12 Restaurants to Check Out in Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is a popular travel base due to its’ close proximity to the Grand Canyon (a little under 1.5 hours). I lived here for over 2 years and saw so many tourists pass through. Not only is it super close to one of the best national parks, it’s also easy to get to other natural wonders. During your time here, you will likely be doing a lot of eating to replenish your worn out body after all the high altitude hiking, long drives in the car, and time spent exploring the outdoors.

Fortunately, there are so many great local restaurants. I am a bit surprised as the food is usually sub par in most touristy areas. Not the case here – I love the local food scene, and especially the many vegetarian friendly establishments. It’s rare to find so many wonderful vegetarian entrees in such a small city.

You will see most of the familiar chains here too like The Olive Garden, Chilis, and even In and Out (which finally opened in 2024 with a huge turnout), however, I recommend supporting local businesses. One of the reasons why Flagstaff is so much better than Phoenix (and so many drive up here each weekend) is the local dining scene. Today, a vast variety of ethnic restaurants are available to please all different types of diners making their way to one of the world’s most popular travel destinations.

I have definitely found my favorite places that I frequent time and time again. This is a local’s point of view, not a list from a major publication where businesses pay to be spotlighted. There will be a little bit of a vegetarian bias, however, I have also spotlighted some chicken based dishes that Mike enjoys.

1. Delhi Palace

What to try: Veggie Korma, Saag Paneer, Garlic Naan, Vegetable Samosas, Chicken Vindaloo, Onion Bhaji

Update: They no longer offer the lunch buffet and ordering a la carte is a bit pricey, but totally worth it. I’ve eaten in Indian restaurants around the country and this is the best by far! You can customize according to your preferred spice level. I go with mild as I don’t like the spices to overpower the natural flavors.

Delhi Palace is a wonderful local Indian restaurant with the most delicious lunch buffet you will ever come across. During lunch hours, a scrumptious 30+ item lunch buffet of Indian favorites like Saag Paneer, Vegetable Korma, Onion Bhaji, are offered. I love the Naan bread, soup, and salad too. Everything is just top notch. The buffet is a real steal in this pricey tourist area.

If you are new to Indian food, why not give it a shot? Living in Flagstaff, this was my first time trying Indian food and I’ve been hooked every since. Everything is so flavorful and delicious and they offer so many enticing vegetarian options. Indian food is the perfect choice before/after any intense activity – it fills you up and it is delicious – you really cannot go wrong! Service here is great, as is the ambiance.

All the entrees are more mildly flavored, so those avoiding spicy foods need not worry (I am not a fan of spicy food, so it works for me). I love the veggie pakoras, the vegetable soup, the vegetable korma, saag paneer, chana masala, madrasi vegetable mix, aloo gobi, and the onion bhaji the most. Mike loves the Tandoori Chicken & Vindaloo Chicken. And do not let the strip mall location fool you – this is a great place and the ambiance is actually pretty nice. 9 times out of 10, we pick this place for lunch – it’s just too good to pass up on.

For more info, check out my full review of Delhi.

2. Salsa Brava

What to try: Portobello Enchiladas, Farmer’s Market Burrito, Stuffed Sopapilla, Veggie Fajitas

Update: Unfortunately, Salsa ended their famous endless salsa bar, however, you still receive a complimentary basket of chips with 3 salsa flavors which is more than enough as the entrees are so filling!

Salva Brava is a wonderful local Mexican restaurant located along historic Rt. 66. You may have seen it featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.

When Guy Fieri visited, he ordered the Stuffed Chicken Sopaipilla, and Mike confirms that it is delicious. This hefty entree consists of fry bread stuffed with smoked chicken, pinto beans, cheeses, and then topped with cilantro cream sauce, lime creme, and cilantros and onions. It comes with a small sour cream and roasted corn rice and pinto beans so it’s super filling.

They are most well known for their famous salsa bar featuring a number of tasty salsas (using fresh tomatoes daily), in a variety of mild to spicy flavors. Update: You now receive one comp basket of chips with three salsas: pineapple habanero (sweet and spicy), roasted tomato and chipotle (med and smoky flavor), and classic pico de gallo (the mildest). They use fresh tomatoes and you can really taste the difference.

