Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Phoenix

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Phoenix? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Huarachis Taqueria

4.9

4.9 (22)

$31 to $50

Mexican

West Phoenix

About the restaurant

Huarachis Taqueria is the vibrant sister restaurant of Bacanora PHX, founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Rene Andrade and his talented team. This isn’t your typical taqueria—it’s a place where authentic flavors meet creative cocktails and a diverse menu featuring tacos, huaraches, tortas, and hearty platters. Here, you can even treat yourself to our fun twist on dessert with concha ice cream. Huarachis Taqueria is more than a restaurant; it’s a gathering spot for the community, designed to feel like you’re at a friend’s backyard hangout. With a soundtrack of cumbia, corridos, merengue, salsa, rap, and R&B, it’s the perfect place to unwind, savor great food, and enjoy good company.

Top review

Eric

Dined today

Highly recommend. Food was incredible. Service and atmosphere were great too.

Chilte

4.8

4.8 (227)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

West Phoenix

About the restaurant

Bon Appétit's | 24 Best New Restaurants in America 2023.

We come from street beginnings, with off the cuff new wave riffs, and somewhat experimental Mexican cuisine.
Finding common threads through food, time, and place we bringing inspirations from our childhoods, the southwest, and shared cultures to the plate.

Inspired by tradition and driven with creative intention we are authentically us and genuinely yours - Always

Chef Lawrence Smith

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined on Jan 3, 2025

The food was outstanding, service terrific and environment amazingly cool.

Santo Arcadia

4.8

4.8 (113)

$50 and over

Mexican

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

Brought to you by the ownership group behind Tacos Chiwas, Bacanora, Espiritu Mesa and Cocina Chiwas, Santo Arcadia is the newest addition to the Chiwas Family. James Beard nominated Chefs Roberto Centeno, Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin present you with both classic and nouveau regional Mexican cuisine. Spotlighting regions, ingredients and flavors near and dear to their own hearts.

Top review

nancyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Most amazing menu and food in Phoenix great staff, Bartender, and lots of fun!

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Experience

Pecado Cocktail Lounge

Flour & Thyme

4.7

4.7 (26)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

The sister restaurant to Anhelo by Chef Ivan Jacobo. Join us at the Orpheum Lofts at Anhelo’s previous home. Flour & Thyme is a love letter from chef to Downtown Phoenix, on what he considers the perfect restaurant for downtown. Featuring a wood fired grill in house dry aged duck, beef and fish. You are sure to find something delicious to satisfy your taste buds.

Top review

Dined today

Simply outstanding. The chefs 7 course menu was just a blast of flavor and surprise. Every plate was unique in its way and definitely overdelivered. The wine pairing was very exciting as well. Every glass was in harmony with every plate paired and the Sommelier/staff were very knowledgeable of each wine served. They have a very extended list for those who would like to explore specific bottles. Recommended for every occasion.

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Experience

Napa Valley Winemaker Dinner

Latha Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (84)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

LATHA, Swahili for flavor, celebrates Africa and the diaspora’s rich and diverse cuisines. The menu curated by Executive Chef Digby Stridiron honors the interconnected journey of the foodways and culture of Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Southern United States. Our contemporary pan-African kitchen respects historical recipes and crafts cuisine from thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients that reveal the connections between Africa and the diaspora. It is a journey of discovery along the trails of our ancestors, telling the authentic stories of the foodways and how they have shaped eating habits and cuisine worldwide. We invite guests to join us on a flavorful journey of discovery and appreciation. LATHA, in downtown Phoenix, in Heritage Square, is a place to have a shared immersive experience with friends or family while enjoying food, drinks, music, and culture in our dining room, bar, or outside patio. As a collective, we EAT, DRINK, and VIBE!

Top review

KimVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Stunning experience from top to bottom. Beautifully curated menu.

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Experience

Vibe @ Latha Weekend

Experience

Afroflavors & Vibe Brunch

Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey

4.6

4.6 (316)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

The highly anticipated first Sushi & Whiskey bar, located in uptown Phoenix, By Engin Onural.

Within its Scandinavian-designed interior, you’ll enjoy a judicious selection of hand-crafted sushi and whisky pairings, making Sandfish an ideal destination for both epicures and the curious.

We can’t wait for you to experience our expectations of an excellent Menu

Top review

AstridVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food was delicious!! Service always on point. They did eliminate some of our favorites from the menu

Yellowbell - The Camby Autograph

4.6

4.6 (14)

$31 to $50

Mexican / Southwestern

West Phoenix

About the restaurant

Led by Executive Chef Alfredo Alvarez, Yellowbell offers more than just a dining experience; it’s a tribute to heritage, community, and the land that supports it. The menu features authentic Southwestern flavors, highlighting ingredients sourced locally from small farms and regional producers, all without unnecessary culinary pretensions. The beverage program centers on the rich tradition of agave-based spirits, capturing the essence of the Southwest in every sip.

Top review

JudyVIP

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

The whole experience felt like a treat! The food, drinks and service were all wonderful. I’ll definitely be going back.

Jin Jia

4.5

4.5 (218)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Desert Ridge

About the restaurant

Masterfully crafted, authentic Chinese cuisine with a modern twist.

Top review

JimVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Food was very tasty. Unfortunately most of not all their dishes are breaded meat. Even the beef was breaded and it takes away the taste of the meat. Some were heavily breaded. Otherwise rice dishes were great so was their egg rolls.

Kembara

4.5

4.5 (234)

$30 and under

Asian

Desert Ridge

About the restaurant

Kembara is the latest project from Chef Angelo Sosa that embraces Asian street food cultures, exemplifying the tradition of cherishing time-honored recipes, while also playfully innovating upon familiar flavors and techniques for fresh takes.

The menu is an homage to Chef Sosa’s travels across Asia, with inspiration drawn from countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Singapore and Japan.

Each dish is constructed around Chef Sosa’s concept of a “trinity of flavors”—a balance between sweet, sour and salty elements that culminate in a perfect bite of harmony.

Located inside of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We had a very nice experience at Kembara on Saturday evening. The staff was very courteous and helpful with menu descriptions and recommendations, the cocktails were excellent and the food quality overall was also excellent. We will definitely return to Kembara.

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Experience

Sips & Bites $9 and less

BackYard - Desert Ridge

3.9

3.9 (59)

$31 to $50

American

Desert Ridge

About the restaurant

Now Open at Desert Ridge Marketplace!

Meet your friends at Backyard, where the game is always on! Park it in front of one of our massive TVs or challenge your friends to a game of your own in our open-air playground. Dog-friendly (dog park opening soon!) and fun-driven, Backyard is comfortably familiar, while keeping things exciting on a daily basis! So grab your furry (and non-furry) friends and swing on in for a good time.

Top review

TracyVIP

Dined on Jan 7, 2025

Fun place great staff. I had the pizza and beer both great.

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