Wickenburg is recognized as Arizona’s most Western town. While it is just an hour northwest of Phoenix, it seems like a another planet where cowboys roam and cattle ranches reign. Whether you’re in town for a rodeo, the annual Gold Rush Days celebration, or simply to look around, there’s a broad variety of eateries where you can get a taste of the Wild West.
Here are some restaurants where you can have a hearty breakfast, real Mexican cuisine, a succulent steak, and some of the greatest BBQ you’ve ever had.
Are you going to other places in Arizona? See our other guides:
- 15 Best Restaurants in Prescott, Arizona
- 7 Sedona Restaurants With a View
- 10 Fun Things To Do In Goodyear Arizona
- 6 Must-Try Glendale Restaurants
- 8 Best Cave Creek Restaurants
- 5 Best Scottsdale AZ Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants In Phoenix
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Wickenburg’s 8 Must-Try Restaurants
Caf Horseshoe
207 E. Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, AZ 85390-1484, 928-684-7377
The Horseshoe Caf is a Western café known for its homestyle food and pleasant service. Deb Thomas, the owner, and her employees welcome regulars by name. The cuisine and service are both excellent, adding to the nice environment.
Jalapeno omelets and Horseshoe Cafs biscuits and gravy are touted to be the finest in town and among Wickenburg eateries. We both appreciated our eggs, bacon, and sausage, and my husband raved about the country potatoes. Locals we spoke with raved about the chicken fried steak and chorizo.
As you wait for your dinner, look at the hilarious cowboy signs on the wall and have a cup of their great coffee (per my husband since I dont like coffee).
The Horseshoe Caf is open everyday from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There is no parking lot, however there is enough street parking. A parking lot is also available behind the movie theater across the street. You may have to wait for a table if you don’t there before the breakfast and lunch surges, but it will be worth it.
The Ranchero
Wickenburg, AZ 85390-2269
El Ranchero is one of numerous excellent Mexican restaurants in Wickenburg. You’ll feel right at home since the walls are covered with cheery, vibrant paintings and frescos reminiscent of a Mexican hacienda.
We snacked on hot tortilla chips with standard and spicy salsas and bean dip as we waited for our dinner. My spouse chose one of the several Mexican beers from the well-stocked bar, while I had a mango margarita.
One of El Rancheros’ specialities, Shrimp Enchiladas, was delicious. These were served with rice, refried beans, and a Pico de Gallo salad that I had never seen before at a Mexican restaurant. My hubby let me try his Shredded Beef Chimichanga with red and green salsa. The steak was flavorful, and the tortilla was crunchy and not greasy.
El Ranchero is open everyday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. There is little parking in front, but a huge lot in back.
Onery Hog Barbecue
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 308-765-9654686 N Tegner Street
No Western town is complete without a nice BBQ joint. If that’s what you’re looking for, come to the Onery Hog, Wickenburg’s greatest barbeque restaurant.
The owners, Dan and Jo Flower, visited Arizona, fell in love with the pleasant weather and nice people, and chose to remain. By the way, Onery is not a misspelling. They opted to spell ornery the way they pronounce it while naming the eatery. So it was onery.
All SmokeNo Mirrors is their catchphrase. Their dry rub is Dans’ recipe, which he has been developing for 50 years. He also smokes and grills all of his own meats. I tasted the pulled pork, which was some of the best barbecue I’d ever had. They handed me a brisket sample, which was so soft that I could cut it with a small fork.
The coleslaw and potato salad were well-seasoned, but the beans took me by surprise. I’m not generally a lover of beans, but these were delicious! They’re spiced with Dans proprietary dry rub and jalapeño peppers, according to Jo. She also threatened to kill me if she revealed any more details about the recipe;).
The Onery Hog is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or until sold out, indicating how popular their meal is with both residents and tourists. There is lots of parking on-site.
Spurs Coffee Shop
Wickenburg, AZ 85390-1481 (phone: 928-684-8777)
The Spurs Caf is a charming Western cafe where the kind staff treats you like family. It is always bustling and popular with residents and guests for breakfast and lunch. Even though we came early, we received the last available table, and others were still waiting to be seated when we departed.
Come hungry since the Spurs Caf doesnt do little quantities. My spouse requested a little stack of pancakes that could have comfortably satisfied both of us. He didn’t receive much assistance, though, since I was preoccupied with my half order of French Toast. It was baked using thick, good-quality bread, and the egg mixture had a cinnamon flavor to it.
As you wait for your dinner, take in the Western atmosphere and drink on a cup of great coffee (as recommended by my spouse), tea, or a glass of orange juice.
The Horseshoe Caf is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. everyday. There is no parking. If there are no available parking places on the street, consider using the lot behind the movie theater. I almost forgot Wear your spurs if you brought them because you receive a 10% discount. Undoubtedly one of Wickenburg’s top eateries.