As an added bonus, Salsa uses no lard in their pinto beans so vegetarians can still enjoy the meal (however, they do use chicken stock in their rice). They use no MSG and source only antibiotic/hormone free chicken, so you can rest assured that you are eating a healthier version of traditional Mexican fare.

Other popular dishes include: cheese crisp, shrimp fajitas, street tacos, chimichanga, and Navajo tacos. They serve numerous signature margaritas including a Prickly Pear and Watermelon Jalapeno variety.

Personally, I love the Farmer’s Market Burrito and the Portobello Fajitas. If visiting for lunch, I recommend the veggie enchiladas as they are a real steal at just 13 bucks.

Tip: If you are trying to go cheap (this place is pretty pricey), I recommend visiting during the weekday Express Lunch (11am-2pm, Monday-Friday). They offer a number of specials where you will receive a few dollars off enchiladas, burritos, and chimichangas.

For more info, check out my full review of Salsa.

3. Oregano’s Italian Bistro

What to try: Kick-Butt Garlic Bread, Boom Dip, Cheese Pizza, Original Bollo Pasta, Alfredo the Dark, Guaca-Tony

For those craving traditional Italian, the Phoenix area originated chain Oregano’s is your best bet. As Oregano’s was started by a Chicago family, it is the place to go if you are craving Chicago style thin crust & deep dish pizza. Being from The Windy City, I appreciate coming here for reliably good pizza. This place is really fabulous – I love the ambiance and the food. They usually play old classics like White Christmas on the TVs which is fun. The pasta is great and so is their pizza. If I crave comfort food, this is where I go.

Oregano’s offers a whole lineup of likely unhealthy (go ahead and treat yourself – you are on vacation!), but totally delicious pasta entrees, appetizers, sides, and desserts. I love filling up on carbs after a long day hiking.

Our favorite specialties include: the Bollo Pasta (all-you-can-eat angel hair marinara pasta), Alfredo the Dark (pasta topped with a creamy Southwestern style sauce with several cheeses, jalapenos, tomatoes, and poblano peppers), the Guaca-Tony (a huge pizza crust topped with a big dollop of guacamole), and the Boom Dip (the most delicious spinach artichoke dip around).

For dessert (if you can handle any more food that is), treat yourself to the Original Pizza Cookie, a half pound of your choice of cookie topped with ice cream. I ordered this cookie once as a special birthday dessert and I’ll say it’s fantastic (and I have no sweet tooth!). Be prepared to wait as Oregano’s is one popular local restaurant – luckily it is worth the wait!

Tip: Sign up for their Kaboom! Club to get a free order of Kick-Butt Garlic Bread. Also, they offer decent Happy Hour deals, Monday through Friday from 4-6pm.

For more info, check out my full review of Oregano’s.

4. Zenith Steakhouse

What to try: Mushroom Risotto

Zenith is a wonderful steakhouse located inside the Twin Arrows casino (about 30 minutes outside of town). It may seem like quite a drive, however, considering the fantastic food, ambiance, and service, it’s worthy of the extra time involved in comparison to waiting in line at one of the overcrowded touristy dining options. I recommend trekking over here to celebrate a special date or occasion like a birthday or anniversary.

Zenith offers the best ambiance of any fine dining restaurant in the area, and thus, Mike and I have dined here on more than a few occasions for date night. The service here is several notches above the best in town. The beautiful Navajo inspired design is outstanding and I love the service.

The Chicken Parmesan and Mediterranean Seafood Pasta are both must trys! And do not worry if you are a vegetarian – the Mushroom Risotto is sure to please just about anyone!

For more info, check out my full review of Zenith.

5. Charly’s at the Weatherford

What to try: Navajo Taco, Mac and Cheese

Charly’s is a Southwestern style restaurant located inside downtown historic Weatherford Hotel, which happens to be the city’s oldest hotel (it opened in 1897). Out of all the restaurants downtown, I like the setting here best.

The interior is both beautiful & historical, while the outdoor patio offers one of the best opportunities for people watching during the summer season. I love cozying up by the fireplace in the fall months. On a side note, this hotel is haunted (Zak Bagans and the Ghost Adventures crew even did an investigation here).

