Where to eat.

If a friend flew in tomorrow, this is the list we would hand them. In order.

1. 01

   San Tan Flat$$

   Steak + western / San Tan foothills

   Grill your own steak, sit by a firepit, listen to live music under the sky. A southeast Valley institution.

2. 02

   Barrio Queen$$

   Mexican / Queen Creek

   Traditional barrio recipes and craft cocktails. Regularly called the best Mexican in town.

3. 03

   Caldwell County BBQ at Pecan Lake$$

   Barbecue / Pecan Lake

   Texas-style barbecue in a pecan grove. Worth the line, every time.

4. 04

   Old Ellsworth Brewing Company$$

   Brewery / Queen Creek

   The hometown brewery with a kitchen that outworks most taprooms.

5. 05

   Social Birdie$$

   Brunch + games / Queen Creek

   Brunch, cocktails and games in one room. The weekend wait tells you everything.

6. 06

   Sage & Barrel Craft Eatery$$

   New American / Queen Creek

   Craft plates that regularly top the local lists.

7. 07

   Palma Kitchen + Tap$$Hidden gem

   New American / Queen Creek

   Warm, elegant but comfortable. The one for a date night here.

8. 08

   Creek Side Taco Shack$ValueHidden gem

   Mexican / Queen Creek

   Word-of-mouth tacos with firepits and sand volleyball out back. Bring the family.

9. 09

   Sushi Creek$$

   Sushi / Queen Creek

   Approachable sushi that works for beginners and regulars alike.

10. 10

    Il Forno Bello Pizzeria$$

    Pizza / Queen Creek

    Wood-fired pies from a newer neighborhood favorite.

Punches well above what you pay. Take the whole family without thinking about it.

• sneakybird$ValueHidden gem

  Chicken / Queen Creek

  The low-key hot chicken spot regulars try to keep to themselves.

• Creek Side Taco Shack$ValueHidden gem

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Word-of-mouth tacos with firepits and sand volleyball out back. Bring the family.

• Taqueria Mis Amigos$ValueHidden gem

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Straightforward, excellent tacos.

Times and prices move constantly, so treat these as a starting point and confirm before you go.

• Sage & Barrel Craft Eatery$$

  New American / Queen Creek

  Monday-Thursday 2-6pm, Friday-Saturday 2-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm, with all-day specials available.

Announced but not open yet. Dates are the source’s, and they move.

• Shake ShackQ3 2026

  Burgers / The Switchyard

  The burger chain anchoring the Switchyard's first phase.

• PostinoQ3 2026

  Wine cafe / The Switchyard

  Boards and wine headed for the new district.

• Snooze, an A.M. EateryQ3 2026

  Breakfast / The Switchyard

  Breakfast joining the Switchyard lineup.

• Rusty Buckle SaloonMid 2026

  Steak + western / Ellsworth & Ocotillo

  A country-themed venue taking the long-vacant corner.

• Barrio Queen$$

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Traditional barrio recipes and craft cocktails. Regularly called the best Mexican in town.

• Creek Side Taco Shack$ValueHidden gem

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Word-of-mouth tacos with firepits and sand volleyball out back. Bring the family.

• Taqueria Mis Amigos$ValueHidden gem

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Straightforward, excellent tacos.

• Salt Tacos y Tequila$$

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  Vibrant room, big tequila list, genuinely good tacos.

• Taqueria Blue Tortilla$Hidden gem

  Mexican / Queen Creek

  A straightforward taqueria locals rate.

• Il Forno Bello Pizzeria$$

  Pizza / Queen Creek

  Wood-fired pies from a newer neighborhood favorite.

• Oregano's$$

  Pizza / Queen Creek

  Chicago-style deep dish and a loud, happy room. Built for families.

• Mici Italian$$

  Italian / Queen Creek

  Fast but genuinely authentic Italian.

• Nicastro Wood Fired Pizza$$Hidden gem

  Pizza / Queen Creek

  Wood-fired pies worth the stop.

• Baci Italian Bistro$$

  Italian / Queen Creek

  Reviewers call it the best pizza in Arizona. Start there.

Also worth it: Brooklyn V's Pizza, Babbo Italian Eatery

• Sushi Creek$$

  Sushi / Queen Creek

  Approachable sushi that works for beginners and regulars alike.

• Iron Chef$$Hidden gem

  Chinese / Queen Creek

  Authentic Chinese including a crispy roast duck.

