234 FOOD & DRINK SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 e e e B E S T R A M E N MENSHO RAMEN 5813 N. SEVENTH ST., #140 602-466-3020 805 N. DOBSON ROAD, #115, MESA 480-257-3021 MENSHO.COM There are many ramen restaurants in the Valley, but Mensho knocks the others out of the broth. This Michelin-starred, Tokyo- based chain opened its first Arizona location in Mesa last summer, followed by a second in uptown Phoenix in January. A third restau- rant is in the works, planned to open at West- gate Entertainment District in Glendale. Each spot offers a slightly different menu, but all of the bowls include rich broth flavored with punchy garlic oil or bright green matcha and a signature logo-branded egg. Meats include thinly sliced Wagyu beef, tender pork belly and lamb. We love the Garlic Knock Out, or G.K.O. bowl, with five different preparations of garlic infusing the tomato-based broth. e e e B E S T D U M P L I N G S HAPPY BAO’S 66 S. DOBSON ROAD, #112, MESA 480-912-1207 4330 W. UNION HILLS DRIVE, SUITE B011, GLENDALE 602-781-6763 HAPPYBAOS.COM Happy Bao’s expansive menu includes excel- lent handmade noodles, soups and rice dishes, but when we head to Mesa’s Mekong Plaza, we’re ordering the Ma family’s Shanghai-style baos and dumplings. Each parcel is stuffed, shaped and steamed or pan- fried to perfection before it hits your table. You can’t go wrong starting with Happy Bao’s signature dumplings, which are stuffed with pork, chives, egg and shrimp. If you’re worried about dumpling FOMO, go for the 20-piece combo option, which will give you a taste of all the dumplings available. Even better: Snag a bag of frozen dumplings to take home so that you can have Happy Bao’s dumplings on demand when a craving strikes. The restaurant is growing, too; its West Valley location opened next to the Asiana Market earlier this year. e e e B E S T B R E A D PROOF BREAD 125 W. MAIN ST., MESA 480-270-8320 AND OTHER VALLEY LOCATIONS PROOFBREAD.COM Proof Bread owner Jon Przybyl often refers to the business he runs with wife Amanda Abou-Eid as a “community bakery.” That’s because they want to stay rooted wherever they sell their hyperlocal products, which are made with locally grown heritage grain that’s milled at the bakery and mixed with simple ingredients, including the bakery’s sourdough starter, Harriet. Proof’s commu- nity continues to grow. When the couple took over Proof, they baked from their garage and sold at local farmers markets. They’re still regulars at markets around the Valley (and you can often find them because of the lines they draw) but Proof has an increasing number of brick-and-mortar locations, too. The owners debuted a downtown Phoenix shop in May, and have an outpost in Tempe, near Arizona State University, slated to open later this year, followed by a bakery in Gilbert in early 2026. Those join existing bakeries in downtown Mesa, north Phoenix and Litch- field Park. As they’ve grown, Przybyl and Abou-Eid have assembled a team that is not just keeping their crusty country loaves, pillowy English muffins and splurge-worthy twice-baked croissants consistent — they’re making them better with each bake. e e e B E S T B A G E L S BAGELFELD’S 2940 E. THOMAS ROAD 602-772-6229 BAGELFELD.COM Since the pandemic, there’s been an ever- growing group of bakers crafting high- quality bagels around the Valley. Those in search of a chewy, carby round can thank Brooklyn-born chef and owner Charles Blonkenfeld for kickstarting this craze. His bagel shop Bagelfeld’s made it clear that Valley diners are hungry for the East Coast staple. Bagelfeld’s was Phoenix New Times’ best bagel in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Since then, it’s gotten high praise from Bon Appetit and Tasting Table. Bagelfeld’s is still the spot to find the best hand-rolled bagels in town. Each bagel has a crisp exterior that gives way to a delightfully chewy center. If you want to snag one of Bagelfeld’s generously seasoned everything, zesty jalapeno cheddar or uniquely sweet-and-savory fennel raisin bagels, set your alarm — the shop often sells out. However, you can also find these bagels at cafes and shops around town, including Window Coffee Bar and Nelson’s Meat + Fish. Even better news for ravenous Bagelf- eld’s fans: The crew has a second location in the works in Tempe. e e e B E S T P A S T R I E S JL PATISSERIE 4700 N. CENTRAL AVE., #121 480-859-4459 AND OTHER VALLEY LOCATIONS JLPATISSERIE.COM One of our favorite places to spend a weekend morning is JL Patisserie. There’s usually a line, which gives you time to peruse the freshly baked pastries, croissants, cookies and muffins as you make your way to the counter. Even with that extra time to decide, it’s hard to choose between a delicate almond croissant, a pain au raisin, a sugary kouign-amann or a giant glazed cinnamon roll. We often find ourselves ordering a box to go. Owner Jenna Leurquin and her creative team are always dreaming up new combinations that use in-season fruits and flavors. In the fall, don’t miss the turkey, Brie and cranberry croissant. Along with the breakfast and lunch pastries, there’s also a dessert case with expertly crafted French macarons, eclairs, tarts and cakes. Fresh bread rounds out the bakery’s offerings. We’ll take one of each, but we’re really here for the pastries. e e e B E S T C O O K I E S URBAN COOKIES 2325 N. SEVENTH ST. 8776 E. SHEA BLVD., SCOTTSDALE, #108 602-451-4335 URBANCOOKIES.COM On the days when all that stands between us and madness is a little treat, there’s Urban Cookies. The bakery makes its offerings fresh daily, things like thick, warm cookies and moist cupcakes piled high with frosting. Though the shop has a range of standard menu items plus plenty of rotating options, we love to stick to the classics here: a soft peanut butter cookie or a warm, melty choc- olate chip cookie made with dark and milk chocolate chips. One bite, and at least 17 percent of our stress and anxiety washes away in a deluge of warm sweetness. Urban Cookies opened a second location in Scotts- dale last year, which means we’ve got two places to hit up when we need a fix. e e e B E S T D O U G H N U T S BLOOMING DONUTS 9820 W. LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD, #107, TOLLESON 623-936-7488 FACEBOOK.COM/BLOOMINGDONUTSTOLLESON This year’s winner proves that you can keep it simple and still be the best. Way out in Tolleson, Blooming Donuts hits the sweet spot with an irresistible array of classic yeast and cake doughnuts — glazed, sugared, sprinkled and more. The store’s near-perfect reviews reflect a highly satisfied customer base, who loved everything from Bavarian- cream bombs to croissant-style breakfast sandwiches and kolaches. Earlier this year, New Times noted that while Blooming’s raised doughnuts are nice and chewy, the cake doughnuts, with their crisp exterior and moist crumb, take the cake, so to speak. It also serves up coffee, boba and Thai teas for a tasty pairing with its treats. e e e B E S T P L A C E F O R C R E P E S A N D C O M M U N I T Y OLLA OLLA CREPES 1748 W. VAN BUREN ST. 602-361-9324 OLLAOLLACREPES.NET More than just a spot for a sweet treat, Olla Olla Crepes has blossomed into an incredible mashup of Latino culture and French delica- cies in downtown Phoenix. Olla Olla sells