What I love most here is the Navajo Taco, which was featured in Zagat’s 50 states, 50 sandwiches. This delicious traditional Native American dish consists of fry bread topped with black or pinto beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, cilantro, and onions. I order the vegetarian version, but you can up the protein factor by adding beef or chicken or try it out as a breakfast taco in the morning! So delicious – you must try it before leaving!

This is one of the better breakfast choices downtown too (there are not many great options to be honest). They even offer a Navajo breakfast taco, but I usually stick with the Chaz’s Omelet where you can pick your cheese, 2 fillings, your choice of toast. It’s topped with a creamy alfredo sauce which is pretty unique. I also really love their mac and cheese which includes a blend of 4 varieties: smoked gouda, cheddar, jack, and Parmesan cheese.

For more info, check out my full review of Charlys.

6. Golden Dragon

What to try: Vegetable and Tofu soup, Veggie Fried Rice, Veggie Lo Mein

If you are craving some authentic Chinese food, there is no better choice in town than Golden Dragon. I’ve tried a number of restaurants and this is the one I come back to most often. While Monsoon’s Downtown gets all the attention due to its’ prime touristy location, Golden Dragon offers the real deal. I love coming in for a bowl of vegetable or egg drop soup on a cold winter day (and there are plenty of them here!).

This is our usual Christmas Eve destination (I still remember the one night we got back to our house just in time before a massive 3 day 30 inch blizzard!). It’s so quiet and cozy.

The best time to visit is during lunch hours where you will get to pick from a number of delicious lunch entrees, all served with an egg roll, soup, and fried rice for under ten bucks (update – now 15 bucks but still a great deal). The ambiance here is just great and the restaurant never gets too crowded due to its’ location on the East side of town far away from tourist crowds. I love the low-key, non touristy vibe. Service is always fantastic and overall it’s just a great pick for a quiet date.

7. Beaver Street Brewery

What to try: Mediterranean Platter, Woodfired Pizza

Beaver Street Brewery is a tourist favorite that is always packed especially on weekends. With a prime downtown location, a diverse menu of comfort style pub foods, and a nice summer patio, it’s no surprise that most tourists flock here, especially when the mild weather summer season arrives.

While it is certainly not my favorite restaurant in town, this brewery does offer a nice ambiance and a nice large menu with a bit of something for everyone. If you are looking to relax with a few drinks and comfort style appetizers after a long day of exploring natural wonders, it’s a great place to do so. Highlights include: Beaver Street Fondue, Hummus Im Snovar (served with delicious blue corn pita), or one of the tasty woodfired pizzas!

For more info, check out my full review of Beaver.

8. Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen

What to try: Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip, Mama’s Meat-Za Balls, Athena Quinoa Bowl, Pesto Gnocchi

Update: The Flagstaff location of Picazzo’s is now closed. However, you can take the scenic Oak Creek Canyon drive to enjoy a great meal at the Sedona location. This drive (one of the country’s most scenic) is an activity in and of itself. Also, on my most recent visit, I noticed they changed the bread recipe. Honestly, I prefer the old recipe as the new version seems a bit flat, but the dips are still great.

Sadly, I haven’t been that impressed with the Italian dining scene here. There is one cool place that is actually fantastic for those dining gluten and/or dairy-free which is a rarity as wheat is the staple of Italian cuisine. Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen is a wonderfully creative Italian gem with a menu that is 100% free of gluten. That’s right, everything including the bread, pasta, ravioli, appetizers is completely free of gluten!

The menu here is very creative with lots of interesting selections including a tasty vegan Alfredo sauce. We have enjoyed the following: Shrimp Scampi, Butternut Squash Ravioli with roasted cauliflower sauce, spinach artichoke dip, and Mama’s Meatballs. Everything I’ve tried here has been so delicious and I really give them bonus points for such a creative menu. Really, the amount of gluten and dairy free selections is amazing.

Pricing is high but you get what you pay for as they use only organic ingredients. To save a few bucks, visit during “Healthy Hours” for discounted appetizers and special drink discounts – it’s by far one of the top deals in town! It runs from 3-6pm daily. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve enjoyed this fabulous special.

For more info, check out my full review of Picazzo’s.

