Southwestern in Phoenix

70 results

page 1 of 3

Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy

16092 N. Arrowhead Fountains Center Dr. Peoria

623-878-8282

Mexican, Southwestern, Menu

We drove around on a recent banker's holiday, looking for a cheese enchilada. What we found was two things: that most of the local Mexican eateries were closed, and that Abuelo's serves something called the Reynosa Salad. It's a fresh, green salad layered with seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, jack and Cheddar cheeses, chile con queso, beans, diced tomatoes and guacamole. It's what brings us back to this place time and again, though our dining companions are happy with Abuelo's house specialties like Stuffed Chicken Medallions (chorizo, Poblano, and cheese rolled in a juicy breast and then fried) or the Tilapia Veracruz, sautéed with shrimp, tomatoes, roasted Poblano strips, and olives.

2 articles
Arizona Kitchen

300 Wigwam Blvd. Litchfield Park

623-535-2598

Breakfast, California, Southwestern, Recommended, Best Of

This, the ultimate Arizona restaurant, offers a masterful mélange of Native American, Southwestern, and contemporary Californian in a warm territorial setting. The pancetta is great, and the buffalo tenderloin is a tasty treat not just for tourists. Don't let the long drive throw you; this one's worth the trip.

4 articles
Asi Es La Vida

3602 N. 24th St. East Phoenix

602-955-2926

Mexican, Dessert, Seafood, Southwestern, Spanish, Best Of, Slideshow

The cuisine at this casual-upscale Mexican restaurant in Central Phoenix is nearly as gratifying now as it was over 20 years ago, when then-owner and founder Moises Treves first brought his gourmet dishes celebrating the regions of Mexico to the Valley. Given its age, the building may seem a bit frayed, but inside, its softly lit rooms decorated with tables topped with white linen, paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and lazily spinning ceiling fans, make for an intimate place to unwind -- perhaps with a glass of sangria and outstanding dishes like an Acapulco-style shrimp cocktail, a heady soup, and outstanding signature plates of thinly sliced top sirloin, Veracruz-style fish, and enormous butterflied and garlicky shrimp you'd be forgiven for picking up and eating right out of their skins. Read our review.

12 articles
Aunt Chilada's Restaurant & Hideaway

7330 N. Dreamy Draw Dr. North Phoenix

602-944-1286

Mexican, Southwestern, Music Venues, Best Of, Menu

This historic landmark nestled in the shadows of Squaw Peak Mountain offers signature dishes like spinach and chicken burros and picadillo fajitas (not to mention a chimichanga that puts all others to shame) as well as specialties like the cheesy mushroom-and-chili Hamburguesa. Magnificent chow for reasonable prices.

3 articles
Barrel Grill & Modern Saloon

15703 N. 83rd Ave. Peoria

623-776-2429

American, Southwestern

3 articles
Blue Sage

5350 E. Marriott Dr. North Phoenix

480-293-5000

American, Breakfast/Brunch, Brunch, Buffet, Mexican, Southwestern, Tex-Mex, Recommended

It's a creation by nationally renowned chef Mark Miller, but don't expect to see him - this is a corporate spin-off that simply hints at his famous Coyote Cafe of Santa Fe. Some dishes are first-rate, like soups and steaks. Others are resort fare fancied up with lots of spice.

1 article
Cafe Laguna

11518 E. Apache Trail Frnt Apache Junction

480-380-9156

American, Southwestern, Recommended

This welcoming, family-owned spot is all about hot, golden frybread, heaped with fresh toppings -- and you can see them making it right behind the counter. Between the generous portions and the modest prices, we can't think of many places that make a better meal deal than Cafe Laguna.
Carlsbad Tavern and Restaurant

3313 N. Hayden Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-970-8164

Mexican, Southwestern, Recommended, Best Of, Readers' Choice

New Mexico-style Mexican food served in a cave-like setting, complete with bats and gushing waterfalls. The kitchen sends out nothing but winners, from traditional favorites like carne adovada and blue corn enchiladas to nifty platters like pork osso bucco and chicken breasts stuffed with sun-dried tomato, spinach, pepper and feta. First-rate margaritas, too. Read our review.

