| CHOW BELLA | t Café Check the Halls Phoenix might not have food halls but these restaurant collectives feed a crowd. BY TIRION MORRIS P hoenix doesn’t have a food hall in the traditional sense. Downtown Phoenix was once home to DeSoto Market, a collection of businesses that was our closest thing, however it closed in August 2018. But that doesn’t mean groups of family and friends that can’t decide where to eat have to all land on the same option. Across the Valley, there are five collections of restaurants that are sure to satisfy a crowd. In the West Valley, a mall hidden inside another mall boasts a selection of food counters serving dishes like Mexico-city- style huaraches, mocha-flavored tres leches cake, and Mexican-fusion sushi. In the East Valley, two Asian supermar- kets are surrounded by places to stop and eat after a shopping trip, serving customers steaming bowls of noodles and plates full of dumplings. In downtown Phoenix, the food collec- tives take a decidedly more trendy feel, with the Pemberton and the Churchill, two spots filled with food, drinks, and entertainment. Work your way through these five metro Phoenix food collectives to please a crowd and get a true taste of the Valley. The Pemberton 1121 North Second Street pembertonphx.com Downtown Phoenix’s newest food and Lynn Trimble Find the Churchill, a collection of shipping container restaurants and bars, in downtown Phoenix. drink collective, the Pemberton, finds its home just off Second and Moreland Streets. The historic home built in 1920 sits surrounded by a selection of mobile busi- nesses. Throughout the front and back yards, a fleet of food trucks, Airstream campers, and assorted trailers sell cocktails, beer, pizza, fish tacos, and pasta. Along with food and drinks, the Pemberton is a nightlife destination, often featuring live music and other events to entertain a crowd. H Mart Market Eatery 1919 West Main Street, Mesa 480-207-4560 hmart.com On any given day, the H Mart food court, technically titled the Market Eatery, buzzes with activity. Shoppers push carts full of plastic grocery bags as a robotic voice shouts out order numbers and families gather around tables to feast on the steaming bowls and plates before them. Located right next to the main grocery store, this food court occupies a long, thin area with restaurant counters lining either side. One spot specializes in crispy fried katsu, another serves black bowls brimming with Jjamppong, a deep red broth filled with mussel shells, noodles, and squid. At the back, there’s a dessert counter that sells soft serve ice cream inside soft, fish-shaped Taiyaki cones. Here you’ll find people looking to try things for the first time, mixed with customers searching for a taste of home. Either way, there’s something for everyone. The Churchill 901 North First Street thechurchillphx.com Housed inside a collection of renovated shipping containers, the Churchill embodies the idea of multiple businesses coming together to improve an overall space. The businesses, which >> p 30 29 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES AUG 11TH–AUG 17TH, 2022
