Where to eat.

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

1. 01

   Top of the Rock$$$$

   American / Tempe Butte

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

2. 02

   Cocina Madrigal$$$

   Mexican / Tempe

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

3. 03

   Filthy Animal$$$

   New American / Mill Avenue

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

4. 04

   Ghost Ranch: Modern Southwest$$$

   Southwest / Tempe

   Modern Southwest done properly, in a striking room.

5. 05

   Four Peaks Brewery$$

   Brewery / Tempe

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

6. 06

   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. 07

   Cornish Pasty Co$$ValueHidden gem

   British / Tempe

   The cult hand pies started here. Order the oggie.

8. 08

   Haji-Baba$ValueHidden gem

   Mediterranean / Tempe

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

9. 09

   Cartel Coffee Lab$Value

   Coffee roaster / Tempe

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

10. 10

    Postino Annex$$

    Wine cafe / Downtown Tempe

    Boards, bottles and a patio downtown. Always works.

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

• Cornish Pasty Co$$ValueHidden gem

  British / Tempe

  The cult hand pies started here. Order the oggie.

• Desert Roots Kitchen$ValueHidden gem

  Vegan / Downtown Tempe

  A tiny downtown vegan kitchen locals swear by.

• Taco Chelo$$Value

  Mexican / Tempe

  Bright, simple tacos done right.

• Cartel Coffee Lab$Value

  Coffee roaster / Tempe

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

• Haji-Baba$ValueHidden gem

  Mediterranean / Tempe

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

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

• Wood & WaterFall 2026

  Seafood / The Watermark

  A seafood room planned for the Tempe waterfront.

• RePUBLicAugust 2026

  New American / Mill Avenue

  A new concept from the C.A.S.A. bar creator taking the spaces south of Sixth.

• Carmen2026

  Modern Mexican / Mill Avenue

  Coastal-inspired Mexican with Asian-fusion touches and a big agave list.

• Tony Gemignani's2026

  Pizza / South Tempe

  The thirteen-time world pizza champion's fast-casual concept.

• Cocina Madrigal$$$

  Mexican / Tempe

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

• Ghost Ranch: Modern Southwest$$$

  Southwest / Tempe

  Modern Southwest done properly, in a striking room.

• Taco Chelo$$Value

  Mexican / Tempe

  Bright, simple tacos done right.

• Casa Reynoso$$

  Mexican / Tempe

  A family Mexican institution.

• El Jefe Tacos$Hidden gem

  Mexican / Tempe

  Quick tacos that hold up.

Also worth it: Poliberto's Taco Shop

• Caffe Boa$$Hidden gem

  Italian / Mill Avenue

  Longtime Mill Ave Italian with a quiet-gem reputation.

• Bar Capri$$Hidden gem

  Italian / South Tempe

  Old-world Italian and a cocktail bar, with a modern twist.

• Nook Kitchen$$Nearby / Phoenix

  Italian / Phoenix

  Some of the best Neapolitan pizza in the area, a short hop west.

• Parlor$$Nearby / Phoenix

  Italian / Phoenix

  Pizza and handmade pasta, produce grown out front.

• The Sicilian Butcher$$$Nearby / Chandler

  Italian / Chandler

  Meatball boards and hand-rolled pasta just south.

• 212 Shabu$$Hidden gem

  Japanese / Tempe

  Hot pot and shabu, a Tempe sleeper.

• Sala Thai$$

  Thai / Tempe

  A Tempe Thai standby with a long local run.

• The Clever Koi$$

  Asian / Tempe

  Modern Asian plates and ramen in a stylish room.

• Nishikawa Ramen$$Hidden gem

  Japanese / Tempe

  Serious bowls, worth the wait.

• Zu Izakaya$$$

  Japanese / Tempe

  Izakaya small plates and a proper drinks list.

• 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.

• The Peppermill Steakhouse$$$

  Steakhouse / Tempe

  Classic steakhouse plates without the downtown price.

• The Keg Steakhouse + Bar$$$

  Steakhouse / Tempe

  Reliable steaks and a busy bar.

• Elliott's Steakhouse$$$

  Steakhouse / Tempe

  A straightforward steakhouse locals rate highly.

• Cholla Prime Steakhouse & Lounge$$$$

  Steakhouse / Tempe

  A dressed-up prime steakhouse for the occasion nights.

• Top of the Rock$$$$

  American / Tempe Butte

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

• Filthy Animal$$$

  New American / Mill Avenue

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

• Culinary Dropout$$

  American / Tempe

  Big, loud, and reliably good.

• Society$$$

  New American / Tempe

  One of Tempe's top-rated newer rooms.

• Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q$$

  Barbecue / Tempe

  Barbecue out of a gas station, which is exactly why it works.

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

• U.S. Egg Brunch & Cocktails$$

  Breakfast / Tempe

  The breakfast plate-and-mimosa standby.

• Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits$$$

  Brunch / Tempe

  Brunch with real creative flair. The brunch burger is the signature.

• French Toast Cafe$Hidden gem

  Breakfast / Tempe

  Exactly what it says, done well.

• Snooze, an A.M. Eatery$$

  Breakfast / Tempe

  Pancake flights and a wait. Worth it.

• NCounter$$

  Brunch / Tempe

  All-day brunch near campus.

• Cartel Coffee Lab$Value

  Coffee roaster / Tempe

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

• Brick Road Coffee$

  Coffee / Tempe

  A welcoming Tempe shop at the top of the local lists.

• Infusion Coffee & Tea$Hidden gem

  Coffee / Tempe

  Roastery and cafe in one.

• Brick Road Coffee$$

  Coffee / Tempe

  4.7 stars and an LGBTQ-owned shop with a real community around it.

• Infusion Coffee & Tea$$

  Coffee / Tempe

  One of the places here where the roast actually matters.

Also worth it: Xtreme Bean

• Lucero Rooftop Restaurant + Bar$$$

  Rooftop / Mill Avenue

  Rooftop cocktails and plates over downtown Tempe.

• Postino Annex$$

  Wine cafe / Downtown Tempe

  Boards, bottles and a patio downtown. Always works.

• Four Peaks Brewery$$

  Brewery / Tempe

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

• Fate Brewing Tempe$$Hidden gem

  Brewery / Tempe

  The Tempe location of the Scottsdale brewer.

• Pedal Haus Brewery$$

  Brewery / Downtown Tempe

  Big patio, good lagers, always busy.

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

• Cornish Pasty Co$$ValueHidden gem

  British / Tempe

  The cult hand pies started here. Order the oggie.

• Desert Roots Kitchen$ValueHidden gem

  Vegan / Downtown Tempe

  A tiny downtown vegan kitchen locals swear by.

• Haji-Baba$ValueHidden gem

  Mediterranean / Tempe

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

• Bonchon$$

  Korean / Tempe

  Korean fried chicken that ruins you for the other kind.

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

   Vote
2. 2

   Cocina Madrigal

   Mexican

   Vote
3. 3

   Filthy Animal

   New American

   Vote
4. 4

   Ghost Ranch: Modern Southwest

   Southwest

   Vote
5. 5

   Four Peaks Brewery

   Brewery

   Vote
6. 6

   Casey Moore's Oyster House

   Seafood

   Vote
7. 7

   Cornish Pasty Co

   British

   Vote
8. 8

   Haji-Baba

   Mediterranean

   Vote
9. 9

   Cartel Coffee Lab

   Coffee roaster

   Vote
10. 10

    Postino Annex

    Wine cafe

    Vote

No votes yet. Cast the first one.

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