9. Cornish Pasty Co.

Cornish Pasty Co. is a gem which originated in Tempe but has since expanded to include numerous Valley locations and even a Boulder, Colorado and Vegas cafe. Founder Dean Thomas is from Cornwall. The Flagstaff cafe opened on San Francisco Street in 2017.

The menu consists of signature pasties, premium pasties, and a big lineup of vegetarian and vegan options. It’s one of the better choices for anyone avoiding meat as there are more than 15 creative options.

You will find everything from Vegan Vindaloo, to Veggie Mexican, to The Greek on the menu. I really love the Guinness Stew. This savory pick includes: Portobello mushrooms in a vegan Guinness based gravy with red potatoes, celery, and carrots. Sauteed leeks, cabbage, and vegan cheese give it even more flavor. It’s served alongside a side of chive tahini. It’s such a hearty choice for the long winter season – I totally recommend.

Mike enjoys the classic Chicken Pot Pie, a savory mix of chicken, red potatoes, green beans, carrots, celery, and onions in a rosemary and chicken gravy. They also offer a number of appetizers, soups, and a rather large selection of salads. Next on my list to try: Spanakopita cocktail pasties, Curried potatoes, and cream of leek and potato soup.

10. Wildflower Bread Company (update now Wildflower)

What to try: 12 Vegetable soup, Veggie Stack sandwich, Chicken salad sandwich, Mediterranean Market Salad

Wildflower is my favorite casual choice in town for a soup, salad, or sandwich. This is probably our third most visited restaurant after Delhi Palace and Salsa Brava. The menu and layout are almost identical to popular chain Panera Bread. Like Panera, Wildflower offers an assortment of fresh baked breads, soups, salads, and tempting array of pastries. In my opinion, the food is much better here.

The “Wildflower Two,” similar to Panera “You Pick Two” is a pretty great little deal where you get a soup, salad (or sandwich) and bread for under 20 bucks. Everything I’ve tried here has been wonderful, whether it be a sandwich, soup, or salad. Even the bread is fantastic. The 12 Vegetable, Tomato Basil, and Broccoli Cheese soups are my personal favorites. Soups rotate so you never know what will be on the lineup.

On a side note, the Sedona location patio offers such an amazing vista of the red rocks. I highly recommend a drive down Oak Creek followed by lunch on the patio. I would say it’s probably one of the best dining viewpoints in the state.

For more info, check out my full review of Wildflower.

11. La Fonda

What to try: Veggie Fajitas, Chicken Chimichanga

La Fonda is another great local Mexican restaurant that we often dine at when we don’t want to put up with the Salsa Brava crowds. This place is a bit more low-key and attracts more locals than tourists. The food is fresh and authentic and the dining room simple, yet colorful.

They serve the best fajitas and chimichangas in town! The pricing is a bit more affordable than other more touristy places in the city. I love the complimentary Sopaipillas. For those unfamiliar, sopaipillas are basically fried pastries served in Southwestern and New Mexican style restaurants. They are so delicious especially when served with honey.

For more info, check out my full review of La Fonda.

12. The Toasted Owl

The Toasted Owl is a quirky little breakfast and lunch cafe located in the downtown neighborhood. I love filling up on some carbs here before hitting the trails (check out a few of my favorite mountain hikes). This local gem stands out amongst the other diners in town due to the diverse menu (lots of GF and vegan choices), cute decor (owls everywhere) and friendly diner style service.

While the ambiance is cute inside, they also offers one of the bigger outdoor patios in town (perfect on summer mornings). Unlike Southern Arizona, summer temperatures are mild here – perfect for patio dining!

I recommend the Almond Cakes, Avocado Toast, or the make-your-own breakfast tacos. They also serve some delicious house coffee, so need for an extra stop at Starbucks! Super cute mugs too! This place is anything but ordinary, that’s for sure!

Also be sure to check out my breakfast dining guide for some nice hearty options before exploring the national parks and monuments in the region. I’ve also written a coffeehouse guide for anyone looking for a great cup of joe. Spoiler: this is a wonderful city for coffee lovers – I’ve found so many great indie coffeehouses to fuel and caffeinate up before hiking in the gorgeous ponderosa pine forest.