This Phoenix spot is a long-time Arizona favorite, and for good reason: the fry bread. Native American fry bread is a pillowy, frisbee-sized fried dough that serves as a vessel for honey and jam or filling toppings like beans, vegetables, and meats and cheeses. Cecelia Miller of the Tohono O'odham Nation opened The Fry Bread House in the early 1990s, and it remains owned and managed by the family today.

The pies at Pizzeria Bianco have launched Phoenix’s food scene into the orbit of national conversation. Seriously, these pizzas are so famous they moved to Downtown Los Angeles, where a new Bianco’s debuted in 2022. Head to the original Heritage Square spot for pies like the Biancoverde, with mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, ricotta, and arugula, before a Diamondbacks game, or a weekday lunch when there’s less of a wait. Go with a group and order family-style so you can try as much as you can.

You’ll find this Grand Avenue spot inside the restored Bragg’s Pie Factory building, but with the exception of the dessert menu, you won’t find many sugary treats. Instead, you’ll get a solid introduction to the different cuisines of the Mexican state of Sonora, which on any given day, might include a list of specials like the lime-cured halibut aguachile or bone-in ribeyes. Reservations open at the start of each month, but you can try your luck at the bar where you might find an empty seat.

Valentine knows the way to our hearts: pastries, pasta, natural wine, and late-night cocktails. The atmosphere here feels familiar—think more living room than dining room, with retro modern furniture and soft lighting. The Melrose spot puts Arizona ingredients at the center of every dish, and we particularly love the brunch spread: the avocado squash toast and the churro waffles with dulce de leche are some of our favorites.

You know that friend you’ve been wishing would invite you over for dinner? Lom Wong, with its homey vibe and family recipes, is the restaurant equivalent. Bring a group and get the cold-and-sweet green mango salad along with the fried chicken you can dunk in Thai red chile sauce. Eating on the patio is always nice—it’s heated for chilly days and has misters for when it’s hot. They also have a great wine list, specifically put together to pair with the spicy dishes on their menu.

Don’t confuse this spot for the chain of similar-named restaurants—there’s only one Barrio Café. Since opening in the early 2000s, the Calle 16 original has become a fixture in Phoenix for regional Mexican favorites. There are two main reasons why: the tableside guacamole—which is great, by the way—and chef Silvana Salcido Esparza’s community involvement and civil rights activism. When the pandemic hit, she provided free food to the neighborhood from the empty parking lot.

Head to the original University location of this Texas-style barbecue spot for some of the best pork ribs, sausage links, and brisket in Phoenix. Sure, you’ll likely have to stand in line before calling dibs on one of the outdoor picnic tables, but that’ll give you some time to sort out your game plan: sandwich or a plate? Pulled pork or ribs? When they’re on the menu, get the oversized beef ribs and try the pastrami brisket. And whatever you do, don’t skip the sides.

Tía Carmen’s minimalist aesthetic and bohemian desert decor is the kind of restaurant where you’re going to end up flooding your camera roll with photos. Post a picture of the space and someone you became besties with for seven minutes in line for the bathroom at the club will be in your DMs with “omg where is this?” Come here for a nicer birthday dinner and share the avocado aguachile or tomahawk ribeye with tepary bean mole.

Latha is in a historic downtown bungalow with a big open-air porch that doubles as a live music stage, making it one of the coolest places to grab a weekend dinner. You won’t even care if your friends are late (again) because one of the rum-based cocktails can keep you company. Once everybody in your party finally shows up and has had a chance to look at the menu, dig into dishes like the shrimp moqueca, oxtail shakshouka, and vegan mushroom criollo.

Eating at this anything-but-stuffy French restaurant feels a bit like getting a hug from a friend who’s wearing a very soft cashmere sweater. There’s a lot to love about this charming hideaway off of Roosevelt, like all the orange wine, low-ABV cocktails, and unpretentious takes on classic French dishes. Start with the baked brie or caper-topped tartare before moving on to the steamed mussels bathed in fumet with creme fraiche.