Phoenix, Arizona Travel & Food Guide ☀️🌵☀️
Phoenix, Arizona Food Guide ☀️🌵
The beautiful desert landscape of Phoenix, Arizona is brimming with incredible food. From cuisines found all around the world to unique restaurant concepts that make dining more upscale and fun, Phoenix brings the good stuff rather you’re looking for a great brunch place to a perfect outdoor dinner option!
Of course, I did a little research before our trip — okay, maybe a good amount. I pinned and saved places all over the map where we had a rough idea of things we wanted to do in central Arizona. We only had a short visit, so we tried just a handful of spots, but I shared the good we ate, the ok we tried, and so many restaurants I already want to go back for.
Summary of What I’m Sharing Below:
What we ate (with honest thoughts)
Places still on my want-to-try list
Things to do in and around Phoenix
*Fair warning: you might get hungry reading this 😉
🌮 What We Ate in Phoenix
The Highlights:
🍕 Pizza To The Rescue (An artisan pizza and pasta place located in Phoenix that donates 25% of proceeds to Almost There Rescue - a local dog shelter).
Here’s What We ordered:
Margherita pizza
Cacio e pepe pasta
Grilled seasonal vegetable plate
Basque cheesecake
Paw-zookie (half-baked cookie skillet)
Our overall experience here was good - we sat outside in the warm February evening air (one of the perks of Arizona winters!), and everything was a lot of fun to try. We also during our dinner asked for a side of ranch and that was by far a favorite part of the whole meal too. That was one of my favorite ranches - I've tried a lot so that’s saying something - if you want some too, just ask!
The pizza had that chewy, thin crust me and my family love. The cacio e pepe was creamy and comforting — I personally would’ve loved a bit more pepper for extra spice, but it was still delicious. The grilled vegetables (broccoli, red peppers, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, plus a grilled lemon to squeeze on top) were fresh and flavorful to top off the entire meal.
But the part of this menu…the desserts.
The Basque cheesecake wasn’t overly sweet — just creamy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious with olive oil drizzled over its beautifully browned traditional crust. And the paw-zookie? Gooey, rich cookie dough topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and chocolate. Every bite melted together in the best way and was my little sister’s favorite thing.
Not the best pizza or pasta we’ve ever had — but still very good, and the desserts alone made it worth the stop. It was a modern comfortable, calm atmosphere and a place I’m glad we tried.
This one wasn’t even on my research list — we found it driving around on a Sunday (which is honestly one of the best ways to discover hidden gems when you're truly hungry). The sign said enchiladas and tacos, so we looked it up… and it looked too good to pass up. So, we stopped for a quick lunch.
What makes this place fun? It’s fully customizable. You choose:
Tortilla(s)
Meat or vegetarian filling(s)
Sauce(s)
Cheese(s)
Fresh toppings and drizzles
They assemble it in terracotta bowls and bake everything in a wood oven until melted and perfectly browned. It not only looks amazing - with a great food presentation, but the tastes is really good.
Here’s What We tried:
Spinach + mushroom veggie enchilada
Award-winning shredded chicken tacos with toppings + jalapeño ranch
Green chile shredded chicken enchiladas
Cornbread stuffed enchiladas
Rojo and verde sauces
Corn + flour tortilla combo
It’s one of those places where you really need to go see the full menu, build your own dish, and enjoy it with chips, salsa, and guacamole.
Kind of like Costa Vida or Cafe Rio (if you’re familar with this fast service concept) — but more elevated and (in my opinion) way better. The service was fantastic, and I’m pretty sure we were helped by the owner him self, who knew the flavor profiles inside and out and guided us through ordering. I highly recommend this place and loved it.
Our first stop after landing — brunch for lunch. This brunch spot has two central Arizona locations and a wide-ranging menu of sweet and savory breakfast and lunch options. Everything was amazing. I ordered the avocado toast (so fresh and flavorful), and my mom’s breakfast burrito was probably my second favorite bite.
Between all of us, here’s what we tried:
Breakfast burrito
Cinnamon roll French toast (my little sisters favorite)
Avocado toast
Classic eggs Benedict
Cheese omelet
Fresh berries
If I go back, I’d love to try:
Breakfast bowl parfait
Chilaquiles
Blueberry Danish pancakes
Strawberry pecan salad
“Bowl of Sunshine” grain bowl
All in all, the restaurant is clean, spacious, and great for groups. I also loved that they offer both hearty comfort dishes and lighter, fresher options depending on your mood. The service was incredibly kind and accommodating — highly recommend for both food and the overall hospitality feeling of the place.
