18 Feb 26th-March 4th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Beckett’s Table 3717 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD This Arcadia eatery has been open for more than 15 years, a feat accomplished thanks to the efforts of double husband- and-wife team owners: sommeliers Katie and Scott Stephens and Justin and Michelle Beckett. There’s something about Beckett’s Table that raises the profile of the dining scene along Indian School Road in this specific part of Phoenix. Maybe it’s the actual community table, which can’t be missed upon entering the restaurant. The multi-seat high-top is best enjoyed during social hour, when a number of Beckett’s signature dishes, such as the deviled egg of the week, are on special. Many menu items demonstrate the fact that Justin Beckett has been in the kitchen since he was 9 or 10 years old. Favorites include the signature fork-tender short ribs and the city-famous fig-and-pecan pie. First & Last 1001 N. THIRD AVE., #1 First & Last, the restaurant helmed by Ashley and Robb Hammond, is a place for hopeless romantics. To start, there’s the couple’s story: they fell in love with restau- rants, then fell in love with each other. The duo opened their eatery in the historic Gold Spot building on the corner of Roosevelt and Third Avenue in 2022. With soaring ceilings and large windows, the space is airy and modern, letting in warm daylight. Once the sun goes down, the booths and tables become intimate, lit by candlelight. First & Last started as a neigh- borhood go-to for dinner, where patrons can savor buttery, herbaceous clams, a comforting brick chicken marsala or an inventive sourdough bolognese. The addition of lunchtime counter service in 2024, featuring focaccia sandwiches and grandma pizza slices, took First & Last from a local gem to a viral destination. The sandwiches, such as the chicken parm- style Little Jerry, are packed with punchy flavor and big enough to share with a lunch date. They cemented First & Last as an eatery we’ve fallen in love with. Old Town Taste 1845 E. BROADWAY ROAD, TEMPE Old Town Taste is a strip mall Chinese restaurant – easily spotted by the bright-red neon sign when cruising through Tempe – with a Sichuan bent. Inside the mural- walled dining room with turquoise booths, customers slurp rich soups, chow down on bouncy noodles and enjoy spinning the lazy susans. The menu promises some exciting dishes, including the braised eggplant, Ma Po tofu clay pot and sweet and sour pork spareribs. One of our favorite plates is the Chongqing-style spicy chicken. This house special is phenomenal thanks to piping hot, tender meat coated in crunchy batter. The dish is further weighed down with sweet string beans, chiles and Sichuan pepper- corns that add their characteristic tingly, tongue-numbing sensation. Anything Chongqing-style here will leave you planning your next visit. SugarJam The Southern Kitchen 15111 N. HAYDEN ROAD, #170 If this were a list of the best brunch spots in the Valley, SugarJam A Southern Kitchen would be at the very top. On weekends, this place is a party complete with brunch cocktails and a DJ. But our favorite time to enjoy chef Dana Dumas’ exceptional cooking is during the week. The cafe is a little quieter, and there’s a shorter wait for a table, but the brunch experience is no less delicious. One outstanding dish is the SugarJam French toast. Sure, many brunch spots serve this classic, but none do it like this. Dumas soaks thick slices of challah bread in Grand Marnier, which when cooked, creates a crisp shell almost like the crackly top of a creme brulee. Add a spread of vanilla butter and drizzle on warm rum pecan maple syrup for a decadent bite. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Don’t worry. There are plenty of savory options that will satisfy. Pick from catfish and grits, buttermilk fried chicken and waffles or applewood smoked pulled pork hash. Casual, counter- service spots Caldwell County BBQ Terrific Texas-style ‘cue in Gilbert, Queen Creek and Peoria Da Vang A casual Vietnamese cafe in Phoenix Eric’s Family Barbecue The West Valley’s top ‘cue in Avondale Happy Baos A casual dumpling house in Mesa and Glendale Kabob Grill N’ Go Armenian takeout to dream about in central Phoenix Little Miss BBQ A staple for standout barbecue in Phoenix Mister Pio Peruvian rotisserie in East Phoenix Ta’Carbon The spot for carne asada in the West Valley Tacos Chiwas Craveable Chihuahuan cooking in central Phoenix and Mesa Tacos Veganos Plant-based Mexican streetfood staples in Arcadia and Avondale Tambayan Filipino Food Shareable Filipino food in uptown Phoenix Testal Mexican Kitchen Rolled burritos and Chihuahuan flavor in central Phoenix Happy Bao’s 66 S. DOBSON ROAD, #112, MESA 4330 W. UNION HILLS DRIVE, B011, GLENDALE Restaurants come and go from the food court inside Mekong Plaza in Mesa. But Happy Bao’s, a little eatery with its own space just off the main dining area, is a mainstay. It’s become so popular that its owners opened a second location in Glendale in 2025. This spot, as the name suggests, specializes in bao and dumplings. We’re partial to the satisfy- ingly chewy handmade dumplings, and you can try them all with the 20-piece Dumplings Combo that features five of each of the different fillings. This spot also offers plump steamed buns and soup-filled xiao long bao. Outside of the steamed and fried parcels, don’t miss the Dan Dan Noodles topped with crunchy peanuts or the fresh and savory cucumber salad. Ta’Carbon 2929 N. 43RD AVE. Phoenix is filled with numerous casual counter-service joints that sling tacos and burritos. But Ta’Carbon stands out in the crowd thanks to its high-quality meats. Take a look at the menus hanging overhead and slide up to the counter to place your order. Everything’s a la carte, so order a selection of items. The carne asada is cut small, tender and smoky. The al pastor is the perfect mix of tangy and rich. And the signature Hazz blend is a decadent mix of carne asada, mild green chile and melted cheese. These ingre- dients can top tacos and papas locas, stuff burritos or fill entree plates. After ordering, set your bucket-sized styrofoam cup of horchata on a table and head to the salsa bar. Fill up little plastic cups with a rainbow of fresh green, roasty red and piquant orange salsas and get ready to dress up each bite as you work your way through the feast of tacos ahead. Tambayan Filipino Food 1534 W. CAMELBACK ROAD Over the years, Tambayan Filipino Food has existed in the Valley as a pop-up, a cloud kitchen tenant and a food truck. In June 2024, it opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Camelback Road, providing fans a permanent spot to enjoy its deli- cious Filipino fare. The colorful dining room, decorated with bright yellow booths, green walls and neon lighting, is the perfect backdrop for the vibrant food. Start with a purple ube horchata before digging into the Pancit Overload. This dish functions somewhat like a sampler platter, as the stir-fried noodles are topped with lechon and lumpia. The Chicken BBQ is another standout. The skewered chicken is grilled and crisped to perfection and served on a banana leaf. And to finish off your vibrant meal, opt for the rainbow-colored Halo Halo made with shaved ice, tapioca, banana, red mung beans and ube ice cream. Old Town Taste in Tempe is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Valley. (Tirion Boan) Tambayan started in a family kitchen, before expanding to a food hub and truck. (Tambayan)
