Spaghetti Shark

Tempe has its fair share of quick-service restaurants: fast-casual bowls, build-your-own salads, sandwich chains, smoothie shops, and everything in between. But what Tempe hasn’t had, until now, is a place where you can walk in, grab a box of fresh, chef-level pasta, and walk out with something both comforting and genuinely delicious. That’s where Spaghetti Shark swims into the picture, bringing bold flavors, creamy sauces, melty cheese pulls, and scratch-made components to a neighborhood that’s long overdue for something like this.

Unlike many grab-and-go concepts, Spaghetti Shark doesn’t rely on shortcuts, frozen bases, or mass-produced components. Every dish is cooked fresh to order, using premium ingredients like Boar’s Head cheese, high-quality pasta, fresh vegetables, and house-made sauces. The result is comfort food that tastes homemade, only richer, creamier, more nostalgic, and, frankly, better than what most people can pull off in their own kitchen.

This is pasta for the people who want big bowls of real food, not boxed noodles in watery sauce. This is the place you go when you need a guaranteed good meal in eight minutes. This is the Tempe spot that understands the modern eater: someone who wants quality, speed, flavor, and value all in one.

Whether you're a student looking for something hearty between classes, a busy professional craving a hot lunch that isn’t microwaved, or a lover of all things cheesy, saucy, and satisfying, Spaghetti Shark delivers. And once you taste your way around the menu (which you definitely should), you’ll realize how rare it is to find a place balancing convenience and craft this well.

Below is the complete breakdown of what makes Spaghetti Shark worth visiting, starting with the dishes that deserve your full attention.

The Spaghetti Shipwreck: A Fully Loaded, All-In Pasta Feast

Let’s start with the heavy hitter. The Spaghetti Shipwreck is exactly what it sounds like, a full-on, pile-it-all-on, unapologetically loaded bowl of pasta that belongs in the comfort food hall of fame.

Picture this: spaghetti tossed in both Alfredo and meat sauce, topped with a full-sized meatball, slices of Italian sausage, and a generous blanket of mozzarella. Then the whole thing is toasted until it’s bubbling, golden, and irresistibly melty.

This dish isn’t subtle. It’s the type of meal you order when you want something that’s going to stick with you in the best possible way. The blend of Alfredo and meat sauce gives it both richness and depth. The meatball adds tenderness. The sausage brings spice and savoriness. And the toasted mozzarella ties it together with that classic Italian-American flavor profile everyone secretly craves.

If you’re the type who always says “extra cheese” and “yes to both sauces,” this is your bowl.

This is also one of the best entries into Spaghetti Shark’s style: big, bold, layered flavors that hit the nostalgia nerve while still tasting fresh and modern.

The Overboard Bacon “Mac” & Cheese: Creamy, Smoky, Hatch Chile Heaven

This is not your boxed mac. This isn’t even your fancy café mac. This is the mac and cheese you’d create if calories didn’t exist and you wanted to impress a group of chefs.

Spaghetti Shark takes cavatappi pasta, the curly, ridged noodle that clings to sauce like it was designed for cheese worship, and bakes it in a cheddar and pepper jack mornay. That means this sauce isn’t just melted cheese; it’s a professionally built cheese sauce thickened with a roux, enriched with cream, and seasoned for flavor balance.

Then things get wild:

• Bacon for smokiness and crunch
• Hatch green chiles for heat and Southwestern character
• More mozzarella melted on top
• Breadcrumbs for the golden, crackly finish

This is the dish you order when you want warmth, saltiness, spice, and satisfaction. It’s a perfect blend of creamy and smoky, with enough chile bite to keep each forkful interesting.

But the important part? It tastes every bit as good as it sounds.

Squalo dei Spaghetti: Comfort Food with a Kick

Spaghetti Shark doesn’t stick strictly to tradition, they twist it, remix it, and occasionally give it a spicy upgrade. That’s the story behind the Squalo dei Spaghetti, a bowl built for people who love creamy sauces but want a little excitement too.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Spaghetti tossed in creamy Alfredo
• Sautéed red bell peppers and onions
• Savory Italian sausage
• Crispy bacon
• A touch of crushed red pepper for heat

This dish feels like something you’d order at a classic Italian mom-and-pop restaurant… then immediately order again a week later. The vegetables add sweetness, the sausage adds richness, and the bacon brings texture. The heat sneaks up on you just enough to make each bite pop.

It’s a perfect example of Spaghetti Shark’s approach: familiar flavors elevated in small but smart ways.

The Garlic Bread & Cheesy Bread: Two Sharks, Same Bite

Garlic bread is one of those universal foods, everyone has had it, and everyone has a strong opinion about it. Fortunately, Spaghetti Shark does it justice.

Hammerhead Garlic Bread

This is the classic version:

• Fresh Italian loaf
• Homemade garlic butter
• Toasted to perfection

It’s the kind of bread that makes you want to drag every last noodle through the buttery, garlicky coating.

