Pyro Is Japanese for the Fancy Steakhouse Crowd
4.5 Yumpoints | Tied for #51 in Phoenix
Pyro is what happens when a trendy restaurant group decides to dabble in Japanese food that’ll appeal to people who might not normally spend top dollar at a Japanese restaurant. Like sure, you could spend gobs of money at Shinbay or Shimogamo, but if sushi isn’t really your thing and you’d really prefer American portions of protein (as opposed to 4 oz. A5 Wagyu plates), Pyro is the ticket. First off, it’s beautiful. Maybe the best looking restaurant in all of Arizona. And second, the steakhouse staples are pretty awesome, like the incredible ribeye that’ll melt your brain. Is the rest of the menu good? Sure, but you can probably find better core Japanese food elsewhere. Just think of Pyro as a fancy steakhouse with a Japanese twist, and be prepared to spend all your money.
Where: East Phoenix (Arcadia)
Website: pyrophx.com
Reservations: OpenTable
Reviews, Articles, and Awards
+2 Yumpoints | Dec 26, 2023 / Tori Latham
The Robb Report: The 27 Most Beautiful New Restaurants in America in 2023
As its name would suggest, Pyro is all about fire—open-flame cooking, to be exact. So AvroKo, working with Flagship Restaurant Group, designed the restaurant to spotlight the open kitchen. Beyond that, though, the vibe is 1950s Japanese supper club, with fixtures and furnishings inspired by the era. Floral fabrics, velvets, and a dark color palette make the space feel lush and luxe, almost like you’re chowing down in the jungle. Some of humans’ earliest cooking happened over open flames, too.
+1 Yumpoint | Apr 25, 2024 / Dominic Armato
Phoenix New Times: Higher prices, higher stakes: Can Pyro live up to its own expectations?
I’d love to frame the conversation purely in culinary terms, as a question of potential — what is Pyro and what could it be? But at this price point, the more salient question, perhaps, is what does Pyro need to be?
Put bluntly, Pyro often can be good. But it needs to be better.
+1 Yumpoint | Mar 7, 2024 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: PYRO in Phoenix
I’m conflicted about PYRO and more than a little exasperated with its inconsistencies concerning seasoning, flavor balance and cook times – small, easily fixed details. I hope that happens. The menu is fun, and I like the space. But until the food is dependably on point, I can’t say PYRO unequivocally lights my fire.
+.5 Yumpoints | DEC 28, 2023 / FELICIA CAMPBELL AND BAHAR ANOOSHAHR
AZ Central: The 10 best new restaurants and bars that opened in metro Phoenix in 2023
In November, the group behind Palma and Ghost Donkey opened Pyro, a Japanese izakaya and American bistro mashup. If that sounds like a questionable combo, you aren't wrong. Despite our skepticism, the menu of shareable plates, which include raw offerings like an outstanding fluke crudo topped with smoked chili, nori oil, dried black lime and fleur de sel, noodles, sandwiches and hearth-grilled meats, were so good, we had to include it on our list.