Anitas’ Kitchen
Wickenburg, AZ 85390, 928-684-577757 N. Valentine Street
Anitas Cocina is one of the locations that come to mind when people in Wickenburg think about Mexican cuisine. It has been a constant presence in the historic downtown neighborhood for almost 30 years, owned by Tom and Sherry Hunt.
Anitas began as a modest, one-room restaurant with a walk-up window and seating for 10 people in 1986. Tom and Sherry have extended it to four dining rooms and sell their own salsa brand.
All meals are prepared daily using fresh ingredients, and the crew adheres to the same recipes that they have used and perfected for over 20 years. Margaritas are also created using Anita’s homemade syrup produced from freshly squeezed lime juice.
My spouse and I have spent half of our lives in Arizona. So far, we’ve had a lot of Mexican cuisine. We both agreed that Anita Cocinas salsa is some of the greatest we’ve ever had. All of the tastes are discernible, and the spicy version has a bite without burning your palate.
The main meals exceeded our expectations as well. My Chili Relleno was flavorful, and the poblano pepper had a crisp but not mushy texture. I tried my husband’s chimichanga, and the shredded meat was tender and flavorful. If you know Mexican cooking, you can tell whether the refried beans came from a can in an instant. Anita Cocinas’ refried beans were clearly handmade, and they were delicious.
Anitas Cocina is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and is closed on Sunday and Monday. There is no parking lot, however there are plenty of places on the street. One of Wickenburg’s best Mexican eateries.
Cowboy Cuisine
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 (928) 684-3882495 E Wickenburg Way
Cowboy Cookin is just outside of the old downtown district. As the name suggests, this is one of the places in Wickenburg where you may grab a steak, ribs, or barbecue. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, and comfort foods including Traditional Pot Roast, Chicken Fried Steak, and Meat Loaf are also available.
Make room for dessert since all of Cowboy Cookins’ pies, cakes, and cookies are baked from scratch. They had apple, cherry, peach, and pecan pies, carrot cake, and ginger, peanut butter, and Mexican wedding cookies on the day I went.
Cowboy Cookin is a great place to go if you appreciate Western artifacts. Cowboy posters and antiques decorate the walls. Even the light fixtures seem to be from a Zorro film. Old-time western music plays in the background, while Televisions in the dining room, bar area, and covered terrace show episodes of your favorite Westerns and cowboy flicks.
Cowboy Cookin is open from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays through Mondays and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On-site parking is provided.
As of this writing, a local couple, Scott and Jamie Putnam, have acquired Cowboy Cookin. As a result, the menu and hours may vary.
Hassayampa BBQ Restaurant
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 (928) 684-6123169 East Wickenburg Way
Hassayampa Barbecue is known for its delicious barbecue, which includes shredded chicken, pig, and brisket. Many Wickenburg residents and tourists rave about their morning burritos. They may, however, accommodate smaller appetites.
While we just needed a light lunch, the Fruit and Cheese Plate with artisan cheeses, Bordeaux cherries, almonds, artichoke hearts, flatbread, and fig jam was ideal. My husband was pleased with his bowl of chili, which came with a substantial slice of baked cornbread.
Hassayampa BBQ is a Wickenburg restaurant famed for its exquisite sweets. Once our waiter mentioned the Peach Crisp and Pecan Bread Pudding, both of which available with or without ice cream, we succumbed to temptation and split an order of the Pecan Bread Pudding. We were not let down.
Hassayampa Barbeque is open everyday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and has on-site parking.
The Palomino Club
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 (928) 684-4442107 E Wickenburg Way
The Palomino Club is a fantastic option among Wickenburg restaurants for a sandwich, salad, or Mexican cuisine. The daily special is a Prime Rib Sandwich, and they have $2.00 tacos every Tuesday and happy hour from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Tuesday through Friday.
Locals love their appetizers, which include Shrimp and Calamari and Carne Asada Cowboy FriesFrench fries with queso, grilled onions, cilantro, guacamole, and sour cream.
Since the Palomino Club is now under new administration by the Lindsey family, recent Utah migrants, the menu may alter. They relocated to Wickenburg so that they could rope and barbecue outdoors all winter. They purchased the restaurant in early 2022, and their daughter Brynlee is in charge of day-to-day operations and management.
On weekends, the Palomino Club has a complete bar, a dining room separate from the bar, terrace dining, and live entertainment and dancing. Daily hours are 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Parking is accessible in front of the building as well as in the lot to the left.
Wrap Up Of The Best Restaurants in Wickenburg
When you visit Wickenburg, you’ll experience a big dose of Western friendliness. Everyone in town knows everyone else, and strangers are not uncommon to stop you on the street and pick up a discussion.
It’s a delightful day trip from Phoenix and a fantastic site to take out-of-state tourists who want a flavor of the Old West. Visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, see Vulture City Ghost Town, witness a team roping sport, or just wander around the historic downtown area.
You won’t go hungry if you visit these eight eateries whether you’re hungry or want to unwind over beverages while watching live, local entertainment.