The InMaricopa Restaurant Guide 2023 | 2024

Restaurant Guide

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Restaurant Guide

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

20 24

City council’s favorite foods One of the best ways to learn more about someone is to find out what they love to eat. Here’s a peek at your city councilmembers’ favorite foods and which restaurant they would like to see in Maricopa one day.

RICH VITIELLO

My favorite cuisine is Italian. As for my favorite meal, that’s a difficult one, but I would have to say veal marsala. It’s just an absolutely delicious meal. I would love to see RigaTony’s come to Maricopa. The reason why I like eating there is because it is a family-style restaurant like back home in New York. The staff is very friendly and kind. The food is almost as good as my wife Joann’s cooking, but hers is still better like my mom’s. RigaTony’s would fit in Maricopa just fine and I believe it would do very well here.

of the old North Scottsdale traditional favorite Pinnacle Peak Patio, with the addition of salmon to their menu. Pinnacle Peak cooked their cowboy steaks over mesquite flames, served with very cold beer, and they cut off your necktie if you ordered your steak well-done. Pinnacle Peak Patio Version 2 would be a real addition to Maricopa. A real cowboy bar with real cowboy steaks cooked over mesquite by real cowboys. That would get Valley residents driving out to Maricopa for a night out.

ERIC GOETTL

If it is food, I will probably eat it! I love to try new foods, especially foods that have a rich heritage and culture, foods that not only excite the taste buds but also tell a story. My favorite dish, and maybe it’s because we’re coming off the holidays, has to be my late grandmother’s four-generation recipe for stuffing. Each time I’m able to make this dish, it brings back wonderful memories of spending time with her and family around the Thanksgiving table. When it comes to what restaurant I would like to see come to Maricopa, that’s a hard one for me to answer. I don’t necessarily have one dream restaurant I wish would come. Instead, I’m excited for any new restaurant to come to town, especially one that might be built around one of their grandma’s favorite recipes! AMBER LIERMANN My favorite food depends on my mood. I love Mexican, Chinese, Italian, American, Thai. My new favorite food is Filipino. I would love to see a Cheesecake Factory here in Maricopa and a Peter Piper Pizza for the young families.

VINCENT MANFREDI I grew up in a primarily Cuban neighborhood, so my favorite food is Cuban, followed closely by my family’s Italian dishes. My favorite dish is bistec res empanizado, con arroz y frijoles and platano maduro frita, which is a thin cutlet of choice top round steak, seasoned in classic Cuban spices, lightly breaded and fried golden brown, served with white rice and a black bean soup, and fried ripe plantains. There was a Cuban restaurant in West New York, N.J., where I grew up named Las Palmas

HENRY WADE

My favorite food is Mexican and that’s probably because I grew up in Los Angeles. I was born in East L.A. and moved to another part of L.A., so those flavors call to me. I love chicken tortilla soup because it’s so flavorful and so warm. It feels comforting. I want it even if it’s 100 degrees outside. There’s a restaurant in Los Angeles, a small restaurant where I had my first date called El Torito. It would be nice to have a replica of that because it takes me back to my history.

NANCY SMITH

My favorite food is Italian. My favorite meal is an Italian feast with lasagna, spaghetti, French bread and salad. This creates a community feel where people share a meal and engage in laughter and great conversations. Something like RigaTony’s would be great for Maricopa.

Restaurant, and I would do anything to have that here.

BOB MARSH

My wife and I are omnivores and I have worked as No. 2 in a 4-star restaurant. My favorite dish is Pacific Northwest Salmon. Why? Omega-3 fatty acids in the fish. Healthy. I would love to see a revival

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

THE ROOST SPORTS BAR & CAFE

BECOME A

✓ Order Online ✓ Private Events

Appetizers • Burgers • Cheese Steaks • Tacos • Sandwiches Wraps • Salads • Classics • Wings • Sides • Dinner Selections

Sunday to Thursday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Friday & Saturday 11:00 am to 2am Late night kitchen openuntil Midnight

20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy TheRoostAz.com

Restaurant Guide

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Who serves the best burger in town?

38%

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers Culver's Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Roots Eatery Native Grill & Wings The Roost Headquarters Wendy's Jack In The Box Burger King Denny's McDonald's Sonic Drive-In IHOP

21%

11%

3% 3%

Dairy Queen 0% 0% 0%

Who’s the donut king in Maricopa?

42%

Good Donuts

Category A

29%

BoSa Donuts

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers

38%

Culver's

21% 11%

21%

Bashas'

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Dunkin' Donuts

Roots Eatery

7% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0%

Native Grill & Wings

The Roost

Headquarters

Wendy's

Jack In The Box

Burger King

Who provides the best Mexican food in town?

