Author: Jess Harter

Barrio Brewing Co., Arizona’s oldest brewery, has opened its second licensed location in the Valley at the Deer Valley Airport at Seventh Avenue and Deer Valley Road in north Phoenix. The brewery, which debuted in Tucson in 1991, has

Early Bird Vegan, a 100% vegan brunch eatery that opened in south Phoenix in 2020, has launched a second location in the lobby of the Sonoran University of Health Sciences medical office building on the northwest corner of the

Cafe Zupas, a Utah-based chain of soup-and-sandwich eateries, has opened its 11th Valley location near the southeast corner of Peoria and 35th Avenue in west Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Sandwiches (each comes with a chocolate-dipped strawberry), bowls, salads,

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, a 95,000-square-foot family entertainment center with a restaurant and bar, opens today on the southwest corner of the Loop 202 and Cooper in south Chandler. What’s on the menu? Appetizers, salads, brick-oven pizzas, burgers,

Phoenix Sins, a ghost kitchen concept offering burgers named for the seven deadly sins, has opened at the Tempe Food Court on the northeast corner of Perry Lane and Fifth Street, just south of Tempe Marketplace. What’s on the

Lovesack Dumpling, a storefront offering boxes of Asian-style dumplings to go, has opened on the northwest corner of Roosevelt and Second streets on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Customers choose one of three bases: Rice,

Nautical Bowls, a Minnesota-based chain specializing in açai and other superfood bowls, has opened its fourth Valley location at Novus Place near the northwest corner of Rural and University in Tempe. What’s on the menu? Twelve signature bowls, as

Pretty Penny, a neighborhood cocktail bar with a menu of elevated small plates, has opened in the former Pour Bastards space on the northeast corner of Roosevelt and Fifth streets in downtown Phoenix. Pour Bastard Hospitality is the parent

Cairo’s Gyros, a locally ownedfast-casualMediterranean eatery, has opened in the former NoRa Asian Fresh strip-mall space on the southeast corner of Cooper and Baseline in Gilbert. What’s on the menu? Gyros, kebabs, shawarma, falafel, Greek burgers, Greek salads, baba

Little Snitch Brunch & Cocktails, an elevated coffee shop with a bakery counter and full bar, has opened on the northwest corner of Pima and Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale. What’s on the menu? The bakery counter offers scones,

Eureka!, a California-based chain of two dozen American gastropubs, has made its Arizona debut at Novus Place, the new entertainment district at the Novus Innovation Corridor, near the northwest corner of University and Rural on the east side of

Carbon & Salt Taco Shop, an eatery specializing in charcoal-grilled street tacos, has opened on the northwest corner of Greenway and 19th Avenue in west Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Ten kinds of tacos, including cabeza (cow’s head), lengua

Beginner’s Luck, a laid-back comfort food restaurant from chef Bernie Kantak and Andrew Fritz (the guys behind Citizen Public House and The Gladly), has opened near the northwest corner of Main and Brown in Old Town Scottsdale. Menu highlights

The Counter by Morning Squeeze, a no-frills diner-like space, has opened at local brunch concept Morning Squeeze’s catering commissary on the southeast corner of University and 52nd Street in west Tempe. What’s on the menu? The limited menu focuses

Noodles & Company, a fast-casual chain based in Broomfield, Colo., opens its seventh Valley restaurant today on the southwest corner of Camelback and 22nd Street in Phoenix’s Biltmore neighborhood. What’s on the menu? A wide variety of pasta dishes,

Ambrogio15, which has been voted the best pizza in San Diego by several publications, has opened its first out-of-state location at the Biltmore Fashion Park on the northeast corner of Camelback and 24th Street in Phoenix. What’s on the

5th Street Burger & Fries, which began as a delivery-only ghost kitchen and then opened a Tempe restaurant in 2021, has launched a second restaurant near the southeast corner of Power and Baseline in east Mesa. What’s on the

Santo Arcadia, a grill-focused modern Mexican restaurant from Espiritu chef Roberto Centeno and Tacos Chiwas co-owner Armando Hernandez, has opened on the northeast corner of 44th Street and Osborn in east Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Santo, which is

