“Phoenix” used to turn to desert at about 115th ave going west. Now houses run more or less back to back to 200th ave. And the houses are packed in! I guess the insufferable heat really isn’t.
No city is walkable by the standards that seem to be used here. Or, they all are. I can walk to restaurants and stores. But I bet people will say thy aren’t the “right” restaurants. No Korean/Ethiopian fusion restaurants within walking distance. Plenty of mexican food, of course, though they probably aren’t “authentic”.
If I walk to the bus stop, take the bus to the light rail, take the light rail downtown, I can “walk” to every major cultural even in Phoenix: Sports, symphony, movies, theater, art galleries and art walk, museums, and the zoo. Plus of course the nightlife, and the university.
Sure, it’ll take me 1 1/2 to 2 hours, as opposed to 35 minutes by car, but by god I can walk there!
And speaking of the OP, there is an awesome Asian market right here in Mesa (not Phoenix). Biggest one I’ve been to, though probably doen’t compare to LA or SF.