🫖 Taiwan’s celebrated tea house Chicha SanChen has quietly begun serving drinks at its debut Arizona location, tucked into the southwest corner of Loop 101 and Chandler Boulevard, right in front of Chandler Fashion Center.
The soft opening gives Valley tea lovers an early taste before the official grand-opening fanfare kicks off July 17.
Chicha SanChen has built a global following for treating tea the way top cafes treat coffee: single-origin leaves, meticulous brew times, and each cup steeped fresh to order rather than batched and stored.
Since opening in Taipei, the brand has expanded across Asia and North America, prized for its nuanced, small-batch flavor over the ultra-sweet, syrupy profile common in mass-market boba.
Soft-opening hours are noon-7 p.m. daily through this weekend, then 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
More restaurant openings
🍕 Ciao Pizza has opened on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Maple in downtown Tempe. Try the loaded Ciao Special (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, mozzarella, and sauce) or design your own pie. Sandwiches, wings, and more round out the menu. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.
🥞 Girasol Breakfast and Brunch has opened on the northeast corner of 19th Avenue and Northern in north Phoenix. Expect fluffy pancakes, chilaquiles, and avocado toast alongside specialty lattes, all with a Mexican twist. Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, plus wine events from 6-11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
🌮 Bar Ocho has opened near the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe, bringing Mexican eats alongside crafted cocktails. Also expect burgers, wings, fries, and a lively vibe. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Another Native closes
🍗 Another Native Grill & Wings has gone dark.
The location on the southwest corner of Brown and Mesa in Mesa – open since 1992 – has closed, marking the second longtime Native to shutter this summer following the Tempe location’s closure after 47 years.
The chain, originally named Native New Yorker, still operates 12 Valley locations and three in Tucson.
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