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.
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
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
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 co*cktails. 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
- 15 best bars in downtown Phoenix
- 14 affordable restaurants in downtown Phoenix
