Best Sushi (Staff Pick)
Ninja Japanese Restaurant
2330 N Alma School Rd., Chandler, 480-899-3423
Just like the stealth warrior, Ninja stays hidden off of Alma School Road near Ray Road. Ninja will please sushi lovers and doubters alike. If diners arrive with an empty stomach, choose the all-you-can-eat option. $20 fills a stomach full of sushi in no time. But don't overorder—patrons have to pay for whatever is left on the plate. If your date really isn't into sushi, Ninja also doubles as a teppanyaki restaurant with great food and theatrics from a personal chef. Ninja serves the usual sushi items like Philly and California rolls. But it also has some specialty rolls of its own. The spicy Volcano Roll is brutal but a winner, with cream cheese covered wrapped in seaweed covered in a spicy sauce. The restaurant also has a variety of raw fish items such as Unagi eel or the yellow-tail snapper. If sushi buffs have an appetite that could conquer the Tang Dynasty, then Ninja is the place.
Best sandwich (Staff Pick)
Bison Witches
21 E. 6th St., Tempe, 480-894-9104
Bison Witches, hidden between the Orchid House and the Brickyard on Mill Ave. and 6th Street, is hands down the best sandwich near campus and totally worth the half-mile hike. Locally owned and operated, the bar and sandwich restaurant boasts cheap deals for cheap (read: financially challenged) students on both lunches and drinks. Drink specials operate on a weekly rotation, usually offering discounts on import bottles or pints. But sandwich deals stay the same everyday: an enormous whole sandwich for roughly $6 or a formidably sized half sandwich and bag of chips for $4.50. Some standouts include the roast-beef-turkey-gouda-and-hot-mustard "Sun Devil" sandwich, and the grilled PB&J. The bar's wide selection of imports and microbrews are also noteworthy: outside of Fat Tire, New Belgium brand beers, Flying Dog's Doggy Style pale ale and Stone's IPA are rarely found beyond the doors of Whole Foods.
The bar also features numerous plasma televisions broadcasting any number of sports games and some funky cartoonish-painted bison on the walls. Also, since the restaurant is not located on campus, there are still booths and tables during the lunchtime rush. This alone makes the distance worth the walk, because you know you'd just be standing in line at Chick-Fil-A, anyway.
Best gelato (Staff Pick)
Dolce Luna
4647 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix, 480-753-0007
Dolce Luna is more than a walk down the street from ASU, but the trip is worth it. The gelateria is reminiscent of the popular ice cream cafes in Europe, likely because the owner moved from Germany. This also makes it stand out from all the other places that have just jumped on the trendy gelato bandwagon in the past few years. The gelato is handmade daily and the shop rotates about 35 flavors. Almost 30 are available at one time. Flavors range from traditional to exotic. Stay safe with vanilla or rile up your taste buds with tiramisu or pear. Each flavor is rich, creamy and tastes flippin' amazing. If one flavor is not good enough, ask for a different flavor with each scoop. Blood orange, kiwi and coconut make for an especially delicious, and tropical, combination. The gelato is served in a tall pedestal glass and topped with a crunchy wafer. A small is two scoops and costs about $3. A large is four scoops and is less than $6. The shop has a comfortable, at-home feel but is decked out a in modern, European style. Free Wi-Fi makes this a good place to stick around even after the last drop of melted gelato has been licked off a spoon. Dolce Luna specializes in homemade gelato but also offers coffee drinks, panini sandwiches and crepes.
Best hangover food (Staff Pick)
YC's Mongolian Grill
3206 E. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 480-820-8880
There are few things better than the immense satisfaction a college student experiences when packing a huge amount of food into a container for one low, low price. Especially when they desperately need to load up on carbs after a long night of a strictly liquid (read: alcoholic) diet. YC's Mongolian Grill offers all the over-eating delights of a buffet without the disturbing realization your food has been cooking under lamps all day. After paying for a bowl ($7.50 to $10), consumers pack as many vegetables, noodles, tofu, meats and sauces in as possible before having their food grilled while they watch. And for a measly extra 75 cents, all-you-can-eat chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt is thrown in. The price for the enormous quantity of tasty food is unbeatable; just don't expect too much atmosphere. The aesthetic is very cafeteria-like, but most people nursing a hangover don't need anything too fancy.
