![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/83910343007-chefs-night-out-092.jpg\"\/)
![\"play\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\nWelcome to Chef’s Night Out, where our dining reporter gets in the inside scoop from the Valley’s top chefs at their favorite restaurants.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
El Pollo Supremo is a favorite of metro Phoenix chefs<\/p>\n
Nadia Holguin and Armando Hernandez, owners of Tacos Chiwas, stopped at El Pollo Supremo in Tempe for one of their favorite meals.<\/p>\n
After the release of The Republic\u2019s list of 100 essential restaurants<\/a> earlier this year, we wanted to know more about the restaurants that top Phoenix chefs consider essential. Rather than just ask them, dining reporter Bahar Anooshahr decided to join them for a taste of their favorite dishes.<\/p>\n Chef\u2019s Night Out is your seat at the table and a chance to learn more about our local celebrity chefs, from must-order dishes at their essential to ingredients they refuse to eat or cook with.<\/p>\n The series debuted with award-nominated former chef of Valentine restaurant, Donny Hawk<\/a>, who shared a plate of his favorite spicy green beans, along with a surprising fact about his home cooking. Next, legendary fine dining Phoenix chef Christopher Gross<\/a> shared secrets about his initial aversion to Mexican food over a plate of fiery enchilada-style burros. Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin<\/a> of Chiwas Hospitality Group took us to a longtime restaurant that feeds their whole family weekly.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at the metro Phoenix restaurants where our top chefs eat when they aren’t in their own restaurants cooking.<\/p>\n Donald Hawk (formerly of Valentine Restaurant) loves Old Town Taste<\/p>\n James Beard semifinalist and former chef of Valentine restaurant, Donald Hawk<\/a>, took me to Old Town Taste.<\/p>\n What he orders:<\/strong> Green beans and Ma Po tofu.<\/p>\n His least favorite ingredient to work with?<\/strong> Okra. Flavor is fine. It’s the texture.<\/p>\n Details: <\/strong>1845 E. Broadway Road, Tempe. 480-702-7101,\u00a0oldtowntaste.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n