Chihuahua-style Mexican$central-phoenix
Tacos Chiwas on Indian School Road is a family-run Chihuahua-style room, plating gorditas and tacos from recipes carried up from northern Mexico.
Signature: Gorditas, Tacos, Salsa bar
Order: A made-to-order gordita stuffed at the counter, plus a run at the salsa bar.
Tip: Cash and card both work; the Mesa sibling on Main Street keeps the same recipes.
Sonoran Mexican$central-phoenix
Asadero Norte de Sonora on 16th Street is a neighbourhood Sonoran grill, turning out mesquite carne asada wrapped in house-made flour tortillas.
Signature: Carne asada, House flour tortillas, Barbacoa
Order: Carne asada tacos on the giant house-made flour tortillas.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays; the grilled chicken is as good as the beef if the asada line is long.
Mexican$central-city
The Original Carolina's Mexican Food on Mohave Street has stretched its thin house flour tortillas since 1968, a Valenzuela family standard in Phoenix.
Signature: Flour tortillas, Bean burros, Red chile
Order: A bean-and-cheese burro on the tissue-thin house flour tortilla.
Tip: Buy a stack of the tortillas to take home; the line moves fast at lunch.
Soul food$$central-city
Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles on South Central is Larry White's soul-food flagship, the Phoenix room that built a small chain on fried chicken and waffles.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Catfish, Mac and cheese
Order: The fried chicken and waffles, the plate that built the whole menu.
Tip: The Central Avenue flagship is the original; expect a wait at weekend breakfast.
Southern diner$$garfield
Welcome Diner on Pierce Street is a Southern-leaning room in a vintage diner car, anchoring the Garfield corner with biscuits and a small cocktail list.
Signature: Fried chicken biscuit, Hush puppies, Cocktails
Order: The fried chicken biscuit, the plate that anchors the menu.
Tip: The patio and the original diner car both seat; weekend brunch fills early.
Wood-fired pizza$$town-and-country
Pizzeria Bianco Town & Country is Chris Bianco's second Phoenix pizzeria at 20th and Camelback, with a wider menu of pasta and sandwiches alongside the pies.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Meatball sandwich, Chicken cacciatore
Order: A wood-fired pie plus the house meatball sandwich.
Tip: Sits next to Tratto at The Shops at Town & Country; this room is more relaxed than the Heritage Square original.