Better Buzz Coffee, a San Diego-based chain with 22 locations in California, opens its first out-of-state location today on the southeast corner of Glendale and Seventh Street in north Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Hot and cold coffee drinks,

Vayal’s Indian Kitchen, a former food truck and caterer offering dishes from both northern and southern India, has opened a strip-mall space on the southwest corner of Thomas and Fifth Avenue in midtown Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Specialties

Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a chain that started in California but moved its headquarters to Scottsdale in 2022, has opened its sixth Arizona location on the northwest corner of Gantzel and Combs in Queen Creek. What’s on the menu?

Tacos & Craft, a new quick-casual concept offering 16 kinds of tacos and 10 beers on tap, has opened near the northeast corner of Rural and Baseline in south Tempe. What’s on the menu? The tacos – eight ‘‘house’’

Tempe Eats, a food hall featuring 10 concepts under one roof with a drive-through, a pickup window, and curbside service, has opened in the former Pet Club building on the southeast corner of Mill and Southern in Tempe. It’s the

Frosted Bakehouse, a bakery and coffee house from Kristina Diaz (former owner of KD Cakes in Chandler) and Celeste Figueroa (former owner of Celly’s Sweets in Mesa), has opened on the southwest corner of Elliot and 51st Street in

The Starving Artist, a new ‘‘neighborhood dive bar meets cocktail lounge’’ concept from OHSO Brewery & Distillery, has opened in the former Helton Brewing building on the northwest corner of Indian School and 22nd Street in Phoenix. What’s on

Duck Donuts, a Pennsylvania-based chain offering made-to-order cake doughnuts, has opened its third Arizona location on the northeast corner of Signal Butte and Ocotillo in Queen Creek. What’s on the menu? More than two dozen gourmet doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches,

Famous 66 American Tavern, a roadhouse-style restaurant and bar honoring iconic highway Route 66, soft-opens at 3 p.m. today at Gilbert Town Square on Gilbert Road between Warner and Ray roads. Who’s behind it? Scottsdale-based Square One Concepts, whose

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a California-based chain known for its signature ‘‘crispy curly’’ pepperoni, has opened its third Valley location on the northwest corner of Bell and U.S. 60 in Surprise. What’s on the menu? Eleven specialty pizzas, build-your-own pizzas, oven-baked

A Sushi & Grill, an all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant, has opened in the former China Town Buffet space on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. What’s on the menu? Forty-five sushi rolls, plus sashimi and nigiri.

Andiamo Pizzeria, an Italian restaurant specializing in 20-inch pizzas with premium cheeses and meats imported from Italy, has opened on the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Shea in central Scottsdale. What’s on the menu? Twenty-two specialty pizzas, such as

Paris Banh Mi Cafe & Bakery, a Florida-based chain of Vietnamese sandwich and coffee shops, has made its Arizona debut next to Carraba’s Italian Grill on the northeast corner of Bell and 57th Avenue in Glendale. What’s on the

Izakaya Ramen, chef Jared Lupin’s latest venture dedicated to the Japanese noodle dish, has opened on the southeast corner of Thunderbird and Seventh Street in north Phoenix’s Moon Valley neighborhood. What’s on the menu? Five ramen bowls: Shin Ramyun

Jet’s Pizza, a national takeout/delivery chain specializing in Detroit-style deep dish pizzas, has opened its fifth Valley location behind Safeway on the southwest corner of Higley and Baseline in Gilbert. The menu also offers hand-tossed, thin crust, New York-style,

Caldwell County BBQ, one of the Valley’s top barbecue joints since opening in southeast Gilbert in 2018, has launched its long-awaited second location at Pecan Lake near the northwest corner of Riggs and Ellsworth in Queen Creek. What’s Pecan

Sage & Barrel Craft Eatery, a restaurant and bar with a globally inspired menu, has opened in the former Bar Venedo space near the southeast corner of Power and Pecos in Queen Creek. What’s on the menu? Appetizers, entree

