Where to Eat Around Tempe, Arizona

Guadalupe mercado mural
Arizona Historical Museum
Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park

My list of Tempe restaurant recommendations is shrinking.

Even before COVID, some favorites from our old neighborhood had already been pushed out by rising real estate prices and new construction.

Phoenix views
View from South Mountain in Phoenix

However, there are still some longstanding gems that are worth a visit when you’re in town. And, since I’ve recently had some Tempe-bound friends looking for suggestions, I thought I’d share a list of the places I tend to point them to. Some of these are technically in Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc., but they are all Tempe-adjacent.

Most restaurants I’ve listed here have ample free parking – which is true of the majority of metro Phoenix.

However, when you’re near ASU/Downtown Tempe, things change. Spaces become scarce, and enforcement officers are quick with the citations. (Remember the rabbit in Zootopia?)

It’s probably the area in the entire state of Arizona where you’re most likely to end up with a parking ticket. So I’ve noted restaurants with trickier parking, as well as including some additional Tempe parking and transit tips at the end of the article.

 

tempe town lake and park
Tempe Town Lake

Tempe-Area Eats

Tempe Beach Park entrance
Nearby: Tempe Beach Park at Tempe Town Lake
The Chuckbox in Tempe
Inside The Chuckbox

The Chuckbox

Charmingly rough around the edges university student haunt that serves a simple menu of exceptional burgers, chicken, and sides. It’s a strictly cash-only operation that does not accept debit or credit cards.

They take your order and then flame grill it right in front of you. If you want anything besides cheese on your burger, you add it yourself at the condiment bar.

It’s a formula that has worked since my mom and her siblings hung out there when they were in college. In fact, The Chuckbox is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month! I grew up eating there, especially when one of my uncles was in town. As divey as the place may seem now, they’ve actually cleaned it up since I was a kid!

We especially like The Big One (their signature burger) with cheese and a side of fried mushrooms, zucchini, or onion rings.

Open daily for lunch and dinner

Seating indoors + on the patio (on wood crates and stumps)

Located at 202 E. University Dr., Tempe

  • East of Mill Avenue
  • Light rail: Veterans Way/College Ave
  • Streetcar: Ninth St./Mill Ave
  • Parking: A few designated spaces, but you may need to look elsewhere when it’s busy.

Nearby:

 

Scotch eggs at Cornish Pasty Co.
Scotch eggs at Cornish Pasty Co.
Tempe Town Lake
Nearby: Tempe Town Lake

Cornish Pasty Co.

Maker of hearty, savory pies from Cornwall, England called pasties (pronounced kind of like “past-ease”) in an upscale pub atmosphere that feels a world away from its strip mall location. Cornish Pasty’s wide variety of fillings include some with traditional ingredients, some of their own invention, and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options.

Open daily for lunch and dinner

Seating indoors + patio

Located at 960 W. University Dr., Tempe

  • University + Hardy Dr.
  • Also locations in Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and a few outside the Valley

Nearby:

 

defalcos deli

calzone
DeFalco’s calzone and marinara dipping sauce to-go

DeFalcos Italian Deli + Grocery

Pizzeria, deli counter, and market stocked with Italian staples like pasta, gelato, wine, cheeses, spreads, and olive oil. It was recommended to us by our good friends Michelle and Carlos, who used to live in the neighborhood.

We especially like the Centurion pizza or a calzone with Italian sausage and roasted red peppers.

Open daily for lunch and dinner

Seating indoors + patio

Located at 2334 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

  • North of McDowell

Nearby:

 

Guadalupe
El Mercado de Guadalupe courtyard
del Yaqui in Guadalupe
Del Yaqui taqueria

Del Yaqui

If you’re looking for really good Mexican food near Tempe, I’d send you to this Sonora-style taqueria.

It’s located in El Mercado de Guadalupe along with about a dozen other businesses, which open onto a large central courtyard. (That’s also where you’ll find its seafood-focused sister restaurant, the recently-renovated San Diego Bay.) El Mercado is probably the main shopping center in the town of Guadalupe, and the colorful murals on the outer walls make it easy to spot.