Denny's

McDonald's

22%

Carniceria Sonora Cilantros Mexican Cocina Plaza Bonita Family Mexican Restaurant

Sonic Drive-In

18%

IHOP

10%

Dairy Queen

Aliberto's Mexican Food Sonora Hot Dogs & Tacos Burrito Loco Sos Francisco's Mexican Food Taqueria La Rocka Tacos N More Rili B's Taco Shop Headquarters Taco Bell Chipotle Mexican Grill Mariscos Mi Gusto

Category A

Good Donuts BoSa Donuts

42% 29% 21%

5% 5% 5%

Bashas'

Dunkin' Donuts

Source: InMaricopa.com poll

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Also find coupons at InMaricopa.com/ Coupons

21164 N. John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Hours: 11am - 11pm Sunday thru Thursday; 11am – 12pm Friday-Saturday 520-568-6077 NativeGrillAndWings.com

Restaurant Guide

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A look into food inspections

269

268

262

269

What exactly does each food inspector’s rating mean? Excellent: All priority standards are observed as compliant. Satisfactory: One or more priority standards is out of compliance. All priority standards are corrected at the time of inspection. Needs improvement: One or more priority standards is out of compliance. At least one violation is not corrected at the time of inspection. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow-up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given. Unacceptable: One or more violations observed are an “imminent health hazard.” Hazards include the misuse of poisonous or toxic materials, onset of an apparent foodborne illness outbreak and unsanitary conditions that may endanger public health. Hazards can stem from fires, floods, electrical or water problems, and sewage backup. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow- up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given.

268

262

1 231 1

230

1 1 9

231

230

252

213

206 269

252

179

174 268

213

262

206

179

174

231

230

Excellent Satisfactory Needs Improvement

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

* Inspections from Jan. 1 - Dec. 1, 2023.

2019 2019 2020 2021 2020 2021 1

2022 2022 2023* 2023

252

213

206

179

174

Which restaurant serves the best pizza in town?

26%

Dell's Pizza & Wings Express Barro's Pizza Rosati's Pizza Brooklyn Boys Pizzeria & Restaurant MOD Pizza Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza Domino's Pizza Native Grill & Wings Papa Johns Pizza Little Caesars Pizza Hut

24%

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

17%

12%

Source: InMaricopa.com poll

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Below is a list of some of the restaurants that received perfect inspections, and repeat offenders between Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 1, 2023

PERFECT RECORDS THE LAST TWO YEARS

Culver’s Gyro Grill

Received five “excellent” ratings in a row. Received “excellent” ratings all three times they were inspected. Received four “excellent” ratings in a row. Visited by inspectors three times and received “excellent ratings” each time. Since the opening of Neaux Coffee Company last year, inspectors rated the shop with “excellent” ratings both times they visited. Inspected five times, receiving all “excellent” ratings from inspectors. Has earned four “excellent” ratings. Food inspectors visited The Slab Premium Meats three times and gave them all “excellent” ratings. Has earned four “excellent” ratings in a row. Has been visited three times, receiving “excellent” ratings every time.

Papa Murphy’s Pizza Pizza Hut

Come Join Us for Some Fun and Food.

Neaux Coffee

Raceway Bar and Grill

Roots Eatery The Slab Premium Meats

Silver Spur Grill

Water & Ice

Yogurt Jungle

KITCHEN HOURS SATURDAY – THURSDAY Bar 6:30am – 7:00pm • Kitchen 7:00am – 6:00pm

FRIDAY Bar 6:30am – 8:00pm Kitchen 7:00am – 7:00 pm Fish Fry 4:00pm – 7:00pm

REPEAT OFFENDERS THE LAST TWO YEARS

Visited four times, receiving three “satisfactory” ratings. Inspected three times since its February 2023 opening, receiving all “satisfactory” ratings. Visited six times, receiving five “satisfactory” and one “excellent” rating. Inspected five times, receiving four “satisfactory” and one “excellent” rating. Inspected five times, receiving four “satisfactory” and one “excellent” rating. Inspected four times, receiving three “satisfactory” and one “excellent” rating. Inspected five times, receiving four “satisfactory” and one “excellent” rating.

Barro’s Pizza

HAPPY HOUR 2:00pm – 5:00pm Monday-Thursday Draft Beer • Wells • Wine • Wings

Carniceria Sonora

Francisco’s Mexican Food Li’s Garden

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL SIZE PARTIES

Plaza Bonita

Sonic Drive-in

The Duke at Rancho El Dorado 42660 Rancho El Dorado Pkwy (480) 844-1100

Tacos N’ More

www.TheDukeGolf.com/Grill

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

20 24

19 tasty food trucks to try BY MONICA D. SPENCER AND KAYLIN HANSEN With two new food truck parks opening soon and food truck expos slated at Ak-Chin Entertainment Circle and Central Arizona College, Maricopa is slowly growing a reputation as a haven of rolling restaurateurs. Wonder what eats you’ll find in the parks and around town? Here’s a peek at 19 food trucks that happily call Maricopa home.

