Experience the Cultural Diversity of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona is a vibrant and culturally diverse city and it is only becoming more diverse every day. Arizona shares a 372 mile border with Mexico and nearly a third of the Phoenix population is Latino. In addition to the large Latino population, the Russian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Irish, Korean, and German cultures are all represented in Phoenix in various ways. Phoenix borders on a American Indian reservation, the Gila River Indian Community, and the American Indian culture is also represented in Phoenix. The best way to experience Phoenix’s cultural diversity is through its museums, cultural centers, and restaurants.
Museums and Cultural Center
The Heard Museum is an internationally recognized museum that is dedicated to the presentation, interpretation, and advancement of American Indian art. The museum both tells the stories of American Indians from the first-person perspective and showcases the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary American Indian art. There are more than 35,000 artifacts in its permanent collection. The Heard Museum hosts festivals and world-class exhibitions year-round. The Heard Museum is located at 2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
The Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC) celebrates the works of established and emerging Latino artists. ALAC also seeks to illuminate, celebrate, and promote Latinos in Phoenix, Arizona through education, advocacy, and collaboration. ALAC is located at 147 E. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ 85004.
The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the southwestern United States and displays works from many of the diverse cultures represented in Phoenix. The museum’s collection has American, Asian, European, Latin American, and Western American art. The museum hosts year-round public programs, including tours, lectures, films, and special events for visitors of all ages. The Phoenix Art Museum is located at 1625 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Restaurants
El Chullo is one of the several Phoenix restaurants that showcases Latin cuisine. In Peruvian Spanish “el chullo” refers to a special type of hat worn in the Andes to protect against harsh winter temperatures. The family-owned eatery serves authentic Peruvian dishes, like ceviche, Peruvian corn, and arroz con pollo. El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant and Bar is located at 2605 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Kai, meaning “seed” in the Pima language, is a AAA Five Diamond/Forbes Five Star restaurant that celebrates traditional American Indian flavors. Its menu is inspired by the Pima and Maricopa tribes and the restaurant sources locally farmed ingredients from the Gila River Indian Community. One of the most popular dishes is the grilled tenderloin of tribal buffalo with saguaro blossom syrup which is served with smoked corn puree, cholla buds, chorizo, and scarlet runner bean chili. Kai is located in the Sheraton Grand Resort, 5594 West Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85226.
Nobuo at Teeter House has a forward-thinking menu that elevates and reinvents rustic Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is housed in a turn-of-the-century wood-floored bungalow that mimics the relaxed intimacy of a Japan izakaya (a casual, neighborhood Japanese pub). Nobuo is famous for its Omakase, a chef’s choice tasting menu. Nobu is located at 622 E. Adams Street, Phoenix AZ 85004.