Guadalupe was founded as a refuge for Pascua Yaqui Indians fleeing Mexico after the revolution in the early 1900s. You’ll know you’ve crossed from Tempe  into the one-square-mile town when the street names change to Spanish.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Seating mostly indoor but there are also a few tables on the well-shaded patio

Located at 9201 S. Avenida del Yaqui, Guadalupe

  • Inside El Mercado de Guadalupe on the southeast corner of Guadalupe Road and Avenida del Yaqui (which is Priest Drive in Tempe)

Nearby:

 

brunch at the farm south mountain phoenix
Morning Glory Cafe breakfast
the farm at south mountain
Picnic tables at The Farm at South Mountain

The Farm at South Mountain

Urban farm and open space oasis. There is a lot of grass, a shop with locally-made products and unique gift items (Botanica), wedding/event venues, and a restaurant for each meal of the day!

Since this is a largely outdoor experience, parts of it close down in the summer to avoid the heat. Double check the hours before you go during the hottest time of the year, May through September.

All 3 of the restaurants feature organic produce grown right there on The Farm!

  • Morning Glory: breakfast/brunch at cafe tables with shade umbrellas
  • Farm Kitchen: picnic-style lunch under pecan trees
  • Quiessence: intimate dinners with a multi-course tasting menu (reservations recommended)

We especially like Farm Kitchen’s pecan chicken salad sandwiches, coffee, iced tea, and individually-sized desserts.

Seating all outside

Located at 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix

  • South of Southern on the west side of 32nd Street
  • Parking: mostly in the lot across the street, a few spots near the entrance to The Farm

Nearby:

 

Haji Baba in Tempe AZ
Peeking through the window at Haji Baba’s market
Gammage Auditorium exterior
Nearby: Gammage Auditorium

Haji-Baba

Restaurant serving up Middle Eastern favorites plus a market selling baklava, bulk spices, pita bread, kalamata olives, fresh cheeses, henna hair dye, olive oil soap, plus a variety of imported snacks, sweets, and other goodies.

We especially like the chicken shawarma plate! The plate now comes with a small side salad, but you can substitute tabooli (which I recommend). Their garlic sauce is also downright addictive.

Open daily for lunch and dinner (Mon to Sat: 11am–8pm, Sunday: 11am–5pm)

Seating indoors + a couple tables outside

Located at 1513 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe

  • West of McClintock Dr.
  • Make sure you go to the restaurant – not their wholesale store down the street!
  • Light rail + streetcar: Dorsey Ln./Apache

Nearby:

 

honeybears bbq sliders
Sliders at Honey Bear’s BBQ
Tovrea Castle
Nearby: Tovrea Castle

Honey Bear’s BBQ

Family-owned Tennessee-style barbecue joint. Honey Bear’s meats are slow cooked until they’re so tender that (they claim) you could eat them even without teeth!

Open daily for lunch and dinner

Seating indoors

Located at 5012 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix

  • Between 48th St. and the 202 Red Mountain freeway

Nearby:

 

Brunch at Postino
Brunch at Postino

mekong plaza in mesa az

A few more quick picks…

Some Tempe restaurants I haven’t been to as much or as recently or that I’d just recommend for something specific, but I still feel are worth mentioning:

Cafe Lalibela (849 W. University Dr., Tempe) – Ethiopian restaurant with lots of fans! I thoroughly enjoyed eating there and hope to make it back there soon.

Dilly’s Deli (3330 S. Price Rd., Tempe) – Premium sandwiches and soup. Their cream of chicken noodle soup in a bread bowl is top-notch comfort food.

D’lite Healthy on the Go (125 E. Southern Ave. Suite 101, Tempe) – Nutritious food with a drive-through. The menu includes items like quinoa bowls and vegan protein shakes, as well as classic breakfast burritos and good coffee.

Four Peaks brewery
Four Peaks Brewing

Four Peaks Brewing Co. (1340 E. 8th Street, #104, Tempe) – Original location of a neighborhood brewpub gone national. Besides their well-loved ales and IPAs (i.e. Kilt Lifter, 8th Street, Hop Knot…), they also offer a delicious menu of beer-battered food, as well as salads, burgers, and pizza made with beer bread crust. Free street parking.

Mekong Sandwiches (66 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa) bakes the French bread for their Banh Mi right there in their kitchen. I also enjoy their iced Vietnamese coffee. It’s located in Mekong Plaza, along with an international supermarket, gift shops, a bakery, and eateries featuring a variety of Asian cuisines.