13 articles
Cartwright's Modern Cuisine

6710 E. Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek

480-488-8031

American, Contemporary, Southwestern, Recommended

Upscale surf 'n' turf joint wrapped in a Sonoran ranch house theme. The place does a few things right other than atmosphere: spicy house sausage made from beef, elk and buffalo; ahi nachos with Manchego cheese; and a chocolate cowboy s'more that'll give diabetics a death wish. Is it worth driving all the way out to Cave Creek to eat there? Probably not. But if you've always wanted to see the jumbo sundial in nearby Carefree, you could do worse for a same-day dinner.

26 articles
Cave Creek Smokehouse

6245 E. Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek

480-488-3317

Southwestern, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Good spot to take out-of-towners for a look at what remains of the Wild West. It's a tourist trap, but at least the tourists are not brought in by the busload. Besides, locals eat here, too. They come for the dandy burgers, ribs, steak, and fried chicken.

1 article
Chelsea's Kitchen

5040 N. 40th St. East Phoenix

602-957-2555

New American, Southwestern, Comfort Foods, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

This outpost of Craig and Kris DeMarco and Bob Lynn's ever-expanding culinary kingdom leaves behind the boutique ambiance and eats of Postino and La Grande Orange for something far more sophisticated and satisfying. Built like an airy, one-story Arizona ranch house, with a peaked roof, a big front porch, and a huge patio out back with a large brick fireplace, CK exudes comfort, warmth, and solidity. And the menu does the same, with an offering of burgers, steaks, tacos, green chile stew, fried chicken, and so on. May seem pedestrian at first glance, but the flavor to be had in each item is first-class, with four-star preparation. Return visits a must.

27 articles
CIELO

13225 N. Eagle Ridge Dr. North Scottsdale

480-333-1880

Southwestern, New American, Menu

Adero is a luxury hotel in Scottsdale and Cielo is the resort’s onsite restaurant. Menu items are made with regionally sourced ingredients, the craft cocktails are heavily on tequila and mezcal, and much of the beer is from Fountain Hills’ Bone Haus Brewing. Cielo, Spanish for sky, also offers plenty of scenic outdoor seating.

6 articles
Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails

7142 E. 1st St. Central Scottsdale

480-912-5025

Southwestern, American, Recommended

Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The menu of this “American brasserie inspired by the Southwest” will offer small and shareable dishes. Up top, you can also snag a craft cocktail at the new Outrider Rooftop Lounge.

2 articles
Cocina 10

308 N. Second Ave. Downtown Phoenix

602-716-2222

Mexican, Southwestern, Best Of, Slideshow

You may not know this downtown restaurant by name, but if you're into music, you've likely eaten here. Cocina 10 is the kitchen at Crescent Ballroom, which brings in a power-lunch and music-fan crowd expecting something a notch or two above bar food. Owner Charlie Levy is also behind Valley Bar and The Van Buren, but he says of anything he's ever done, he's most proud of the food at Crescent. The menu was crafted by Pizzeria Bianco's Chris Bianco, as well as Doug Robson of Otro Café and Gallo Blanco. The concept was meant to appeal, in part, to bands rolling in off Interstate 10. Maybe they're performing at the Crescent, or maybe they're just stopping in for a bite before getting back on the road to L.A. or Tucson. Either way, the kitchen has options like Sonoran dogs, tacos, nachos, and burritos wrapped in foil and marked with their own special stickers bearing images like Mr. Bean and Morrissey. Hopefully, there's a show that night on the Crescent main stage, but even if not, the lounge, patio, and balcony are always open, free, and serving food till midnight.

15 articles
Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill

1744 S. Val Vista Mesa

480-633-8226

American, Mexican, South American, Southwestern, Tex-Mex, Best Of, Menu

There are lots of homegrown options for Mexican food in Arizona, but we have to hand it to one Utah-based chain restaurant for serving fresh, healthy food: Costa Vida. There are three locations in Arizona: Mesa, Queen Creek, and the newest location in Goodyear, which has online ordering capability. Costa Vida serves standards like burritos, tacos, enchiladas, nachos, and quesadillas, but we really love the salads, served on a tortilla hand-crafted with stone-ground flour. Top the leafy greens with sweet pork, grilled chicken, shredded beef, raspberry chipotle chicken, mango chicken, or grilled steak to get your protein fix, and then choose tomatillo ranch, cilantro lime vinaigrette, or sweet and smooth mango dressing. The brand is also working to make its food as gluten-free as possible, including sauces, dressings, and meats. It’s easy to avoid wheat gluten; just be sure not to have the flour or whole wheat tortilla or two of the desserts, tres leches cake and key lime pie.

