I've explored the East Valley far and wide during the last year in search of good happy hours. Along the way, I discovered places I fell in love with and continue to frequent — and other places I'd rather forget. With that said, keep these 12 favorites in mind the next time you have happy hour on the brain but can't figure out where to go.

Bar Louie
The Scottsdale Fashion Square gem offers a plethora of tasty and cheap appetizers during its happy hour in a cool lounge atmosphere. I love the soft pretzels and the pork pot stickers. If you're into martinis, this bar makes the best Cosmos in town.
Address: 7014 W. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, , www.bar louieamerica.com
Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m. daily and 10 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday
Deals: A discounted appetizer menu ranging from $2-$3 and $2 Bud Light drafts and bottles, Michelob Ultra bottles and $3 Skyy cocktails and Camelback Cosmos.

Charleston's Restaurant
The restaurant and bar, which looks like it would be at home anywhere in Scottsdale with its classy setting, offers the best happy hour appetizer I've had to date: The shrimp cargot (a buttery dish that comes with six plump pieces of shrimp). I also recommend the juicy chicken satays and frozen peach bellini (made with rum, peach schnapps and champagne).
Address: 1623 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa, , www.charlestons.com
Happy hour: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Deals: Half-price appetizers and $1 off all drinks.

Copperpeak Bar & Grill
Copperpeak Bar & Grill has the most unique appetizers I've found yet at a happy hour. I loved the seafood cheese fondue, portobello crevette (shrimp, rawfish and Gorgonzola cheese stuffed in large portobello mushroom caps) and the sesame chicken tenders.
Address: 1860 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa, , www.copperpeakbarandgrill.com
Happy hour: 3 to 7 p.m. daily
Deals: $3 appetizers, as well as egg rolls and hot wings (one dozen), which aren't on the appetizer menu; $1 draft beer in a mug; $2 well drinks, pints and domestic bottles and $4 house wine.

Drift Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge
It's hard not to feel like you're in Hawaii during happy hour amid Drift's tropical setting. I adore everything about this place, from the bar staff to the tropical drinks (I recommend the frozen strawberry daiquiri) to the delicious food (my favorite is the crab, spinach and artichoke dip).
Address: 4341 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, , www.driftlounge.com
Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
Deals: $3-$6 happy hour menu; $4 pina coladas and daiquiris, $2 Bud Light drafts, Corona and Red Stripe bottles, $4 glasses of Merlot and Chardonnay, Mojitos, Tabutinis, Day Trippers, Red Bull Vodka, Mai Tais.

Drinx
Although Drinx only opened in December, it's already turned into a happy hour hot spot on most weekdays. The staff is super-friendly and the food is inexpensive and amazing. I fell in love with the Seared Ahi Wrap (a mix of seared ahi, crispy noodles, bok choy and a sesame ginger sauce wrapped in a soft green tortilla). If you're into frothy libations, be sure to try the Dirty Girl Scout martini, which tastes like a thin mint cookie. Address: 7330 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday
Deals: Half off all food and drinks.

Grilled Expedition
I was bummed when I heard that Saki's closed, but when I checked out the happy hour at Grilled Expedition, which took its place, I quickly got over it. The food is delicious. I loved everything I tried, from the Fire Stix (marinated beef on a stick) to the Expedition Dip (a blend of cheeses and roasted vegetables that comes with an order of grilled flat bread) to the Thai Chicken Stix (grilled coconut-curry marinated chicken skewers that come with an extremely tasty peanut dipping sauce). I also love the peach martinis.
Address: 740 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, , www.grilledexpedition.com
Happy hour: 3 to 7 p.m. daily; Reverse happy hour 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m,. Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Deals: Half-price appetizers and $2.99 house martinis, house Chardonnay and house Cabernet; half-price cocktails and drafts. $3.99 Siroc Vodka and Redbull.

Kona Grill
Beware: It's hard to get a seat at this Chandler Fashion Center hot spot, which is always filled with wall-to-wall people. I recommend arriving early. Once you do, you're sure to love the cheap food. I'm a fan of the crab special sushi roll and lime margaritas.
Address: 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, and www. konagrill.com
Happy hour: 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday
Deals: Half-price select appetizers, half-price island pizzas, half-price select sushi rolls, $1.99 ladies’ margaritas, $2 Bud Light drafts, $3 selected martinis, $3 lime margaritas, $3 strawberry margaritas and $4.50 sake bombers.

