The Phoenix Pantheon: A Guide to the Valley’s Best
Phoenix’s culinary scene has exploded onto the national stage, transforming from a city of hidden gems into a powerhouse of flavor and innovation. Driven by a unique blend of live-fire Sonoran cooking, revered Indigenous food traditions, and a wave of globally-inspired concepts, the Valley is now a magnet for the culinary world’s highest honors, including a stunning number of James Beard Awards.
This guide will take you through the top 10 best restaurants in Phoenix, a list that defines the city’s gastronomic soul. From the most influential pizzeria in America to the state’s only five-star restaurant, this is your authoritative guide to the essential reservations that make up the Phoenix pantheon. Whether you’re looking for the hottest new restaurant or a timeless classic, this is the ultimate list for dining in Phoenix.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Guide | Vibe / Perfect For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizzeria Bianco | Downtown | Pizzeria | $$ | The Iconic, Game-Changing Pizzeria |
| Kai | Chandler | Indigenous Fine Dining | $$$$ | A Five-Star Cultural & Culinary Journey |
| Barrio Café | Calle 16 | Legendary Mexican | $$ | An Influential Taste of Modern Mexico |
| FnB | Old Town Scottsdale | Hyper-Local Arizona | $$$ | The Pinnacle of Arizona Cuisine |
| Christopher’s | Biltmore | French-American Fine Dining | $$$$ | Historic Elegance & Classic Dining |
| Durant’s | Midtown Phoenix | Classic Steakhouse | $$$$ | An Old-School, Time-Capsule Steakhouse |
| Fry Bread House | Midtown Phoenix | Native American | $ | A James Beard-Winning American Classic |
| Binkley’s Restaurant | Midtown Phoenix | Ambitious Fine Dining | $$$$ | An Unforgettable Tasting Experience |
| Bacanora | Grand Avenue | Sonoran / Live-Fire | $$$ | The Hottest New Restaurant in America |
| Lom Wong | Downtown | Regional Thai | $$ | Authentic, Globally-Recognized Thai |
1. Pizzeria Bianco
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Cuisine:Pizzeria
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Neighborhood:Downtown (Heritage Square)
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Price:$$
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Vibe:The Iconic, Game-Changing Pizzeria
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Location: 623 E Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Pizzeria Bianco is arguably the most influential restaurant in Phoenix history. Chef Chris Bianco’s obsessive dedication to craft and quality didn’t just create perfect pizza—it put Phoenix on the national culinary map. This iconic, James Beard award-winning institution is the standard-bearer for artisanal pizza in America and a must-visit for anyone seeking the best restaurants in Phoenix.
Foodie Quote: “Nationally recognized, a James Beard winner, and truly iconic—this is the pizzeria that started a revolution.”
Why is it our top choice? Its historical and national influence is unmatched. Pizzeria Bianco is a legendary restaurant that fundamentally changed the conversation about Phoenix as a food city.
2. Kai
📹 Video Source: 12 News
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Cuisine:Indigenous Fine Dining
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Neighborhood:Chandler
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:A Five-Star Cultural & Culinary Journey
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Location: 5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226
Kai is the pinnacle of luxury dining in the state and one of the most unique fine dining restaurants in the world. As Arizona’s only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant, it offers a profound and elegant exploration of Indigenous fine dining at the highest possible level. The menu incorporates the culture and ingredients of the Pima and Maricopa tribes, creating a truly unforgettable experience.
Foodie Quote: “The only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant in Arizona, offering Indigenous fine dining at the highest level.”
3. Barrio Café
📹 Video Source: 12 News
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Cuisine:Legendary Mexican
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Neighborhood:Calle 16
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Price:$$
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Vibe:An Influential Taste of Modern Mexico
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Location: 2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Barrio Café is the legendary Mexican restaurant from Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza. For years, it has been a hugely influential force both locally and nationally, celebrated for its authentic, regional Mexican dishes that go far beyond the expected. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix, known for its vibrant flavors and dedication to authentic cuisine.
Foodie Quote: “Silvana Salcido Esparza’s legendary Mexican restaurant is hugely influential, both locally and nationally.”
Why is it our top choice? Its long-standing reputation and immense influence on modern Mexican cuisine in Arizona make it an essential and iconic part of the Phoenix food scene.
4. FnB
📹 Video Source: Everything About Phoenix
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Cuisine:Hyper-Local Arizona
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Neighborhood:Old Town Scottsdale
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Price:$$$
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Vibe:The Pinnacle of Arizona Cuisine
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Location: 3610 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
FnB is where you go to taste the true flavor of Arizona. Chef Charleen Badman, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, has created a masterful, hyper-local, award-winning menu that celebrates the state’s agricultural bounty. The vegetable-forward dishes and perfectly curated wine list make this one of the top 10 best restaurants in the entire Valley.
Foodie Quote: “Chef Charleen Badman’s hyper-local, award-winning Arizona cuisine earned her a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.”
Why is it our top choice? Its unwavering commitment to local Arizona ingredients and Chef Badman’s James Beard-winning talent make it the definitive restaurant for modern Arizona cuisine.
5. Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion
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Cuisine:French-American Fine Dining
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Neighborhood:Biltmore
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:Historic Elegance & Classic Dining
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Location: 2501 E Telawa Trail, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Set within the historic and beautiful Wrigley Mansion, Christopher’s is a longstanding beacon of fine dining in Phoenix. With a chef of James Beard pedigree at the helm, the restaurant offers an experience steeped in classic elegance and culinary excellence. It’s a perfect destination for a special occasion, combining breathtaking views with world-class service.