COAST 2 COAST BBQ Barbecue

Between the pounds and pounds of brisket served at Coast 2 Coast, you’ll also find pulled pork, racks of ribs and handmade sausage. C2CBBQ.com

SONORA HOTDOGS QUESABIRRIAS Mexican A meal at Sonora Hotdogs Quesabirrias will leave you

SOFRITO TAN RICO Puerto Rican

Who knew you could find New York-style Puerto Rican food in the middle of the desert? You’ll find popular options like mofongo, a dish of smashed plantains topped with your choice of meat. SofritoTanRico.com

SLOPPY TOPPINGS SNACK BAR Mexican Make sure you grab enough napkins and wet-naps before eating here. Bowls are served dripping with chamoy, nacho cheese or whipped cream, looking delightfully Instagrammable. Our favorite? The Sloppy-Lote, which is a large elote cup topped with mayo, queso cotija and plenty of Hot Cheetos crumbs. SloppyToppingsSnackbar.com ASIAN SEOUL FOOD Asian fusion Maricopa experienced a recent explosion of Asian dining options, but this long-time option continues to prove you can find delicious bulgogi fries or spam and egg-topped breakfast bowls on the go. Facebook.com/AsianSeoul. Maricopa

BURRITO LOCO HOT SOS Mexican Burritos, tacos and Sonoran hot dogs are just a few menu items you’ll spot at this food truck parked on John Wayne Parkway in front of Arizona Law Dogs. The tacos are always winners but for an especially hearty meal, try the carne asada burrito. BurritoLocoAZ.com

with a smile on your face with a large menu of tacos, hot dogs, burritos and tortas. Find the food truck parked at the Stage Stop Marketplace. TAQUERIA LA ROCKA Mexican This bright yellow truck keeps your options simple but delicious. The tacos are always delicious, but we recommend trying the Lorenza: a tostada topped with beans, carne asada and cheese. Facebook.com/ TaqueriaLaRockaOfficial

DR. COFFEE Coffee

Dr. Coffee gives a new meaning to drinks on the go. Find a variety of cold brew, espresso, teas and energy drinks served in the little food trailer often parked near Exceptional Community Hospital. DrCoffee.cafe

COPAS ALA CART Fair food

This colorful food truck sells a host of indulgent snacks and sweets like fried chicken, churros and funnel cake. MCopasAlaCart.com

POOR SAM’S ITALIAN BEEF Hot dogs At this food truck, you’ll find plenty of treats that will remind you of the Windy City: Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian sandwiches and pizza puffs. Other menu item favorites include their homemade cannoli and an intriguing take on Italian- style nachos. Facebook.com/SamAItaliano

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

a refreshing take on a typical hot day snack. Facebook.com/RaspadoLoco MARISKOS MI GUSTO Mexican seafood As the name suggests, you’ll enjoy the seafood menu items featured at Mariskos Mi Gusto. The ceviche is always a winner but the tostada mixta — a mixture of shrimp and octopus — is a nice variation. Facebook.com/Llesy.Garcia.986 BANEZ KITCHEN Filipino It’s not easy finding Filipino food in Arizona but if you have a craving for lumpia, check out this little food truck. Other menu options include pork adobo, empanadas and pancit. NAMKEEN DHABA Indian This fairly new food truck brings Indian flavors to Maricopa with a menu full of street foods and curries. Try a new twist on comfort food by sampling the butter chicken mac and cheese, which is topped with a tandoori- marinated chicken.

MONSOON COFFEE CO. Coffee This black and purple truck features fancy and unique flavor combinations. Take their monsoon drink, which combines espresso with tonic water, lime juice and a splash of simple syrup over ice. MonsoonCoffeeCo.com

CREAMYLETA Ice cream

Ice cream, paletas and churros sit at the top of the list of menu items to order from Creamyleta. We love the iced churro, which features a toasty churro topped with ice cream and a drizzle of syrup. Creamyleta.com

SARIO’S CUISINE Various cuisines

From the hefty 347 Burger to a South American version of fried rice, you’ll find a variety of dinner options at this little food truck. SariosCuisine.com

GILBERT MESA

SAVAGE SUSHI Sushi

Indulge in one of Savage Sushi’s specialty rolls, poke bowls or a sushi burrito. One of our favorites is the agua chile roll, a tempura- fried crab meat and avocado roll topped with shrimp, mango, more avocado and agua chile sauce. Facebook.com/SavageSushi

CHANDLER MARICOPA FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UP TO DATE www.nandosmexicancafe.com @NANDOSMEXICANCAFE

RASPADOS LOCOS Mexican snacks

CULINARY MAFIA English/Irish pub food

Looking for the perfect weekend treat on a warm, sunny day? The raspados — snowcones for the non-Spanish speakers — come topped with fresh fruit and an optional scoop of ice cream, for

NANDO’S MEXICAN CAFE

Craving some pub food without the pub? Pick up a plate of bangers and mash or a hefty pub burger from this food truck to enjoy with a pint of Guiness at home.

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

20 24

Nando’s seeks to ‘knock it out of the park’

BY TOM SCHUMAN

The wait — the long, long wait — for the expansion of the East Valley’s Nando’s Mexican Café to Maricopa is nearly over. And it seems no one is more excited than Tim Shaughnessy, one of three owners of the soon-to-be five- unit family gathering spot.

portions that allow you to enjoy your meal and have some leftovers to relish at home.” The new Nando’s, at the northeast corner of Edison Road and John Wayne Parkway, will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. A special brunch menu will be available Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each restaurant has at least a dozen daily lunch specials, and happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays will include a variety of unique offerings. The Maricopa location will seat about 150 customers indoors and another 40 to 50 on the patio. Live entertainment has been featured in a smaller patio setting at Queen Creek. Shaughnessy said Nando’s will be an active participant in the community, already sponsoring softball and Little League teams. “We do a ton of fundraisers. We feed high school football teams all the time,” he said. “We have a Christmas Angels program where people can buy a present for someone in need.” A mural unveiling, featuring a local symbol, will be part of the grand opening in Maricopa.

