Over the past few years, central Phoenix has experienced a boom of distinct restaurants with well-executed food and drink menus. Many spots are staying open later than before and offering specials, ideal for both locals and visitors.
Whether you’re new to the city or a longtime resident, check out these 14 restaurants that arealong the light-rail line or within walking and biking distance of the heart of downtown Phoenix, where Arizona State University has a bustling campus.
Mother Bunch Brewing
You don’t need to be 21 to enjoy this brew pub at Seventh and Garfield streets — the food is as delicious as the beer. We recommend the vegetable pate, Phoenix French dip sandwich and Seventh Street Sliders. Those who are of age can sip on a rotating signature brew such as the Cherry Popper Porter and the Saison de Peche, made with Schnepf Farms peaches.
Details: 825 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-368-3580, motherbunchbrew.com.
The Park
Part restaurant, part entertainment venue, this downtown spothas plenty of big-screen TVs, a performance stage, community seating and a wide variety of food and drink options. Customers can order from a rotating menu with such dishes as mustache-shaped pretzels, nachosand barbecue. There’s a self-serve beer wall, too. The Park took over the former Stoudemire's Downtown restaurant on Second and Jefferson streets, across from Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Details: Collier Center, 3 S. Second St., Phoenix. 602-362-5627, thepark.bar.
Cheba Hut
Arizona’s homegrown sandwich shop opened in the former Bayless Grocery & Market building, on Seventh and Garfield streets, next to Mother Bunch Brewing. Its "toasted" sandwiches are named after slang strains of cannabis, such as White Widow (chicken ranch) and Humboldt (guacamole and vegetables). The downtown Hut is the sixth in Arizona and has a full bar.
Details: 825 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. chebahut.com.
Chico Malo
This "bad boy" serves tacos, main dishes, salads, sides and co*cktails at CityScape, near Jefferson Street and Central Avenue in downtown. Available at lunch and dinner, tacos come in carne asadaand crispy avocado, among other varieties. At dinner, main dishes includeseared diver scallops with chimichurri and chile rib eye with a mole hollandaise.
Details: CityScape,50 W. Jefferson St., Suite 100, Phoenix. 602-603-9363, chicomalo.com.
Fired Pie
The Arizona-based, fast-casual concept lets diners make pizzas and salads by choosing sauces and cheeses andthen adding toppings such as sausage, chicken, artichoke, mushrooms, kalamata olives and jalapeños. Pizzas take three minutes to bake. Downtown students can visit the Collier Center store. InTempe, ASU students can head to the 414 W. University Drive location, near Farmer Avenue.
Details:Collier Center, 201 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-374-3888, firedpie.com.
Harumi Sushi
During lunch, Harumi speeds up service for busy downtown diners by having themplace orders at the cash register and then pick up their food. There’s an even faster option of grabbing freshly made, pre-packaged rolls and sashimi from the to-go counter. At dinner, it switches to sit-down service. The signature Harumi roll is a must-try. Tempura shrimp, crab salad and avocado are wrapped in black rice (which is purple in color) and topped with slices of tuna, tobiko, shredded daikon radish and spicy mayo.
Details: 114 W. Adams St., Suite 101, Phoenix. 602-258-0131, search “Harumi sushi az” on Facebook.
Desoto Central Market
This downtown food hall is housed in the historical C.P. Stephens DeSoto Six Motorcars building. You'll findDCM Burger Bar, Tea & Toast Co. (cafe);Radish (salads, cold-pressed juices);Adobo Dragon (Asian-Latin);and Walrus & the Pearl (raw seafood bar). Diners eat in the communal dining room and on the dog-friendly patio. Look out for team trivia nights,pop-up markets and other fun events.
Details: 915 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-680-7747, desotocentralmarket.com.
Welcome Diner
Artful biscuits and well-crafted beignets are served in a tiny space that churns out big dishes. Enjoycomfort foods such as the Big Jim biscuit sandwich filled with fried chicken, country gravy, Cheddar and bacon. Those who eschew meat will dig the vegetarian pulled-jackfruit po’boy. Night owls will love Welcome Diner, open until 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Details: 929 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-495-1111, welcomediner.net.
Cornish Pasty Co.
After years of anticipation, Phoenix’s first Cornish Pasty opened downtown at Central Avenue and Monroe Street. Itspans three stories, which means three bars. What’s a pasty? It’s aflaky pastry filled with savory ingredients. The traditional pasty, a staple of miners in Cornwall, England, is filled with steak, potatoes, onion and rutabaga with a side of red-wine gravy. You can order a pasty stuffed with the Old World flavors or go for something different, like chicken tikka masala. Now, Cornish Pasty has four Valley restaurants,including two near theASU campus inTempe.
Details: 3 W. Monroe St., Phoenix. cornishpastyco.com.
The Phoenix Public Market Cafe
You’ll find students and urban professionals tapping away on laptops next to chatting friends at this charming cafe. Among the menu standouts are the Devil’s Mess egg scramble,house pretzels with jalapeño cheese sauce, the rotisserie chickenand the pork chile verde potpie. Daily happy hour runsfrom 3 to 6 p.m. for food and from 3 p.m. to close fordrinks.
Details: 14 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-253-2700, phxpublicmarket.com.
La Piazza Phx
Make sure to try Justin Piazza’s downtown pizzeria, known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas. Look for the Bianca, topped with house-made mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, basil and Sicilian oregano; and the Salciccia e Friarielle, topped with smoked mozzarella di bufala, Schreiner’s sausage and rapini. The pizza here meets the quality standards of Italian trade association Napoletana Verace Pizza, making them VPN-certified.
Details: 1 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-795-7116, lapiazzaphx.com.
Tilted Kilt
Grub on a Hot Mess Burger topped with chili, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese sauce while watching the game at this hometown restaurant and bar whose calling card is “the best-looking sports pub you’ve ever seen.” Flash your valid ASU student ID and get 10 percent off the food bill.
Details: CityScape,First and Washington streets,Phoenix. 602-293-3888, tiltedkilt.com/phoenix.
Ike’s Love and Sandwiches
This sandwich shop at Fourth and Roosevelt streets serves dozens of sandwiches named for celebrities, sports figures and pop-culture characters. Among the choices are the Pat Tillman (beer-battered mozzarella sticks, mushrooms and roast beef);Reading Rainbow (avocado, Cheddar and Ike's red pesto); and Papa Sam (salmon burger, Havarti and Ike’s dirty sauce). Students who commute to ASU in Tempe can also enjoy Ike’s at 699 S. Mill Ave.
Details:910 N. Fourth St., Phoenix. 480-565-8573,ilikeikesplace.com.
Thai Basil Signature
Like many Thai restaurants, this one has an extensive menu of salads, rice, noodle and curry dishes. If it’s rice you’re after, try the signature dish, pad ga pao. It is your choice of meat or tofu, mixed vegetables and Thai basil leaves, all soaked in a chile-garlic sauce and served with jasmine rice. A whiff of the sauce will set your senses free. Come by the charming, purple-and-gold-accented restaurant during lunch and your meal includes an egg roll and soup.
Details: 114 W. Adams St., Suite 104, Phoenix. 602-759-8737, thaibasilaz.com.
READ MORE:
- 10 best bars for ASU students in downtown Phoenix
- 15 best bars in downtown Phoenix
- 15 best restaurants for ASU Tempe students
