Downtown Tempe Lunch Mob
Tag: Blog • Restaurants & Dining

We're surrounded with good freaking mouth-watering food in Downtown. Here is a simple list of lunch ideas for those days you just feel like getting out of the office. Set up a spin wheel with these restaurant names on the spokes and see what fate has in store for your lunch today.
Foch Cafe & Bistro (21 E. 6th St. at the end of the roundabout east of Mill!) Opens daily at 9am.
Opens daily at 9am (closes 3pm Sun-Tues) with a happy hour W-F 4pm-6pm. This is the ultimate elevated lunch spot offering a delicious European American inspired menu from crepes to paninis.
Cupbop (690 S Mill Ave near 7th Street) Open M-Saturday at 11am.
Korean BBQ in a Cup, Cupbop is packed with delicious flavor and is here to end your boredom of the same old food choices. Customizable spice level and protein makes it a great place for any adventurous or vegetarian friends. Try their mandoo, deep fried potstickers!
Matsuri Izakaya on Mill (699 S. Mill Ave) Opens daily at 11:30am.
Opens daily at 11:30am, just in time for hunger hour. Japanese fast casual food & drinks - izakaya style! Serving beer, ramen, udon, rice bowls and small plates.
Pokeworks (209 E 7th Street) 11am-9pm.
Hawaiian-Inspired Bowls, Burritos and Salads available 11am-9pm. Pokeworks is a fast casual poke restaurant that offers a build-your-own style poke menu that lets you customize your meal with fresh and healthy ingredients. Get Poke for the whole office with free delivery on orders of $35 or more!
Rusty Taco (203 E 7th Street) 11am open.
Opening at 11am right next door from Pokeworks is Rusty Taco on the corner of 7th and Forest. They have great indoor and outdoor seating for the whole office to enjoy a great and quick lunch.
Snakes & Lattes (20 W 6th Street) 11am open.
Do recon for your after-work plans by going to Snakes & Lattes at lunch. This place is the perfect cool off (great misters on patio and blastin' AC inside) and their all-day food menu may just surprise you! Grilled salmon? Strawberry salad? Poutine? Snakes & Lattes has it. 11am open.
Poke2U (414 S Mill Ave #114, 4th Street across from Cafe Boa) 11am open except Sunday.
Counter-service Japanese place offering custom poke bowls & sushi rolls in a little corner shop down the street. If you haven't already been here I am actually surprised, this is a huge Tempe favorite for quick and delicious lunch and dinner. 11am-9pm every day except Sunday.
Tacos Calafia (414 S Mill Ave, 4th and Mill) Now open Mondays! 11am M-Th and 10am on Friday.
25% off for military and law enforcement, Taco's Calafia keeps the heart of the business the same despite their growth across the valley—fresh ingredients, incredible tacos, authentic Tijuana style and family at the center. Closed Monday, open 11am T-Th and 10am on Friday.
Cornish Pasty Co. (425 S. Mill Ave, 5th and Mill) Open 11am daily.
Eat lunch at Cornish Pasty for the good food but don't skimp out on the fun history behind pasty's! Go for a meal and read the tale on their menu, and then stay for the perfect people watching spot on Mill Ave. Open 11am daily.
University Sports Grill (740 S Mill) Opens at 4pm.
Famous wings. Do you need more convincing? They also have insane burgers. University Grill opens at 4pm each day so if you're looking for a work happy hour, you know exactly where to go.
Chuck Box (202 E University Dr) Cash only (still!) Mon-Saturday open at 10:30am.
Serving award winning burgers since 1972 they cook burgers over an open mesquite fire using only the freshest ingredients available. Come enjoy a Big Juan one today! Cash only (still!) Mon-Saturday open at 10:30am.
Masala Maniac (414 S Mill Ave) 11am open, 3pm Saturday.
Took this directly from their website because my mouth started watering just reading it: "Serving up a fresh twist on Indian classics, from comforting North Indian curries to fiery South Indian favorites. Whether you’re grabbing late-night takeout, catching the game at the bar, or unwinding on our patio with a handcrafted cocktail, Masala Maniac is more than just a restaurant—it’s a vibe. Come for the curry, stay for the chaos (and the garlic naan)!." 11am open.
Shawarma Factory (521 S College Ave) 10am-11pm.
Ladies and gentlemen start! your! orders! 10am-11pm all plates are served with rice, hummus, salad AND soup. I love some good shawarma but you can also get a nice beef burrito, chicken taco, burger, Philly steak, you name it*, so the whole office can get exactly what they want.
*as long as its on the menu.
Daily Jam (310 S Mill Ave) 7am-3pm daily.
Who says you can't have breakfast for lunch? No one you should be friends with. But if they insist, Daily Jam has incredible sandwiches and other delectable options to satisfy your lunch cravings. And if you haven't had the cookies you now know what just moved to the top of your to-do list. Daily Jam is open every day at 7am so whether its breakfast or lunch they are there for you when you need it!
So there you have it, a list of our go-to's. Round up your department and meet for lunch on Wednesdays in Downtown Tempe. Go a step further and post a photo on Instagram or Facebook and tag it with #DowntownTempe so we can all drool a little... ;)
*Prices and promotions subject to change.