The 7 Best Restaurants in East Mesa, AZ

From just the right amount of greasy pizza, to an authentic Japanese teppanyaki dining experience, to modern American cuisine, there are so many amazing choices here in East Mesa. Keep reading to see what some of the best restaurants in East Mesa, AZ have to offer to locals and visitors alike.

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1. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Chain known for their Pizookie dessert.

6622 Superstition Springs Blvd | East Mesa | bjsrestaurants.com

You probably know of BJ’s famous Pizookie—a large, fresh-baked cookie topped with ice cream which comes in flavors from chocolate chip to white chocolate macadamia nut—but you probably don’t know what else this restaurant has to offer.

BJ’s offers a variety of deep dish pizza including Buffalo Chicken, Pepperoni Extreme, and Sweet Pig. Gluten-free? BJ’s has a variety of gluten-free pizzas and even a gluten-free Pizookie!

Other menu favorites include the Avocado Egg Rolls, the Spinach and Artichoke dip served with warm tortilla chips, the Bistro Burger, and the Bacon Jam Rib-Eye.

Although BJ’s is a chain, they deserve the number one spot on our list because of the sheer variety on their menu, their accommodating those with gluten-free diets, and of course, their delicious Pizookies.

“Our server Teddi was amazing! She checked on us frequently and went above and beyond. Both my kids said this is their new favorite restaurant and they want to come back. We definitely will be back! PS the pizookies are DELICIOUS!!” - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse here.

2. Red White & Brew

Bold American dining.

6740 E McDowell Rd | East Mesa | rwbaz.com

This East Mesa restaurant was named Red White & Brew to highest their curated selection of red wine, white wine, and beer, but another thing they offer is “bold American dining.” Now what exactly does bold American dining mean? Let’s take a look at some of their menu offerings.

Jalapeño-Infused Toasted Ravioli served with salsa ranch dip. Beyond Vegan Burger—a plant-based burger on a brioche bun served with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Bourbon Glazed Pecan Crusted Fresh Salmon—salmon, pecan crusted and basted with sweet bourbon glaze, plated with sweet potato raviolis and spinach in Creole mustard sauce.

The dishes kind of speak for themselves, don’t they? But in case you didn’t catch the drift, this restaurant offers American dishes with newer, bolder flavors. If you want to taste something you’ve never had before, you should come here.

Don’t forget to try the Caramel Crème Brulee, made in house, for dessert. It comes topped with a warm and crunchy layer of caramelized sugar. Yum!

“Red white and brew never fails!  Service and food PHENOMENAL! I ordered the chicken Marsala over some pasta and my husband got the chicken red white and brew that was recommended by our waitress and we were not disappointed! We will be back very soon.” - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Red White & Brew here.

3. Venezia’s New York Style Pizzeria

New York style pizza in East Mesa.

2721 South Ellsworth Rd | East Mesa | venezias.com

This family-owned and operated pizzeria has been serving authentic Italian and New York style pizza to the people of Arizona since 1978, and they of course have a location in East Mesa.

Venezia's uses the same mozzarella cheese, crushed tomatoes, and flour since it opened almost 30 years ago and continues to make their own homemade sauce and fresh pizza dough daily. They don’t use any frozen or prepackaged products here, only authentic family recipes!

The Buffalo Spicy Chicken is one of their most popular pies. Reminiscent of their infamous hot wings, the Buffalo Spicy Chicken pie comes topped with Venezia’s signature pizza sauce as well as their spicy wing sauce, slices of grilled chicken, and lots of mozzarella cheese.

Vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free? No problem. Venezia’s has plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, plant-based pepperoni, vegan cheese, and gluten-free crust.

We love their Slice of the Day Special, where from open to close you can get two of the slices of the day and a drink for around $8.

In addition to pizza, they have calzones, wings, sandwiches and salads, and pasta.

“My family orders pizza once a week and honestly sometimes even twice a week the pizza is so delicious. Then we order sandwiches during the week as well. I just love this place it's so delicious. This is the only place we go for pizza!!” - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Venezia’s New York Style Pizza here.

4. Sam and Luca Rustic Kitchen

Italian restaurant with Old World charm.

1959 S Power Rd | East Mesa | samandlucaaz.com

This restaurant is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in East Mesa. Here, you can experience Italian dishes inspired by the Old World with a modern vibe.

Start off with the Calamari Fritti (fried calamari) or the Rustic Board—a charcuterie board filled with artisan meats and cheeses. These are well-loved starters perfect for sharing with friends or family.

For your main course, you can choose from pizza, pasta and risotto, and fish or meat-based entrees. Menu favorites include the Grilled Shrimp Risotto with corn, roma tomato, artichoke, snipped herbs, and lemon zest, the Shrimp Scampi, shrimp, white wine, and lemon oil on a bed of fettuccine pasta, and the Lamb Chops served with herbed roasted tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and a balsamic glaze.

Sam and Luca’s also offers a variety of house cocktails, draft and bottled wines, and draft beers.

Stop in during happy hour, which runs Monday–Friday from 3–6pm, for good deals on drinks and small bites. And be sure to check out their weekend specials on their website before coming in. This past weekend they served up Spicy Cioppino, Seafood Cannelloni, Chicken Imperial, and Penne Primavera.

