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Tacos, dinosaurs and a few scoops of ice cream are just a few ways to spend a day walking around downtown Mesa.  

Dig in: Start with tacos — pastor and asada — and a medium horchata at Valley favorite Tacos Chiwas. (Total was $13.06.)

Think full-flavored, street-style spicy tacos, loaded up with meat and garnished with either freshly diced onion or pickled onion and cilantro. You will want to order more. 

Zoom out: The family-owned restaurant serves Chihuahua-style food at three locations: central Phoenix, Mesa and Sky Harbor Airport, which opened earlier this summer. 

Marble bar counter with a blue plate of two tacos topped with cilantro and onions, lime wedges, and sauces; an iced drink in a "Tacos Chiwas" cup sits nearby, bar taps in the background.

My order looked delicious. Photo: Gitanjali Poonia/Axios

Yes, but: If you're looking for gluten-free options — including desserts and beers — go to the locally owned Against the Grain across the street.

They sell groceries, baked goods, ice creams, cheeseburgers and much more.

Zoom in: Another Valley staple, Novel Ice cream, is around the corner.

Try the ice cream stuffed glazed donut for $7.50.

State of play: The Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZNHM), a walkable distance from Novel, is a great next place. (Tickets are $9–16.) 

And Idea Museum, which features interactive art for children, is down the block. (Tickets are $12.)

The bottom line: Come for the dinosaurs and tacos. Stay because there's probably room for one more scoop.

How to spend a day in walkable downtown Mesa

Your ultimate guide for food, dessert and T-Rexes.

Indoor cafe with gray walls and a large black cursive mural accented in green on the right wall. A red EXIT sign sits above a glass door; wooden tables run along the lower wall.

Checking out this Valley staple for the first time. Photo: Gitanjali Poonia/Axios

Tacos, dinosaurs and a few scoops of ice cream are just a few ways to spend a day walking around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="downtown Mesa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/05/21/mesa-neon-signs-historic" data-vars-content-id="425901d2-fd11-4c9d-89ea-fb4dec494993" data-vars-headline="How to spend a day in walkable downtown Mesa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/05/21/mesa-neon-signs-historic" target="_self">downtown Mesa</a>. Dig in: Start with tacos — pastor and asada — and a medium horchata at Valley favorite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tacos Chiwas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/06/20/reader-recommendations-best-mexican-restaurants-phoenix" data-vars-content-id="425901d2-fd11-4c9d-89ea-fb4dec494993" data-vars-headline="How to spend a day in walkable downtown Mesa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/06/20/reader-recommendations-best-mexican-restaurants-phoenix" target="_self">Tacos Chiwas</a>. (Total was $13.06.)

Things to Do

Newcomers Guide

Food and Drink

Utah-born restaurant chains have found fertile ground in Mesa, bringing dirty sodas, oversized cookies and fast-casual favorites to the East Valley.

Why it matters: Utah's cultural influence in Mesa gives companies a built-in customer base, particularly for fast-casual concepts catering to suburban families.

Dig in: This Utah food starter pack caters to health-conscious diners and people with a sweet tooth.

Crumbl: This chain known for cookies that taste like cake has two locations in Mesa. 

A quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie led two cousins from Logan, Utah, to start this cookie shop, which rotates the menu weekly.

Swig: Serving 44-ounce dirty sodas, this Utah favorite also has several locations in the East Valley. 

Nicole Tanner, who founded Swig in 2010, coined the term "dirty soda," selling them for $1 at her store by Dixie State University.

Now, the most expensive dirty soda on their menu is the $7 Dragonada with Sprite, pineapple, dragon fruit, pineapple puree, frozen pineapple and coconut cream. 

Costa Vida: Founded by two friends in Layton, Utah, in 2003, this was my go-to spot when I lived in Salt Lake City a few years ago. 

My order is a sweet pork bowl with lettuce, guacamole, pinto beans, roasted green chile salsa and sour cream. Also worth trying are their smothered burritos. 

Cupbop: This chain, which started as a food truck in Salt Lake City in 2013, serves Korean BBQ street food in a cup. 

Try the Krunch Bop with chicken katsu over noodles and rice. 

Aubergine Kitchen: The menu at this health-forward fast-casual restaurant is inspired by Lebanese, Brazilian and Italian cuisine. 

It's founded by a married couple in Orem, Utah, in 2014. 