Postino (615 S. College Ave., Tempe) – Wine bar with panini, bruschetta boards, and a tapas-like menu of “snacky things.” Originally opened in an old Phoenix post office, the Tempe location is the Postino Annex at ASU. Parking: Fulton Center Garage ($4/hour) or meters north of 6th Street.

 

tempe town lake

Transit

Valley Metro runs the transit system throughout the Phoenix area. It includes buses, light rail, neighborhood shuttles (small free busses that run on localized routes), and Tempe’s new streetcar – which is free to ride until May 2023!

light rail

Light Rail

The Valley Metro light rail goes through Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. It’s especially convenient for getting to/from Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix Convention Center, and ASU.

I made a video explaining how to ride it, if you haven’t before. Since then, the line has expanded in both directions, but the Tempe stops remain the same. And all day fare is still $4!

 

park and ride

Park-and-Rides

If you decide to drive to your stop and then hop onto transit, you can park in one of a dozen Valley Metro Park-and-Ride lots located across the greater Phoenix area.

  • Parking is free all day for transit riders.
  • There’s no overnight parking. You risk getting towed if your car is still in the lot between 1-4am.

 

Gammage
Gammage Auditorium

Parking Tips for Downtown Tempe

I don’t feel I can send you off to Tempe without a heads up on parking in the ASU/Downtown area. The main thing is to make sure you’re parking where you’re clearly allowed to. If it’s ambiguous or you don’t see any signs, you could still end up getting ticketed or even towed (it’s happened).

Here are some options.

Parking meters

  • Use coins or a credit card to pay at the meter or ParkMobile to pay and add time remotely.
  • $1.50-2 per hour. Free after 10pm, all day on Sundays, and on holidays.
  • 2-3 hour max time limit.
  • Vehicles displaying a disability placard can park free at meters. (Time limits still apply.)

airport parking garages

Public parking garages and lots

  • Check Downtown Tempe’s online map for locations and rates.
  • There’s typically not a discount for vehicles with disability placards in garages.
  • During events like ASU football games, lots may charge higher, flat rates for parking.
chuckbox
Outside of the old-timey cowboy themed Chuckbox

Customer Parking

  • If you’re lucky, the place where you’re going will have some free parking spots for its customers (“Chuckbox only” parking, for example).
  • Technically, you’re not supposed to remain parked in these customer spaces and leave the property. I’m not sure how strictly this is enforced, but you might want to park elsewhere before wandering off.
public art
Light rail station artwork

Don’t forget Park-and-Rides! (Details under “Transit,” above.) It’s easy to park in one of these lots, and let the light rail take you the rest of the way to your destination.

no parking
No parking signs in a neighborhood near South Mountain.

Free Outdoor Movies

I love the feel of free community events where anyone can be in the audience, like outdoor concerts or Ballet Under the Stars.

Free outdoor events

Outdoor movies are particularly interesting because they turn the whole movie viewing experience on its head. In the theater, it’s all about blocking out the surrounding environment – controlling light and sound so that nothing distracts from what’s on screen. Outdoors, the environment becomes part of the experience.

Monsoon

As a teenager, I saw the movie Twister at a drive-in while a monsoon storm was moving in, the wind gusting hard and the sky turning a surreal shade of orange. I’m pretty sure I thought it was a better movie than it actually was because of the natural drama around me. On the other hand, sometimes the sound isn’t good or something blocks your view or the people from the Portlandia sketch show up.

Do you ever go to free or outdoor movie events?

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Some places for free movies (inside or outside) here in Arizona…

May 2016:

Summer:

Library

Ongoing:


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Phoenix Classic Movie Nights

It’s not too late for summer movies! In fact, there are some interesting movie events coming up in the Phoenix/Tempe area this week that I thought I’d share.

Since the current temperature outside is officially hothothot, 2 out of 3 are indoors – the other one includes snow imported to cool things down. More of the traditional “movies in the park” nights around here happen in the spring, so I’ve listed those, as well.

Screenings Starting This Week

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1. Heist film series at FilmBar

Today through 9/3

  • Series includes True Romance, The Italian Job, The Usual Suspects
  • FilmBar also features a monthly Arizona Filmmaker Showcase (next one: 9/5) and wine tastings the 3rd Friday of every month.
  • Light rail stop: Roosevelt/Central
  • FilmBar and CityScape (see #2) are each about .5 mile from Civic Space Park and its suspended sculpture, Her Secret is Patience.

