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5 days ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn
A carne asada chimichanga from Macayo. Macayo No matter who did it first, one thing is clear: the iconic chimichanga is pure Arizona View as Map A carne asada chimichanga from Macayo. | Macayo The true origin of the chimichanga — one of Arizona’s most iconic dishes — is still hotly debated.
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2 weeks ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | Nikki Buchanan |Rudri Patel
Okay, let’s admit it. Nobody really loves spending time in the airport. But when an airplane is the best way to get from Point A to Point B — whether it’s for a business trip, a back-home visit, or a much-needed vacation — travelers could do a lot worse than spending time in the frequently renovated, ever-enlarging Sky Harbor, Phoenix’s airport where amenities abound. Need a coffee to wake up? A fancy cocktail to chill out?
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3 weeks ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn |Nikki Buchanan
The Fancy burger from Capital Patty. Capital Patty Where to find burgers worth your bucks View as Map The Fancy burger from Capital Patty. | Capital Patty The burger, despite its purportedly German influence, is more American than apple pie.
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3 weeks ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | Chris Malloy
A spread from Joe’s Real Barbecue. Joe’s Real Barbecue Top-tier brisket, ribs, sausage, pastrami, and more View as Map A spread from Joe’s Real Barbecue. | Joe’s Real Barbecue Arizona sees more than 300 days of sun a year: Its outdoor cooking season is nearly year-round, and a culture of home barbecuers has grown. Put simply, Arizonans love barbecue, but — perhaps fortuitously — there’s no hardcoded Arizona barbecue style. The result?
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1 month ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn |Chris Malloy
The burrito is one of Arizona’s most dependable meals, always near and always soulful no matter the hour. A local respect for and way with the flour tortilla is the heart of local burrito culture, which tends to hew to a more minimal style. Style, however, doesn’t mirror size: At many eateries, burritos are called “burros,” losing the “ito,” the diminutive, lest a grand package be linked with smallness.
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1 month ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn |Chris Malloy |Nikki Buchanan
The Phoenix food scene has never been more dynamic than right now, blending long-standing institutions with exciting new openings that reflect the city’s evolving culinary identity. Iconic spots like Valentine and Glai Baan anchor the Valley’s dining culture, while a wave of fresh restaurants — from intimate mom-and-pops to destination-worthy fine dining — redefine what it means to eat, live, and travel in Phoenix.
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2 months ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn |Asonta Benetti |Bahar Anooshahr
The smell of fresh bread, the gleam of expertly prepared pastries, the abundance of sugar and decadence — everyone needs to have a reliable bakery to depend on. From warm muffins with morning coffee to an after-dinner treat worth waiting for, the best bakeries in Phoenix and its surrounding cities offer residents every baked good they could imagine. Whether French-taught or home-grown, here are the city’s best bakeries for breads, pastries, cakes, and more.
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2 months ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | Rebecca Roland |Emily Venezky
Lille Allen/Eater On April 2, the James Beard Foundation announced nominations for the 2025 James Beard Awards restaurant and chef categories. These nominations are trimmed down from the initial, more extensive semifinalists list, which the foundation revealed in January. Phoenix and Arizona were well-represented among the body of James Beard semifinalists, with nods in 12 categories. Now, two Phoenix chefs have moved on as finalists.
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2 months ago | 
phoenix.eater.com | McConnell Quinn |Rudri Patel
After Mexican immigrants, South Asians make up the second-largest immigrant community in the Phoenix metro — and the food scene reflects that depth. Thanks to a growing population from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and beyond, the Valley is full of restaurants serving everything from smoky tandoori and deeply spiced nihari to Indo-Chinese noodles and flaky parathas. The settings run the gamut, from sleek dining rooms to strip mall staples and grocery store counters with just a few tables.
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Mar 7, 2025 | 
phoenix.eater.com | Nikki Buchanan |Chris Malloy
Whether thirsty for a beer on top, a fancy cocktail, or a glass of rich red wine, Phoenix is an excellent place to be. The city is home to over a dozen great breweries, one wildly creative meadery, wine bars both elegant and down-home, and a cocktail scene to rival those in larger cities. One of the most unique aspects of Phoenix’s bar scene is its impressive venues, including one themed after an airplane and another a captain’s cabin serving tiki drinks.