AZ: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

[ValleyFever]

Now I am probably no where near guy's biggest fan. Infact, I am probably closer to the other end his fan base. However, I love the places he goes. Those are the kind of places I love. Sure, the upscale places are nice, but there is more to life than steaks and gourmet. What are some of your favorite places to eat like a fat kid for cheap in the state, and what do you order? Who needs the food network?

As the resident chunk, I'll start with some of my favorites:

PHOENIX
- Mrs. White's Golden Rule - BBQ Ribs and Neck bone, mixed greens, and yams with Sweet Tea(Saturday Special), or order from what is written on the walls.

- Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles - Chicken and Waffles!!! Catfish is good. RED KOOL-AID!

- Knock Kneed Lobster - Icelandic Cod Fish and Chips. Fried Okra. Fried anything really.

- Honey Bears - Tennessee BBQ Pulled Pork. Nothing fancy at all. Slow cooked meats that you 'don't need no teeth to eat'. The Hot Link sandwich is good too. Nice kick to it.

- Lenny's Burger Shop - Best 50's style burger in town. Fresh cut fries. Good shakes.

- Carolina's - Good, down to earth mexican food, and cheap!

- Fry Bread House - Navajo tacos. do they do anything else?

- Hamburger Works - Good DIY burgers.

- Sing High Chop Suey House - The name says it all!

- Texaz Grill - Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken. Pecan Pie.

TUCSON
- El Guero Canelo - SONORAN HOT DOGS!!!

[misohungrychewlow]

There was a good long thread on local dives a few months ago -- pero lo siento, I'm too huev -- uh, lazy to pull it up right now ...

[ValleyFever]

I found the old thread you are talking about from May. I don't think I was yet on here.

From that thread, some others that I love:

- Chicago Hamburger Company

- Harvey's Wineburger

- The Original Wineburger

- Luke's Italian Beef

- That's A Wrap (not really divey, but good)

- Best of Philly (Listed as Taste of Philly)

- El Napolito

- Iri'e Jamaican

[ejs1492]

Great posting and I agree - - although I rave about Binkleys, nothing beats real down-home food!

I'll probably be admonished for it, but I'll add In-and-Out Burger (double double animal style, fries well-done and a neopolitan shake) and Freddy's Frozen Custard (I don't like their custard but love their steakburger, which is a great Steak and Shake knockoff). I know they're not exactly where Guy goes (and I can't stand that guy but you have to give him credit for being the only one to win that contest that actually stuck around), and they're also chains, but they're both "gotta have it" food for me every now and then.

Stacy's also had great fried chicken, but not sure if it's still around. I think he was Mrs. Whites nephew or something like that.

Sorry that I couldn't do better on my list, but ValleyFever definitely got the good ones. (Mrs. Whites, Carolina's and TexAz)

[ValleyFever]

I had a double double, animal style fries, and a neopolitan shake tonight. I am in Carlsbad, CA which a hub of chain restaurants.

Where is Freddy's? I've never heard of it, but I love Steak N Shake and Culver's when I am working in places that have them.

I'd also add Twister Soda Shop in Williams on Route 66. Also, the Sugar Bowl. Nothing beats a Camelback Soda when it is 115 outside.

[ValleyFever]

adding links. ;-)

-----
Texaz Grill
6003 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Carolina's Mexican Food Restaurant
1202 E Mohave St, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Lo Lo's Chicken & Waffles
10 W Yuma St, Phoenix, AZ 85003

That's A Wrap
800 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Chicago Hamburger Co
3749 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018

Knock Kneed Lobster
3202 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Fry Bread House
4140 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013

Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor
4005 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe
808 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Harvey's Wineburger
4812 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016

The Original Wineburger
6027 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015

Sing High Cafe
27 W Madison St, Phoenix, AZ 85003

Original Hamburger Works
2801 N 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Honey Bears Barbeque
5012 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ

Lenny's Burger Shop
13616 N 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85029

El Guero Canelo
5201 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706

Lukes
1602 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Best of Philly
2818 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Irie Jamaica Restaurant
2727 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ

Freddy's Frozen Custard
4929 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308

Twister's 50's Soda Fountain
417 E Route 66, Williams, AZ

[andyeats]

Freddy's Frozen Custard is @ 49th Ave/Bell Rd.

I tried their custard a few months ago and wasn't impressed.

Waiting for Culver's to open at Deer Valley...

-----
Freddy's Frozen Custard
4929 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308

[ejs1492]

Freddy's is a very small chain out of the midwest. I grew up in St Louis and was raised on Steak and Shake and White Castles. Freddy's is a near-perfect copy of a Steak and Shake steakburger, with the skinny fries also. But their frozen custard is mediocre at best. We still trek out there, about 30 miles from our house, for the occasional steakburger craving.

[Sunkisst]

If it not to late.... go to Jay's in Carlsbad. excellent food.

[ValleyFever]

Yeah, I am here until Friday. I'll be sure to look it up. Thanks!

[JK Grence the Cosmic Jester]

my favorite of the dives... Chino Bandido! I doubt there's anywhere else on the planet that you can order a sweet and sour chicken quesadilla and a machaca burrito with Cuban black beans and jerk chicken fried rice and the counter person doesn't bat an eyelash.

And yes, Fry Bread House does have other things. Their stews are amazing. They have red chile, green chile, beef with hominy, and beef with vegetables. And of course, chocolate-butter frybread for dessert if you somehow still have room.

We Phoenicians do have our own Sonoran hot dog places. My favorite is the cart that materializes on the corner of 20th Street and Indian School every night from 6 PM til midnight.

-----
Chino Bandido
15414 N 19th Ave Ste K, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Nogales Hot Dogs
1945 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016

[silverbear]

Is that cart still there? I thought it might have gone away when Guitar and Keyboard City went out of business last year.

[Seth Chadwick]

Yup, still there and very busy. On any given night, the tables are full and hot dogs are selling like hotcakes.

[ValleyFever]

yeah, I used to eat at that hot dog stand when the Mason Jar was still the Mason Jar. I still get over there every once in a while when I am out late in that area. I've also tried out the ones on Grand and 24th st. All of them are legit. The one in Tucson is a real restaurant though. It started out as a cart like those, but progressed into a real building.

[AzDumpling]

Really do need to bring Seligman into this conversation. Snow Cap rules.

[ValleyFever]

I've never been through Seligman. I'll make a point to go off course next time I am up there.

-----
Delgadillos Snow Cap
301 E Chino, Seligman, AZ

[AzDumpling]

It is a trip back in time. Well worth the few minute detour even if you do not stop, but you will.

[jcoz23]

Niro's Gyros on 48th St. in Tempe is great. It's just the kind of greasy spoon gyros and hot dogs place that I miss from my days in Chicago. The fries are great too, they come in a greasy brown paper bag...

[ValleyFever]

You might like Franks-A-Lot on 40th St and Washington. Great hot dogs, and the best chili cheese fries around.

-----
Niro's Gyros of Arizona
10826 S 48th St, Phoenix, AZ 85044

Franks-A-Lot
15 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034

[ccl1111]

Can't leave Rito's off the list. Amazing green chile burritos & awesome beans.

-----
Rito's Mexican Food Inc/Take
907 N 14th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006

[misohungrychewlow]

A dive, and the grub is no better than you can get out of a can.

[ccl1111]

Totally, totally, totally disagree.

[ValleyFever]

I've never been there, but it seems to get pretty favorable reviews other sites. No seating? No parking? That sounds like my kinda place. I will be sure to check it out now. Thanks for the tip. I won't let one bad review stop me from trying it out.

Besides, a dive is part of what I was looking for.