Yuma is a vibrant city located in southwestern Arizona near the borders of California and Mexico. With its sunny climate and access to fresh produce year-round, Yuma has developed a delicious dining scene ranging from taco shops to upscale eateries.
This article explores 12 of the best restaurants that capture Yuma’s culinary excellence. From tasty Mexican food to steakhouses serving juicy cuts of meat to charming brunch cafes, there is something to satisfy every palate.
River City Grill – Contemporary American Comfort Food
River City Grill is consistently rated as one of the finest restaurants in Yuma, offering contemporary American cuisine in a refined yet relaxed creekside setting. The seasonal menu features delicious comfort food options like braised short ribs, seared salmon, and chicken pot pie along with fresh salads and house-made desserts like crème brûlée.
The service is excellent and the romantic string lights stretching over the outdoor patio make this a great date night spot. With a focus on sourcing quality ingredients from local suppliers, River City Grill captures the flavors of southwest Arizona with an upscale twist.
Lutes Casino – Old School Charm & Burgers
For 92 years, Lutes Casino has been serving some of the best burgers in Arizona amid retro vibes with their red vinyl booths and Sinatra on the jukebox. This charming old-fashioned diner specializes in delicious greasy comfort food done right like patty melts, shakes, breakfast burritos, and fries smothered in homemade chili. The portions are enormous and affordable with friendly staff that makes you feel like family. While the interior décor seems straight from the 1950s, Lutes stays relevant with specials like craft beer pairings for their burgers and tacos.
10 Palms Thai Restaurant – Fresh & Authentic Thai Cuisine
For the best Thai food in Yuma county, most locals suggest heading straight to 10 Palms Thai Restaurant located downtown. This popular Asian eatery imports key ingredients to maintain the authentic flavor profile of traditional Thai cooking.
From red and green curry to pad Thai loaded with plump shrimp, 10 Palms Thai does not compromise on quality or freshness. Their fried rice dishes also stand out with pineapple, cashew nuts, and egg cooked in oyster or chili sauce. With indoor and patio seating decorated in traditional Thai décor, this is the perfect place to experience genuine Thai cuisine using family recipes passed down generations.
Chretin’s Mexican Restaurant – Local Favorite for Mexican & Seafood
Searching for the top Mexican restaurants in Yuma? Look no further than Chretin’s which has been family-owned for over 50 years. This local gem serves high quality yet affordable Sonoran-style Mexican food and seafood options like savory ceviche, shrimp tacos, and tender carne asada.
Enjoy complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip on their festive patio decked out in twinkly lights before moving inside to the colorful dining room splashed in bright murals. From enchiladas doused in tangy red or green mole sauce to sizzling fajitas delivered right to your table, it’s easy to find a new favorite at Chretin’s.
The Garden Cafe – Wholesome Ingredients & Vegetarian Fare
For wholesome vegetarian and health-conscious dishes in Yuma, check out family-owned Garden Cafe drawing farm-fresh ingredients from their backyard garden. Their mission focuses on serving natural foods without additives or preservatives which shines through in the hearty oatmeal pancakes, avocado toast, chilled gazpacho and Southwest taco salad.
While breakfast and lunch reign supreme, don’t miss their home-style pot pies baked fresh each morning in savory or sweet varieties. Whether you dine in the charming cottage interior surrounded by plants or people-watch from the patio, The Garden Cafe hits the spot for feel-good nourishment.
Craft Beer Bar & Grill – Gastropub Offering Local Brews & Elevated Pub Grub
Positioned along the Colorado River in Historic Downtown Yuma, this gastropub excels at pairing locally crafted beers with delicious elevated pub grub. Sink your teeth into juicy burgers, brick oven pizzas with creative toppings, and hearty sandwiches all infused with southwest flavor profiles then wash it down with regional IPAs, wheat beers, stouts, or ciders on tap.
The loaded tater tots kicked up with hot Cheetos and bacon make an ideal bar snack alongside wings bathed in spicy habanero sauce sure to break a sweat. With exposed brick walls and industrial accents indoors or sunny balcony views outside, Craft Beer Bar & Grill pours bold flavors into every aspect of this welcoming neighborhood spot.
The Patio – Unique Structure Highlighting Mexican & Mediterranean Influences
Tucked away on a side street in Yuma sits The Patio, an architecturally striking restaurant melding Mexican and Mediterranean influences through the space design and diverse cuisine. The maze-like layout features a number of semi-private dining nooks, fireplaces, and fountains plus a large outdoor lounge filled with flowers and string lights.
While Management takes pride in freshly preparing signature Mexican dishes, their menu also incorporates Greek and Spanish flavors in appetizers, salads, pastas, and paellas for a true fusion concept. Come enjoy a glass of sangria or smooth Estrella Damm beer on their true patio next to a gurgling fishpond under the stars at this hidden gem thriving thanks to word-of-mouth praise.
