5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix, AZ
As many of you have figured out by now, restaurant reviews aren’t everything. Sometimes they help guide you toward excellent dining experiences and avoid an unpleasant one, but other times they may be unfair. So here’s a look at 5 must-try restaurants in and around the greater Phoenix area that are well worth a try, whether they’re 5-star review rated or not. I’ve enjoyed these places, as have my company. Let me share this small slice of what Arizona has to offer with you.
1. Princess Mediterranean
Market & Deli
In the mood for authentic Mediterranean food? The Princess market and deli has been serving up some of the best in the valley for over 10 years. The grocery store is fully stocked with fresh groceries including cheeses, olives, spices, dates, grape leaves, and a full line of halal meats such as lamb, goat, beef and chicken. The deli/restaurant prepares several outstanding meals such as gyros, shawarma, kebabs, as well as sides such as hummus and tabouleh. There’s also desserts such as Baklava.
The Princess considers themselves to be a medley of Greek, Persian, Middle-Eastern, and Paki/Indian. I’ve personally tried their shawarmas, gyros, kabobs, and Greek fries. All of which were outstanding, as was the service. The prices here are also very reasonable, considering the quality and freshness of the food. If you live in the valley or are passing through, the Princess Mediterranean Market and Deli tops my list of places to try.
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
2. Tom Yum Thai
After falling in love with Thai food while in San Diego, we spent years trying various Thai restaurants in the valley. Some were great, some were okay, and others just weren’t memorable at all. One day we stumbled across Tom Yum Thai Restaurant in Peoria and knew we’d found the right one. Much to our surprise, we also found that this was in fact the same restaurant from San Diego that first wetted our taste buds to Thai. They’d up and moved to Arizona.
We’ve tried a few plates here, including their chicken and shrimp Pad Thai, which is consistently excellent. Of course their Tom Yum soup is a must have too; it’s right in their name after all. The soup arrives in a large metal bowl with a flame in the center, and is more than enough to feed two people. You also can’t go wrong washing it all down with a glass of their tasty Thai tea. We also found that there are two locations in the Phoenix area, the other being in Surprise, just off Bell Road and Grand Ave. Same food, same great service. If you enjoy Thai, or haven’t tried it and looking for a good place to start your addiction, look no further.
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
3. Venezia's
New York Style PIZZERIA
Venezia’s is well-known in Phoenix amongst New York style pizza lovers. It’s one of the few pizzerias here that can wear that title and not be called out by New Yorkers who moved here. Venezia’s history is rooted in Italy and New York, thus the name. The owner opened his first restaurant in Albuquerque and eventually ended up in Tempe, AZ.
The slices are enormous and fairly priced, as are the combo specials. They offer a wide assortment of different toppings, as well as sides such as bone-in and boneless wings. Venezia’s gained even more recognition after appearing on the hit show Breaking Bad a few times. Jesse Pinkman may have found himself in a lot of trouble throughout the show, but at least he knew a good pie when he had one. There are now six Venezia’s throughout the valley, mostly in the east valley. Well worth the stop if you end up near any of them.
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
4. Rustler's rooste
When it comes to novelty, Ruster’s Rooste takes the snake. Yes, I made that dad joke intentionally because this place actually serves up rattlesnake. I haven’t tried that and probably never will, but I can tell you that the burgers, ribs, and wings here are all fantastic. There are several things that make this honky-tonk themed steakhouse a tourist favorite and a staple amongst Phoenicians.
For one, the view is incredible. The restaurant sits atop a hill at the eastern tip of South Mountain, so diners get a nice lookout over much of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale. The view looks even better around sunset or dusk. The Rooste usually has live country and/or bluegrass music taking place in the center of the restaurant. The servers are all dressed to match that theme. To add to the fun, there’s an enormous Texas Longhorn standing near the entrance of the place, inside a fence of course. Once you enter, you’ll walk through what looks like a mineshaft that’s lit up and decorated accordingly. There’s even a slide you can opt to take down to the lower level once you’re inside. That keeps the kids preoccupied throughout dinner.
On top of the meals being good, I should also note how generous this restaurant is with their food. Before your entre comes out you are given a large bowl of their house salad, as well as their hot and fluffy buns, with butter and cinnamon butter on the side. They also bring out cotton candy by the time you finish; usually an obscure and interesting flavor you’re not accustomed to. Come for the rustic Western ambiance, stay for the good old-timey cooking.
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
5. COMICX
ComicX is another Phoenix restaurant that is well known for it’s aesthetic. To be quite honest though, the food is actually pretty good as well. Unlike some of the more well-known chains such as Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe that thrive on novelty, ComicX doesn’t disappoint when it comes to flavor. We ordered a number of things off the menu including their Philly Cheesesteak, gourmet street tacos, and wings. Everything was on-point, and tasted better than expected.
As good as the food is, most people come to ComicX for the atmosphere. If you love DC Comics, Marvel, Star Wars, and pop culture in general, you’ll love this place. Take a picture or several next to some of the detailed life-sized statues, and let your kids enjoy some videogames while you eat. It’s a good time for the whole family at ComicX.
Phoenix is a hub for amazing restaurants. Some get more love than others, so I wanted to touch down on a few here that we always enjoy that aren’t necessarily aboard the Yelp hype train. I hope you found this guide useful. Stay tuned as I’ll cover more restaurants in and around Phoenix in the future. If you’re headed to Rocky Point anytime soon, I’ve got you covered too. Check out my guide to restaurants while on vacation there below.