“What a great find! I was in Gilbert AZ for the weekend and went here for dinner and was very happy! The food was fantastic! I would definitely recommend stopping by this restaurant for dinner… I don't think you will be disappointed!” - Yelp Review

5. Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap

Family and pet-friendly local chain.

1110 S Greenfield Rd | East Mesa | unclebearsaz.com

Sometimes what makes a restaurant “the best” isn’t necessarily the food—it’s the environment. In this case, it’s both. That’s why Uncle Bear’s has a spot on our list of the best restaurants in East Mesa. This local chain welcomes families of all sizes, friends young and old, and even pets through their doors!

Uncle Bear’s is so much more than a restaurant. It’s also a brewery, sports bar, arcade (thanks to a dozen or more pinball machines), and patio hangout. Like we said, the vibes here are immaculate. But luckily for us, Uncle Bear’s also has great brews and food.

Uncle Bear’s is well–known for their craft beer. Their brew line up consists of 10 flagship beers, as well as a list of seasonal and one–offs throughout the year. As for food, you can choose from craft burgers that pair perfectly with your brew to the authentic flavors of Tex–Mex. We recommend the New Mexico Burger—a chopped beef Herd’s Burger with green chiles, pepper jack cheese, tomato, grilled onions, lettuce, and ranch on your choice of bun from brioche, wheat, texas toast, lettuce, or gluten-free.

This is a great option when you have a large group with you, pets, or even a craft beer fanatic.

“Finally decided to give this restaurant a shot… The expectations weren't very high. There was nothing mediocre about our experience tonight! Who would have thought this little gem was hidden right down the street from our house in Mesa?” - Yelp Review

6. Osaka Japanese Steakhouse

An authentic Japanese teppanyaki dining experience.

6730 E Superstition Springs Blvd | East Mesa | osakaaz.com

Osaka offers an authentic Japanese teppanyaki dining experience in addition to fresh, innovative sushi. It will be difficult to choose between hot fried rice bursting with flavor and beautifully plated rolls, so we recommend selecting the teppanyaki dining experience and ordering a roll or two on top of that.

Each Osaka Teppanyaki Entree is served with mushroom soup, a house salad, two pieces of jumbo size shrimp, assorted vegetables, and fried rice. Entrees include Teppan Filet Mignon, tender prime filet mignon with a dash of soy sauce grilled to your specification, Teppan Vegetable, grilled fresh mix vegetables and deep fried tofu (FYI this one does not come with two pieces of shrimp), and Teppan Salmon, Scottish salmon grilled with garlic butter, lemon, and a dash of teriyaki sauce.

As for sushi, we recommend the Marz Roll, a fried shrimp tempura and cucumber roll topped with crab salad, avocado, fresh tuna, and honey eel sauce, and the Pink Lady Roll, tempura shrimp, salmon, avocado, Fuji apple, and eel, wrapped with soy paper, topped with fresh Japanese scallop, honey eel sauce, chili sauce, and mint.

If you want dining where the experience is just as much of a focus as the food itself, you should definitely consider this authentic Japanese teppanyaki experience.  

“We've been here twice for sushi and loved it! We don't eat fish, but their veggie rolls are fantastic! Great selection of wines too and excellent prices. The service was excellent both times too. It's nice that they have good options for vegans and vegetarians.” - Yelp Review

7.  Board & Batten

A modern dining experience nestled in the Northeast Valley.

4012 E Palm St | East Mesa | bbdining.com

We might have saved the best for last. Board & Batten is a modern bistro offering New American cuisine in the unexpected setting of Mesa’s Northeast Valley.

If you’re unsure of what type of cuisine you’ll find here, let’s give you a better idea. Board & Batten offers a chef-driven menu using fresh, locally grown produce and ingredients whenever possible. Menu offerings include Bacon Wrapped Dates, Cacio E Pepe Pasta, and Grilled Pork Chop. It only gets better with dessert—Salted Caramel Butter Bar made with shortbread, lemon mousse, and sea salt, Baked Apple Tart featuring cranberry and lime compote, whipped cream, and spiced pecans, and Warm Chocolate Budini with macerated strawberries and whipped cream.

Board & Batten also features a thoughtfully crafted wine and cocktail menu for you to indulge at this hidden gem for a night you’ll never forget.

Come for their Social Hour Tuesday–Saturday 3:00pm–5:00pm for lower price shareables, featured wine, craft beer, and cocktails.

“As soon as I saw photos of the adorable patio at Board and Batten, I had to go there. I was so blown away by every bite of everything we ordered. I have told so many friends about this place and I can't wait to bring more to show them this hidden gem in Mesa!” - Yelp Review

Hopefully there’s one East Mesa restaurant—if not more—on this list that you are dying to try next. From New York style pizza brought all the way to East Mesa, to a modern bistro nestled in the North East Valley where you can sip craft cocktails on the outdoor patio, there are a variety of different restaurants in East Mesa to choose from—each just as high in quality as the next. Let us know in the comments which of these restaurants in East Mesa you try first! We love to hear from you.