Great White Cheesy Bread

This one goes a level deeper:

• Same toasted bread
• Covered in melted Boar’s Head mozzarella
• Gooey, stretchy, extra indulgent

The quality of the cheese makes a big difference. Many places use generic mozzarella that tastes bland or oily, but Boar’s Head gives this bread a creamy, milky pull that is genuinely satisfying.

If you’re ordering a pasta bowl, add at least one of these to your bag. If you’re sharing with someone else, add both.

Chicken Parmesan Sub: A Grab-and-Go Classic

You know a chicken parmesan is good when the breading stays crisp under sauce and cheese and that’s exactly what Spaghetti Shark pulls off.

The Chicken Parmesan Sub is built with:

• Breaded and fried chicken cutlets
• House-made marinara
• Melted mozzarella
• Shredded parmesan
• A toasted roll that holds everything without falling apart

It’s the kind of sandwich that tastes like it belongs at an Italian deli but is made convenient enough to take on the go. Perfect texture, great flavor balance, and generous portions.

Spaghetti Sharkanoff: The Beefy Comfort Bowl You Didn’t Know You Needed

This is one of the most unique dishes on the menu and one of the most crave-worthy.

Spaghetti Sharkanoff takes:

• Spaghetti
• A full meatball
• A rich, beef-forward onion cream sauce

The result is something that tastes like a cross between stroganoff and Italian-American comfort food. It’s creamy, savory, deeply flavored, and layered with umami.

This dish shows that Spaghetti Shark isn’t just recreating classics, they’re inventing their own.

Chicken Scampi: Bright, Zesty, and Perfect for Lighter Cravings

If you love lemon, garlic, butter, and a little red pepper, the Chicken Scampi will be your go-to.

It’s spaghetti tossed with:

• Grilled chicken
• Lemon garlic butter sauce
• A sprinkle of crushed red pepper

It’s lighter than the Alfredo-based dishes but still rich enough to feel like comfort food. Perfect for people who want something satisfying without feeling heavy afterward.

Peanut Chicken Noodle: The Unexpected Fusion Bowl That Works

This is where Spaghetti Shark steps outside Italian-American comfort and into fusion territory. And it works beautifully.

The Peanut Chicken Noodle bowl includes:

• Grilled chicken
• Spaghetti
• Creamy peanut sauce
• Chili crisp
• Coconut cream
• Soy sauce

It’s savory, sweet, nutty, spicy, and aromatic all at once, like a Thai-inspired pasta bowl that’s both familiar and different.

Why Spaghetti Shark Works as a Concept

This restaurant fills a very real gap in Tempe’s food scene. Here’s why:

1. Comfort food + speed = a winning combination

Most pasta dishes require sit-down dining. Here, you get the same flavor quality in a fraction of the time.

2. Quality ingredients matter

• Using Boar’s Head cheese immediately elevates dishes.
• Using house-made sauces adds depth.
• Cooking fresh to order prevents sogginess or blandness.

3. It appeals to multiple dining needs

• Quick lunches
• Takeout dinners
• After-practice meals
• College-friendly price points
• Comfort cravings

4. It’s variety without overcomplication

The menu is curated, straightforward, and thoughtfully built.

5. It feels familiar, but not generic

There’s personality and creativity in every dish, which makes Spaghetti Shark stand out in a sea of predictable options.

The Experience: Fast, Fresh, Friendly

The beauty of Spaghetti Shark is the experience. You walk in, place your order, and in minutes you’re holding a box of hot pasta with steam rising from it. There’s no waiting 45 minutes for a table or fighting for parking at a busy Italian restaurant.

The staff works efficiently, the kitchen moves quickly, and the vibe is casual and approachable. It’s the perfect middle ground between fast food and restaurant dining.

A First-Timer’s Guide: What to Order

If you’re heading in for the first time, here’s the ideal order:

1. Spaghetti Shipwreck — their signature heavy hitter.
2. Overboard Bacon Mac — for creamy, cheesy satisfaction.
3. Garlic or Cheesy Bread — non-negotiable.
4. Chicken Scampi — for something lighter.
5. Peanut Chicken Noodle — if you like fusion flavors.

Practical Details

Spaghetti Shark
📍 8830 S Kyrene Rd Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284

Great for:

• Takeout
• Quick lunch
• Comfort food cravings
• Student-friendly meals
• Family dinner on busy nights

Final Thoughts

Spaghetti Shark might be new, but it already feels like a Tempe staple. It’s fast without feeling rushed, comforting without feeling heavy, and creative without trying too hard. Each dish has personality, each flavor profile is deliberate, and each bowl feels like something you actually want to eat, not something you settle for.

If you’re looking for a place where you can get fresh, flavorful pasta in minutes, this is it. It’s convenient, it’s delicious, and if you haven’t tried it yet… you have to try Spaghetti Shark.