The Valley’s restaurant scene is booming. There were 29 notable openings in January – nearly one new restaurant every day – ranging from world-famous Nobu in Scottsdale to the East Valley’s first Shake Shack.
Openings
Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, the local fast-casual enchilada concept, opened its fourth Valley location next to The Sleepy Whale in downtown Chandler. Read more
Taco Ball Cantina, the fast-food giant’s new “urban” concept that serves alcohol, opened near the northeast corner of Mill and Fifth in downtown Tempe. Read more
Biscuits, an East Valley group of breakfast-and-lunch eateries, opened its latest location behind McDonald’s on the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Hills Parkway in Ahwatukee. Read more
Bamboo Sushi, a Portland-based concept that bills itself as the world’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant, opened its first Arizona location at Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. Read more
Dvina Modern Fare, a self-described ‘‘Italian progressive eatery,’’ opened near the southwest corner of Roosevelt and Fifth Street on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. Read more
The Culinary Escape, an escape room-inspired restaurant and bar, opened on Main Street, between Robson and Macdonald, in downtown Mesa. Read more
Hot Bamboo, an Asian street food concept popular at Valley festivals and farmers markets for the past decade, opened a restaurant on the northwest corner of McQueen and Pecos in Chandler. Read more
Revolu Modern Taqueria & Bar, which debuted in Peoria in 2016, opened a second location near the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Missouri in uptown Phoenix. Read more
Matt’s Big Breakfast, the popular breakfast and lunch concept that debuted in Phoenix in 2004, opened its fifth Valley location – and first in Scottsdale – on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird. Read more
Breakfast Kitchen Bar, a 3-year-old breakfast and lunch concept at the Scottsdale Quarter, opened a second location at Desert Ride Marketplace in northeast Phoenix. Read more
Rosa’s Mexican Grill, a popular Mesa restaurant for 29 years, opened a second location on the northwest corner of Arizona and Elliot in Chandler. Read more
Mythical Coffee, a coffee shop that roasts its own ethically selected beans, opened in Gilbert Town Square west of Gilbert Road between Warner and Ray. Read more
Taste of Peru, a restaurant specializing in (not surprisingly) Peruvian cuisine, opened in the Safeway shopping center on the southwest corner of Alma School and Guadalupe in southwest Mesa. Read more
Extreme Pizza, a California-based chain specializing in unusual pizza toppings, made its Arizona debut on the northeast corner of Higley and Southern in east Mesa. Read more
Tempe’s College Bar & Grill, which lost its home across the street from Sun Devil Stadium in Dcember, reopened on the southwest corner of Mill and Seventh in downtown Tempe. Read more
Hot N Juicy Crawfish, a Las Vegas-based chain known for crawfish in a spice-laden sauce, opened its third Valley location on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and the 101 in northeast Phoenix. Read more
Josephine, a cozy restaurant and bar offering French-inspired ‘‘elevated yet approachable’’ cuisine, opened in a century-old bungalow on the northwest corner of Third Street and Portland in downtown Phoenix. Read more
Oregano’s Pizza Bistro opened its 16th Valley location – and third in Scottsdale, the city where the concept was born in 1993 – on the southwest corner of the 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright in north Scottsdale. Read more
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, a Valley-based chain of neighborhood burger joints, opened its 14th location on the southeast corner of 50th Street and Chandler in Ahwatukee. Read more
Truland Burgers & Greens, a Tucson concept featuring chopped salads and hormone- and antibiotic-free beef, opened its second location on the northwest corner of Arizona and Buffalo in downtown Chandler. Read more
New York City-based Shake Shack finally arrived in the East Valley with the opening of its newest location at SanTan Village on the northeast corner of SanTan Village Parkway and Williams Field in Gilbert. Read more
In one of the quietest Valley restaurant launches in memory, California-based Zinqué made its Arizona debut at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Read more
Scottsdale’s Goldwater Brewing opened its first satellite location – a taproom in the new Longbow Marketplace on the southwest corner of the Loop 202 and Recker in northeast Mesa. Read more
Copper Mule Kitchen & Bar, a New American restaurant and bar, opened on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale. Read more
Morning Kick Breakfast & Cold Brew, an American-style breakfast and lunch eatery from the owners of a popular East Valley food truck with the same name, opened on the northwest corner of Higley and Chandler Heights in southeast Gilbert. Read more
Nobu, one of the world’s most famous restaurants, will make its Arizona debut Monday in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Center. Read more
Cock N Tails Modern Brasserie, a rock-and-roll-themed restaurant and bar, opened near the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in uptown Phoenix. Read more
Sherpa Kitchen, the Valley’s first Nepali restaurant, opened on the southeast corner of McQueen and Elliot in Gilbert. Read more
Chutneys Indian Cuisine, which has been closed for several months for renovations, finally reopened on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. Read more
Closings
Macayo’s closed its iconic midtown Phoenix restaurant, known as Woody’s Macayo, after 67 years in business. Read more
PDQ, a Florida-based fast-food chain specializing in chicken tenders and chicken nuggets, closed both of its Valley locations. Read more
Condesa, a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that reportedly cost $4 million to build in downtown Phoenix, closed just four weeks after opening. Read more
Mother Bunch Brewing, which opened in 2014 on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Garfield in downtown Phoenix, closed. Read more
Upscale Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo closed its only Arizona location after 12 years at SanTan Village in Gilbert. Read more
Tempe Public Market Cafe, a casual neighborhood hangout offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner in south Tempe, closed after two years. Postino will take its place. Read more
iPic, a Florida-based chain of dine-in movie theaters that debuted in Scottsdale in 2010, closed its only Arizona location. Read more