Keegan's Grill & Taproom
It's all about the cheeseburger at Keegan's. The Ahwatukee neighborhood bar makes one of the best cheeseburgers that I've ever tasted. The cheap dish also comes with a side of seasoned french fries. If you're not into burgers, the bar offers a bevy of other cheap happy hour choices.
Address: 4723 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee Foothills, , www.keegans.net
Happy hour: 3 to 6:30 p.m. (3 to 7 p.m. for drink specials) Monday through Friday and reverse happy hour from 9 to 10 p.m. (9 to 11 p.m. for drink specials) Monday through Thursday and 9 to 11 p.m. (9 to midnight for drink specials) Friday and Saturday
Deals: The happy hour menu includes $2.95 spinach and artichoke dip, chicken and cashew spring rolls and the queso fundido; $3.95 chicken wings, tenderloin sliders, chicken tenders, cheeseburger, grilled chipotle chicken sandwich, panko fish sandwich and chicken chile quesadilla; $2.50 well, wine and domestic drafts.

Mickey's Hangover
Mickey's is one of my favorite happy hour destinations because everything on its menu is half-off, so I don't find myself blowing too much money here. I also love the funky patio furniture and the relaxed ambiance. I'm a big fan of the fruity sangria, which I order by the pitcher whenever I find myself at Mickey's.
Address: 4312 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, , www. mickeyshangover.com
Happy hour: 5 to 7 p.m. daily
Deals: Half-off the entire menu (from appetizers to entreés to libations).

Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant
The sushi is tops at this Mill Avenue restaurant and bar. I love the cream cheese-filled Philadelphia rolls. I also dig the atmosphere. The bar attracts everyone from the beautiful Scottsdale people to rock ’n’ rollers, which makes for a fun people-watching experience.
Address: 411 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, , www.rasushi.com
Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 p.m. to midnight nightly and 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Deals: $1.50 edamame, $2.50 salmon nigiri, $2.75 California roll, $2.75 spinach gyoza and pork gyoza, $3 Philadelphia roll, $3 scallop dynamite, $3.25 pineapple wontons, $3.50 salmon wontons, $3.50 spicy sesame wings, $4 shrimp tempura roll, squid salad and seaweed salad; $1 warm sake, $2.25 Bud Light drafts, $2.75 well drinks, $3 hakutsuru, $3.50 asashi, $4 Duck Pond Chardonnay, $4.50 asashi and sake, $4.50 Duck Pond merlot, $5.50 apple martini and cosmopolitan, $9 tsunami punch.

Redfish Restaurant
There's nothing in Chandler like this hot New Orleans-style restaurant and bar, which offers a variety of really cheap Cajun food. I dig the Looziana egg rolls, which are filled with blackened chicken, onions, peppers, black beans, hickory- smoked corn, asiago cheese and seasoned sour cream.
Address: 2530 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, Happy hour: 2 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily
Deals: $2 hurricanes, domestic drafts and well cocktails and $1 off all other drinks; $2-$4 appetizers including wings, chicken wrap, Looziana egg rolls, fish tacos, fried green tomatoes, Caesar salad, oyster shooters, fried shrimp, fish on a stick, potato skins, chopped shrimp cocktail, red beans and rice, two mini burgers, loaded chili with chips, loaded fries, fried zucchini, chicken tenders, crab and artichoke dip and blackened chicken nachos.

Z Tejas Grill
I don't need to bother with a menu when I go to this Tempe restaurant and bar. I go for two things: the Tejas Trio (an order of tortilla chips with a hearty side of chili con queso, salsa picante and guacamole) and the frozen Chambord margarita, which is the perfect way to end a long day.
Address: 20 W. Sixth St., Tempe, , www.ztejas.com
Happy hour: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Deals: Half-off appetizers; $1 off margaritas, draft beer, well drinks and wine.