5 (More) Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix, AZ
As I noted in my previous Phoenix restaurant guide, restaurant reviews aren’t everything. They can sometimes help you find great restaurants and avoid mediocre ones, but they can also be biased at times. Here are 5 more must-try places in and around the greater Phoenix area that my family and I found very enjoyable and worth sharing, regardless of their Yelp & Google ratings. Please allow me to take you on another tour of five standout restaurants in the Greater Phoenix area.
1. THE SICILIAN BUTCHER
If you enjoy Italian cuisine, you’ll adore The Sicilian Butcher, a charming restaurant with a focus on meatballs, charcuterie, and pasta. Choose from 10 distinct meatball varieties, 9 various sauces, and 6 different bases, like polenta, gnocchi, or spaghetti, to create your own meatball entrée. You may also sample their specialty Sicilian delicacies, such arancini, caponata, and cannoli, or share a board of cured meats and cheeses. The Sicilian Butcher also has a full bar with an assortment of wines, beers, and cocktails.
There are at least three establishments in the Greater Phoenix area, but we visit the one in Peoria. The interior design is modern, pristine, and captivating, as I’m sure their other restaurants are as well. A beautiful chandelier hangs in the center of the room. Large black and white portraits are on display that honor Tomaso Maggiore, the famed chef and father of the restaurant’s founder, Joey Maggiore. There is plenty for your eyes to feast upon as you fill yourself with some of Phoenix’s finest Italian cuisine!
Learn a bit more about the Sicilian Butcher (video courtesy of Nation’s Restaurant News).
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
2. Haji-Baba
Haji-Baba, a renowned and longstanding restaurant and grocery shop in Tempe, is the spot to go if you want authentic Middle Eastern food. With fresh ingredients and fragrant seasonings, Haji-Baba delivers a range of foods such as hummus, falafel, shawarma, kebabs, and salads. They also serve handcrafted pastries like baklava and other options, as well as refreshing beverages like Turkish coffee and mint lemonade.
Haji-Baba is a casual and affordable place to enjoy a satisfying meal or a quick snack. You can also shop for groceries and specialty items at their adjacent market. Their mouthwatering chicken shawarma is renowned for being tender, juicy, and delicious, wrapped in warm pita bread, and topped with tahini sauce and pickles.
This is an excellent choice if you’re in the mood for Middle Eastern food and want something that is both authentic and reasonably priced. There is a reason it has been around for so long and is as highly regarded as it is!
Here’s a peak inside Haji-Baba (video courtesy of Tempe Tourism).
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
3. CIBO
If you are looking for a romantic and elegant place to dine, you should visit CIBO, a charming restaurant housed in a restored 1913 bungalow in downtown Phoenix. With organic and regional ingredients, CIBO serves up tasty and authentic artisanal pizza, housemade pasta, antipasto, salads, and desserts. Their thin-crust pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, their handcrafted pasta dishes, their fresh and colorful salads, and their rich and delectable desserts are all worth tasting.
In addition, CIBO has a delightful garden-like patio where you can unwind and listen to live music. This restaurant is ideal for a date night, anniversary meal, or Valentine’s Day supper.
Check out some more of CIBO’s delicious options (video courtesy of Shameka Butters).
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
4. Al's Gyros
According to some, they have the best gyros in Phoenix. If you’re in the mood for some Greek food, head over to Al’s Gyros, a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves large and flavorful gyros, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more. Al’s Gyros is known for their generous portions, friendly service, and reasonable prices.
Try their famous gyro sandwich on soft pita bread with lamb or chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce. Or their massively portioned and topped with a mouth-watering garlic sauce, chicken or steak shawarma. Their baklava with honey and almonds is also popular. They also serve more American fare, such as Chicago hot dogs, although I really stick to their Greek menu. Al’s Gyros is a simple yet delightful way to “get your Greek on!”
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix
5. TACO BOY'S
Taco Boy’s is a fun and casual restaurant that serves fresh and savory street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and other items. The food at Taco Boy’s is made with high-quality ingredients and homemade sauces, and they may be customized with your choice of meat, vegetables, cheese, and toppings.
You can also enjoy their signature dishes, like as carne asada fries, shrimp ceviche, and churros with chocolate sauce. Taco Boy’s has multiple locations in and around Phoenix. I’ve stopped by the downtown Roosevelt location a few times and they’ve been consistently excellent. Their carne asada burrito alone is massive, tasty, and worth stopping by for!
A look at how it’s done at Taco Boy’s (video courtesy of ABC15).
Phoenix is pretty well known for its superb places to eat, appearing on various Food Network shows. Some of these restaurants you may have already heard great things about, while others are along the lines of hidden gems. Either way, I hope you enjoyed this guide to dining in the valley. Part 1 of Must-Try Restaurants in the Greater Phoenix Area is available at the link below!
