It is a surprise that there is a city named Surprise in the US state of Arizona. The city was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler, who named it Surprise as she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much". Surprise is approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Phoenix. The city is the home for Spring Training for the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers Baseball Teams.
The city has been quite active in terms of Sports and has hosted league matches in the past. Apart from Sports, the city has a growing food culture and offers a variety of culinary experiences to its visitors.
Here is a list of the top five restaurants in Surprise that will “surprise” you (no pun intended).
1. Tom Yum Thai Restaurant
Located at 13736 W Bell Rd inside the Surprise Towne Center is offers a variety of Thai dishes that can be paired with beer and wines. The ambiance of the eatery is traditional and relaxed and is supported by great service and friendly staff. The restaurant is also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly.
Try their Coconut Soup (Tom Kah) which is a Thai coconut milk soup with a healthy dose of Thai herbs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cilantro. I have enjoyed their Pineapple Duck Curry for its sweet and salty flavor. For dessert, you could never go wrong with "Sweet Sticky Rice" which is their hand-made custard, served over a bed of sweet sticky rice.
2. Big Buddha Restaurant
Located at Greenway Crossings at 16572 W Greenway Rd Suite 115, this Asian eatery offers Chinese food with vegetarian and vegan-friendly options available.
The restaurant has fast and friendly service and the owners do their best to remember the regular visitors. The eatery has large portions so be prepared to pack the leftovers. Try their Po Po platter that is primarily an appetizer sampler containing Egg roll, Fried Shrimp, Beef Skewer, BBQ Pork Slices, and Crab Puffs for people who can't decide on a single appetizer.
Another popular item on the menu is the Taiwanese Chow Fun which is a wide rice noodle quickly stir-fried with Taiwanese style bbq sauce. It goes well with their Mango Sweet Tea.
3. Babbo Italian Eatery
Babbo Italian Eatery is a family-owned Italian Food with eight locations in Arizona. The restaurant is located at 16433 W Bell Road. They offer a wide variety of wines that goes with the menu options. The staff is friendly and the service is great here.
Try their Monday and Tuesday All Day Special Spaghetti & Meatballs with tender and well-cooked meatballs. For dessert, enjoy a slice of their mouthwatering Tiramisu or Zeppoli which is fried dough balls with honey, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla ice cream, and whipped topping.
4. Rio Mirage Café
Located at 13863 W Bell Rd, Rio Mirage Café is an upbeat eatery adorned with Mexican art offering traditional south-of-the-border cooking stars.
Enjoy a warm Rolled Quesadilla, Chicken enchiladas, or Burrito De Fajitas and you won’t be disappointed. All their dishes are well cooked and customizable as per your spice level. They offer several varieties of tacos but if you have to choose one, go for fish tacos as they are the best. Also, remember to ask for their special “hot” salsa and refried beans. For dessert, go for Flan De Cafe Lolita which is a freshly made Mexican-style custard.
5. Saigon Kitchen
Located at 14071 W Bell Rd, Saigon Kitchen is a contemporary Vietnamese café with a bar serving a variety of drinks to its customers. This eatery is perfect for a cozy and romantic evening. They have a great menu, friendly staff, and delicious food.
The sizzling beef and seafood, along with the garlic noodles and short ribs are delicious and a must-try. For dessert, Butter Cake with Ice cream is a must-try.