10 Best Restaurants In Mesa Arizona

With an eclectic range of restaurants, Mesa, Arizona rivals Tucson in terms of its wide range of cuisine. Mesa has a restaurant to satisfy every craving. Here’s our new guide to eating in Mesa.

Angry Crab Shack

Specializing in the American favorite of ‘crab in bag boil’, the Angry Crab Shack takes pride in creating its own Cajun-spiced boil from scratch. It gives its crab and other seafood the original flavor that keeps customers returning week after week. Aside from blue and dungeness crab, guests can also opt for shrimp, crawfish or lobster. Those eager to try something slightly more daring can also sample frog’s legs, alligator nuggets or raw oysters.
Angry Crab Shack, 2740 S Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, USA, +1 480 730 2722

Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille

Known as the ‘Original Blue Adobe’, Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille is more upscale than Backyard Taco and specializes in New Mexican dishes. Order a selection of appetizers to share such as the fresh guacamole, green chili lobster dip, blackened shrimp lettuce wraps and the old family recipe cheese crisp. For a main course choose between the boisterous carne adovada pork roast, the triple-stacked enchiladas or tacos combo of honey smoked pork tamale. Other options include the tenderloin relleno and shrimp enchilada, or the tucamcari beef tenderloin medallion. These incredible flavors are sure to stay with you long after the meal has come to an end.

Cornish Pasty Company

Owned by Cornish native Dean Thomas, the Cornish Pasty Company brings a touch of the UK’s southern region to Arizona. Sticking to his family recipe, Dean’s most authentic pasty is the ‘oggie’ filled with the traditional combination of steak, potatoes, onion and swede served with a side of gravy. Over the years Dean has gotten more creative. Now, guests can even enjoy chicken alfredo, Mexican strip steak and Cajun chicken pasties alongside the more traditional lamb and mint, pork and sage, and shepherd’s pie.

India Oven

Restaurant, Indian

An incredibly popular restaurant in Mesa, India Oven manages to never feel overcrowded due to its subtle lighting and simple decor. For a authentic Indian dinner, start with a selection of vegetable samosas and chicken pakoras. Then tuck into a main course of bhindi masala and tandoori chicken cooked over hot coals. The lunch buffet is also popular and serves as the perfect opportunity to sample an array of menu items.

Organ Stop Pizza

Pizzeria, Restaurant, Italian

Organ Stop Pizza seats its diners underneath an impressive 23-pipe organ that plays throughout the evening. The soft background music helps create a special ambience that guests seem to love. The most popular options on the menu are the build-your-own pizza and the spaghetti with meatballs. A huge, healthy salad bar is available buffet style and makes for the perfect side dish to any meal. All of the pizzas on the menu are now available gluten-free.

Rancho de Tia Rosa

Rancho de Tia Rosa is arguably the most ornate Mexican joint in Mesa. Fountains, fireplaces and pretty courtyards envelop diners who feast of wonderfully flavoured authentic Mexican dishes. Try the pork stuffed quesadilla served with guacamole, sour cream and chilli strips; the beef chimichangas; the pineapple avocado salad and the chicken mole. Rancho de Tia Rosa also offers a great lunch deal where diners can enjoy a choice of tacos, enchiladas or burro with a side of rice and beans from just $5.99.

Red, White & Brew

Ideal for casual, family-style dining, Red, White and Brew specializes in matching each of its fantastic dishes with a choice of microbrews and affordable boutique wines. Dishes on offer include American favorites such as boneless New York strip steak with sweet potato fries, stuffed meatball pizza rolls, pan seared scallops and a gourmet burger topped with cheese and bacon. The chefs also know how to cook up a few dishes with a touch of international flair. These include the mussels vin blanc, coconut-crusted shrimp and crispy lahvosh, an Armenian bread, with figs, gorgonzola and bacon.
Red, White and Brew, 6740 E McDowell Road, Mesa, AZ, USA, +1 480 807 9393

Republica Empanada

Restaurant, American

A pan-Latin bistro known for its enormous variety of empanada fillings, Republic Empanada makes for the ideal lunch stop when exploring the cultural wonders of Mesa. Pull up a stool and take a bite of a delicious empanada and be transported directly to the streets of Argentina. Some flavor combinations to choose between include achiote potato, slow roasted pork, chicken and gorgonzola, spinach and feta, peanut butter and banana, Nutella, guava and cream cheese. Aside from empanadas, the restaurant also serves a variety of tortas, freshly cut potato fries, cassava chips, platters and salads.

The Cutting Board Bakery & Café

Bakery, Cafe, Vegan, Dessert

In addition to serving vegetarian and vegan dishes, the popular The Cutting Board Bakery & Cafe also hosts a weekly book club and live music session. This venue believes in the goodness of plant-based diets and only uses seasonal, organic ingredients sourced from local vendors. Give it a try at breakfast when diners are presented with beautiful bowls full of wholesome ingredients. The tofu scramble breakfast bowl, which features sweet potato hash, scrambled tofu, black beans and avocado is a particular favorite. The cafe is also open for lunch and dinner and serves a great range of healthy soups, salads, sandwiches and full plates.

About the author

Chloe Hay

Chloe Hay is a 24-year-old food obsessed Londoner who spends her days thinking, talking and writing about food. When she's not scurrying around her home city seeking out the next hottest deli or underground speakeasy, she's likely to be on the hunt for the best local eateries abroad. To see what she's been up to this month, check out her website or follow her on Twitter.