The expansive Sonoran-style menu includes a broad range of family favorite recipes originating from Rios and his family. The fajitas, enchiladas and burritos are accompanied by appetizers such as a Mexican pizza and pizza blanco. Two unique offerings include the popular pollo rico, a crisp chicken burro topped with jalapeño cream cheese and cheddar cheese, and the faja pasta, grilled chicken or steak sautéed with a spicy chipotle cream sauce, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and fresh jalapeños served on a bed of fettuccine. Maricopa resident Julie Harris recently visited the

“It was 2020 when Maricopa first came on our radar,” said Shaughnessy, who teamed with partners Fernando “Nando” Rios and Sean Whalen. The pandemic and a series of developer delays slowed earlier plans, “but we’re moving forward now,” he said. The targeted opening is late this month. Shaughnessy is confident residents and visitors will be pleased with what they find. “I think it’s a great area, a great community,” he explained. “We’ve been really happy with the response so far from the city. Everyone is very friendly. The sky’s the limit. We want to knock it out of the park right off the bat.” Shaughnessy and Rios launched Nando’s in Gilbert in 2003. Growth came in neighboring areas over the next 20 years — Mesa in 2009, Chandler three years later and Queen Creek in 2019. The latter provided some guidance for the owners of what to expect in Maricopa. “There are a lot of snowbirds and their guests here. It’s a busy time of year. We really have to set the tone with our service,” Shaughnessy shared. “You can’t overprepare for these openings. “Our demographic is families. When you grew up with your

family and you went to a certain restaurant to celebrate special occasions — that’s what we want to be.” An experienced team with proficiency at the other locations will be coming in to manage the Maricopa restaurant.

“Our demographic is families. When you grew up with your family and you went to a certain restaurant to celebrate special occasions — that’s what we want to be.” –Tim Shaughnessy, Co-owner

Chandler location and came away impressed — beginning with the expansive menu and timely service and continuing with the quality of the food. “I’ve been to Nando’s several times, and it never disappoints,” she said. “Our entire group loved their entrees. The food is outstanding with plentiful

Approximately 50 new employees, evenly divided between full- and part-time, will be on board. Shaughnessy explained it was fitting he conducted his interview with InMaricopa while driving in his car. He and the other owners employ a hands-on philosophy, constantly traveling between the various locations.

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

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Restaurant Guide

20 24

For those looking for a quiet night in, The Roost offers pickup and delivery options.

“We were left with $25,000 cash to basically start this business with,” Skrzypczak said. “We had huge, huge aspirations and then within a week into it we said, ‘Oh my god, we’re going to lose half of our startup money with like 90% of it going to a wall that nobody’s going to see.’” With the remainder of their loan money, they bought the booze to replenish a dwindling inventory. The Roost also survived the pandemic years beginning with a total restructuring in 2020 when most restaurants shuttered for months or more. But the restaurant closed down for two weeks. Skrzypczak had just expanded the business and there were loans to pay. But grocery stores were also running out of the products he needed to sustain the business. “The toilet paper shortage had already started, and then the meats and grains had already started to slow down too, or at least you couldn’t get them from the shelves,” he said. Doing whatever he could to survive, Skrzypczak offered customers free toilet paper rolls with their orders. “I just pulled everything I could out because those bills were coming,” he said. “It was totally bizarro world.” Ultimately, he said government entities left it up to

That was a few years before entrepreneur Jon Taffer’s reality TV show, “Bar Rescue”, renamed it The Roost. It is a branding that Skrzypczak interprets to mean a place where anyone can come in and hang out. The eighth season of Bar Rescue covers The Roost’s revamp travails, focusing much on Skrzypczak himself. Almost overnight, exposure from the show tripled The Roost’s business. Skrzypczak first planned to open a dispensary in Colorado after recreational cannabis was voter-approved there. But in 2015, he got a call from his father who moved to Maricopa with intentions to retire here. His father told him True Grit Tavern’s owner wanted to sell. Skrzypczak initially balked at the thought of going into the restaurant and bar business because he had no experience in the industry. He said he only knew it was one of the toughest in existence. “To this day, it was probably the worst thing I ever did without doing the inspection and my due diligence,” Skrzypczak recalled. “I just said blindly, ‘OK Dad, let’s do it.’” A week after cutting the ribbon, the father-son duo found the tavern was riddled with black mold, which cost $125,000 to remove. The business loan was only $150,000.

Ralph Skrzypczak, owner of The Roost, with a sampling of the eatery's expanded menu items.

Rooster tales How our local watering hole overcame the odds

BY JEFF CHEW

It was a rocky beginning for The Roost Sports Bar & Café nine years ago. It was then known as True Grit Tavern, a tip of the cowboy hat to the popular 1969 John Wayne flick “True Grit”. Owner Ralph Skrzypczak, who jokes about his last name being a good online password, remembers well the struggles of starting up the business in a strip mall on North John Wayne Parkway.