Foodie Quote: “Longstanding fine dining with a James Beard pedigree and a stunning, historic setting.”
Why is it our top choice? Its combination of a legendary, historic setting and high-caliber fine dining makes it a timeless and essential Phoenix institution.
6. Durant’s
📹 Video Source: CW7 Arizona
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Cuisine:Classic Steakhouse
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Neighborhood:Midtown Phoenix
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:An Old-School, Time-Capsule Steakhouse
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Location: 2611 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Entering through the famous back kitchen door, Durant’s is like stepping back in time. This is a classic, old-school steakhouse and a true cultural and historical landmark since 1950. With its plush red leather booths and perfectly executed martinis, it stands as one of the best steakhouse restaurants in Phoenix for its timeless appeal and flawless service.
Foodie Quote: “A classic old-school steakhouse; a cultural and historical landmark since 1950.”
Why is it our top choice? For over 70 years, Durant’s has been the undisputed king of the old-school Phoenix steakhouse, making it a beloved and irreplaceable landmark.
7. Fry Bread House
📹 Video Source: Food Network
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Cuisine:Native American
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Neighborhood:Midtown Phoenix
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Vibe:A James Beard-Winning American Classic
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Location: 4545 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Fry Bread House is a treasured institution that preserves and celebrates Native American food traditions[cite: 22]. Honored with a prestigious James Beard “America’s Classics” Award, this humble eatery serves soul-satisfying dishes built around its namesake fry bread. It’s a casual but essential dining experience that offers a delicious connection to the region’s cultural heritage.
Foodie Quote: “A James Beard ‘America’s Classics’ winner for preserving and celebrating Native American food traditions.”
Why is it our top choice? Its James Beard America’s Classics award recognizes it as a vital cultural institution, making it one of the most important and unique restaurants in the country.
8. Binkley’s Restaurant
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Cuisine:Ambitious Fine Dining
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Neighborhood:Midtown Phoenix
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:An Unforgettable Tasting Experience
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Location: 2320 E Osborn Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Binkley’s Restaurant offers one of Phoenix’s most ambitious and personal fine dining experiences. With multiple James Beard nominations, Chef Kevin Binkley hosts an elaborate, multi-course tasting menu that begins on the patio and moves through different parts of the intimate, house-like restaurant. It’s a singular and memorable culinary journey.
Foodie Quote: “One of Phoenix’s most ambitious fine-dining experiences, with multiple Beard nominations.”
Why is it our top choice? For its sheer ambition and the intimate, theatrical quality of its tasting menu experience, Binkley’s stands in a class of its own for high-concept dining.
9. Bacanora
📹 Video Source: Kamala Harris
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Cuisine:Sonoran / Live-Fire
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Neighborhood:Grand Avenue
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Price:$$$
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Vibe:The Hottest New Restaurant in America
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Location: 1301 NW Grand Ave #1, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Though relatively new, Bacanora is already iconic and ranks as one of the hottest restaurants in Phoenix. With a James Beard win and a shower of national press, this restaurant has captivated the country with its elemental and soulful live-fire Sonoran cooking. Securing a reservation is a sport, but the reward is a taste of one of America’s most exciting new culinary voices.
Foodie Quote: “New but already iconic; known for its live-fire Sonoran cooking, a James Beard win, and major national press.”
Why is it our top choice? Its immediate and massive impact, culminating in a James Beard Award, has made it a symbol of Phoenix’s modern culinary identity and one of the hottest restaurants in the nation.
10. Lom Wong
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Cuisine:Regional Thai
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Neighborhood:Downtown
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Price:$$
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Vibe:Authentic, Globally-Recognized Thai
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Location: 218 E Portland St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Lom Wong is definitive proof of Phoenix’s modern global reach. This 2025 James Beard award-winning restaurant serves authentic, regional Thai food that transports diners to the villages of Thailand. The focus on hyper-specific regional dishes and traditional cooking techniques makes it one of the best new restaurants and a vital part of the city’s diverse dining scene.
Foodie Quote: “A 2025 James Beard winner serving authentic regional Thai, proving Phoenix’s modern global reach.”
Why is it our top choice? Its recent James Beard Award for authentic regional Thai cuisine demonstrates Phoenix’s evolution into a world-class destination for a wide spectrum of global foods.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Kai is Arizona’s only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant, making it the most highly decorated restaurant in the state for its fine dining.
Phoenix is full of them. This list includes winners like Pizzeria Bianco, FnB, Fry Bread House, Bacanora, and Lom Wong.
Durant’s is the definitive old-school steakhouse in Phoenix, a cultural and historical landmark that has been serving classic steak dinners since 1950.
This list features two outstanding options: Kai for an elegant, five-star fine dining experience, and Fry Bread House for a casual, comforting, and James Beard award-winning meal.
Bacanora is an iconic new restaurant that has received immense national press and a James Beard award for its live-fire Sonoran cooking, making it one of the toughest reservations to get.
Pizzeria Bianco is widely considered the most influential pizzeria in Phoenix, with a James Beard award that helped put the city’s food scene on the national map.
Yes, Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion offers a longstanding fine dining experience with a James Beard pedigree inside a beautiful and historic Phoenix landmark.
Barrio Café is a legendary and hugely influential restaurant known for its authentic and sophisticated regional Mexican cuisine.
FnB in Scottsdale is famous for its hyper-local menu that celebrates Arizona’s agricultural bounty, earning its chef a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.
Yes, Lom Wong is a recent James Beard winner celebrated for its authentic, regional Thai food that showcases the depth and variety of the country’s cuisine.