1 article
Cotton & Copper

1006 E. Warner Rd., #113 Tempe

480-629-4270

Southwestern, Slideshow

This south Tempe “public house,” a dim but warm space vaguely reminiscent of an old saloon, is surely one of the most Arizonan restaurants in the Valley. Sean Traynor, proprietor and captain of a wide-ranging cocktail program, sources glasses for his measured libations from antique shops upstate. Tamara Stanger, one of the most incandescently creative culinary talents in metro Phoenix, plates poetic riff after poetic riff, cycling through an ecstatic run of country-fried nopales and mesquite-glazed chicken, bison carpaccio and tomahawk steaks with squash gravy and indigenous-style ash, and the most eruditely madcap pies in town. Stanger grew up in a Utah ghost town and incorporates wild ingredients into many of her creative dishes. She is one of the leading pioneers of New Arizonan, a cuisine that uses globally inspired techniques to take the wild and farmed foods from our state to never-before-seen places. Eating at Cotton & Copper is taking a gastronomic journey into the harshly beautiful land where the sprawl thins to dust and tiny-leafed trees. Most of the dishes of this wild nature cycle in as sweet and savory specials or live more permanently on the menu as chicken lacquered with mesquite glaze, or bison medallions with tepary beans and cheddar jus, or a Sonoran riff on hummus composed of tepary beans and pickled local produce, farmed and foraged. The food menu is positioned toward the concept of a drinkery, meaning lots of patty melts and fish sandwiches. As with the wilder stuff, Stanger makes these utterly her own.

13 articles
Cowboy Ciao Wine Bar & Grill

7133 E. Stetson Dr. Central Scottsdale

480-946-3111

American, Eclectic, New American, Southwestern, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow

The goofy moniker might start spaghetti Westerns playing in your head, and the shabby-chic interior may be designed to appeal to yupper-class Scottsdalians with graying temples, money to burn and the fervent need to see themselves as still cool after all these years. But the food is intriguing, inventive and skillfully prepared, and the wine list is longer than a 19th-century Russian novel, with plenty of offbeat and affordable choices. Menu highlights include starters like the buffalo carpaccio -- paper-thin slices of seared bison rubbed with cumin-espresso -- and entrées such as the elk strip loin with hazelnut pesto and the sumptuous mushroom pan-fry with double-cooked polenta. Can't go wrong with the sticky toffee/chocolate cake for dessert. Read our review.

92 articles
Dick's Hideaway

6008 N. 16th St. Central Phoenix

602-241-1881

Southwestern, American, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice, Essentials

The family of New Mexico-leaning eateries and watering holes along 16th Street is a treasured standby of the Phoenix dining scene. But within the Richardson's Restaurants family — which also includes Richardson's itself and The Rokerij — the inconspicuous Dick's Hideaway is a cut above. It's the type of place where you'll need divine intervention to find seats for a party of five or above on a Friday night, but the crowd is due to the excellent menu and bar program. Dinner options include the Taos Tenderloin, the New Mexican Surf & Turf and a green chile burger, while the bar cranks out pristine bloody marys and margaritas, and wine options known citywide. But the best thing about Dick's Hideaway is its size — it is small. (Seated at the bar, you can almost feel the heat from the nearby open-flame grill.) And keep your maps app fired up till you know you're in the right place; there is no sign.

39 articles
Dilla Libre

1339 E. Northern Ave. North Phoenix

602-399-4024

Mexican, Southwestern, Best Of, Readers' Choice

Though the boutique Mexican food eatery is known for its quesadillas (hence the "Dilla" in the name), Dilla Libre will wrap a corn tortilla around everything from carnitas to pollo asado, carne asada, and shrimp to offer what may be your next favorite taco.