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

“There’s just a lot more angst in the world today. From my feeling in the bar business, in the hospitality world, we’re walking around on eggshells more than we were before.” –Ralph Skrzypczak, Owner

SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11AM-9PM HOURS FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM- 10PM

CARRYOUT • DELIVERY • CATERING

21423 NORTH JOHN WAYNE PARKWAY #102 | MARICOPA 520-568-7700

we’re walking around on eggshells more than we were before.” He said more online orders also changed the dynamic of business, along with higher pay for staff and rising costs in general. Today, Skrzypczak said he’s trying to give people what they want. Consequently, the menu covers everything from a hotdog and soda to a steak and a glass of fine wine. “We want a place that the community is proud of to call their own,” Skrzypczak said. “Cheers,” a nod to the TV comedy based on a bar “where everyone knows your name,” is something Skrzypczak said he hears from customers when describing The Roost. “When we celebrate, we do it here,” he said, speaking of his regular diners and barflies. He said he recognizes more such places are needed in Maricopa to keep customers from having to drive deeper into the Valley and metro Phoenix metro through the aggravating traffic of State Route 347. New online ordering and delivery concepts are under consideration, he said. A popular promotion is raffling off a 85-inch TV during football season. A $6.99 “fire sale” breakfast and $1 beers at 3:47 p.m. are among the bar’s unique and rotating promotional offerings. “As Maricopa grows into the future, I just want to have a place that can be represented across the board, generationally, for everyone,” Skrzypczak said. “It’s a place where everyone can just come and hang out and feel comfortable being themselves.”

businessowners despite the fact they knew little to nothing about health care. Even though the business survived the pandemic, Skrzypczak said it took a severe toll. “We ended up having to sell my mom’s house in Colorado — the house that I grew up in — at the end of 2020,” he said. The government loans were intended to keep people employed at the bar, he said. It could not be used to pay off debt. The business has a “lean” staff of 25 today, he said, down from 50 before the pandemic. “The weirdest part is COVID changed human behavior, so we don’t participate in things like we used to,” he said. “There’s just a lot more angst in the world today. From my feeling in the bar business, in the hospitality world,

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The Roost offers patrons a variety of appetizers and entrees.

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

20 24

Thai the knot City embraces first Thai spot

about the product,” Benveniste added. More than 30 employees are part of the team, with the majority living in town. The manager has lived in Maricopa for several years. The restaurant, near John Wayne Parkway and Hathaway Avenue, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Thai Chili 2go is involved in the community and recently conducted a food and toy donation drive for St. Vincent de Paul. “We want to give back and not only take care of our people but our community,” Banger outlined. “We’re a company that cares. We’re excited to see where that [community involvement] goes." Unlike the others Thai restaurants are prolific throughout the country due to a Thai government plan launched more than 20 years ago. The Global Thai Program strived to increase the number of Thai restaurants worldwide. It did just that to the tune of approximately 5,000 in the U.S. and 15,000 globally. The initiative provided training programs, grants and information to investors. Results included creating a more positive image of the country and enhancing both export and tourism revenues. Since the launch of the Global Thai Program, there has been a 200% increase in tourism to the country. Thai Chili 2go is a local restaurant and one of few in the country with no connections to that program. It does, however, have its own growth plans. The company’s 16th location will open in Laveen next month. The goal is to add three to five more stores per year, expanding throughout Arizona before going national and beyond.

“We do corporate parties, birthday parties and other events,” Banger revealed. “Those are good places to add foods like dumplings and spring rolls as appetizers.” The menu favorites — like curry five ways — run deep. “The curries are always among the highest sellers, particularly as the weather cools,” according to Banger. Two other popular choices are Pad Thai (rice noodles, bean peanuts) and drunken noodles (a smorgasbord of rice noodles, bamboo shoots, carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, basil, chili garlic and a special cooking sauce). Gai Tod (chicken bites) is popular with the younger diners. The Pad Thai is one of several gluten-free choices, and there are vegan options as well. “We pride ourselves on having something for everyone,” Banger shared. For those not familiar with sprouts, green onions, eggs, Pad Thai sauce and crushed Thai Chili 2go, ordering online or through the company’s app is the most effective way to obtain your food. Each location operates on a first-in, first-out basis with its orders. As a scratch kitchen, the freshest ingredients available are used and preparation is not rushed to help ensure quality. A rewards system is also available through the app. Maricopa resident Morrie Benveniste has been a frequent customer since the restaurant debuted. Pad Siew (rice noodles, broccoli, eggs, soy sauce and a special cooking sauce) and basil fried rice are his favorites. He said he likes the flexibility and convenience of the app, including being able to schedule a pickup time. “We’ve always had a good experience. The customer service people behind the counter are very helpful, knowledgeable

BY TOM SCHUMAN

Maricopa was the 15th location for Thai Chili 2go when the local restaurant opened last summer. But it has been distinctive for the Gilbert-based company in several ways. “We love the community. It’s like a small town, but of course it isn’t,” said brand strategist Erin Banger. “It’s unlike anything we have been involved with. The people make it feel so personal. It’s one of our busiest locations.”

others, but business has remained strong the first six months. While carryout is the most common option, is the in-house seating some prefer, and the catering end of the business rolled out in November.

