Hush Public House Is Peak Strip-Mall Fine Dining
Hush is part of a long tradition of Phoenix culinary greatness—it’s in a completely anonymous strip mall devoid of character. And like all the strip-mall treasures before it, once you walk in you’re greeted with life and smells, and you immediately know that this place could thrive in any city on the planet.
Quartz Is the Angular, Glam Bar Your Taste Buds Desire
Quarts is very, uh, angular—especially the Cave, which is their bar-within-a-bar concept you should absolutely check out. It’s not rigid though, or especially gaudy, even though the menu will lead you to believe you’re going to a nightclub in Dubai. It’s more like a really good neighborhood bar with a lot of polish and a heavy glam aesthetic.
Ta’Carbon Might Make the Best Taco in Phoenix
I’m kind of a sucker for simple tacos. Y’know, the ones with street-sized tortillas, undressed meat, and some onion and cilantro. Too many places here go overboard with toppings and soupy meats—it all just screams of Starbucks flavor insecurity. The kind where you know your main ingredient kind of sucks, so you try your very hardest to hide it with dairy. That’s not Ta’Carbon at all.
Worth Takeaway Makes Sandwiches Worth Driving to Mesa For
Sandwiches are usually kind of boring—certainly not something you go out of your way for. But the sandwiches at Worth Takeaway are just different. The bread is better, the meat is better, the spreads are better. Go with a friend and split two just so you can try more. Even better, get the burger and really savor those perfectly cooked fries.
Cocina Chiwas Fancies Up the Tacos Chiwas Magic
Imagine a world where Tacos Chiwas had a baby with Bacanora and it went off to college and is now living near ASU, in that new car-free neighborhood, Culdesac Tempe. The baby’s name is Cocina Chiwas, and it’s churning out some of the best slightly upscale Mexican food in town (seriously, it’s getting national recognition… this place is special). Wait, I’m describing the world we’re living in!
Barrio Café Was the OG A+ Mexican Spot in Phoenix
When I first moved to Phoenix, it was immediately known that if you were to actual spend money on real food, the only acceptable places to go were Pizzeria Bianco and Barrio Café. If you’re one of those people who claim Phoenix doesn’t have any actually good food, go to Barrio and order up a cochinita pibil. You’ll be a convert in no time.
The Gladly is the Only Place to Find the Original Chopped Salad in Phoenix
You can technically order whatever you want at the Gladly, but the correct order is the Original Chopped Salad. Did I write this exact same sentence for Citizen Public House? Ugh. Anyways, you should really get the salad, even if you think you don’t like salad. Even if you don’t think you like the individual ingredients on this particular salad. Just get it.
Essence Bakery Café Makes a Killer Crust
Not to be competitive, but if you’re looking for the ideal breakfast, you should either go to Essence or JL Patisserie on Central. Both have awesome quiche, both make a perfect croissant, and both have enough whimsical extras to fill out the menu to keep any kid (or kid at heart) happy.
Green Will Turn You Into a Vegan (For a Day)
Is vegan food for everybody? It’s hard to say—some people really seek it out, and others tend to not want to touch it. If you’re in column A and have a friend in column B, you should try taking them to Green for lunch one day. Start them with a Big Wac, and see what they say. They might not swear off beef, but they’ll probably like it more than they’ll want to admit.
Francine is the Most Scottsdale Place in Scottsdale
Let’s get this straight: the food at Francine is really good, but you don’t necessarily go because of that. You go because everything is beautiful. The plates are beautiful, the food on the plates is beautiful, the interior design is beautiful, and the diners are beautiful, too. At least, that’s the goal (it’s not like they’re swiping right at the door or anything).
Virtù Honest Craft is Italian Like No Other
Chef Gio Osso has been expanding, contracting, and expanding again in the Valley for quite a while now (I still miss going to Nico in downtown Gilbert), but it all started at Virtù, in its cozy nook/patio next to that so small it’s barely there hotel, Bespoke Inn.
Citizen Public House Is the Upscale Scottsdale Home of the Original Chopped Salad
What you need to know about Citizen Public House is that it has the ‘Original Chopped Salad’. At Cowboy Caio (RIP) it was called the Stetson Chopped Salad, and at the Gladly it’s called—lemme check—uh, the Original Chopped Salad. I wouldn’t blame you for driving 45 minutes just to get a taste. The drinks are also really good, so get a few of those while you’re at it.
Shinbay Is the Best Omakase Room in Phoenix
Six months ago, Shinbay would’ve inarguably been the best high-end sushi place in town. But then in December, chef/owner Shinji Kurita left the restaurant, and that leaves Shinbay in a precarious spot. It’s still open, and still probably the nicest omakase room in town, but will it have that magic touch anymore? Hard to say. Maybe you should go and see for yourself.
Phoenix Content Drip: 2024
All the food content that’s feeding into Yumscores from roughly 2022 to now, including articles from AZ Central, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine, and more. Yum yum.