Try their gluten-free Power Pasture bowl with roasted tri-tip steak, an egg, seasoned kale, roasted onion, carrot salad, feta cheese and microgreens over a bed of turmeric rice with cashew cilantro jalapeño dressing. 

The intrigue: Mesa — settled by Mormon pioneers and home to Arizona's first LDS temple — remains strongly influenced by Latter-day Saint culture.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reports more than 442,000 members in Arizona, which about 6% of the state's population.

The bottom line: You can take a surprisingly complete Utah food tour through Mesa.

Take a Utah food tour without leaving Mesa

Get your dirty sodas and the perfect chocolate chip cookie at these spots.

Animated illustration of a cup filling up with soda, and then creamer and flavor syrup being added, before the liquid is drunk through a straw.

Utah-born restaurant chains have found fertile ground in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mesa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/mesa/2026/08/19/best-things-to-do-downtown-mesa-arizona" data-vars-content-id="57490b2b-0709-43e6-92a3-2a5b1545b0f4" data-vars-headline="Take a Utah food tour without leaving Mesa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/mesa/2026/08/19/best-things-to-do-downtown-mesa-arizona" target="_self">Mesa</a>, bringing dirty sodas, oversized cookies and fast-casual favorites to the East Valley.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Utah&#x27;s cultural influence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/23/salt-lake-fine-art-museum-utah-culture-artists-local-julia-reagan" data-vars-content-id="57490b2b-0709-43e6-92a3-2a5b1545b0f4" data-vars-headline="Take a Utah food tour without leaving Mesa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/23/salt-lake-fine-art-museum-utah-culture-artists-local-julia-reagan" target="_self">Utah&#x27;s cultural influence</a> in Mesa gives companies a built-in customer base, particularly for fast-casual concepts catering to suburban families.

News

Downtown Mesa is flipping the script on parking tickets this month, rewarding drivers who follow parking rules with prizes from local businesses. 

Why it matters: The Cloud Citation program incentivizes rule following and promotes local businesses.

What they're saying: "It's essentially a good parking ticket instead of a bad one. We're calling it 'Monsoon on Main Street,'" Enrique Caro, the marketing and events coordinator at the Downtown Mesa Association, tells Axios.

Context: The downtown area offers plenty of free parking options, but certain rules apply during work hours on weekdays, including three-hour and one-hour limits.

What to know: A parking officer can issue a Cloud Citation by leaving a card on the windshields of cars that are parked correctly. 

These cards have a QR code drivers can scan to enter to win a prize, including merchandise and gift cards from local businesses. 

Parking officers are offering 50 Cloud Citations a week in August. 

The bottom line: Drive to downtown Mesa for the one parking ticket you'll actually want to get.

Mesa goes after good drivers

Follow parking rules and you could win prizes to local businesses.

Close-up of a hand placing a blue promo card with white clouds and rain on a car window. The card reads, "Catch the MONSOON on Main Street."

Downtown <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mesa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/22/meet-axios-phoenix-s-east-valley-reporter" data-vars-content-id="5e400fad-82de-44ce-a61b-e4789c8eb01c" data-vars-headline="Mesa goes after good drivers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/22/meet-axios-phoenix-s-east-valley-reporter" target="_self">Mesa</a> is flipping the script on parking tickets this month, rewarding drivers who follow parking rules with prizes from local businesses. Why it matters: The Cloud Citation program incentivizes rule following and promotes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local businesses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/13/organizers-first-friday-roosevelt-row-revitalization-plan" data-vars-content-id="5e400fad-82de-44ce-a61b-e4789c8eb01c" data-vars-headline="Mesa goes after good drivers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/13/organizers-first-friday-roosevelt-row-revitalization-plan" target="_self">local businesses</a>.

Transit

One of the East Valley's most generous happy hours — at Lucky Lou's in northeast Mesa — also offers some of the greasiest, most delicious bar bites.

The vibe: A laid-back sports bar with a charming Vegas themed-decor, friendly staff and great deals.

I counted at least nine TV screens playing sports, plus others displaying the restaurant's specials and sports betting odds.

If you go: On weekdays, happy hour is 2-6 pm and includes deals on appetizers, including $7 cheese curds and an $8 pretzel.

On Saturday and Sunday, happy hour is noon-5pm.

Lucky Lou's also offers drink specials 9pm to close every day, whether that's $5 import beers on Thursdays or $6 vodka red bulls on Friday.

What to try: The star of the evening was the potato and cheese pierogi with onions, bacon and a side of sour cream. Beware — each bite is rich. 

