Phoenix, Arizona
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If you like Indian food, The Dhaba in Tempe is a Best Thing, and walking distance from a light rail stop, so easy to get to. Also pretty much any hole-in-the-wall taqueria around the Valley that isn't a chain. The -berto knock-offs keep me sustained.
In general, if you have time, I'd use the light rail corridor to explore Tempe and Downtown Phoenix. It goes to Mill Ave and the urban center downtown. The Mesa Arts Center (which is quite lovely and has I think some gallery exhibitions) is on it as well, as far as a Mesa thing goes.
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Woah woah, who else is in PHX?
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@three-eyed-crow said in Phoenix, Arizona:
If you like Indian food, The Dhaba in Tempe is a Best Thing, and walking distance from a light rail stop, so easy to get to. Also pretty much any hole-in-the-wall taqueria around the Valley that isn't a chain. The -berto knock-offs keep me sustained.
In general, if you have time, I'd use the light rail corridor to explore Tempe and Downtown Phoenix. It goes to Mill Ave and the urban center downtown. The Mesa Arts Center (which is quite lovely and has I think some gallery exhibitions) is on it as well, as far as a Mesa thing goes.
I am vegan and I can confirm that Filibertos is love, Filibertos is life, and if you're in mesa anywhere near Mesa Community College the location there has straight up the best veggie burrito I've ever had.
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@sab
I'm a Poliberto's partisan.I'm fascinated by the proliferation of 'Bertos for the default name of greasy taco joints for no clear reason. Some of these seem to pre-date Filibertos? IDK, it's a great mystery of life.
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@three-eyed-crow Yeah, I honestly don't know what the deal is, I just know that Filibertos are everywhere and they don't use lard in their refried beans so I can eat them, while other places require exactly 1 extra step and that's clearly TOO MUCH.
Back on topic: The East Valley (so, around Mesa/Tempe/etc) has some really, really incredible non-American food, and some super dope Americanized versions of other cultural staples. The Dhaba was mentioned, which is an incredible Indian joint in Tempe, though really I haven't found many Indian places in the valley that aren't excellent (except Curry Corner, fuck Curry Corner unless you're 19, super drunk at 5 PM, and want basic-ass food ready in 5 minutes).
If you can make your way out to Chandler, near the Chandler Mall, Tott's Asian Diner is like, the Chinese American restaurant in Phoenix. I've known people who make a ritual of stopping there whenever they come to the city. Their orange chicken is ridiculous. They also deliver on grubhub, if you're close enough.
A non-standard suggestion for the Mesa area, too. If you've a fleeting religious interest, we have a huge Mormon Temple that's pretty neat to look at if you're architecturally inclined. You won't be able to go in unless you're Mormon, but it's cute.
Mesa's Art District is super, super nice, despite always forgetting it exists. There's tons of little specialty shops and street art and exhibits set up in random buildings. It's right off the light rail too, IIRC, so it's not a bad jumping off point if you want to head down to Mill Ave or Downtown Phoenix after, too.
Also, as @Jeshin mentioned, there are many really quality Hookah Lounges in the valley, though ymmv if you've never smoked hookah before.
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@sab said in Phoenix, Arizona:
Mesa's Art District is super, super nice, despite always forgetting it exists. There's tons of little specialty shops and street art and exhibits set up in random buildings.
I want to co-sign this because I also always forget it exists except when I go to a show at the Art's Center and am then like 'Oh, this is actually a neat thing that exists in Mesa now.' Major props to the city for investing in it and revitalizing that area.
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Well I am now actually in Mesa at the Hilton and, somehow succeeded in matching to the timezone pretty well. I manage to stay awake until almost 11pm last night (local time) before sleeping like a log and getting breakfast.
Now free to explore with no commitments until Monday evening, I will certainly go and check out the art district!
