COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS GUIDE Dec 18th-Dec 24th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com 24 The Chuckbox 202 E. University Drive, Tempe If you’ve never been to The Chuckbox, it’s time to go. Eating at this little Tempe joint is an essential Valley experience. Somewhere between a diner and a log cabin, the no-frills Valley staple first opened in 1972. Inside, customers line up alongside the mesquite burning grill to place their orders as burgers sizzle and crisp. Many of the menu options depend on your level of hunger. Peckish? Order the Little One, a ⅕ pound burger. Extra ravenous? Try the Double Great Big One, which comes with a whole pound of meat. Our favorite is the Tijuana Torpedo, a stuffed beef patty with melted jalapeno jack cheese inside. Round out your meal with some classic fries or opt for the old-school deep-fried zucchini or mushrooms. Add your own toppings at the condiment table and make sure to plan ahead for this cash- only eatery. The Stand 3538 E. Indian School Road The Stand doesn’t have any indoor seating, and requires customers to pick up their orders via their drive-thru. But compared to any other burgers coming from a drive- thru joint, and really any other burgers from anywhere in town, these are some of the best. We love the Arcadia Burger, named for the neighborhood and topped with cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, pickles and Stand sauce. The burgers come double-stacked and are juicy and oh so satisfying. Pair them with a side of fries and make sure to leave room for a milkshake. Flavors can be ordered solo, or combined into your own sweet creation. We love mixing the banana and dulce de leche flavors for a sweet, salty cravable treat. Try not to drink the whole thing on your drive home. UniQ Burger 7730 E. McDowell Road The name of this Scottsdale burger shop makes perfect sense. While the burgers look and taste like your favorite, nostalgic burger, they are indeed unique. The casual, counter-service restaurant, located in a shopping plaza off McDowell and Hayden roads, is entirely plant-based. The meaty burger patties are 100% vegan, as is the gooey, melty cheese and fluffy buns. Go with the classic Uniq Burger, or elevate your meal with the jalapeno-topped Southwest or grilled pineapple-adorned Paradise Burger. Bring any meat-loving friend and watch as they demolish these delectable plant-based burgers. Add even more spice to the party with an order of Southwest Fully Loaded Fries, topped with melty vegan cheese, jalapenos, chipotle aioli and crispy onion strings. Wally Burger 10222 N. 43rd Ave., #7, Glendale Glendale’s Wally Burger has the trappings of a typical counter-service spot. The menu of burgers, gyros and other diner-style bites hangs on the wall. You can hear the sizzle of ground meat hitting the flat-top and fries meeting hot oil in the kitchen, which is just behind the counter where a cashier hollers back orders. The burgers are served on sliced clusters of sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls and are loaded with decadent toppings like gooey mac and cheese, pastrami or Swiss and mushrooms. Once you step through to the dining room, it’s clear Wally Burger is more than a mild- mannered restaurant. It’s a full-blown superhero-themed experience. There are life-sized statues of heroes like Spider-Man and Iron Man placed around the restau- rant’s perimeter. Movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe play on TVs. Kids work joysticks and buttons at free arcade games. It’s the kind of place that adds a layer of fun to the typical dinner out. The Chuckbox is a staple of Tempe. (Jacob Tyler Dunn) Burger Bowl from p 23