Wildwood Steakhouse – Prime Cuts of Meat with Rustic Charm
Out near the dusty hills on the outskirts of Yuma rests Wildwood Steakhouse, a rustic chophouse specializing in expertly aged prime cuts of beef alongside loaded baked potatoes, creamed spinach with bacon, and grilled asparagus. The casual yet refined dining room sets an inviting scene for digging into tender filet mignon or melt-in-your-mouth ribeyes charred to smoky perfection on their wood fire grill.
Beyond steaks, Wildwood serves up tasty poultry, pork chops, generous salads, and freshly caught seafood for lighter fare. Wash it all down with a full bar stocked with whiskey, wine, and local craft beer fitting for this homegrown steakhouse committed to providing fine dining at its flavorful best by sourcing ingredients close to home.
Joe’s Real BBQ – Finger-Lickin’ Good Southern-Style BBQ
For authentic mouthwatering barbecue cooked low-and-slow Texas style, locals suggest heading a few miles north to Joe’s Real BBQ run by an award-winning pit master. This counter-service hole-in-the-wall looks like an old roadside smoke shack but the tender smoked brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, spicy Cajun sausage, pulled pork, and smoked turkey breast rival the best BBQ joints across the country.
Beyond savory meats, Joe’s serves up classic sides like mac ‘n’ cheese, fried okra, tangy coleslaw, cornbread muffins and kickin’ BBQ beans to complete your saucy feast. Affordable combo plates mean you get to sample a variety of their smoked specialties slathered in your choice of sweet brown sugar molasses or fiery hot habanero sauce.
Angelo’s Italian Restaurant – Classic Italian Dishes & Downtown Charm
Tucked in an elegant historic corner building along Main Street, Angelo’s Italian Restaurant transports you straight to the old country through delicious classic Italian cooking passed down generations since the restaurant first opened in 1922.
Savor homemade pastas, veal parmigianas, rich lasagna, seafood linguine in garlicky marinara sauce or opt for lighter dishes like prosciutto mozzarella salad or shrimp scampi sautéed in white wine-lemon sauce. Complement your meal with a glass of smooth Chianti while appreciating historic photographs documenting Yuma’s early development that adorn the warm yellow walls and white tablecloths of this downtown gem.
The Table – Mediterranean Creations Served Tapas-Style
For a true taste of the Mediterranean without leaving Yuma, check out The Table specializing in small tapas-style plates perfect for mixing and sharing broken into categories of garden, land, and sea. Their Garden tasting menu journeys through filled eggplant, falafel bites, hummus paired with flatbread, and imported olives while Hearty Plates feature lamb sliders, chicken schawarma, and moussaka baked eggplant casserole.
From the Ocean section, favorites include Spanish paella loaded with mussels, shrimp and chorizo along with seared ahi tuna steak served atop Mediterranean couscous salad. The global wine list provides the perfect pairing options to this eclectic menu centered on quality homemade ingredients sourced locally when possible.
Sunrise Cafe – Charming Brunch Destination
Named after its opening hours not long after dawn, Sunrise Cafe has spent over 40 years perfecting breakfast and lunch favorites beckoning locals craving fluffy stacks of pancakes, melty omelets, and other greasy spoon classics. Step inside the little cottage restaurant overflowing with flowers and sunlight to find tables filled with happy patrons digging into mile-high biscuits and gravy, banana bread French toast, chorizo breakfast burritos and bottomless coffee refills. While most menu items seem down-home simple, the execution using fresh high-quality ingredients punches up flavors sealing Sunrise Cafe’s reputation as the best daily brunch escape in Yuma.
Bushwackers Grill & Steak – Steaks With Personality
Out near the foothills on the north end of Yuma hides a funky ranch-themed steakhouse called Bushwackers Grill & Steak serving incredible cuts of expertly seasoned meat in a playfully irreverent atmosphere. While you can’t go wrong with their New York strip or ribeye cooked over an open wood fire to juicy doneness, Bushwackers goes delightfully rogue stuffing baked potatoes with barbecue pork and cheese or blackening prime rib for Cajun kick.
Every entrée arrives aptly named after its outsized personality like “T-Bone Delight”, “Big Bad John Wayne” 16 oz T-bone, or five cheese-stuffed ravioli dubbed “Belly Busting Bronco”. With burgers called “Hells Fury” and cocktail names like “Knock Out Punch”, Bushwackers unabashedly marches to the beat of their own drum, or cowboy boot as it were.
Conclusion
With mouthwatering Mexican food, juicy steaks, fresh seafood, and charming cafes there is no shortage of incredible dining destinations to explore in Yuma, Arizona. From the old-school charm of Lutes Casino to Joe’s authentic southern barbecue to Wildwood Steakhouse’s perfectly charred cuts of prime beef, this Southwestern town delivers on creative cuisine.
The next time you find yourself in Yuma, set aside time to sample a few local favorites and discover a new favorite restaurant or two from this list highlighting the top eateries in town. Yuma’s dining scene keeps growing in diversity and acclaim thanks to dedicated chef-owners focused on delivering quality dishes made from wholesome ingredients.