Payson is chock full of dining options from fast food to fine dining and everything in between. Since purchasing our home in Spring 2023, Chad and I have explored many local restaurants. Here's our Top 5 budget-friendly options that will leave you full and satisfied while supporting local businesses:
- El Rancho Mexican Food
- Just off Hwy 87 near the center of town, El Rancho offers a sit-down Mexican restaurant experience and lickety-split service. Located directly next to Chipotle, opt for El Rancho instead and order the Green Chile Bowl. It's served in a flour tortilla-lined bowl and topped with onions and cheese. Included is your choice of meat including the option of a gigantic portion of pulled pork. Recently I've subbed the meat for black beans and it's equally as delicious. I always have half of the bowl leftover and get to take home a full 16oz to-go container for enjoying the next day. With complimentary chips and salsa, this order is the best $10 you can spend in Payson.
- Mazatzal Casino
- Mazatzal is the first place you'll see when arriving to Payson from the Phoenix area. It's a great spot to stop for a bathroom break if you've been sitting in weekend or holiday traffic upon your arrival to Payson, but you'll want to remember to come back for the food. Not only can anyone order off the Senior Menu, but they also have a soup and salad bar included with all entrees. For less than $20 (or easily less than $15) per person, you can create your own multi-course meal. The kids menu is the best in town, and I personally have asked for their BBQ sauce to go. It's that good! As an added bonus, there's a self-serve complimentary tea and soda station near the main casino entrance, so you can avoid those pesky beverage charges that run up the bill total.
- Duza's Kitchen
- Looking for a fine dining option in Payson with higher quality food and without the steakhouse prices? Duza's is hands down the best spot for locally owned and operated chef-quality offerings using local ingredients. Follow them on Facebook for mouth-watering daily specials (with photos) and pay close attention to their hours of operation. The staff is small and top-notch, so they close between 2-5pm to eat and prep for the dinner service.
- Crosswinds Restaurant
- Located 1 mile west of Hwy 87 at the Payson Airport, Crosswinds is one of the dining gems in town. It's most popular for breakfast all day but serves all sorts of diner favorites like chicken fried steak, liver & onions, and open-faced roast beef or turkey sandwiches all for less than $12 a plate. They're open from 6am-3pm, and you can watch airplane arrivals and departures from their massive windows while enjoying hometown service that makes you feel like a townie. Don't forget to grab one of their 12 varieties of homemade pies to go!
- The Delicious Cafe
- Looking for a local coffee, tea, sandwich, and salad spot? Look no further. The Delicious Cafe has a vast menu designed Gluten-Free, but they're also welcome to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, or dairy-free customers at request. With nothing on the menu greater than $15 and a dozen bread options including gluten-free pita, ciabatta, and sourdough, I'm loving this place just as much as Picazzo's. Pair a half salad with soup or half a sandwich for less than $12 and you've got a healthy option from a local-owned business and conveniently located right off Hwy 87.
Wherever you decide to grab food in Payson, we support the local employees and always enjoy interacting with our servers, hosts, food service workers and bartenders. Sometimes you have to grab a Wendy's Frosty, and we send love to everyone providing a service to make Payson feel like home!