SanTan Brewing Company
Since opening in 2007, SanTan has been the epicenter for food, drink, and fun downtown. The hometown microbrewery offers a Southwest-inspired menu of delicious burgers, pizzas, and entrees that perfectly complement owner Anthony Canecchia’s award-winning beers. A table on the sidewalk patio not only is prime real estate in accommodating weather. Open for lunch and dinner daily. 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler (map), 480-917-8700.
Bourbon Jacks
This self-proclaimed urban country bar and grill offers American comfort food with a focus on the South and Southwest – from the Dixie fried chicken wings with red-eye gravy to the slow-roasted Sonoran pulled pork sandwich. Their signature menu item is the Daddy Mack & Cheese – be sure to splurge the extra $2 to add bacon. Enjoy live music Wednesday through Sunday. Open for lunch and dinner daily. 11 W. Boston St., Chandler (map), 480-664-1738.
Vintage 95 Wine Lounge
Traditional comfort foods with an upscale twist pair well with the excellent wine list and Arizona-focused microbrews. Lunch offers sandwiches in the $8-$12 range, such as blackberry ancho pulled pork or a pork belly, lettuce & tomato. Dinner entrees are $20-$30. Enjoy the comfortable walled courtyard patio if the weather is nice, or a plush seat by the fireplace if it’s not. Open for lunch and dinner daily. 95 W. Boston St., Chandler (map), 480-855-9463.
Yoli’s Cafe
Tucked away on a side street south of downtown, this converted bungalow is one of the East Valley’s best-kept secrets. For breakfast, there’s an array of burritos, omelets, skillets, and Hawaiian french toast. At lunch, the must-haves are the luau pulled pork sandwich and Monte Cristo, but there are no wrong picks on the everything-under-$8 menu. Open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday. 241 S. Oregon St., Chandler (map), 480-726-9654.
DC Steak House
The Valley is blessed with a number of good steakhouses, but most require taking out a second mortgage to pay for a family meal. Not so at Wisconsin transplant Dean Laplant’s cozy and comfortable hideaway, where the buttery filet mignon is just $23 for a healthy 10-ounce cut. The nostalgic murals on the walls were painted by Laplant’s wife, Lorie. Open for dinner daily. 98 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler (map), 480-899-4400.
