Tempe NowPart of The Valley Now

Tempe, Arizona

Where to eat.

Think of this as a friend who lives here. 53 places we would actually send you to, starting with the ten that matter most.

The top 10 in Tempe10

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

  1. Top of the Rock$$$$

    American / Tempe Butte

    On the butte, looking out over the whole Valley. Take someone you are trying to impress.

  2. Cocina Madrigal$$$

    Mexican / Tempe

    Chef-driven Mexican that got national attention for good reason.

  3. Filthy Animal$$$

    New American / Mill Avenue

    Dark, dramatic and the Mill Ave room everyone is talking about.

  4. Ghost Ranch: Modern Southwest$$$

    Southwest / Tempe

    Modern Southwest done properly, in a striking room.

  5. Four Peaks Brewery$$

    Brewery / Tempe

    The original brewpub. Twenty-plus years of ASU, spring training and Kilt Lifter.

  6. Casey Moore's Oyster House$$

    Seafood / Tempe

    A century-old house with oysters and cold beer on a huge patio. A Tempe rite of passage.

  7. Cornish Pasty Co$$ValueHidden gem

    British / Tempe

    The cult hand pies started here. Order the oggie.

  8. Haji-Baba$ValueHidden gem

    Mediterranean / Tempe

    A market and a kitchen in one. Legendary shawarma, almost no atmosphere, very cheap.

  9. Cartel Coffee Lab$Value

    Coffee roaster / Tempe

    Where Cartel started, back in 2008. Still the coffee benchmark.

  10. Postino Annex$$

    Wine cafe / Downtown Tempe

    Boards, bottles and a patio downtown. Always works.

Best value5

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

Happy hour15

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

New & upcoming4

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

What are you in the mood for?

The five we would send you to first in each category, plus everything else worth knowing.

Mexican & Latin8

Also worth it: Poliberto's Taco Shop, Filiberto's Mexican Food, Riliberto's Fresh Mexican Food

Italian & pizza8

Also worth it: Nook Kitchen, Parlor, The Sicilian Butcher

Asian5

Steak & seafood6

Also worth it: Outback Steakhouse

American & barbecue7

Also worth it: Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Denny's

Breakfast & cafes7

Also worth it: IHOP, Waffle House

Coffee shops4

Bars & breweries9

Also worth it: Huss Brewing Taproom, The Shop Beer Co, Fate Brewing Company, Twin Peaks

Around the world8

Also worth it: In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger, Jack in the Box

People’s Choice

Tempe 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

    Top of the Rock

    American

  2. 2

    Cocina Madrigal

    Mexican

  3. 3

    Filthy Animal

    New American

  4. 4

    Ghost Ranch: Modern Southwest

    Southwest

  5. 5

    Four Peaks Brewery

    Brewery

  6. 6

    Casey Moore's Oyster House

    Seafood

  7. 7

    Cornish Pasty Co

    British

  8. 8

    Haji-Baba

    Mediterranean

  9. 9

    Cartel Coffee Lab

    Coffee roaster

  10. 10

    Postino Annex

    Wine cafe

No votes yet. Cast the first one.

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

Not on the list? Put it there.

Tell us who belongs in the Tempe top 10. The most-requested names get added.

Hungry for a bargain instead? The Deal Sheet has kids eat free nights and the week’s best offers.

First to know when the list changes.

New openings, new rankings and the deals worth knowing land in the Tempe weekly every Friday morning.

Around the Valley

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