Best dessert
Oregano's Pizza Cookie
523 W. University Drive, Tempe, 480-858-0501
Plenty of restaurants offer the "pizza cookie," originally a Southern California creation. But local chain Oregano's, justly famous for their pizza and pasta, has also perfected this dessert dish. It's a hot, gooey cookie served fresh out of the oven in a pizza pan with cool ice cream layered on top. (Two other cookie flavors are offered, but chocolate-chip is traditional and tastiest.) It's big enough for three or four hungry people, so the shared ecstasy of eating also means competition for the tastiest pieces.
Best vegetarian
Green
2240 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, 480-941-9003
Getting a good appetizer, entrée and desert for around $20 is a rare thing. Getting it all for a twenty while being 100 percent vegan is a miracle. Green does just that by offering "New American Vegetarian" food — comfort foods you know and love, but with an animal-friendly twist. Green offers choices like crab puffs, made from mock crab meat, and a no-harm (mock) chicken parm sandwich. Most vegan restaurants charge a pretty penny just for an appetizer. Green's most expensive menu item is just $9. While many vegan or vegetarian hot spots can come off as exclusive and holier-than-thou, Green exudes a casual coffee shop feel. All food is ordered at the counter, and there are dishes that appeal to herbivores and omnivores alike. The restaurant's spicy mock meat buffalo "wings" and soft-serve soy ice cream will turn anyone into a believer. Convert today, because it's closed on Sundays.
Best Denny's
"Gay" Denny's
5002 N. 7th St., Phoenix, 602-279-7721
Tell a friend to meet up at Denny's, and they may give a confused look that begs the question "Which Denny's?" Tell a friend to meet up at "Gay" Denny's, and both of you will end up at the exact same Denny's in Phoenix. What makes "Gay" Denny's so popular? Well, they have a happy staff of people, not to mention all the happy people that come in. The best time to drop in and dine, just like any Denny's, is around 2 a.m. This is usually the time the restaurant earns its name. "Gay" Denny's got its name because it was a place people could go to after a few gay bars nearby would close for the night. Thus, for the full effect, dining is best after last call. But, no matter what time it is, it's always "Gay" Denny's.
Best coffee house
Three Roots
1020 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 480-966-4949
Only a hop and skip from campus, trendy coffee shop Three Roots located on Mill Avenue is the perfect place for the next caffeine fix. A vegan and vegetarian menu that changes daily and a wide selection of drinks coupled with the hip ambience will bring you back. The prices are similar to Starbucks', but Three Roots offers the perk of free reading material, comfy mismatched furniture and ever-changing local artwork … along with the indie points scored for being seen there. Three Roots is locally owned and embraces the scene with frequent hometown musical acts and events to keep customers entertained. For the next book club meeting or study session, head to Three Roots for a tea or cherry mocha and partake in their free Wi-Fi. Just don't expect to get your alcoholic drink on, this may be one of the only places on Mill that doesn't serve alcohol.
Best all-you-can-eat buffet
Sweet Tomatoes
1410 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, 480-831-1600
Only at Sweet Tomatoes can the choice of soup or salad turn into a three-hour debate. Everything one could ever want can be found at the Sweet Tomatoes salad bar — salad, salad dressing, salad toppings and pudding. Luckily, diners don't have to spend time just choosing one combination. Sweet Tomatoes incorporates an all-you-can-eat attitude, but not in that Golden Coral or Hometown Buffet kind of way. At Sweet Tomatoes, customers can be healthy and actually find broccoli not covered in gooey cheddar. And the muffins, forget about it. You've got your apple cinnamon brans, your French Quarter pralines, your garlic Asiago focaccias, your quattro formaggio focaccias and your ragin' Cajun vegetable focaccias. Although Sweet Tomatoes goes to great efforts to include a fancy menu of made-from-scratch choices, most just stick with the buffet. The famous Sweet Tomatoes buffet will run customers $7.59 for lunch during the week and $7.99 on weekends. Dinner costs $9.49 for weekdays and weekends. There is also a 10 percent student discount for some extra motivation.