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2. Grease at CityScape

8/20 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Movie at 7:40 p.m.)

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3. The Last Starfighter at Pollack Tempe Cinemas

8/22 9:30pm

  • Cult Classics hosts a monthly screening of classic films year-round with giveaways and commemorative merch.
  • Each screening is announced the month before.
  • VIP ticket packages that include prints, t-shirts, etc. are also available.

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Spring events

Phoenix Film Festival (April 7-14, 2016)

Movies in the park (approximate dates based on past year):

What kind of movie events do you enjoy (in Phoenix or elsewhere)?

Morning Hikes and Breakfast Bites

As midday temperatures rise, outdoor activities tend to get pushed out to the cooler edges of the day, when the sun is lower in the sky and less punishing.

south-mountain-hike

So it was great to come across a list of shaded and/or shorter summer morning Phoenix hikes paired with local breakfast spots! The list came from a 2011 article* on the no-longer-existent Phoenix Metromix site. However, you can still read it on the Internet Archive.

The first few recommendations from Metromix (MM) are below, along with my notes.

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MM reco #1: Echo Canyon (Camelback Mountain) Ramada Loop Trail + La Grande Orange

  • The Ramada Loop Trail is not on the Park map. Maybe it’s closed. Maybe they just forgot about it. Other sites also mention it, so I assume it actually exists.
  • Echo Canyon Bobbie’s Rock Trail is another short hike, which begins at the Summit/Echo Canyon Trailhead.
  • Dogs aren’t allowed in the Echo Canyon area.
  • I’m totally in favor of breakfast at La Grande Orange. Keep in mind, though, like the trailhead, it can get really busy on the weekends and parking gets tricky. (There is a valet in front of the restaurant.)

south-mountain-hiking2

MM reco #2South Mountain Park Kiwanis Trail + Local Breeze (closed)**

ground-ctrl

MM reco #3White Tanks Mountain Regional Park Mesquite Canyon and Willow Canyon Trails (loop) + Bobbie’s Café

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Bonus reco (from me): Lo Piano Bosque Habitat Canal Trail + Ncounter

  • The Canal Path is partially shaded, about .7 miles long, and is in this little stretch of nature that’s oddly close to the freeway.
  • From Curry, head south on Lake View Drive. You can either turn right immediately to park or keep going south and park in the shade under the freeway.
  • Ncounter has omelets – as well as other hearty breakfast options – and good coffee.

ncounter-omlet

Finally, be safe out there and take lots of water with you! In fact, if you’re not used to very hot, dry climates, you might want to skip the Phoenix-area trails until about October. In the meantime, just head straight to breakfast.

Do you have a favorite hike/breakfast combo?

Lo piano habitat


*I wish the 2011 article had been called “7 Hikes for 7 Breakfasts.” But it was an article, not a 1950s musical.

**The former Local Breeze location is now The Vig, which serves brunch and opens daily at 10 or 11am.

Photos by me. Map via Google Maps.

Minimum Daily Requirements at the post office

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While I love art museums and galleries, there’s something really delightful when art pops up in unexpected places like libraries or alleyways or under bridges.

What about the post office? Art isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I think of post office buildings. However, the downtown Tempe post office has rotating installations just inside its large windows, so you can see works both from inside and from the street.

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I didn’t realize this until artist (and fellow CraftHack-er) Crystal Daigle told me about the exhibition she was curating.

It’s called “Minimum Daily Requirements,” and will be on display in the Mill Avenue post office until December 10. Each of the windows displays mixed media work by a different Phoenix-area artist, exploring their own daily requirements.

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tango-art-3

Crystal’s piece was truly a community effort, funded by a Kickstarter campaign and partially pieced together by volunteers at maker spaces under her direction. It’s called “Push Down & Tango” and, in Crystal’s words, is “designed to celebrate the resiliency of survivors, thrivers and caretakers.” The centerpiece is a large circle of fabric roses. At the base are leaves formed from prescription bottles covered with images of people dancing tango, since learning tango was a turning point for Crystal. The 3 leaves are surrounded by hand-lettered names to pay tribute to resilient people.

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Processed with VSCOcam with m5 preset

Phillip and I stopped by the exhibition during its opening celebration in September, just as a dust storm was rolling in. We took shelter inside the post office during the worst of it and it blew over quickly, leaving a dramatic sky as a backdrop for the gathering.

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valley-art-theatre

 

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