Dining Out in Phoenix

Dining in Phoenix brings a multitude of cuisines and styles. The Phoenix area offers a wide-array of dining options for the simplest business traveler to the most determined critic. In a large city such as Phoenix, you may have to divide the metro area and suburbs into different quadrants and choose a specific direction in each. With Phoenix in the center you have Sun City in the Northwest, Scottsdale to the Northeast, Tempe & Mesa to the Southeast and Goodyear to the Southwest. Each area has a multitude of hot dog and burger stands to fine dining venues.

Being in the desert, Southwest cuisine will be the predominate specialty among restaurants in the valley but almost anything can be had in this diverse culinary oasis. Something one might not expect in a desert valley is exceptional soul food. Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles is just that. Considered a good luck charm for the Arizona Cardinals football team and being noted in publications like the Arizona Republic, Phoenix Magazine and the Food & Life dinging guide, Larry Lo-Lo White's fried chicken and waffles definitely back up the claims. Lo-Lo's is just west of the Phoenix International Airport, in the Southwest part of the valley.

Another type of cuisine that one wouldn't normally associate with Phoenix is Sushi. In the Northeast part of the valley known as Scottsdale is Yasu Sushi Bistro. When trying to locate Yasu, it may come as a big surprise to find it located in a strip mall (Paradise Valley Mall) next to a Target store. Do not be misguided by this as once you are inside, it will definitely be worth the search. Sticking with only fresh fish, Sea Urchin sushi & Toro sashimi tend to be a bit pricey, but then it is located in Scottsdale. Considered by some as the best Sushi/Sashimi in town, Yasu is a great catch.

NOCA in central Phoenix, on East Camelback & 32^nd Street is a very popular eatery that has everything from warm, fresh Doughnuts to Poached Duck Eggs to Steak Frites (fries). Known as having extraordinary service and being family-friendly, NOCA can be a bit pricey for those expecting a chain restaurant. Casual meals served in what resembles a 5-star gourmet venue, makes the price a little easier to swallow. Hundreds of wines accompany the great cuisine and decadent desserts follow.

A famous chain of pizzerias that have unquestionably some of the best thin crust Neapolitan pizza is Grimaldi's. In the Northwest part of the valley, in Peoria, this Grimaldi's is a direct descendant of the famous Grimaldi's in New York. Thin crust pizza, with only quality toppings, cooked in a brick, coal-fried oven give customers a taste of New York. Noted by quite a few as the "best pizza in Phoenix", it is hard to beat Grimaldi's for the true, authentic thin-crust New York pizza.

There are so many both traditional and exotic restaurants across the sprawling Phoenix metro area, it would take an encyclopedia-sized journal to list them all.