10 Restaurants In Arizona That Are Hard To Get In But Totally Worth It
By Monica Spencer|Published February 03, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
As someone who is a food lover and ridiculously impatient, there’s nothing more frustrating than visiting a restaurant only to find a long line of other prospective diners waiting to be seated. Do you add your name to the hour-long wait list and hope the food is worth the time? Or do you just leave for another place that can seat you a little sooner?
Well, if you happen to be visiting one of the restaurants below, then you should definitely stay in line! These restaurants are notorious for crowded spaces and long wait times but they serve meals that are ridiculously delicious.
We’re starting this list with a Phoenix favorite that tends to get especially crowded during lunch hours. The food is simple yet tasty with an amazing sauce and meals are always served in to-go containers, making it an easy choice if you want to dine in or back at the office. There are several locations around the Valley but we have a soft spot for the location near 7th Street and Buckeye.
Known for longer than usual wait times, you won’t want to miss getting a meal at Elote. The award-winning restaurant serves up a round of delicious Mexican meals (yes, including elote) rich in flavor and seasonal ingredients.
This famous breakfast joint is known for their amazing chilaquiles but also the relaxed atmosphere despite the long lines and packed tables. It will be a mistake to leave for another restaurant!
Although Matt’s has several locations around the Valley now, we’re talking about the central Phoenix location today. This breakfast restaurant is always packed and the line to get in often winds around the building but biting into that thick, peppered bacon or perfectly cooked waffles makes all that time worth it.
Long lines and big portions are what you’ll find at this Tucson Mexican restaurant. The food is tasty and if you want to avoid waiting too long, try arriving after the lunch or dinner rush—2pm to 5pm or 7pm to closing time are usually a bit slower for any restaurant.
This popular Arizona-based restaurant chain serves deep dish pizzas that will put most others to shame. You can find locations all around the state and, chances are, you’ll find long lines at each of them where you may wait an hour (or longer!) but it’s definitely worth it.
If you prefer a thinner pizza in a more urban atmosphere then you might want to give Pizzeria Bianco a try! The wait is long but you can definitely taste the freshness with each bite of your pizza pie.
If you’re looking to check out a restaurant other than those located along Whiskey Row, this is one you definitely need to get in line for! The wait is long but that will give you time to hopefully decide what you want to eat from the expansive menu. You’ll have a difficult time choosing one entrée!
Don’t let the name of this pizza joint or the long lines deter you from getting a meal here because, holy moly, the food is good. Make it simple with a margherita pizza or go for something a little more adventurous, like the bloody screaming banshee pizza.
Address: 200 Tombstone Canyon, Bisbee
Have you had a chance to visit any of these restaurants before? Are there any additional restaurants you think are definitely worth waiting for? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or on our Facebook fan page!
