Waddell, Arizona

Where to eat.

Think of this as a friend who lives here. 25 places we would actually send you to, starting with the ten that matter most.

The top 10 in Waddell10

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

Morton's The Steakhouse - Desert Diamond$$$$Chain
Steakhouse / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A classic and contemporary steakhouse inside Desert Diamond White Tanks at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue in Waddell.
Mary Mar food truck$
Mexican / Olive Ave
A Mexican food truck at 16301 W. Olive Avenue in Waddell, with breakfast burritos, street tacos, asada burritos and aguas frescas highlighted by the guide.
Burrito BARN$
Mexican / Cotton Ln
A Waddell Mexican stop on the 6500 to 6998 block of N. Cotton Lane for breakfast burritos, carne asada, rolled tacos and green chile burritos.
Tacos y Quesadillas Estilo Michoacan$
Mexican / Bethany Home Rd
A small Mexican restaurant at 17628 W. Bethany Home Road in Waddell.
Taqueria Villa$
Mexican / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A Mexican counter inside the Desert Diamond White Tanks food hall at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue in Waddell, serving tacos, bowls, burritos, chips and salsa.
FRNCHZ Pizza & Wingz$
Pizza and wings / Citrus Rd
A mobile pizza and wings food truck listed at 6200 to 6700 N. Citrus Road in Waddell.
Out West General Store$
Sandwiches and ice cream / Glendale Ave
An old-fashioned general store at 17121 W. Glendale Avenue in Waddell with sandwiches and an ice cream counter alongside groceries and ranch supplies.
Osteria Mia$$Nearby / Surprise
Italian / Surprise
Scratch pasta and a room that fills up on Fridays. The nearest proper sit-down Italian to Waddell.
Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House$$Nearby / Surprise
American / Surprise
Craft taps and a scratch kitchen, and the default when nobody can agree.
Barley & Smoke$$Nearby / Surprise
Barbecue / Surprise
Smoked meat and a beer list, about ten minutes east on Waddell Road.

What are you in the mood for?

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

Mexican & Latin6

Mary Mar food truck$
Mexican / Olive Ave
A Mexican food truck at 16301 W. Olive Avenue in Waddell, with breakfast burritos, street tacos, asada burritos and aguas frescas highlighted by the guide.
Burrito BARN$
Mexican / Cotton Ln
A Waddell Mexican stop on the 6500 to 6998 block of N. Cotton Lane for breakfast burritos, carne asada, rolled tacos and green chile burritos.
Tacos y Quesadillas Estilo Michoacan$
Mexican / Bethany Home Rd
A small Mexican restaurant at 17628 W. Bethany Home Road in Waddell.
Taqueria Villa$
Mexican / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A Mexican counter inside the Desert Diamond White Tanks food hall at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue in Waddell, serving tacos, bowls, burritos, chips and salsa.
El Gordo$$Nearby / Surprise
Mexican / Surprise
Full-plate Mexican, and the sit-down answer to Waddell's taco trucks.

Also worth it: Torchy's Tacos

Italian & pizza2

Osteria Mia$$Nearby / Surprise
Italian / Surprise
Scratch pasta and a room that fills up on Fridays. The nearest proper sit-down Italian to Waddell.
Lucky's Pizza$$Nearby / Surprise
Pizza / Surprise
Neighbourhood pizza done properly, and it travels the four miles home fine.

Asian2

Saigon Kitchen$$Nearby / Surprise
Vietnamese / Surprise
Pho and vermicelli bowls, and the one people drive past two chains to reach.
Ugly Tuna$$Nearby / Surprise
Sushi / Surprise
The closest sushi bar, and the rolls are the reason not the decor.

Steak & seafood1

Morton's The Steakhouse - Desert Diamond$$$$Chain
Steakhouse / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A classic and contemporary steakhouse inside Desert Diamond White Tanks at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue in Waddell.

American & barbecue4

Pub Stop$$Hidden gem
Gastropub / Desert Diamond White Tanks
The casino's gastropub for craft beer, cocktails and pub food at its 8200 N. Sarival Avenue Waddell property.
Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House$$Nearby / Surprise
American / Surprise
Craft taps and a scratch kitchen, and the default when nobody can agree.
Barley & Smoke$$Nearby / Surprise
Barbecue / Surprise
Smoked meat and a beer list, about ten minutes east on Waddell Road.
Nick's Diner II$Nearby / Surprise
Diner / Surprise
A plain diner breakfast with no ceremony attached, which is the point.

Breakfast & cafes2

The Toast$$Nearby / Surprise
Breakfast / Surprise
Breakfast and lunch only, and worth arriving before the weekend rush.
Lou's Tivoli Gardens$$Nearby / Surprise
Brunch / Surprise
A long-running brunch room, and the booking when someone is visiting.

Coffee shops1

Spencer's Place$Nearby / Surprise
Coffee / Surprise
Independent coffee with somewhere to sit and work.

Bars & breweries2

Libations$$Hidden gem
Bar / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A drinks counter located inside the White Tanks Food Hall.
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant$$$ChainNearby / Surprise
American + wine / Surprise
A winery and a restaurant in one, and the easy special-occasion table.

Around the world5

FRNCHZ Pizza & Wingz$
Pizza and wings / Citrus Rd
A mobile pizza and wings food truck listed at 6200 to 6700 N. Citrus Road in Waddell.
Out West General Store$
Sandwiches and ice cream / Glendale Ave
An old-fashioned general store at 17121 W. Glendale Avenue in Waddell with sandwiches and an ice cream counter alongside groceries and ranch supplies.
Food Hall at Desert Diamond White Tanks$Hidden gem
Food hall / Desert Diamond White Tanks
An open-daily food hall serving quick options including burgers, tacos, rotisserie chicken and made-to-order sandwiches.
Lightning Lounge$$Hidden gem
Lounge / Desert Diamond White Tanks
A central casino lounge for drinks, with a live DJ every Friday and Saturday.
The Corral at White Tank Ranch$$Hidden gem
American bar food / White Tank Ranch
A limited-hours bar and music venue at 20300 W. Olive Avenue in Waddell. The directly fetched listing showed a Friday opening and closed status on Sunday, so confirm the current schedule before going.