15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (2024)

15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (2)

Like a newly minted college graduate, the dining scene around Arizona State University in Tempe has a lot going for it. Check out these 15 restaurants within walking, biking or cheap ride-sharing distance of campus.

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

Country music star and hometown boy Dierks Bentley opened his restaurant and entertainment venue, Whiskey Row, at Mill Avenue and Sixth Street. The menu features appetizers like grilled whiskey wings, burgers like the All American, and sliders like the Picnic Chicken with fried chicken and apple jicama slaw. The bar boasts more than 50 craft beers on tap and more than 60 kinds of whiskey.

Details: 640 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-794-1477, dierkswhiskeyrow.com.

Shady Park Tempe

The menu is a best-hits list for college taste buds: ramen, pizza, sushi, hoagies, beer and wine. On the build-your-own ramen menu, start by choosing a broth base and then add toppings such as roasted pork, soft egg, togarashi corn and spicy garlic paste.

Details: 26 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-474-4222, shadyparktempe.com.

Cornish Pasty Co.

15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (3)

With a pub’s low lighting, flowing pints and filling, inexpensive food, this British restaurant is perfect for students. A pasty is an English hand-pie, a flaky pastry filled with savory ingredients. The traditional pasty is filled with steak, potatoes, onion and rutabaga with a side of red-wine gravy. Visit the original Cornish Pasty on University and Hardy drives or the newer branch on Mill Avenue near Fifth Street.

Details:960 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-894-6261. 425 S. Mill Ave., Suite 111, Tempe.cornishpastyco.com.

The Halal Guys

This New York City transplant opened on Rural Road and Lemon Street in the retooled building that once housed a popular ASU bookstore. The Arizona kitchen turns out signature dishes such as chicken-and-rice platters, gyro sandwiches — topped with famous hot or white sauce — along with fries, hummus and baklava.

Details: 1015 S. Rural Road, Tempe. 480-275-7502, thehalalguys.com.

Culinary Dropout

15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (4)

Complete with a game and lounge area, this is a fun place to take friends. The soft pretzels and provolone fondue are a must-try. Entree salads, sandwiches, burgers, fish, pasta and steak round out the dinner menu. Fox Restaurant Concepts opened the gastropub in a former warehouse in the Farmer Arts District development.

Details:149 S. Farmer Ave., Tempe. 480-905-6920,culinarydropout.com.

The Lodge Sasquatch Kitchen

Located across the street from Culinary Dropout, this woodsy restaurant will keep you entertained with 30 TVs; a game room with billiards and Big Buck Hunter; and a rolle bolle court and bags area outside. Look for comfort foods such as Wisconsin cheese curds and the signature Sasquatch Burger, which has a pair of grilled-cheese sandwiches as the bun.

Details:26 S. Farmer Ave., Tempe. 480-967-0578,thelodgetempe.com.

Matt’s Big Breakfast

The thick-cut bacon, fluffy pancakes and from-scratch waffles at this local breakfast spot have created a loyal following for restaurateur Matt Pool. Students can visit locations in downtown Tempe and downtown Phoenix. They just have to get there before mid-afternoon — the kitchen opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m.

Details: 400 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 480-967-5156,mattsbigbreakfast.com.

Gen Korean BBQ

Nestle in for a big, tasty meal at this Tempe outpost of the popular California-based Korean barbecue chain. The all-you-can-eat dinner menu includes choices of galbi (ribs), beef bulgogi, garlic chicken, spicy pork belly, baby octopus and gyoza. Located at Tempe Marketplace, you could experience considerable wait times.

Details: 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 480-939-2650, genkoreanbbq.com.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

The slow-smoked meats are cooked on site at this barbecue franchise near ASU and Sun Devil Stadium. Chopped beef brisket, pork ribs and jalapeño Cheddar kielbasa are among the meaty choices. Sides include macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and barbecue beans.

Details:521 S. College Ave., Tempe. 480-704-3510,dickeys.com.

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza

Open on University Drive and Maple Avenue, this was the first Arizona branch of California-based Blaze Pizza. Like other pizza-centered, fast-casual chains, Blaze puts the power of creation into the hands of diners. Customers build pizzas choosing their crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. Blaze has some big-name investors, including LeBron James and Maria Shriver.

Details: 105 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-829-3775, blazepizza.com.

Rehab Burger Therapy

Grilled, never-frozen burgers are topped with such ingredients as barbecue pulled pork, shaved rib eye and peanut butter. They come with your choice of bun, such as brioche, pretzel or gluten-free bread. Chicken wings, sandwiches, salads and pasta also are served in the beach-themed dining room.

Details: 21 E. Sixth St., Tempe. 480-773-7307, rehabburgertherapy.com.

Pita Jungle

This healthful restaurant serves a mix of Mediterranean, Greek, Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, with dishes like lentil fetoosh salad, gyro pita and chipotle black bean burger. The original Pita Jungle opened on Apache Boulevard in Tempe more than 20 years ago. It shuttered in 2015 and moved to its current, larger location at Mill Avenue and University Drive.