Banger noted the company, like many others, recognized the need for additional local food choices in Maricopa. The response has been robust. She added some weeks are naturally a little slower than

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Restaurant Guide

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January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

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locations. This allows Ekelman to buy directly, bypassing the international permitting process, including in Mexico. Ekelman sells at a handful of other locations as well. Longtime repeat customers have allowed the business to serve all around the Phoenix area, including Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, East Mesa and beyond, he said. His seafoods for sale vary, depending on the time of year. “I have multiple spots around the Valley,” Ekelman says. “I go down into Casa Grande, Arizona City, I’m up in Rio Verde, I’m all over.” He’s at the SR 347 and Riggs Road location Wednesdays through Fridays and every other Saturday. “I use this spot more in the wintertime because there’s more snowbirds in town,” he says. “I sell a ton of shrimp,” the Chandler resident says, when asked what product sells the best at Riggs Road. He says depending on the time of year, the Riggs location, which is just inside Maricopa County, can sell the most with almost all its customers coming from Maricopa. He says the location is normally in the top three for sales year-round. What other products do Maricopans buy? “On Mother’s Day, I sell a ton of lobster tails,” he says of the crustacean he buys from as far northeast as Maine, and south to the Bahamas.

Hooked Residents say seafood van ‘shrimply the best’

extension cord. Other products picked up over the years include Caribbean lobsters, East Coast scallops, Chilean black mussels, wild Alaskan sockeye salmon and wild-caught American catfish. Ekelman has sold seafood off SR 347 for 12 years after he took over for his father, who sold there for 15 years before him. Under the business name Shrimply the Best, Ekelman has a Gila River Indian Community business license posted in a conspicuous place near his sales chair. The same distributor his father first connected with in Mexico years ago now has a seafood distribution business that ships product in from several international and domestic

BY JEFF CHEW

Justin Ekelman sits on a small folding chair, huddled next to a freezer chest inside a white van. The van is covered in handmade signs pitching shrimp from Rocky Point, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, alongside a menu of other seafood delicacies.

sell seafood in the middle of the desert? “I didn’t come up with this idea. My father started this over 30 years ago,” says Ekelman, a fast-talking fishmonger, quick to suggest the best way to pan fry or grill a customer’s fine ocean-sourced purchase. “Dad had a friend who owned boats down there in the Sea of Cortez. My dad would just take us down as a family, and they got together, and he started bringing [shellfish] over the border, and he started selling it.” Carrying on his father’s legacy, Eckleman today sells six sizes of shrimp from his freezer stuffed with product and powered by a gas generator at the end of a long

Who would think this humble, dirt-lot setting off State Route 347 at West Riggs Road would be a decades-old culinary institution? The van on the Gila River Indian Community is a mobile family business that many Maricopans frequent on their commutes to and from work. Others simply make a seafood run about 15 miles north of the city limit, sometimes fighting traffic all the way. As a measure of its popularity, one-third of voters in a recent InMaricopa poll named the roadside shrimp van their favorite food source. How did this family decide to

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

FREE BIRTHDAY COOKIE

CRUMBL-MARICOPA (with valid ID only)

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January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

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$$$

Restaurant Row may come

MOST EXPENSIVE MENU ITEM Chop, Block & Brew Bone-in ribeye – $55

HIGHEST-CALORIE MENU ITEM Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers

to city center

BY MONICA D. SPENCER AND BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR.

BUILD YOUR OWN BURGER – ALL THE WAY Pounder burger patty (2) 2,304 calories Pretzel bun (2) 540 calories Gruyere cheese (2) 234 calories Peanut butter 180 calories Sugar cured bacon 161 calories Guacamole 125 calories 1000 Island dressing 114 calories Chipotle sauce 65 calories Ranch dressing 65 calories Sautéed onions 60 calories Mayonnaise 57 calories Jelly 40 calories BBQ sauce 25 calories Ketchup 20 calories Tomatoes 16 calories Buffalo sauce 15 calories Teriyaki sauce 14 calories Red onions 12 calories Pico de Gallo 10 calories Golden mustard 5 calories Jalapeños 4 calories Yellow mustard 3 calories Pickles 3 calories

I n September, Maricopa’s Parks and Recreation Committee got the first look at a Restaurant Row concept that could anchor a new park complex around city hall. The culinary strip would line Bowlin Road, just south of the Maricopa Library and Cultural Center. The concept may include some East Valley favorites like West Alley BBQ, Ghett Yo Taco, Ginger Monkey Gastropub, Over Easy and Puro Lounge. Maricopans want BBQ and brunch options. In October, a reader poll showed Maricopans would gleefully welcome a new barbecue or brunch spot to town. InMaricopa asked readers which Restaurant Row candidate whets their appetite the most. Nearly half of voters said they’re most excited for a new smokehouse, voting for West Alley BBQ. Coming in a close second was Over Easy, an Instagram-worthy brunchery that gathered 40% of votes. “Over Easy would be awesome,” local resident Angelina Havermahl said. Maricopans were least excited about an urban taqueria coming to town. Ghett’Yo Taco claimed just 6% of votes.

