This mini seafood empire in Phoenix, with each location boasting both a market and a restaurant, serves dishes like poke bowls and Hatch chile tuna melts, even on Monday.

There may be no restaurant that is more Phoenix than Fry Bread House. A James Beard America’s Classics honoree and staple for more than 30 years, chef Cecelia Miller’s legacy is the most qualified spot to bless your stomach. A hometown hero that still lives up to the hype, Fry Bread House still somehow manages to exceed expectations every time. The fry bread is obviously the star of the show, but you can not go wrong with the posole, green chili beef, or the chocolate and butter sweet fry bread.

Don’t let Starlight’s Old Town Scottsdale locale deter you. This lowkey barbecue joint is serving up some big flavor. The restaurant has an amazing whisky selection, and the fragrance from its mesquite-smoked meats is guaranteed to lure you in from a block away. The daily specials range from fried catfish to a tender $17 brisket. No matter the day, you won’t be disappointed.

Since 1988, this contemporary bar has been a Scottsdale icon. Famous for its ever-changing modern art pieces and overflowing martini glasses, AZ88 is always a good time. Come for the people-watching, and stay for one of the best espresso martinis and dessert menus in town. Bonus: The kitchen stays open late, serving food until midnight seven days a week.

A popular wedding and events venue, plus a lively Mexican restaurant, Casa Corazon is a surefire hit along the 16th street corridor. The restaurant focuses on southern Mexican cuisine, serving dishes that complement its equally colorful interior. Must-haves include chicken mole poblano, cochinita pibil, and chile en nogada.

This massive downtown Phoenix eatery is reminiscent of something you might find in Miami. The 14-foot tree standing proudly in the middle and the wicker furniture lend themselves to a South Beach aesthetic. But Carcara establishes a uniquely Phoenix flare with a northern Mexican-influenced menu, complete with a Sonoran Caesar that’s topped with delectable mole croutons and a pan-seared mountain trout served in a mild tomato sauce with olives a la Veracruz.   

Tratto is local legend Chris Bianco’s lesser-known, East Phoenix trattoria. This lowkey spot was originally located in Biltmore’s Town and Country strip mall and moved to its new digs in 2020. The new-ish locale is warm and inviting, offering delectable Italian food worthy of Bianco’s reputation. The menu at Tratto is always changing, making way for a different dining experience every time you visit.  The restaurant focuses on using Arizona ingredients to create classic Italian dishes, so naturally, you can not skip out on one of the Arizona-wheat homemade pasta dishes.

Wren & Wolf may be new, but it is quickly becoming a downtown Phoenix staple. Upon entering you are immediately greeted by a rusticly chic interior, complete with a taxidermy wolf in the middle of the dining room. The lavish menu focuses on elevated comfort food including an A5 Salisbury steak, truffled mac and cheese, and, to top it all off, a table-side caviar bump that is as fun as the name suggests.