Pierogi aren't typical sports bar fare, but they are great alternative to loaded potato skins.

The pretzel is a little too salty, though a cold beer helps balance it out. 

Close up on a diner table with two plates: One with a pretzel and cheese, the other with pierogis covered in onions and bacon with a side of sour cream.

The appetizers. Photo: Gitanjali Poonia/Axios

Flashback: Lucky Lou's has three locations, including the Mesa one, which opened in 2004.

Six-word review: Cozy space with seriously good carbs.

A Mesa happy hour you can get twice a day — and weekends, too

Lucky Lou's is a laid-back sports bar with a charming Vegas-themed decor.

The exterior of a building with a neon red sign that reads "Lucky Lou's"

One of the East Valley&#x27;s most generous happy hours — at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lucky Lou&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://luckylousaz.com/" data-vars-content-id="a7fe83cd-6f27-40f0-b7fd-f7b89e4fedb1" data-vars-headline="A Mesa happy hour you can get twice a day — and weekends, too" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://luckylousaz.com/" target="_blank">Lucky Lou&#x27;s</a> in northeast <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mesa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/06/10/mesa-gets-a-world-cup-glimpse" data-vars-content-id="a7fe83cd-6f27-40f0-b7fd-f7b89e4fedb1" data-vars-headline="A Mesa happy hour you can get twice a day — and weekends, too" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/06/10/mesa-gets-a-world-cup-glimpse" target="_self">Mesa</a> — also offers some of the greasiest, most delicious bar bites.The vibe: A laid-back sports bar with a charming <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vegas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/09/las-vegas-tourism-slump-signals-wider-economic-slowdown" data-vars-content-id="a7fe83cd-6f27-40f0-b7fd-f7b89e4fedb1" data-vars-headline="A Mesa happy hour you can get twice a day — and weekends, too" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/09/las-vegas-tourism-slump-signals-wider-economic-slowdown" target="_self">Vegas</a> themed-decor, friendly staff and great deals.

Waymo is about to add rides to Mesa Gateway Airport, but Mesa officials want the robotaxi company to move farther east into the city. 

Why it matters: Even though the expansion gives more East Valley residents ridehail options to the airport, large residential areas of Mesa still remain outside its service territory. 

The latest: The company announced this month that it's adding 55 square miles of the East Valley to its service area, though the expansion for now caters to Chandler and Gilbert. 

State of play: Ian Linssen, Mesa's chief of emerging technology, tells Axios the city has continually asked Waymo to expand eastward to serve Mesa's large residential areas.

"We tell them we'd love to see it," he says.

Flashback: When Waymo first started offering its services in Mesa in 2023, it incorporated most of the downtown area.

"We thought that was pretty cool because we kind of call it informally our arts and innovation district. It ... made sense to have that whole area be serviced by Waymo," says Linssen.

A year later, the robotaxi company opened a service station in Mesa, growing its ties with the city.

Zoom in: Once Sky Harbor, Scottsdale Airpark and Mesa Gateway are all in the service area, the Valley will have more airport access from Waymo than any other city.

Catch up quick: Waymo pulled its cars from Valley freeways earlier this year for a software fix to help the vehicles better navigate construction zones.

It restored service in late July, and the company tells Axios its new East Valley territory will be accessible by freeway.

Where Mesa officials want Waymos to go next

The company announced recently that it's adding 55 square miles of the East Valley to its service area.

Illustration of traffic light with a green way light

Waymo is about to add rides to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mesa Gateway Airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/13/waymo-phoenix-east-valley-expansion-chandler-gilbert-gateway-airport" data-vars-content-id="f6b0eef9-fca6-47ad-b266-9d6370687bc3" data-vars-headline="Where Mesa officials want Waymos to go next" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/13/waymo-phoenix-east-valley-expansion-chandler-gilbert-gateway-airport" target="_self">Mesa Gateway Airport</a>, but Mesa officials want the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="robotaxi company" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/waymo-robotaxis-av-crash-study" data-vars-content-id="f6b0eef9-fca6-47ad-b266-9d6370687bc3" data-vars-headline="Where Mesa officials want Waymos to go next" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/waymo-robotaxis-av-crash-study" target="_self">robotaxi company</a> to move farther east into the city. Why it matters: Even though the expansion gives more East Valley residents ridehail options to the airport, large residential areas of Mesa still remain outside its service territory.

Gitanjali Poonia

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