Kembara

Name: Kembara
Address: 5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 85054
Telephone: (480) 293-5000
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.5

4.5 (299)

$30 and under

Asian

5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 3, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

About this restaurant

Great for outdoor dining
Good for special occasions
Innovative

Kembara is the latest project from Chef Angelo Sosa that embraces Asian street food cultures, exemplifying the tradition of cherishing time-honored recipes, while also playfully innovating upon familiar flavors and techniques for fresh takes.

The menu is an homage to Chef Sosa’s travels across Asia, with inspiration drawn from countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Singapore and Japan.

Each dish is constructed around Chef Sosa’s concept of a “trinity of flavors”—a balance between sweet, sour and salty elements that culminate in a perfect bite of harmony.

Located inside of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Asian, Cantonese, Southeast Asian
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(480) 293-5000
Website
http://www.kembaradesertridge.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Resort Casual
Executive chef
Angelo Sosa
Private party facilities
Private Dining Room Available. Please inquire for details.

Location
5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054
Neighborhood
Desert Ridge
Cross street
Tatum Blvd and Deer Valley Rd
Parking details
Hotel Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

Sips & Bites $9 and less
Multiple dates available
Tue - Sat - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Unwind at Kembara Bar with our Dim Sum Happy Hour! From 4pm to 5pm, savor delicious drinks and Asian-inspired bites, all for $9 or less!

Popular dishes

What 299 people are saying

Kembara reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Phoenix / Arizona
Innovative
Phoenix
Innovative
Phoenix
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kembara offers a "truly unique dining experience" with dishes like the Tuna Thai Jewel and Beef Rendang praised for "amazing flavors." The ambiance is "sophisticated and clean," with outdoor seating providing a "wonderful atmosphere." While service can be inconsistent, standout staff like Cole and Megan ensure "excellent" dining experiences for guests.

299 Reviews

m
michael
Tucson24 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good food and excellent service. Plus Great Scotch list with the proper glasses
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M
Mark
Seattle / Eastern Washington1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service and recommendations from Megan. All the food was perfect.
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c
carolyn
San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews
2.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Planned a birthday dinner - half my party ended up leaving before dessert was brought out due to lack of service attention towards end of our meal. Very disappointed in our evening.
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D
Doug
Phoenix / Arizona13 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
First, we love Chef Angelo. We were able to meet him at Tia Carmen a few years ago and he was so gracious to bring our kids into the kitchen and pretend to take orders. However, Kembara was just ok. Edamame probably the best we’ve ever had. Dumplings good, crab fried rice, awesome, fried wings perfectly Asian style. The short rib was so full of lemongrass flavor it tasted like you were eating meat that had been sprayed with Pledge dusting spray. Our server was nice and attentive but the bussing was almost nonexistent in a barely crowded restaurant. When encouraged to eat family style they should refresh your small plates similar to tapas restaurants. Beers were served in neat looking yet warm glasses making them taste almost flat. For over $300 for four people we expected more. Hopefully Tia Carmen will redeem everything this evening.
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C
Curtis VIP
Chicago / Illinois4 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Class act all around, amazing service and food. Floored the executive chef personally brought out my son’s desert and gave him a kitchen tour. Amazed.
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C
Cindy
Phoenix / Arizona1 review
2.0
Dined on June 15, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
First off the restaurant was extremely noisy. As three adults, one quite elderly (95) were placed next to a table of 10-12, mostly children. Parents were on the opposite end of the table paying no attention to the screaming and banging of the kids. Not a great start and the acoustics of the restaurant only amplified this. We ordered a few appetizers, which were fine, nothing special and two mains, a curry noodle soup and a fish. Both mains were too spicy to eat - we love spicy food but these were just hot with no other flavor. We were not asked about spice level so I was a bit surprised as it really was inedible. Disappointing as I had heard good things about it.
KembaraResponded today
Dear Cindy, We are very sorry your time with us was compromised due to the noise level in our restaurant. We know it can get loud when we are at capacity, and we are very grateful for your patience. We always appreciate feedback that helps us enhance our guest experience. Also, we apologize that the food we served during your visit was not to your complete satisfaction. These comments will be taken up with our culinary team so we can see where future improvements can be made. Thank you for dining with us and taking the time to leave your review. We hope you will give us a second chance to make a better impression and provide you all with the enriching dining experience you deserve. Christopher Biguet Restaurant General Manager
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H
Holly
Phoenix / Arizona5 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 8, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
Food was good but portions were pretty small. Our service was good at first then our server seemed to disappear for a long time
KembaraResponded on June 9, 2025
Dear Holly, Thank you for your feedback regarding your recent dining experience. While we are pleased to hear that you found the cuisine enjoyable, we regret your disappointment with the portion sizes and the service inconsistencies you encountered. Please be assured that we have shared your remarks with the relevant teams to ensure that both our culinary offerings and attentive hospitality consistently meet our guests' expectations. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope to provide a more seamless experience on a future visit. Christopher Biguet Restaurant General Manager
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D
Duncan
London5 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent dinner and great service. Would highly recommend
KembaraResponded on June 9, 2025
Dear Duncan, Thank you for your feedback on your visit to Kembara! We are pleased to know we were able to create a memorable experience for you with our delicious food and hospitality. Please come visit us again soon! Christopher Biguet Restaurant General Manager
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L
Lisa VIP
Phoenix / Arizona22 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great did and service! The Thai jewel salad and kimchi fried rice are my favs
KembaraResponded on June 8, 2025
Dear Lisa, We are happy to know that you had a great time with us and that our associates did an excellent job taking care of you. Our team works incredibly hard, and we will enjoy sharing your compliments with them. We are especially pleased to know our Tuna Thai Jewel and Pork Kimchi Fried Rice were the highlight of your dining experience. We value your continued business and look forward to serving you again at Kembara soon. Christopher Biguet Restaurant General Manager
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F
Frank VIP
Phoenix / Arizona51 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was outstanding. Wonderful atmosphere on the patio in the early evening. Service was outstanding!!!
KembaraResponded on June 10, 2025
Dear Frank, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. We are delighted to hear that your evening at Kembara was marked by both exceptional cuisine and a welcoming atmosphere. The patio setting in the early evening offers a special ambiance, and it's fantastic to know it added to the overall enjoyment of your meal. We're especially pleased that the service was the highlight and contributed to a memorable visit. We look forward to welcoming you back for another thoughtfully curated dining experience soon. Christopher Biguet Restaurant General Manager
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FAQs

Kembara is rated 4.5 stars by 299 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 3, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054

Additional information

Cross street
Tatum Blvd and Deer Valley Rd
Neighborhood
Desert Ridge
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Asian, Cantonese, Southeast Asian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Resort Casual
Parking details
Hotel Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Angelo Sosa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.kembaradesertridge.com/
Phone number
(480) 293-5000
Private party facilities
Private Dining Room Available. Please inquire for details.

Kembara

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Offers

Sips & Bites $9 and less

Popular dishes

Crab Fried Rice Nasi Goreng Ketam

Pork Belly Noodle Mee Babi

Pork Dumplings 豚肉餃子

Menu

What 299 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Kembara restaurant rated?

Is Kembara currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information