Dominican in Phoenix

There’s not a lot in the way of traditional Dominican food around metro Phoenix, but Mambo’s Dominican Kitchen in Chandler helps fill in the gap with a sprawling menu of Caribbean staples. Starters include meaty empanadas and deep-fried quipes (bulgur rolls inspired by Lebanese kibbeh). It would be a mistake to skip over the drink menu, which features a selection of frothy, traditional fruit drinks like Morir Soñando (“Die Dreaming”), a sweet and light blend of orange and milk. Of course, you’ll want to sample the bacon-spliced mofongo, a classic dish of cooked plantain smashed with ample amounts of garlic and onion. The deep-fried, grizzled pork nuggets called masita de cerdo are also quite good, and you definitely don’t want to miss the mangú tres golpes, a classic Dominican breakfast plate that revolves around mangú, a sort of porridge of chunky, mashed green plantains served with fried cheese, Dominican salami and a couple of eggs.

Family-owned and -operated, the eatery is one of a handful of Caribbean restaurants in the Valley. It's inviting and informal, with the menu -- which changes depending on availability of ingredients -- written in chalk on the wall. If the writing is illegible, the staff will be more than happy to recite the day's available dishes. The little place seats a total of 17, with five tables. Art, Caribbean instruments, a Dominican flag, and quirky antiques -- like a Saved By the Bell-era cell phone -- decorate the restaurant, while Dominican news plays on a flat-screen TV.