Bad Jimmy's
Restaurant · Roosevelt
108 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Highlights
Juicy smash burgers, waffle fries, craft cocktails, and beer.
Juicy smash burgers, waffle fries, craft cocktails, and beer.
"Hours: Open from 11 a.m. daily except Tuesday. Closes at 10 p.m. most nights, and midnight on Friday and Saturday. James Piazza originally sold his smash burgers from a food truck, moving in early 2024 to a tidy downtown space that subtly evokes the burger joints of yore. Juicy smash burgers, whose crispy edges extend well beyond the buns, are made from locally raised K4 Ranch beef, then topped with melting American cheese, pickles, and raw or griddled onions, depending on the order (Double or Classic Double). The waffle fries are first-rate, as is a simple dessert of Strauss’s organic soft serve. Best for: A thumping burger bar vibe and burgers stacked high with pastrami and personality." - McConnell Quinn
"Downtown Phoenix’s burger bar darling has made its debut in Old Town Scottsdale. James “Jimmy” Piazza opened the original Bad Jimmy’s in 2023, bringing delicately smashed and griddled burgers and tattoo-parlor-meets-diner energy to a sleepy stretch of Pierce Street. The Scottsdale sequel sticks to the same playbook: thumping music, red leather booths, a full bar and twirly soft serve finished with olive oil and sea salt. The L.A. Burg flips its top bun and piles on pastrami, while all the beef (and beef bacon) comes from Arizona’s K4 Ranch. Waffle fries, High Life, natural wine, and rotating specials like smoked and fried wings or goat cheese strawberry cheesecake round out the menu. It also signals a shift, as some of Downtown Phoenix’s most exciting names have started to test the waters in Old Town — judging by the daily lines, this one’s already landed." - McConnell Quinn
"Bad Jimmy’s is basically the tattooed version of your classic American burger joint—a little rebellious, kind of loud, and always fun after dark. The menu at Bad Jimmy’s is tight, which comes in clutch when choosing between the Classic Double or the L.A. Burg after crawling the breweries and bars on Roosevelt. For the sides, get the criss-cut fries and the salad. Like any burger joint worth their salt, Bad Jimmy’s has a soft serve selection perfect for filling your soft spot for chocolate, vanilla, or swirl—just snag your cone on your way out to avoid awkward eye contact with your bartender between licks." - lauren topor
"Bad Jimmy’s is basically the tattooed version of your classic American burger joint—a little rebellious, kind of loud, and always fun after dark. The menu at Bad Jimmy’s is tight, which comes in clutch when choosing between the Classic Double or the L.A. Burg after crawling the breweries and bars on Roosevelt. For the sides, you’ll be tempted to go for the criss-cut fries but you should probably give the salad a second look. Like any burger joint worth their salt, Bad Jimmy’s has a soft serve selection perfect for filling your soft spot for chocolate, vanilla, or swirl—just snag your cone on your way out to avoid awkward eye contact with your bartender between licks." - Lauren Topor
"Bad Jimmy’s is the new kid on the block, but it’s burgers have quickly become an icon in the local food scene. James Piazza, the mind behind Bad Jimmy’s, is an expert at perfecting the nostalgia of a classic smash burger. He launched Bad Jimmy’s as a pop-up during the pandemic, and its popularity led to a permanent location in downtown Phoenix. Bad Jimmy’s is consistently good, thanks in large part to its two juicy patties made from K4 Ranch premium Arizona beef, topped with American cheese, griddled onions, pickles, and a “secret sauce” (a spin on Thousand Island, but a dang good one), all nestled in a Martin’s potato bun." - McConnell Quinn
