Tempe: 5 Restaurants and Things to Do on Mill Ave and Beyond

By Jake Rockwell & Sherrie Rockwell

Tempe packs a lot into a few miles: Mill Avenue and the blocks around Arizona State University, Tempe Town Lake and “A” Mountain right downtown, and Tempe Marketplace a short drive east at Loop 101 and the 202. This guide covers all three, so you can plan a whole day or just dinner before a show at ASU Gammage.

We haven’t reviewed every restaurant on this list yet. We picked them using each restaurant’s own website and the district’s official directory, and on November 3, 2026 we confirmed that each one is open and posting current hours. Hours and menus change, so check the restaurant’s site before you go.

Top 5 restaurants in Tempe

Downtown Tempe and Mill Avenue

Cornish Pasty Co.

Tempe is where Cornish Pasty Co. started. The original shop is at 960 W University Dr, and the Mill Avenue location is right in the middle of downtown. It’s open from 11am every day, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so it works for a late dinner after a show. The Scottsdale location appears in our best outdoor dining in Scottsdale list.

Where: 425 S Mill Ave, #111, Tempe. cornishpastyco.com

Foch Cafe & Bistro

A European- and American-inspired bistro just off Mill Avenue with everything from crepes to paninis, plus espresso and a weekend brunch. It opens at 9am daily, closes at 3pm Sunday through Tuesday, and stays open for dinner later in the week.

Where: 21 E 6th St, #146, Tempe. Downtown Tempe directory

Culinary Dropout

In the Farmer Arts District a few blocks west of Mill, Culinary Dropout serves weekend brunch from 10am to 3pm and lunch and dinner every day. Valet parking is complimentary. We’ve reviewed the Scottsdale and Gilbert locations.

Where: 149 S Farmer Ave, Tempe. culinarydropout.com

Tempe Marketplace

Kabuki Japanese Restaurant

Kabuki at Tempe Marketplace is a full-service Japanese restaurant open from 11am daily, until 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It pairs well with a movie at the Harkins next door.

Where: 2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe. kabukirestaurants.com

Gen Korean BBQ

Gen is cook-it-yourself Korean barbecue with a long list of meats, seafood and vegetables grilled at the table. It’s a fun pick for a group, and it’s open from 11:30am daily, until 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Where: 2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe. Tempe Marketplace directory

Also on Mill: Culinary Gangster at 501 S Mill Ave serves burgers, sandwiches, bowls and breakfast, and it’s open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. We’ve reviewed its Scottsdale location.

Things to do in Tempe

• Tempe Town Lake: more than five miles of mostly lakeside paths, plus kayak, paddleboard, pedal boat and electric boat rentals. The pedestrian bridge near the Tempe Center for the Arts is a favorite walk. Town Lake guide
• “A” Mountain (Hayden Butte): a short, steep hike right downtown with 360-degree views from the top. The butte is sacred to the O’odham and Piipaash peoples. “A” Mountain guide
• ASU Gammage: touring Broadway shows, including The Outsiders January 26 to 31 and Operation Mincemeat February 23 to 28, 2027. asugammage.com
• 2nd Sundays on Mill: a free, family- and dog-friendly market on Mill Avenue from 10am to 3pm on November 8, January 10, February 14 and April 11.
• Fantasy of Lights Street Parade + Tree Lighting: November 28, 4 to 8pm. The parade steps off at 6pm, followed by the lighting of a 36-foot tree at CenterPoint Plaza.
• Tempe Festival of the Arts: more than 300 artist booths on Mill Avenue, December 4 to 6, 2026.
• Tempe Marketplace: Harkins Theatres (with the CINÉ XL screen) and Escapology escape rooms.

FAQ: Tempe

Where can you eat late on Mill Avenue?

Culinary Gangster on Mill is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and Cornish Pasty Co. on Mill stays open until midnight on those nights.

Where should you eat before a show at ASU Gammage?

Downtown Tempe is a few minutes away. Cornish Pasty Co., Foch Cafe & Bistro (on its later nights) and Culinary Dropout are all close.

What’s free to do in Tempe?

Walking or biking the Town Lake paths, hiking “A” Mountain, and the 2nd Sundays on Mill market are all free.

Top photo (The Mill Avenue bridges over Tempe Town Lake at night): Harrison Lai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized). Other photos are credited in their captions.

More area guides

Browse all of our area guides, or see our Downtown Gilbert guide and the coolest restaurants in Phoenix. Nearby, see our new guides to Downtown Chandler, Talking Stick and Salt River Fields and the Biltmore area.