• Yao Fine Chinese Cuisine$$Nearby / Gilbert

  Chinese / Gilbert

  The area's standout Chinese, a short drive west.

• Blue Wasabi Sushi$$$Nearby / Gilbert

  Sushi / Gilbert

  Creative rolls and a martini bar nearby.

• Thai Chili 2go$Nearby / Gilbert

  Thai / Gilbert

  Fast, authentic and affordable Thai close by.

• San Tan Flat$$

  Steak + western / San Tan foothills

  Grill your own steak, sit by a firepit, listen to live music under the sky. A southeast Valley institution.

• Black Angus Steakhouse$$$Nearby / Chandler

  Steakhouse / Chandler

  The steak-and-baked-potato standby, a short drive west.

• Perry's Steakhouse & Grille$$$$Nearby / Gilbert

  Steakhouse / Gilbert

  The dress-up steak night, twenty minutes west.

• The Keg Steakhouse + Bar$$$Nearby / Gilbert

  Steakhouse / Gilbert

  Reliable steaks and a busy bar nearby.

• Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant$$$Nearby / Gilbert

  Seafood + American / Gilbert

  Best lobster around and a crusted grouper worth the drive.

• Caldwell County BBQ at Pecan Lake$$

  Barbecue / Pecan Lake

  Texas-style barbecue in a pecan grove. Worth the line, every time.

• sneakybird$ValueHidden gem

  Chicken / Queen Creek

  The low-key hot chicken spot regulars try to keep to themselves.

• Palma Kitchen + Tap$$Hidden gem

  New American / Queen Creek

  Warm, elegant but comfortable. The one for a date night here.

• Sage & Barrel Craft Eatery$$

  New American / Queen Creek

  Craft plates that regularly top the local lists.

  Happy hour: Monday-Thursday 2-6pm, Friday-Saturday 2-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm, with all-day specials available.

• Queen Creek Barbecue$$

  Barbecue / Queen Creek

  Hometown barbecue near the top of every local list.

• Social Birdie$$

  Brunch + games / Queen Creek

  Brunch, cocktails and games in one room. The weekend wait tells you everything.

• The QC Junction Cafe$$Hidden gem

  Cafe / Queen Creek

  Tucked off Ellsworth and not visible from the street, a true local secret.

• Over Easy$$

  Breakfast / Queen Creek

  Warm, cozy and hard to get wrong.

• San Tan Cafe$Hidden gem

  Breakfast / Queen Creek

  A local breakfast counter with San Tan views.

• The Bistro Queen Creek$$

  Brunch / Queen Creek

  Reservations recommended, which tells you enough.

• Switch Brews$

  Coffee / Queen Creek

  Top of the local coffee list.

• Rock Point Coffee Co$

  Coffee / Queen Creek

  A neighborhood roaster worth the stop.

• Farmer's Daughter Coffee Shop$Hidden gem

  Coffee / Queen Creek

  Small-town coffee with the farm-country feel intact.

• Third Place Cup Coffee$Hidden gem

  Coffee / Queen Creek

  Exactly the third place the name promises.

• Old Ellsworth Brewing Company$$

  Brewery / Queen Creek

  The hometown brewery with a kitchen that outworks most taprooms.

• 12 West Brewing$$

  Brewery / Queen Creek

  One of the East Valley's most-loved breweries.

• Desert Monks Brewing$$

  Brewery / Queen Creek

  Serious beer from a small crew.

• Four Silos Brewery$$Hidden gem

  Brewery / Queen Creek

  Farm-country brewery with a coffee side.

People’s Choice

Queen Creek picks its favorite.

Our top 10 is on the ballot. Vote for your favorite, and if the one you love is missing, write it in below. Enough requests and it makes the list.

1. 1

   San Tan Flat

   Steak + western

   Vote
2. 2

   Barrio Queen

   Mexican

   Vote
3. 3

   Caldwell County BBQ at Pecan Lake

   Barbecue

   Vote
4. 4

   Old Ellsworth Brewing Company

   Brewery

   Vote
5. 5

   Social Birdie

   Brunch + games

   Vote
6. 6

   Sage & Barrel Craft Eatery

   New American

   Vote
7. 7

   Palma Kitchen + Tap

   New American

   Vote
8. 8

   Creek Side Taco Shack

   Mexican

   Vote
9. 9

   Sushi Creek

   Sushi

   Vote
10. 10

    Il Forno Bello Pizzeria

    Pizza

    Vote

No votes yet. Cast the first one.

One vote per person, per city. Change your pick anytime.