While you're spending time in Phoenix, you'll need to eat. It doesn't matter if you're in the city for business or pleasure, enjoying some of the area's top restaurants is a great way to immerse yourself in the location. In addition, trying a few of the most iconic dishes in the city will give you memories that last a lifetime.

This guide will give you some insight into the top dishes in Phoenix, what restaurants you definitely need to visit, and even how you can get there in style.

What Sort of Cuisine is a Must-Have in Phoenix?

The Grand Canyon State is known for delicious foods made with indigenous cultural influences and ingredients. Some of the dishes that everyone will want to try include Sonoran hot dogs, fry bread, and a prickly pear margarita after a long day exploring the city.

Want a checklist of the foods to try while you hang out in Phoenix? Look below for some ideas!

  • Fry Bread
  • Chimichangas
  • Route 66 Beer
  • Mesquite Flour
  • Medjool Dates
  • Sonoran Hot Dogs
  • Cheese Crisps
  • Prickly Pear Margaritas

Many of the restaurants below offer one or more of these dishes – or something even better. So, take a look at the menus and see what appeals to you while you spend time in the Valley of the Sun.

Getting Around Phoenix with Ease

It's easy to get around in Phoenix, whether you're heading to restaurants and bars, scoping out attractions, or heading into corporate offices. In addition to public transportation options such as taxis, ride-sharing services (zTrip, Uber, and Lyft), the metro, and buses, you can also choose something a little flashier to create a trip that you never forget.

Instead of renting a typical car, consider a limo. It can get you to all the hot spots and make sure everyone notices you. You can eat and drink as much as you want since you'll have transportation back to your hotel, rental home, or other accommodations. Many limos come with excellent amenities that make them well worth the cost.

The Best 5 Restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona

No matter your palate and preferences, Phoenix has a restaurant that will fill your stomach with delicious foods. While some restaurants shut down during the pandemic, others have come alive to broaden the culinary scene in Arizona. Instead of being a haven of only Mexican food and steak houses, this city offers all sorts of new options.

If you aren't sure where to visit first, use the list below to make up your mind. Each restaurant is picked for the great food, but all bring something truly special to the meal.

1. Ms. Martha's Caribbean Kitchen

Located at 1820 W. Northern Avenue in Suite 110, Ms. Martha's Caribbean Kitchen is an excellent place to nosh on fantastic food. The owner and chef Martha Laurencin creates delicious Caribbean food (and sells a selection of sauces, marinades, and snacks to take home with you). The hardest part of visiting is choosing what to eat.

Take a limo to the restaurant and try the stunningly tasty Jamaican patties, the deep-fried wings bathed in Calypso garlic sauce, or get some curried goat and oxtail stew. When you want some spice and flavors you can't find elsewhere, this is the place to be. You can even take in some Caribbean music on the weekends by stepping out on the patio.

2. Belly Kitchen and Bar

Michael Babcock from Instrumental Hospitality offers great eats in Phoenix at 4971 North 7th Avenue. You can experience a selection of tastes at Belly Kitchen and Bar, from Southeast Asian foods to unique pizza served on grilled rice paper, and a banh mi and torta hybrid that can't be described as anything but extraordinary.

The food isn't all you can experience after your limo drops you off. This hot spot has some crazy fun cocktails that include ingredients like turmeric, Thai basil, lemongrass, and more Asian flair. For the best time at Belly, make sure you get a table on the rooftop where you can look out over Camelback Road.

3. Flaming Pig

In third place is Flaming Pig, which can be accessed at 1534 West Camelback Road. This eatery is Ginalyn Halum's newest spot and adds to the Phoenix Filipino food scene. While the owner is best known for the great ice cream that she comes up with at Scooptopia, Flaming Pig now offers excellent Filipino barbeque options.

The name says it all when it comes to Flaming Pig. Pork is served in dozens of different manners, whether in a thick and delicious dinuguan, as lechon, or in ampalaya. While there are other options for Filipino barbeque in Phoenix, this is where you'll get the best. Plus, you can grill your own on skewers for an interactive experience.

4. Valentine

Found in the Melrose District, Valentine is at 4130 North 7th Avenue. This part of town serves up succulent Arizona dishes that you won't find anywhere else. The restaurant is gorgeous with leather upholstered chairs, blonde woods, and accents in a million shades of brown. So get out of the limo to take in a mid-century feel in terms of food, drink, and even art.

Try unique cocktails like cactus vermouth or sink into a latte with pink corn, heirloom squash, and other delicacies at Valentine. The co-owner Blaze Faber's touch can be seen in all the refined but rustic food created over a mesquite fire. Try a breakfast of churro waffles, or come in later for delicious elote pasta.

5. Phoenix Coqui

The last of the top five is Phoenix Coqui, named for the mascot familiar to Puerto Rico. This restaurant is pleasant but cozy; it got its start as a simple food truck! Partners Alexis Carbajal and Juan Alberto Ayala quickly received rave reviews for the Puerto Rican dishes and moved into an actual building in 2022.

The menu is stacked with excellent dishes, such as jibarito, pastelon, mofongo, and empanadillas. Whether you go for the plantain and cheese casserole or the pork pernil sandwiches with tostones on the side, you're sure to enjoy delicious food with a crowd.

Extra Restaurants to Check Out in Phoenix

While the restaurants above are must-eat locations, you have plenty of other options depending on your tastes. Want traditional Mexican food? Try heading to Testal Mexican Kitchen for homestyle burritos and a small bar. Hang out at Bacanora PHX for elote, half chickens, carne asada, and octopus, or visit Via Della Slice Shop when you want a delicious slice of pizza. (Try the white pie with sesame seeds and sweet onions!)

The downtown location of Pa'La is another excellent choice with simple dishes like seared scallops and white pizza. Or, head to First & Last for something unique. It's in a historical building and serves shared plates, offers tons of vegetarian meals, and has several pasta and entrees to choose from. Finally, Rough Rider is a new basement spot with New American food like chilled shrimp, baked brie, and a ton of cocktails.

The Takeaway

Phoenix, Arizona, has tons to see and do – which includes terrific restaurants where you can eat, drink, and get to know some of the locals. You can make it a party with friends by renting a limo and heading to Phoenix Coqui, Valentine, or Belly Kitchen and Bar. Try some classic Arizona dishes or delve into some of the unique fare that is done right only in this state.

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