Favorite Restaurants in Phoenix/Scottsdale

[aaronling]

Just wondering what everyone's favorite restaurants or just places to eat around this area that's about the under $20/person range. Looking to expand my own knowledge of the food scene here.

[silverbear]

Is $20 the entree price, or the complete meal cost?

Any particular part of our very large metro area? Both cities are enormous.

[aaronling]

I'd say just entree. As for the area, I guess I'm talking about around the Northeast part of the Valley.

[nyomi]

Not to be annoying, but can you give more specific boundaries... For example, my idea of NE is North of Shea and East of Tatum while I know quite a few people whose idea of NE is North of the 60 and east of 20th St-ish.

[aaronling]

Doesn't really matter. Was trying to make this just a fun topic to post good places to eat so whatever your favorites are.

[silverbear]

Some of my favorites in the northeast:

Sabuddy -- Israeli food @ Scottsdale & Shea

Eden's Grill -- Iraqi / Middle Eastern food @ Thunderbird & Tatum

Shiro -- sushi / Japanese @ Shea & Tatum

[Tillman]

Second to Eden's -- we've been there a couple times recently, and like it a lot. Excellent catfish & beef kabob, absolutely killer basmati rice with raisins & almonds. Nice people too. Don't miss.

Cheers -- Pete Tillman

[ipsedixit]

Dunno about favorite, but a place that I've been going to quite a bit is Guanaquito in downtown Phoenix.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/514291

[3star]

The price range is over $20 an entree its in the range of $30 an entree but I would highly recommend Eddie V's on Pima Rd. It has fabulous fish and great salads and appetizers. I would recommend spending a little over your price range because at Eddie V's the service is most often very good, and the food is spectacular. Last time I had the calamari appetizer (wonderful), the beet and goat cheese salad (fair), and the Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes (spectacular, cooked perfectly, wonderful flavor), and a side of Aspargus with Hollandaise (always a favorite). The presentation was beautiful and everything to perfection. I have been here many times and service is always pretty good, the last time I went I was very dissapointed in the service, first time I experienced bad service during my Eddie V's dining experience, but I continue to return because the cuisine is spectacular. I recommend giving it a try.

[mdietrich]

thanks for the great post 3star.....I will give eddie v's a try next trip to phoenix

[Seth Chadwick]

Well, they are well under $20 a person and I am not sure if they are what you are looking for, but I highly recommend El Nopalito at 24th Street and Indian School in Phoenix and Fry Bread House at 7th Avenue north of Indian School. You can stuff yourself silly for well under $20.00 a person. Heck, you could have a feast fit for a king.

[azhotdish]

Imagine trying to spend $20 at El Nopalito or the food court of the Ranch Market - I'd be in a food-coma for a week!

Also on the cheap, I would recommend Stacy's Smokehouse for their bbq meats and catfish (I'm still looking forward to trying the chicken); Urban Campfire in Tempe would be another good choice.

Al-Hana at Baiz Market and Middle Eastern Deli are close-by and two of my favorites for middle eastern in Phoenix - $20 would probably cover the whole meal.

[palmtree38]

Is there any specific stand or restaurant in the Phoenix Ranch Market that would be better then another?
Also is there any good items in the grocery store that are must haves for making your own mexican food at home?

Would a few hours be a good time to browse around this market? WE were going to make a stop for lunch on our way to Sedona but if it would be worth walking around as well a hour or two maybe we should try it when we will be staying a few days in the Scotsdale area after sedona???????

[hohokam]

I like wandering through food stores as much as anyone (probably too much, actually), but I think an hour or two would be ample time to explore the Phoenix Ranch Market. Many of the aisles are stocked with things that you would expect to find in a supermarket anywhere in the United States (Huggies diapers, Hefty trash bags, Purina dog food), so there's a lot that's worth skipping. The real attractions, in my opinion, are the produce, meat, and dairy cases, where you're more likely to find items unique to grocery stores oriented toward a primarily Mexican and Central American clientele.

The food court is more of a "Mexi-tessan" where you can buy cooked ready-to-eat foods (roasted chicken, tacos, tamales, enchiladas, chilaquiles, beans, rice, etc) and prepared ingredients (tortillas, masa, salsas). You can eat in the food court or order your food to go. Very informal and a little noisy kind of like a cookout, except indoors. :-)

Attached to the supermarket is a separate restaurant called Tradiciones, which is a full service, sit down restaurant. Many people here enjoy the food there, but I was disappointed by it on my two visits. You can search the board for reports on, and recommendations for, dining at Tradiciones.

[Poerz]

Phoenix Ranch Market is a great suggestion and just walking around it to see what food looks good is the way to do it. Keep in mind, this is a grocery store and not a farmers market. Granted, it's a pretty unusual grocery store. You could not spend $20 for a meal here if you tried.

[palmtree38]

2 kids and 3 adults would be $20 for lunch? If so that is insane!

[drewb123]

You can check out numerous amt of happy hrs in the valley high end places offering good food at great prices

wildfish
fenix from 5-7 $5 pannin's with salad and fish and chips all diff things
christos 3-6 you can get full off sauages and peppers, fried mozza,calamari
postino-brushetta is a must try $12? $5 wine
los compadres-great mexican on the cheap

[palmtree38]

I have a huge list for mexican restaurants as this is our fav!

I dont really want to go to arizona for chinse or thai food. IS there any types of foods that are a dish that is Arizonian? We will be in North Scottsdale but will travel by car.

Christos I read has a good happy hour.

I read Sabudas is closed.

[drewb123]

southwestern food

Lons at hermosa is in Phx you can prob go for lunch for a good price, I have been seeing delas here and there.

Los sombreros in old town
Salt Cellar is really cool-seafood good happy hr 4-7 in old town, its been in biz forever.

[palmtree38]

WE are g oing to Cafe Elote in Sedona which is very similar to Los Somberos but thanks.. will look at the others