15 Best Restaurants in Chandler, AZ
The city of Chandler in Maricopa County, Arizona, is more than a charming downtown and attractions.
It has a bustling culinary scene that values local fare.
So, it would be excellent not to miss the food scene in this city, located on the outskirts of Phoenix.
It's a terrific destination to treat your taste buds with unique and familiar flavors you'll experience through its eateries, diners, and restaurants.
You won't run out of choices from Mexican, classic American, steaks, Asian, and other delicious cuisines.
Explore the best spots to bust your hunger, or perhaps discover hidden gems and new tastes you won't find anywhere else.
Here are the best restaurants in Chandler, Arizona.
AJ's Café
AJ's Café is the resident restaurant of the San Marcos Resort.
You can find this restaurant along N. San Marcos Place and experience its traditional American fare and pasta menu.
This restaurant is widely known throughout the city for its fantastic all-American menu.
It's a familiar place for locals to dine at this restaurant serving the city for over a century.
Locals particularly love its brunches and holiday specials.
Besides its specials, this restaurant is a popular spot for breakfast and the San Marcos Buffet.
Don't miss trying its All-American breakfast, including burritos and three-egg omelets.
With all that in mind, AJ's Cafe is an ideal place to start your Chandler food tour.
American Way Smokehouse
Visit the American Way Smokehouse if you're craving classic barbeque dishes.
You can find this smokehouse along N. Arizona Avenue.
It's mainly known throughout the city for its classic-style barbeque, cooked and prepared the 'old-fashioned way.'
Some of its must-tries are its smoked brisket served with sweet roll drizzled with house barbeque sauce and paired with its in-house tangy coleslaw.
Also, American Way Smokehouse's pulled pork sandwich, smoked pastrami, smoked kielbasa, and smokehouse turkey are other must-tries on its menu.
Nothing can go wrong with spending your lunch or dinner at this long-running smokehouse to satisfy your barbeque cravings.
The Taco Spot
For straightforward and delectable Mexican food, check out the Taco Spot.
You can find this lowkey and casual Mexican restaurant along E. Chandler Boulevard.
It mainly serves classic and authentic Mexican cuisine, such as nachos, burritos, tacos, and sandwiches.
Many locals frequent this restaurant for its fresh and flavorful street-style tacos.
At the same time, its customers love the counter style and casual ambiance of its dining area, where everyone minds their business munching on their favorite taco or burrito.
Fascinatingly, the Taco Spot also serves Birria ramen, making it an excellent place for some unique Mexican fusion.
Birria ramen is a popular Mexican fusion dish made from savory Mexican beef stew served with noodles instead of the usual tortilla.
Whether you're looking for some tacos, nachos, or other authentic Mexican food, this spot along E. Chandler Boulevard is one of the best places to find them.
Peixoto Coffee
Peixoto Coffee is one of Chandler's best places to enjoy a cup of freshly-brewed coffee and delicious food.
You can find this coffee shop along W. Boston Street.
This coffee shop is known for its century-old Brazilian family tradition in coffee-making, with its coffee beans directly imported from Brazil through its roastery in Chandler.
Besides its top-notch coffee, you can also order delicious baked treats such as croissants, donuts, sandwiches, and plenty more pastries.
Overall, Peixoto Coffee is one of your go-to places to have your caffeine fix and some delicious pastries during your Chandler food adventure.
The Brickyard Downtown
Head to The Brickyard Downtown if you're seeking Chandler's best place to taste local food.
You can visit this restaurant along W. Boston Street.
This restaurant/bar is famous for its innovative New American plates and cocktails, which you can enjoy in its homey industrial-chic setting.
Besides delicious food, this restaurant, housed in one of Downtown Chandler's oldest buildings, allows you for a historical side trip.
Meanwhile, the Brickyard Downtown's must-tries on its menu are Burrata, tuna poke, candied prawns, charred Caesar salad, hanger steak, dry-aged tomahawk, and surf n' turf.
Pair these popular menu items with its vast array of cocktail drinks and craft beer to complete your dining experience at this famous spot.
Espo's Mexican Food
Espo's Mexican Food is one of Chandler's longest-running authentic Mexican eateries.
You can visit this eatery along W. Chandler Boulevard.
You'll enjoy eating its best Mexican food items in its casual dining setting.
Since it's a family-owned restaurant, expect home-cooked meals made from scratch, making it a heartwarming place to enjoy authentic Mexican dishes.
The must-tries on its menu include burritos, tacos, and nachos.
Choose a grilled steak, carne asada, or carnitas for your preferred menu item.
Of course, don't forget to order its tamales to complete your dining experience at this Mexican eatery.
Drop by Espo's Mexican Food and experience authentic home-cooked Mexican dishes that have satisfied Chandler locals for over 40 years.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is a popular chain restaurant renowned for its top-notch steaks, seafood, and cocktails.
You can find this restaurant along W. Chandler Boulevard.
This place will give you an excellent selection of aged steaks.
At the same time, it has fresh seafood, and other classic American grilled meats, such as chicken and ribs, using the best wood for barbeque.
You can enjoy all these delicious foods at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill's upscale, lodge-like dining setting, offering you a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy your food.
SanTan Brewing– Downtown Chandler
SanTan Brewing– Downtown Chandler is a well-known independent brewery that serves excellent craft beer and delicious pub food.
You can find this brewery and pub along S. San Marcos Place.
It's one of Chandler's most famous and extensive breweries, making it a recommended place to hang out.
It offers a wide array of signature craft beer best enjoyed with its in-house pub food.
