Phoenix has no shortage of burger chains, but Islands Restaurant at Desert Ridge Marketplace delivers something most casual spots can’t: a tropical island vibe with burgers worth actually craving.
This California-born concept has built a loyal 4.4-star following in Phoenix with fresh-cut endless fries, Hawaii-inspired burger builds, and a full bar that makes every visit feel like a mini vacation.
It’s the kind of place where families drive 38 miles just to get their burger fix, and that kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. 🌺🍔
How they won local’s hearts
Islands Restaurant won over Phoenix’s Desert Ridge crowd by offering something the neighborhood genuinely needed: a sit-down burger experience that feels fun and elevated without the pretension or the price tag.
Locals fell hard for the Hawaiian Burger, fresh pineapple, and island-inspired toppings on a perfectly cooked patty, and kept coming back for an endlessly rotating menu that gives everyone something to love.
The endless fresh-cut fries alone have earned a loyal cult following, with one TripAdvisor reviewer declaring them the best fries they’d ever had after just one visit, and that was before discovering the free refills. 🌟
The fish tacos and Yaki chicken tacos pulled in a crowd beyond just burger lovers, proving that Islands knows how to build a full menu instead of just one great item.
Happy hour on weekdays from 3–6:30 PM with drinks and lunch specials under $12 turned afternoon regulars into genuinely devoted repeat visitors across the entire week.
Add in attentive service that reviewers consistently praise for being friendly, fast, and genuinely warm, and Islands became the go-to Desert Ridge dinner spot for families, couples, and pre-concert crowds alike. 🎉
Food Highlights
- Hawaiian Burger: The most talked-about build on the menu, fresh pineapple, island toppings, and a perfectly cooked patty that earns repeat orders every single visit. 🍔🍍
- Kilauea Burger: A bold, spicy build loaded with flavor that reviewers specifically seek out for its heat and personality. 🌋
- Three Island Fish Tacos: The most popular non-burger item on the menu, fresh, light, and satisfying enough to make non-burger lovers feel completely at home here. 🌮
- Tiki Tenders: Crispy chicken tenders that are ordered with multiple sides of buffalo sauce one reviewer calls them their absolute non-negotiable every visit. 🍗
- Tortilla Soup: A consistently praised menu staple that reviewers keep ordering visit after visit for its rich, deeply satisfying flavor. 🍲
- Fresh-Cut Endless Fries: Hot, crispy, seasoned, and endlessly refillable, the side dish that TripAdvisor reviewers call the best they’ve ever had anywhere. 🍟
Atmosphere
Islands leans fully into its tropical beach bar identity, with surf videos playing on screens, the decor channels island vibes, and the full bar keeps things lively without ever getting chaotic.
The Desert Ridge location offers comfortable indoor dining with a casual, family-friendly energy that works just as well for a solo lunch as it does for a group dinner before a show.
The service gets consistently high marks from reviewers for being attentive, quick with drinks, and genuinely friendly, which in a busy marketplace location is something worth noticing. 🌴
Bottom Line
Go to Islands for tropical-themed burgers with fresh pineapple, endless fresh-cut fries that earn their own fan club, and a full bar happy hour that makes weekday evenings worth celebrating.
Between the Hawaiian Burger, the fish tacos, and those legendary fries, this Desert Ridge spot delivers the kind of casual dining experience Phoenix families keep coming back to week after week.
Hit happy hour between 3–6:30 PM on weekdays and order the fries, you’ll understand the loyalty instantly. 🌺🌟
Address:
Islands Restaurant
21001 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 36-1160, Phoenix, AZ 85050
📞 (602) 830-6413
🕔 Mon–Thu & Sun: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Fri–Sat: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM