The 13 Best Restaurants in Tempe (2024)

Tempe is a lively college town in the middle of a big city, so it makes sense that you’ll find a lot of cheap eats for hungry college students here. But if you don’t fall into that category, don’t worry. Tempe restaurants cater to more than just the ASU Sun Devils.

While Tempe isn’t a mecca for fine or local dining (for that, check out our best restaurants in Phoenix post), you’re still going to be able to find a great meal without straying too far. Tempe has some incredible hidden gems, and we can’t wait to introduce you to them!

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13. Khải Hoàn

There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of pho on a cold day, and while there aren’t many cold days in Tempe, we have no problem finding excuses to go for pho at Khai Hoan. Khai Hoan is the most authentic Tempe restaurant for fresh Vietnamese food. Start with crispy egg rolls or fresh spring rolls before diving into a steaming bowl of pho. Top it with fresh bean sprouts, mint leaves, jalapeno, hoisin sauce, chili paste, and a squeeze of lime juice to get the full, delicious experience.

12. Forefathers Cheesesteaks

Head to Forefathers Cheesesteaks for a gooey, messy, hearty, and delicious meal. The menu here is simple: choose from chicken or steak (but the choice is obvious, you’re here for the cheesesteak) and build a sandwich with all the fixings. Choose your favorite cheese (traditional “cheez whiz”, white American, provolone, or mozzarella), and add grilled mushrooms, peppers, and onions. The cashier is quick to recommend the cheez whiz, which is more like a nacho cheese, and will gladly offer a side for you to try if you’re hesitant to commit. Top it with one of their housemade sauces—we love the creamy jalapeno ranch—and enjoy it with a side of their stellar fries.

11. Tampopo Ramen

Located in a strip mall in South Tempe, this tiny, understated spot offers some of the best ramen in Arizona. The restaurant is small with limited seating, but they serve quickly and clear tables fast. Choose from six ramens: tonkotsu, miso, spicy miso, ultra spicy, seafood, and soymilk. The broth in each option is rich, delicious, and is poured over a generous portion of noodles, a soft-boiled egg, and topped with a slice of roasted pork, plus a few extras depending on what flavor you order. If you want to beef up your ramen, choose from a variety of additional toppings like fried chicken, braised pork belly, or seaweed. Not sure where to start? Check out their ramen cheat sheet with recommended pairings for each ramen.

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10. Cornish Pasty Co.

Cornish Pasty Co. has created a bit of a cult following and we are all about it. What started as a small hole-in-the-wall Tempe restaurant off of University has now grown to eight locations across the state of Arizona. If you’re new to pasties, picture a savory, handheld pie, made in a puff pastry crust, and stuffed with a wide variety of different combinations of meats, veggies, and cheeses (or hold the meat and cheese and order from their large selection of vegan and vegetarian pasties!). The classic English version is known as the Oggie and is stuffed with steak, potatoes, onion, and rutabaga served with a flavorful red wine gravy. Or, try something more adventurous like the cajun chicken pasty with creamy chipotle sauce. But here’s a secret from a local: the best thing on the menu is the cream of leek, potato, and Stilton soup, a rich, warm, comforting soup made in the traditional English style with an imported wheel of Stilton cheese and served with thick, fresh-baked bread.

9. Detroit Coney Grill

Coney Grill serves up sizzling, greasy burgers stacked high with anywhere from two to four patties and a variety of toppings. There are two restaurants in Tempe, the original near Broadway, and one near ASU on Mill Avenue. If you’re not a local, we’re going to let you in on a Southwest secret: green chiles belong on hamburgers. While we wait for the rest of the country to catch up, you can get your fix here with their signature burger with a triple stack of patties, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and, of course, plenty of green chiles. Order with a side of thick-cut, crispy fries.

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8. Taco Boys

The Taco Boys live up to their name, serving up delicious street tacos from two bustling joints in the heart of downtown and across the street from ASU. They offer one of the best salsa bars in the area, and, of course, some of the best tacos in Phoenix. These tacos come heaping with meat; we love the juicy, shredded beef barbacoa and the smoky carne asada. Order your tacos vampiro-style to add melted cheese for no extra charge.