Best milk shake (Staff Pick)
Macalpine's Soda Foutain
2303 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-262-5545
These milkshakes have been bringing all the boys (and girls) to the yard since at least the 1930s. Both the shakes and the place itself are full of flavor. Macalpine's can still be found in its original location on Seventh Street, full of antique malt and sundae glasses. Under the counter are cushy, dark green plastic stools, and along a wall are dark wood booths with tiny jukeboxes. The counter sits across from a tall glass wall, stacked high with 1950s-esque glasses. But, most people don't just come to look … they come to taste. Macalpine's has an array of traditional shakes and malts. They keep their ice cream flavors to a small list — chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, black cherry, mint chip, bubble gum, cookie dough and cappuccino crunch — but flavors can be mixed for new combinations. Plus, there are toppings like nuts, pineapples, rainbow sprinkles and caramel sauce. Four dollars will buy a creamy shake in a tall, cold glass decorated with the traditional cherry on top. For authenticity, the shakes are still made with an old, mint-green Hamilton Beach mixer that looks like one of grandma's appliances.
Best chicken fingers
Rock-N-Roll Fingers
937 E. Broadway, Tempe, 480-377-9241
This town ain't big enough for two chicken finger joints. Well, maybe it is, but Rock-N-Roll Fingers is the true rock star in Tempe. The shop's logo is an amazing chicken wearing a leather jacket and playing an electric guitar. And the inside is just as classy. Records and posters of class rock favorites adorn the walls. The decorations are sparse and obviously a man's work. Owners Amy and Adrian Moghina run this show, and diners can often find Adrian rocking a sweet Rock-N-Roll hat behind the counter. But Rock-N-Roll is all business, and the chicken fingers are the main attraction. The restaurant's menu is quite diverse. Diners can choose from golden fried or buffalo style chicken fingers, a chicken finger sandwich or wings. The chicken is fresh — never frozen — and is boneless and skinless. Rock-N-Roll breads the fingers lightly, so they avoid the crunchy, more-bread-than-meat KFC feel. The restaurant offers two meals: the $6.50 regular plate, which includes three fingers, one sauce, fries and texas toast, and the $4.60 small plate with two fingers, one sauce and fries. Fingers and sides are also available a la carte. The prices seem a little steep for simple chicken fingers, but they leave diners screaming for an encore, lighters ablaze.
Best Mexican (Staff Pick)
Barrio Café
2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-636-0240
Sometimes a carne asada burrito, dripping with mystery juices, is not enough. Those wanting to upgrade their Mexican food cravings can go to Phoenix's Barrio Café. The restaurant really is in the barrio, nestled between a discoteca and a fútbol shop, with a carneceria across the street. And the Barrio is the real deal, owned by Mexican chef Silvana Salcido Esparza and Wendy Gruber. The restaurant's interior is small, but it adds to the atmosphere. Our Lady of Guadalupe candles stand at each table, oftentimes under beautiful Mexican religious artwork. Chef Esparza's creations definitely make the drive through Phoenix's less-safe parts worth it. To start, try the guacamole. The Barrio's waiters — always cute, always chic — wheel a cart tableside to make fresh guacamole with unique ingredients like pomegranate seeds. The enchiladas del mar is probably the greatest dish ever created. Shrimp, scallops and crab are wrapped in a blue corn tortilla and covered with a queso de cabra sauce. At $21, it's expensive but an exhilarating combination of bold flavors diners will find nowhere else. Cut back on the daily Filiberto's binging and pamper yourself with some true Mexican cuisine, courtesy of the Barrio Café.