7 articles
Dilla Libre Dos

8018 E Thomas Rd. South Scottsdale

480-947-5100

Mexican, Southwestern

Though the boutique Mexican food eatery is known for its quesadillas (hence the "Dilla" in the name), Dilla Libre will wrap a corn tortilla around everything from carnitas to pollo asado, carne asada, and shrimp to offer what may be your next favorite taco.
El Caprichoso Hot Dogs

2826 N. 35th Ave West Phoenix

602-561-3723

Hot Dogs, Southwestern, Mexican, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

The closest thing Phoenix and/or Arizona has to a signature dish — aside from the much-battled-over chimichanga — is the Sonoran hot dog. When we're called upon to make a case for the importance of this cherished street food, we look to the El Caprichoso Sonoran hot dog cart. Around for more than 20 years, El Caprichoso operates outdoors from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., a hot grill under a parking lot tent. Its grilled, bacon-wrapped hot dog is crammed, almost forced, onto a fluffy, split-top roll that's kissed all over with char. If you're the type who likes a heavy Sonoran dog, order yours with all the fixings: beans, grilled onions, fresh diced tomatoes, guacamole, salsa, cotija cheese, ketchup, mustard, and thick squiggles of mayonnaise. If you weren't an Arizonan before, you are now. New Normal: El Caprichoso now has a drive-thru. Takeout is also available; it can be preordered at 602-561-3723.

7 articles
El Horseshoe Restaurant

2140 W. Buckeye Rd. Central Phoenix

602-251-3135

Mexican, Southwestern, American, Best Of

Horseshoe Restaurant is the very definition of a hole-in- the-wall restaurant, in the best sense of the term. The small Mexican restaurant on Buckeye Road is inelegantly sandwiched between a mass of carburetor and machine shops, but don’t be too put off by the location. The restaurant happens to be a fine destination for Mexican comfort food. Breakfast plates shine here, including Sunday morning menudo, and cheesy chilaquiles plates swimming in your choice of green or red sauce. You’ll also find a small menu of home-style caldo stews, including a pretty good caldo de res (beef stew) and albondigas (meatball) soup.

3 articles
Fajitas A Sizzlin Celebration

9841 N. Black Canyon Highway North Phoenix

602-870-4030

Mexican, Southwestern, Recommended, Menu

Most of the Tex-Mex selections offered by this fun but noisy Houston-based operation are strictly turista. But the fajitas -- served sizzling-hot and smoking -- are absolutely wonderful.

1 article
Frank & Albert's

2400 E. Missouri Ave. East Phoenix

602-955-6600

American, Contemporary, Southwestern, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

The Art Deco vibe in the Biltmore's Frank & Albert's restaurant might make you feel nostalgic for a bygone era, and indeed it's a beautiful space. Tourists will be particularly pleased with Southwestern dishes like nachos, queso fundido, and tortilla soup, but we recommend you skip the front of the menu, including offerings like pizza and pasta, and head to the entrées. It's a much better bet to spend your money on mole braised short ribs on a bed of creamy, cheesy grits with corn salsa and roasted poblanos. Read our review.

23 articles
Fry Bread House

4545 N. Seventh Ave. Central Phoenix

602-351-2345

Native American, Southwestern, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

The Melrose District, especially the Melrose Curve along Seventh Avenue in central Phoenix, is one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in the city, chockablock with mural-covered coffee shops and colorful new bars. The family-run Fry Bread House is a longtime Melrose staple that far predates the more recent arrivals in the neighborhood. It opened in 1992 and has been serving traditional Tohono O'odham food here ever since. The James Beard Foundation-recognized eatery offers a variety of regional menu items like tacos, burros, stews, and tostadas. We recommend the signature, namesake pillowy fry bread — often stuffed with ground beef, beans, and cheese, or topped with sweet chocolate.

26 articles
Fuego Bistro

713 E. Palo Verde Dr. Central Phoenix

602-277-1151

Cuban, South American, Southwestern, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Tucked away in the courtyard of Fountain Court, behind Apollo's Lounge on Seventh Street, Fuego Bistro is one of the best-hidden spots in central Phoenix. It's tiny, too (there are only seven tables inside and a handful out on the patio) so it helps to call ahead. Though some of the entrees are more "bistro" than fuego, the menu's mostly Latin-inspired. Try the pernil asado (melt-in-your-mouth, slow-roasted pork) or Patrón-braised blackened prawns, and wash it all down with some homemade sangria. Read our review.