Details:4 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-804-0234,pitajungle.com.

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (5)

The Colorado-based chain’s from-scratch menu includes breakfast potpie smothered in rosemary-sausage gravy; eggs Benedict topped with spicy barbacoa beef and green chile hollandaise; and a list of breakfast cocktails. Snooze is next to Postino Wine Cafe in the remodeled ASU Art Annex Building at College Avenue and Sixth Street.

Details: 615 S. College Ave., Tempe. 480-355-1934, snoozeeatery.com.

Original Chopshop Co.

Eat well at this fast-casual restaurant that’s just a street away from campus on University Drive. Fill up on grilled protein bowls with roasted vegetables, forbidden rice and choice of meat or tofu. Salads, sandwiches, fresh-squeezed juices and protein shakes round out the menu.

Details: 222 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-307-9336, chopshopco.com.

The Chuckbox

Watch your burger or chicken cook over a wood-fired grill at this funky joint that opened in 1972. Add toppings such as bacon or spicy guacamole and order a side of beer-battered onion rings. Just don’t forget to bring cash; the Chuckbox doesn’t take credit cards.

Details: 202 E. University Drive. 480-968-4712, thechuckbox.com.

READ MORE:

  • 10 best bars for ASU students in downtown Phoenix
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15 best restaurants for students near ASU Tempe campus (2024)

FAQs

What is ASU Tempe campus known for? ›

The Tempe campus is home to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, and the School of Sustainability. Colleges that began on the Tempe campus and have expanded to other campuses are the Ira A.

Is ASU a pretty campus? ›

After visiting multiple campuses, it was indisputable that ASU was the most beautiful, the one that cared about it's students the most, was going to take care of me and is a place where I would feel proud to be a graduate.

Where can I study on ASU Tempe campus? ›

Noble Library is the go-to destination for students seeking a quiet study environment. It has 55 individual study rooms on the second and third floors, available on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a designated Silent Study area on the second floor near the Writing Center.

How many students are at the ASU Tempe campus? ›

The Tempe campus is also the largest of ASU's campuses, with more than 70,000 students enrolled in at least one class on campus in fall 2017.

Is ASU Tempe a dry campus? ›

A lot of your social life will come directly from the friends you meet once you get here. So make sure to get involved and join clubs. Exploring Tempe is another fun thing to do! Remember, ASU is a dry campus—which means no alcohol.

Is ASU still a top party school? ›

It's no secret that ASU is a party school. In fact, our school was ranked No. 52 in the top party schools in the U.S. by Niche for 2023, No. 3 by Barstool Sports in 2019 and No.

Which ASU campus has the most students? ›

1. Arizona State University Campus Immersion, Tempe. In Tempe, Arizona, ASU serves roughly 64,700 undergraduates and 13,200 graduate students, mostly on campus.

Is Tempe a student city? ›

More than 100,000 students are enrolled in the city's colleges and universities. Since more than half of the city's population is enrolled in a college or university, Tempe is a large college town.

Is Tempe a good college town? ›

Top college town: Tempe, Arizona

Reigning as Zillow's top college town for the second year in a row, the city is home to the second-highest total number of rental listings among college towns studied, after Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has one of the largest populations of undergraduate and graduate college students.

What is ASU famous for? ›

Recognized globally as a leading knowledge enterprise, Arizona State University is dedicated to delivering academic excellence, advancing research-based solutions for humankind's greatest challenges, producing strong and compassionate leaders, ensuring the health of our planet and providing quality education for all ...

What is a fun fact about ASU? ›

Sparky the Sun Devil, the university's mascot since 1946, was created by one-time Disney Studios employee Bert Anthony. According to Washington Monthly, ASU ranks #7 in terms of “colleges that deliver the most bang for the buck”. There are 493 classrooms spread across ASU's four campuses.

How much is ASU tuition per year? ›

What is unique about Tempe Arizona? ›

Welcome to Tempe, AZ, a lively city known for its vibrant college town atmosphere, outdoor recreation, and cultural diversity. From the bustling Mill Avenue District to the scenic Tempe Town Lake, Tempe offers residents a unique blend of opportunities and experiences.

What is ASU best known for? ›

Recognized globally as a leading knowledge enterprise, Arizona State University is dedicated to delivering academic excellence, advancing research-based solutions for humankind's greatest challenges, producing strong and compassionate leaders, ensuring the health of our planet and providing quality education for all ...

What is ASU Downtown known for? ›

Located in Arizona's capital, ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus provides a multitude of academic and professional connections for students preparing for careers across the health care spectrum including preventive care, research, policy and advocacy; in law, government and other public service; with nonprofit and public ...

What is ASU West campus known for? ›

The West Valley campus seamlessly integrates modern amenities such as classrooms, labs, residence halls, dining facilities, and a fitness complex, with the natural beauty of its subtropical landscaping, fountains, and outdoor spaces, creating a unique and innovative learning environment that blends harmoniously with ...

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