Short Leash originally started as a food truck, but the demand was so great, the owners decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop in the trendy Roosevelt Row district. Here, the hot dogs are not wrapped in a traditional bun, they are wrapped inside fluffy Naan bread. The strangeness does not end there as their toppings are equally eccentric, with items like the Hot Dog Mac n' Cheese, the Aoki Dog served with Mango Chutney or the Bear Dog with peanut butter, Gouda, bacon, BBQ and Cracker Jacks. Guests can choose their wiener which include regular, all beef, bratwurst, chicken, spicy beer hot and even vegetarian.
If you are a fan of green and red chillies sauces, Mexican-style chorizo sausage, hefty burros and sauce-soaked enchiladas, then find your way here. The Mexican comfort cuisine is inexpensive and the service is fast and friendly. It gets extremely busy here at lunch, so come early or plan to wait. Though the decor is simple, it offers a full range of Sonoran-style Mexican dishes such as burros, enchiladas, tacos, plus hand-made tamales and tortillas.
Tucked away inside the Baiz international market is Al-Hana Restaurant. Before or after perusing the intriguing aisles of the market, refuel on plates heaping with hummus, falafel, shawarma, shish taook, labneh pie and more. The authentic offerings provide a satisfying taste of fresh, healthy Middle-Eastern cuisine in a laid back and unassuming atmosphere.
Whether you are looking for a Feta fix or just can not resist the wafting aromas of freshly baked flat breads, you will be drawn to this small bakery and deli. The lines form early for these delectable edibles that include dolmathes, tabbouleh, kifta, shawerma and falafel. Full meal plates available, or order items a la carte. Choose from diverse salads and sides, pitas and other freshly-baked flat breads.
Anyone in the know in the Phoenix area knows that if you're looking for the ultimate local fast food, you go to Nogales Hot Dog. This small stand specializing in loaded up Sonoran hot dogs served on a flaky, buttery bun are truly a local favorite. Get them "con todo," bacon wrapped and topped with all kinds of things like mayonnaise, beans, salsa, guacamole and cheese. If you're on the prowl for some filling, messy and delicious late-night food, follow the crowds to Nogales Hot Dog.
Just because this is possibly one of the only Thai restaurants in the area doesn't mean they've slacked on quality; Chanpen Thai Cuisine is a hidden gem serving authentic Thai dishes, and a few with some modern twists. Try drunken noodles, Panang curry and sweet basil duck before finishing your meal off with fried bananas or green tea ice cream (or both!) The simple, no frills dining room leaves no distractions from the incredible flavors and spices of the food.
A nice cozy bakery, Bertha's Cafe is best known for its delicious sandwiches that you cannot have enough of. Apart from this, they also serve fresh salads, filling wraps, soft pastries and flavorful cheesecakes, for which they have earned many accolades. Open at 7:30a, it is a good place to grab a swift wholesome breakfast. You can always be rest assured that the food at Bertha's is healthy and fresh. There is a kid's menu too, which features favorites like, PB and J sandwiches with a fruit bowl. Each sandwich is extremely tasty, however do try the Roasted Turkey or the Club Sandwich. Finish your meal with the red velvet cupcake that is most popular.
If you're looking for some hot, authentic fry bread in Metro Phoenix, just look for the truck that says Emerson Fry Bread on the side. The the delicious, puffy fried dough topped with a range of tasty Mexican dishes from carne asada to green chile chicken and cochinita pibil to sweet fry breads with honey and powdered sugar.
Ingo's is a little, hip food stand serving up a menu full of big flavors. Just because its a food stand, don't think the food is lowbrow-in fact its quite the opposite. Try out tasty plates of things like fresh shattered potato chips, the No. 1 Tuna Burger or the Kokuho rose brown rice bowl. Ingo's is also well known for its burgers, which come with toppings like La Quercia pancetta, sauerkraut and a host of delicious cheeses and sauces. Ingo's also serves up cocktails, wines and craft beer and even does a weekday happy hour that lasts eight hours.
Located in the Glendale neighborhood of Moon Valley, Rocket Burger is known for its delectable burgers and subs as well as its 'Wall of Soda'. The signature cheeseburger made with secret sauce and shredded lettuce is exceptional and the Gyro Burger made with Tzatziki sauce is also highly recommended. Other menu items include huge subs, salads, sandwiches and of course, a mouth-watering array of sodas on display, from the rare Dublin Dr. Pepper to Faygo and Blenheim Red Hot Ginger Ale, every time you visit is a new, sugary adventure.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there's nowhere better in the Phoenix Metro area to enjoy that meal than the Original Breakfast House. This diner has a bit of a retro feel, but the food can hold up in any decade. Fuel up for your day with omelettes, raspberry chocolate chip pancakes, chilaquiles and so many more choices. If it's a bit too late for breakfast, OBH also serves a lunch menu with items like burgers, sandwiches, tacos and salads. And for the young ones, there's a kid's menu so they can get their perfectly sized portion.
Burger aficionados in the North Phoenix area know where to go to get their fix: Paradise Valley Burger Company. Opened in 2011 as a humble, burger-joint but over the years it has garnered attention for its burgers like the mega-popular Beach House that comes topped with roasted green chili, smoked mozzarella and Pico de Gallo or the decadent Brulee Burger topped with a fried egg, bacon, onion, burnt sugar and Havarti. Don't fret though, the Burger Co. also serves up sides just as decadent as the burgers like french toast fries or sweet potato tater tots. In addition to the burgers, they also serve a variety of tacos and taco salads, served in your choice of four different styles.