Best pizza
Pizzeria Bianco
623 E. Adams St., Phoenix, 602-258-8300
There's a reason Pizzeria Bianco almost always has a two-hour wait: it's simply fantastic. The eatery has been raved about by everyone from food critics to Oprah, and offers traditional pizzas, salads and antipasti. The mozzarella is what truly makes the food stand out — it's made at Pizzeria Bianco, and every bite is a testament to its freshness. Food this good doesn't break the bank, either. The pizzas are all less than $14. Diners should count on a long wait for a table but can pass the time at Bar Bianco, located next door to the pizzeria. Yes, the wait is obnoxious — but this is a slice that's worth every hour of your time.
Best unhealthy binge
Filibertos
1250 W. Broadway Rd., Tempe, 480-804-1903
Binges come in all forms: alcohol, drugs, sex and food. For those who enjoy a good food binge, there's no restaurant, roach coach, hot dog stand or ice cream man that can satisfy that craving better than Filibertos. Established in 1986 in San Diego, Calif., Filibertos has since sprawled into more than 28 locations across much of California and Arizona. The restaurant's menu includes traditional Mexican favorites such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, quesadillas and horchata. It also has some American favorites like Hi-C and Coke products to ensure that even the most anlgo of anlgos can still have a Diet Coke while binging on tostadas, huevos rancheros or chimichangas. The best bet on the menu is either the No. 9 combination plate (carne asada, rice and beans, tortillas and a drink) for only $8.37, or dos tortas de carnitas ... oops, sorry, two carnnitas tortas, plus a drink, for only $7.95. Although there are three locations in Tempe, the one located on Broadway is the supreme bet. The drive thru and dining area are open 24 hours a day. Call ahead for reservations. OK, no reservations are needed, but you can still call ahead just to talk. Binging on drugs, sex and booze may be more fun, but it's definitely not as tasty.
Best ice cream
Mary Coyle Ol' Fashion Ice Cream and Yogurt
5521 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, 602-265-6266
Vintage clothes, vintage decor and now vintage ice cream. Mary Coyle Ol' Fashion Ice Cream and Yogurt is located downtown and screams Phoenix tradition. The one location to the best ice cream in town has been around since 1951. This is a family-owned establishment, scoring it even more points for being one of the hippest hangouts in town. One of the Mary Coyle ol' fashioned ways is to treat customers like family, minus the bad gifts and creepy-uncle back messages. Mary Coyle not only offers ice cream and yogurt, but sandwiches, soups and salads. Keep an eye out for the famous "Jolly Green Giant" canoe of ice cream. The shop keeps things traditional with the "Club Coyle" sandwich or the "Chicken Ala Queen Mary" soup. The proudest moment for this family might have come with the making of "The Suicide." Vanilla ice cream is covered with caramel and marshmallow toppings. Or get the chocolate chip ice cream covered with hot fudge. Or get the penuche nut ice cream covered with caramel, garnished with cashews, almonds and pecans, topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Best breakfast (Staff Pick)
Four Peaks
1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe. (480) 303-9967
Many people might be surprised that the same place where they were getting sloshed at 1 a.m. is serving up a delicious brunch 10 hours later. Four Peaks has one of the best, and most surprising, breakfasts in Tempe. Eggs benedict, a breakfast burger, scrambled eggs and toast are all amazing, but the French toast truly makes this breakfast stand apart from the usual at IHOP. Thick-cut sourdough bread is baked with an egg and cinnamon batter — it's thick enough to not get soggy when covered in syrup. Most of the menu comes with fresh fruit and their signature roasted potatoes. The potatoes are cut in small chunks and mixed with bell peppers, onions and spices. The eggs benedict also have a spicy twist — they are flavored with jalapeños. The place is just as full for breakfast as it is on the weekends, with patrons enjoying the bright morning sunshine in the partially outdoors eating area. As a finishing touch to breakfast, try the oatmeal stout milkshake — yup, a milkshake made with beer! But, just like that favorite happy hour drink deal, the Four Peaks brunch only comes around once a week. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. only on Sundays, so plan on nursing that Saturday night hangover with a true brewery breakfast.