7. Postino

While you might have seen Postino in a few other states (like California, Colorado, and Texas) we’re proud to call Postino an Arizona original. With two restaurants in Tempe, and a large portion of the menu dedicated to shareable plates, it’s the perfect spot to meet for a light lunch or dinner. The bruschetta board is an absolute necessity—choose from 11 options, but our favorites are the brie, apple, and fig; the smoked salmon and pesto; and the sweet and spicy pepper jam and goat cheese. If you’re a fan of goat cheese, don’t miss the meatball and goat cheese appetizer! For your main (if you still have room after filling up on the shareables), try a fresh salad or grilled panini.

6. Crepe Bar

What started as a food truck has grown into the go-to Tempe restaurant for breakfast or brunch. The Crepe Bar serves up sweet and savory crepes, plus a few other (delicious) specialties like avocado toast and ricotta toast. Their crepes are filled with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients in clever combinations, but our favorite is a fun twist on the beloved Arizona classic, the breakfast burrito adobo crepe, a paper-thin crepe stuffed with pork chorizo, cheesy scrambled eggs, black beans, salsa, avocado, and cotija cheese, then rolled up like a burrito and served with a chipotle sauce to add a mild kick. For something sweet, we love the vanilla bean with marinated strawberries, vanilla bean custard, candied peanuts, and a drizzle of salted caramel.

5. Nocawich

Sun Devil foodies will be happy to learn that one of the best restaurants in Tempe is just a block away from the ASU campus. Grab a seat on the patio and order at the window from Nocawich’s small but mighty menu. The hero on the menu is the What the Cluck chicken sandwich consisting of a crispy, fried chicken breast topped with fresh coleslaw, crisp bread, butter pickles, and siracha mayo on a toasted sweet Hawaiian bun. It’s easily the best meal you can get on or off campus!

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4. Cocina Chiwas

The owners of beloved Tacos Chiwasrecently opened a full-service restaurant in Tempe, graduating from traditional taco beginnings to an upscale Mexican restaurant with flair. Be ready to be surprised and delighted by creative and flavorful combinations; dishes here offer a spin on the classics. Like on the Costilla de Res, these beef short ribs are served over traditional, perfectly executed rice and pinto beans, but are cut Korean-style and covered in a sticky-sweet salsa macha. The cheesy chile relleno is bathed in a light, refreshing tomato puree that cuts through the typical heaviness of this dish, making it the ideal dish on a hot Phoenix day.

3. Paradise Valley Burger

East Valley foodies rejoice: you no longer have to make a 40-minute trek for one of the best burgers in Phoenix! Paradise Valley Burger just opened its second restaurant right here in Tempe. Their creative burgers have had a loyal fan base for years, and have even gotten them noticed by Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Man vs. Food, and the Travel Channel, and these burgers are worth all the hype. First-time visitor? Try the gooey Brûleè Burger with fried egg, bacon, pickled onion, and a burnt sugar bun. Or, try the Beach House Burger with green chilis, pico de gallo, and jalapeno ranch. Don’t forget to order a side of fries or sweet potato tots!

2. Taco Chelo

This beloved taco spot just opened their second location in Tempe, significantly leveling up the lunch options around ASU. You can’t go wrong with any taco on the small menu at Taco Chelo, but be sure to try at least two: the Costra and the fish. The costra taco is closer to an open-faced quesadilla than a taco, with carne asada, gooey cheese melted into the tortilla, and rich caramelized onions. The fresh fish is beer battered, fried, and topped with bright pickled onions, and creamy chile crema. Make sure you also grab a side of chips, salsa, and guac, and wash everything down with their house-made horchata or agua fresca for a delicious and satisfying meal.

1. Southwest: Ghost Ranch

Fine dining in Tempe is hard to come by, but Ghost Ranch, the very best restaurant in Tempe, is worthy of hosting any celebratory dinner. The food is described as modern Southwest cuisine, matching the restaurant’s inviting desert-inspired interior. Start your meal with the bold queso fundido, a blend of thick melted cheeses, spicy chorizo, and fresh pico de gallo, served with warm housemade corn tortillas. For your main course, the rainbow trout is nothing short of exquisite. Sourced from our favorite seafood vendor, Chula, topped with braised leeks, crispy confit potatoes, roasted poblanos, a generous amount of capers, and drizzled with a savory brown butter, lemon emulsion, this is simply a brilliant dish. If you’re feeling indecisive, they offer an entree sampler platter with three enchiladas (the sweet potato vegetarian is our current favorite), a skirt steak, and a cheesy chile relleno. Run, don’t walk, to Ghost Ranch!