Recommended
Get Started

Best Restaurant in Tempe, Arizona — 2026 Top-Rated Pros

Browse 43 verified restaurant providers in Tempe. Reviews, hours, and direct contact — free to use.

In Tempe, Arizona: Restaurant discovery is the category Yelp built a $3B business on, and the 250 U.S. cities of restaurant inventory on Recommended.app reflects a different premise: discovery by people who actually live in the city, not by review counts of out-of-town travelers. The directory includes the full menu of restaurant categories — fine dining (chef-driven, multi-course, $80 to $250+ per person), upscale casual ($35 to $85 per person), neighborhood casual ($18 to $40 per person), quick-service and counter-service, brunch specialists, dive bars with food, food halls, and every regional cuisine focus. For high-end restaurants specifically, reservations matter — many of the top spots in major metros book 30–90 days ahead, and walk-in availability is rare on weekends. Resy, OpenTable, and Tock are the major reservation platforms; some restaurants now do direct-only booking through their own site. Brunch is the highest-margin meal for most restaurants and the most over-rated category — places that are great at dinner often phone it in for Sunday brunch service. Beyond reviews, the most useful signal for restaurant quality is whether locals fill the dining room on a Tuesday night. Tourist restaurants are full Saturdays only.

Top Restaurant in Tempe (43)

Smoothie King Gilbert — Restaurant in Tempe

Smoothie King Gilbert

Tempe, AZ

Schmear Bagelry & Cafe — Restaurant in Tempe

Schmear Bagelry & Cafe

Tempe, AZ

The Bistro Queen Creek — Restaurant in Tempe

The Bistro Queen Creek

Tempe, AZ

ProteinHouse — Restaurant in Tempe

ProteinHouse

Tempe, AZ

Vito's Pizza & Italian Ristorante — Restaurant in Tempe

Vito's Pizza & Italian Ristorante

Tempe, AZ

Local Eats — Restaurant in Tempe

Local Eats

Tempe, AZ

Scratch Pub & Grill — Restaurant in Tempe

Scratch Pub & Grill

Tempe, AZ

Cinnaholic - Mesa — Restaurant in Tempe

Cinnaholic - Mesa

Tempe, AZ

Backyard Taco- Mesa East — Restaurant in Tempe

Backyard Taco- Mesa East

Tempe, AZ

Frutilandia — Restaurant in Tempe

Frutilandia

Tempe, AZ

Tikka Shack- Gilbert — Restaurant in Tempe

Tikka Shack- Gilbert

Tempe, AZ

Rosati's Pizza — Restaurant in Tempe

Rosati's Pizza

Tempe, AZ

Surf City Tiki Hut — Restaurant in Tempe

Surf City Tiki Hut

Tempe, AZ

F

Filthy Animal

Tempe, AZ

T

The Peppermill Steakhouse & Cocktail

Tempe, AZ

B

Brave Korean Barbecue

Tempe, AZ

C

Central BBQ Lakehouse

Tempe, AZ

P

Pho Nhat

Tempe, AZ

P

Pho Dalat Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant

Tempe, AZ

P

Pita Valley

Tempe, AZ

S

Seeto Gyros

Tempe, AZ

G

George's Breakfast & Brunch

Tempe, AZ

O

Over Easy Tempe Novus Place

Tempe, AZ

L

Luna Pizza Tempe

Tempe, AZ

R

Red Devil Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Tempe, AZ

H

Harbor Seafood Cajun House & Ramen

Tempe, AZ

K

King's Fish House

Tempe, AZ

W

Wild Barbecue

Tempe, AZ

T

Tom's BBQ

Tempe, AZ

B

Boondocks Patio & Grill Tempe

Tempe, AZ

P

Perfect Pear Bistro

Tempe, AZ

C

Chanpen Thai Cuisine

Tempe, AZ

Y

Yupha's Thai Kitchen

Tempe, AZ

O

Original Indian Kitchen

Tempe, AZ

M

Med Fresh Grill

Tempe, AZ

T

Tokyo Sushi And More

Tempe, AZ

K

Kuka Sushi & Izakaya

Tempe, AZ

L

Little Szechuan

Tempe, AZ

O

Old Town Taste

Tempe, AZ

T

Tradiciones Mexican Grill

Tempe, AZ

C

Casa Reynoso

Tempe, AZ

P

Picazzo's Healthy Italian Kitchen

Tempe, AZ

V

Vincitorio's Restaurant

Tempe, AZ

What to Look For

Read recent reviews specifically (last 60 days) — kitchens change fast with chef and management turnover. For high-end dining, book through Resy, OpenTable, Tock, or the restaurant's direct site as early as possible. Verify whether they accept walk-ins at the bar (often Yes even when the dining room is fully booked). For dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, allergies), call ahead — the website menu rarely reflects what they can actually accommodate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I tip at a restaurant?

U.S. norms: 18–22% pre-tax on full service, 15% as a floor for adequate service, 25%+ for exceptional service. For takeout, 10–15% is the modern expectation (many delivery apps default to this). For counter service, the tip jar at the register expects $1–$2 or rounding up. Buffets and self-service: 10% to the staff who clear plates and refill drinks.

How far in advance should I make a reservation?

Top-rated fine dining in major metros: 4–12 weeks ahead, with reservations dropping for the next month on the same day each month. Upscale casual: 1–2 weeks. Neighborhood casual: same-day to 2 days ahead. Walk-in is realistic for casual but not for top spots on Friday or Saturday.

Should I trust restaurant reviews online?

Use multiple sources. Google Reviews capture the broadest sample but skew toward middle-of-the-bell-curve experiences. Specialty platforms (The Infatuation, Eater, local critics) skew toward foodie audiences and quality signals matter more there. The most useful pattern: read reviews from the last 60 days specifically — restaurants change quickly with kitchen turnover.

What''s the difference between fine dining and upscale casual?

Fine dining: tasting menus, formal service, dress codes, $80+ per person, often 2–3 hour dining duration, sommelier on the floor. Upscale casual: à la carte menu, less formal service, $35–$85 per person, 90-minute dining duration, wine list rather than sommelier. Different occasions warrant different categories.

How do I know if a restaurant is family-friendly?

Check whether they have a kids menu (most family-friendly do), whether they take reservations for groups with kids, and whether reviews mention noise levels. Loud is often good for kids; quiet upscale spots are stressful with toddlers. Brunch is generally more kid-friendly than dinner regardless of the restaurant.

Related