Açai Republic, a California-based chain of Brazilian juice bars specializing in açai bowls, has opened its second Arizona location on the northeast corner of Alma School and Chandler Heights in south Chandler. What’s on the menu? Açaí bowls, chia

Eclipse Cookies & Coffee Bar, a bricks-and-mortar spinoff of the Droosserts Cookies & More food truck, has opened – with overnight hours! – near the southeast corner of Country Club and McKellips in Mesa. What’s on the menu? Eclipse

Sushi Island, a Japanese eatery that also offers a few teriyaki and noodle dishes, has opened in the Bell Tower Plaza on the northwest corner of Bell and 63rd Avenue in Glendale. What’s on the menu? Forty-three sushi rolls,

Yumbar, a casual restaurant and bar from the former owner of Fez, has opened at The Royale on the southeast corner of Seventh and Glenrosa avenues in Phoenix’s Melrose District. What’s The Royale? The new community-centric complex, which houses

Twenty people will win free Raising Cane’s for a year when the Louisiana-based fast-food chicken chain opens its 30th Valley location Tuesday on the northwest corner of Indian School and Seventh Street in Phoenix. People can enter a drawing between 7:30

Jake’s Sweet Shoppe, the ice cream shop at Jake’s Unlimited family entertainment center in Mesa, has opened its first franchise location near the northwest corner of Arizona and Buffalo in downtown Chandler. The menu Jake’s offers a variety of

Foley Ranch Boots & BBQ, a large country bar with live music and dancing, opens today in the former Sweet Tomatoes building at Desert Ridge Marketplace on the northeast corner of Tatum and the Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix.

Oregon-based Black Rock Coffee Bar will open its eighth Mesa location at 5 a.m. Friday near the northwest corner of Signal Butte and Elliot. The new location will offer $2 medium drinks all day Friday, plus various deals during the

Uchi, a modern Japanese concept from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole (pictured), makes its Arizona debut tonight with the start of a week-long soft opening on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and First Street in Old Town Scottsdale.

The Taco Spot, which has four East Valley counter-service restaurants, has made its West Valley debut on the southeast corner of Greenway and Dysart in El Mirage. The food Birria tacos and birria ramen are the house specialities, but

Szechwan Kitchen, specializing in spicy dishes from southwest China, has opened on the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and Turney in the Melrose District of Phoenix. The food Stir-fries, noodle dishes, fried rice, and dumplings. House specialties include Chongqing

Macayo’s Mexican Food, a local institution since 1946, has opened its 13th Valley location on the northeast corner of Ocotillo and SIgnal Butte in Queen Creek. The food Tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, burros, salads, fajitas, and specialties like green

The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, located on McCormick Parkway between Scottsdale and Hayden, opened four new restaurants Monday as part of a $40 million renovation, the largest in the resort’s 50-year history. The restaurants La Fogata: The resort’s signature restaurant

El Tataki Sushi Fusion, a locally owned concept specializing in a mix of traditional Japanese and Mexican-inspired sushi, has opened its third Valley location in the former Sweet Tomatoes building near the northwest corner of McClintock and Southern in

El Patron New Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, which has two well-regarded locations in Albuquerque, N.M., has made its Arizona debut in the former Bandolero Cocina de Mexico space at The Shops at Gainey Ranch in central Scottsdale. What’s on

Cupbop, a fast-growing Utah-based chain of Korean-BBQ-in-a-cup eateries, has opened on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner in Gilbert. What’s on the menu? You choose from 12 entrees (such as Korean fried chicken, BBQ pork, or potstickers), which

Tempe Taco Supply, the first out-of-state location for Colorado-based McDevitt Taco Supply, has opened in the lobby of the boutique Vib Hotel on the southeast corner of Fifth Street and Farmer in downtown Tempe. What’s on the menu? Appetizers

Taco Boys, a Sonoran-style taqueria launched in downtown Phoenix in 2019, has opened its fifth Valley location in a former CIrcle K building on the northeast corner of Thomas and 32nd Street in Phoenix. What’s on the menu? Tacos,