DRINK 16 oz. Coke: 190 calories

2 SIDES Onion rings: 922 calories French fries: 289 calories

TOTAL 5,475 calories

• 274% of the USDA’s recommended 2,000-calorie diet • It would take the average adult about 7 hours and 18 minutes of running to burn off this meal, according to the USDA

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Restaurant Guide

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An International flare

United States Arizona (Vekol Market) New York (Brooklyn Boys) Illinois (Rosati’s, Dell’s) Wisconsin (Culver’s) Texas (Dickie’s) New Jersey (Jersey Mike’s) California (Coast 2 Coast BBQ) Kentucky (KFC) Hawai’i (Asian Seoul Food Truck)

Ireland Culinary Mafia

South Korea Asian Seoul Food Truck

Bahamas Bahama Bucks

Greece Gyro Grill

China Li’s Garden Panda Express

Italy Barro’s

JAPAN Say Sushi Yummy Noodles

Puerto Rico Sofrito Tan Rico

Mexico Many

India Namkeen Dhaba

Philippines Banez Kitchen

Thailand Thai Chili 2go

Jamaica Auntie’s Soul Food

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January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Restaurant Guide

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Where to Eat AMERICAN 347 Grill 16000 N. Maricopa Road Agave’s Restaurant at Harrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road Arroyo Grille 48456 W. Highway 238 Chop, Block & Brew at Harrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road Copper Cactus Grill at Harrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road Denny’s 21195 N. John Wayne Pkwy.

ASIAN Asian Seoul 20924 N. John Wayne Pkwy Li’s Garden 20928 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Panda Express 20850 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Say Sushi 21101 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #E103 Thai Chili 2 Go 20236 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #111 520-840-7953 TC2GO.com

Water & Ice 20928 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #C-7 520-568-4740 Yogurt Jungle 21101 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #E105 FAST FOOD Arby’s 21600 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Burger King 20699 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Copa Craze Nutrition 20928 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Culver’s 20430 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Dairy Queen 19680 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Freddy’s Frozen Custards & Steakburgers 21467 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Jack in the Box 20975 N. John Wayne Pkwy. KFC/Long John Silver’s 21566 N. John Wayne Pkwy. McDonald’s 20700 N. John Wayne Pkwy. 41710 W. Maricopa Casa Grande Hwy. Slim Chickens 41740 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy. Sonic 21470 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Taco Bell 20980 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Wendy’s 21000 N. John Wayne Pkwy. GREEK Gyro Grill 20987 N. John Wayne Pkwy. ITALIAN/PIZZA Barro’s Pizza 44600 W. Smith-Enke Road Brooklyn Boys Pizzeria & Restaurant 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy.

Little Caesars 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #106 MOD Pizza 20320 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #100 Native Grill & Wings 21164 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Papa John’s Pizza 41620 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy. Papa Murphy’s Pizza 20928 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #C13 Pizza Hut 21101 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Rosati’s Pizza 21423 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #102 520-568-7700 RosatisPizza.com/Maricopa-AZ MEXICAN Aliberto’s Mexican Food 44480 Honeycutt Road, Suite 105

W & Z Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar 21576 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #101 Yummy Noodles 20917 N. John Wayne Pkwy COFFEE SHOP Dunkin’ 20595 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Dunkin Donuts at Harrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road Dutch Bros 20242 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Honeycutt Coffee Café 44400 W. Honeycutt Road #109 Neaux Coffee Company 19428 N. Taft Ave Starbucks 21423 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #101 20797 N. John Wayne Pkwy. 21044 N. John Wayne Pkwy. DESSERTS Bahama Buck's 17470 N. Porter Road Crumbl Cookies 20320 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #105 602-675-9660 CrumblCookies.com Good Donuts 20924 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Sugar-N-Spice Dulces, LLC 520-431-8595 sugarandspicedulcesllc@gmail.com Sweet Cravings 44301 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy.

Headquarters Café 19640 N. Maricopa Road Helen’s Kitchen LLC 20987 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #B-101 IHOP 20429 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Native Grill & Wings 21164 N. John Wayne Pkwy. 520-568-6077 NativeGrillAndWings.com Oak & Fork at Harrah’s Ak-Chin The Roost Sports Bar & Cafe 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #101 520-568-5338 TheRoostAz.com Roots Eatery 20046 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #104 520-340-3460 RootsEateryAz.com Silver Spur Grill at The Duke 42660 Rancho El Dorado Pkwy. 480-844-1100 TheDuke.com/grill Vekol Market 47021 W. Farrell Road Wingstop 20555 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #108 15406 N. Maricopa Road Raceway Bar & Grill 49237 W. Papago Road #7

520-568-6883 Alibertos.com Carniceria Sonora

19568 N. Maricopa Road Chipotle Mexican Grill 21423 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Cilantro’s Mexican Cocina 21423 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Plaza Bonita Family Mexican Restaurant 21141 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Francisco’s Mexican Food

20850 N. Maricopa Road Nando’s Mexican Cafe NandosMexicanCafe.com Rili-B’s Taco Shop 19975 N. John Wayne Pkwy. 520-412-1157 RilibsTacoShop.com Tacos N More 21596 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #104 SANDWICHES Firehouse Subs 21083 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #C101 Jersey Mike’s Subs 21423 N. John Wayne Pkwy. Jimmy John’s 20320 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #110 Subway 21116 N. John Wayne Pkwy.

