All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (2024)

It's always nice when local restaurants get a little national media recognition. And recently, Phoenix and Arizona as a whole havebeen popping up on lists and in articles ranging from Food & Wine magazine to Thrillist.

National Geographic recently shared aguide to visiting and eating in Tucson, highlighting must-visit Mexican restaurants including Seis, Boca Tacos Y Tequila, El Charro and Tania's 33. The New York Times showed Arizona some love, as did Esquire Magazine and the fierce army of Yelp reviewers.

When a local favorite gets named best in the country, the warm and fuzzies of local pride swell. Maybe there's even a little sense of we-told-you-so in there. We know how good our local dining scene is, andnow the nation can, too.

Here are the Arizona restaurants thatmade the national newsthis year.

Our top picks:The 10 best new restaurants in metro Phoenix

Tratto makes The New York Times'The Restaurant List'

All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (1)

Last Fall, the New York Times dropped its anticipated 'The Restaurant List'featuring "The 50 places in America we're most excited about right now." The list is unranked, meaning there is no top spot or winner, but for one local Phoenix restaurant, the mention itself was a prize.

Tratto, anItalian restaurant from pizzaiolo and award-winning chef Chris Bianco, made the cut. The restaurant opened in 2016 in uptown Phoenix before moving closer to downtown during the pandemic.

"Its kitchen still proves that Arizona wheat makes pasta as exemplary as it does crust and bread, and thatan Italian menu can be guided by seasonal regional ingredients," Times contributor Brett Anderson wrote.

More pasta, please:Try these 10 unique pasta dishes at metro Phoenix restaurants

Bacanora lands on Esquire's 'Best New Restaurants' list

All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (2)

When Bacanora opened on Grand Avenue, the Sonoran-style spot quickly gained local acclaim. The Arizona Republic's dining critic called it an "instant Phoenix classic."

Last fall, Esquire published its 40-restaurantlist of the Best New Restaurants in America. Bacanora appeared inthe number 21 spot.

"Sonoran-born chef/owner Rene Andrade and his team play with literal fire as they command the flame from the massive custom-built grill," food writer Omar Mamoon described.

Coffee time:Mexican coffee shops around Phoenix celebrate nostalgic flavors

Barrio Bread named on Food & Wine's 'Best Bread in Every State' list

All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (3)

At the start of Food & Wine's list of the best bread in every state, author David Landsel makes the claim thatAmerican bread-baking is the best it'sever been.

In Arizona, with our bounty of excellent bread options, that very well may be true.

The list namesTucson's Barrio Bread as the best in the state. Barrio Bread, and its dedicated and decoratedbaker Don Guerra, are a staple in the Old Pueblo and beyond, drawing linesof customers to the small bread shop.

Food & Wine's list doesn't stop in Tucson, however, and also offers nods to Pane Bianco, a Chris Bianco-and-familysandwich joint, and Noble Bread in Phoenix.

Get ready:The most anticipated bars and breweries coming to metro Phoenix in 2022

Two Phoenix restaurantsmake Thrillist's 'Best Vegetarian and Vegan'

All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (4)

In late January, Thrillist published a list of "The 33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in America," featuring spots from Seattle toBrooklyn. Phoenix made the cut with not one, but two restaurants:The Coronado and Green New American Vegetarian.

Neighborhood favorite The Coronado is known for its breakfast burritos andchilaquiles in the morning, and popular cauliflower tacos and creative cocktails later in the day. It's alsoknown forraisingmoney for community groups, fighting for social justice and being a welcoming space for all.

Green New American Vegetarianalso made the cut with its 100% vegan menu. The restaurant, which has locations in Tempe and Phoenix, aims to bring "vegan comfort food to the masses," according to itswebsite. The menu features riffs on classic pub fare including vegan buffalo wings, chili fries, burritos and burgers.

The Thrillist list also gave a shout out to Nami, Green New American Vegetarian's sister spot known for dairy-free ice cream.

Cocina Madrigal named Yelp's topplace to eat in America in 2022

In January, crowd sourcing and review platform Yelp released a list of the 100 top places to eat this year. And not only did Phoenix make the list a few times, we took the top spot.

The number one best place to eat in America, according to this list, is Cocina Madrigal, a south Phoenix Mexican restaurant.

Opened in 2018 by Leo Madrigal and his family, the restaurant serves a mixture of Oaxacan and American dishes including tacos, Hatch green chile pork, queso fundido and churros.

Aside from essentially winning the list, Phoenix placed four other times. WoodBarn BBQ in Queen Creek, downtown cocktail destination Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour, CAPS Sports Grill and Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits all earned a mention.

Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.

All the love: Over a dozen Arizona restaurants named 'best in the country' by national news (2024)

FAQs

How many restaurants are there in Arizona? ›

And we've got about 12,000 restaurants now,” said Steve Chucri, President and CEO of Arizona Restaurant Association.

What is Phoenix, Arizona known for food? ›

Arizona's official state food is its state fish, more well known as the Apache trout. However, the state has some unofficial state foods, particularly the chimichanga. Chimichangas, also known as deep-fried burritos, are a favourite, a reflection of Mexican influence. Chimichanga is the most preferred dish in Phoenix.

What is the state drink of Arizona? ›

Lemonade Is Arizona's Official State Drink.

What is the food capital of Arizona? ›

The city's culinary heritage is a tapestry of Mexican and Native American traditions. Eating local means honoring history, and each bite is an experience. Taste Tucson's gastronomic roots through dishes and events that embrace heritage ingredients and local ingenuity.

How many McDonald's are in the state of Arizona? ›

STATENumber of McDonald'sRANK
Alaska2733
Arizona21211
Arkansas12723
California1,1651
49 more rows

How many Chick Fil A's does Arizona have? ›

Download Table Data
StateLocations
Oklahoma47
Arizona45
Missouri42
Mississippi39
44 more rows

Which US city has the most restaurants? ›

The cities with the most restaurants per capita, again in descending order:
  • Miami, Florida.
  • Orlando, Florida.
  • Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • San Francisco, California.
  • Los Angeles, California.
Nov 17, 2023

What is Arizona's signature dish? ›

The Sonora dog is perhaps Arizona's staple with the most potential to stand as the state's official dish, and El Caprichoso is serving up some of the best Sonoran dogs in the state.

What is Arizona known for gifts? ›

The Best Arizona-Themed Gifts And Souvenirs
  • Arizonian Paintings And Sculptures: ...
  • The Authentic Cowboy Hat. ...
  • Handmade Pottery. ...
  • Cactus And Scorpion Candies. ...
  • Wine Made From Agave. ...
  • Cosanti Bells. ...
  • Scents And Skin Tonics (made or inspired by desert plants) ...
  • Sedona Red Rocks.

What is Arizona best known for? ›

Arizona's most famous and now official nickname, “The Grand Canyon State” celebrates its most iconic feature, the Grand Canyon. Arizona is also known as the “Copper State” revealing its abundance in this mineral.

What is Arizona most famous for? ›

Arizona's most famous and now official nickname, “The Grand Canyon State” celebrates its most iconic feature, the Grand Canyon. Arizona is also known as the “Copper State” revealing its abundance in this mineral.

What is Arizona State snack food? ›

Arizona: Prickly Pear Cactus Candy.

What food does the Phoenix eat? ›

This bird does not eat ordinary seeds and grass, but eats fruit extracts and rare spices.

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