Pair your craft beer with pub-style wings, whiskey cheesesteaks, buffalo chicken sandwiches, taco carnitas, Baja shrimp tacos, and plenty more.
Enjoy all these while unwinding inside SanTan Brewing-Downtown Chandler's cozy, rustic, welcoming pub setting.
Ahipoki Bowl
Check out Ahipoki Bowl for some authentic and healthy Hawaiian cuisine with a twist of California-inspired seafood.
You can find this Hawaiian restaurant along N. 54th Street.
It mainly serves various Hawaiian dishes, especially its signature poke.
This dish is a mouthwatering traditional Hawaiian raw fish cuisine served on top of a bowl of rice with exotic toppings.
What makes Ahipoki Bowl an excellent place to enjoy this dish is the wide selection of raw and fresh fish you can choose for your bowl of poke.
You can choose conventional tuna, yellowtail fin tuna, sushi-grade fish, and salmon for your poke bowl.
Besides its famous poke, this restaurant also serves delicious Japanese food such as unagi, ahirrito, and spam musubi.
Elmer's Tacos
Head to Elmer's Tacos if you're up for more Mexican food.
You can find this restaurant known for its traditional Mexican fare along N. Arizona Avenue.
This restaurant is best known for its casual, counter-serve setting, perfect for those who want to enjoy delicious Mexican food without the fancy fuzz.
Elmer's Tacos is also one of Chandler's longest-running Mexican restaurants.
It has operated since 1974.
This Mexican restaurant is known for its traditional Mexican food, using its well-kept family recipes inspired by Los Angeles and Sonora-style cooking.
Don't miss out on its weekly special, consisting mainly of three crispy taco meals: shredded beef, ground beef, or shredded chicken.
This restaurant's weekly special usually comes with rice, beans, and some delicious pico de gallo.
Besides its weekly special, it also serves bean and cheese burro, Al Pastor Burro, and plenty more.
Singing Pandas Asian Restaurant & Bar
Singing Pandas Asian Restaurant & Bar is your go-to place for Chinese cuisine.
You can visit this Asian restaurant along E. Chandler Boulevard.
It's where you'll find the classic orange chicken, pan-fried noodles, egg rolls, dumplings, and steamed rice.
You can order their favorite menu items through delivery.
Otherwise, enjoy its chic and lounge-style dining area with regular nightly live music serenading its diners.
Besides its delicious menu, Singing Pandas Asian Restaurant & Bar also serves a wide range of cocktail drinks and craft beer.
This spot is one of the city's best places to try out, especially if you're craving some excellent Asian comfort food.
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
If you're in the mood to eat in a fancy restaurant, head to Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant.
You can visit this restaurant along W. Chandler Boulevard, featuring its modern but cozy dining room setting.
It mainly serves casual fare and excellent handcrafted wines.
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant is an idyllic place to share a meal with your special someone if you're planning a lunch or romantic dinner date.
Its must-tries are chimichurri-rubbed skirt steak, filet mignon, Cooper's Hawk chicken giardiniera, soy ginger Atlantic salmon, and plenty more.
Of course, your dining experience at this romantic restaurant won't be complete without pairing your meal with a bottle of its finest wine.
1912 Lounge
The Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Chandler Golf Resort always takes pride in its restaurant, the 1912 Lounge.
It boasts an excellent menu and a magnificent but cozy dining area.
This restaurant is the go-to place for those who have just completed the 18-hole scenic golf course.
Before ordering your meal, refresh yourself with cocktail drinks while relaxing at its outdoor patio overlooking the golf course and resort.
If you're ready to order, don't miss trying out 1912 Lounge's signature selections, such as filet mignon, seared salmon, southwest chicken pasta, AZ Burger, turkey avocado wrap, and plenty more.
After a satisfying meal, you can roam around or stay at the Crowne Plaza Phoenix to complete your experience.
ATL Wings
ATL Wings is one of the best places to enjoy your favorite chicken wings while exploring Chandler.
Located along W. Warner Road, this staple restaurant in Arizona has received the moniker "King of Wings" and has won numerous awards.
It's best known for its wide array of handcrafted sauces drizzled over piping-hot crispy wings, available in different varieties.
You can choose from the classic Buffalo sauce with a hot and mild variety, or perhaps go for the garlic parmesan, honey habanero, or its sweet n' tangy sauce.
To complete your ATL Wings experience, don't forget to pair its mouthwatering chicken wings with its homemade coleslaw, mac n' cheese, or its sweet corn bites.
Besides its famous chicken wings, you can also order its two-piece fried tilapia combo, which is equally satisfying.
AZ Pho & Grill
AZ Pho & Grill is Chandler's best place to fill your tummy with authentic Vietnamese dishes.
You can visit this Vietnamese restaurant along S. Gilbert Road.
The best dish at this restaurant is its classic and authentic pho noodle soup.
Pair this iconic noodle soup with the banh mi or the traditional Vietnamese sandwich.
Besides pho and Banh Mi, you can also order other Vietnamese dishes, including boba milk teas, coffee, fresh lemonades, and plenty more.
Enjoy these famous Vietnamese dishes in this restaurant's casual dining setting.
AZ Pho & Grill is an excellent place to enjoy these authentic Vietnamese favorites before wrapping up your Chandler food adventure.
Final Thoughts
Chandler has a fantastic and unique food scene.
Despite being a small suburb of Phoenix, this city's food scene continues to grow and introduce new and diverse flavors, making it an excellent food destination.
Its diverse food scene reflects Chandler's diverse culture and heritage, bringing Tex-Mex, Asian, and classic American cooking into one place.
Which of the best restaurants in Chandler, Arizona, will you check out first?
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