Dell’s Express Pizza + Wings 19975 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #110 DellsPizzaAndWings.com Domino’s Pizza 20024 N. John Wayne Pkwy. #104

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Restaurants by the numbers

FAST CASUAL 12 (17%)

QUICK SERVICE 38 (53.5%) Quick, cheap and everywhere. More than half of Maricopa’s restaurants are classified as quick service — restaurants that em- phasize inexpensive meals from premade ingredients that can be eaten on the go. Think places like Slim Chickens, McDonald’s or any drive-thru establishment where orders are turned around in seconds and wait staff are nonexistent.

These restaurants are a couple of notches above fast food with a more upscale menu, but service is more limited than what you would expect at a typical sit-down restaurant. You may or may not need to go inside to order and you sit down at a proper table — but menus are fairly stagnant with a mix of fresh and premade ingredients. Service is speedier than cooking it yourself, but we’re talking minutes rather than seconds. Don’t count on a waiter or waitress here. Chipotle is a popular example. FINE DINING 0 (0%) Elegant, expensive and luxurious define this type of restaurant. Unfortunately, Maricopa has yet to bring in a restaurant that offers a truly upscale dining experience. Think Capital Grille or Fleming’s in Phoenix.

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CASUAL DINING 21 (29.5%)

Casual dining is traditionally the largest segment of a city’s restau- rant industry, accounting for most sit-down restaurants. A couple of local examples are The Roost and Native Grill & Wings. Nothing you’d don a tux for, but some- one will wait on you, and you’re expected to tip at the end.

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26 (37%) INDEPENDENT

CHAIN 45 (63%)

(520) 568-4740 20928 N. John Wayne Pkwy., Suite C-7

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

Category A

Restaurant Guide

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347

FAST CASUAL

QUICK SERVICE

MAP

RESTAURANT

CASUAL

OWNERSHIP

I I I

347 GRILL

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

AGAVE’S RESTAURANT

ARROYO GRILLE

BARRO’S PIZZA

I I

BROOKLYN BOYS PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT

47 50

CHOP, BLOCK & BREW

W Smith

238

C C

COLD BEERS & CHEESEBURGERS

11 67 12 65

DENNY’S

60 14 17

HEADQUARTERS CAFÉ

57 5

10 IHOP

70 49 27 33

LI’S GARDEN

19 54

37 43

12 NATIVE GRILL & WINGS

13 OAK & FORK 14 PLAZA BONITA 15 ROOTS EATERY

I I I

32 45

16 ROSATI’S 17 SAY SUSHI

9 40

I I I I

18 THE LUXE LOUNGE

19 THE ROOST SPORTS BAR & CAFÉ

20 THE SILVER SPUR GRILL

21 WZ ASIAN BISTRO & SUSHI BAR 22 CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 23 CILANTROS MEXICAN COCINA

C C

I I

24 COPPER CACTUS GRILL

25 CULVER’S

C C

26 FIREHOUSE SUBS

27 GYRO GRILL

I I

W Bowlin R W Bowlin

28 HONEYCUTT COFFEE

29 MOD PIZZA

C C

30 NEKTER JUICE BAR

31 TACOS N MORE MEXICAN GRILL

32 THAI CHILI 2GO 33 YUMMY NOODLES

34 ALIBERTO’S

C C C C

35 ARBY’S

36 BAHAMA BUCKS 37 BURGER KING

W Farrell Rd

38 COPA CRAZE NUTRITION

2 6

39 CRUMBL COOKIES

C C

13 18

40 DAIRY QUEEN

InMaricopa.com | January 2024

Restaurant Guide

20 24

FAST CASUAL

QUICK SERVICE

MAP

RESTAURANT

CASUAL

OWNERSHIP

41 DELL’S PIZZA 42 DOMINO’S PIZZA

C C C C

43 DUNKIN’ (JOHN WAYNE PKWY.)

44 DUNKIN’ (HARRAH’S) 45 DUTCH BROS COFFEE

46 FRANCISCO’S MEXICAN FOOD

h Enke Rd

FREDDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD & STEAKBURGERS

48 GOOD DONUTS 49 JACK IN THE BOX 50 JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS

C C C C C C

51 JIMMY JOHNS

52 KFC/LONG JOHN SILVER’S 53 LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA

54 MCDONALD’S (JOHN WAYNE PKWY.)

55 MCDONALD’S (MARICOPA-CASA GRANDE HWY.)

56 NEAUX COFFEE COMPANY

W Honeycutt Rd

57 PANDA EXPRESS 58 PAPA JOHN’S 59 PAPA MURPHY’S

C C C C

60 PIZZA HUT/WINGSTOP 61 RILI B’S TACO SHOP

62 SLIM CHICKENS 63 SONIC DRIVE-IN

C C C C C C C

64 STARBUCKS (JOHN WAYNE PARKWAY)

65 STARBUCKS (BASHAS’) 66 STARBUCKS (FRY’S)

67 SUBWAY 68 TACO BELL

69 VEKOL MARKET

70 WENDY’S

C C

71 YOGURT JUNGLE

Note: An ‘I’ denotes the establishment is independently owned and a ‘C’ means the restaurant is part of a chain.

January 2024 | InMaricopa.com

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