the coffee bar makes great lattes during the day.
- Pizzeria Bianco (Biltmore and Downtown Phoenix) & Pane Bianco (Central Phoenix)
- Famous for a reason, Chris Bianco’s pizzerias churn out delicious pizzas, inventive appetizers, and tasty desserts. Fun fact: I’ve been going to Pizzeria Bianco since I was 16! I recommend the Rosa, which is topped with red onion, parmigiano reggiano, rosemary, and pistachio, as well as the Sonny Boy, which has tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, salami, and gaeta olives (be warned- it’s very salty). Be sure to check out Pane Bianco, Bianco’s bakery, for lunch to try out the al taglio slices and fresh sandwiches. Happily, there is now both a Pizzeria and Pane Bianco location in LA so we don’t have to be deprived when we’re at home!
- Clever Koi (Central Phoenix and Gilbert, featured in my AZ trip report):
- delicious and creative Asian fusion in a hip environment. My favorite dishes: the pork belly and hot chicken buns and the Pig Face dumplings (I dream about these). Be sure to check out their extensive cocktail menu as well.
- Bread & Honey House (Arcadia):
- family-owned delicious Mexican food. The best fish tacos I’ve ever had are served here, as well as other delectable dishes like chilaquiles, burritos, quesadillas, and burgers. Open for breakfast and lunch.
- Zinc Bistro (Kierland / North Scottsdale):
- lovely upscale French bistro. Zinc has been one of our special occasion restaurants for years but it is perfect for a casual meal as well. They have the best cheese list, perfectly cooked steak frites, the classic pot of mussels, and an oyster bar. We love to sit in the back courtyard to enjoy a relaxing French meal with impeccable service.
- Little Miss BBQ (Tempe and Sunnyslope, also featured in my AZ trip report):
- Once named the #1 restaurant in American by Yelp, Little Miss Bbq serves Texas-style barbecue at its two locations. I prefer the original location in Tempe, which is open for lunch and operates as a counter-service model. This location used to rack up hours-long lines (I think I’ve waited two hours before) but I think the waits have died down since they opened their second location in Sunnyslope, which is more of a traditional table service restaurant and is open for both lunch and dinner. I love the beef brisket with their signature spicy barbecue and honey mustard barbecue sauces, served with cheesy grits and ranch-style beans. Axel’s go-to order is the Jefe sandwich, which is filled with brisket and their housemade sausage.
Coffee Shops
- Valentine (Central Phoenix, featured in my AZ trip report): One of the coolest coffee shops I’ve ever been to (also a restaurant in the evening but we have not tried their dinner fare yet). Valentine focuses on using local Southwestern ingredients in their pastries, drinks, and dishes. Our favorite drinks are the mesquite chai latte and corn cappuccino, while you can’t go wrong with a Sonoran wheat chocolate croissant or tacos with house-cured bacon, anasazi bean, potatoes, and queso dip. The space is very neat too; it’s in the front portion of a midcentury furniture store called Modern Manor, where you can browse the wares after your meal.
- Lux (Central Phoenix): the most vibey coffee shop i’ve ever been to. I’m still looking for a decent replacement in LA for this open-late, serves yummy food, with an interior you can hang out at for hours coffee stop. Get the velvet latte (white chocolate mocha) and a mug of rich, delicious mac and cheese. The pastry case is usually full of unusual goodies (I like the pink peppercorn cookie and they also have the best vegan donut I’ve had) and they have a full bar as well. Go to chill with a friend, work on a laptop, or just sit on the couch and enjoy the great playlist. Lux is right next door to Pane Bianco, so it’s easy to hit both spots at once!
