Roasted chiles have a smell that can stop a hungry person halfway across a parking lot. All over Arizona, that smoky green scent drifts out of family counters, old adobe cafes, and mountain-town breakfast spots.
We tasted our way from the low desert to the tall pines to find the bowls, burritos, and enchiladas that truly earn their heat. Here is how the green chili in Arizona stacked up, starting with our top pick.
1. Green Chile Love, Phoenix, AZ
First place went to a small family counter in the Ahwatukee corner of Phoenix, and it was not a close call. Green Chile Love builds nearly its whole menu around fresh New Mexico green chiles, and the pork green chile here tastes slow, savory, and deeply roasted.
It holds its own against bowls from Hatch country and Colorado alike…