Looking for something casual, nothing stuffy or where I'll have to dress up. No specific food type in mind. I'll be staying close to the airport, so lunch and dinner recommendations with 30 or so minutes from there would be great. Thanks in advance.

I never go to Phoenix and eat anything without starting here.

Seriously though this is my favorite place. Not fancy, line out of the door, wear an apron it is so messy - The Fry Bread House.

My favorite is the ultimate taco with green chili.

Another nationally famous and worth the wait place is Pizzeria Bianco.

Finally, Undertow is a great tiki bar. Reservations are required.

Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe for some excellent soul food. Cash only.

Thanks for the recommendations. I forgot to mention I'll have 2 younger teens and the Mrs. with me. That pizza place and the fry bread spot look good. I found a chicken sandwich place, looks like a small chain, but looks good.

The younger teens will love it or hate it, but Frank Lloyd Wright's home Taliesin West is there to tour. If your kids are potential architects, artists, or engineers - it's a very cool place to visit.

If anything they'll see his influence the rest of their lives in buildings, homes, etc.

Staying near the airport. This is a good, casual place for grown ups and teens. Several others including one near ASU and the airport.

https://www.culinarydropout.com/locations/scottsdale-az/

GIF Reactor said:

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Looking for something casual, nothing stuffy or where I'll have to dress up. No specific food type in mind. I'll be staying close to the airport, so lunch and dinner recommendations with 30 or so minutes from there would be great. Thanks in advance.

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Great timing! I'll be in the area in a couple weeks for work, also staying relatively close to the airport.

I was there in January and defaulted to Triple D places as well as some other spots I used to visit years ago.

Went to:
Defalco's Italian Grocery - excellent. Inside your 30 minutes
Paradise Valley Burgers - good and near the airport

AJ's Fine Foods - Grocery Store with a tremendous in-house deli/pizzeria/sandwhich/plates - something for everyone in the family and lots of locations.

jja79 said:

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Staying near the airport. This is a good, casual place for grown ups and teens. Several others including one near ASU and the airport.

https://www.culinarydropout.com/locations/scottsdale-az/

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nothing wrong with culinary dropout, but it is a chain with many locations in multiple states, including texas. Only mentioning in case you are looking for something "local."

I live in Phoenix and love the place. It can be a hang out, sports bar, casual or more formal depending on where you sit. I think there are 5 here and maybe 7 or 8 others nationwide. If I was going with young teens it would be a fit I think.

like I said, nothing wrong with it. We have one here in Austin. And I've been to the Scottsdale location.

TexAz grill, expat Texans run it and know how to make a CFS. Very Chicken-esque feel to it.

Ray's pizza for a quick pizza that is just awesome.

When we lived there, I like Rosita's Place on McDowell for Machaca with green sauce. Across from the Phoenix wedding chapel. Cashier was in a steel cage.

Bario Cafe, get the huitlacoche enchiladas

Downtown you have The Arrogant Butcher.

I also learned that Mel's Diner from the sitcom back in the 70s-80's was there. It's real close to the airport I ate there on a business trip and it was good! We watched that show growing up. I think our waitress even told us "Kiss my grits"

Taco Boys on Rural Road in Tempe is near the airport and very good
This won't be popular but Arizona tacos blow away Texas tacos.

+1 of Fry Bread House. One of the best in the city.
If you like Thai, Glai Baan is hands down one of the best Thai restaurants I've ever been too. No one comes close in the PHX area.
Mexican&Asian fusion - Chino Bandido's is crazy good. The fusion might not sound great, but it is exceptional! More of a fast food experience though, so be aware.

Maybe it's that I moved from the taco wasteland of Houston. I'm going to stick with my unpopular opinion.

I grew up in Phoenix... walking distance from the original location of Chino Bandito. I didn't know they have moved but not terribly surprised. Good food! Hadn't thought about that place in a very long time.

Fry Bread House is a can't miss....

I know this is about food but if you can find time for a visit to the Heard Museum... highly recommended. Kids should enjoy it as well.

Naveronski said:

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GIF Reactor said:

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Looking for something casual, nothing stuffy or where I'll have to dress up. No specific food type in mind. I'll be staying close to the airport, so lunch and dinner recommendations with 30 or so minutes from there would be great. Thanks in advance.

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Great timing! I'll be in the area in a couple weeks for work, also staying relatively close to the airport.

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Flying in tomorrow for a couple days of work, but we're usually "done" by 2pm.


Looking for non-chain recommendations for a place I can work and eat/drink for a few hours. Breweries are usually pretty good for this and I try to avoid restaurants so I don't cause a server to miss out on tips/table turnover.


If you have other suggestions I'm open to other ideas too!


Looks like I'll be generally downtown/along I10 but I'll have a rental car too if needed.


Thank you!

schmellba99 said:

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jja79 said:

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Maybe it's that I moved from the taco wasteland of Houston. I'm going to stick with my unpopular opinion.

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If you think Houston is a taco wasteland, I'll just get this out there - your taste buds are absolutely broken and probably beyond repair. I'm sorry for you.

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I grew up in far west Texas with about 80% Mexican population so I'm pretty confident about my taco taste buds. i find the Mexican food here in Phoenix more like what I am used to than Houston. If you like it there then enjoy.

That's southwestern style Mexican food which is inferior to TexMex