16 articles
Gertrude's

1201 N. Galvin Parkway East Phoenix

480-719-8600

New American, Southwestern, Menu

It may be an old-fashioned name, but at the Desert Botanical Garden, founded by visionary environmentalist Gertrude Divine Webster in 1939, "Gertrude" has a decidedly modern ring to it. Gertrude's offers a seasonally inspired menu served in the form of a four-course dinner. There's also a killer patio, an impressive wine list, and and maybe the best view in town.

33 articles
Ghost Ranch

1006 E. Warner Rd. Tempe

480-474-4328

Southwestern, Contemporary, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Set way south of Arizona State University and the scatterings of dining options in downtown Tempe, Ghost Ranch Southwest Modern Cuisine has made a big name for itself in the short time it's been in operation. The locally owned restaurant is helmed by executive chef David Mora and pastry chef Lisa Graf (cute fact: they're married). Among the highlights of the modern Southwest cuisine served here is the roasted chicken enchiladas, which come with a beloved green sauce. We also like the cowboy steaks, pozole (here it's red chile pork stew), and authentic-to-Arizona sides like rancho papas. And the interior of Ghost Ranch, with its non-hokey Southwest decor and tiled bar, is a modern stunner, thanks to artist Gennaro Garcia. New Normal: No reservations; first-come, first-served. Curbside pickup is available through the website.

17 articles
The Gladly

2201 E. Camelback Rd. East Phoenix

602-759-8132

Southwestern, Contemporary, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

Part whiskey bar, part upscale restaurant, part home base for some of Phoenix's best-known chefs, the Gladly is a fixture of the Valley dining scene — and has been since its 2013 opening. Overseen by Chef Bernie Kantak, this Biltmore-area restaurant and Camelback Corridor staple also stocks more than 250 varieties of whiskey, most of which are served with the Gladly's signature ice balls — spherical "cubes" the staff crafts right at your table. The menu features contemporary American cuisine (duck meatloaf, a daily grilled cheese) and raw bar options, but the standout is the Original Chopped Salad. This colorful entree salad can only be found here and at Kantak's other establishment, Citizen Public House, and has been dubbed Arizona's state salad. It literally has its own Facebook page. The Gladly team has curated a to-go menu, available through curbside pickup and Uber Eats.

82 articles
Heart and Soul Cafe

4705 E. Carefree Highway #117 Cave Creek

480-595-7300

American, Breakfast/Brunch, Burgers, Salads, Sandwiches, Southwestern, Menu

This cute little cafe with a '57 Chevy in the middle of the room (and a dining table in the middle of the Chevy) offersoptions to make your breakfast seem anything but everyday. It's a favorite place for pancakes in particular, with the Bacon Blue Pancakes topping our list of favorite breakfast dishes. The dish is just blueberry pancakes with crispy bacon added to the batter, but they're so much better than that sounds, contrasting the plump sweetness of blueberries against the salty crunch of bacon.

1 article
The Horny Toad

6738 E. Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek

480-488-9542

Barbecue, Seafood, Southwestern, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

This rustic-looking restaurant just might convince your friends and relatives from back East that cowboys are not yet extinct. We promise that the barbecued spare ribs and the apple cobbler will get a "Yee haw!" outta 'em.

8 articles
Hyatt Regency Phoenix

122 N. Second St. Central Phoenix

602-252-1234

American, Asian, Brunch, New American, Pan-Asian, Southwestern, Traditional, Hotels and Resorts, Best Of, Menu

18 articles
Kai

5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler

602-385-5777

Native American, Southwestern, Eclectic, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

Those wishing to experience the finest of what the Sonoran Desert has to offer — the native saguaro fruit wolfberries, the tepary beans and wild sumac — would be wise to throw down for an upscale evening at Kai Restaurant. For roughly two decades, Kai has taken the best of what the Gila River Community can grow and forage (the tribe owns the restaurant, which is on its grounds) and put those quintessential Sonoran ingredients through global, fine-dining filters. Dishes have included cactus key lime pie, buffalo steak with saguaro syrup, posole with Ramona Farms corn, wolfberry vinegar, chiltepin froth, and a circus of beautiful desert ingredients carried to new places. In 2022, Chef Drew Anderson took over from former head chef Ryan Swanson to lead Kai's efforts. Kai remains as intimate a place-rooted experience as you'll find in metro Phoenix, and even after all these years, is a thoughtful and thrilling place to eat.

46 articles

Southwestern in Phoenix

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email