South Phoenix’s bustling local food scene embodies the cultural and diverse palates of its residents and historical past. Its social fabric is woven by a rich variety of lifestyles, languages, cultures, and ethnicities. A drive through South Phoenix showcases its varying landscape with farm fields and desert terrain, urban living and large-lot homesteads, and South Mountain Park—the nation's largest municipal park.
It is also home to a vibrant community bursting with local food choices—from mom-and-pop restaurants and food stands, locally owned food trucks and food businesses, corner shops and markets that showcase traditional ingredients, and an active urban farming community that is a reminder of South Phoenix’s agricultural legacy.
A Burgeoning Hub for New Food Businesses
The G. Benjamin Brooks Community Kitchen in South Phoenix is a partnership initiative with TigerMountain Foundation and Local First Arizona. The community kitchen helps a diverse community of food artisans and micro-entrepreneurs build their food business while uplifting an already vibrant local food economy—bringing more food access options and choice to this South Phoenix neighborhood.
Originally opened as Palmdale Elementary in South Phoenix in 1966, the school served residents of South Phoenix until 2014 when it closed its doors to daily students. The campus has now been reimagined as the G. Benjamin Brooks Academy—a campus for non-profit organizations with a common goal of promoting the well-being of all South Phoenix children and families.
The school’s namesake, Reverend Doctor George Benjamin Brooks, was a tireless advocate of civil rights and social change—working diligently to better the world around him. He dedicated his life to fighting discrimination across Arizona; and for over 50 years, he was a strong voice in the fight for equality for all citizens. He served as president of the Maricopa County NAACP from 1964 to 1972. During this time, he lobbied in Washington for funds to start a preschool, a move that would eventually lead to the establishment of Head Start programming for Arizona. He served as a member of the Arizona legislature and as a longtime school board member with the Roosevelt Elementary School District. He also founded Meals on Wheels in Phoenix.
Find Local Food in South Phoenix
There are many opportunities to eat local and support local food businesses in South Phoenix. Use the interactive map below to find locally made goods and support South Phoenix’s thriving food community!
(If you’re a local food producer or artisan, farm, or restaurant in South Phoenix and would like to get listed, please complete the form here to get added to the directory.)
Want to become a Phoenix: Let's Eat Local certified restaurant?
Please contact Kailey Mullis at kailey.mullis@phoenix.gov or 602-534-2488.
Supporting a Resilient Local Food System
The City of Phoenix’s Resilient Food Systems Initiative offers a variety of programs and resources to help develop a stronger, connected local food system with more accessible and sustainable food options for Phoenix residents. Some of these programs include:
