Arizona 2025

In February of 2025, I took a trip to Arizona. Below are the places we ate and enjoyed. We of course had more food than this, but I refrain from negative reviews whenever I can. I will however make one exception. Do not go to Crisp in Scottsdale under any circumstances. Go read the low reviews on Yelp and Google and you will quickly see why. But let’s focus on the good. Here it is.

And if you want more Arizona food after reading all this, check out the Sonoran Hot Dogs we tried!

more travel bites

Pinnacle Peak

Pinnacle Peak has been serving Tucson since 1962. Their real claim to fame is that ties are not allowed in the restaurant, so of course you must wear one! They will then come to your table and cut your tie off. It’s a show, and it’s fun, just wear a tie you don’t like.

For food their specialty is a Cowboy Steak. It’s a T-bone cooked on their mesquite grill served with bread, salad, and beans. The steak is solid for the price, $36. The beans are delicious as well. We also grabbed some mashed potatoes with gravy and a peach cobbler for dessert. The real fun though is the experience. It’s a Tucson institution and worth a visit.

Pinnacle Peak
6541 E Tanque Verde Road
Tucson, AZ

K Donut Wheel

I can’t say no to a good donut, particularly on vacation and K Donut Wheel makes a damn good donut. I tried both the apple fritter and the lemon donut. Both were light and airy. The apple fritter had a beautiful crisp exterior and the lemon had a bright tart filling. The woman at the counter was very friendly and the interior was impeccably clean. If you need a donut in Tucson, give them a try.

K Donut Wheel
2775 S Wilmot Road
Tucson, AZ

Big Nose Kate’s

If you are going to Tombstone, you might as well go all in. And “all in” in Tombstone means eating at Big Nose Kate’s. Kate was a brothel owner and Doc Holliday’s girlfriend. The saloon that bears her name was once The Grand Hotel. Today has live music, the original long bar from the hotel, and waitresses dressed in costume. It’s both historical and fun. As for food, The Boothill is a tasty burger topped with grilled onions, green chile, and melted pepper jack cheese. Wash it down with a Cactus Margarita – tequila, syrup made from prickly pear cactus juice, sweet & sour, and triple sec – and take it all in.

Big Nose Kate’s
417 E Allen Street
Tombstone, AZ

Los Taco Chefs

I ended up at Los Taco Chefs by accident. The restaurant I had planned for dinner was closing at 8 and so I had to pick another place. We went to Los Taco Chefs because it was close to Arizona Distilling Co. and I wanted a bottle of Commerce Gin. It turned out to be my favorite dinner of the trip.

We got a bean and cheese tostada which was excellent. Then a taco plate with three different tacos, including an amazing carnitas taco and a really good tilapia one. I also got an asada burrito enchilada style with half red and half green sauce. It was enormous and I really liked the red sauce, but the green was good too.

The place is casual but they do have table service and the people there are especially friendly. They have a few options for drinks. We enjoyed the margarita. Dinner comes with fresh warm tortilla chips and a variety of very good salsas. Maybe it isn’t worth traveling to Arizona for, but I know if I lived nearby, I’d eat there a couple of times a month.

Los Taco Chefs
354 N Country Club Drive
Suite 105
Mesa, AZ

OHSO Brewery

The real reason we went to OHSO was so that I could try Sailor G’s Navy Gin and #gin, but we ate while we were there. We started with some wings that had good flavor but were a little chewy. We also tried their PB & J Burger which has peanut butter, strawberry chipotle jam, bacon, and cheddar cheese. This is pretty weird, but somehow it works. It’s good enough that I would absolutely get it again. In fact, I just wish it had a little more peanut butter on it.

OHSO Brewery + Distillery
15681 Hayden Road # 112
Scottsdale, AZ

FnB

In 2019, FnB chef Charleen Badman was named Best Chef Southwest by the James Beard Foundation. The early part of the menu is vegetable heavy. We enjoyed Brussels Sprouts with green curry, coconut milk, and crispy onions, followed by Mexican Street Carrots with lime-avocado mayo, cotija cheese, and chile.

The main course was a sharable portion of Sour Orange Braised Beef with tepary beans, black-eyed peas, and squash. This dish was beautiful both in the bold flavor of the supple sour beef and the accompaniments surrounding it. It paired nicely with Callaghan Vineyards Buena Suerte, a red blend from Santa Cruz County, Arizona. For dessert, a decadent and creamy chocolate mousse cake.

Our server was friendly as was the bartender. The location in Old Town Scottsdale can’t be beat. Tucked back into a courtyard off Craftsman Court, it offers a balance of excitement and seclusion. This is a perfect spot for a romantic evening filled with fine wine and flavorful, executed dishes.

FnB
7125 E. 5th Avenue
Suite 31
Scottsdale, AZ

The Fry Bread House

The Fry Bread House is another James Beard winner, receiving an America’s Classics designation in 2012. Founded by Cecilia Miller in 1992, they serve Native American food of the Tohono O’odham people. This includes red chili beef, chumuth (large, hand-stretched flour tortillas), and of course fry bread.

The restaurant attracts people from far and wide, most wanting to try fry bread for the first time. The menu is not big, but the portions are. One fry bread taco is more than enough for the average diner. We tried the combo taco with red chili beef, refried beans, lettuce, and cheese. It was served with additional sauce on the side, both red and green. The dough is soft and chewy, but thick enough to hold the generous amount of filling. We also tried the bean tostada, which was very good, but more reasonably sized.

The atmosphere is casual with counter service and quick preparation of orders. There are tables both inside and out, with large rolls of paper towels, warning visitors of the mess they are about to make. The best part of The Fry Bread House is trying a cuisine that not many have been exposed to, and for that alone it is worth a visit.