Introducing kids to foods from various cultures from a young age can help expand both their taste buds and their curiosity. Fortunately, Chandler is home to an abundance of amazing ethnic restaurants. Whether you’re looking for Mexican, Chinese, Thai, or Indian cuisine, our hometown has the perfect option.

Crème de la Crème of Chandler put together this list of some of the top restaurants in the area to get you started. Find inspiration for your next family meal at one of these local eateries.

AZ Mucho Taco

Image used with permission via Unsplash by Kevin Liang

AZ Mucho Taco is the place to go when you’re looking for authentic Mexican food close to home. This Chandler mainstay is a family-owned restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine while delivering great service. The restaurant offers fresh food crafted from recipes passed down through generations, and you can taste the passion that went into preparing the meals here. It’s no wonder this restaurant has served the Chandler community for 10 years.

Head in for specials on Taco Tuesday or Menudo on Saturdays and Sundays, or stop by any day of the week to treat the family to a delicious meal whenever the craving strikes. If you come in for breakfast, you can sample various egg combinations like chorizo and eggs or Mexican eggs. The menu also offers a range of tortas (sandwiches), burritos, and chimichangas. Can’t decide what to get? Go for a combination plate.

Of course, you can’t go wrong by ordering tacos here. AZ Mucho Taco offers both soft tacos and hard-shell tacos, so you’re sure to find something to please every member of the family. Close out the meal with a classic dessert like flan, then pencil in your next visit. The tasty treats at this restaurant will have you looking for excuses to plan another family outing.

AZ Mucho Taco is located at 914 N. Alma School Road. The restaurant is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chou’s Kitchen

Chandler has you covered when you’re in the mood for some amazing Chinese food. Chou’s Kitchen, which has locations in Chandler and Tempe, has received recognition from Travel & Leisure as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the United States. This restaurant specializes in cuisine from northeastern China, and you’ll feel like you’re in Liaoning (where the owners come from) the minute you step through the doors.

Wheat is the staple crop in northern China, so you’ll find different dishes than your favorites from southern Chinese kitchens. Classics from northeastern China include steamed buns and noodles, including meals like pork and chive dumplings. Spicy and preserved vegetables also play a big role in the cuisine.

Explore the menu to find your new favorite authentic dish. Whether you’re looking for fried rice or noodles, seafood or vegetables, or anything in between, there’s plenty to love at this local spot. Try the clay pot options or handmade dumplings for a meal to remember.

You’ll find the Chandler location at 910 N. Alma School Road. Closed on Wednesdays, the restaurant is otherwise open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the week.

Thai Rama Chandler

Thai Rama Chandler, another local family-owned restaurant, is the place to go whether you already love Thai cuisine or it’s your first time trying it. Thai Rama first opened in Chandler in 2004, building on the tradition of the original Thai Rama restaurant that has operated in Camelback since the 1980s.

The menu at this popular Chandler spot makes it easy to get adventurous or stay with tried-and-true favorites. You can customize the spice level to your taste, so just let the restaurant staff know if it’s your first visit. They’ll give you recommendations and help you figure out a comfortable spice level for a meal you’re sure to love.

For a surefire favorite, go with a Pad Thai dish, rice noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts and green onions then served in a slightly sweet and spicy sauce. The dish comes topped with peanuts, cilantro, and your choice of vegetables, tofu, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, squid, or a seafood combination. In other words, Thai Rama makes it easier than ever to find a meal that fits in with your needs.

Expand your go-to meal options with the Ho Mok Ta Lay, a dish of shrimp, squid, scallop, mussel, and crab in a special Thai red curry sauce. It includes coconut milk, onion, bell pepper, cabbage, mushroom, and basil, and is baked in a foil boat. Or, stop in at lunchtime to sample one of the amazing lunch specials. With a wide range of noodles, fried rice dishes, curries, and more, Thai Rama Chandler is the perfect place to taste Thai cuisine.

The restaurant is located at 2040 W. Chandler Blvd. You can visit Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m., and on Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m.

Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen

Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen is yet another amazing restaurant located right here in Chandler. An abundance of delicious dishes from southern India make this the place to go for rice specials, curries, and of course, dosa.

Dosa, a paper-thin crepe cooked from a lentil and rice batter, are a hallmark of South Indian cuisine. The crepes come filled with various toppings like potatoes, mixed vegetables and hot chutney, onions, and more.

There’s plenty of other meals to love on this menu, too. From vegetable biryani to rice and lentil pancakes called Uthappam, Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen has it all. They even take the guesswork out of eating out with the family by offering a kids menu.

Visit Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen at 4980 W. Ray Road, Suite 10. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays, but they’re open for both lunch and dinner every other day. Lunch hours run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can stop in for dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, or from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

That wraps up Crème de la Crème of Chandler’s list of delicious restaurants to try close to home. Do you have a favorite ethnic restaurant in the area? Reach out so we can add your recommendation!