Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe • 1964

Elizabeth White, a single mother who moved from Texas to Phoenix, opened her soul food cafe in 1964 with a radical philosophy for the segregation era: welcome everyone. Her fried chicken and smothered pork chops have drawn generations of diners, from neighborhood regulars to Senator John McCain and NBA stars, all seeking the same honest Southern cooking that made this family-run spot a Phoenix institution. The Golden Rule still guides the kitchen, and Mrs. White—who turned 100 in 2023—remains the heart of the operation.