Okay, yes — we did eat at a familiar quick-service chain one night. But sometimes when you travel, you just want something familiar, quick, fresh, and you know will be good.
You know what I really do love from Jersey Mike’s - a mini #7 on wheat with lettuce, mayo, pepper relish, oil, and spices! It’s fresh, flavorful, a little creamy, and so good.
We grabbed sandwiches and headed back to our Airbnb for games and an ice cream night for the family. It was the perfect quick dinner, that hit the spot. If you’re a Jersey Mike’s fan — what’s your go-to order?
👍 The “Okay”
🍳 F/Sixteen - Neighborhood Diner
A retro, American Air Force-themed diner near the central canal in Old Scottsdale. The whole restaurant is a cute and clean space. The idea and presentation of the food was great, but overall it lacked seasoning and depth of flavor that makes you want to keep going in for another bite.
We tried:
Breakfast burrito
Protein burrito
Smokeshow eggs Benedict
Overnight oats
The standout was definitely the Overnight Oats — with warm cinnamon notes, fresh berries, creamy strawberry yogurt, and a fun addition of diced dates. It was the most cohesive and comforting dish we tired all together. So, overall this was not our favorite place, fun to try, but with so many amazing restaurants nearby, I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to return or recommend it to others to make the stop.
🍽️ Restaurants Still on My Phoenix Food Bucket List
Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Mexican street corn, chicken tinga cheese crisp, enchilada trio? Yes please.
Cibo Pizzeria – Artisan pizza in a charming historic house. The Cacio e Pepe pasta and Provola e Pepe pizza look amazing and I want to try them!
Pizzeria Bianco – One of the most popular and recognized pizza spots in the U.S. I honestly want to try their simple Margherita pizza and their other unique offerings sounds perfect too.
JL Patisserie – A French-style bakery with beautiful breads and pastries. A little taste of France in Arizona and their menu looks picture perfect - yum.
Cornish Pasty Co. – U.K.-style savory hand pies with tons of fillings (chicken Greek, vegan pot pie, Mexican, and so much more). This place is a unique offering location to change your eating routine up when you're in phoenix - fun right?!
George & Gather – Fresh, whole-ingredient American dishes in a bright, welcoming space. Their vibrant salads, artisan pizza, and organic chicken dishes look wonderful.
Butters Pancakes & Cafe – Known for creative pancakes and great brunch options (plus gluten-free choices). This place has something for everyone - perfect place to gather for breakfast, brunch, and of course even lunch!
Phoenix is seriously packed with good food — you just need another trip just to eat more food!
🌞 What to Do in Phoenix (Beyond Eating!)
🍊 Pick Fresh Citrus (Winter Only: December–Early March)
There is nothing like freshly picked citrus - it’s sweeter, fresher, juicier, and way more flavorful!
When we visited - we went to The Orange Grove, a small, family-run farm in Mesa, Arizona. The owner showed us how to pick the best fruit and encouraged us to even taste some of the oranges right off the tree well we picked — so sweet and vibrant. We also picked up some Cara Cara oranges from the Orange Patch Too boutique Store - their oranges are so sweet!
Plus, on our last trip we got some oranges in huge bags from BB Citrus Farms - which is a great place to get large quantity of oranges to take home with you. And next time, I want to try Cotton Lane Citrus Farm in Surprise, Arizona - they also sell their honey from the orange blossoms too!
If you go later in spring, many farms are picked over, so aim for earlier in the season to get the best fruit and experience when you’re there.
🌄 Get Outside & Enjoy It
Arizona is a state with weather that supports and promotes living and enjoying the outdoors! When you visit - it’s the perfect place to be outside, explore, swim, hike, walk, bike, and everything you want to do and you love.
Some of our favorites for you:
Hiking around Scottsdale
Evening canal walks
Outdoor dining
Visiting plant nurseries (so many citrus trees!)
Shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park
Farmers markets (Tempe and Mesa are on my list next!)
The sunshine, blue skies, and warm air just make you want to stay outside all day. Plus, it’s so warm!
Thanks for reading — and now I’m officially craving Arizona sunshine and yummy food again. 🌵🍕
