Trixie Navarre

The food culture in Arizona has always intrigued me. I have found it to be a mixed bag of road food, Native American, Southwestern, and Mexican flavors, as well as classic to modern American dishes. Depending on where you are in Arizona and what you are doing, that mixed bag can play in your favor.

While in a small Hopi Reservation town, I had the best Indian Taco- ever. I have eaten flavorsome Southwestern cuisine all throughout Phoenix, and had tasty American classic burgers and root beer floats while exploring Historic Route 66.

I have been journaling my food for well over fifteen years now; whether good or bad, flavorful or tasteless, it has always been an experience. Traveling through Arizona and documenting my meals was nothing different, and it has always been a good time.

Some meals were extraordinary and some were very ordinary, but that is the name of the game when traveling and dining.

From my comprehensive Phoenix food journal to fine dining in Flagstaff, my “What I ate in Arizona – A Food Journal.”

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Phoenix, Arizona

No surprise that much of my greatest feasting in Arizona was in Phoenix. This city was my favorite when it came to Arizona dining, and is one place that I would go back to just for the food. I had some of the best New Mexico cuisine outside of New Mexico in Phoenix, as well as dishes that were full in flavors that are favored in the Southwest.

If you are looking for dining experiences in Phoenix, please visit my other blogs with reviews and recommendations:

🍽 What I ate in PHOENIX, ARIZONA – A Food Journal

🍽 Lunch at the Award Winning Barrio Café | Phoenix, Arizona

🍽 A Lavish Lunch at Gertrude’s | Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona

🍽 Richardson’s New Mexico Cuisine Restaurant | Phoenix, Arizona

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Rod’s Steak House – Williams, Arizona

Steak Sandwich and Fries

Since 1946, Rod’s Steak House (now closed) was known for it’s consistency of steaks and prime rib, along Route 66. On one of my trips through Williams, I had come in to have their steak sandwich, which was very delicious. The beef was tender, and was topped with lettuce and tomato, all in-between a fresh roll. The crispy side of fries were perfect, although a typical companion for a steak sandwich. You cannot go wrong with a meat and potato dish, in any form!

As of current, the World Famous Rod’s Steak House with it long rich Route 66 history is closed. According to a Yelp Review from the beginning of 2022, the restaurant was in “pending sale”. Keeping my fingers crossed that the new owners will re-open Rod’s, and keep its tradition of fine steaks along the Mother Road.

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La Posada Hotel, Turquoise Room – Winslow, Arizona

Turquoise Blended Margarita

Although I am not a fan of tequila or margaritas, I did find La Posada’s signature cocktail, the Turquoise Margarita, quite a lovely drink. It was colorful, fun, and strong. It was exactly what I needed after driving through Arizona on a hot summer road trip. The Turquoise Margarita is named after the famous Turquoise Room inside the Historic La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona.

Restaurant and hotel information- La Posada Hotel

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Joe and Aggie’s Café – Holbrook, Arizona

Indian Taco

Deep Fried Dessert Burrito with Ice Cream

Joe and Aggie’s Cafe (now closed) was not a favorite place of mine to eat while on the road in Arizona. I had tried their Indian Taco, which was not impressive to me, and was somewhat tasteless. I also had their deep fried dessert burrito with ice cream, which again was not great. I should have asked for the ice cream on the side because it melted quickly, and if there is one thing that I do not like is melted ice cream. Oh well, you can’t win them all!

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Flagstaff, Arizona

Tinderbox Kitchen

Tomato Bisque with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Updated Steak – Terry Major Cut Fajitas

This was my favorite meal during one of my Flagstaff visits. The Tinderbox Kitchen is a delicious fine dining restaurant that serves unique dishes, libations, and has an impressive wine list. While here, I ordered the Tomato Bisque with Blue Cheese and Bacon, which was very flavorful. I loved the hint of blue cheese and bacon, to this already savory bisque.

For my main entrée I ordered the Terry Major Cut Fajitas, which was also excellent. This cut of beef was cooked to perfection, and was a tasteful alternative to regular steak fajitas.

Restaurant information – The Tinderbox Kitchen

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Firecreek Coffee Company

Cappuccino

SW Breakfast Muffin with Egg

One of my morning joys before hitting the road is a comfortable sit inside a café, while having a great cup of coffee, and freshly baked goods. I found all of that at Firecreek Coffee in Flagstaff. They roast their own beans, which always makes for an excellent cup of coffee, or in my case a creamy cappuccino. Plus their fresh SW breakfast muffin with a full egg baked right in was flavorful and delicious. I could definitely go for that muffin again!

Restaurant Information – Firecreek Coffee Company

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Flagstaff Chocolate Company (Brookside Chocolate Co)

Butterscotch Apple

While walking through the historic district of Flagstaff, we came across the Flagstaff Chocolate Company, and could not resist picking up this Butterscotch Apple. A tart green apple dipped in creamy butterscotch, and rolled in chocolate and butterscotch chips- it was heavenly!

Store information – Flagstaff Chocolate Company

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Mexican Food in Historic Flagstaff

Quesadilla with Salsa and Guacamole

Bucket of Crab Legs

Mexican food is always a good idea, and heaven knows that I have eaten my share of it in Arizona. I have noticed that the flavors do change throughout the state. Phoenix’s Mexican food is different than Flagstaff’s, and so on. For my palate, I preferred Phoenix’s style, but Flagstaff served up excellent Mexican as well.

Although I cannot recall the name of this place we ate at in Phoenix, I can for sure say that my quesadilla was delicious, as well as the bucket of giant crab legs. If you do your research, you will find several Mexican restaurants in Flagstaff, and hopefully you will find a big bucket of crab legs!

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Road Food in Seligman, Arizona

Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In

Cheese Burger, Fries and a Chocolate Shake

Chocolate Dipped Cone

A cheeseburger, fries, a milkshake, an ice cream cone- all traditional American road trip food, that we have grown to love. I have stopped at Delgadillo’s in Seligman on several occasions while driving I-40, for their tasty food. I also enjoy the fun atmosphere in Seligman, which is considered the ‘Birthplace of Route 66’. A historic town and delicious road food, it is a win-win situation!

Restaurant information – Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In

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Road Kill Café

Patty Melt and Fries

I love a good patty melt, even more than a great cheeseburger, and Road Kill Café in Seligman had a killer one. They did not skimp on anything, and it was all well proportioned. The hamburger meat was juicy, there was a good amount of onions, the swiss cheese was melty, and it was grilled in butter. How could that be anything but delicious?

Restaurant information – Road Kill Café

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Mr D’z Route 66 Diner- Kingsman, Arizona

World Famous Root Beer Float

Although I do not drink soda, I could not resist stopping in at Mr. Dz’s Route 66 Diner in Kingman for a root beer float. What makes this root beer float so special? Their world famous root beer is made from a special Mr. Dz’s (Roy Dunton) Diner recipe. Then add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the mix, and it is sweet perfection. Having your creamy root beer float is especially fun while sitting at the counter of this retro diner.

Restaurant information- Mr. Dz’s Route 66 Diner

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Circle M – Polacca, Arizona

Indian Taco

Circle M Convenience Store had the best Indian Taco I have tried so far, and I have had many from Arizona to the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. I am assuming this was the tastiest since I had bought it from the small town of Polacca, which is located on the Hopi Reservation. The others I had tried were at tourist restaurants, and tasted very “white”, so to speak. This is the only store located in Polacca, and there are no hotels or restaurants but they definitely serve up an extraordinary Indian Taco!

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Traveling is food for the soul…

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📸 All photos are taken by me and are my intellectual property – Trixie Navarre